So, one of the categories for the #ReadICT (City of Wichita KS) Reading Challenge is a book that scares me.

I have been fearful of this book. For. Ever? A long time?! I was dismissive of the “girl authors” when I was a snotty snob in HS decades ago and NOW, honestly, them Bronte sisters scare me! 😳 I listened to Jane Eyre (Thandie Newton 🌟) and ❤️‘d it. Will WH give me the same reaction?

It was good to have a book that I was sucked into, making time, avoiding most of life distractions to read - because I missed that need, that drive. But overall, this book was just depressing about how hard it is to trust and react with love in a way that is not messed up by being human/messy. #ReadICT category multiple pts of view. #bookclub #LitPie #ApplePie
#Feb2025 Book19

Next up: for bookclub. Copper would NOT look at me.

Hoping that this will qualify for a reading challenge category “features a neurodivergent character”

#ReadICT #CopperBopper #Whpg #Griff

Loved this. LOVE Dion Graham narration. So well done. Puts you right there, in the heart of Harlem NYC, trying to make it with ever-shifting rules for survival. THIS is why I read. Terrific characters, laugh and cry. #Feb2025 Book18

“Do you think people are different at home than they are here?”
“But is that who they really are?”

The age old question of the contradictions of life. Incredibly depressing.

A hold came in from the library!! I am excited, was in need of something to sink my teeth into. Yes, I expect it to hurt my heart but I am ready for it. I hope I am ready for it. #ReadICT #GraphicNovelMemoir #BelieveWomen #OhCanada 🇨🇦❤️

Hosting a Super Bowl party; finding a pie reference in my current read, have yet to vacuum, but otherwise we are ready to cheer on Taylor‘s boyfriend. “The crowds feasted on pastries and pies…” #LitPie #iLovePie #CaresPieShow #GoChiefs 🏈

Hey. How are you? I hope you are well. 💖 I bought myself some flowers. Be calm, dance & laugh and read good books. 🤗

Listened 🎧 to this and watched the film 🎥 last night. Enjoyed both! I honestly can‘t remember if I truly read the book when I was in HS and I don‘t remember if I even saw the movie, but I can now FOR SURE check it off a list ☑️ #Feb2025 Book14

VERY GOOD.

I was assisting my local library have a tech class on how to download eBooks and somehow found myself reading this. Might as well continue 😁

#Feb2025 Book15 #ReadICT graphic novels memoir

I have two audiobooks going at the moment. Will probably finish The Outsiders and then get back to Ray Carney, second in series. I really don‘t remember if I truly read the Outsiders waaaay back when, tho I am confident I saw the movie. I love listening for a reread experience. 🎧 #iLovePie #ApplePie

Last #ToB25 book of the entire list of 18!! Woohoo 👏
I would love to find a list of all the connections between stories cuz I think I missed a few. #Jan2025 Book12 #Completist Litflu 47863

This was a tough one. George was so annoying and so I give credit to the author for capturing it, terrific pacing, always up to the edge. “Oh George, I am worried about you.” “George, you need therapy.” Clueless and yet self-pitying. What a rough ride this was! OMG. I am so glad it is over but afraid I might be thinking of George for a long time. #Jan2025 Book11 #ToB

Last night I had the privilege to attend the Natl Figure Skating Pairs and had the best time with friends. Today, just couldn‘t settle in with any current reads and so I searched for “month” on Libby and I selected this. #MiddleGrade #ReadICT

Current poetry collection
#PoemADay #PoetryMatters #NoPageNumbersAnnoyingTho

Finally, my in-hand so-excited-for hardcover edition of #ToB favorite! Posed with a cooperative Copper - look at that face! Starting this as my last #ToB2025 entry that I am sure I devour but want to savor and not pressure through #ifyouknowwhatImean. Through my reading, I am having a lovely January ❄️ 🌟

Btw, Jan 23 is National Pie Day! 🥧 grab a slice 😁

Isn‘t this just THE cutest pic of my dear departed Esther? My current iPhone‘s screensaver. So, I am 5+ minutes in so far and will listen as I walk Copper or drive to/fro from work. Am just ready to endure this mediocre white boy. #LFG #ToB2025

