Welcome to Litsy!

I love a well done epistolary novel and stories about Arctic exploration so the fact that this languished unread on my shelves for so long is a head scratcher. I am glad #24in2024 made me pick it up because I liked it so much more than I even expected especially reading about Sophie , the wife left at home who was ends up being the most dynamic character of them all.

Very interesting story about an army captain sent to survey Alaska, and his wife who was unable to accompany him. Epistolary novels are hit and miss for me, but their letters to each other were poignant and memorable.

A former coworker took a job in Anchorage and sent me this picture from her commute.

#setinsnow #springskies

Wow, this was incredible. Ivey has become one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed the epistolary format and both storylines. Excellent character development. Recommend!

#winterreadathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Book 11 finished for the readathon!

Love this

Starting this one next

Really enjoyed this. Just a touch of magical realism. I could have done with more, but it was great. Lots of detail about Alaska and wildlife. Very enjoyable!

#Bookmail

A new addition to my TBR, but it appealed the most when I went to the stack for a new title

I really liked parts of this, but in general it was just too slow for me. It seems when one POV got interesting it would then switch and the momentum never caught up for me. But all in all, not bad. I enjoyed the pictures and "extras" throughout. Thanks for a great round of #LMPBC ! @Laughterhp @BookBosomed1 @ncsufoxes

Got this in today! #LMPBC
@BookBosomed1 this isn't my book but I will pass your note along! ❤
@ncsufoxes @Laughterhp

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This 📖 is about how ppl can view the natural world in different ways; how we are but a small part of it. A mixture of historical fiction, romance, and adventure, this 📖 is ambitious. I ❤️ the novel‘s construction - letters, photos, journal entries, newspaper headlines, etc. Intersecting myth & reality, this novel is something to behold and reinforces my desire to visit AK. Great #lmpbc pick! @ncsufoxes @kellyann28 @Laughterhp

February themed tea bc I‘m a cheeseball; the mug @sprainedbrain gifted me is proving useful once again! @kellyann28 I am almost finished with the tagged #lmpbc book; I anticipate it being in the mail to you by the beginning of next week. @ncsufoxes @Laughterhp

🍷, 🎶, 🕯, 📕. Hope you are having a relaxing Saturday evening.

Good morning, morning glory. TGIF.

Started this tonight. Took me about 50 pages to get into it, but now I wanna know what happens! I‘m hoping to finish it by the end of the week so I can get it in the mail.🤞 @ncsufoxes @Laughterhp @kellyann28 #lmpbc

@ncsufoxes Got it! @Laughterhp @kellyann28 #lmpbc

I liked this #lmbpc pick, although it took me a while to get into it & took me a lot longer than usual to get through a book. It was an interesting story that was very detailed about an expedition to explore the Alaskan territory. The story slightly touched upon the current struggle that many families must feel about preserving a culture (that many were taught for years was not acceptable) & navigating the modern world. #bookspin book

An excellent winter read for me… historical fiction perfectly combined with magical realism, mystery, adventure and a bit of romance, all with Ivey‘s fantastic writing. I loved the Alaskan wilderness setting, the characters in the 19th century timeline, and even the more modern-day storyline.

My most recent read for #LGP2E, heading for Scotland next. Great choice, @KimM ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Also my #doublespin for January.

#wondrouswednesday

1. Tagged. I had forgotten how much I loved this book. I need to reread it this winter.

2. Work less. For reasons out of my control, my workload doubled and I worked an insane number of hours in 2021. This is just not sustainable for another year for me as a human being. So I‘ve got to find a way to work less.

Want to join in? @Butterfinger @Catsandbooks @Jari-chan @mdm139 @Amiable @BookBabe @Nute @freeatlast1137

Thanks for the tag @BookDragonNotWorm 1. I‘m currently reading Bewilderment/ doing an audio-print combo 2. Favorite holiday movie is ELF with Will Ferrell (it never grows old) and I‘ve tagged my favorite snowy read❄️ #WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. I‘m probably going to start The Trees today for the #tob
2. Scrooged
3. One of my favorite books!

I totally just realized 2 books I read recently fit 2 #Booked2021 prompts! So now I‘m only 7 prompts behind!

ContainsPhotos - tagged book
Jewish author and MC - The Matzah Ball

I doubt I‘ll finish anymore prompts but at this point, who knows!

Wow, I really enjoyed this book and am happy to read more of this author. I loved the format and writing of the book. I now need to visit Alaska, which I‘ve never wanted to do before. I don‘t want to say too much since it‘s my #LMPBC book.

I‘ll try to get this out in the mail next week.

I‘ve been devouring books lately 🤷‍♀️this one marks my fifth this week! Spent some time outside today & found these cool mushrooms 🍄 I love sharing these moments with this guy

Magical Realism + Historical Fiction is perfection when done right and this book is the perfect example. I just finished the audio and after seeing other reviews, realized that the print book has photographs and other additives that authenticate the story. I really feel like I would have been even more tied to this beautiful story if I had read it in print. I think this book will be my second ever reread. Ivey is an amazing storyteller.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#birdonthecover #windsofmarch @Eggs

This may be one of my favorite books of all time. It's beautiful and absolute perfection. A collection of diary entries, letters, real and wondrous nature, and sacred mystery.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
Square 9
Bottom row bingo

I will gladly read any book this author ever publishes. Her books are beautiful ❤️

This one started off quite slowly and, initially, I wasn‘t sure. Two or three chapters in, though, and I suddenly fell in love with this book.

