Litsy

This Side Jordan | Margaret Laurence, Laurence

Votes are in for This Side Jordan by Margaret Laurence as the first book we read for #OhCanada in 2026.

All are welcome to join in on this low key bi-monthly read where we explore Canadian authors. Participate whenever you feel like - drop on in if you see a book you want to read! Discussion question(s) will be posted at the end of February.

#Canada #CanadianAuthors #BookClub #BuddyRead

Jess861 @lauraisntwilder @KathyWheeler @Ruthiella @CarolynM @LapReader @kwmg40 @Readergrrl @JenlovesJT47 @Tamra @PurpleyPumpkin @Kitta @DogMomIrene now

Jess861 @Blueberry @BiblioLitten @JuniperWilde @Teresereading @mcctrish @willaful @Singout @kspenmoll @litsyevents now

Tamra Thank you Jess! now

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Bookwormjillk That looks really good! now

TheKidUpstairs Ooh, I love Margaret Laurence, but I've never read this one! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy to join you :) now

Texreader Please tag me. I‘ll try to participate when I can now

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Jess861

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel | Louise Penny

Curled up with a vanilla latte and the #OhCanada book pick on this snowy day.

kspenmoll I hope you love it! This series is so wonderful!!! 2d

Jess861 @kspenmoll I hope so too - I don't read much mystery so I'm curious to see if I enjoy it. I found the first chapter a bit chaotic with so many different characters but started following along better in the second chapter. 2d

Tamra The series grows on you. I‘ve listened to it via audio and have not listened in publication order. 🙂 I didn‘t start with the first. Even then the reader gets to know the characters and feels invested. 2d

Jess861 @Tamra So good to know that it's a series that can be read out of order. My local library only has some of the books. 23h

46 likes4 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

Just curious... what reading challenges are y'all doing next year,? I'm still working on the 50 states, 50 horror books (50 percent complete); the past couple of years I have been slightly intrigued by the 52 book club challenge and I've knocked off a few new favorites I might not have otherwise... but I'm thinking '26 will be challenge/prompt free.As a mood reader, it's just so hard to commit!

TEArificbooks I have always done too many challenges and the reading starts to feel like “required” reading and there is no time for mood reading. So this year and next year I am participating when I feel like it. I‘m definitely going to participate in #USPresidents as I cohost. Also love #naturalitsy #themedcozies #foodandlit 7d

vivastory @TEArificbooks As a mood reader, I definitely endorse mood reading 📚📚😀 7d

Ruthiella I will definitely do #TBRTarot and #Roll100 because both help me read either what I already own or books I keep meaning to read but never prioritize. I will also do #ChuncksterChallege2026 and #AllergictoChunksters, but only when a TBR book happens to meet the criteria. 7d

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Dilara On Litsy, I'll continue with #foodandlit. I'll also follow #naturalitsy but I'm more of a lurker than an active member. On LibraryThing, I do the Global Challenge (read 5 books from every country - that's more of a lifetime endeavour) and an informal Nobel Prize challenge. I do better with free-form challenges, where I can read the books of my choice in the order of my choice 😁 7d

julesG I'll do 52bookclub again next year. Also Buzzword's Reading and Cover challenges because they are very low key and still tricky sometimes. 7d

vivastory I always see #tbrtarot .... can you explain it to me? @ruthiella 7d

Hooked_on_books I‘m not doing any. I‘ll be following the TOB and reading those as well as the Women‘s Prize and NBA lists, but no challenges. Though I have some thoughts about trying to get some of my mass market paperbacks read, my own little challenge. I‘m a mood reader, too. 7d

Ruthiella @cbee “pulls” a card like, read “read a book with a red cover” or “read a book by a Japanese author” and the way I do #TBRtarot is I look for a book I own that meets the criteria. If I can‘t find a match, I don‘t stress, however. 7d

AkashaVampie My memory sucks... but if u haven't tried #BookishMonopoly yet, here's ur chance. Also make sure to cater to u and what u want/have. 7d

AkashaVampie Also would love to see ur board if u do 7d

AshleyHoss820 As a fellow mood-reader, I love the BookSpin challenge that @TheAromaofBooks does every year. I‘m still doing the 1,001 books. I also found, from some devious Litten, the Hardest Reading Challenge You‘ll Ever Do. Created by Qwordy on YouTube, it‘s a year-long challenge beginning on July 7th. It‘s so difficult, it‘s actually meant to not be completed, but instead to broaden your reading horizons. Happy reading in ‘26, no matter what you choose! (edited) 7d

Kitta I did #LGBTQIA25 which is a book bingo that has a challenge on StoryGraph and #queerbc which also has a StoryGraph challenge. There‘s #ohcanada for some Canadian reads and I‘m going to attempt the #192030 challenge. I‘m also attempting the #vivillon challenge in 2026 (reading books from different countries based on the Pokémon regions lol). 7d

