Welcome to Litsy!

1. Coffee in the morning
2. Just starting tagged- strength and determination
Thanks @Kshakal @TheSpineView #two4tuesday

I reached my reading goal for the year, 75 books. I lowered it a bit this year but it‘s nice to know I‘m keeping up with my reading along with my other hobbies 😊

Whew! I found myself checking my duffle bag pockets before AND after packing for a short roadtrip. This is an excellent memoir about Brittney Griner‘s arrest and imprisonment in Russia. I didn‘t know a lot about her but I really enjoyed learning about her, her time in prison, her family and the hardships she‘s endured as a black, lesbian, 6‘9 basketball player. I really feel for those that don‘t fit the norm of society and the hatred out there.

This book was something. Russian prison is something I haven‘t thought a lot about, but now I will never forget it. And I will always empty my bags before I travel. #NFN

A great book to listen to. Griner and Burford do a great job of informing the reader of why WNBA players even play in Russia, what goes on in the Russian penal colony, her release, and her efforts to return to the sport. Her story of watching TV in prison and seeing Biden speaking with Nazi flags behind him and his voice being changed to the voice of Hitler shocked me. Though I guess it shouldn‘t have.

Brittney Griner, WNBA superstar, shares her harrowing experience in Russian detainment. She always felt different; she‘s 6‘7, and grew up towering over classmates and wondering when her figure will fill out. BG was an obvious target, stuffed into an airplane seat when Russian authorities singled her out for a search. CBD cartridges were found in her possession, (there by mistake, but legally possessed in the US). A great memoir.

This book changed my views on her. Good for her for holding on and being tough though her circumstances.

BG‘s story is well told, and her voice comes through in this bio. She accepts responsibility for a minor mistake, and does a great job explaining her experience and the impact that had on those around her. I bet she‘s a great teammate- she was consistent in awarding praise to those who helped her legally, with translation or with kindness in her darkest hour.

Another book I likely never would‘ve picked up without the Litsy reviews I read and just would have missed out. I found this audiobook fascinating. I really didn‘t know anything at all about Griner until her Russian arrest so I learned a lot about who she is alongside the story of her arrest and Russian imprisonment. Her story was moving as well as just being really interesting. Definitely recommend.

I am so in love with this book. I know where this is all going, obviously, but she tells the story with just a hint of humour here and there. It feels like Brittney and Cherelle have this great relationship that‘s both serious and just a little cheeky. There is still debate over whose milk shake precipitated their first meeting. I love Cherelle and all, but I‘m team Brittney on the milk shake.

Really good.

Don‘t want to spoil some details here…but the kindness of some of the ordinary Russians she meets is just making me tear up. This is an incredible read.

Basketball player Griner certainly struggled a lot during her trial and time held in Russian prison. It‘s an enlightening account of the treatment of prisoners in Putin‘s Russia. I followed her story a bit as it was everywhere, and I do think she was used as a negotiating pawn on trumped up charges, but check your bags for drugs before international travel people! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I mean I watched Locked Up Abroad back in the day…

WNBA players “earn about 250 times less than NBA players and have a hard cap on salaries. In the WNBA that year I made around 220,000. Overseas, I earned a million plus. That pay gap is why I was in Russia in the first place.”

#TuesdayTunes

NGL the past two days have been rough. I started Dupixent for my mast cell activation syndrome and two other conditions, and the side effects have hit hard. I‘ve felt like I‘ve had a bad cold all day. But life doesn‘t stop. I‘m still the healthiest in the house (fwiw), so it‘s been a busy day. My upbeat mix from Spotify and Brittney Griner‘s memoir are keeping me company. I just keep hope that someday I will get my life back!!

Y‘all listen UP!! Do not sleep on this one, I only just finished the prologue but I am thinking about playing hooky from work to listen to it all day long.