I am intrinsically drawn to stories that connect humans to nature, and I have a deep love for trees and the forest. This story is detailed and I enjoy how the author has structured it. However, there are some parts that are quite tedious and I will need more time and a different headspace to finish this. So for now, I'm putting it on pause so I can read another book or two from my #AuldLangSpine list before the month is up. @pogue @monalyisha

“First there was nothing. Then there was everything.“ #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Hello Valloweeners! I hope you all have been having as much fun as I have shopping for your #Valloween matches! We haven't posted anything up to this point aside from the #ValloweenSwap itself, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to post some of my favorite books that align with the Valloween theme. Out of all of these, a long-time favorite is the Kushiel's Legacy series. So good! What are some of your favorites? Everyone is invited to play!

1. While I understand these services are necessary, I hate them because it's pretty much all we do all day long: Helping patrons print, copy, and fax. Rinse & repeat.
2. In the tagged book, Ignatius J. Reilly begrudgingly takes on a series of absurd jobs, all of which he loathes.
**I tried reading this book several times and never quite got into it. I'm wondering if now that I'm older and more jaded I might appreciate it more. LOL
#Two4Tuesday

“For some years, before she got married and had children, Helene used to smoke.“ #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This book is a total vibe for #Valloween / #ValloweenSwap. So good!

Happy Birthday, @wanderinglynn! Lynn is celebrating her special day by hosting a book giveaway. 🎉🎂🎁💗 #49bdaygiveaway

Starting the tagged book off of @pogue's list, and already there are so many good quotes / passages! #auldlangspine @monalyisha

*I scored 38/100
*3 favorites from the list: The Hobbit; Grimm's Fairytales; The Graveyard Book
*3 that I think should be on the list: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books; Amelia Bedelia books; Frog & Toad are Friends books.
*A 4th book I think should be on the list: The Complete Tales of Hans Christian Andersen
#TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

Valloweeners, matches have been sent! Please check your email and confirm receipt. 😊🩷🖤 #ValloweenSwap @tiedyedude

Roll Call: Who's interested in an International Book Club? 📚✨ We would focus on translated literary works. #InternationalBC

Just finished this story of love and hope amid tragedy for #auldlangspine. Thank you for including it in your list, @pogue!
@monalyisha

Sign-ups close end of the day tomorrow (Monday 1/6)! Come join us! 🩷🖤

Original post: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2825130

#valloweenswap #valloweenswap2025

The visitor sat at the table eating his little tangerine slices. #firstlinefridays @shybookowl

I had a lot of fun with the 2024 book bracket! Thank you to @catsandbooks for the template! 🎉 #bookbracket #2024bookbracket

My 2024 year in books 🎉

There is still time to join the inaugural Valloween Swap!

Do your expressions of love tend towards the darker side? Do you like unrequited or tortured love? Maybe romance is outside of your spectrum? Or perhaps you detest the commercialization of love?

Sign ups are open through January 6th. https://forms.gle/JMdmjGsLQb1fYM5X8

#valloweenswap #valloweenswap2025

1. I haven't. For the past few years I've typically set my reading goal artificially low so that reading remains joyful for me. It shouldn't feel stressful, or like work or a chore. But that's the way reading goals tend to make me feel.
2. I'm really looking forward to Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. #Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Happy New Year, everyone! #poetry #poetrymatters #happynewyear #happynewyear2025 #newyear2025

You are cordially invited to participate in the inaugural #ValloweenSwap, hosted by @wildalaskabibliophile and @tiedyedude
Do your expressions of love tend towards the darker side? Do you like unrequited or tortured love? Maybe romance is outside of your spectrum? Or perhaps you detest the commercialization of signs of affection?
Whatever your reason, sign up at this link by Monday, 1/6: https://forms.gle/3yQawxV53ZvjZVk46

I created an “All About Me“ graphic for #AuldLangSpine. It was a bit weird writing about myself, but at the same time I enjoyed getting to know me better. :-) @monalyisha @pogue

