Welcome to Litsy!

This book has long been on my TBR. I also wanted a stereo read with audio because well, Stanley Tucci. Of course I loved it. My DNA tells me I‘m all but 2% from Celtic stock, and I imagine my wee Nordic bit accounts for some many times a great grandmother having a wild night as a lass with some rogue from a cool looking boat who was in search of a pint. But Stanley sure makes me wish I were of Italian heritage.

Nov #DoubleSpin Cat: Food

So good, travel through Venetian history and Murano glassmaking with Orsola and her familia. If you are going to Venice or have been there you need to read this. Gives a whole other meaning to the history of glassmaking sold in Venice. Loved this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reluctant Saint, by Donald Spoto (2002)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Premise: A faithful yet demythologizing account of the life of St. Francis of Assisi

Review: While this biography is a bit long in the tooth now, it absolutely holds up. So much of what has been written about St. Francis is caught up in one myth-making venture or another. ⬇️

I‘ve wanted to read another book by Kirshenbaum since loving Rabbits for Food. This one was lovely in a meandering, melancholy way, true to the title. Reflections on life‘s choices, through stories Sylvia tells Henry on their roadtrip, which is itself a story that you know from the start won‘t have a happy ending. Definitely my kind of book.

#10BeforeTheEnd

Nah, this was pants. It really wanted me to think it was something it most definitely wasn't and I'm very much NOT in the mood for such shenanigans. I could say more...but no, I won't.

FIN

There is a gradual growing up in this book, a softening of edges, a looking back at the past both with frank disbelief and a flat lack of surprise. Of course this is where you find yourself. Is it: there is so much you can achieve in a single life? Or, only so much that you can. In making it unclear which, this book is neither disheartening nor inspiring.

Fun read. Enjoyed being introduced to Auntie Poldi and her family.
#roll100

Starting the weekend off with a little reading.

The young man seemed ill at ease. 'Is there something wrong?'
Mm well... yes, in fact his library books.'
'What?'
"Well, he must have had two out, he always did....'
.....

Even a murder doesn't let him off those overdue fees??