Welcome to Litsy!

“The most important places on a map are the places we haven't been yet.”

#ittakesallkinds #withmap

And now, a tiny bookstore for my little Greek street; which, I‘ve realized, has all its signage in either Turkish or English, so maybe it‘s not Greek at all? Or maybe it‘s on an island that caters mostly to Turkish- or English-speaking tourists?

Anyways, I‘m still here for the tagged book‘s stories and still all *DRAMATIC SIGH* over the huge number of similes and metaphors. #audiocrafting

I loved Zeyn Joukhadar‘s second novel very much, but their first is trying my patience with its purple prose. It‘s a good example of what I mean by performative purpleness; something that‘s less “how can I convey my characters‘ emotional reality?” and more “look at my ability to cram similes and metaphors into every nook and cranny.”

I‘ll stick with it because I do want the story. The historical bits are much less florid, too. #audiocrafting

Starting next…our November book club pick. The cover is so pretty!

#bookspinbingo

One of my IRL book buddies found this. It's quite a good story. A young girl and her fam flee Syria after their house is bombed. The counter story is a young mapmaker posing as male and having an epic adventure. Definitely recommend.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I had a lot of issues with the writing but I still recommend it. My favourite parts were the ancient storyline based on real-life characters, Al-Idrisi and King Roger and the map and "planisphere" that Al-Idrisi created for the king. I learned a lot: I had never known that Ceuta existed - a tiny piece of Spain in Morocco! I got really tired of the characters saying profound things to each other all the time but the story as a whole is lovely.

Oh I'm a critical old thing but though I'm enjoying it, there's too much happening in this book. A narrator with synaesthesia AND a love for stones/gems AND the map theme (which by the way hasn't been explained yet at all - how does someone make a living in 2011 by making maps by hand? What are they maps of?). I just think the flowery elements could have been reduced.

I decided I couldn't go one more day without getting my car washed but the time wasted in the queue - I just want to cry! I should be at home, working 😢 A book and a coffee while I wait though.

Read in May- another dual timeline- the main story is about Nour and her family when her mother decided to go back from NY to Syria. So interesting in terms how Nour needs to adapt to this country unknown to her in which she doesn‘t know the language. So well described the places and the culture. Then, there is an old story about a legend that will describe the changes that Nour us experiencing. I didn‘t enjoy much these parts, sometimes boring⬇️

3.75/5 ⭐️ #FoodandLit Syria
I enjoyed the dual storylines, especially the fantastical elements.

I'm super behind on reviews, so expect a bunch of posts

I have several options for March #foodandlit‘s country #Syria. I‘m thinking I‘ll go with the tagged book, but we‘ll see the mood I‘m in when I‘m ready to start my next book. @Catsandbooks

All anyone really wants is “home”

The book is about the main Character Noor escaping Syria because of an ongoing conflict and protest. She had to travel across The Mediterranean and North Africa to get to New York City. Her father passed away from cancer and She need to go back to Syria and needed to find a map to get there.

This was a mixed bag for me. I liked the modern day story of Nour and her family, but was bored by the ancient timeline. I did learn about the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta which I had never heard of before.

I read this for my work book club but it would also work for #FoodandLit Egypt and #ReadingAfrica2022

Thank you so much @Endowarrior21 for my wonderful #JolabokaflodSwap gifts. I love the reindeer you made me. It is so could and I have wanted to read this book for so long. Maybe we can do a Buddy read when it comes time since you got a copy also 😉. Lastly, I can not wait to eat my chocolate 😋. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Hope you a wonderful one!!!

I went into this book with with high expectations but ended up only caring about one of the storylines, the modern day journey of young Nour who left America, where she was born, for Syria, where her family is from, only to be forced to flee violence and travel as refugee. The story of Rawiya, hundreds of years earlier, did not have the same resonance with me, despite the lovely writing.
#booked2021 #setinacountrywhereunpeacekeepersare

Ebook on sale today. A family flees the war in #Syria traveling across the Middle East and North Africa. Works for #readingasia2021 and #readingafrica2022. I‘ve got it lined up for January 2022 #foodandlit for #Egypt.

A intriguing book. 3.5/5 Read for the #PopSugarReadingChallenge2021 and #ReadHarderChallenge2021 and the #Writteninthestarsreadathon

"That doesn't make sense," I say. Mama rubs my shoulder and nudges me along, her burlap bag swinging at her side. "You'll understand one day," she said. "When you are older." I frown. All the way back to the hospital, I remember what Huda [her older sister] would have said: Not when I'm older. Just when it's time. -- pg 104

If you are looking for a book to straight up ruin you while also somehow inspiring you to be the best you, this is it. This book read like a poem and the actual poems in it are beautiful. I cried and hurt and sat on the edge of my proverbial chair while reading this. It's terrible how relevant this book still is. How many families still have to do this. How many have had to. Read this. Sit with this. It's brilliant.

This one has been on my shelf for a while. I‘m only about a chapter in, but the writing is beautiful.

#booked2021
#unpeacekeepers

I‘d consider it an achievement if I can manage to read 10 pages these days. I couldn‘t resist picking this book set in #Syria. Such a beautiful cover too! I love the Arabic text shadowing the title. 💙

#currentlyreading #bluecover

I never really got the point of that cryptic map 🤷‍♀️

I love both storylines separately, but I especially love how they were woven together. The modern part of the story is full of grief and sadness but also hope and love, and it is beautifully written.