Chrissy, you spoiled me with all these fun goodies! I love the lump of coal theme, the ravens, and all of it! Can't wait to start Slewfoot! Thank you so much for your sheer generosity! @chrissyreadit #naughtylistholidayswap #nlhs

As January draws near, I‘m getting excited for the #AuldLangSpine partner reading challenge! From @pogue's list of ten books, I‘ve read just one so far: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. I own these two: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins and Out There Screaming, and they've been sitting on my TBR shelf for over a year. Another, The Overstory, is on my general TBR list. (continued in comments)....
@monalyisha

@tiedyedude and I celebrate Jolabokaflod every Christmas Eve. He gifted me Braiding Sweetgrass and Migrations. And who knew that Krampus observes Jolabokaflod too? He brought us “frickin' nerds“ Gideon the Ninth! #jolabokaflod

Hello Naughty Lister fam! I hope you all are as delighted as I am as your packages arrive. I can't wait until the 28th for opening day! A friendly reminder to post a pic of your #naughtylistholidayswap / #nlhs packages as they arrive so both your swap and I know that they have arrived safe and sound! And also so we can celebrate with you. :-) Happy Swapping! And Happy Holidays!

My #naughtylistholidayswap / #nlhs arrived today! Can't wait to open it! @chrissyreadit

Thank you for the lovely #stuffedstockingswap @captivatedbybooks! I hadn't heard of Voyage of the Damned before and am intrigued by its premise! Cady loved being included with the addition of the dog toy, and I look forward to tucking into the chocolate with a hot drink out of my new mug! Thank you for everything! (Sorry the photo is hued pink from my plant grow lights!) @avanders

My #stuffedstockingswap / #sss has arrived! Thank you @captivatedbybooks! I can't wait until Sunday to see what you got me! @avanders

Checking in to see where we're at with the shipping deadline for #naughtylistholidayswap / #nlhs coming up tomorrow. If you're tagged it means I haven't received a shipping confirmation from you yet. @captivatedbybooks @marmie7 @nazgul93 @BookwormAHN @Chrissyreadit @gissy @MaleficentBookDragon @alexus_sb

We will be drawing the lucky winner tomorrow (December 11), so make sure to enter the drawing now if you're interested! **Happy #Krampusnacht! Saint Nicholas is celebrated in Europe on December 6, but the evening of December 5 is haunted by Krampus, a fearsome, horned creature who serves as the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas.
For a chance to win this collection of yuletide tales, comment or repost with the hashtag.**

#naughtylistholidayswap / #nlhs is on its way to my match!

Happy #Krampusnacht! Saint Nicholas is celebrated in Europe on December 6, but the evening of December 5 is haunted by Krampus, a fearsome, horned creature who serves as the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas; scaring naughty children, carrying them away in his sack, or whipping them with birch branches.
For a chance to win this self-published collection of yuletide tales, comment or repost with the hashtag. Winner will be drawn on December 11.

1. Andrew (@tiedyedude) and I have celebrated Jólabókaflóð every Christmas Eve since we started dating in 2018. And Krampus started visiting us last year, so that's sure to be a fun tradition as well. 😁
2. I don't know yet; I'm waiting to see what I get for Jólabókaflóð, in my #stuffedstockingswap / #sss package on the 15th, and in my #naughtylistholidayswap / #nlhs on the 28th. 😄

Thank you for the tag, @TheSpineView! #Two4Tuesday

This quote from T. Kingfisher's “Nettle & Bone“—“Nothing is fair, except that we try to make it so. That's the point of humans, maybe, to fix things the gods hadn't managed“—really spoke to me. I've often felt life, in general, is unfair. Some are handed fortunes, while others face hardship simply due to birth, time, or place. As humans, our best effort is to level the playing field and fight for the marginalized.

