Welcome to Litsy!

August #wrapup

Had a good reading month! My favorite was Nine Stories but that was a reread. I enjoyed The Family and the first half of Morisaki Bookshop but I didn‘t care much for the 2nd half of the book. Also read a couple of cute dog stories.

It‘s been a minute since I‘ve participated in #hyggehourreadathon so after a busy morning of cooking and hosting a family brunch I decided to take the afternoon off to indulge in a summer time treat, iced coffee, and lose myself in the books that I‘m currently reading.

⭐️.5 The 1st DNF in a while. Made it to 65% & decided to find joy in my life again & just stop reading this. I had high hopes, but the execution was all tell zero show. Impossible to keep track of characters. There wasn‘t a plot. It wasn‘t an epic sweeping tale of friendship. No mafia action. No character development. Surprised it was a #BOTM pick at all. No Karen from Goodfellas vibes! No Carmella queens in this book. I could go on…

Two best friends, like sisters, are shaken when one‘s father ‘disappears‘… Both of their dads were in the “Family”. This obviously has an effect on the friendship

#MissingPerson

#NewYearNewBooks

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Sofia and Antonia are best friends and each is a daughter of an Italian mafia family. But it feels like betrayal when there is unrest between the two dads…shortly after that Antonia‘s father goes “missing”

#Betrayal

#AutumnPlease!

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This story is about the mafia, but at its core it‘s really about two best friends and their deep, deep love for one another. I thought it was pure poetry. Krupitsky has such a way with words - I ached for all of these characters.
I‘m shocked that so many people said it was a slow read because I really didn‘t want to put it down.

#BorrowNotBuy #MoreMehThanYeah
Two girls are raised liked sisters as their fathers are both part of the tightly knit “family” ( Italian mafia)
Super predictable and very lackluster- not a pan but totally a book that can be skipped 👎🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A readable coming of age story that follows best friends growing up in a New York crime family. Though I did enjoy the character development and exploration of the role of family in one‘s fate and life choices, I think I wanted it to be more gritty and action packed than it was. Not much happens for most of the novel, and then the cliff hanger ending is just too implausible. Krupitsky does get an extra star for her poetic and lyrical prose. 3⭐️

Read this as part of #LMPBC #GroupM . I‘ve never read a mob book before. While it was not my cup of tea, it was eloquently written and certainly entertaining. A rare look at the mob from the wives‘ point of view.

A captivating debut novel about the tangled fates of two best friends and daughters of the Italian mafia, in twentieth-century Brooklyn.

#Family #DivineDecember @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

There is nothing that cannot fall apart 🖤

This was good, not great and something I fear I‘ll forget in a few months. I loved the premise: a pair of girls growing up together in NYC with ties to the Italian mafia. The novel spans their girlhood through adulthood in 30s-50s Brooklyn. There was nothing specific I didn‘t like, but it just failed to “wow” me. Maybe it was my mood?

This is a story about the Italian mafia. It‘s told from the point of view of the female “family“ members. I found that perspective to be unique. I found this book to be well written. The beginning was a little slow, but I had a hard time putting it down when I got towards the end. I enjoyed reading about the relationship of the two daughters who were best friends throughout.

“Just as the sea receives from round the world its rivers, and is never satisfied….all his eating only left him empty.”

Krupitsky has a beautiful writing style and way with words. I have a feeling that these are richly developed characters in her mind, but the final story felt made them feel distant. We never really get to know them. But overall, a good first novel and I look forward to reading her future work.

I thought this was pretty good overall.

1. 50 pages in so let's say 3 ⭐️
2. A couple great nonfiction - Hill Women, 1619 Project and Countdown 1945
3. Working from home!
Thanks for the tag @fredamans @Eggs #wondrouswednesday @Kshakal @RaeLovesToRead @peaknit

Krupitsky paints a true-to-life portrait of friendship with two girls whose families are swept up in the Mafia. Her decision to write in the third person present kept the girls at arms length, though.

Sofia and Antonia grow up next door to each other in 1930s Brooklyn. Their fathers belong to the Family, and the decisions made by them and for them have long reaching consequences. The book follows the girls from 1928 to a fateful night in 1948.

"There is nothing that cannot fall apart."
I really enjoyed this. I think the low rating is due to bad marketing - you should never compare a debut to a colossal storm like My Brilliant Friend. I have read that -years ago - I would not have thought of it while reading this if it hadn't been promised to be like it.
This is a slow burn read quiet and contemplating, it is not for everyone but I love these types of books.

#weeklyforecast
I really want to start tackling the Women's Prize Long list but I need to finish up these library books. I grabbed the tagged on audio to help get me through my backlogged book of the months.

A beautifully written story that chronicles the lives of two friends, from childhood to motherhood to an event that will change their lives forever. Antonia and Sofia are part of The Colicchio Crime Family, living a contradictory life - one full of loyalty to The Family even as they fight against its constraints. A mob story is nothing new, but Krupitsky taps into an emotional earnestness with her prose that is, at times, haunting.

I didn't like this book. It was slow and boring. There's a couple interesting moments...but mostly there's no plot.

