Welcome to Litsy!

This book is difficult to pin down; a high fantasy that isn‘t high, a murder mystery that‘s always been solved, a quest with no real end. I think, it‘s a story about stories, love, and humanity, and the sacrifices we must make to keep them all whole. Taryn says, “We humans were declared unfit for command” and the truth of that is as vibrant as it is difficult. For we don‘t have any new gods to count on, only ourselves. Also, beautifully written.

I seem to be alternating between fantasy, mystery, and romance for the summer, and I‘m not mad about it😅

Right. First off, it does NOT rank alongside "His Dark Materials": get a grip, Guardian reviewer, do!
It's not a bad book exactly (it held my interest through some lengthy reading sessions) but it's... well, WHAT is it?! Starts off with an investigation into a murder and the perpetrator's subsequent death: I turned the page and we were in the land of the Sidhe in search of a magical artefact. What? How? Who? Hnhh? Don't even know! ?

At the halfway mark and I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It's holding my interest but is starting to feel like it's taking a long time to get where it's going. Wherever that might be. 🤷

The Way to Fairyland mystery bag book reveal. Anyone see a fave?

I made my first cake with the fancy Bundt pan a friend gave me for Christmas: lemon glaze! We‘ll see how it turned out when the giver comes for supper tonight.

I‘m about halfway through THE ABSOLUTE BOOK now, and it‘s sliding into the same territory as THE STARLESS SEA; ie, it‘s something I initially thought I‘d love but I‘ll probably end up really liking instead. I‘ll take it. #audiobaking

Litsy isn‘t wild about THE ABSOLUTE BOOK, but I think I‘m gonna love it as of 14%. It‘s detailed and allusive and surprising; classic Elizabeth Knox. Let‘s hope it keeps up.

I also finished the first half of my second book nook (aside from two pieces I‘ll have to hold in place for aaaages)! This Jiangnan canal isn‘t as detailed as the Japanese alley, so it‘s come together relatively quickly. #audiocrafting

I was hesitant after seeing negative reviews, but ended up loving it. The story is rich and complex, with so many layers to unravel. Some of it was a bit like a dream and some a bit like Studio Ghibli movie- you might never know what or why some things are, but the story as a whole is absolutely enchanting. I will read it again for sure, slower next time so I can savor it.

This book doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up.. it's bloated and confused. Feels like the author mashed in absolutely way too many different themes and genres.. and forgot about creating a cohesive plot.. 😐

This was a long, tedious read. It took some effort, tbh. But there was plenty about it I really enjoyed. The descriptions/world building were fantastic. It had some humor sprinkled in. The characters were so likable at times but they annoyed me too, including the MC. They often spoke in riddles and left me confused. The prose felt poetic at times, and chaotic at others. It was a rollercoaster, for lack of a better word. I‘m glad I finished it lol.

“‘I‘m carrying every promise I ever made,‘ Neve said. ‘And I can scarcely support the weight of those I broke.‘”

“But when Taryn tried to remember books, the only one that came to mind was her own. Was her own book the only one she‘d ever really needed?”

As a writer, I love this quote. Granted, I need all the books but still lol. I love the sentiment.

I started this book 3 months ago, it‘s 626 pages. I did take breaks from it now and then and read other books as well. It‘s a bit of a tedious read. I do enjoy it for the most part, but I‘m glad I‘m coming to the end and can‘t wait to see how it concludes. And I also can‘t wait to get to the next book in my TBR pile.

Look, I did it! #BookSpinBingo

I finished it all the way to the end, rather than DNFing it, but I'm still not entirely sure what I think of it. I'm going to have to let it sit.

Picked this up again on impulse and read 100 pages -- but I still don't really "get" it? One of the main characters is called Shift, and he's really difficult to pin down, vague or almost talking in riddles, and the whole book feels like that. I think I'm curious enough to finish it but it kind of makes me cross as well.

Even though this has just gone all Arthurian, I'm not sure I'm interested enough to finish it? At least not for the end of January, which is unfortunate because I need to finish it to finish off a line for #BookSpinBingo...

Which I'm worried is what is tempting me to DNF it. It just... kinda isn't speaking to me? It reads perfectly fine when I pick it up, but picking it up's the problem.

“He tried to say that no one had a fate, not the man in the street, the world leader, the CEO of the tech company trying to solve the problem of a cost-efficient solar battery; not the young man wearing a bomb vest who believes that someone on Earth might know what God wants. There was no fate… Fate was someone else‘s idea of how the world worked, a story people inherit, a lie they‘re told.”

I have absolutely no idea what to make of this. I'm not even quite sure I'm enjoying this, because I feel like it always stops just short of giving me enough information to start putting things together for myself. I also kind of don't want to stop, though.

Whoa. This starts out feeling like a very different genre (crime/thriller) and then whomp! We're in faerieland (or so I guess).

This is the last book I need to get a line in #BookSpinBingo, so I thought I'd start it already! I'm reading veeeery mixed things about it in reviews, but I'm not far enough into it to really have an opinion yet.

