Welcome to Litsy!

“The Choke” isn‘t an easy read, it‘s gritty and it‘s disturbing in places, but don‘t let that put you off – author Sofie Laguna is highly praised and rightfully so. This is a powerful read but not one I can say I enjoyed all that much – it‘s 3 stars from me.

My full review is up on my blog now 📚

#Ozfiction #LitsyAtoZ letter 'L'
I loved this book. I listened to the first third and read the rest. I was so invested in it that I couldn‘t go to sleep last night until I finished it. Laguna does an amazing job at narrating as a 9 to 14 yr old. This book is devastating and yes I had an ugly cry. I will definitely read her other book ‘The eye of the sheep‘.

This book is a raw and intense book of a young girl growing up in poverty and neglect in 1970‘s Australia. It‘s so good and my full review is on my blog now if you fancy reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2019/03/30/the-choke-by-sofie-laguna-review/

I received the book from the publisher. My review is my own honest opinion.

Another Aussie read for me. I loved her first book but a bit unsure about this one. Great writing but for me uncomfortable subject. At least it had my kind of ending. @MrsMalaprop

This book was so good I have to rate it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel was a #guiltypleasure. I devoured it whilst knowing it felt wrong and ‘soapy‘ and kind of trashy. A bit like All The Ugly and Wonderful Things.
(Sorry about the gratuitous donut pic)
#ozfiction

Making a start. #ozfiction

#Aprilwrapup A good month of books. No 5-Star reads but some very solid 4s. It would be a toss up between two Australian books for best of the month - The Fish Girl and The Choke were excellent.
8/24 on #ReadHarder2018

This novel is gritty, confronting, uncomfortable and challenging in its subject material. It deals with real issues, PTSD, violence and assault; and the neglect of children, that occurred around and because of this. Rural Australia is as stark and oppressive as ever, and serves its purpose well, as character, tension builder, witness to the crimes. What impressed me most about this novel, was the skill with which Laguna manages a child narrator.

#indiebuddyread quote spam

So behind on my buddy read but THIS MOMENT GUYS #indiebuddyread

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This might be one of the best new Australian novels I have read in some time.
Laguna has such a deft hand at writing from a child's point of view. She is also a master at creating tension. It is exceptionally good writing of place. In this regard it reminds me a lot of Tim Winton.

What a great new ( to me ) Australian novelist to watch and also to seek out her previous novels.
#indiebuddyreads

#indiebuddyreads Finished up this frustratingly sad book today. It involves a young girl trying to navigate a confusing world without much support from the adults in her life. I was glad that she finally gained some agency near the end, but for most of the book I just wanted to help her. The writing seemed jarring to me at first, but it fits the voice of a young girl and I grew used to it. Thanks to my buddy readers for introducing me to this one.

This family dynamic is so complicated but so well constructed #indiebuddyread

The narrative voice in this novel is 🔥 #indiebuddyread

Stella Prize winner announcement tomorrow and starting this one in honour of that. Also it‘s April‘s #indiebuddyreads book of the month with @cmoo053 @AceOnRoam @Redwritinghood and whom every else is out their want to jump in ;)

Getting a head start on the next #indiebuddyread which we will be discussing this weekend- since my school is closed today!

Next three selections for the #indiebuddyreads bookclub. Normally it‘s one discussion weekend per month but April has so many literary prize shortlist‘s so we have the following schedule
April 14/15 The Choke ( Stella Prize longlister )
April 21 / 22 Frankenstein in Baghdad ( Booker International Prize )
May 5 / 5 See what I have done ( Woman‘s Prize longlist)

Join for one or join for all ;)

Well written but not my cup of tea. Frustratingly sad. #australianauthor #sofielaguna #australian

I found this a mesmerising, quite disturbing and deeply sad novel. I had to stop several times to pull myself together and remind myself that Justine was fictional. For me, Laguna, and her ability to tell such powerful stories through the eyes of a child (as she also did in Eye of the Sheep) is a masterful writer, but perhaps not for everyone.

We've had a sweltering couple of Aussie summer days and between swims in this glorious beach I've been reading one of my favourite #aussieauthor. This book is really so good and deserve a bit more litsy love.

Starting this on audio 🤘🏽 🎧

Just finished The Choke. Totally devastating read. Highly recommend. Australian literary fiction

I'm so excited about these three new releases. I'm working on lots of assignments in my library course this week and I think these would be the perfect reward for my hard work, don't you?