"Stories are powerful, but gather too many of the words of others in your heart, and they will drown out your own. Remember that."

Evidence of my 2021 bookish resolutions 📚

Donated 8 books to the neighborhood Little Library and borrowed Thoughts from a Blue Bike and What Do You Say When

Bought books by a trans author: Map of Salt and Stars (recommended by @rsteve388 ) & by a WOC: Patsy with Powell‘s store credit after selling a box of books.

I had planned to donate/sell books that I won‘t re-read and buy books by P/WOC/trans authors.

Thank you @CBee for The Almost Moon

Mostly I liked this because I was genuinely interested in a story set in Syria. But for me to love a book with dual timelines I need to be equally invested invested in both storylines. Here, I was much more interested in Nour‘s current day setting than the story of Rawiya set 800 years earlier.

@shellleigh33 - Thank you so much for the generous #jolabokaflodswap gift. It was such a treat to have this waiting for me once I got home today. 🥰🥰🥰

“The most important places on a map are the places you have not been yet.” #quotes #coverlove

Lushly descriptive with intertwined storylines that introduce the reader to memorable characters in each timeline. The two young protagonists demonstrate determination and teach us about faith in ourselves and something more. A beautiful novel and definitely a new favorite.

“If you don‘t know the tale of where you come from the words of others can overwhelm and drown out your own. So, you see, you must keep careful track of the borders of your stories, where your voice ends and another‘s begins.” “Then stories nap the soul in the guise of words. “ p. 133

“Music pattered to the ground, sweet as rose water.”
There are a number of lovely, lyrical turn of phrases in this novel including this one!

Simon & Schuster lets me pick a free ebook for subscribing to their newsletter. This is the book I chose.

After a slow start, this book turned into a wonderful story. Both beautiful, and at times heartbreaking, it's one I will highly recommend.

Just finished, and I must say I really enjoyed this one! Very powerful story.

I appreciated the parallel storylines and the happy endings for both. 💚💚While it felt like I couldn‘t put this book down it took me forever to get through it!!🤷🏻‍♀️

Not sure why, but I can‘t really get involved in this book...? There‘s just something missing 😐

Was finally able to finish this one and man was it good. If you are a fan of The Kite Runner than you will enjoy this one as well. It is an emotional rollercoaster but worth the read.

Beautiful mythical take intertwined with a refugee story. Beautiful poetry is also interspersed through out. Well worth a read!

Just getting around to posting my #JolabokaflodSwap package and I am in love!! 😍 Thank you so much @mcbeth528!! I have been wanting this book for a while now; I've heard such good things about it and I think it will be the perfect Christmas Eve read for tonight!! And the local VA chocolate...I tried both already and the flavors are AMAZING!! Thank you for sharing. I'm always on the lookout for great artisanal chocolate! Merry Christmas!! 🎄☃️

Happy #JolabokaflodSwap eve! This package goes to the post office tomorrow to find a happy home for Christmas Eve. Thanks @MALEFICENTBOOKDRAGON for all your hard work to make my first Jolabokaflod happen!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is a bit of a slow burn and rather backhandedly political. Outside of that with a little patience it really is a good read. #WouldRecommend

Qatar Foundation International has funding to provide sets of Middle East Outreach Council awarded books for classroom use. Open to K-12 public or public charter school teachers - US only, sorry. Full details here: https://www.qfi.org/opportunities/meoc-educator-book-awards/ #Teachers #TeachersofLitsy

I tend to read a lot of fantasy, but my reading gets more diverse when I'm working in a library, and here we have one about Syrian refugees travelling to safety. This book really struck me in places, though at times the alternate timelines annoyed me as I wanted to rush through the present timeline

What a beautiful story that was mesmerizing and inspiring to read. The story of a familys struggle as they travel from their home and make their way throughout the middle east. To see the struggles this family faces and how they depend on one another to overcome it. Beautiful.

Beautiful, amazing, magnificent inspiring just wonderful.

#7Covers7Days #Day2 The beautiful story The Map of Salt and Stars has such a beautiful cover, the multiple blues and the detailed archway adorning the cover. Beautiful.

Just started this book today, this will be my last non scary book before #Scareathon2019

Not read but found this fitting for #ayupaugust #star and #LetsTravelAugust

The novel tells the story of a family on their journey from their home in #Syria to safety in another country, through the eyes of Nour, the youngest daughter. The story moves between two narratives - an account of a Syrian refugee and a medieval tale of a mapmaker‘s assistant.

What a beautiful story – two stories, actually! The imagery it provokes made me feel like I was right there with them. It also opened my eyes as I had to keep reminding myself that one half of this book was set in 2011, you could easily fool yourself into thinking this stuff was happening 20–30 years ago. The sad thing is it still happens today, but books like this keep the beauty of those places alive.

Everyone needs to listen to this book. Seriously not only is it amazing, with a phenomenal narrator, but the story is so important and relevant to the world right now.

I loved this story. There is so much going on. A legend of a girl centuries ago, a modern refugee story, the trials of travel and trust while female. Above all, the magic of family and our histories.

This is a great option for #readharder2019 task 18 too.