Welcome to Litsy!

I picked this up from a charity box as I always try books published by these guys (they are based in Bath and independent through Mr B's Bookshop). And I'm always uncertain if I'll like them yet I always do!
I couldn't read two pages of this as it was so brutal but very necessarily told.
An interesting account of women in society, perspective and expectations that are placed on them by men, families and themselves. And female solidarity.

I just love a book of connected short stories. And I remember watching the mini-series of this way back when.

"hard-edged, soft-centered, brutally demanding, and easily pleased" ?
Finally reading this book.

Thank you Mindi! You've spoiled me! A whole box of Godiva chocolates plus a book! Best kind of present!Thank you!! Thank you!! And thanks again @MaleficentBookDragon
#jolabokaflodswap
@Bookishgal71

Thinking of the #19822022 challenge hosted by @Librarybelle (I'll start it the first day after my 39th birthday which is on the 29th of Dec) I might pick this book as the first one...

#GratefulHarvest - Porch: The Women of Brewster Place. Inner-city tenement housing. A dead-end street. A group of black women trying to hold on to life or at least a resemblance to ordinary living. Fighting to survive the crap that rolls downhill and lands in the laps of the poor and the disenfranchised and more often than not, women.👇🏽

Naylor weaves together the stories of seven women living in Brewster Place, a bleak-inner city sanctuary, creating a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in America. Vulnerable and resilient, openhanded and openhearted, these women forge their lives in a place that in turn threatens and protects—a common prison and a shared home. Unforgettable!

The penultimate chapter of this remarkable bk has left me devastated. The storytelling about 7 women's lives in a new York housing block is wonderfully written, capturing the humour,frustration,and relationships of the individuals, giving voice to their experiences which are varied and unique. The prose also was wonderful, it is not often that I stop my reading at a sentence but I did in this book which I feel want to reread straight away.

I picked this up tonight and have just put down the first story about Mattie Michael. I know I am going to love this book and it will be one I want to keep reading but also savour. I just can't remember where I heard about it, I think it was referenced by a guest on either the women's prize podcast or the virago podcast.

I just bought this for kindle for $3.99 I wanted to buy the paper copy but my mom told me not to which was great advice because now #Stormy is sick. I can‘t take her to the vet until tomorrow please pray and send good vibes or do whatever you do. Thanks. I love you all!!! ❤️❤️❤️😊😊😊

#ReadSoulLit - Black Love: There was all matter of love in this book: good love, bad love, lousy love, decaying love, hoped for love, betrayed love, community love, I-Got-You love, sistah love, mama love and most importantly love of self.
What makes love vulnerable? What makes love resilient? What allows love a second & even third chance? When should love say goodbye and good riddance? Why doesn‘t love fight to stay? When can love come back?👇🏽

This...all of this. The characters not only jump off the page but grab you and pull you back into the story with them.

I struggle with books labeled "women's stories" that are stories of abusive men and how they destroy women. Dehumanizes men (are all men monsters?) and women (women's stories are about men) at the same time.

Brewster's Place does not do this. It has the gendered abuser/victim dichotomy, but also very movingly writes about sisterhood and the women themselves.

Also addressing abuse is important.

Loved this interconnected set of stories. Heartbreaking stories - of abuse, violence, neglect & poverty, coupled with resilience, wisdom, strength & moral character - women as fighters and survivors. There's a feeling of hidden mysticism around the women and their effect on the universe. Written with compassion, lyrical eye for detail these glimpses into the life of these characters leaves you wanting to spend much more time with them all.

#bookhaul

Sounds amazing and looks pretty! Perfect combination!

I gave this a so-so because the end wasn‘t satisfying. There wasn‘t really a resolution. The book was about the women and their lives, the courage they showed and what brought them to that place. The end was like, “well, who mourns streets when they die?” I understand that part of this book was to see the underlying issues, it could even be about gentrification in the end, but it could‘ve been handled better.

Gorgeous writing! Powerful, enriching, heartbreaking stories. Gloria Naylor is another "better late than never" writer introduced to me since joining the bookstagram community.

Third book of #24in48 is done.

The writing in the book is beautiful. The stories are heartbreaking.

I'm done for the day. Clearly I get up too much because I felt like I spent all day reading and I didn't even clock in 8 hours. And I accidently reset the stopwatch after taking this picture. At this point I'm just hoping I can get 10 hours when all is said and done tomorrow. I have a new-found respect for all the folks who make #24in48.

#24in48 #catsoflitsy

I've got the books. I've got the cat companion. I've got the timer. What I don't have is focus. I keep getting up every hour! Ugh! Only 4 hours??

Switching out my book for #24in48 #readathon!

