Welcome to Litsy!

This historical fiction novel is essential a narrative memoir of the author's grandmother who moved from Korea to Japan in the 1930s to pursue an education. But rampant racism and anti-Korean sentiment in Japan made her dreams of becoming a teacher and later a nurse incredibly difficult to achieve without sacrificing her ideals and identity. It was also my #bookspin for #bookspinbingo this month

It‘s difficult to explain why this book is so engaging, not gratuitous or emotionally manipulative. But quiet, reflective, and yes, at times, funny. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

#SunriseAndBook

I had been meaning to read this. I‘m glad it was chosen for my December #bookspin.

I feel like everyone else has already read it, but if not it‘s about a 9th grade girl who was raped at a party and her struggles afterwards. I believe it‘s often read in school, and also has been banned in places. Jason Reynolds‘s afterword is another excellent perspective.

“This is everything I love. It's all right here. We're our own country.”

HF that explores the adventurous, passionate and stormy marriage of journalist Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway in Europe‘s pre- and post onset of WWII. #Bookspin

#Read2025 #LitsyAtoZ #Bookspinbingo #Pantone2025

@DieAReader @Texreader @TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraBB @Lauredhel

This book won both a Newbery Honor and was a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor, which is how it got on our book club‘s radar. We all learned some new-to-us history and appreciated the scope of the book. It moves through several generations of a family, taking place in four different countries and with four different protagonists. Lots to take in!

This was my April #BookSpin pick.

This was a very unique read! I hadn‘t read anything like it before.

It blends fact and fiction to create a “history” of animals starting from the Paleozoic Era all the way to present day and beyond. Basically it personifies animals and tells their story in relation to humans. The animals are presented in a very human way.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/review-animal-intelligence/

With this clever little novella finished today I have finished all but 2 of my #bookspin and #doublespin books for the year.
@TheAromaOfBooks

This spicy Christmas novella is my #bookspin for #bookspinbingo this month and I thoroughly enjoyed it! And when I say it's spicy 🫣🌶🌶 The niece of one of the Christmas Magi crashes at Santa's beach house in the Caribbean expecting to have it to herself-- only for Kris Kringle herself to show up at the most opportune time. Short, sweet, sapphic, and spicy! Definitely going to have to read the rest of Herrera's Toy Runner series.

Up next…I borrowed this book forever ago from a friend!

It‘s also my November #bookspin pick!

#bookspinbingo
@TheAromaofBooks

December #bookspin has been on my tbr forever. I think it found me at the perfect time!

@TheAromaofBooks