Welcome to Litsy!

#hyggehourreadathon

I tried tagging Annabelles Bookclub LA but the store wasn‘t listed in the database. Anyway, an unexpected work trip brought me out to the valley yesterday and it put me in proximity to Annabells so I had to pop in. Cute store, very well curated and if you didn‘t know, Annabell opened her store at the age of 17. I spent my hygge hour last night photographing my loot.

Everyone told me to get the tissues handy for this book, and they weren't wrong. I sobbed hard the last couple chapters. I needed a good cry, anyway, though, tbh.

This is a sweet story about the love of an aging dog and had me crying through I95 traffic after dropping my own love off at the kennel for the weekend. ❤️

This book wasn‘t exactly what I expected. It was okay but not a book I would read again.

Thank you so much @Soubhiville for these lovely gifts! 💙

The little turtle is extra special to me because it will join a set of little glass frogs that my aunt and uncle brought back for me from Italy when I was a little kid. 💜

I ‘imagined‘ this AI image especially for this strange and heartbreaking book. Folx, may I present to you, Lily, with her nemesis: the octopus on her head.

I loved this book so much. The surrealism was different; there was sadness but also dark humor. At times I even wondered if our dog dad was schizophrenic. He had created an entire reality to help him navigate the trauma of what was happening to Lily. An octopus on your head—who would‘ve thought? I will never think of an octopus the same way again. Essentially, this is a book about grief. A book hasn‘t done to me in a while, what this one ⬇️

The veterinarian holds a stethoscope up to Lily‘s chest, listening for her heartbeat. All dogs go to heaven. “Your mother‘s name is Witchie-Poo.” I stroke Lily behind her ears in the way that used to calm her. “Look for her.” OH FUCK IT HURTS. I barely whisper. “She will take care of you.” I look up at the vet, pleading. Inject me. Give me the poison, too. At least enough to make my heart stop breaking. Anything. Just please make it

…dogs have pure souls. Dogs are always good and full of selfless love. They are undiluted vessels of joy who never, ever deserve anything bad that happens to them. Especially you. Since the day I met you, you have done nothing but make my life better in every possible way. Do you understand? So no, the octopi did not find you because of karma.

Shown: Cthulu in an empty box of milk bones he and Fenris, (our husky), had been previously⬇️

Because dogs live in the present. Because dogs don‘t hold grudges. Because dogs let go of all their anger daily, hourly, and never let it fester. They absolve and forgive with each passing minute. Every turn of a corner is the opportunity for a clean shave. Every bounce of a ball brings joy and the promise of a fresh chase.

Shown: Cthulu and the great toad stare down (summer 2011)

Lily (insert: Cthulu) continues to convulse with her eyes rolled back and my terror metastasizes into helplessness, paralysis, as I wait for the convulsions to stop. I hold my hand under her chin to keep her from thrashing her neck. It occurs to me that she may bite, involuntarily or out of fear, but I don‘t care. Let her bite me. I would welcome the pain. I would rather something awake me from my utter uselessness. ⬇️

I think of how dogs are witnesses. How they are present for our most private moments, how they are there when we think of ourselves as alone. They witness our quarrels, our tears, our struggles, our fears, and all of our secret behaviors that we have to hide from our fellow humans. They witness without judgement. There was a book once about a man who tried to teach his dog to speak a human language, to help him solve his wife‘s murder. It ⬇️

Today we will live in the moment, unless it‘s unpleasant, in which case we will eat a cookie.

Shown: maraschino cherry cookies (with 100% dark chocolate) that I made recently. Sooooo good!

I just have to say how happy I am that jacaranda trees are mentioned on page 30. I‘ve never seen them in real life but was introduced to them in What Dreams May Come. Here, the author describes their blooms as ‘an eerie purple rain‘. 🖤💜🖤💜🌳

"There's no shame in surrender when it's time to stop fighting." p.180
This quote pretty much sums up this novel for me. Anyone who's ever had the privilege of sharing their life with a pet will identify with this novel. Poignant, humourous, and hopeful, I thoroughly enjoyed the heartwarming story of Ted and Lily. 4/5⭐️
(August 25, 2023)

🐶🐶🐶This was a “pretty good” book about dealing with an aging dog and coping with the reality of out living our best friends. The octopus metaphor was a bit overkill. But I did spend quite a bit more time with my aging puppers while listening to this quirky story.

