Welcome to Litsy!

The mystery of what happens to Ruthie is apparent to the reader early in the book. That‘s not the focus. This novel is character-driven. It‘s heavy, it‘s sad, but it‘s also so real. The deep, visible scars of what has been done to indigenous people that we just ignore as if they are not there. But Berry Pickers says, “No, you will look. This story isn‘t even that far-fetched. Look, feel, and know.” I‘ve recommended it to so many others already.

Sad but not gloomy. Some lovely sentences. November book club selection out of the way and I think we will have a good discussion. #castthedie

It was a hard week for joy, but it‘s always there.
1. Reading one of my #castthedie picks. I love how pretty my butterfly bookmark looks against the cover.
2. My vet made a donation in Kili‘s memory.
3. After an unplanned clean out, my husband gave up two pairs of shoes for donation.
4. New Tana French book next year.
5. On game 162 of regular season, the Nationals honored their TV announcer Bob Carpenter who is retiring. #5joysfriday

I was sobbing by the end but what a great story

Look at me go #readyourkindle I am reading 4 books on this contraption right now, it‘s killing me! I should be on a European adventure instead of just reading for buddy reads and book clubs 😂😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This fiction #bookclub pick took me super long to get into. It was obvs where the story was going then took too long to get there. Some really good moments, but not really my jam.

I read 45 books January through June. These are my 5 ⭐️ absolute favorite of the bunch.

A tragic and heartwarming book that goes to the heart of human identity and the twist love (can it be called that when wrapped in privilege) blinded by sorrow can take. Felt all too close to the bone.

I loved this book! The author creates complex characters in a heartbreaking story about a young girl who is kidnapped at 4 years old, telling the story from her perspective and from the perspective of her brother who feels guilty about not preventing her kidnapping. This is so beautifully written!

Books 76-82 of the year.

Repost for @litsybookclub

New month, new book! Please join us in reading this month‘s selection. Questions? Ask @Graciouswarriorprincess

New month, new book! Please join us in reading this month‘s selection. Questions? Ask @Graciouswarriorprincess

Great book! Short and sweet. No big surprises, but just really well written. (23)
⭐️: 4/5

Eight books read in April. Overall a good reading month for me.

I started this book last night. It's really good! Read longer than I should have.🥱

Gorgeous book with beautifully portrayed characters. The plot is slow, which adds to the haunting atmosphere… but I absolutely loved this one

A hauntingly beautiful book! I absolutely loved the pace and intention of this book. A five ⭐️ read for sure!

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #TheBerryPickers #amandapeters #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookchat #libby

#12booksof2024 @Andrew65

#August. #12Booksof2024

@Andrew65

Playing review catchup today. When their youngest daughter goes missing in Maine during berry picking season, all the members of a Mi'kmaq family are left reeling, with consequences cascading down the years. But they aren't the only ones with questions. Norma has always known her parents kept secrets, but when her mothers worsening dementia reveals the worst one of all, her entire life is brought into question. A haunting read.

While I didn't cry, my heart ached the entire time I read this, which wasn't longer than 2 days because I was quickly immersed.The passage of time is swift but never confusing. The setting is rich, and the characters are vast, but the ones that are most vibrant are Joe and Norma. What a story!

📙 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 🌧

Finally . . . a day with 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 on the calendar! Summer seemed endless, but it finally feels like it's almost time to pop the turkey into the oven -- cold & rainy. It's a perfect day to stay home, light a fire, snuggle under a blanket, & finish reading 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 by 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. The folks at BookBrowse gifted me a hardcover copy, & I'm completely engrossed. 📖

Chefs kiss, this was an incredible read. This is a story about second chances, ones that come at the end of the line. I was stressing for Joe getting his second chance with bad things happening all the time. Same with Norma. Because you know practically immediately, it drags out. (In a good way) The story timeline took a bit to get used to, being all over the place, though it fit well with the theme. The ending made me cry, after all that occurred

5🌟/5🌟
This book made me cry. I don't often cry during books I read. Beautifully written.

