Welcome to Litsy!

I stuck it out and was rewarded with the book just getting more and more depressing! All the different groups fighting for different things never stopped confusing me. Yet I did learn a lot and I don't know if I can say I'm sorry I read it. Just don't expect it to be anything like The Sparrow. Unfortunately some of her characters come off cheesy rather than profound and moving in this book.

Current read. I have another Maisie Dobbs waiting for me but trying to be disciplined and finish this first. Lots of events I never knew about. I have to go to Cape Town for 3 nights on Sunday so hoping to make progress with the library books I so energetically borrowed 😬

Posting these two together since it‘s the same author (and I forgot yesterday 😜 ) The Sparrow is my favorite #AboutScience #SciFi and the tagged book is my #BookYouOftenRecommend #WWII #HistoricalFiction

#marchMagic 💚☘️🪄

I loved this book! Russell never disappoints, but reading this book, with themes of how war is never a good thing, but how people reach out to help others in the worst situations, was particularly relevant with all we‘re hearing coming out of Ukraine. So many WWII books center on France, this is the less often told story of the war in Italy and the country people who helped those in need.

This is both the perfect time and the worst time to be reading this book!

A character list and two maps at the beginning of this book mean I‘m going to love it (plus it‘s by Russell) but I can already hear certain members of my book club whining that it‘s too complicated. 🙄 And I chose it because I consider her a good author whose work is accessible. #bookclubwoes

Ok, I give up at 3/4 mark. The title should read “Too Many Threads.” This is a disappointment because I‘ve enjoyed Russell‘s novels. I‘m glad this wasn‘t my first otherwise I would have been reluctant to read her again.

Who is more interested in the sandwich????? Yes, the dog AND cat sit at the table in the camper. Spoiled much? 😜

This book has been recreating today - golf carting, mini-golfing, and now lake swimming. Not a bad life for a paperback.😄

I almost bailed yesterday because it‘s difficult to keep all the names of characters and places straight. At the halfway mark and bailing is still not out of the question. I might admit to some skimming. 🤫

Ok ok, I‘ll read if I must. The sacrifices parents make for kids. 😏

In all fairness it‘s too cold to sit outside anyway. Had the furnace running this morning in the camper. I‘m such a wimp.

My reading view in the camper last night - not ideal. This book light is blinding. 😵‍💫

The dialogue writing is excellent, but I‘m getting confused with all the names and places.

My TBR closet……both fun and frustrating! I decided to go with the tagged book. I‘ve really enjoyed Russell‘s other books - except for the sequel to The Sparrow. She should have left well enough alone, IMHO. 🙂

So. I‘m trying to become a more regular library user and to stop buying so many books (since I‘m unemployed.) and what do I find a the library today? A $4.00 used book bag sale! Got a few gems. The tagged book is my favorite WWII story. I loaned out my copy years ago and never saw it again. Found this perfect hardcover version. Three Maisie Dobbs! And of course one book I already own. #bookhaul #librariesrock

Mary Doria Russell is one of the most versatile authors I‘ve read. She‘s written a space odyssey (The Sparrow and Children of God), westerns (Doc and Epitaph), and a WWII book (A Thread Of Grace) all of which were 4-5 star reads. She has two other books that I have not read yet but, believe me, they are high up on my TBR list.

Continuing my TBR project:
This is one of the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added March 31, 2015.

Wishing you a brilliant and beautiful life.

#thread #readingresolutions @Jess7 #may

I‘m updating our emergency preparedness kit, so of course I started with the books.

Here are my recent finds at the Library Friends book sale!

I'll admit, most of my issues with this book have nothing to do with the quality or the importance of the story.

There was more head hopping than I really enjoy. And each character had first and last names, and two or three nicknames depending on the native language of the narrator.

I'm also burned out on WWII novels after six months of two book clubs. This was the first with Jewish main characters though, and I appreciate that. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

More WWII historical fiction favs. One is about the Italian resistance and one is about occupied France. #war #maybookflowers

#catsoflitsy It's hard to do anything when Leo gets lovey, and reading becomes a contact sport. Trying to wrap up book #31 for this year.

Another hold came in so Kabul Beauty School is on the back burner again. It's not a huge problem; I always enjoy Mary Doria Russell's work.

This passage of my favorite book by my favorite author has been running through my head...

"There's a saying in Hebrew," he tells her. "'No matter how dark the tapestry God weaves for us, there's always a thread of grace.'"

A beautiful, but also heart-wrenching, tale of the little-known but wonderfully true efforts of the vast underground of Italian citizens who saved the lives of some 43,000 Jews in the final phase of WWII. A poignant reminder that humanity's deepest evils and greatest goodness are often found side by side.

I've had to put this down several times today, as I didn't want to be seen tearing up at work. It doesn't grip quite as hard as The Sparrow did, but good writing and so many characters to invest in.