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 🥧

This one was a surprise and yet, I find myself wondering about my preference to know little about plot or theme when I begin a book. I admit, I was getting irritated- extremely irritated- with Isabelle. I still don‘t ‘get‘ her, but then she didn‘t really ‘get‘ herself. Many thoughts, thoughts that aren‘t landing. 🛬
Making a Chocolate 🍫 Pear 🍐 Pie today. #Dec2024 Book113

This. Is. GOOD.
I hope it finds more readers. Our MC has basically run away from home in NYC to have a “work meeting” in Berlin post 911 (Pres. Bush era) and wanders around lost yet encountering interesting people. More dialogue-heavy than I usually read but IT WORKS! I fell for everyone ❤️
I probably didn‘t sell this well so read the synopsis and get your hands on it and let me know if you love it, too. #Dec2024 Book112

“The cherries 🍒 in the neighbor‘s garden always taste a bit sweeter”

FRIENDS!! This book deserves more readers! More awareness, more market exposure!!! I am very much enjoying and will soon give a glowing review. Stack it

Loved this! Such a fun #roadtrip book with wit and heart. And LOTS of pie! 🥧 Possible contender for #LitPie of the year 😁 #iLovePie #Dec2024 Book111

Yeah, I realize and readily admit a couple of things re: this post.

No, (1) the purple trees likely have nothing to do with this book but I have been saving it for a Litsy post (yay!), and
(2) this title is not on the ToB long list. Oh well!

A friend that I highly respect offered this title to me and now, 25% in, I am loving it. Witty banter, woman with a big heart, on a mission to fulfill a promise made to her nonagenarian BFF? YAAAS - all in.

Between a so-so and a pick because I never felt bored though I was often confused and bewildered. I enjoyed the questioning of how and what translators DO, I was intrigued by the devotion of the translators to their Dear Author, I found the animosity between English and Spanish amusing in its presentation. One word I read in a review somewhere calling this “delirium” - it fits! I have no doubt that a “discussion” would find me liking it more.

#Nov2024 recap: 11 books (yeah, only 10 showing) 3284 pages read, 38.6 hours listened.
5🌟 The Wedding People, Poor Deer, Sandwich, Anthropocene, How to Read a Book
4🌟 Time War, Engr Wife, Wild Houses, Whiteness
3🌟 Irena Rey, Great Bridge (skimmed😏)

Litfluence 45327

Who told me to get this book? 😂 So… I ordered it. I guess someone somewhere said it is a must read. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Starting now. #ToBlongList 🎧🍐

#iLovePie #LitPie #June9isStrawberryRhubarbPieDay

Absolutely loving this collection. And now I encounter pie. I declare it a 5 slicer already. 🥧🤩💖

Loved it 🌟 and despite my last quote post, the narration is fine 🤗

#Nov2024 Book108 #ToB2025 #ToBLongList

This book is set in Newport RI and I am an avowed Newportophile. So when the narrator mispronounces a street name it is jarring! I have been jarred. 🤣
(FYI - Thames Street is not said like one says in London… it‘s (probably) sadly Americanized? The locals say the TH sound and it rhymes with “names”)

Pic of the view from the rooftop bar of the Vanderbilt Grace Hotel, and if you ever go, you‘ll love the elevator 📚

I have read 7; currently listening 🎧 to The Wedding People and eBooking Irena Rey. I have The Safekeep ready for next audiobook and am on hold SOON for eB Beautyland. Intermezzo is #55 🤣 , Orbital #3, Ministry of Time #32, Blue Sisters #13, Colored Television #9, Bury Your Gays #6

#ToBLongList #ToB2025_LongList

Yeehaw! 🤠 Here we go with the mad scramble!

Next up for my #PoemAday
In researching the poet, I find she was a retired librarian in Vermont; started writing poems well into her 80s. Her tribute from the publisher at her death at the age of 102 was so lovely- I am excited to read this and am already contemplating buying her second collection. 💖

Pic with my only “map art” -3 dimensional Narragansett Bay RI.

The whiteness sought is of flowers.

#poetrymatters #Nov2024 Book107

So the other day, I was anticipating The Repeat Room would be on the long list and so I used 1 credit and then I found out it‘s not on the list so I was able to return it. Yay! (I find Jesse Ball a little bit perplexing.)
#ToB2025_LongList #Audiobook

It made it! And so did Wild Horses! And Poor Deer! And many I don‘t recognize but many I do. Link in comments - I wouldn‘t have found it if weren‘t for the gr group site… #ToB2025_LongList #toblonglist

Solid pick. Rural Ireland crime drama with believable flawed characters; great writing.

#Nov2024 Book107 #audiobook #DogsofLitsy #CopperBopper #whpg #Autumn #MyStreet

Starting next because might be on #ToB2025 Long List? #Hurryupalready

(Pic from a concert in 2015 that I don‘t remember… but thought might make a good backdrop for this cover 🤷🏻‍♀️)