Welcome to Litsy!

How much do you read about a book before starting it? Often I don‘t even read the synopsis after hearing someone say “read this book!” So, I checked this out on Libby after hearing Ann Patchett recommend it on IG. I began reading and thought it was a great memoir. Surprise! At 25% I saw “a novel” on the cover😂 I‘m impressed because it read as a believable memoir (my fav). Reminiscent of Anne Tyler. Not big on plot; well developed characters.

Unless by Carol Shields. Book 9 of 2021.

This was my first dislike of the year. It was slow and just really dull. I did like the ending but the lead up just was not worth it.

This is my first by Carol Shields, and I‘m an instant fan. This book is about family, feminism, the writing process, powerlessness. Shields had a true mastery of language and style; I‘m constantly amazed by her prose.

It‘s a rainy and gloomy day here so Dobby is settling in for some cuddles while I try to finish this today so I can add to March‘s book report 🥰

Though I'm liking this, I'm also not in the mood to put the effort in of close reading just now.... So temporary #hibernation and some quick and easy reads for now.
Thanks for being my book rest Rosie #dogsoflitsy

Updated new read as bailed on the previous one after a couple of chapters.
Had this copy on my shelves, neglected for years.

#currentlyreading

It took me awhile to get into this, the style is vague yet stilted. But the style and transition word chapter titles (yet, nonetheless, thus, etc) match the feelings of Reta, the narrator. Reta has a long and solid relationship with an elderly feminist whose memoirs she translates. She is writing the sequel to her own novel. And she constantly questions and examines her relationships w/her 3 girls, the oldest is really struggling. #1001books

Starting something new! I need a break from my Kindle, so moving on to a new book for awhile. #24in48 #reading1001 #1001books

It‘s hard to get into... #Reading1001 #1001Books

I‘m just not feeling this one, not sure if it‘s my mood or the book... but it‘s my first DNF of the month.

#Reading1001

Some of my #tbr for #July. Besides these, I have Farewell, My Lovely by Chandler for #reading1001TBRtakedown, Woman at Point Zero for #Reading1001diversity.

I revisited this beautiful book via audiobook. Carol Shields creates such a compelling narrative about mothers and daughters; about the search for goodness in the world; about how the world is hard-wired to be tricky for girls and women. A great, painful-at-times read!

#audiobookwalk 😍 Spring!

#audiobookwalk 🌸

This book is an amazing exploration of motherhood and mother-daughter relationships, as well as the importance of words and communication. Overall, an impressive novel that I truly enjoyed. I‘m looking forward to reading Shields‘ other work.
#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

⭐️⭐️
This is nominally a story about a daughters flight into vagrancy and her search for "GOODNESS". It seems to me to be more concerned with the struggles of woman writers to be taken seriously. Is this meant to be ironic ?, a book about a feminist writer writing what seems like escapist romantic fiction, while waxing lyrical about housework. I just plain gave up trying to dissect all the layers of potential meaning.
Also poor Norah.

The start of this book is super melancholy 😔

Dear Carol, you were one of my very most favorite writers back in the 1990s. This is the third book of yours I've tried in the last year or so and deeply disliked. It happens. Thank you for all the warm memories. Love, Shawn

(Bailed less than 10% of the way in.)

❤️

#QuoteOfTheDay

TOKYO USED BOOKSTORE HAUL - BOOK 10 OF 15

I have a signed first edition of this, her last novel, in storage back in Canada. I never got around to reading it, and that's why I bought this five dollar softcover to read along while listening to the audiobook on TuneIn.

This was a harder read than I expected. Definitely a thinking book that I'll have to re-read at some point in the future since the message of the book becomes clearer towards the end.

"I'm not interested, the way some people are, in being sad. I've had a look, and there's nothing down that road."

It's be a couple of very slow reading months but catching up with this book

#lyricalApril #AmIWrong love Shields writing. I haven't read this one yet.

I would straight up come to blows with anyone over my assertion that this is Carol Shields' very best work. Book three of my student's guided study reading list.

When I'm reading a book, I love it when I discover ties in it to what is going on in the world around me, especially when it's not a front list title anymore.