Welcome to Litsy!

Sand, sand, sand—all that pulverized time. Eons ago, the world‘s burst hourglass spilled its contents here; now the years pile and spin, waiting with inhuman patience to be swept into some future ocean.

Someone wanted to check if this book really tasted of citrus. 🥲 #Bowser

First up in my #battleofthebooks prep. We've divvied up the competition book list between the three teammates. Off to a good start. Feels really nice to be reading again. #leftonread

Strange strange stories. Some better than others. Interesting re-imaging, or literal interpretations of myths and tales (ie the real personification of the devil). The title story is the best.

I‘m feeling very called out by this random book I chose to read 😭😭😭

#quarantinereads

My niece and I are sharing books.

Next up: Orange World. I‘ve read two stories so far and Karen Russell is already amazing.

#shortstories #magicalrealism

I woke up to a thunder and lightning storm this morning so I can‘t even be mad it was before my alarm 😍 I have a relatively full day of packing so I can move back home to wait out this pandemic, but I hoping to read a few stories in this today!

A collection of short stories. I really liked them. Weird and funny and smart.

Yesss. Looking forward to this library stack. I‘m aiming to read more nonfic and short story collections this year.

Just started this and it‘s really good so far.

Like most short story collections I found this really hit and miss. The stories I liked I really liked, particularly the story Orange World, but many of them were weak, like Tornado Auction was so dull and Madame Bovary‘s Greyhound was overly charmed by itself.

I‘m back to this book again. I enjoyed the few stories I have previously read, and hope to finish this time.

My haul from the library and Thriftbooks yesterday. Can‘t decide what to pick up next after I finish Ocean Vuong‘s novel and American Marriage.

“Writing that survives the bodies that produced it is always haunted, I guess.” Karen Russell is perfect for fall days, and I‘m glad I saved this one.

Karen Russell‘s new book, #Orange World, is supposed to be very creepy.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

Magical realism short stories from the author of Swamplandia. I had already read the title story in the New Yorker, and liked it, but the other new ones were great.

It's been awhile since I decided into any sort stories. Trying out this collection with lunch.

Also about to start this book (image from a Russell short story - Orange World, as a matter of fact- in the New Yorker). Can I finish it, Nickel Boys, and two nonfiction books before August 1? Well, that‘s the plan. 😂👀

I haven‘t read Swamplandia but have some friends who LOVE Karen Russell. I don‘t really enjoy short story collections, so let‘s see if I stick with it.

Really creative short stories that take a slight detour on the natural world. Well written, interesting but was not my favorite collection. Definitely will read this author again, but these just were a bit too supernatural for me!

Library haul!

Completely bizarre and brilliant collection of short stories. Incredible imaginings and beautiful writing from a truly unique mind.

This is my second favorite Karen Russell (I will always hold St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves as one of my favorite books.) Top stories include The Bad Graft, Bog Girl: A Romance, and The Gondoliers. All of these have some kind of conflict between humans and the natural world, from infiltrating cacti to corpses to a Florida covered in toxic water.

Loved it! The stories have really stayed with me. They're so slightly off reality.
#magicalrealism #tornado #bog #tree

Only one dud in this collection; the rest skirt adventure and horror and terrible reality.

I love her short stories so much, but I was completely spellbound by swamplandia! and I wish she would write another novel.

I‘m pretty sure Karen Russell writes with a magical pen. I LOVED these stories! Can‘t pick a favorite, they were all amazing. She‘s such an inspiration for my own writing.

Also, I went to see her read at Harvard Books. She kept looking at me during her talk and when I finally reached her in the signing line she said she thought I was her friend! Wish I was!

I am not feeling swoony about this, my first Karen Russell.

After 34 pages of paper writing in two days, the first year of my PhD is in the ~books~! It‘s time to tuck into this gem.

I read collections out of order; first I reread stories I‘ve already encountered, and then I read in order of most exciting title. I often don‘t make it to every single story.

How do you read story collections?

I had plans for this weekend, but mysteriously they've been cancelled. No one can explain this strange phenomenon. No one. #orangeworld @aaknopf #karenrussell

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO KAREN RUSSELL‘S ORANGE WORLD!! 🎉🎉🧡🧡📙🍊✴️🔶

Karen Russell‘s work is some of my favorite writing happening today, and it‘s so exciting to have her latest out in the world to shove at people!!