Amiable @AshleyHoss820 I‘m intrigued—what makes it the hardest reading challenge ever? The number of books? The difficulty of the texts? A compressed timeframe? Inquiring minds need to know! 6d

CBee @vivastory that‘s my challenge 😊 I just pick a card (I had a deck but now make my own) and you read a book that fits the prompt. I posted this month‘s prompt Monday 👍🏻 6d

TheAromaofBooks I try to stick with challenges that are somewhat flexible or that I can use to reduce my TBR (which is comprised of books I WANT to read haha). So I've really enjoyed the #Roll100 challenge hosted by @PuddleJumper as well as #ReadorDonate by @julieclair who also hosts the #MonthlyNonfiction And @Librarybelle is getting ready to start a new five-year challenge #192030 as well!! 6d

merelybookish I am taking a break from any formal challenges but toying with trying to read mostly Canadian lit in 2026. I'm thinking of aiming for 80% so I still have room for moods or book club pics, etc. 6d

DGRachel I burned out on challenges. The only thing I will be doing next year is #bookspin and that‘s only because I like making the graphics at the beginning of each month. 🤣🤣 Well, that and it‘s so flexible it allows for space for mood reading and there‘s no pressure. 6d

RaeLovesToRead HRCYED, PopSugar, and let's see what Book Riot's Read Harder is like! Those are the main ones I think... as well as Bookspin, Roll100 etc on here 😊 6d

RaeLovesToRead I don't aim to finish though because I'm far too distractible 6d

MaleficentBookDragon I love the #Bookspin challenge by @TheAromaofBooks. I've been doing that one for years.

I also do two on #GoodReads.
The #DustyBookShelf by the Challenge Factory and #MountTBR. Here are this year's links to check out-
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/476813?group_id=55345 https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1256310-mount-tbr-challenge-2025

I like all these because they are to work down my TBR & they are books I WANT to read. 6d

MaleficentBookDragon @DGRachel Me too! I have kept my Photoshop subscription just because I love making the graphics (yeah I'm a little weird). 6d

DGRachel @MaleficentBookDragon It‘s why I can‘t cancel my Canva subscription! 🤣🤣🤣 6d

AshleyHoss820 @Amiable I think what makes HRCYED so difficult is a combo of all the above! 😂 She has white prompts & purple prompts, one of which is set in stone, the other is more customizable. There are also SO MANY PROMPTS and many require multiple books to complete. For example: Disability Rep needs 5 (I think) different books representing 5 different disabilities. Check out Qwordy‘s YouTube, if you‘re curious! She does a wonderful job explaining it! ☺️ 6d

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'll be doing Food & Lit, 192030, and I'll see what I can get done with the 52 Book Club & PopSugar. I'm trying to read more from what's already on my shelves, and since F&L tends to need library resources, I'll do what I can without forcing myself to choose a book that doesn't interest me. This thread has me intrigued by HRCYED though! 5d

vivastory @CBee I just saw your recent prompt. I 💙 Japanese mysteries 5d

vivastory @merelybookish Your Canadian lit challenge sounds fun! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out 5d

56 likes26 comments

LitsyEvents

A Great Reckoning: A Novel | Louise Penny

repost for @Jess861

Just picked up my copy of Still Life from the library for the #OhCanada read. I've heard nothing but good things about this series, including from the Librarian that was checking my books out!

I'll post a discussion point at the end of December. It will be a brief, high level discussion post since people are reading various books in the series.

All are welcome to join this bi-monthly read where we explore Canadian authors.

31 likes

Jess861

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel | Louise Penny

Just picked up my copy of Still Life from the library for the #OhCanada read. I've heard nothing but good things about this series, including from the Librarian that was checking my books out!

One month left and I'll post a discussion point at the end of December. It will be a brief, high level discussion post since people are reading various books in the series.

All are welcome to join this bi-monthly read where we explore Canadian authors.

