Litsy

Funky Turkeys | Benjamin Zephaniah

We thought you‘d like a bit more info on our Turkey list!

Our top 16 got between 11 & 20 votes each. The next 5, shown at the top of the pic, got between 8 & 10 votes each. Any there that you‘ve read or plan to read anyway? There were a further 10 books that received 7 votes each.

And as for our *actual* turkeys-those on the bottom of the pic received either 1 vote or no votes at all. 😢

Interesting to compare with the *real* ToB!

#litsyToB24

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain And you‘ll note I‘ve used the UK cover of Brainwyrms instead of the US one. 🤣 You‘re welcome! 🤣 1y

squirrelbrain @jas16 @Bookwormjillk @AmyG @kwmg40 @imperfectcj @Rebelreader @Deblovestoread @Sarahbarnes @Micheleinphilly @Hooked_on_books @suet624 @decalino
@BkClubCare @Addison_Reads 1y

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella @Flaneurette @jess @Yuki_Onna @Karisimo @Chelsea.Poole @larkken @Well-readNeck @batsy @cariashley @catheyb @Readerann @Liz_m @fredthemoose @jlhammar @KarenUK 1y

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squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie @JulesG @julieclair @kimberlone @meshell1313 @JenReadsAlot @Caroline2 @CBee @MittenGirlPeach @Caryl @JamieArc @merelybookish @peaKnit @Kristy_K @rmaclean4 1y

squirrelbrain @Gissy @Leniverse @CatLass007 @jhod @Kitta 1y

TheBookHippie I read the top row 😅 I only liked Blackout…🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y

Megabooks @TheBookHippie same, but I only liked Birnam Wood! Library was okay, but the other two didn‘t work as well. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y

Megabooks This post is dedicated to Helen, who braved Brainwyrms so we didn‘t have to! 🫡🤭🫶🏻 1y

Leniverse Aw, shame I missed the voting. I would have voted for Lone Women. And I would like to read Blackout. No interest in the bottom 5 though 😂 1y

ImperfectCJ Birnam Wood and Lone Women were on my TBR already, and I'm interested in all of the top row. There are a couple from the bottom row that interested me initially, but the reviews from Littens pushed them down the priority list for me. 1y

JamieArc @Megabooks 😂😂 1y

fredthemoose Blackouts is on my TBR. I‘ve heard great things about Chain Gang but have held back because the premise sketches me out. But am Wood is on the periphery of my TBR. Do whatever you want with all of that! 1y

Bookwormjillk Lone Women is on my TBR but when I listened to the first few minutes this summer I ended up bailing. I want to try though. I thought Birnam Wood was ok when we read it this summer. 1y

squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie - I read all of the top row. Well, almost, I bailed on Chain-Gang but I don‘t think it worked on audio. 1y

squirrelbrain @Leniverse @ImperfectCJ @Bookwormjillk -I too tried Lone Women in the summer but hibernated it about 20% in. I finished it a couple of weeks ago - liked it but it‘s not going to trouble my 2023 favourites list. 1y

squirrelbrain @Megabooks - it‘s my own fault for being a #completerfinisher! 🤣 1y

squirrelbrain @fredthemoose - I loved Birnam Wood, wasn‘t sure about Blackouts (a bit too ‘clever‘ for me 🤨) and hibernated Chain Gang. 1y

Deblovestoread Lone Women is on my shelf so I‘ll get to it eventually and I‘m giving What You Are Looking For to my dad for Christmas unread so will also read in the future. Loved Chain Gang and Birnam Wood. Might pick up Blackout at some point. 1y

squirrelbrain @Leniverse aawww I have a lovely copy of Brainwyrms I can send to you, but if you‘re not interested… 🤷‍♀️ 1y

Ruthiella Maybe the TOB was looking for a complaint heavy tournament this year! 😂 1y

Caroline2 I bailed on Chain gang 😂 but looking forward to reading Lone Woman. (It‘s currently sitting on my kindle) 👍 1y