#naturalitsywintercardswap cards went out in this morning's mail! ❄️💌📫 @thebookhippie

I couldn't help it, I just had to make myself another holiday horror aesthetic. 😁 #naughtylistholidayswap #NLHS

I couldn't pick just one. I'm grateful for T. Kingfisher, Neil Gaiman, Matt Haig, and Katherine May. #sundayfunday @bookmarktavern

I stole this idea from an Instagram account. It was so funny I couldn't help myself!

“When it says in the book you're reading that he smiled with his bottom teeth.“

Matches are sent—time to share your horrific holiday aesthetic! Post images, fave movies or lore to inspire your secret match while they shop.

I‘m into Krampus, ghost stories & holiday horror like Gremlins & Violent Night. I also love cute movies with a creepy edge, like The Grinch (loneliness & redemption) & Rudolph (bullying, societal pressure, & harsh parenting). What inspires your delightfully dreadful holiday style? #naughtylistholidayswap

It's a book and beer Saturday with my favorite book nerd @tiedyedude.

Sent out my #SSS / #StuffedStockingSwap package today! @avanders

#NaughtyListHolidaySwap / #NLHS matches have been sent! Please let me know asap that you have received your match, and of course, let me know if you didn't! @bumpinthenight @BarkingMadRead @chissyreadit @Kar2b @Gissy @Marmie7 @BookwormAHN @MaleficentBookDragon @Nazgul93 @Captivatedbybooks @Avanders @Alexus_SB

I am working on sending out matches today for the #NaughtyListHolidaySwap / #NLHS. I'm four hours behind east coast time here in Alaska, so some emails may not get to their intended recipients until late or past bedtimes. Just wanted you all to have a heads up to avoid any needless worrying.

We've been experiencing below zero temps the past week, temps usually reserved for January and February, not November! 🥶❄️ #WhatsNewWednesday @Tiedyedude @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @read4life

Today is the last day to ensure your name is inscribed upon the List of Naughty! You can do so here: https://forms.gle/bvkSj4mdr2b4L1ey8
#NaughtyListHolidaySwap #NLHS #LitsyEvents #LitsySwaps

You still have through the end of tomorrow to sign up for the Naughty List Holiday Swap! https://forms.gle/a8fz3tb9xVNc34ao6 #NaughtyListHolidaySwap #NLHS #LitsyEvents #LitsySwaps

There is still 5 days left to sign up for the Naughty List Holiday Swap! This swap is where creepy Christmas, folklore fright, and Dark Holiday cheer take center stage. Those who love to celebrate Krampusnacht, Winter Solstice, Yule, and/or the darker side of the traditional winter holidays are sure to delight in this swap. :-)
https://forms.gle/a8fz3tb9xVNc34ao6 #NaughtyListHolidaySwap #NLHS #LitsyEvents #LitsySwaps

I got 61% on the survey. Three of my favorites are coconut cream pie, key lime pie, and blackberry cobbler. But I don't eat any of those at Thanksgiving, so it's safe to say Thanksgiving desserts aren't my favorite. #TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

Have you heard of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder? RBD is where one physically acts out vivid, often unpleasant dreams w/ vocal sounds & sudden, often violent arm & leg movements during REM sleep. Onset is generally gradual & can get worse over time. It seems I likely have it. I'm waiting for my sleep study results; my follow-up appt w/ the doctor's on Tues & it can't come soon enough! #WhatsNewWednesday @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Read4life @Tiedyedude

Gather ‘round, mischievous spirits and festive fiends for the Naughty List Holiday Swap! This winter, let‘s celebrate all the dark and delightful holidays, where creepy Christmas, folklore fright, and Dark Holiday cheer take center stage!

Sign ups are open now thru November 19th: https://forms.gle/5ato6KFneqV5McB56

#NaughtyListHolidaySwap #NLHS #LitsySwaps #LitsyEvents

I'm tagging folks who had expressed some interest prior. Please share & tag!