Just picked up my holds from the library. The librarian was kind enough to note the damage so I won't be charged when I turn it in. I'm just sad that for whatever reason this book hasn't been allowed to retire. I wonder if libraries accept donations for their collections.

Another day, another brilliant collection of connected short stories surrounding a common place and theme.

#riotgrams

Black writers, women edition. ❤️

I had an English prof who compared certain types of stories to pounding on your thumb with a hammer—because it feels so good when you stop. He meant it in a good way. This book is like that. Gloria Naylor generally rips my heart out & dances on top of it, and then I thank her for it. These seven interconnected stories were beautiful and wrenching and so well-done. Recommended. If you‘re OK with the aforementioned hammering on your thumb.

Ain‘t nothing to be shamed of. Havin‘ a baby is the most natural thing there is. The Good Book call children a gift from the Lord. And there ain‘t no place in that Bible of his that say babies is sinful. The sin is the fornicatin‘, and that‘s over and done with. God done forgave you of that a long time ago, and what‘s going on in your belly now ain‘t nothin‘ to hang your head about—you remember that.

Sick day plans. This would look like a glorious day... if I weren‘t sick! 🤒📚☕️

I fell in love with the recently-departed Gloria Naylor through these interconnected stories. Lesser writers leave clichés leaden and unexplored on the page; here, the stereotypes of African-American women's lives are transfigured into fresh truths—joyous and tragic—about race, gender, class, and sexuality: story-truths that go deep, speak volumes.

"Hush your fussing"—that went right inside me and just watch me insert it into conversation whenever appropriate from here on in! ?

#QuoteOfTheDay

❤️

#QuoteOfTheDay

I was incredibly moved by these interconnecting stories of women who have ended up in Brewster Place. The final story brought me to tears. It covers a wide range of black women's experiences - featuring women of different generations, sexual orientations, regions, classes. She is able to cover decades of experiences in each story and smoothly shifts time periods from one paragraph to the next. Highly recommend. #womenslit #diversebooks

At the beach so using the same book two days in a row. Plus, Mattie and Etta's friendship is perfect for #girlfriends. These two women have each other's backs through it all. #anditsaugust #littenonvacation

This book, which was my pick for book club this month is #mostanticipated #augustsmostanticipated. I'm a third of the way through and it is meeting my expectations so far. #backtoreading #anditsaugust.

Proud supporter of We Need Diverse Books!!

#24in48 #readathon #wndb

This is the best book I've read this year. Every woman's story stopped my heart.

It's the story of seven women living in a run down block and how they each came to that point in their lives. With tragedy and joy and friendship and betrayal.

If you love Toni Morrison you really should try this in my opinion. Not the same - but the power to put you very quickly inside another life is there. A lot packed in to 198 pages.

This is unbelievably good. 50 pages in and I'm 😳😳😳 this is heart wrenching and beautiful and Naylor uses narrative techniques I haven't seen before and I'm floored.

Had to stop and remind myself to breathe!

Such a beautiful passage. Why haven't I read her before?

She's taken to warming my feet while the hubs is nearby playing D&D over skype. 🐉💙 #catsoflitsy #littenkitten #LoonyLuna

Trying to start a new adventure this morning, but someone wants to snuggle #catsoflitsy #littenkitten #LoonyLuna

I really loved this "novel in stories" about women who love, lose, learn, and try their best to keep it together in a lower income neighborhood in an unnamed city. So well written, too. I don't think Naylor always gets the recognition she definitely deserves. #Blackhistoryreads

"Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over. " ~The Women of Brewster Place

This book is beautiful and brutal. Sharp and intimate. I feel as though I've been rubbed a little bit raw in the reading of it. Maybe it's affecting me so much tonight because we are living in unjust times. Being an amateur historian, I know that ALL times are unjust times.

Enough of my waffling.

Just read the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#ReadDiverseBooks

Finished 8 out of 14 📚 from January's TBR stack plus 15 more. Still working on a couple in this stack.

The late Gloria Naylor's debut novel is So. Damn. Good. These stories, of seven different women, are so stark and beautiful and heartbreakingly real. Can't believe I haven't read this before now. Can't wait to read more of her work!!

First up in #24in48 #Readathon.

@24in48

I've got planned reading and then I run into "I've got to read everything this author wrote sometime this year." I think Gloria Naylor is taking me down path B right now. I love finding an author who interrupts my reading plans.
#currrentlyreading
#tbr

#LitsyQuiz Selection #3! So far, you're 2/2 Litsyans! Some among you knew the first 2 books. Now, how about this third title? Have you read/owned/heard of this one? 😊👍🏻

Hauntingly beautiful. A work of art.