Leniverse @squirrelbrain Thanks but no thanks 😅 I even have trouble looking at the title, and I really don't want the cover to exist in my home. Although the UK cover isn't a patch on the US one for nightmare material. 1y

jlhammar Very interesting. Thanks for sharing! So Cold People actually got some votes? 1y

Megabooks @jlhammar yes! 😱 just 2 if I remember correctly. 1y

BarbaraBB Super interesting list! I have no wish whatsoever to read the bottom five. Of the upper five I read three. I was underwhelmed by Lone Woman and Library and I LOVED Birnam Wood but didn‘t vote for it because we already discussed it during #CampLitsy23 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y

Larkken Very interesting! I‘ve already read some of the almosts, so maybe completing it that can be my version of the longlist 😆 1y

squirrelbrain @Megabooks @jlhammar - yes, that‘s right; it received 2 votes! 1y

Hooked_on_books I‘ve actually read all 5 of the nearly there ones. Chain-gang is not only a best of the year for me but a best of all time book, so seeing the negative response to it here makes me glad it didn‘t make our tourney. I think it‘s so remarkable and I really don‘t want to see people bashing it. I also apparently liked Lone Women far more than others here—I thought it was great! And Helen, you know that Brainwyrms vote was yours. 😉 1y

squirrelbrain Brainwyrms got no votes at all @Hooked_on_books - my work here is done! I‘m going to try Chain-Gang again, but in print rather than audio. Waiting for a digital copy from the library. 1y

AmyG I read Birnam Wood and I own Lone Woman but haven‘t read it yet. I just couldn‘t “get into” Chain Gang. 1y

Addison_Reads I've read all of these except Blackouts and Independence Square. @Hooked_on_books I thought Chain-Gang was great, so you're not alone there. I also really liked Lone Woman. All the others were lackluster for me. 1y

Karisimo Chain gang and lone women are on my TBR list 1y

youneverarrived Thank you for the Christmas card Helen 😘 the book trust donation is a lovely idea! It‘s inspired me to do the same for Alfie‘s teachers as I‘m sure they‘ll get lots of gifts and will hopefully appreciate this just as much. 1y

squirrelbrain Aw, that‘s so nice Katie @youneverarrived - I‘m sure they‘ll love it! 🥰 1y

68 likes34 comments

Megabooks

August Blue: A Novel | Deborah Levy

pick

I‘m not sure I really got this, but I enjoyed reading it. The whole doppelgänger part just went right over my head. This was #7 in votes for #CampLitsy23, and I think our campers probably would‘ve helped me get it. Low pick.

Elsa, a piano virtuoso who was adopted at a young age by her instructor, broke down and left the stage. She travels through Europe trying to make sense of this breakdown until she is called to her instructor‘s deathbed.

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain I really liked it, but not sure I understood it either! 🤦‍♀️ You‘re right - it would have been a great one for #camplitsy discussions. 1y

BarbaraBB Still need to read it. Maybe it‘ll make it to the ToB! 1y

79 likes2 comments

Megabooks

My Husband: A Novel | Maud Ventura

I want to thank my wonderful #CampLitsy23 cohosts for their kind gifts!! I was hoping to pick up an autographed copy of Vaster Wilds with Helen‘s at the Lauren Groff event on Thursday, but I had a terrible migraine and couldn‘t make the 2 hour trip. I‘m in Nashville frequently, and I‘ll enjoy picking out something soon! Really looking forward to My Husband after @Cinfhen ‘s praise! I am excited to read more translated lit! Thank you B!! 😘🫶🏻💜

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain Ugh, sorry you couldn‘t make the event on Thursday. 😢 1y

Megabooks @squirrelbrain thanks 💜 I was a bit heartbroken, especially after I read the book, and it was so brilliant. I missed when she came for matrix, too. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 I can make her next visit. I‘m looking forward to picking out something at Parnassus next time I go!! Thank you🫶🏻 1y

BarbaraBB So droog you couldn‘t make it. I know how much you‘d been looking forward to it. I just read your email, thank you for checking in. I am okay, I hope you‘ll feel better soon too 💖 (edited) 1y

