Litsy

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

It‘s our second zombie match and again the zombie is the winner! A close call again and test Idlewild beats Wellness. Who would have guessed? I know I didn‘t!
Idlewild is the book that has received the most zombie votes. Will it be enough to take away the 🦃 against Sinners?
Tomorrow we‘ll post the final match of our #LitsyToB24 and then you can all vote for your winner! One more day to go!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole @Well-ReadNeck @cariashley @KarenUK @merelybookish @Kitta @Kristy_K @MicheleinPhilly @Leniverse @Readerann @CatLass007 @Larkken @fredthemoose 2mo

BarbaraBB @Jas16 @Bookpearl @Bookwormjillk @AmyG @Deblovestoread @kwmg40 @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books @Suet624 @BkClubCare @Decalino @Ruthiella @Karisimo 2mo

Bookwormjillk Zombie vs zombie wow! Idlewild was the first book I read off the list and I don‘t know if that‘s why it‘s so memorable to me. 2mo

See All 19 Comments

Megabooks We‘re not voting today? I‘m having tire problems. Stuck near home. 😭😭 2mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Oh no. Near home still. Any help coming? I can‘t believe your bad luck. My heart goes out to you! Tomorrow is the voting, below the final post. There won‘t be another form, because tomorrow is the end of the tournament! I hope that‘s okay!! X 2mo

Kitta Interesting! I wasn‘t a huge fan of Idlewild, it was good but not great for me. I gave it a so-so. Maybe I‘m the only one who disagreed here! 😂 2mo

BarbaraBB @Kitta I am sure you‘re not, many people rooted for Wellness! 2mo

kwmg40 Interesting to see the two zombies in the final! Looking forward to seeing how it plays out. 2mo

Ruthiella I really loved Idewild and voted for it as a zombie, so am totally glad to see it come back to life! 🧟‍♀️ 2mo

BkClubCare I will read Idlewild if it wins! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Me too and now I hope it‘ll win! 2mo

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare That‘s great and of course you can‘t go wrong with it if your Littens made it the winner 😀 2mo

BarbaraBB @kwmg40 Who would have thought, a zombie finals! I don‘t think that has ever happened before! 🧟 🧟‍♀️ 2mo

sarahbarnes Wow! I thought Wellness might take it all! I really liked Idlewild though. Loving the drama of this tournament! 2mo

fredthemoose Ooooh… the plot thickens! 2mo

Hooked_on_books Woohoo!!!!! 🥳 Idlewild was one of my best reads of 2023 and Wellness was just ok for me, so I‘m thrilled! I was sure it would go the other way. And now an all zombie final! Cool! 2mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @fredthemoose @Hooked_on_books Yes, the drama! Tomorrow the grande finale 😀 2mo

AmyG I would have thought Wellness would have won. Wow. (edited) 2mo

Chelsea.Poole What a surprise! 2mo

57 likes1 stack add19 comments

Kitta

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

so-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Interesting debut by a trans author!

Centred on an intense friendship in a New York City high school that begins on 9/11, this novel kinda slightly missed the mark for me.

I was interested in the fate of the characters but the chapters using AIM chat and livejournal blog posts were off putting to me.

Something about Nell and Fays blog really made me uncomfortable? I don‘t know how to articulate it.

#lgbtq2024 #lgbtqbookbingo @Kenyazero

Kitta Also a late read for #litsyToB #LitsyToB24 2mo

Ruthiella I think the journals were meant to be awkward and off putting. Teenagers are figuring things out. I can‘t read my diaries from my younger years. I cringe. 😬 (edited) 2mo

squirrelbrain Great review, although I loved this one! 2mo

See All 8 Comments

Kitta @Ruthiella that makes sense then, it was definitely awkward reading them! I stopped keeping a diary after my sister started writing responses to what I wrote in mine! I never thought anyone would read it never mind write their thoughts back! 😱 2mo

Kitta @squirrelbrain I don‘t usually read anything about teenagers because I‘m just not interested but I wanted to make an exception for this one! I think the second half was better than the first and most people seemed to enjoy it! I think I‘m the odd one out. It wasn‘t bad, just not for me. 2mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo

Kenyazero Sounds like an interesting concept, at the very least! Always disappointing when a book misses the mark. 2mo

Kitta @Kenyazero a lot of others really loved it! But at least I can check off disappointing read on my bingo card haha 2mo

25 likes8 comments

Kitta

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

But late for this one for #litsyToB24 but I‘m going to start it today!

New happy lamp that looks like the moon 🌕 perfect for this rainy day.

#litsyToB #lgbtqbookbingo #lgbtq2024

BarbaraBB Love the 💡 and the book 🤍 2mo

squirrelbrain Enjoy the book! I love your light too. 2mo

Kitta @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain thanks! I am enjoying the book so far but only read about 2 hours yesterday so more to read today!! 2mo

31 likes1 stack add3 comments

LiteraryinLawrence

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

pick

This was so much more than I expected it to be. It was a really immersive, absorbing look at the intertwining lives of a group of theater kids at a Manhattan Quaker high school in 2001-2002. Strong themes of queerness in many forms, sex, art, love, friendship, obsession, control, and more. I recommend it!

BarbaraBB Totally agree! 2mo

56 likes2 stack adds1 comment

fredthemoose

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Coming of age/friendship story of queer friends at a Quaker school in NYC in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. I was initially a little put off by the obnoxiousness of the MCs, but grew more sympathetic to what they were dealing with in terms of friendship and identity, especially 20+ years ago. #LitsyToB24

squirrelbrain Weren‘t we all that obnoxious at that age?! 🤣 2mo

LiteraryinLawrence I‘m reading this now and I totally get what you mean! 2mo

Ruthiella @squirrelbrain I was so reminded of how awful I must have been as a teenager when I read this book! I was so disdainful of others who didn‘t share my worldview and so sure I was right…except for when I was totally insecure. 😂 2mo

52 likes3 comments

keithmalek

The Submission: A Novel | Amy Waldman

pick

Brilliant! Two years after 9/11, a commission is formed to build a memorial. All is well until the commission discovers that the winning design was submitted by a Muslim.

