Thanks to all who participated in #Booked2023 and the other years. It‘s been a wonderful ride!

We planned to retire the challenge at year‘s end, but with the state of the world and our personal challenges, we must step away sooner.

There will be no final drawing. Feel free to continue the challenge in your personal reading choices for the rest of the year.

Going to listen to this *very old* audiobook from my library. Every time I look at it, I think it‘s the wrong time. Now I need a #weird book for #booked2023 and this one has a lot of Litsy review about how odd it is. Perfect! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Plus I‘m really trying to read stuff that I‘ve owned for a LONG time, instead of just getting distracted by the new and shiny things!

Can‘t say enough good about this series. It‘s complex, emotional, full of #afrofuturism, and includes a diverse cast of characters, including #nonbinaryortrans . I inhaled all three books in a row. Checks off a lot of boxes for my reading preferences. And, of course, #Booked2023 prompts.

🎉🎉😁😁📚📚
Aaand…we have a winner for our #Booked2023 #SecondQuarterDrawing ! Congratulations goes out to @Bookzombie for playing along this year!

Thanks to everyone contributing posts and drawing entries to our #readingchallenge this year. We 🩵 reading with you!

⏰ Friendly reminder‼️ Our #Booked2023 second quarter form is ready! Please submit all books read between April 1 through June 30, 2023 to be entered in the #SecondQuarterDrawing🤓 Submission deadline July 3- We will announce the winner by July 5,2023 📚link:

https://forms.gle/7dYTPYviPnhPc6QR9

Love, Barbara and @Cinfhen

Finished my board for the #Pantone2023 challenge recently. It‘s my first completed challenge of the year!

I couldn‘t put The Ferryman down. I spent every spare moment for a week reading it and loving every moment.

Cronin is a storytelling master. He built characters I cared about, even if I didn‘t always like them. And while the plot draws from other futuristic stories, Cronin offers an original approach to post-apocalyptic events and decisions.

Full review: https://www.TheBibliophage.com

I really liked this book, but it‘s heavy and dark. So choose accordingly when you read it. It‘s about a dancing plague in the 16th century. But the characters and themes are wholly resonant for today‘s world. Hargrove examines religion, patriarchy, and who we love. And the women in the story bear the brunt of men‘s need for power. See why it‘s so heavy?

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#aboutneighbors #booked2023

Two bird-related books checked off prompts. And they‘re both chock-full of great factoids and info on all things birdish. The pandemic connected me to my backyard in new ways. I‘ve always gardened but now I‘m feeding copious numbers of birdies. And taking their pictures. So much fun!

#booked2023 #titlebeginswithw #bookyouddescribeasbalance
#pantone2023 #titanite #grayedjade
#nonfiction2023 #truecolors

Mercy and her crew struggle to control the uncontrollable—a river monster! I‘m #latetotheparty with this series. Plus, I constantly put it down for extended periods. But that‘s only because I‘d like to stretch out my enjoyment.

My only concern is whether the author has a personal connection to the indigenous peoples and mythologies in her books. Or does she practice cultural appropriation?

#booked2023 #aboutamonster #pantone2023 #mochamousse

An excellent reflection of life with an eating disorder. But it‘s also much more. For example, Kazdin investigates aspects of the weight loss industry. She also dives into common emotions most women feel about their bodies. It‘s a multi-faceted and thought-provoking book.

Full review https://TheBibliophage.com
#booked2023 #newin2023
#pantone2023 #electricbluelemonade
#nonfiction2023 #justagirl

#booked2023 #setinamountainregion also would work for #moderntakeonaclassic
#pantone2023 #blueperennial

Excellent but bleak. This reimagining of David Copperfield as an Appalachian bildungsroman is Kingsolver in wonderful form. Naturally, the writing (from our hero‘s perspective) is fantastic. But the story‘s deeply depressing, with poverty and the opioid crisis as its main themes. Can‘t wait to discuss with my IRL book group.

