Beth found community among the bus drivers and rides the bus daily. Her sister, Rachel agreed to ride the bus with Beth for a year and in doing so, learned to accept her sister and her sister‘s independence. 3/5🚍s. I watched the made for TV movie on YouTube, but can‘t recommend it. #AlphabetChallenge “R” from my shelves.

I would be interested in a book from Beth & Rachel‘s mother‘s POV. She made some questionable choices in my opinion.

Recommended by @HOTPock3tt , I just finished listening and I want a sequel. I want to know what happens to all of the interesting characters. The audiobook performance by the author was very well done. 3.5🌞s

More about Philomena‘s son than her. I wanted to know more about her life and her search for the child that was essentially stolen from her. I saw the movie years ago, and from what I can remember, I liked it better. This is letter “P” from my #AlphabetChallenge from my shelves. 3/5✈️s I‘m on to “R” since I read “Q” out of order.

Dr. Thomas Sims practiced medicine in the Arctic in the 1970s with very minimal resources. He took his family and gained respect and the friendship of the locals. A good listen on the way to work. 3/5❄️s

Netflix series was brilliant. I loved the actors, sets, and costumes. I liked the book almost as well. 3/5♟s

I finished my “Q” book before “P” in my #alphabetchallenge from my shelves. I needed a smaller book to travel.

Not terrible, but honestly, the only essays that held my interest were about her son‘s epilepsy diagnosis. 2/5🐢s

Maybe I‘m tiring of the series. Or maybe it‘s my mood? Most of this was just background noise while I was driving. 2/5🪨s

So enjoyed reading these books with my grandson. Whoever thought books about a robot could be so emotional 🥲? Good lessons about kindness and finding family and belonging. 4/5🤖s

This Pandemic Lockdown memoir was very reminiscent of those family update letters that people send in Christmas cards. A lot of mundane minutiae that had my eyes rolling 🙄. This is how the very privileged spent lockdown if you‘re interested. I was a bit jealous, and wished I could have stayed home too.

I think a much more interesting book would be compilation of Pandemic lockdown stories from people of all walks of life. 2/5 😷s

This quote at the beginning of the book was the best part for me. I have prepared a small garden area, and soon will put in some vegetable plants and flowers.

The text was slow, but still inspiring. I followed the author on Instagram (@tea_austen) to see pics and learn more about her and her garden. 2/5🍏s

#alphabetchallenge from my shelves

The sh*t that people live through is mind boggling. Viola Davis worked her ass off to become a successful actor and then worked her ass off to heal from her traumatic upbringing. I highly recommend the audiobook. I love ❤️ reading a good memoir!
4/5 🎭s

Tyler‘s father was an international drug (marijuana) smuggler in the 70s until 1983 when he became a fugitive. His wife and kids lived lies, changed their names, and moved 15 times. This isn‘t exactly what I expected, there were only brief true crime mentions. Instead, it‘s the family narrative. For all the upheaval and emotional trauma, it seems the family didn‘t suffer financially. 2/5🏠s BTW I‘m not a fan of the blurry/pixelated cover photo.

The unique characters really hooked me into this read. Also the supernatural feel and appearance of saints as supporting characters was so imaginative. Not my usual genre, but I did enjoy this mystery.
3/5⭐️s
I‘m still working on my #alphabetchallenge using my stacks.

I just want to let my #litsylove friends know that I so appreciate the many cards you‘ve sent since my husband, Brian entered hospice care. He passed away on 3/16/22. We were married for 41 years and I can‘t imagine how life will be without him. #heartbroken 💔This is my favorite pic of him.

I had already bailed on an “L” book for my #alphabetchallenge using my stacks, so I pushed myself to finish this. Should‘ve bailed! The story was disjointed and characters not developed. I was hoping it would all come together, and it did in a very unsatisfactory way. The concept of the library catalogs was interesting, but wasn‘t explored enough to keep my interest. Not for me. 1/5🦨💨

Middle grade audiobook with brilliant voice actors. 1st in a trilogy, I‘m eager for the next book. 3/5⭐️s

#rememberSharon @sharread #LitsyLove @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I‘ve been an Outlander fan through books 1-4, but I‘m about ready to give up on this book for at least the third time and for good! It‘s just a series of meandering vignettes. I‘ve tried it in print and audiobook. This time I made it through 34 1/2 of the 55 1/2 hours and it‘s been tedious and torturous. Anyone have any reason for me to continue? And BTW, I‘m not a fan of the TV series.