I can‘t believe that I have not read this until now! It was funny and sad all at the same time. #roll100 @PuddleJumper

This book tells the story of the author's last months with his aging dog. It was funny, at times, and sad (of course) at the end. It was a quick and quirky read and I enjoyed the characters but it's not a book I would highly recommend. . I also have a thing against characters speaking in ALL CAPS which is why I could never get through “A Prayer for Owen Meany“.

There is definitely something special and unique about this author. This deals with the impending death of the narrator's beloved companion. To say he has an interesting take on the situation is an understatement. Read by the same #audiobook narrator as the octopus in Remarkably Bright Creatures and quite lovely. Also 😭

Audiobook pick:
I wasn't such a fan in the beginning, it just came across as bizarre and the main character wasn't my favorite.

However as the book progressed it became clear this is an amazing read. It tackles the subject of love and grief in such a relatable and raw manner. Laughter through tears. Elements of fantasy. Oof this one will definitely stick with me.

Definitely not what I was expecting after reading Guncle, but I was pleasantly surprised. I cheered, I sobbed, and I held my aging pup a little tighter and a little longer.

Thought this would be an easy breezy read, like his other book The Guncle. If you have an older dog you may want to skip this one. It brought back all the emotions I felt when my dog Rosie grew old & passed away almost 15 years ago. Believe it or not, I carried Rosie‘s ashes with me when I moved from Vermont to California & back again a year later. She‘s still with me. This story is a journey & one that you know the author personally experienced.

An unexpected twist to the story right from the start, I finished with a sense of complete satisfaction. The protagonist is grating but as the story unfolds, you're able to understand why and appreciate the amount of growth that happens. Charming, irritating, confusing, and heart wrenching, the story has it all and delivers in a great way.

There aren't a lot of books that can make me cry, but Lily and the Octopus did it. There were definitely pieces of this book that read like a fever dream, but it has a lot of emotional content that I could definitely identify with. It hurts my heart just thinking about it. This is definitely a book that I will reread in the future and that may find itself bumped up to a 5-star with subsequent readings. Prep your heart for this one.

Oh my- though Rowley‘s debut has been on my TBR the longest, I‘ve enjoyed his two newer books & finally listened to it with high expectations- but was unprepared to cry quite so much. Having an older dog (he will be 14 this summer!), who has had a few scrapes with death- from illness to escaping a groomer in frigid temperatures & being missing for 4 long days- Ted‘s love for Lily really resonated with me. This delves into love & grief beautifully.

I‘m sure glad I knew upfront how this was going to end because I‘d have been a blubbering mess otherwise. I could feel Ted‘s love for Lily as I read the anguished path to the final days of his beloved dog. I loved how human Lily was and damn that Octopus.

A random assortment of choices, I'll tag them all below , please weigh in on what you'd like to read for our upcoming round @BennettBookworm @LiteraryinLawrence @shellleigh33 #LMPBC

I loved, loved, loved The Guncle so have been reading Steven Rowley‘s earlier work. This is a semi-fantastical novel about a man coming to terms with the impending loss of his beloved Dachshund, Lily. Parts were fun and endearing, other parts were too fantastical for me to really follow and engage. It also seemed a lot longer than it needed to be

Every pet parent should read this book! I enjoyed the point of view and the way it‘s written. “Be present in the moment.” I listened to it on Audible and the voice of Lily (and enthusiasm) was my favorite!! Book 24 in 2021

#QuotsyMar21 @TK-421
#Puppy

Tear jerking story about a man and his dog who has developed an “octopus”, which may or may not be malignant. Loved the author‘s The Editor, but this one is more treacle-y and heavy handed.