5 ⭐️s. It's a beautifully written story about Mi'kmaq family from Nova Scotia and how their lives play out after the youngest child, a 4 year old girl, goes missing. I felt a connection to the characters almost from the start, and the structure and back and forth between the dual narrators worked really well in this case. This was my September #Doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

.

This book is truly beautiful, the first of my recommendations from my Book Spa and it was everything and more. Joe is a character than will live in your heart for a long time. The emotions in this book are raw, the content unsettling and a subtle view of life for Native Americans. This approach makes you think deeper without telling you what you should feel. A wonderful debut and I‘ll eagerly await her next .

When 5 year old Ruthie disappears, it sends the rest of her family, especially her brother Joe, spiraling, the effects that last for decades.
As a child, Norma was plagued by dreams of a mother different than her own, brothers & sisters, and a house full of laughter. It wasn‘t until a lifetime of gaslighting & emotional abuse later, does she find out that the dreams are actually memories of her childhood.
A lot of sad moments but such a good book

Really lovely. 💗 I found this quiet story of two families sad, beautiful, and hopeful. Tomorrow I‘m going to discuss it in a new-to-me book club!

Loved this!

Devastatingly good.

I finished up this book after a gorgeous day of hiking with Sietje. 2 waterfalls, 4 miles, over 1500 ft elevation, perfect hiking weather.

I liked the story and the writing though I felt the wrap up was a bit too simplistic.

Things always seem the worst just after they happen. Time will take care of this as time always does 🫐🪨

Such a good book! It‘s pretty clear from the second chapter where the book is headed but the point is how these characters get to point B, not what point B is. And that journey is so interesting. I did get lost in time once or twice but I didn‘t let that hold me up from enjoying the narrative Peters wove.

Four yo Ruthie disappears while her parents are berry-picking in Maine. I guessed what happened but still enjoyed the read🫐

#ReadAway2024
#Bookspinbingo
#Doublespin

@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @TheAromaofBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

5 ⭐

Our book picks for #MummyDaughterBookClub never cease to surprise me. Though, I think this is the first year I‘ve never even heard of my mom‘s OR my sister‘s picks!

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

This story of a missing 4 year old girl draws you in immediately. The story is narrated by only two people in alternating chapters: her older brother who was with her the day she disappeared, and the girl herself, brought up as someone else. You can‘t help but be immersed in the lives of these two people, along with their respective families. Such a good story!

4⭐️ I really enjoyed the book and definitely lived up to the hype of the book. If there was one complaint it was that the book seemed a little rushed at the end. #2024 #fiction #canadian #indiginous #contemporary #historicalfiction

My #bookspinbingo for July

A beautifully told story about a family tragedy.

When Joe and Ruthie are very young, Ruthie is kidnapped, and Joe is the last family member to see her.

The chapters in this book alternate between Joe and Ruthie (now known as Norma).

I thought Peters did an excellent job with this story.

Hurt people hurt people.
Many reviewers have used the word “heartbreaking” to describe this one and it‘s the word that‘s coming to mind for me as well. Readers follow two characters: Joe and Norma. Joe‘s 4 year old sister is missing while his indigenous family travels south to Maine to pick blueberries. Norma doesn‘t feel she fits in with her family. The two stories span decades.

[As pictured with my mom‘s blueberry bush 🫐]

A gift from the lovely and inimitable @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💙🫐💚

#Fruity

#SummerSouls

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This is a heartbreaking story of an Indigenous Mi‘kmaq child being stolen from her family as happened too many times throughout history.

This is a pick, kinda sorta. Norma has never felt like she fit in. Joe has spent his whole life running away from his guilt. This is a story about family. It took me forever to read. #theslumpisreal
Hopefully we will get a chance to chat about it @ShelleyBooksie & @dabbe

Ahhh this was HEARTBREAKING!! It wasn‘t hard to figure out what had happened from the very beginning but seeing how this one selfish act leads to just devastation for an entire family and more was powerful. It‘s nicely written and had great narrators. I found the ending bittersweet which just makes it feel that much more realistic. Highly recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I loved this story about a 4-year-old Indigenous girl who goes missing. The story that evolves is both intriguing and moving. Highly recommended!

#gottacatchemall @PuddleJumper (prompt 21. Karrablast Blue cover)