Jess861 @lauraisntwilder @KathyWheeler @Ruthiella @CarolynM @LapReader @kwmg40 @Readergrrl @JenlovesJT47 @Tamra @PurpleyPumpkin @Kitta @DogMomIrene 1w

Jess861 @Blueberry @BiblioLitten @JuniperWilde @Teresereading @mcctrish @willaful @Singout @kspenmoll 1w

Jess861 #BookClub #Canada #CanadianAuthors #BookClub #BuddyRead 1w

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mcctrish Woo Hoo, Three Pines here I come 1w

Ruthiella I‘m going to read the second book- give Penny another chance. 1w

Amiable I love the Gamache books. 😍 1w

willaful I've got The Long Way Home, IIRC. 1w

dabbe AD🤩RE Gamache!!! 1w

43 likes2 stack adds8 comments

LitsyEvents

Oh, Canada! | Per-Henrik G�rth

The #OhCanada Book Club is back for 2026 - with a cute little Beaver!
This year we'll start with some classic Canadian literature as requested. This is the Jan/Feb vote on which Margaret Laurence book we'd like to read. I don't read much classic lit so I'll be discovering new books as well. Anyone who suggested an author on previous posts will get one of those authors picked in 2026 for a vote.
From @Jess861

LitsyEvents Always open to new suggestions.
All welcome to join. See her post follow the hashtag. 1w

27 likes1 comment

Jess861

Oh, Canada! | Per-Henrik G�rth

The #OhCanada Book Club is back for 2026 - with a cute little Beaver!

This year we'll start with some classic Canadian literature as requested. This is the Jan/Feb vote on which Margaret Laurence book we'd like to read. I don't read much classic lit so I'll be discovering new books as well. Anyone who suggested an author on previous posts will get one of those authors picked in 2026 for a vote. Always open to new suggestions.

All welcome to join

Jess861 @lauraisntwilder @KathyWheeler @Ruthiella @CarolynM @LapReader @kwmg40 @Readergrrl @JenlovesJT47 @Tamra @PurpleyPumpkin @Kitta @DogMomIrene @Blueberry @BiblioLitten @JuniperWilde @Teresereading @mcctrish @willaful @Singout @LitsyEvents #BookClub #Canada #CanadianAuthors #BookClub #BuddyRead 1w

kspenmoll Please add me to your list. I will join in as I can. Thanks 1w

Jess861 @kspenmoll I'll add you in - thanks 😊 1w

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Tamra I‘m happy to reread Stone Angel! 😄 1w

Ruthiella I‘ll vote for “This Side Jordan”. 😃 1w

mcctrish I‘ve not read “This Side Jordan” so that would be my pick but I love Stone Angel so I am always happy to revisit Hagar ❤️ 1w

Singout I‘d like to revisit Hagar too! 1w

CarolynM I‘ll vote for

This Side Jordan: A Novel

Teresereading This Side Jordan 1w

lauraisntwilder Stone Angel gets my vote. 1w

PurpleyPumpkin I‘ll pick This Side Jordan as I haven‘t read that before. (edited) 1w

kwmg40 I‘ve not read This Side Jordan yet, so that will be my choice. 1w

42 likes12 comments

LapReader

The Grey Wolf: Chief Inspector Gamache faces his most deadly case yet in this unforgettable and timely thriller | Louise Penny

pick

Yesterday was my first day of Long Service Leave to prepare for my ballet exam on Sunday. It was a busy day but I also found some time to relax at the beach. Even getting a little sun burnt! I enjoyed my favourite snacks from the cafe downstairs. The butter on the banana bread is divine. They do the most expensive but delicious banana smoothies too. Surprisingly I am tearing through this book. It was in my building‘s book exchange for ages.

LapReader @Teresereading 3w

LapReader @Jess861 #ohcanada 3w

MrsMalaprop Yum 😋. Good luck 🩰. 3w

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LapReader Thanks @MrsMalaprop just trying to keep those nerves under control. 3w

Jess861 So glad you're enjoying it!! Also - that looks beyond delicious! 3w

CarolynM Hope the exam goes well 🍀 3w

Jeg Good luck with your exam. 3w

LapReader @CarolynM me too. Thankyou. 2nd last rehearsal tonight and we were told to do our homework and think about everything she‘d taught us this past 6 months. I made one tiny mistake! 3w

LapReader Thanks @Jeg I will be glad of it. 3w

Rissreadswithcats How did you go on Sunday? 🤞🏼 5d

30 likes10 comments

lauraisntwilder

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel | Louise Penny

pick

Well, now I have a new series that I want to read all of! This was perfect for the first few cold days we've had. #OhCanada

dabbe Oh, you will be hooked! ♥️🍁🧡 4w

Jess861 So glad you enjoyed it! Lots of books to read in the series! 3w

33 likes2 comments

Ruthiella

Untitled | Unknown

#ChristmasCrimeChallenge

I‘m a little late for my own challenge! 😂 I‘ve settled on my pile of possibilities. Super pleased that some work for other prompts.

1. “Unnatural Causes“
2. “A Fatal Grace” #OhCanada
3. “Crime at Black Dudley” #HashtagBrigade
4. “The Mystery of the Yellow Room”
5. “Poirot‘s Early Cases”
6. “Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead” #Roll100
7. “Six Wakes”
8. “Follow Her Home”.
9. “The Quincunx” #10beforetheend

RaeLovesToRead

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