Welcome to Litsy!

It was a surreal experience listening to this audiobook based on the true story of a massive fire that destroyed the Maine coast in October 1947 while at the same time listening to the sounds of the fire-fighting planes dipping into the reservoir to battle a fire that was raging just over the foothills from my own home. Lucky for me my home was spared, but in October 1947 entire towns were destroyed. This book was haunting and so well-written.

Somehow I've never read Anita Shreve before! This wouldn't have been something I'd pick on my own, but I'm really glad my book club read it. She writes complex relationships and traumas so beautifully.

#booked2019 #nightorientedtitle @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft #pop19 #bookwithazodiacorastrologyterminthetitle

Fantastic book. Set in Maine, Grace is in a loveless marriage, enduring horrible sex with her husband. A sudden wildfire changes everything in Grace‘s life. Being a pianist, I especially loved the parts about the power of music. The descriptions of the scenery, heat from the fire, cold in the winter seem so real. I found this book by chance on the home page of a library. Ever since The Pilot‘s Wife, Anita Shreve‘s books haven‘t disappointed

I read a book by Anita Shreve years ago; I was probably too young to really "get" her then. Just finished this lovely little thing and I feel like I should go back and read her work because it would be so much more meaningful to me at this point in my life. I found this one to be an excellent portrayal of the life of an American housewife in the late 40s-50s. Both literary and compelling. Read for #bookclub at the #library ?

This weather is perfection. Blue skies, sun, and a cool breeze; couldn't be better.
My boys are playing on the playground and I'm reading on a quilt. We also brought a picnic. Life is good ☀️
I'm really enjoying this one for #bookclub on Monday.

Next up for #bookclub 📖

This was okay. I've enjoyed other books by this author a lot more.

This is a story of perseverance. Set in 1947, Grace Holland experiences loss in an unimaginable tragedy. Suprisingly she will emerge stronger than she knows herself capable, just in time to face her biggest challenge yet. Does she find happily ever after? (You'll have to read the Epilogue to find out.)

I really enjoyed this book. I stayed up reading it until midnight and finished this morning. I have loved some of Anita Shreve‘s work in the past, and I believe this one to be just as good, if not better, than The Pilot‘s Wife. Just what I needed to read yesterday. 4.5 stars. #historicalfiction

This came through on my library hold today and I‘ve put aside “Robin” for a bit for this. I adore this era of history, post WW2 historical fiction. Based on actual events, a horrible fire in Maine, where residents were forced into the sea to save their lives. It‘s one of Anita Shreve‘s better books. #25inFive

At grandparents this weekend. Here are some books my Grammy has been reading lately ✨

What books and authors are/were some of your grandparent's favorites? My gram loves anything Jan Karon and political memoirs (as this photo can prove). Pop pop reads Tom Clancy & and all those related crime/spy/thrillers. My nana didn't really read much because her English literacy wasn't super great, but she raised a kid (my dad) who LOVES to read 💁🏻‍♂️

I‘ve read every single book by Anita Shreve (she‘s one of my faves) so I couldn‘t wait to get my hands on her newest book! No doubt it will be amazing!

Picked a load of books up from the library this is my first read of the pile.. looking forward to it 😊📚😊

Sunday morning read + Tulsi Spiced Berry tea = ❤️

I was immediately captured by this book and couldn‘t put it down from the start. This book shows how unfair it was for women in the 1940s to be in an abusive marriage with divorce being frowned upon and even your own mother tells you that you don‘t have anywhere to go because he‘s your husband. The courage, strength and wit that Sarah proves to have by the end is admirable and inspiring. Only critique is that it‘s only 303 pages.

1. I had my first experience with mansplaining.
2. Movie with a friend.
3. Cray-on
4. The one tagged
5. And, it is the weekend now.

#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

This is our book club pick for August. It‘s 2 AM in the morning. I have to work tomorrow. But, I only had 50 pages left. And I couldn‘t sleep. Enjoyed this book. I have not read anything by this author before this book. It was a good book club pick.

“...more of a wish than a fact.”

