Litsy

Good Dirt | Charmaine Wilkerson

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#netgalley - pub 6th Feb UK

This is the second novel by the author of Black Cake. I may be going against the grain but I much preferred this one - some other early reviewers felt that the old jar featured in this book didn‘t have as much impact as the cake recipe in the first but I liked it.

There was quite a time distance between the tales of slavery (and the jar) and the modern day, which perhaps lessened the impact but the modern-day ⬇️

squirrelbrain …storyline was fascinating and compelling. My favourite fiction book of the year so far. 3h

TrishB High praise 👍🏻 will keep my eye out for it. 2h

23 likes2 comments

vlwelser

Stone Angels | Helena Rho

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This is a very interesting story. A woman tries to connect with her Korean heritage and learns of an aunt that went missing during the Japanese occupation. So good.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 3/4/25
#ARC #Netgalley

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5h

19 likes1 comment

PuddleJumper

Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, Volume 2: 54 New Themes, Templates, and Ideas for Integrating Inspiration Into Your Class | Sage Rountree, Alexandra DeSiato

pan

I haven't read the first volume so I wasn't familiar with the layout or content of this series. I was interested in the theme ideas and how a yoga class could be structured.

I found this very alien and inauthentic. Several of the things suggested I felt were outside a yoga teacher's remit.

⬇️

PuddleJumper This may be cultural because I've not come across any yoga classes where the things suggested would be appropriate. If a teacher started reading poetry or song lyrics in a class or gave me wool at the beginning of the class, I would walk out.

Thanks to #Netgalley for the #ARC 1d

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yikes. I‘d probably sprain something trying to turn on my heel so fast. 😅🤣 I love yoga, but that extra woo-woo stuff right there isn‘t my style. 🙂‍↔️ 1d

PuddleJumper @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I don't know the history of yoga so I'm always a bit unsure about Western Yoga. Is it just exercise or is it spiritual? But, I find the classes that do go into the spiritual stuff do it in a real pseudo science, pop psychology, cringe way. This would make me so uncomfortable in a class. 1d

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KathyWheeler I enjoy doing yoga, but this would not be what I‘m looking for in a class. 1d

PuddleJumper @KathyWheeler I think it must be aimed at a niche group of yoga teachers? I've never experienced anything like it in classes before 1d

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I know for some people it is a spiritual thing, but typically in a class here in the US, this sort of thing wouldn‘t fly. I feel like over here it‘s seen as more of an exercise and any spiritual stuff is typically focused inward, so you wouldn‘t necessarily want to “connect” with everyone around you constantly. I know there are some local New Age shops that have yoga classes and they might be more like this, but I‘ve never gone. 😅 1d

ImperfectCJ I attended yoga classes in the San Francisco Bay Area that had things like this, and I suspect there might be areas of the Pacific Northwest where this would fly, but yes, most yoga classes I've been to elsewhere would not be amenable to this kind of thing. People seem to want their workout and then want to go home. 24h

PuddleJumper @ImperfectCJ That's interesting. A review of the first book mentioned it was very 'America Yoga' so maybe that's what they meant. I'm in the UK and I just don't think that style would work here 23h

Faranae Sounds very White TM Yoga, where they know yoga is a spiritual/religious practice, but have no connection to that set of religions, so they invent one of their own. Detached from spirituality, it's just stretching exercises. If the spiritual focus is purely inward and not accompanied by anything other than asanas and a little bit of meditation, then it's still not got much to do with the original yoga. 22h

28 likes9 comments

kezzlou85

Prey | Hilary Norman

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Well this was a creepy thrill ride. I must admit that I found the first part set during the war more gripping than the second. It wasn't until the final showdown that I was hooked to the second part. That being said it was still a really good read. Such a creepy and at times twisted story. There are some rather questionable family dynamics in this. The ending was really good though #Netgalley 4*

39 likes1 stack add

Read-n-Bloom

The Matter of the Secret Bride | Darcie Wilde

Been reading this one for the better part of the day. It‘s by Darcie Wilde. Really interesting and well written book. Just what a “who-done-it?” Or “what-is-going-on-here.” mystery should be. It is a ARC I‘m reading for Net Galley.🙂📚💜🌙💙🌙🩷🌙💜🙂
#LitsyReads #Read2025 #NetGalley #mystery

4 likes

Deblovestoread

Jane Austen's Remarkable Aunt, Philadelphia Hancock: A Girl of Genius and Feeling' | Jan Merriman

so-so

It is obvious that the author fully researched the time and places of Philadelphia‘s life. Unfortunately, for me, too little actual evidence remains to build a true picture of her subject. She has conjured an appealing portrait of Philadelphia and those of her acquaintance but there‘s not enough substance in my opinion to feel I now know about Jane Austen‘s Remarkable Aunt.

#NetGalley #Arc

Librarybelle I was wondering about this one, and I too have an ARC of it (just haven‘t had a chance to read it yet). Good review! 3d

66 likes1 comment

julesG

The Outcast Mage | Annabel Campbell

Physio was 😬 I need a moment, or two.

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

LeeRHarry Ouch, hope you feel the benefit of it soon. 🤞 4d

julesG @LeeRHarry me too. Currently enjoying a few muscle cramps where the loosened muscles start to tighten up again. I swear, my body is working on creating a shell. I must be part Galapagos turtle after all. Let's hope I also got the genes for longevity. 😉 4d

LeeRHarry @julesG 🤞😏 3d

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Bookwormjillk Ouch, hang in there 3d

humouress I like your mug 3d

julesG @Bookwormjillk Thanks. 3d

julesG @humouress Thanks, it's one of my favourites 3d

AmyG I start next month. Hope it makes you feel better. 3d

julesG @AmyG Hope you have good PT days only. I have been going to PT twice a week for over 15 years now and some days are not nice. That is, they aren't nice at first, but the lomgtime benefits outweigh the discomfort. 3d

AmyG I am glad to read they work for you. I have knee issues. I have learned it‘s all woth the pain and work. 3d

julesG @AmyG That's the most important thing, when you realise the work and pain are worth it and for a good reason. 3d

Suet624 Best wishes to you for some relief 3d

julesG @Suet624 Thanks! 3d

bthegood hope you get relief soon - 🙂 3d

julesG @bthegood Thanks! 2d

65 likes15 comments

Read-n-Bloom

Never Forgotten | Hannah Linder

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Another great story, and great characters (who I loved)! You can never go wrong with a Hannah Linder book! I love her writing, and her characters!
#LitsyReads #2025Reads #NetGalley

7 likes

JoyBlue

The Rival | Emma Lord

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Emma Lord‘s latest YA rom-com features childhood rivals turned college journalists. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-rival

Publication is expected January 21.

#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #MacmillanYoungListeners #TheRival

37 likes

JoyBlue

She Doesn't Have a Clue: A Novel | Jenny Elder Moke