Welcome to Litsy!

#ReadTheWorld2025

Hi @GatheringBooks here‘s my first update on your challenge. In January and February I read 6 books set in countries and/or written by authors from all over the world. These countries are #Mexico, #Japan, #SouthKorea, #Netherlands, #FrenchPolynesia and #Chile. I hope to read at least six more in March and April!

I‘m all over the map on this book. Here are my random thoughts:
1. Don‘t listen to the audiobook. Apparently you can‘t tell that there is a section of the narrative that is in italics which is an important feature of the story. (At least that‘s what Reddit readers said.)
2. It took me forever to get into it and I really had to push to finish it.
3. You have to finish it. But it will give you a headache.
4. The ocean is magical. AI sucks.

Valentine's Day gift for my spouse. Slightly self-serving because I REALLY want him to read this so I can talk to him about it.

#WeeklyFavorites

The last favorite of January is my favorite of the month too! I can‘t stop thinking of Playground!

I have read some great books this week, so it was tough to choose, but the tagged edged out Poor Deer and Martyr! by just a little (even with how grouchy the ending still has me feeling).

#WeeklyFavorites @Read4life

I loved this book right up until the end. It‘s probably me but I don‘t get the ending.. I am left with so many questions, it‘s such a thought provoking story.
I loved the friendship between Todd and Rafi, I loved Evelyn‘s diving, her love for the ocean and her marriage, I loved Makatea, its inhabitants, I loved Powers‘ style and love for nature. But I feel like I have to start it again to really get it. All the stars nevertheless! #ToB25Longlist

The people of Makatea in French Polynesia have to decide about their future in this book. The mayor‘s wife is mostly quiet but I love that she speaks out about future generations. In real life people in power hardly seem to think of the future of next generations anymore. This quote touches me deeply ❤️‍🩹

I have very strong, mixed feelings about this novel. On the one hand, it's beautiful, focused yet expansive, easy to get lost in. One section had me in tears, which rarely happens for me when reading. On the other hand, I feel cheated. I will not go into details, but I do not like how the story wraps up. So, 99% I loved, 1% really pissed me off.

#tob25 longlist

The wind is blowing like crazy, and I'm trying to distract myself from worrying about fires. Playing piano has been soothing (grateful that after a year of playing, I have enough skill so it can be something besides frustrating), and I'm enjoying reading the tagged, but it's increasing the sense of foreboding that started with the wind and the news. I might resort to housework to expend some of the restlessness if this keeps up.

Although it ate into my reading time, I enjoyed spending half of the day exploring a bit of my lovely city, situated in the most biodiverse county in the United States. Hopefully, in the years to come, we can make choices as a community to help support this biodiversity while also helping the humans of this ecosystem to live healthy, happy lives, regardless of what happens on a national level.