Like Elena Ferrante‘s Neapolitan novels if they were shorter, took place in Brooklyn and had way more mob families in it. I got the same vibes from Antonia and Sofia as I did from Lenu and Lila. Antonia had the same thirst for more that Lenu did and Sofia had Lila‘s restlessness. Add on that you follow these women for 20 years from childhood on and it‘s hard not to draw comparisons.

2-7-22: My 11th finished book of 2022! This is the story of Sofia Colicchio and Antonia Russo. Friends since birth, their fathers are a part of the mafia referred to here as The Family. After the disappearance of Antonia‘s father, things change between the girls as they grow up, meet and marry Family men of their own and become mothers. Starting in 1928 and leaving us off at 1948, this story felt unfinished to me. I wanted a more detailed ending.

I flew through this book, so clearly I enjoyed it! Considering the primary focus is on the perspective of two women, it's not the average mafia tale. It's a saga that covers a lot of ground, though that occasionally felt like a detriment because it seemed to skim quickly past important events for the sake of squeezing everything in. The ending was also a little too rushed for my taste. But overall a compelling read and solid #BOTM pick! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book #2 of 2022.

I want to give this more than a "pick". I absolutely devoured this #botm selection. A slow burn with a propulsive and unexpected ending.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1. The Family
2. 60 Books - in 2021, I read 55 books. I have two kiddos under 2 so reading time is a premium. We'll see how it goes 🤷‍♀️
3. Where the Truth Lies

A coming-of-age story of two girls born into Mafia families in New York in the 1930s-1940s. Explores how living in this world affects your outlook on life. The characters were well developed, and I found the writing style to be engaging. Really enjoyed this one!

I was hesitant about this book and from the first page realized I shouldn‘t have been. What an incredible debut by this author. I‘m hopeful she writes another soon. I loved these women, their friendship, dreams and their struggles overcome; as a woman I felt this book deeply. #botm

My last book of 2021 is tagged. I doubt I‘ll finish it before the new year. However, I do plan to start The Eighth Life on January 1st, no matter what. 😁

Thanks, @BookNAround ! #lastfirst

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It occurred to me that I‘ve probably never been too interested in mafia stories because unlike this book, most aren‘t centered around the female experience. This is a quietly powerful coming-of-age tale about regret, survival, and friendship. The present tense narration is different; it seamlessly flows from one character to another, which makes it feel like you‘re there, watching the story unfold. 🎧

As the font suggests, this mafia story reminded me a bit of The Godfather- but with a more female-centric focus. The friendship between Sofia and Antonia ebbs and flows as they age from childhood to adulthood. The omniscient, present-tense style takes a little getting used to, but all in all, this is an impressive debut that will make you hum “Dominick, The Italian Christmas Donkey” this holiday season! A good #BOTM pick for sure!

I had really high hopes for this to be a knock out coming of age in a world of chaos story but it really fell short for me. Sorry I was expecting a different type of book.

Be sure to check out my December Book of the Month predictions!

What are you hoping to see as picks for December?

https://stuckinthestacks.com/2021/11/25/whats-in-the-box-december-2021-predictio...

#botm #bookofthemonth #botmpredictions

#bookmail!! #botm + 1 👍🏻📚

#GratefulHarvest This was the #BOTM Nov. pick , I haven‘t started yet! About 2 best friends who share a common bond. Their fathers are in a particular kind of #family

This was a great 4 star read! I loved learning about Antonia and Sofia and the Family. Reading about their lives was fascinating and got me thinking of some of my friendships as well. Read it with a big plate of pasta and a glass of red wine and you‘ll be set 👍🏻

My box is here! I feel like I am always the last to get mine.

There was something about this story that immediately drew me in and I was near the end when I realized it. The MCs born in 1922 have yet to turn 30 by the final page, but the very good present tense writing had me forgetting time until historical reminders slid in. I felt like a fly on the wall that wasn‘t moving until the story resolved. I feel like there‘s another book or two for this Family, and I‘m here (well, a fly over there) for it.

#botm #bookmail

Thanks for the tag @RaeLovesToRead @TheSpineView

1. Rollercoaster - I seemed to read some great books (the highs) and then towards the end of the month I kept starting and putting down books left and right (the lows)

2. The tagged book. Today is its pub date 🙌 I started it last night and so far I don‘t think I‘ll be putting it down for another book 🤞

Play along!!

I love seeing my blue #botm box in my mailbox 🥰 And I completed the 2021 reading challenge so I got my free socks!!! 🙌🏻 This is a great way to start the new month 😁🍂🦃🍁

Already got one of my #BOTM boxes! The other one is pushed back until next week to ship because of my add-on choice.

My #BOTM picks! I'm glad one of the main picks finally piqued my interest enough to let me get the Rooney as an add-on 😆

Glad I saw someone post #BOTM November picks were available!

Decided on the tagged book. I almost got the fantasy book, but I‘m going to wait for reviews.

I also included the add on, because it will be a LONG wait at the library!

I am so excited about my November #botm box!!!

So excited for my #botm pick and my socks!!! 🙌🏻🧦📘

Honestly, if November wasn‘t my birthday month I probably would have skipped. I am interested in the book I chose, but it‘s one I probably would have waited to get from the library. What I am excited for is my add-on birthday gift In The Weeds. I‘ve seen great reviews for this memoir and I heard the author speak on a podcast. Huge fan of Bourdain‘s writing and shows, so I am really looking forward to reading this one!