Welcome to Litsy!

This was recommended to me by a bookstore owner. She said it was the book about women in Vietnam that should have gotten the attention The Women did. It's a look at the wives of US advisors sent to Saigon in the early days of the war. The setting is vividly drawn with both time and place. The writing is beautiful in this character-driven novel that explores guilt, responsibility to others, and intervention vs interference.

Literary and historical fiction with well-written prose of unlikeable characters. I most enjoyed the shorter section told from the POV of Charlene's daughters.

Belated, but here‘s my Christmas book haul from my mom! Very excited about all of these. I‘m prioritizing Martyr! though, for the 2025 TOB.

I really liked this historical novel about a young American woman living in Saigon during the early 1960s because of her husband's job.

I really liked this one! A compelling story of American women in Saigon in 1963. This is beautifully written, powerful, and thought-provoking. The pretty cover is a bonus.

My first Alice McDermott novel. Loved her characters and the setting. The plot was meandering, and I found the 2 narrators distracting. So-so overall, for me. 3 🌟
What McDermott would you recommend I read next?

Great writing. Good turn of storytelling in the last 1/4 of the book. Vietnam is the setting, but really how the rich, well to do, make a difference, is the focus. However, after reading A Man with Two Faces, the absence and/or Vietnam story in here could have made this more than what it is.

This was the B&N book pick for November and I found this to be such a good book...which in fact made me feel conflicted because I liked it. Highly recommend this one.

Enjoying this!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This complicated story – Set in Saigon during the Vietnam war, primarily about wives of businessmen supporting the US effort. Tricia writes a letter, decades later, to Rainey, who was a young girl when they met in Saigon. Rainey‘s mother was a force! Rainey writes back a response, memories etc from her perspective now as a later middle-age woman. Evocative writing! Who is at fault? Can blame be assigned? Everywhere and all ways. I wonder.

My sweet pup Copper is hanging out with me while I avoid figuring out how to write ALL the thank you notes for the interview I had this morning- that I think went *really* well (and hope I didn‘t screw up, somehow?! 😫 THINK POSITIVE 💡🌟
I had a fun (?!) discussion about #TOB with the Dean 😳 Welp, he asked, “what do you do for fun?”
I READ BOOKS, bake pie, and love on my doggos.

Check out the pretty earbud case I bought 💐

Reading and loving and, alas, about to finish Alice McDermott‘s ABSOLUTION. #fridayreads

#bookmail! Tagged is the new release from one of my favorite authors. She really takes her time writing, but always worth the wait. And The Berry Pickers is a debut - sounds fantastic!