Welcome to Litsy!

I should have loved this. It's a series of short stories with a common thread-- evangelical fundamentalism and its accompanying repression and shame. This is my upbringing so I was excited to read it, but it just didn't speak to me. I didn't come away with the feeling the author understood what she was writing about. That said, as an ex-homeschooler I loved the story about a homeschooler who's PAINFULLY aware of his awkwardness. Quote ⬆️

I thought of how we try to tell people, , maybe most especially when we are not sure that person loves us.

He didn't know whether to be irritated or impressed: she was so ethereal, but also kind of a bitch.

This is a local NC/SC border author. Plus I picked up this book at my fav indie! It's fun to read books set where you live. #localauthor #aprilbookshowers

I really enjoyed this collection I picked up at The Regulator on Tuesday. I love that it's set in NC and SC. The stories often grapple with questions of sexuality in the context of evangelical Christianity. There's two stories about women that married young and how that affected them. There's another about a religious, homeschooled boy whose mother befriends a trans woman. Really good stuff!

I've been liking short stories a lot so I picked this one up. Good but just not may favorite.

Here's a #TBRTuesday pick for those of us who love books that reckon with a fundamentalist upbringing. Per the NPR review, she has a short story with an "earnest, homeschooled narrator [who is] touchingly aware of his social awkwardness." Love seeing more literature on the homeschool experience which is near to my heart.

IT'S A TRAP!

These new short stories from the American South by debut author April Ayers Lawson give a refreshing slant on complicated desires & relationships.

April Ayers Lawson's stories center on themes of sexual awakenings and abuse. The most challenging may be the last, "Vulnerability," which leads a painter infatuated with her art dealer into a paralyzingly, and sadly familiar, situation in which she can't safely revoke consent. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the careful exploration of desire present in the stories of Mary Gaitskill and Edna O'Brien. ?

Many good, yet hard, things in this one. Themes: the danger of silence, the use/misuse of female bodies, guilt + shame brought upon by societal expectations/perceptions, marital rape and present/absent men. The writing feels forced in some places. I found myself having to re-read passages to understand what was going on. Given time and discussion with Josh, I did find I understood the stories better. The title story is especially good.

Tonight's reads. I'm soooooo excited about VIRGIN and a Ferrante picture book is an excellent appetizer.

TBR. Thanks NPR