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BarbaraBB I‘ll decide if I‘ll read My Husband after your review! 1y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB so glad you‘re okay!! 💕💕 really excited for My Husband! @Reviewsbylola liked it too!! 1y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB and I am feeling better. 💜 headed to church this morning if I can get my stuff together. 🎉 1y

BarbaraBB Glad you‘re going out, that means you‘re feeling better indeed. I hope all went well! 😘 1y

Cinfhen I LOVED this one on audio!! Hope it works well in print!!! And glad you‘re feeling better but so sorry you had to miss the event on Thursday 😔 1y

70 likes8 comments

Megabooks

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor | Kim Hooper

@Cinfhen I couldn‘t actually get you 10 for my #TopTenSummer2023. I have been stingy AF this year, but I highly recommend all 9 of these! The top row are the best three - a new-to-me author who brings so much emotion to her writing, the beach read queen, and a memoir I was happy to reread with #CampLitsy23!

Suet624 Screenshot! I haven‘t read any of these. 1y

Soubhiville Oooo, intriguing list. Headed over to Libby to add to the audio TBR! 1y

Megabooks @Suet624 I hope you find some you like! 1y

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Megabooks @Soubhiville fantastic!! 👍🏻👍🏻 1y

Chelsea.Poole The Vanishing Point and Southernmost are both on my list! Dreamtown I‘m curious about…happy to see them all on your list! 1y

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I think you‘d like all three! Very curious about what you‘ll think of dream Town as an Ohio person. 1y

BarbaraBB I‘ve been waiting for this!! I pre-ordered Acorns and definitely want to read the Brundage too. Any others I‘d like? 1y

Cinfhen Wow!! What a surprising grid!!! 😍 and I‘m so glad to see some NF choices up there🙌🏻 1y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB you might enjoy Southernmost. I‘d be interested to read what you think of a window into some people in Kentucky/Tennessee. I think its deep relatability to my life is what pushed it to the top. The Facebook whistleblower book (The Power of One) is interesting and has some international focus, but is fairly long. Only if you were really in the mood to dig deep into nonfiction or it fit a challenge prompt (something about big tech). 1y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB I do think you‘ll love the two you‘ve chosen already!! 1y

Megabooks @Cinfhen yes! I think you‘d enjoy Dream Town and Kingdom of Prep! 👍🏻👍🏻 1y

Megabooks @Cinfhen also the power of one would be an interesting one if you had the inclination to dive into big tech/whistleblowers for a challenge prompt if you can #BorrowNotBuy. 1y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I also want you to try one of the Hooper titles on hoopla! Maybe not that exact one, but read all of hers and see what you‘re in the mood for. 👍🏻👍🏻 1y

BarbaraBB Southernmost sounds great and I do like to know more about where you live. Will try and purchase it! 1y

74 likes14 comments

jenniferw88

The King's General | Daphne Du Maurier

#top10summerreads2023 @Cinfhen

All either 4.75 or 5 stars.

Cinfhen Nice mix of fiction and NF!! So glad you shared your favorites ♥️😊 1y

BarbaraBB A DuMaurier I haven‘t read yet. Stacking! Glad to see three #CampLitsy23 reads among your favorites 💕 1y

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Gissy

Yellowface | R F Kuang

pick

Another August review 😲
I liked it but not as much as I expected or as much as many readers. You know by now what this book is about. So interesting to see how awful and terrible the media can be and how dark a person can be transformed to gain attention and to be “famous”...at all cost. All characters are unlikable but I think those aspects can be worst in the real world. All those part were interesting to me. But⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) But half of the book was repetitive of what June would do or would not, always in constant justification of her decisions🤦🏽‍♀️I know, is a defense mechanism but is was too much. So for me this was okay 3.5⭐️But I love my beautiful edition😍
August #BookSpinBingo #BookSpin (#10) @TheAromaOfBooks
#CampLitsy23 July @megabooks @squirrelbrain @barbarabb
#GR GoodReads AroundTheYear prompt #51
#RushAThon @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES 1y