Another 5 ⭐️ read with a lady MC of the octogenarian set. A love letter to NYC in some sense, a trip through the history of advertising, and to some extent poetry, this was a wonderful read. Full of new-to-me words, with melancholy AND joviality, plus truth that strong women usually have had to walk through tough times. 💪 LOVED this. #Jan2025 Book10 #poetrymatters #HappyNewYear #WalkingisGoodForYou

Loved it. Laugh out loud moments (or reactions.) I enjoyed it very much and it mentions pie! AND, I just discovered, there‘s a sequel. My kind of comfort read; found families and/or? cantankerous old ladies. #Jan2025 Book9

The What‘s in a Name Reading Challenge has a category of First and Last Name in the title. ☑️ I have always wanted to read this. #eBook #Libby #WiaN2025

Not being a MiddleGrade student, it‘s probably unfair of me to rate, so let‘s call it a low pick. Born a girl but uncomfortable with culture messages of what she *should* be interested in, Bug is also mourning her recently deceased Uncle (who might be haunting her!) I could identify with the confusion of being told “just be yourself!” But WHO is YOU when you don‘t know what you feel and are uncomfortable in your own skin? #BannedBook #Transgender

I requested all three of these books because a friend told me that an Ohio teacher has been reprimanded for offering these to her students. I don‘t know all the details but I do know and fully believe in allowing books be available to readers. Letting my library know these books are valued. #readbannedbooks #heatedblanket #bringit #lfg

Just started a reread of this when 3 books came off hold at the same time. 😐 #sigh
Image is a cut out for some kind of snowflake?! I forget. Colors match the book cover 🤣

This was a book that absolutely did not grab my attention, I sensed an unreliable narrator who does things that make no sense; I went into it thinking it might be a devastating immigrant story, but once I put it down and then a few days go by, and then when I do open it back up with low motivation and hit a snag (drawn curtains are closed! Not open), WHAT DO I Do? I find many of my friends loved it. #sigh A case of “it‘s me, not the book.”

Current audiobook but showing finished puzzle. 🐧 🧩 🎧 #Recommended by a friend (Nancy the BookFool)

Starting now; fits category Graphic Novel of #ReadICT though I am fudging the requirement a tad. (It specifically says to be a GN adaption of a fiction book or memoir and this looks to be original/biography #ohwell) #CopperBopper #DogsofLitsy #Jan2025 Book7

A fabulous collection for the heart and the spirit. (Also lovely to hold and touch; love the feel of quality paper.)

(Pic from the break area at work with snow and cold outside 10th of #Jan2025 Wichita KS) #PoetryMatters Book5

When books meet reality: the MC meets and gets a hug from Peter Yarrow, who died today, January 7, 2025. May he rest in peace.
Coming of age on a political campaign. #Jan2025 Book3 #Audiobook #AudioPuzzling #PieinLit #SweetPotatoPie

Just a cute pic of my snowy ❄️ lil Christmas trees 🎄 on my front porch…

Another out-the-window snowy day backdrop! Here‘s to nowhere to go so I can stay in and read. LOVE that Elif Batuman has a blurb. Have already found a book #coinkydink to BeautyLand 🐇❄️

#Jan2025 Book2

Definitely a top book for the year ALREADY! 😆 Also a possible contender for #PieinLit Award nominee 🥇🥧 #OatmealPie #PieCharts #Jan2025 Book1 #ReadICT category: #StrongWoman

I would love to discuss this one. #LitsyToB? 😊

Rereading this. My book club chose this for January discussion. I listened to it years ago and was weirdly/oddly inspired to purchase. Which means, I loaned it to my Mom, who gave it to her bestie, who since got it back to me. This time, I am taking notes. #Jan2025 Book4 #BookClub #ReRead2

Am listening to this audiobook and am at 2x speed to hurry it along. It just makes me sad, is all. Not a book that inspires me to slow down, though I appreciate it all the same. In fact, it‘s one of those books that I seek out reviews by esteemed literary journals, enjoy reading, and tend to agree with! So I will finish, I try not to feel smug about that LOL, and I will quickly go to the next ToB book on my list. Tagging/thanking my Litsy friend

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. New Month New Year Blank Slate Fresh Goals
2. ToB brackets published yesterday!
3. Excited about my current reads
4. Volunteer Day at the Library 📚💕
5. Snowstorm forecast this weekend

