Litsy

WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION JOURNAL. | THE. WOMEN'S PRIZE

I am in the middle of And Then She Fell. I loved it immediately but now I am not so sure anymore. So for now I stick to these six favorites for the #WomenPrize shortlist (which I know is exactly the same as yours, Helen!). If I change my mind again after a few more chapters of ATSF and before the announcement on Wednesday morning, I‘ll add it and remove Enter Ghost (with pain in my heart).

charl08, squirrelbrain, ChaoticMissAdventures

jlhammar Love your bookends! I‘m for sure rooting for Brotherless Night and Ordinary Human Failings. Have yet to read the others on your shortlist. 8mo

BarbaraBB @jlhammar Your kind of books I think! 8mo

squirrelbrain Great minds think alike! #booktwins 8mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain 🤍 👯 🤍 8mo

74 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

And Then She Fell: A Novel | Alicia Elliott

#WeeklyForecast 18/24

I am trying to read one more longlisted book (the tagged one) before the #WomenPrize shortlist will be announced on Wednesday.
But first I‘ll finish The Last Thing to Burn which has had me hooked this weekend!
What‘s Left of me Is Yours is the third one I hope to get to.

Rissreads Good luck! 🤞🏼 8mo

Leniverse Ooh, the shortlist announcement is Wednesday, not Tuesday. That's a relief, gives me an additional day to get my predictions out. 😅 I've just finished your tagged book. It blew me away completely, but it was really heavy, emotionally. 8mo

BarbaraBB @Leniverse I thought Wednesday but now I am now sure any longer. Glad you “enjoyed” the tagged one. I dreaded it a bit but now I am hopeful! 8mo

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Leniverse I checked. 24th. And that's definitely wednesday. 😂 8mo

TheLudicReader I couldn‘t put The Last Thing to Burn down. 8mo

BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader Neither could I! What a ride 😱 8mo

Cathythoughts The Last Thing To Burn sounds like a stack for me 😁👍🏻 8mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I do indeed think you‘ll like it (although there‘s little to like about it 😱), especially in the bailing phase we‘ve both been experiencing! 8mo

Cathythoughts 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻😁 8mo

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BarbaraBB

River East, River West: A Novel | Aube Rey Lescure

pick

It took some time getting into this book but then it gave me all the feels. I rooted for Lu Fang throughout the book, the Chinese man who falls in love with an American woman living in China. Her daughter Alva, who‘s coming to age is another storyline, I found extremely annoying: how many wrong choices can a 15-year old make? Set in China from the 80s until 2009 makes for an interesting setting! ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB I knew so little about China after Mao.
An emotional read and yes, it will make my personal #WomenPrize shortlist. 8mo

Amor4Libros I really liked this one, too! 8mo

Hooked_on_books I loved it, too! I would love to see it on the shortlist. 8mo

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squirrelbrain This one is on my shortlist too! ❤️ 8mo

Deblovestoread I rooted for Lu Fang, too. Alva was a mess but her parent sure didn‘t help. 8mo

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread You‘re right. Het mother was a mess too 😀 8mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Fingers crossed! 8mo

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BarbaraBB

The Wren, The Wren: A Novel | Anne Enright

bailed

Another bail.. I have a hard time concentrating on books (am very busy at work and a bit hyped about that #CampLitsy24 longlist) and this one just didn‘t make sense to me. Great writing, great scenes but they lacked connection I think and I had not really and idea what or whom I was reading about. Maybe I‘ll give it another try when I am a bit more relaxed.

#WomenPrize

sarahbarnes I have seen mixed reviews on this one and haven‘t been drawn to it yet. Although I really liked The Gathering. 8mo

TheKidUpstairs I've been on a run of bails, too. Can't seem to focus on anything long enough to get past the first 50 pages or so. 8mo

Cathythoughts I‘m bailing too , and not finishing , I‘m hoping to find ‘ the book ‘ soon now 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 8mo

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LeahBergen Such a pretty photo for a bail. 😆 8mo

charl08 I liked this more than you did, but not enough to shortlist 🤷‍♀️ 8mo

squirrelbrain What @charl08 said. And also, gorgeous photo! 8mo

Tamra Love the blooms! 8mo

dabbe #hailthebail! #betterbooksahead 🤩🤩🤩 8mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I liked that one too. And I think this one‘s good too in its own way. Just not for me at the moment 8mo

BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs exactly. Me neither. Frustrating. 8mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts This same book? Such a coincidence. I am thinking about another Marrs to break the bailings! 8mo

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen @Tamra @squirrelbrain Thank you. Tulips all over the place in the Netherlands right now 🌷 8mo

BarbaraBB @charl08 @squirrelbrain I haven‘t read any reviews who thought it shortlist worthy. We‘ll see next week! 8mo