Ugh, I really hated this one. I‘m not a YA reader for a reason. But the #Booked2023 #quietya made me try this second in the Dumplin‘ trilogy. I loved Dumplin‘, so though mayyyyybe. But, nope. I found the main characters grating and one lacks in all self-awareness. Spent most of the book wanting to bang my head on the steering wheel at the behavior of these teens and their parents.

#pantone2023 #persimmon

#Booked2023 #aboutreproductiverights
#Pantone2023 #cherrytomato
#nonfiction2023 #harpervalleypta

This book takes the conversation about repro rights and turns it on its head. That‘s a telling pun. Every abortion can be prevented by one thing—men acting responsibly. The author makes a book-length listicle (list+article). I enjoyed her audiobook narration and book content so much that I grabbed the ebook right after finishing a library audiobook.

🔔Friendly Reminder from your hosts😊 It‘s almost time for our next #Booked2023 prize drawing🥰 while we LOVE to see your posts on Litsy we only count those who submit the Google doc 🤓 You have until Midnight April 3 to submit all books read between Jan 1-March 31, 2023 🧭 to enter the #FirstQuarterDrawing:

Here‘s the link: https://forms.gle/DJJdqbFZydvy9ndv7

🔔Friendly Reminder 🥳It‘s almost time for our next #Booked2023 prize drawing🥰 while we LOVE to see your posts on Litsy we only count those who submit the Google doc 🤓 How can we be nearly finished with the first season already???

You have until Midnight April 3 to submit all books read between Jan 1-March 31, 2023 🧭 to enter the #FirstQuarterDrawing:

Here‘s the link: https://forms.gle/DJJdqbFZydvy9ndv7

Looking at GR, I‘m one of only a handful of people panning this book. But after attempting to connect with it for six weeks and 55 percent of the book, I‘m tapping out. Here‘s why. I didn‘t connect with or enjoy more than one character. That one character only makes up a small portion of the book. The writing is ponderous, lugubrious, and dull. I‘ve considered DNFing since about 20%. Around 25% I started to think the pace ⬇️

My kids got me a bird feeder for Christmas. Now I‘m a bit obsessed. So I went hunting for bird-related stuff in the Audible Plus catalog. This memoir has ups and downs, both in terms of writing and content. But it‘s also about a small incident leading the author to remake her life and make a difference in the world. She knows nothing about birds and begins rescuing and learning about them.

#thebibliophage2023 #nonfiction2023 #likeavirgin

Well-told audiobook that makes you question every side of the complex story behind both Trump impeachments. I have new admiration for some players and just SMDH with many more. Some new angles on the over-reported story.

#thebibliophage2023
#booked2023 #propernounintitle
#nonfiction2023 #badreputation

An excellent collection that particularly speaks to the challenges of being a woman and mother in today's complicated world. Highly recommend it to poetry readers!

Twice I tried to get into this book and put it down. The third time it all connected for me and I loved it. It‘s sci fi and cli fi but it‘s also about grade school friends who take different paths and reconnect as adults. Plenty of fantasy, great characters, and lots of action. Can‘t wait to read more Charlie Jane Anders!

#thebibliophage2022

This intimidating chunkster has languished on my Audible and Kindle shelves forever. Finally picked it up at the end of 2022 and spent about a month listening / reading the ebook. Shannon's epic world-building is worth the effort. And now I'm diving into my ARC of the prequel, which comes out in late Feb.

#thebibiliophage2022

It follows the main characters of her first book in the series, Scorpica, which was one of my 2022 favorites. These women are grappling with the changes happening in the queendoms. As rulers and women of power, they must hold their realms together despite uncertainties. And they each have their own style of completing these tasks. Just as excellent as the first book!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022
#thxnetgalley

Trust is structurally unique. Each perspective is told in a complete story instead of interspersing each perspective throughout the novel. So it reads like four connected novellas. But all the details are evident only when the last story is complete. Each layer offers new questions and a refined sense of the “truth.”

