Fair and Tender Ladies | 
so-soSmith does a good job giving a taste of Appalachian culture, and the family dynamics are intriguing. Mostly I appreciated stand-alone scenes that were pretty or moving rather than the novel as a whole. It was an okay book, but I won‘t be reaching for more of Smith‘s work unless I receive a strong personal recommendation from someone.
#PoetryMatters #Fair I can‘t fit all the words on here ... but I‘ve always loved this song/poem ❤️
In ‘Fair and Tender Ladies‘, Queen Anne‘s Lace is mentioned a few times. When I saw that, I was a little nostalgic, remembering the lacey wildflower from childhood visits to my grandmother‘s farm in Appalachia.
(📷: Queen Anne‘s Lace found in Willamette Park, Corvallis, OR. It‘s an invasive plant in Oregon, but still lovely.)
In ‘Fair and Tender Ladies‘, Queen Anne‘s Lace is mentioned a few times. When I saw that, I was a little nostalgic, remembering the lacey wildflower from childhood visits to my grandmother‘s farm in Appalachia.
(📷: Queen Anne‘s Lace found in Willamette Park, Corvallis, OR. It‘s an invasive plant in Oregon, but still lovely.)
This is an epistolary novel that follows Ivy Rowe from her childhood through old age. Set in the Appalachians of Virginia and told in the regional vernacular, the opening pages highlight both the natural beauty of the setting and the poverty of the family.
Because I have family in Appalachia, I have mixed feelings about this so far that I‘m going to have to sort out, and make sure I‘m not projecting into the narrative things Smith did not put in!
pickA month page (July) of my old reading journal from 9 years ago. Now I record dates finished on #LibraryThing. All books recorded on this journal page have book profile links in the comments. #readingjournal #librariansoflitsy #anglophilesoflitsy
pickI forgot to post my review of this! While I would never have picked it up I‘m glad it was sent through #LitsyGoesPostalOG I listened to it on audio and read parts of the physical book. I‘ve discovered I really love epistolary novels! I love how Ivy wrote letters from school girl age all the way to her death. It‘s also a great look into the coal mining era in the early/mid 1900‘s.
Happy Presidents Day US Littens! #Zeek and I have the day off but a lot of places like the library are closed today and the weather is going to be bad so we are staying in. I‘m hoping to finish this book today and introduce Ezekiel to Shel Silverstein. But first, breakfast (most importantly coffee) #bookandbreakfast
Do you ever read a word wrong and it makes you go”wait...what?” I totally read rhinestone as rhinoceros and didn‘t think twice until I was further along the page. 😂🤦🏼♀️🦏
The collapse of the coal mine industry described in this book prompted me to go to Ponderosa Brewing Company. It‘s in the revitalized sawmill district in Abq. While the original lumber company still exists, there is no longer a large sawmill. It‘s hay day was in the early 20th century, much like the coal mine described. The breweries symbol is a cut log with a bull head. 🍻
#booksandbrews
#litsygoespostalog
#HumpDayPost #Letsmaketricksysmile
1. Arthur loves to fetch balls. Even if you throw them in the middle of a lake. Yumi (you-me) loves antagonizing the fish.
2. iPhone
3. Not in cookies.
4. The tagged book is an epistolary (which I‘m starting to love this style) about a lady from Virginia in the early 1900‘s told through her letters.
5. I like a lot of sports, and the Olympics are about to start so I‘m excited for curling!
Since the East is hogging all the snow, I was able to walk to my new school today. I‘m loving the fact that I don‘t have to drive to work anymore! I had an audiobook to keep me company and this super soft, warm, comfy hat that my #litsypenpal made me. I couldn‘t ask for a better start to the day! #ItsGreatToBeAHawk
pickI was a little in a rush to finish this book, but so glad I did! Ivy is truly remarkable in her humanity. She is determined, genuine, kind, compassionate, and still flawed. But, wants to learn from her mistakes and doesn‘t hide from them or deflect. I found her to be truly admirable despite her few poor choices. Great epistolary novel and one I am really glad came into my life. I also love her own humility while still refusing to settle. ❤️
pickThat was an unexpectedly excellent read. When I first started the book, I thought, wtf, I can't read this. It's from the pov of a barely literate child, all told via letters. They start in the late 1800s and continue until she is an old woman, in the 1960s. Ivy weaves her life events with local and national happening such as the rise and fall of coal mining and how it changed her town and mountain. It's clear that the author did a lot of research.
pickOh how I loved this book. A surprising new favorite of mine.
Ivy Rowe invites us to travel next to her as she writes to those closest to her in a novel that spans childhood through old-age. She is strong-willed and insightful and funny; at the end it felt like spending time with my grandmothers again. A rare treat. My heart swells with affection for her.
I was reminded of the Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and Elizabeth Strout while reading.
Made some hummus today! And look at these berries 😍.
This is a book I would have judged by its cover and never given it a second glance. Then, it was delivered to me by @Ashley31 for our #LGPOG book club and I cannot stop reading it. It is a coming-of-age tale like you have never read before. Told in a letter format, I have fallen for Ivy Rowe and her thoughtful & generous words, big love, moral questioning, and rebellious ways. Almost done!
My son is off to spend the week at his grandparents which means uninterrupted reading time for this mama! Yep, you read that right fellow #readingmamas .... NO INTERRUPTIONS!!! This is best part of sending him away even though I'll miss him like crazy. I'm going to disappear into this book for the next few hours. I'll see you all when I come up for air #litsygoespostalog
#BookNLunch! @BookBabe & I are grabbing lunch before I head back to work. No breakfast means breakfast for lunch 😆! Accompaniment this chilly morning: Belgian waffle, scrambled eggs, crispy corned beef hash, orange juice, and tea. MMMmmm 😋! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻
One of too many I am #currentlyreading is the #epistolary novel, Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith. I just love the language in this book.
#readjanuary @RealLifeReading
#recommendsday
Fair and Tender Ladies is a story told through Ivy Rowe's letters. A beautiful tale of love, loss and a determined will. I read this book when it came out more than 20 years ago and it has stayed with me all this time. #epistolary #readjanueary
pickIt's #Recommendsday! So glad I read this—it's wonderful! An epistolary novel, the story is told through letters written by Ivy, a girl born around 1900 into a poor, hardworking family that lives hand-to-mouth in a cabin up on a mountain in rural Virginia. Drama, difficult choices, & hard times shape the lives of these memorable characters. Fascinating, vivid & authentic. Brilliantly written & unputdownable!
P.S. Follow it with "Hillbilly Elegy"!
"I think myself they live on storys, they do not need much food."
December's #tbr stack. Must finish 2 more books this month to meet my Goodreads #readingchallenge of 116 books and read 1 more book than last year.
#tbrtuesday
THIS QUOTE. 🙌🏻
#BookNDinner! Friday night out with @MrBook at a local pub — teriyaki wings, garlic parm wings, a big rack of tender BBQ ribs, grilled seasoned zucchini, crispy beer battered fries, a Captain n' Coke, a live band, and I'm reading a book in the midst of it all! 😂👍🏻 Happy reads and happy eats! 😊
#Coale can't get enough of the latest #LGP book we've received in the mail 😹👏🏻! He cozied and snuggled up to that thing like it's catnip! He digs books, but this is another level of affection 😂👍🏻! Wherever the book goes, he goes *shrugs* 😸. Great pick! #LitsyGoesPostal #catsofLitsy
Unwinding with a good book, fresh baked gooey cookies, and milk with @MrBook on this Thanksgiving Eve! ❤️🍪📚
My takeaway from this book so far: birth control is everything.