Jaycee tells the story of her kidnapping and 18 year imprisonment without a co-writer. Most interesting were her diary entries and seeming acceptance of her fate. She longed for her mother through the years though. It‘s crazy that she was never discovered by her captor‘s parole officer or that no one questioned the multiple ramshackle shacks/tents in the backyard. Her story (after discovery) is very positive/hopeful. 3/5⭐️s

Faith is a 7 yr old with no religious background but starts talking about “my guard”, spontaneously recites bits of the Bible, and develops stigmata wounds. Good story telling by this author, however I had major issues with continuity… @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks sent me this a couple years ago, Thanks Misty! 💛 My reading has slowed, but I‘m still working through my Alphabet Challenge using my shelves. 3/5⭐️s

New Year‘s Eve Jurassic style! My last book finished in 2021. Suspenseful and I like it as well as the movie. Still working on my alphabet challenge to read my shelves. 3/5🦕s

#LitsyLoveWinterSwap @Kdgordon88 @rsteve388 @Bookgoil Thank you Debra for a plethora of bookmarks and stickers!! I‘m excited to read this book from my TBR, especially since you said that you enjoyed it. My daughter and I had fun sorting through all the stickers last night. Sorry for the late posting, I had some unexpected “stuff” come up. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄

For all the Hell that Elizabeth Smart suffered, she uplifts and motivates the reader. 3/5🌼s

I have a new job where it isn‘t practical to bring a hard copy, and so this is the first book I‘ve read on-line and on my phone (in my few spare moments)…never thought I would see the day😑

The adventures of 3 children, a peasant girl, a young monk, a Jewish boy, and a Holy greyhound is told by travelers at a French inn. Set in medieval France. It‘s not middle-grade, but not quite YA. I actually felt it was a bit slow and didn‘t care for the style of the illustrations. I think it would definitely translate well in film. 2/5⭐️s

I had to bail on an “I” book for my alphabet challenge, so a bit behind on my 🎯 of 3 books/month

I wanted more. It was “just the facts” storytelling. I wanted descriptions and emotions. I wanted Kevin‘s story from his POV. I didn‘t really engage until mid-story, but then it was riveting. The idea of time travel has always been a fantasy of mine, but you never really think of traveling to the Hellish times in history like Dana did. She traveled from 1976 to the Antebellum South as a black woman. 3/5🧭s

I stopped at the Post Office this morning to mail my #LitsyLoveWinterSwap I used the kiosk to print not only my mailing label, but also printed stamps. I skipped the line that was already out the door at 8:10am. Kind of proud of myself for trying something new☺️

I really felt the atmosphere of the 1660‘s in the first half of this story. I‘m not sure Mary would have been so outspoken in court or as daring in visits , but maybe so since she was raised in a privileged home. The second half of the book was unexpected…
Overall, 3/5⭐️s
On target 🎯 for my Alphabet Challenge using my shelves.

A little far-fetched, but I gave into the fiction, stopped my criticism, and enjoyed the story and the excellent performance by the readers. 3/5⭐️s

I haven‘t really read much true crime, but do watch some on TV. I always heard that Ann Rule worked along side Ted Bundy in the early 70‘s, but had no idea that she maintained a friendship with him. Even after she came to the realization that he was guilty of killing 30+ women, she continued to send stamps and small amounts of money to him in prison. She did feel that he should pay for his crimes. 3/5⭐️s

I‘m not usually a fan of short stories, but this collection was an exception. All the stories take place around September 1945 and feature reunions at Grand Central Station in New York. Some happy, some sad, some dreaded… sometimes you catch a glimpse of a character from a previous story. The home front during WWII is very interesting to me and I would like to read more stories of how people adjusted after the reunions. 3/5 🇺🇸s

The most memorable thing about this story will be the frustrating main character. Though she is in her 50‘s, I found her to be immature, reckless, and impulsive.

I‘m a couple days behind my target 🎯 of reading 3 books per month from my stacks in an alphabet challenge. Going to pick my book for “G”

Finished this off on a road trip. I‘m really (still) enjoying the story of Ayla and Jondalar. Miles and miles of travel sounds monotonous, but the characters and their relationship carry the story. 3/5 👣s

What a privileged, but stifling existence. Can you imagine never expressing an opinion publicly? The mystique is maintained. I do admire Queen Elizabeth II, but I find Prince Charles a much more intriguing person for all his opinions and flaws. If I could have tea with a member of the Royal Family, I would still choose the Queen. Who would you choose? 3/5 ☕️s

Major faux pas at the White House in 1976! “The Lady is a Tramp” was the song played for Queen Elizabeth‘s dance with President Gerald Ford!
I think that is hilarious 😂🤣😂!