Excellent as an audiobook!

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022

That moment when reading parallels life. I took this pic in the morning. Several hours later I read this passage where the human character becomes an actual bird and tries suet (the stuff in the green cage — basically fat and seeds or nuts) for the first time.

#weirdsynchronicity #bookishsynchronicity #birdwatchersoflitsy

🎉🎉 And we have a winner for the last season / quarter of #Booked2022 ! 🎉🎉

Congratulations to @Smarkies for winning our random drawing!! And thanks ❤️💜💙 to everyone for all of your posts and conversations about books during the year. Now we can focus on #Booked2023 !

I finally have reviews posted for all of my #Booked2022 reads. Finished up in December but dealing with writer‘s block for detailed reviews. Another great year ✔️ and done! On to 2023 in which I plan to pivot from blogging into some other projects.

#Booked2022 4th quarter drawing (enter by midnight EST 3 Jan) - https://forms.gle/sMyR1gVJciu1HqkA9

#Booked2023 info and signup - https://forms.gle/3Q4vgqPq61bZekiNA

This is complex and layered with the perspectives of a young female convicted murderer and her psychiatrist. Set in the early 19th century, it also explores class and gender conventions of the time. Excellent historical fiction choice!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022
#booked2022 #setinCanada

🚨⏰Friendly Reminder 🚨⏰ You have until midnight (EST) Jan 3 to submit #Booked2022 ⬇️ link for 4th quarter drawing 🫶🏼 https://forms.gle/sMyR1gVJciu1HqkA9

And if you haven‘t signed up yet….please join us for #Booked2023 - our 6th season ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
https://forms.gle/3Q4vgqPq61bZekiNA

Although published in 1979, Butler envisions a future for the Earth that‘s not just possible but probable. And amid the futuristic story, she writes about top-of-mind topics in our century. Butler teaches her readers through Lilith‘s experiences. You‘ll examine what it means to be human and how another race of beings might see us. Can‘t wait for part 2!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022 #booked2022 #hopepunk

This sweet prose poetry book is the perfect choice for a busy holiday. Thomas is lyrical as he describes small town Wales in an earlier time. I want to say more innocent but they had depressed economies and world wars to deal with. So it was just less techie but with plenty of heartache. Reminds me a lot of Ray Bradbury‘s tone.

Anyway, wishing my Litten crew a joyous or relaxing New Year now that we‘ve weathered (most of) the busy holidays!

This is an excellent memoir on a timely topic. Boylan addresses the psychological, emotional, physical, familial, and practical aspects of transitioning genders. And she does it with humor, subtlety, and grace.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in one person's story about transgender life. The author does an excellent job reading the audiobook.

Start your year with the #Jumpstart2023 readathon from @Lizpixie and @Clwojick !! Visit their feeds for more.

The newest Red Widow mystery is set in a world that is both post-Putin and post-Ukrainian war. It focuses on the relationship of Russia‘s new (and fictional) government with its oligarchs. Lyndsey Duncan finds herself smack in the middle of all the conflict and uncertainty as she works a case with her employer, the CIA.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022 #thxnetgalley

This was a sweet and poignant book, mainly because my dad died way too young, like Alice (and the author). I understood Alice‘s impulse to remake her dad‘s habits and possibly keep him around for a few more years. Straub‘s writing also floats around all many universal truths. Rather than repeatedly walloping us, she inches various options forward and lets Alice lead the way.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022

🔔Friendly Reminder 🥳It‘s almost time for our final drawing for #Booked2022 🥰 While we LOVE to see your posts on Litsy we only count those who submit through the Google doc.
Here's the short URL to the form: https://forms.gle/sMyR1gVJciu1HqkA9

You have until Midnight January 5 to submit all books read between Oct 1-December 31, 2022 to enter the 4th quarter drawing! Best of luck 💚
Thanks so much for joining us - it‘s been a fabulous year♥️

Looking forward to both of these. But, I‘m cancelling #BOTM after this. In general, their choices just aren‘t working for me. I‘ve been waiting for my end-of-the-year BFF perks, but this is the time.