#bookreport A really fun reading week!
- Lily was a tearjerker but also quirky, heartwarming & relatable as a dog owner
- Exciting Times filled the Rooney shaped hole in my heart
- The Heatwave is my 1st #ARC with NetGalley and what a way to start! Knew nothing going in, and loved this atmospheric and unsettling thriller.
- I love my oyster book, part love letter, part tasting note, part cookbook
-My in progress audio is for bookclub this week

#uglycrywarning
Whimsical and heartfelt, this is a very quirky, emotional and moving story about the bond between one man and his four-legged best friend. As full of magic as this novel is, the representation of their connection and the overwhelming love between Lily and Ted, is nothing but authentic. As a dog lover/owner this one resonated with me in a big way. A truly lovely read.
Thank you so much @Tex2Flo for lending me this little treasure.

#thankfulthursday

The tagged book broke my heart! 💔

1. I had so many favorites! Jessie‘s Girl by Rick Springfield was the first one to come to mind. 🎶
2. That my family is still all happy and healthy. And my Comfort Heat heating pad/massager because my back has been acting up! 😊

If you want to play, consider yourself tagged! 🤗

I live with three cats and so although I‘m not a “dog person,” I do understand the incredible relationship people often have with their pets. Lily and the Octopus is a story of fierce love and the magic (and magical realism) about the intimacy of human-animal relationships. Kirkus wrote, “In his funny, ardent, and staunchly kooky way, Rowley expresses exactly what it‘s like to love a dog.” I was in tears at the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Talk about ugly crying! What a beautiful story about a man‘s love for his dog.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 because the magical realism section took me out of the story a bit. This touching story of Ted and his dachshund companion, Lily was sweet and absolutely a good #tearjerker option for the February #readwithmrbook challenge. Watson was concerned for me and all the eye rain on my face.

Book read for #ReadwithMrBook @MrBook during the month of February. Chanel, Mia an adopted dog, recently came to my life. Even though I'm not the guardian, I love her🐶❤️When I read this book, I was touched for the relationship Ted had with Lily, his dog😢Also, I liked Ted interactions with his therapist. However, there were repetitive parts and the magical realism chapter, I don't know, it didn't work for me. But in general I enjoyed it 3.65⭐️

I am not traveling this week so I'm going to try to get this tear-jerker read for #readwithmrbook . Watson is also staying nearby for when I need puppy cuddles.
#dogsoflitsy

What do these three books have in common? I‘ll tell you! I used each one (and others not pictured here) in my most recent video as examples of stories that contain non-romantic love. If you‘re interested in checking that video out, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/lZ0nLusvFN4 What are some of your favorite examples of non-romantic love stories?

What a sweet and precious book about one man‘s love for his dachshund Lily!! This book will make you laugh and tear up, if not cry. Michael Urie did a phenomenal job with the narration & that‘s part of why I enjoyed it so much! Sometimes the stuff with the “octopus” got to be a bit much, but it would get back to Ted and Lily. Their bond is the driving force of this book.

What is the problem with me and this book? I really don‘t know, but what I thought was originally a kind of cute story, is...I CANNOT PUT MY FINGER ON WHAT ‘IT‘ IS! But there is a problem because the four of us are not grooving. Lily is alright, wonderful even, but Ted...ugh and to pull the Octopus under the agency of magical realism...UGH! There is something not working for me in this story.👇🏽

This is an #unpopularopinion for sure but this tale of a man‘s love for his aging pooch and his fight against the octopus of a tumor on her head didn‘t do it for me. Stylistic choices were annoying and the magical realism piece about 2/3 in made me almost give up in frustration. Even so, as a dog mama, I cried. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-lily-and-octopus-by-steven-rowle...

I give this a 3 1/2 stars. The half star is because it made me cry at the end. Parts of this were very moving. I could have done without his dream/fantasy interludes. They made me think less of the narrator. But Lily is always a delight.

The octopus and it‘s personification didn‘t sit right with me. I heard this called “magical realism” and if that‘s what it is, I really don‘t like magical realism.

The story of a man fighting for his aging dog, the love of his life. I was with this book for most of the way but it lost be a bit when they were on the boat in the thunderstorm.

@BookNAround ! Thank You so much! 😍 Obsessed with the card! Thank you for the candy and the book off my TBR 👻 #HalloweenCardSwap

I enjoyed it but not as much as I was hoping/expecting to. The whole part where they set sail to chase the octopus completely lost me.