Welcome to Litsy!

Another thoroughly delightful read. It‘s the kind of story I really enjoy - a story about family and community and imperfect people trying to do their best. Gentle and heartwarming in the best of ways. A definite pick.

Superb, as expected. I think I've read all of hers now, which equally thrills and saddens me!!
I liked how she used the sibling relationship to demonstrate their lives and external relationships.

Hurrah, one of hers I haven't read!

What an enjoyable read! And so glad to read this debut novel after reading Tin Man and Still Life. Her passion for food and landscape, her concern with family in the broadest sense and the intergenerational interplay are all there. And a talking animal! I particularly enjoyed the childhood part of the book that at times made me laugh out loud.

Had to have something to read for my commute as Franzen‘s Freedom is too big to carry around. I had bought this as a gift for my brother in law but he had already read it. So far it‘s doing very well!

What a little gem 💎❤️😭. So much packed into this debut novel by Sarah Winman. Reminiscent of Kate Atkinson.
(Might‘ve neglected my family a little this evening in my quest to finish it 🙊).

#currentlyreading This one‘s been on my #tbr shelves for sometime. I have high hopes. 🤞
Reading spot: Fremantle, Western Australia.

Deep family bonds and strong friendships are depicted with humor, sarcasm and melancholy, with a focus on the special relationship between a brother and a sister and the sister and her best friend, who all share the secret of dark childhood trauma. As adults, a new trauma helps them mend their broken souls and sets them free. The second part of the novel seemed to add gravity to sadness and switched the narrative tone from child to adult.

Ok, post #3 on the Epic book haul I took home from my lovely local opshop last week, almost as soon as it reopened!
So many of them were looking brand new and unread.
I'm so excited about all of them
I hunted for Pillars of the Earth but only found 2 others by Ken Follett.
Bridge of Clay
Nelson Mandela
Belly Dancing for Beginners (Aust)
The Girl with all the Gifts
The Time We Have Taken (Melbourne, Aust 1970)
Possession
The Peppermint Pig (Jnr)

This book made me both laugh out loud and cry. Sarah Winman has become a must read author for me. She writes beautifully atmospheric settings but also characters you fall in love with. This was her first novel, & while it has a few flaws imo (almost too many ups & downs for its size), I could easily read it again because I‘ve fallen in love with the brother and sister, whose bond founds the story. Amazing side characters too and LGBTQ represent 🙌

I have finally finished all of #booked2020 spring choices.
1. Makes you Lol- When God Was a Rabbit
2. Parent & child memoir- All Over But the Shoutin‘
3. Tartan Noir- Raven Black
4. About Genocide- Paris Never Leaves You
5. Pan Asian Author- Life
6. Animal on Cover- How to Be a Good Creature

Told in two parts, one childhood and one as adults, there is so much in here from events to every emotion. What it really boils down to is family and friendship, the bonds, the losses, the loyalty. I didn‘t alway think the book should work as well as it does and it certainly falters in parts but overall I loved it. Did not intend to use this for the #makesyoulol #booked2020 prompt but the nativity play scene made me startle myself with laughter.

This is a lovely, heartwarming family drama set in London, Cornwall and New York. Although it is a little dark in places, there is plenty of humour. It‘s a tale about love in all its forms. I loved it.
5⭐️

Just started this one.

Thanks so much for the great book and many chocolate goodies! Happy jolabokaflod Kerri!
#jolabokaflod

Phew! It has been a crazy few weeks (the silly season indeed) but now I‘m sitting alone in a gorgeous cafe enjoying a cuppa and a good book. ⁣
⁣
Life is good when you slow down. ⁣

#Weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

- I‘m planning on finishing up ‘When God was a Rabbit‘ on Audio, then starting the John Boyne.... both of these are for #pop19...almost done!
- In print, I‘m hoping to finish up the charming ‘My Family and other animals‘ then start ‘On earth we are briefly gorgeous‘ ... it‘s been calling me from my nightstand for too long! 📚💕

#SouperSundays
Started my new (re-read) of an audiobook this morning (for #pop19) whilst #audiosouping

Tried a recipe from November‘s Oprah magazine... we may not get fall weather in SoFlo but I still had a craving for fall flavors!🍁
Roasted cauliflower & butternut squash soup with cinnamon and cumin...🥣
It was supposed to have Halloumi croutons, but I couldn‘t find any at the store, so added my own Florida twist of avocado and Sriacha! 🥑🌶

#NovemberTBR
I‘m hoping that I‘ll finish up all my challenges this month...
Top 4 are my last prompts needed for #pop19 - a favorite reread, based on a classic, ‘sugar‘ in the title and a ghost story.
My current read is Brideshead revisited, my last prompt for #booked2019 for public domain.
And I‘m at 90/100 for my goodreads goal.

Erotic Stories and One Day in December are for upcoming book clubs...

The Ocean Vuong is just calling my name😊💕📚

Oh, my poor heart 💔 Winman really knows how to write an emotional book, and her debut is no exception. A story about starting over, trauma, memories, love and family. A story with darkness, with beautiful writing, and with a lot to discuss.

