Welcome to Litsy!

A slow burning novel that explores seventeenth-century China customs and religion. At the center of this is the work The Peony Pavilion, a real piece of writing that was deemed controversial in its time (how appropriate that I finished this at the start of Banned Books Week).

Peony as a character grows in the novel, covering obsessive love and sorrow and in a way redemption. I didn‘t particularly like her, but her journey of self-understanding ⬇️

Finally got to finish this this morning. It was nice to sit around in my PJs in the quiet house, drink my coffee, and finish a book. Most of this I did ‘listen‘ to, and man does Julia Whalen do a phenomenal job at narration. But I got the book in a swap, so it was nice to alternate. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the world we all love so much: books/audiobooks. The romance was nice too. The ending a little cliche, but not enough to dislike.

I‘m upset with myself for having this for so long and just now reading it. To be honest, for several years I couldn‘t face hard reads because life itself is plenty hard. Anyway, this book…wow, it‘s hard to explain. Powerful but not heavy-handed, lyrical sometimes, and oh-so-believable. Just read it, ok? If you‘re like me and still haven‘t.

🎧 thoroughly recommended - look for Nina Wadia.

#pop23 #petcharacter
#52bookclub23 #includesafuneral
#atyin52books23 #wherebooksareimportant
#booked2023 #featuringneighbours

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Alice McDermott captures the complicated life of an alcoholic and those who loved him. Set in the Irish Catholic community of Queens in the mid-20th century, it‘s a portrait of a culture. Prompt 28 for #52BookClub23, #IncludesaFuneral.

Really, really enjoyed this one! I don‘t read a whole lot of thrillers, but saw this one suggested in a #52bookclub23 group for #setinaustralia and it was a page-turner! Well, whatever an audiobook page-turner is. The characters are so interesting & the pacing is great. Quick without being confusing, even when the flashbacks are mixed it. And the author does a great job of making pretty much everyone seem like a suspect. I loved it!

The first in a new series has a lot riding on its shoulders. Not only does it have to have an interesting plot but is has to lay enough groundwork so you gain knowledge of and interest in the main characters so you want to continue on their journey. This book did an ok job of that and I am intrigued by the mystery man. However, it is sloppy editing to not notice when the wrong character is named from one page to the next.

#Pantone #GrayedJade

This was a book I #meanttoreadin2022 #pop23 but, despite knowing that it‘s about Ash‘s best friend Edi, who has terminal cancer and is in hospice care, I found it too much to start with so hibernated it. However, it ended up being heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. It‘s more about Ash, who is hilarious and a hot mess, but learns about herself through caring for Edi.

#netgalley - published next week in the UK

#tripledip