My house is a mess, the kids are out of school, and I spent my afternoon reading this book. I don't think I've ever hated a fictional character as much as I hated Gene!!!

Book haul!! Getting my reading ready for summer. These new additions are joining my epic bedroom bookshelves. My goal is to read as many as I can off that shelve between Saturday (opening day of the pool in our complex) and the day the pool closes. Since I‘m not working it‘s going to be lots of swimming my rehab (why do I feel like I‘m always going to be rehabbing from the stroke?) and reading books by the pool.

1947, Maine, Grace Holland is five months pregnant and caring for two toddlers. Her husband and her barely speak and she has prepared herself for a life of loneliness. One night a wildfire changes her life forever. She drags her children to the ocean to save their lives, but where is her husband? As she fights loss and being homeless she must be courageous and take on new challenges to make a new life for herself and her children.

Loved this! One of my favorite authors. Can‘t believe she died.

Getting into this.

Distraught from Anita Shreve's death, I picked up her latest --- the only one I hadn't read. It was beautiful. I'm so sad that it is the last of Anita Shreve that I will have a chance to read. I guess the next time I am longing for her books, as I often do every year or so, I will have to start rereading!

Still love Shreve‘s writing. It could have used a little more fleshing out towards the end but still an enjoyable read. #aroundtheyearin52books

So sad to hear about the passing of Anita Shreve this morning. She was a wonderful story teller and I will miss her work. #AnitaShreve

My library haul for today! Everytime i take a couple back I leave with even more! 🤣📚 #bookhaul #librarylove

Her books are so good! I just started this one and so far, so good 😊

In every way a good historical fiction. Hard to stick with in beginning. The character transforms and leaves you in awe.

I don‘t know why I thought this was during current times when I bought it, but it‘s not. This bookmark is inspired by Grace‘s mother in laws jewelry. I really am enjoying this book.

On to this one. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bookartbookmarks

#Decktheshelves Day17 #bythefire

#reindeerreads Day 3. Historical fiction. Set during the Great Fires of 1947 in coastal Maine

Interesting historical drama about the aftermath of a real-life event. We follow Grace along on her journey after losing her house and everything in it to a wildfire in Maine in 1947. I didn't always feel like Grace made the best decisions, but I got wrapped up in her story regardless. She was a likable character. I liked this book much better than The Pilot's Wife, which I read many years ago. #secondchances ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved seeing how Grace grew through this story. She found her strength when she most needed it.

A woman‘s heart stopping tale of the emotional strength and courage to survive Maine‘s October, 1947 devastating fire and all of its‘ aftermath. https://lharvey250.tumblr.com/post/162168883459/the-stars-are-fire-anita-shreve-...

Starting this today - book club next week! #toomanybooksnotenoughtime

19 books to go, 14 weeks left in the year, better not tackle any LONG books. 😂 #Goodreads #readingchallenge

I'm back from vacation and here's the final tally of books read. Not bad for two weeks...

Whoops, a couple of holds came off all at once!

I posted about our May book club choice after I read it, and it definitely deserves more love. It's still one of the best books I've read this year. A friend who has read from Shreve's backlist said this is her best! Read the synopsis on GR, it's a pretty unique story.

#needsmorelove #anditsaugust

#TBRtemptation post 2! I love this cover too. Released in May. October 1947, fire breaks out all along Maine's coast thanks to drought. 5 months pregnant, and her husband away as a firefighter, Grace and best friend Rosie watch their houses burn down and flee into the ocean with their children. Homeless, penniless, waiting for their husbands, in a town that no longer exists, they will be tested like never before. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

A fictional take on the wildfires of Maine in 1947 . It's such a popular book my small library had two copies. The author had scheduled an author visit at Jesup Library but she discovered she was ill shortly afterwards. I own 4 of her books in paperback on my TBR bookshelf.
I finished it but it was a bit boring.

What's the word on this read? It's my book group's pick of the month. #bookgroup #anitashreve #thestarsarefire

I debated on the rating for this book. The beginning was phenomenal, the middle so-so and the ending is intense. Overall, an interesting story about a woman trying to find balance and happiness despite difficult circumstances.