I absolutely love that this book references one of my favorite films 😍

At the park enjoying my book while my kids play 😊

“People love the idea that there are things that matter which last and last, and outlast banks, businesses, and governments. Of course we wish the world was like that.”

“Time passes, generations rise and fall, but even with the changes something stays the same—truth and the conspiracy that keeps the truth hidden.”

Up next, and I‘m excited about this one 😁

This book wasn‘t at all what I thought it was going to be: it was so much better. I was attracted by the title & a quick glance at the synopsis made me think it was going to be some sort of suspense thriller but it is more a mythological, fairy talesque thriller. Really enjoyable.

A really good book so far.

Full review: https://scepticalreading.com/2021/03/march-buddyread/

Probably one of those masterpieces I'm just too dumb to understand and appreciate.

Intricate, highly rewarding contemporary fantasy: this starts out seeming like a crime thriller and then brings in layers of Celtic, Norse, Christian & Arthurian mythology, plus parallel worlds, plus sociopolitical and environmental justice issues. It‘s a fun ride with queer content. #Audiobook read by Anne-Marie Duff.

She could stay. She could start a library, build a small house and fill it with the books she remembered. A real house with ghost books. But when Taryn tried to remember books, the only one that came to mind was her own. Was her own book the only one she‘d ever really needed?

They made us believe we were weaklings if we couldn‘t do everything for ourselves, by ourselves. We all say, “So, I failed,” when mostly we‘ve been failed. They made us afraid of one another, but of themselves they say, “There is no they.”

Simnel cake with its marzipan top. #audiobaking

#Audiobaking. My neighbour was nostalgic about simnel cake, which she hasn‘t eaten since she left Yorkshire many decades ago, so I decided to bake one for her.

Starts off like a psychological crime thriller and veers off after 50 pages into fully-fledged fantasy, encompassing the Sidhe (fairies to you and me), Odin's ravens, Purgatory and much else besides. Beautifully written and mad as a box of frogs. Loved it.

It's very rare for me to bail, but then it's very rare for me to hate a book as much as I hated this one. Maybe hate is too strong a word ... or not. I hated it. Sorry, just embracing my inner Grumpy Cat.

It's just a mess of things happening, nothing follows on, a lot of it makes little sense, the plot is confused, dialogue is overblown, poor world building, appalling action scenes, and, worst of all, it's BORING!!!

I'm a conscientious book finisher but boy, am I fed up with the tagged book! I'm not gonna mince my words - I hate it! It's just so much nonsense! Things happen then more things happen & I'm still utterly clueless as to what's going on and why!

I'm at 61% Do I persevere? Cut my losses? Quitting a book is a big deal for me but I really am NOT enjoying this one in any way 😕

Starting this one tonight. Have read mixed reviews - have a feeling it's going to be one of those books I either totally love or completely detest, no middle ground. Let's see which way it goes....

With thanks to #netgalley for this book.

"When Taryn Cornick's sister was killed, she was carrying a book."

That's a strange and strong first line.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

@Centique

Look, my current TBR looks like your book report from a year ago.

#BookMail #buddyread

This month @DuckOfDoom and @Maike and I are going to read this slim doorstopper.

The blurb sounds intriguing. I admit, I haven't read anything by this author from New Zealand 🇳🇿 yet.

It's so sunny and gorgeous today! 45° which is spring weather for Michigan! 😂🤣 I couldn't resist taking a walk at the park! There's still snow on the ground, and it was quite a mushy walk-but totally worth it for the fresh air and sunshine! 🌞🌿💕📚

Just downloaded this and I can‘t wait to get into this!

It's a winter wonderland outside today! ❄☃️🌬 And there is a winter storm advisory starting tonight into tomorrow as well! I'm enjoying a cozy morning with tea and a book before I go into work this afternoon! 💕📚 Loving this weather-it's perfect for reading!

Finally finished this, just wasn't captivated. Didn't care for any characters. Overall a satisfactory read though I expected to like it much more than I did as I've loved Knox's other books.

#bookreport Well I finished two books this week which is about average for me - but considering it was a 4 day week, we all had colds, I had two school events to attend and a bunch of kids to take trick or treating... not too bad!

The weather is wonderful here today - just a shame we‘re all sick - but still trying to sit in the sun, sip some Vitamin C and listen to the birds chirping Spring songs.

Absolute Book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chilling Effect ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this but I can‘t think of anyone else to recommend it to! It‘s a clash of a fantasy world with a contemporary one, written in a literary style. Perhaps if you liked Lev Grossman‘s The Magicians but wanted it to be less like Hogwarts and more Cormoran Strike?
Anyway, Knox does a fabulous job of imagining the other world; the gods and fairy folk and the way their magic works is deftly woven and enchanting. ⬇️

This book is complete madness and yet I‘m thoroughly enjoying it. ALSO first day out on the water this summer. Look @Reggie we have a replacement boat 🎉🎉🎉 Thank the lord the drama of the stolen boat has concluded. Gorgeous day - the water‘s turquoise coloured from a distance, clear up close, and this beach is pebbled and grey. Been watching paradise ducks on shore and terns diving for fish. 🦆🦅🐟🐠 Glorious.