Welcome to Litsy!

This is abou the Nutcracker and about who made the nutcracker, Godfather Dosselmeier but is not a retelling per se. It is more like a reflection? behind these characters and it‘s creation. The author also does a deconstruction of this tale. But it was so confused that I searched about the intention of this book. Even with the help of this information, I found the story no well integrated. 2⭐️

Is this a Faking boyfriend romance? Friends to lovers? No, I think Stella is an opportunistic person that use the fake date contest just to have a romance with her best friend. Then she doesn‘t want any fake relationship just a serious one, really? It would be easier if she just told him her feelings from the beginning without that drama🙄Those supposedly sexy parts were so boring too🥱Too cheesy too immature. Definitely, I have a Grinch heart 2⭐️

#PersephoneClub2023 (February) When at the beginning of this novel, I saw Mrs. Knapp behavior, I couldn‘t stand her, a controller OCD mother-woman. But then, behind her behavior I saw a frustrated, depressed woman repressed for not fulfilled her goals in life, but “obliged” to follow “society stereotypes mother-woman roles”. What a change in the dynamic of this family after Lester accident. The roles in each member will change, for good⬇️

What I enjoyed of this story was the psychological analysis made for almost every single main characters. How well those dysfunctional personalities were described by that time. They were analyzing each other😂 Also I liked that Poirot analyzed the “suspects” from different angles to support or discard his involvement in the crime. I still think the end was a little rushed. But how arrogant, narcissistic Poirot is, what a character☺️3.8⭐️

Emma will have 2 different love experiences in two different multiuniverse, she will live in accordance with her fate and choice. Some persons will be a “constant” in each multiuniverse . At the end end of the audiobook, author explained the concept of multiuniverse which she believes exist & why she doesn‘t believe in soulmate but in choices. As she said to her husband: my heart breaks for every single version of me that didn‘t end up with you”⬇️

What can I say about this author? I love all her books. Another powerful story about family, religion, beliefs, cultural traditions, identity, personal growing, forgiveness, love, friendship, brother-sister relation, second opportunities in a concise way, in few pages. I really enjoyed also the audiobook because she is the narrator. My edition has a letter from the author and the book has some annotations also by the author.
❤️4.5⭐️

I always enjoyed Agatha Christie cozy mysteries. There was a murder in this small town and everyone has an opinion of what happened. As the vicar said “The whole village of St Mary Mead probably knows exactly where you keep your toothbrush and what kind of tooth powder you use...if you change your shaving cream it will be a topic of conversation”🤣Miss Marple, who they said past her time looking through the window😳will discover the mystery⬇️

A sad story but beautifully written. The life of these four generations I would say, from 1938 to 2005. How war, political and social situations in China impacted these families. Fear didn‘t stop with the immigration to US. You will love Meilin as a woman, mother, daughter and grandmother. I can‘t imagine how, in this present day, some countries are still facing the consequences of war😢Fiction but maybe inspired in author‘s family story. 4.5/5⭐️

From @Sharread pick books list
This is an interesting book because it is a slow pace, more character driven I would say, mild creepy, mild gory. People that come from the dead from a forbidden wood, but why, since when. You need to read it. This is the first book I read by this author and I think I want to read more. I already own like 3 of her books. 3.8⭐️