Every moment of this book is a story with jokes. Along the way, though, Aarons includes poignant moments and plenty of self-discovery. As an early Gen-Xer, I relate completely to her story, despite our differences. Aarons reminded me of how fraught the 1980s were for young women. (Not that it‘s improved!) And she managed to do so while making me laugh at the memories.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022 #thxnetgalley

This collection is appropriate for horror fans to celebrate all year long. He takes typical holidays and events and turns them into extraordinary—and gory—celebrations.

No one does short-form horror like Demmer. His imagination is darker than an attic room with a burned-out light bulb on a moonless night. Every story is a full-on freight train without a single wasted word.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022

Ruth Emmie Lang explores family relationships with a solid dose of magical realism in her new book, The Wilderwomen. It‘s a sweet and engaging exploration of sisterhood and the complications inherent in mother-daughter connections. This is my first venture into the world of Ruth Emmie Lang‘s writing. It won‘t be my last.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022
#thxnetgalley

This September and October, I went witch-crazy. I read this Alice Hoffman series chronologically, plus two other witch books. #thanksscarathlon for the inspiration. This series is pretty traditional with roots in Salem and witch trials. Hoffman treats the family genetics, witchery, and Nameless Arts, seriously, with limited humor and irony. Because there‘s a curse!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com (combined with The Women Could Fly)

Giddings takes witches and makes them relevant to the reality of the USA in 2022. It‘s a spectacular feminist speculative fiction novel. I enjoyed Giddings‘s debut novel, Lakewood, and reviewed it on my blog. And her storytelling in The Women Could Fly is one masterful notch up the scale. My favorite #scarathlon2022 read!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com

This was my first year doing #scarathlon and it was super fun. Since I‘ve got a nearly Halloween birthday, it‘s always been my favorite holiday. But, yeah, I‘m ready for some nonfiction and non-horror/supernatural books!

Thanks to @StayCurious for being a great #teammonstermash leader!! 👻🎃👻🎃🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡

We‘re super excited to share the 24 new prompts for #Booked2023 a yearly reading challenge split into quarters (seasons) ♥️This is a no pressure fun way to enhance your reading throughout the year as we celebrate national & international events 🤓Below is the sign up link and additional information 👇🏽

https://forms.gle/3Q4vgqPq61bZekiNA

Start scouring your shelves and show us what you‘ve got lined up 📚

Soooo … I saw this collection of short stories on Kindle Unlimited and grabbed it up. I hoped it‘d be a good way to rack up points for #scarathlon2022. I‘m abandoning it after 14 stories. Now I have lots of points, but none of the stories really strike me as well-crafted. Creative horror / Halloween ideas, but hohum writing.

(Not in Litsy database)

#scarathlondailyprompt #story

Been waiting until I can binge a few episodes!! So excited!

#scarathlon2022 #teamwatch #teammonstermash

Fantastic Stephen King novella—fast-paced and innovative. His MC Gwendy is an everywoman (or every kid) type. She encounters bullies, big decisions, and unexpected successes. But is it because of the button box she received one day when she was 13? Or is she just lucky? Set in Castle Rock, ME, for all the King aficionados. This is a great introduction to his work. And now, I plan to search out some of his co-author Richard Chizmar's writing.

This is a soft pick for me. I like the historical details but generally felt like the story moved pretty slowly. The main character grated on me a bit and I didn‘t feel connected to the others much either. My favorite parts were the last couple chapters which are the creepiest. And the author‘s note was pretty interesting also.

It‘s only available via Audible, which limits its reach. If you can‘t access it, you aren‘t missing much.

Another solid week. Thank goodness for Google Sheets! 🧛🏻‍♂️🦹🏽👻🎃

#teammonstermash #scarathlon2022 @StayCurious