Welcome to Litsy!

While I've collected most of my books due to loving history and information, I must admit, there's several I've gotten due to nostalgia.

This was an odd read to say the least. I was very confused when I finished it.

The story was very superficial. It never dove deep into any of the characters. I never felt like I knew any of them beyond the surface level.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/review-empire-of-billions/

First off, trigger warning for diet culture and eating disorders, particularly anorexia. This book deals heavily with anorexia and the toxic diet industry, so please be aware of that. I thought the book did a good job exploring these two topics. I found all the discussion on the diet industry and how it is designed to fail to be so fascinating.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/02/19/review-what-we-give-away-bold-jou...

This was an enchanting and unique fantasy read!

The story is described by many as Beauty and the Beast meets Howl‘s Moving Castle. I haven‘t seen Howl‘s Moving Castle so I can't comment on that. However, it does have major Beauty and the Beast vibes. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling, the story felt so refreshing because of the Polish folklore.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/02/10/review-where-the-dark-stands-stil...

I had previously read the author‘s graphic novel, The Boy and the Man, which detailed the author‘s life and struggles recovering from his stroke. I enjoyed the graphic novel so I was excited to read his poetry collection.

This poetry collection is a poetry interpretation of the same events. I found this interpretation to be even better than the graphic novel.

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/review-thunderstroke/

This book reminded me a lot of the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan (I‘ve never read the Percy Jackson series but I assume it‘s similar to Magnus Chase). It had that same adventurous spirit.

The world building was well done. It was easy to understand and follow. The book included a map, which also aided in comprehension.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/26/review-georgie-summers-and-the-sc...

Like other books set in WWII Philippines, parts of this book is brutal. The treatment the soldiers received from the Japanese was horrendous and this book does not sugar coat any of it. Specifically, the scenes on the warship were the stuff of nightmares.

I liked that the story was told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Sam and Sarah.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/review-hold-strong/

The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story).

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/review-noodle-bao/

The story is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Both stories revolve around a girl who is lost in a fantasy world and meets all kinds of interesting folks along the way. It‘s a simple plot line that works so well.

The cast of characters really made this an enjoyable read. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion were all so lovable!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/07/review-the-wizard-of-oz/

This book is such a hidden gem!

It showcases 50 different “hidden” libraries from all around the world (plus outer space). Every library profile tells you how to find it (if applicable, some are no longer around and some are not open to the public). Also, all the photos have captions which I appreciated.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/review-hidden-libraries/