Suet624 Bailing is a bummer but tulips are a joy. 😍 8mo

Cathythoughts No , not the same book. Just generally in an unsettled bailing frame of mind 🙄 it should end soon 👍🏻❤️ 8mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts It should. I need my books to escape from reality but it‘s hard at the moment 8mo

Hooked_on_books I wasn‘t a fan of this one, so I don‘t blame you. 8mo

Centique I‘m in a bailing frame of mind too @Cathythoughts @TheKidUpstairs Cant handle reading anything tense at the moment. 💕 Had to give up on Prophet Song - for the time being anyway. 8mo

Centique Thats such a fabulous photo of the book and the tulips @BarbaraBB 😍 8mo

BarbaraBB @Centique I fortunately just finished a book. A good one. I hope that breaks the bailing mood!

River East, River West: A Novel

8mo

jlhammar I started this on audio and wasn‘t feeling it. 8mo

BarbaraBB @jlhammar I started on audio too, then changed to print but it didn‘t help! 8mo

80 likes22 comments

BarbaraBB

Mrs. S | K. Patrick

#BookReport 16/24

Two #WomenPrize reads this week and the tagged one. I was disappointed by Nightbloom because my expectations were high but both others I enjoyed.

78 likes

BarbaraBB

A Trace of Sun: a powerful and extraordinary novel exploring the long-term emotional impact of family separation | Pam Williams

pick

How am I the first to post about this book while it‘s on the #WomenPrize longlist??
Anyhow, it deserves to be there. It‘s a powerful read. Cilla leaves her homeland Grenada to make money in the UK. She leaves her son Raef behind and it takes 7 years before she can afford his ticket and for him to reunite with his family. Things don‘t go well however and Cilla blames herself. Told by mother and son alternately the book packs a punch.

BarbaraBB #pop24 - Unreliable narrator @RaeLovesToRead @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @jenniferw88 @Graciouswarriorprincess @Ruthiella @OriginalCyn620 @maich 9mo

squirrelbrain Oops, must have forgotten to post when I read it! 🤪 It sounds like you liked it better than me - I felt it was a bit long in places. 9mo

Leniverse It's the cover. It's putting everyone off 🤪😆 9mo

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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain It‘s long indeed but it felt like a fast paced one to me. 9mo

BarbaraBB @Leniverse That is absolutely true!! I dreaded reading it too! Don‘t let it put you off though! 9mo

Leniverse It's one of only three longlist books that I haven't been able to get through the libraries or on a kindle deal, so I've been leaving them for last in case an offer turns up. But of the three I feel the least drawn to this one so I'm glad to hear you liked it! 9mo

Gissy Great! It‘s in my Amazon shopping cart. I will order it then today🤗I‘m buying them online because I only found one book from the list in one of my local bookstores and I don‘t like to read digital 🤷🏽‍♀️ 9mo

BarbaraBB @Gissy Me neither! I buy them online or get them in the library. Sometimes I do audio but I prefer holding a real book in my hands 🥰 9mo

sarahbarnes Very good to know you liked this one! 9mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I have it waiting! I had to buy it so I am racing through my library loans and some of the shorter ones first. So glad to hear that you liked it and found it worthy. 9mo

BkClubCare What a pretty setting. 9mo

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BarbaraBB

Nightbloom | Peace Adzo Medie

so-so

Two Ghanaian cousins have shared years together growing up but experienced them completely different. Akorfa is the rich and smart one who leaves Ghana for an education in the US. Her story felt too long and lightweight to me.
Selasi stays in Ghana and owns a restaurant. Her story is different. Lots of tough topics come by but her story felt hurried and lacked depth.

So no favorite of mine for the #WomenPrize.

ChaoticMissAdventures I have been so on the fence about picking this one up at all. 9mo

squirrelbrain Great review! 9mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures It‘s just another story, certainly not bad but nothing that makes it stand out imo 9mo

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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I think you liked it better than I did. I am almost finished with A Trace of Sun too and think I am preferring that one. How was Everett??? 9mo

Bookwormjillk I bought this yesterday based on my love of another book from this author. Did you read

His Only Wife

9mo

LeeRHarry I have an hour left on the audio of this one and it‘s going to get a so-so from me too. 9mo

Ruthiella Yeah, I agree there was an uneven quality re: the depiction of each girl‘s childhood and adolescence. But overall I liked it. 👍 9mo

squirrelbrain I did like it @BarbaraBB but didn‘t love it. And, as with a few of the books this year, I‘m not sure why it made the long list. 🤷‍♀️ Everett was wonderful! He‘s as sharp and funny in real life as he comes across in his books. 9mo

Suet624 Pretty cover though. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9mo