I loved the different points of view, told through different historic diary entries and also current day letters following the diaries‘ discovery.

Thank you so much for sending this to me Rachel @rockpools - I adored it!

This was my #bookspin for November and I‘m so glad that it was!

It‘s cold and foggy outside, and the chimney sweep has been today, so it‘s time for the first fire of the season!

This is where you‘ll find me, cozied up on the sofa, for the next few hours / days / weeks/ months *delete as appropriate....

The book‘s great so far Rachel! 😘 @rockpools

This was a super interesting historical fiction book! I think the events in the book seemed so real because it was based on actual expeditions to Alaska.

It's written by the author of The Snow Child, and I really enjoyed the writing of that one. And this had a similar magical realism kind of feel to it.

(excuse the bargain sticker; it started ripping the cover when I tried peeling it off 🙃)

Content warnings in comments ⬇️

Interesting story set in Alaska and PNW. #bright #boundtogetherjune

Breathtakingly beautiful. I loved all the different perspectives and material. Eowyn Ivey really has an amazing gift. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm so glad that at least our apartments have a huge garden. I would have struggled if there was no green and nowhere for the kids to play, as we're not allowed to go to for walks. Really getting into this book now.

I had the book, & audio #bookspin w/ @TheAromaofBooks There is a cast of characters in the audio version & the physical book has maps, photos & drawings from Alaskan libraries & museums, & more graphic details that add to the experience.
All in all it was very well done.
I had a hard time concentrating due to the #pandemic but the story was interesting, & quick paced, it can be a muddled with the rapidly changing voices and such.

"Allen - Stay warm and safe in the Far North & don't let the polar bears get ahold of you."

??. A lovely letter from a brother.

#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Pandemic and now snow?
Taking a walk to my favorite coffee stop to give them money and get out of the house. Listening to an audio and glad I am not trekking through Alaska!

4⭐️ I didn‘t know what to expect out the book but I really quite enjoyed it. I liked both of the main stories but enjoyed Sophie‘s story more that of her husband‘s. Excellent read. #2020 #bookstagram #litsyatoz #t #historicalfiction #epistolary #bookspin

Not even worth taking a photo of the graph of the 5 minutes I read #24b4monday

How much I read yesterday #24b4monday

#friyayintro on Saturday! Happy weekend!
1. Just the one
2. So good! And I‘ve not heard it mentioned anywhere.
3. Many - it was 🍕 & 🥗
4. 😂🦕🔑
5. ❤️❤️❤️

I totally forgot about this. Haven‘t been on a lot lately due to anxiety issues. But I‘ll be working on the book tagged. #24b4monday @SumisBooks @Andrew65 @jb72

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a beautiful, fantastic book! Everything Ivey wrote felt real, to the point where I Googled the characters just to make sure this was purely fiction. You feel their love, pain, and exhaustion. You can see the landscape of wilderness Alaska and the Native people they encounter. The book is all told through letters, diary entries, & photographs, and I loved every minute of reading it. Highly recommend!

The book that #bookspin has chosen for me. Am looking forward to it. Will start it later today.

I am curious about the black leather journal that you included. It‘s not identified in any way, but I can tell it‘s not your great-uncle‘s #handwriting. It is mostly filled with mapping and weather data, but there are also more personal entries—sketches and poetry. Do you know who this belonged to? #QuotsyJan20

Late to the show here because

1. I was sick with a stomach ailment I‘ve been battling for months. Not my fave way of starting 2020

2. Tagged

3. @TheAromaofBooks @tdrosebud So glad to have these new followers!

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Woke up in the middle of the night.. couldn‘t sleep.. finished Finding Christmas.. realized it was Christmas Eve... and #Jolabokaflod!

Thank you so much Susan for such a perfect winter pick and such yummy chocolates!! Happy Jólabókaflód!! ❄️?❄️?❄️ @Zelma PS that homemade card is everything. ♥️

I love the #jolabokaflodswap so much. Thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting it again this year! ♥️♥️ (will open 2nd one later ☺️)

What a gorgeous, enchanting, extraordinary, heartbreaking, joyous book! Col. and Mrs Forrester‘s diaries and other ephemera tell the story of his travels through Alaska territory in 1885, and her life while she awaited his return. A 19th century travelogue of sorts, and an equally enchanting story of the descendant who inherited the Forrester diaries and artifacts. If only they had really lived, I‘d fly to see the museum of their collections! 5⭐️

Book coincidence! This from the tagged book, while the mc in How to Stop Time talked about playing Greensleeves on his lute, and its inappropriate subject matter. I had to google it to understand the alleged vulgarity. And my innocence is shot: I always thought it a sweet lovely song and especially the Christmas song to the same tune. Now I cannot hear it without thinking why someone‘s sleeves might be green. 😊

I found this map illustrated for the tagged book on the internet. It is a fictional map based on the story. I cannot wait to get the book (in addition to the ebook I‘m reading now), so I can see all of the illustrations and photos, etc other than on my small screen.