I go back to work on Monday, so I‘m really savouring the last of my vacation mornings 📖☕️

#currentlyreading

#ayupaugust #Babies I loved this Rabbit book , and there is that mad nativity scene in the first part of the book !!!! Also I‘m posting a pic of a very famous baby

IRL Bookclub book last night. A book of two halves was the verdict & we were split about which half. Scored between 6 & 9 ( out of 10)
I loved it ,( especially the 2d half ) some felt it was a bit too much ( kitchen sink & all ) ..
the night ended with a sing song , the song of the night @TrishB was The Leaving of Liverpool ... I‘m calling us the singing Bookclub now 😂

All the stars ...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I loved this book. All of life is here . The way she could move between delightful & funny .. to suddenly dark & tragic.
I listened to Sarah Winman speak on YouTube , she says “ the more fantastical the stories, the more pain that‘s underneath “ this hit a cord with me. I preferred this one to Tin Man ( maybe I need to read that again) and I‘m looking forward to A Year of Marvellous Ways ✨love her writing ! Exceptional

Starting now for IRL Bookclub....

#WoundrousWednesdsy @Eggs

1. I‘m called Catch by near ones. It was the first name I called myself & it stuck ,my first boyfriend brought me a Catch bar & ( & a flower ) for my debs
2. I could find a few 😄. But I‘ll go with our IRL Bookclub pick for this month
3. Not really , if I like/ don‘t like a book no hype can stop me
4. I appreciate a good cover very much , & I think it sells books. That‘s it though
5. Any Littens who want to join

when i finished Sarah Winman‘s TIN MAN last year i knew i had to check out her backlist. so glad i did!

I‘m hoping 🤞🏻to make a dent in these for June. The tagged book is for IRL Bookclub- so that will definitely happen ...

I loved Tin Man so much that I have been postponing reading another book by Winman, afraid to be disappointed.
And I am, a bit, now. This was clearly a debut: it is a story about a family, their friends and all that happens to them in a lifetime. Love, magic, homosexuality, abuse, 9/11, coming of age... it‘s all there. Winman writes wonderful but she was still searching, I think.

#ATY2019 book related to Zodiac Chinese Animal
#ReadingUSA2019 NY

Boring and mundane. Loved the characters but the story had no real umph to be fair was it really a story. For me I was just expecting a bit more.

I had the last of my birthday celebrations yesterday, and now I‘m beat! I‘m planning on spending my Sunday on the couch before going into a busy week tomorrow.

And would you look at this stack of #birthdaybooks 😍 I‘m not running out of reading material any time soon!

... Odd, but I think I liked it. I just read this in one long sitting while home sick today. The book was split into 2 sections, one about the childhood of Elly and her brother Joe, and the other about their adulthood. Parts were surreal and parts were about the mundane moments that define a person‘s character and life. An interesting circularity to the story, if that makes sense. Winman makes use of both clarity and ambiguity in her storytelling.

#bookmail. i couldn‘t wait on the tagged title, @LiteraryinLititz !

This brought back wonderful memories and made me laugh out loud. I can‘t tell you the number of times I did this when the teenagers piled into the car after a soccer game.

Finished this book while relaxing on the porch. Winton‘s name kept popping up so I grabbed her debut novel at the library. It was a welcome relief to read her work. A captivating story, great characters, and a style of writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. I‘ll definitely find more of her books to read. My only complaint is the title. Has so little to do with the story.

“It is the source of art, of beauty, of love, and proffers the ultimate goodness to mankind.... that to me is life” - Arthur when asked by Elly if he believes in God.

#7favesin7days @lauren.lerner
Day 5

We just read Sarah‘s new book The Tin Man for book club . I went to the library looking for her second book but the only one they had was this , her first, which I had read and remembered loving. But as per usual couldn‘t quite recall the story. 😊 . So I just read it again and loved it again . 😍😍 . @MrsMalaprop

Today's author's spotlight: Sarah Winman. The 53-year-old was born in Essex, Britain, and currently resides in London. She made her literary debut in 2011 with the tagged book, winning several awards. Prior to writing, she was an actress, performing in theater and films and on television, including "The Discovery of Heaven" and "Midsomer Murders". Her third book, "Tin Man", was released last year. #AuthorPotpourri #TheMoreYouKnow

#10authorrecommendations
Liane Moriarty, Sarah Winman, Emma Straub, Nigel Slater, Kate Atkinson, Kazuo Ishiguro, David Nicholls, Maggie O‘Farrell, Jeffrey Eugenides, Audrey Niffenegger, Fredrik Backman .... these are all authors where I‘ve read 2 or 3 books written by them and definitely want to read more..... 💕

A coming-of-age story set in Essex and Cornwall. Elly tells of her childhood with her brother Joe, & their eccentric parents, in a series of scenes and vignettes. I liked this but it was a little too sentimental for me. There is a background story with old neighbour Mr Golan but on this theme (& the sibling relationship) I preferred Anne Enright's The Gathering - a high bar, I admit! But I liked the warmth, humour & characters. Pic: David Bromley

Thanks to @aloslibrary for my awesome #litchristmasinjuly box! I loved everything in it, especially the card designed by your son! #bookhaul I've already used the soap and it smells soooo good!

Really enjoyed reading this during #24in48 #read2017

I KNEW I had a copy somewhere....can now return borrowed copy mid read. Spot the difference - why the minor change, and same publisher!!? Mine is the one on top.... Maybe I bought it near Christmas....

Really enjoying my first #24in48 choice