@ScientistSam @Bookgoil @rsteve388 #llfs #LitsyLove Just woke up and opened my lovely gifts! Thank you Sam! My own library kit🤓for my “keeper” books-How fun! And NYPL book bag is a great choice from your home state. The Alice Network might go to work with me tonight 🙂

Two storylines connected by Wallis Simpson and Princess Diana! How could I not read (listen to) this?!? Quite engaging. I felt the 1930-40s storyline was more interesting and detailed. The 1990s storyline just supported it. 3/5👑s

Not terrible, but not memorable. A reckless rookie is paired with a veteran officer to solve a murder. The boss thinks the rookie has talent and intuition. The veteran officer is not a fan. I don‘t read many police procedural stories, but this seems like it could be a common formula. Some side stories, that frankly I was more interested in, never developed. But I got my “D” for my alphabet challenge! 1/5🔪s

This caught my eye at my local thrift shop and the cover blurb sounded interesting. Then I noticed other books by the same author. These belonged to the same person and have dates in the 50‘s written in the cover by her name. They seem to have a nature theme and were copyrighted between 1904 and 1925. It‘s going to be interesting to see the take on nature and the nature of relationships 100 years ago. Couldn‘t help buying them🤷🏼‍♀️

Slow moving, but in a good way. I listened on a road trip and the pace was right. The author can bring the mood and atmosphere to life. Dating was certainly different in the 1800s - meeting to marriage in 6 letters! Simon was focused and determined, an “all eggs in one basket” kind of guy. I liked him, and the story. 3/5💌s

So the story was lacking, but I was so engaged with the main character, Coral. She gave me that gothic, ethereal feel that I get when reading Jane Eyre and Rebecca. So 2/5💍s for the story, 4/5💍s for the character.

I‘m on track with my alphabet challenge using books from my shelf. This one has languished for years.

Very well performed by the reader. My interest was held by the well fleshed out characters more than the storyline. 3/5⭐️s

#LitsyLoveFallSwap @rsteve388 @Bookgoil @ScientistSam Samantha, your box is on the way! I hope you like my choices. Happy Fall!🍁🍂🍁🍂

Downton Abbey is one of my all time favorite series, and this book was the inspiration. Quick easy read, and I did see some character traits that were familiar. Who is your favorite character? Mine is Carson. He had a hard exterior, but you knew he had a warm heart. 3/5🥄s

I‘m on track with my alphabet challenge to read books from my shelves 🎯

A different take on the reason for the successful (for Anna) divorce from Henry VIII. Far-fetched? Maybe?, but enjoyable nonetheless. 3/5👑s
I‘m doing an alphabet challenge from my stacks to get out of my book slump. My goal is 3 books/month. If I don‘t have a letter, I get to choose a “WildCard” book.

It has taken me so long to finish this memoir. So much trauma and emotional abuse the author has suffered that I could only read it in small doses. Her mother was murdered by her stepfather and she writes of memories no child should have. I felt that the transcripts of phone conversations between her mother and stepfather were torturous to read, I can‘t imagine the fear. 2/5💔s

At many points in the story, there was an opportunity for it to take off. Each time, it fell flat. I was invested in the characters and wanted more detail. It would have made a good saga if the minor characters had a chance to develop. Left me wanting more. 2/5🐊s

Such a good story and so well performed. 4/5☠️s

Hours and hours of He loves me/He loves me not🌼! But the story continues to develop and I really enjoy it. This is as far as I got with the series in the 80‘s and I‘m looking forward to the last three books. Although, a Litten mentioned to me that the next book is Hours and Hours of travel 👣👣. 3/5🦣s

Compared to The Giver of Stars, I thought this was the more original story, but I have to say I didn‘t like it as well. I thought the characters were less believable and I couldn‘t really engage with the read. 2/5📚s

#LMPBC @Bookwormjillk @DanaManiac @Tattooedteacher I finished this over a month ago and am just now posting and mailing back to Christine #procrastination I thought this was the most enjoyable book of our group. Historical fiction with a thriller feel. 3/5⭐️s