#FirstBook of 2025

Goal = 100 Books -or- 35,000 pages
Complete #WiaN, #AsheCoNC, #ReadICT Challenges
Be a Tournament of Books Completist
Grow my Litfluence from 46227 to 70k? (Still not sure if I care)

Happy New Year 🎆

Why do some books hit right? I dunno, but this one hit the right notes for me 🎶 Was it long? Yep - but I was ready for it and I was intrigued enough to settle in and enjoy the ride. It does feel like YA and I am not complaining; it had humor and teenspeak (hey I am old) and sex and crushes and twists and turns and magic with ambiguous good vs evil and I enjoyed it very much. #ToB2025 #Dec2024 Book119

Photo of Christmas 7 Fishes Stew 🌟

“It was as easy as pie. A big old slice of hypno pie with delicious whipped mesmerism on top.”

#LitPie #iLovePie #CaresBooksandPie

#PieinLitPrizeWinner 2024

I am trying to DNF this extremely interesting, sex-heavy, weird and kinda icky book. #sigh
Connected short stories? Or thematically-related, I cannot say. But UNCOMFORTABLE comes to mind readily.

#Dec2024 Book 118
“… affirmations to the sky full blast: I am ill! I am chill! I am phat! I am fly! I am clutch! I am fetch! I am based! I am bae! I am slae! I am cray!…”

(Prefer Mrs. Nash: I am a delight.) IF you read this, eBook is best 👇

A foggy frosty drive home from Nebraska but we are warming up as we travel southward. Started this last night for #ToBshortlist; was NOT aware it is a story collection (or forgot) and yowza! That first one is scary/unsettling. Not at all festively holiday-themed LOL but I did encounter a pie reference, so there‘s that.

Merry Christmas Eve EVE! While contemplating my year end summary stats, I noticed that the last 3 books I read all have colorful covers. 💖🌟 and I just wanted to post something here to all my Litsy friends a wish for hearty Happy Holidays and fun end-of-year book list posts!

Reading my next #ToBshortlist 📚 🐇

Photo is the latest full moon that shown like a huge spotlight.

#Dec2025 Book117

Get outside and be with nature! How to review a book that is outside “my” experience? Yet quite relatable what with career goal challenges, sense of self against expectations of culture, marriage + family dynamic balance quests? I was often in-wrestle with the turmoil going on and hoping for a win for Jane, mother and author, hoping to achieve her dreams. I appreciate the ending and give this a strong pick; a #notfittingin book.
#Dec2024 Book116

#Top24of24 + 1!
I love deep thoughts of contemporary lit, and I love interesting themes given wit and care. Make me laugh, make me cry, be silly, #FoundFamily #ExquisiteWriting, daring and considerate treatment of the human condition.

Prelude to my Top 24 (or 25) post, I actually managed to finish a photo bracket and continue to agree with my choices. BUT! The real question is… will any of my current reads knock off Make Envy Disco 🪩?! I doubt it.
BIG THANK YOU to @Catsandbooks for the bracket template.

My library copy of the book set in front of the color television 📺! Starting now, plane ✈️ take off is 7am so early to sleep and up at 🕓 4 a.m.

Lovely, just lovely. Don‘t expect high drama and fast plot; the writing is quietly powerful. It‘s a good idea to know what this book *is* before reading. #ToBShortList #Dec2024 Book115

Roadtrip to KCMO to catch a flight to New England. I woke up with the bother of a cold; going anyway. I‘ll keep my distance from people, I promise.

🎄#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii 🎄

Just a few joys that topped my mind these few minutes as I get pretty toes and before I resume reading the tagged book.

I am looking forward to this the more I hear that people didn‘t like it. Not sure why 🤷🏻‍♀️ Hope this approach works in my favor: Tempered Affinity? #ToBShortList

Posing Copper with the🎄has been a challenge this season! Or maybe he only cooperates when I tell him it is for Litsy?! 😂

Audio 🎧 was a good way to experience this and I give kudos to the narrator Cassandra Campbell 🌟 Her voice was perfect for the present tense and the repetition. We get such interesting insight into a broad view of the female psyche; how diverse our wants and needs might be. We are fighters all.

“Her head feels like it is filled with undercooked pie”

#LitPie #PieinBooks #iLovePie #CaresPieShow #ToBShortList #ChocPearPie 🥧