Welcome to Litsy!

The first half of Books and Islands focuses on the islands in Lake of the Woods, which is on the border of Minnesota and Ontario. The author describes the ancient Ojibwe pictographs and stories about some of the 14,000 islands in the lake, which she is visiting by boat. I admit this part dragged for me in some places, even though her discussion of the Anishinaabe people and language were interesting.

The second half saved the book for me, ⬇️

I chose this for #readingthestates2021 #NewMexico.

It‘s a cliche filled mystery, with characters I mostly didn‘t care for (no boundaries anywhere! Inappropriate flirting in a police station by high up officers... ugh)

I sped the audio way up to get through it, and would have bailed if it weren‘t to check off the state. Won‘t be recommending.

This thriller dives right in with violence, and keeps up a swift pace right to the end.

A story of drugs on the reservation in #SouthDakota, a vigilante tries to get to the bottom of the first signs of heroin overdoses in the town‘s kids. The feds tend to look the other way with most res crime, so Virgil takes it on himself.

I chose this for #ReadingTheStates2021. I don‘t read thrillers often, but I thought this was good. TW galore though.

Pretty much what I expected, this book is kind of fluffy, even though it‘s got a sad tone too.

I enjoyed it as a light read, but I don‘t expect to retain much of it for long.

Small town Iowa, Sarah is visiting from Sweden. Circumstances lead to her opening a small bookstore and trying to help the townsfolk find a love of reading. There‘s romance as well. Cute but predictable.

#readingthestates2021 #Iowa

#WeeklyForecast @Cinfhen

I‘m really hoping I can finish up The Crimson Petal and the White this week. #ChunksterChallenge2021

I‘ve been seeing great reviews for Winter Counts, and I‘ll be reading it for my #SouthDakota book for #readingthestates2021.

Broken Wheel is light but on the sad side, and it‘s my #Iowa book for the states challenge. I‘ll probably finish it today or tomorrow.

Have a great reading week friends!

It‘s extremely rare for me to be this riveted by nonfiction. I could not put this book down.

I‘ve had so many recommendations for this, I‘m thrilled it landed in my LFL. I‘ll be keeping this one.

What a remarkable story. The science has been crucial to our civilization. And the poor family‘s struggles.

I‘ll be recommending this one now!

#readingthestates2021 #Maryland

This has been chilling on my TBR for years. I got it in a Litsy swap at some point.

I‘m not sure whether to call it magical realism, but I‘m guessing that‘s the closest genre, and it‘s YA. About a group of kids that have each been through a personal trauma, at a school in Vermont.

The twist at the end tricked me. I thought this was really unique and I liked it.

#ReadingTheStates2021 #Vermont

Another deeply moving book, a beautiful cover hiding a lot of pain.

This is mainly about a man with early onset Alzheimer‘s, but it‘s also about his family. It covers many different timelines and characters.

I loved Anne‘s part the most, as she tries to take care of Wade the best she can, and does her best to be understanding and gentle with him as he fades away. 💔. The last chapter was really special too.

Wow, what a book!

This is really difficult to read, as the main character is in so much pain. But it‘s an important book and I think it could help someone developing an eating disorder to feel seen and maybe start healing before they get to the point where Anne was. Also a great book for family and friends to read to better understand what suffering loved ones are experiencing.

I bought this when @TrishB posted a photo of her copy, because I ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 these edges! 😍 I also loved Russo‘s previous book, If I Was Your Girl.

This is the story of two friends, born on the same day in the same hospital during a blizzard. Their families became friends while trapped there for 3 days. It‘s told across their birthdays as they go through their teen years. It‘s sad and lovely, and brought me back to the pain of growing up.