Welcome to Litsy!

Just got back from a much needed long weekend vacation on the Mississippi gulf coast!

In Louis, Miller has created a quirky, unloveable main character -who speaks his mind, alienates those around him with a frank meanness and has a rather warped world view. He begins to reconnect with the world when he acquires a dog. Although he's bitter with an ugly sense of superiority and I really didn't want to spend time with him- I could admire Miller's observations, her attention to detail and the skilful way she created his small world.

Having a quiet half hour with my new book. I want to love it - but I just do t like the main characters - he makes my skin crawl! But his story is compulsive reading!

Starting this one tonight about a man who‘s life changes when he gets a dog. It was a lovey present from @Soubhiville after we saw it in an Austin bookstore. Little did I know that a year later that I‘d be digging in - reading it with a puppy nestled on my lap! 😘

It‘s quite a quirky tale. The main character is somewhat eccentric and grumpy, but luckily for the reader, the dog is lovable and happy. It‘s primarily about ageing and the feeling of becoming gradually invisible. It‘s also about loneliness and how a dog can make all the difference to a person‘s life. Layla saves Louis‘ life in a way, I think. It‘s told as a ‘slice of life‘ story so not for those who enjoy action packed stories.

3.5 ⭐️

I‘m reading this one at the moment. I enjoy stories about animals.

Thank you thank you thank you sweet friend. We saw this whilst bookshop shopping together back in October - so already I love it. Thanks @Soubhiville
❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚

@Mitch and I both picked up this book at Book People to read the blurb. We talked about the interesting choice of the young female author to write a main character in his early 60‘s, going through what he calls “a 3/4 life crisis.”

While I found it an uncomfortable read, I couldn‘t put it down. With topics of late life divorce, a strained relationship with his kid, alcoholism, retiring, weight issues, it‘s rather dark. But there‘s a sense ⬇️

3 1/2 stars for this one and that half a star comes solely from the character development that only happens in the last three pages of the book. Louis, the first-person narrator, is far from likeable, but I cheered for him to get better. I loved the style of the writing so I‘ll definitely be looking for more from Mary Miller. It‘d be perfect for anyone who likes day-in-the-life plot lines and has a soft spot for grumpy guys.

I picked up this one because I live about an hour north of Biloxi and we drive down pretty regularly. So it was neat to read about a place I am so familiar with. This book is written as a kind of stream of consciousness of a 64 year old recently divorced and retired man. It's not a happy feel good book at all, but I found myself having a lot of sympathy for the main character.

Mary Miller shows us 21st C Southern culture through her character Louis McDonald Jr and his dog. Her dry humor makes this a delightful read.

Mary Miller at Lemuria Books in Jackson MS.

Saturday morning porch reading and 82% done with current read. I‘m liking this book so far but it‘s not a favorite like Mary Miller‘s last book was for me. She writes women soo well and she‘s not quite as successful with a male pov. I do so love lonely older characters tho, it‘s kinda my jam lately

Catching up on my eARC backlog (this one is from live right publishing via edelweiss, out May 21) - Biloxi is about 62 year old Louis, who is trying to figure out how to live after his wife left, his father died, and he "retires" from his job. ⤵️

Entertaining enough that I finished, but there is just no plot here. Lots of folks from my book club would love that but not my bag 😜 #24b4monday

Morning reading. ❤️📚❤️