BarbaraBB I see what you mean. Thinking back of it it made less of a lasting impact than when I had just finished it and thought it would. 1y

Andrew65 Brilliant 👏👏👏 1y

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squirrelbrain Great review! 1y

Gissy @squirrelbrain Thank you🤗 1y

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y

55 likes7 comments

DebinHawaii

August | Callan Wink

I didn‘t get a chance to post my August recap yet, but it was a productive reading month as I finished 18 books! The work books were in process from July but everything else was read in August. I kept up with my #CampLitsy23 #SundayBuddyRead #TitlesAnd Tunes #SeriesLove2023 #DiverseCozy #BookedInTime & #CozyFantasyFellowship readalongs

Some favorites were both the Klunes, Last Violent Call, Romantic Comedy, Hey Hun & Into the Planet & Lost Hours.

55 likes

BarbaraBB

The Bandit Queens: A Novel | Parini Shroff

It‘s September and we‘re closing up #CampLitsy23 by announcing our winner. It was a VERY close call but this year‘s #CampChamp is The Bandit Queens!

Thanks to nominations by @Eraderneely @Megpiegem @Jenniferw88 @CSeydel @ImperfectCJ and @Read4Life the book was shortlisted for #CampLitsy23. With 15 votes it was our number 3 on the shortlist (behind Birnam Wood with 16 and Yellowface with 21 votes).

Continued below ⬇️

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB So Yellowface was our favorite contender (thanks for the stats, Helen!) yet The Bandit Queens turned out to be our winner! No doubt reading and discussing it among Campers added to the book and that‘s why we love Camp so much! Meg, Helen and I and want to thank you all for joining us! We see you next year at #CampLitsy24! 1y

BarbaraBB @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @eraderneely @ErikasMindfulShelf @GatheringBooks @Gissy @hes7 @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @IndoorDame 1y

BarbaraBB @JamieArc @JenniferP @jenniferw88 @JenReadsAlot @Jess @jhod @jlhammar @JulesG @julieclair @Kangaj1 @Addison_Reads @AmyG @batsy @Bkclubcare @Bklover @Kitta @Julsmarshall 1y

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BarbaraBB @BookBosomed1 @BookNAround @Books_et_al @Bookwormjillk @Caroline2 @CarolynM @Catlass007 @CatMS @Cbee @TrishB @YourFavouriteMixTape @ChaoticMissAdventures 1y

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @Cinfhen @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Kempfme @Kimberlone @Kristy_K @LaraReads @Larkken @Laughterhp @Leniverse @willaful @KarenUK @Monalyisha 1y

BarbaraBB @LeticiaToraci @Lizpixie @Magpiegem @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @MicheleinPhilly @MittenGirlPeach @Oryx @Peaknit @quietjenn @RaeLovesToRead @Read4life @youneverarrived 1y

BarbaraBB @RebelReader @rockpools @Ruthiella @SamAnne @Sapphire @sarahbarnes @sblbooks @Soubhiville @Suet624 @Susanita @Tea_and_Starstuff @TEArificbooks @TheAromaofBooks 1y

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @TheKidUpstairs @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @E.Bolhafner @sbolhafner @JoyBlue 1y

Ruthiella That so much to the counselors @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain 👏👏👏 You did an awesome job organizing. 1y

Magpiegem Thank you camp counsellors!! And I think The Bandit Queens is a very worthy winner… I loved it, although it was the only camp book I managed to finish on time! Xxx 1y

TrishB Thanks @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain I think this was probably the least polarising of the books! Loved all the discussions and look forward to next year ❤️ 1y

julesG Thank you for organising #CampLitsy23 @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain! 1y

DebinHawaii So much thanks to our counselors! I hate a great time & loved that I probably would not have read some of these books without camp. It was such a close vote (at least the last time I looked) & I would have been just as happy if Yellowface won even though Bandits was my ultimate pick. 1y