#2024Book10

8 likes

keithmalek

The Submission: A Novel | Amy Waldman

"Nothing in life gets dropped without someone else having to pick it up."

5 likes

kwmg40

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

pick

I can't say I “enjoyed“ this novel, as it brought back memories of some of the aspects I hated the most about high school. However, it was a good coming-of-age story with a mix of light-heartedness and darkly satirical humour.

#gottacatchemall @PuddleJumper (prompt 6: “Thievul: Set in a city“)
#LitsyToB24 @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB
#52bookclub24 (prompt 51: Related to the word “Wild“)

Librarybelle One of those rare 100% rating books on Litsy! 3mo

Megabooks There are definitely some painful coming of age moments in this one. 3mo

squirrelbrain This is one of my favourites from our list, but I can see why it might bring back bad memories. 3mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB I agree she writes very accurate about coming of age and high school time 3mo

Ruthiella I agree that the author got the pain of adolescence right, but also the joy of close friendships-how they develop their own vocabulary and mannerisms. 3mo

PuddleJumper 🦊🦊 3mo

50 likes6 comments

Ruthiella

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

pick

A compelling coming of age story which was both familiar and disturbing. Fay and Nell are best friends at a NYC private Quaker high school navigating teenage insecurity, solipsism, and queerness. Their friendship is insular and uneven, with Fay leading and Nell following. Seamlessly told in flashback by their adult selves, regretful and nostalgic.

Read for #LitsyToB24
#Pop24 Fiction by a trans author
#52Bookclub24 About finding identity

Graciouswarriorprincess, OriginalCyn620, Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick, jenniferw88, Librarybelle, Branwen, BarbaraBB, RaeLovesToRead

Ruthiella #52bookclub24 @BarbaraBB, @Kristy_K, @LaraReads, @KarenUK, @Hooked_on_books, @BarkingMadRead, @brittanyreads, @Magpiegem, @BookBelle84, @Larkken, @jenniferw88, @Deblovestoread, @MidnightBookGirl, @Librarybelle, @triplem80, @Tove_Reads, @Read4life, @Bluebird, @eeclayton, @hissingpotatoes, @Book_Lover95, @TheAromaofBooks, @Graciouswarriorprincess, @OriginalCyn620, @Crazeedi, @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick, @Branwen, @kwmg40, @JulesG 4mo

Hooked_on_books I really liked this one. I think it‘ll stick for a while. 4mo

Librarybelle Nice! 4mo

See All 19 Comments

Liz_M I was going to add this to my wishlist, based on your review, but it's already there. Now I know I really do want to read it. 😁 4mo

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4mo

squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! 4mo

BarbaraBB Fab review! Such a good read. 4mo

Ruthiella @Hooked_on_books I think this will stick with me too. I am drawn to good portraits of adolescence and this was one. 4mo

Ruthiella @Librarybelle Thanks! 4mo

Ruthiella @Liz_M I found it to be quite a page turner! 4mo

Ruthiella @TheAromaofBooks Thanks! 4mo

Ruthiella @squirrelbrain I thought of you when I managed to hit TWO reading prompts with one book. 😆 4mo

Ruthiella @BarbaraBB Thank you! I found it so compelling. 4mo

squirrelbrain Ooh, you clever thing! 🤣 And here‘s me, only doing *one* challenge this year, so no double-dipping (or more!) here. 4mo

Reggie Stacked. Wasn‘t gonna read this until now. Great review. Also credit to Tom Lake and looking back on one‘s life. 4mo

Ruthiella @Reggie It is rare when I can recommend you a book Reggie! I think, however you will like it. It has a lot of emotion and a little edge of fear. 4mo

Megabooks Love this review and this book, too!! 4mo

Megabooks @Reggie I agree with @Ruthiella definitely in your wheelhouse! 👍🏻👍🏻 4mo

Ruthiella Thanks! I‘m a real fan of good depictions of adolescence and this really felt right to me. 4mo

83 likes1 stack add19 comments

Deblovestoread

Idlewild | James Frankie Thomas

pick

#LitsyTOB. High schoolers trying to figure out who they are and looking for connection at a Quaker school. The friendship of the two MC‘s starts the day of 9/11 and grows through their Junior and Senior years. A good debut novel. #52Bookclub24 #RelatingtoWild 4🌟

BkClubCare, Kristy_K, LaraReads, KarenUK, Megabooks, Hooked_on_books, Jas16, cariashley, BarkingMadRead, Well-ReadNeck, Crazeedi, brittanyreads, Magpiegem, MicheleinPhilly, BookBelle84, Larkken, Suet624, jenniferw88, julesG, merelybookish, Librarybelle, triplem80, Readerann, Tove_Reads, Chelsea.Poole, Read4life, rmaclean4, Bluebird, kwmg40, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB, RebelReader, BaT, jlhammar, Addison_Reads, eeclayton, Ruthiella, hissingpotatoes, sarahbarnes, Book_Lover95, TheAromaofBooks, ImperfectCJ, gracious

BarbaraBB I really liked this one. 4mo

Megabooks Agree! I‘m excited to see what they write next! 4mo

Hooked_on_books I thought this one was lovely. I think it‘ll stick with me for a long time. 4mo

See All 7 Comments

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo

Librarybelle Sounds really good! 4mo

Crazeedi Sounds good 4mo

squirrelbrain Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️ 4mo

71 likes7 comments

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