Litsy

pick

This collection of short vignettes shows a child and her grandmother throughout a summer on a Finnish island. Another gentle read, but beautifully descriptive and full of humor and heart.
#24in2024

LeahBergen It‘s a lovely read. 🥰 10h

lil1inblue I really enjoyed reading this one. 😍 4h

42 likes2 comments

IReadThereforeIBlog

At My Mother's Knee...: And Other Low Joints | Paul O'Grady

pick

Paul O‘Grady was a comedian, actor, TV presenter, chat show host and British national treasure. Warm, hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking this is the first in his autobiography quartet, charting his life in Birkenhead from birth to his late teens and his relationship with his working class, Catholic parents and aunts. This 2018 reprint featured a new introduction by O‘Grady where he says he‘s softened some of the depictions of his family.

4 likes1 stack add

WildAlaskaBibliophile

Little House on the Prairie (Full Color) | Laura Ingalls Wilder

I know the Little House books are controversial today but as a child in the 80's I really enjoyed reading them. I've read every one of them, and I know I read at least some of them multiple times. Otherwise, I can't say I've ever re-read any books. There's so much to read, I like to pick up new-to-me books! #TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

dabbe I didn't know the LH books were controversial today. Am I too naive to ask why? I LOVED those books! They = #childhood And I agree 💯... there are too many books and too little time to be doing too much rereading! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 2mo

ShelleyBooksie @dabbe - one of the reasons is the portrayal of indigenous people. 2mo

dabbe @ShelleyBooksie It's been years since I've read them, and I honestly didn't remember those parts. Thanks for clarifying. 💚💙💚 2mo

ImperfectCJ I also loved the Little House books, although there are definitely problematic elements (the minstrel show...ugh). These days I find them intriguing as a look into how an author frames her personal history, what she includes, what she leaves out, etc. 2mo

25 likes4 comments

Rissreads

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel | Neil Gaiman

pick

I soooooo wanted to LOVE this book! I had such high expectations and I think that was the problem, It just didn‘t live up to all the hype for me. Something just didn‘t quite work. But I did enjoy it more as it went along. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

48 likes

AmyG

Foster | Claire Keegan

1. Tagged “novella”
2. Hearts in Atlantis- Stephen King
2. The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

#TLT @dabbe

dabbe Two more on the TBR! Thanks for sharing, m'dear. 💚💙💚 2mo

AmyG Any time. 😘 @dabbe 2mo

45 likes2 comments

lil1inblue

Cat's Eye | Margaret Atwood

Another one from the TBR.

#ittakesallkinds #witheyes

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Perfection 👏🏻👌🏼 2mo

16 likes1 stack add1 comment

thegirlwiththelibrarybag

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel | Neil Gaiman

pick

I‘ve previously struggled to connect with Gaiman‘s books - so I‘ve been putting off trying this one for years even though it comes highly recommended and I admire the author (he‘s hilarious on tumblr) - and so I gave the audiobook a go and this was the NG book for me! I loved how it was bookended with the MC‘s adult self - with the majority of the story taking place when he was 7. The epilogue!!! Oof!

TheIntrovertedDodoBird Awesome review! I read this book years ago and still find myself thinking of it often. You might enjoy

Neverwhere

2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, I think I‘ll be thinking of it for years to come too. It has such a lot of beautiful sentences. Thanks for the recommendation, I‘ve been wondering if he‘s an author I‘m just going to prefer on audio? 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag It truly has a profundity that follows you. It really does. It's very quotable. Gaiman is a bona-fide genius! You're welcome. I highly recommend Coraline and The Graveyard Book, too. Ooh, I've actually never listened to his novels in audio format, but I imagine they're incredible. 2mo