Cinfhen Yay!!! Even though it wasn‘t my top pick I loved this book and im so glad it was so beloved!! Thanks again #CampLitsy23 for a great summer 😁 sign me up for next year @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain you three make a great team 😘😘😘 1y

squirrelbrain Hooray for Bandit Queens! It was such a close-run vote though, and Yellowface would have also been a great winner! Looking forward to #camplitsy24 already…. 😃 1y

CatLass007 Thanks to our marvelous counselors. You and all of our #CroneGirls made this so much fun!!! 1y

Jess Thanks everyone. This was so fun. Looking forward to next year! 1y

Caroline2 Ha! I think it was my least favourite overall 😆 So crazy how we all have different reactions to different books! Thank you all so much for hosting! It has been a fab summer and I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed reading all the books together and the discussions have been so fascinating!! I can‘t wait for next year!! 😁 1y

Suet624 Thank you so much for this year‘s selection of books and all the work involved in keeping camplitsy going. Greatly appreciated. 1y

batsy How surprising! I didn't expect this to win but I'm very glad it did. Birnam Wood was tops for me but this was probably my 2nd fave 💜 1y

Bookwormjillk Thanks so much counselors. I had so much fun, and I‘m going to miss it! Can‘t wait for next year. I didn‘t mesh with Bandit Queens, but June was a stressful month for me. I‘ll have to give it another try. 1y

Chelsea.Poole I‘m glad I read The Bandit Queens with you all! I learned so much more through our discussions. Thanks for compiling results! Thanks to you three for hosting! @Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB !! I‘m already looking forward to camp next summer. 🏕️ 1y

CBee Can‘t wait for camp next year, this has been a blast! Thanks ladies 😊 1y

TheBookHippie Thanks for all your hard work! 🏕️ 1y

AmyG Thank you so much for Camp Litsy!!! It was so fun. 1y

JenReadsAlot Thanks @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain I enjoyed books I probably never would have read! Looking forward to next year! 1y

Meshell1313 🙌 So fun! Thank you so much for hosting! Those were 6 great books that I‘m glad to have read and discussed with everyone! Can‘t wait to see what next year‘s camp brings! 1y

Larkken Thanks for hosting and facilitating the discussions! So much fun! 1y

merelybookish I will have to read it! It's one of the books I missed. Thanks again for all your hard work making #camplitsy rock! @Megabooks @squirrelbrain 1y

julieclair Hooray for the Bandit Queens! And 3 big cheers for our awesome Camp Counselors! 👏🙌👏Looking forward to #CampLitsy24! 🏕️ (edited) 1y

JamieArc A big thanks to our camp counselors for hosting! A few of these will be on my top of the year list, and I‘m sure I wouldn‘t have read most of them (this soon) if not for Camp Litsy! 1y

Bklover I loved that book!! 1y

ChaoticMissAdventures Yay!!! I froze and then forgot to vote when I couldn't decide between this and Yellowface 😂 I liked them both so much! 1y

GatheringBooks Thank you for being such awesome hosts! This is the one book I did not manage to read - but got myself a copy - will be sure to read it soonest! 🙏🏼💕📚 1y

peaKnit Thank you for a wonderful camp! 1y

Hooked_on_books No way! I was so sure Yellowface would win. I liked both, but am delighted to see this win! Thanks to you, Helen and Meg for another fun year at camp! @squirrelbrain @Megabooks 1y

dabbe Thanks for being such excellent hosts, @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain
💜🧡💜 1y

BkClubCare Yay for books and yippee for book friends!! Thanks again to our counselors and everyone! 🌟 1y

Megabooks This book definitely had the best and, as @TrishB put it, least polarizing discussion, and, like Barbara, it really gave me a new appreciation for the book. We read some really great books this summer, and I adore my co-counselors Barbara and @squirrelbrain ! Only 9 months until #CampLitsy24!! 🏕️😎 (edited) 1y

yourfavouritemixtape Thank you so much to all of you for hosting this! It has been my first year and I read so many books I would have never picked up without Camplitsy! 1y

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