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I enjoyed that one but read this book with different expectations because of the Women Prize longlist. I hope you‘ll enjoy it! 9mo

BarbaraBB @LeeRHarry I‘ll be looking out for your review! 9mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain So wonderful that you‘ve met him! I just got a copy of

James: A Novel

9mo

71 likes12 comments

BarbaraBB

Nightbloom | Peace Adzo Medie

#WeeklyForecast 16/24

I am reading Mrs S and have another two #womenprize books waiting for me. Also I‘d like to start Christ on an Bike which is a 💯 #blameitonlitsy choice.

squirrelbrain I bailed on Mrs S. I liked Nightbloom better than A Trace of Sun, but both good. And I also blame Litsy for Christ on a Bike (maybe @TrishB ?! 🤪) although I haven‘t read it yet. 9mo

Ruthiella It was @TrishB ‘s review that made me also want to read

Christ on a Bike

9mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I saw that you bailed on Mrs S and that @sarahbarnes enjoyed it so I look forward to find out where I‘ll end up! 9mo

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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Ruthiella It‘s probably @TrishB then 😀 9mo

TrishB It was definitely me! I loved it, thought the plot was original (to me anyway!). 9mo

Suet624 Christ on a Bike sounds interesting… 9mo

sarahbarnes I‘m very interested to hear what you think of Mrs. S! 9mo

69 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Brotherless Night: A Novel | V. V. Ganeshananthan

#BookReport 15/24

I read two #womenprize books this week. The Maiden was enjoyable, the tagged book really good yet both can‘t compete to In Defence of the Act to me - my favorite so far. I then binge-read the Marrs chunkster, an engaging thriller, not his best though.

Suet624 I‘ve called around to bookstores and they don‘t seem to be able to get In Defence of the Act. 🥴. (I don‘t buy from Amazon.) 9mo

71 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

The Maiden | Kate Foster

pick

An interesting story, based on a true one, which for me always adds a bit to a book. Christian was too wild for the times she lived in and that caused her downfall.
I feel like the book could have used some editing ( the story took endless to pick up speed) and though I liked it, I wonder why it is on the #WomenPrize longlist.

#52BookClub24 - More than 40 chapters

BarbaraBB @Book_Lover95 @Larkken @Kristy_K @Tove_Reads @TheAromaofBooks @hissingpotatoes @Magpiegem @MidnightBookListener @kwmg40 @crazeedi @Graciouswarriorprincess @maich @slategreyskies 9mo

BarbaraBB @LaraReads @Hooked_on_Books @BarkingMadRead @BookBelle84 @jenniferw88 @julesG @Deblovestoread @Librarybelle @triplem80 @Read4Life @Bluebird @KarenUK @eeclayton @BrittanyReads 9mo

Leniverse Agreed. There have been a few books now where I have thought, "This was nice and all, pretty good, but was it really Women's Prize good?" And the answer I have given myself is "no". 9mo

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Librarybelle On my to read list! 9mo

AshleyHoss820 I feel like this has been a common theme with prizes lately! My Mom and I were just talking about it. 9mo

ChaoticMissAdventures Agree, I thought it was good but an fairly average historical fiction book. It didn't feel as well done as say The Marriage Portrait or The Matrix from other years. Even though I did enjoy it. 9mo

squirrelbrain Great review! There‘s always a few on the list that I think ‘why?‘ @Leniverse but this time none of them have ‘wowed‘ me. (Other than Brotherless Night, maybe) I‘m hoping I‘ve saved the best to last. 9mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I am a bit scared I‘ve read the best ones already… so you‘re the lucky one 😉 @Leniverse do you have a favorite yet? (edited) 9mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Exactly, fairly average. And miles away from The Marriage Portrait! (edited) 9mo

BarbaraBB @AshleyHoss820 How cool that you can discuss these matters with your mom! 9mo

Leniverse @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Brotherless Night was definitely good. Soldier Sailor was unusual. I think those two are my only "must be shortlisted" books. But I have many still to go! 9mo

AshleyHoss820 @BarbaraBB Yes, I agree! I come from a large family of readers! I still have books that belonged to my Great-Grandpa with his handwriting in them. I really appreciate being able to talk to my Mom and sister about books. ☺️ 9mo

Suet624 I‘m impressed with your efforts to keep up with all these prize lists. 9mo

Gissy I‘m reading this too and I asked myself that question too. Interesting story but not sure to consider the book for a prize🤔Well, I‘m not an expert 🤷🏽‍♀️ 9mo

Centique Great review! Is this a photo of a campervan Barbara? It looks very cool😎 9mo

BarbaraBB @Centique Thanks Paula! It‘s inside a train! 9mo

Centique @BarbaraBB wow! 9mo

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