See All 18 Comments

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, the graveyard book and American gods were 2 that I tried and just couldn‘t connect with (this was awhile ago tho so things could be different now) I‘ve seen Coraline the movie, I forget that it started as a book. I quite enjoyed him reading it to me ☺️ (edited) 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, I‘ve only been listening to audiobooks regularly for about a year, but I‘ve found that I‘ve enjoyed listening to books/genres that I probably wouldn‘t have tried/gotten around to in print. 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I haven't gotten around to American Gods yet (my TBR pile is so long), but I truly adored The Graveyard Book. I would say Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane have quite a similar feel, so you might enjoy it! And the illustrated edition is stunning! 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I'll have to try listening to the audio books of the novels I haven't particularly gotten along with. I hate to DNF a book, so this might just be my answer! 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird I haven't seen the Coraline movie yet. I really must. I love the book! Does Gaiman himself narrate the audio books? 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, you should! For me I‘ve picked up memoirs and horror that I honestly wouldn‘t have even glanced at in print 🤓 I think he does narrate them, he did for Ocean anyway. I feel you on the long tbr 📚 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I struggle to digest memoirs and super heavy material sometimes, but somehow, I have never considered switching to audio format until now! Ooh. I'll definitely be trying Gaiman's audio books now. He has a storytellers voice. Yes, the bookworms malaise of a tottering TBR pile (and I keep finding myself returning to past favourites 😆📚). 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, I listened to Sam Neill read his memoir last year and it was great - but I wouldn‘t have even considered it in print 🤷🏻‍♀️ audio is definitely a good option for books that you are interested in but can‘t see yourself getting to anytime soon (I mostly listen to them at work). I‘m a rereader too 🤣 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I really want to try some of the classics, but every time I attempt them in print, I struggle to immerse myself in the prose, so this might just be my answer! Listening to them at work is a good idea. Ooh. I love rereading! I just can't help revisiting my favourite stories and characters. I recently finished my third reread of my favourite novel 😂. 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, I wish you luck! I started with shorter books (under 7 hours) and played around with narration speed (I like them to talk faster but not so fast that they sound like chipmunks). 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag Thank you! Honestly, I'm curious about being narrated to at chipmunk speed now 😂. 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, it works for some people - but I‘m usually happiest at 1.5-1.7 (depends on the narrator) 🐿️ 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag It sounds like fun, but it would definitely become irksome after a while 😂. Thank you! I'll keep that in mind when selecting my narration speed. I might finally try some Jane Austin on audio after finishing my current read now 🥰. 2mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TheIntrovertedDodoBird, let me know how you find it 😊 2mo

TheIntrovertedDodoBird @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I will 😊. Happy reading 📚. 2mo

56 likes18 comments

marleed

Foster | Claire Keegan

pick

I‘m sure I‘ve never read a story as masterfully told inside of 88 pages as this. My recommendation: Treat yourself to a master class in writing!

….Last month I unexpectedly hosted my IRL bookclub discussion on Small Things Like These. To prepare I watched several 30-90 minute YouTube videos about the book. Often, as much as the speaker liked STLT, they liked Foster even more and I thought, No Way. Then I read it.
…Updated thought, Way!!!

Tamra Pretty pic! 2mo

jlhammar Yes! I absolutely loved Small Things Like These, but Foster is my favorite Keegan. The film adaptation, A Quiet Girl, is also wonderful. 2mo

marleed @Tamra Thank you! 2mo

See All 15 Comments

marleed @jlhammar I have to watch it. And it‘s okay that I‘ll have to rent it from a streaming service! 2mo

Gissy Pretty picture 😍 🫖 📚 2mo

bthegood Yes Way!! I felt that this was a perfectly written story - the images, emotional impact, sense of the characters and place - all in a tiny package - so well done!! 2mo

marleed @bthegood Even pieces that aren‘t fully explained is so deliberate - she allows the reader to fill in blanks for themselves. It‘s almost like staring at a famous painting in a museum and drawing your own conclusions. Art doesn‘t need to be explained. 2mo

marleed @Gissy Thank you! For many years my gift-giving sister was the owner/operator of the Celtic store in my hometown. It‘s always an honor to display her goods in a pic! 2mo

Gissy @marleed A Celtic store 😱🤩👌♥️♥️♥️ 2mo

marleed @Gissy That store was her life and where everyone came to see who was back home for a visit. She battled cancer for years and it was getting up and opening those doors that kept her determined to keep going. When she passed in 2021 the news was broadcast across Montana because of her impact of all things Irish. She truly had no clue that she mattered so much to so many. I hope she knows now ❤️ 2mo

Gissy @marleed ♥️♥️♥️ 2mo

bthegood @marleed 👍 🙂 2mo

Suet624 A Celtic store in Montana. I love it. Wouldn‘t it be wonderful if we all knew how much we meant to people? 2mo

marleed @Suet624 She always worried because we came to her financial assistance a few times and she didn‘t want to need help. But we are convinced that the total of all those who mourn the deaths of her 4 sisters won‘t come close to the impact we witnessed at her passing. She was in fact the ‘richest‘ among us. 2mo

Suet624 How wonderful. It brought tears to my eyes. 2mo

76 likes3 stack adds15 comments

TieDyeDude

Tango: My Childhood, Backwards and in High Heels | Justin Bond

I found this recording of an evening at Symphony Space with Justin Vivian Bond on Hoopla today. I became aware of Justin through the movie Shortbus. I have been interested in reading their memoir Tango, but haven't yet. This audio gave some insight into the contents of the book and their writing process.

35 likes