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Beautiful debut Canadian novel. Nominated for many awards.

Translated from French and set mainly in Cairo and Montreal, this is an LGBTQ and family saga, told from the point of view of a narrator who‘s relationship to the main character is unknown (you find out about half through but I‘m not spoiling it!).

I loved the translation and had to look up a few English words I didn‘t know and this is my first language! 🙈 😂

#lgbtqia2025

#bibliologistbio

Go-to genres: literary fiction, speculative fiction, science fiction.

Desert island reads: Soo hard! Definitely the Picture of Dorian Gray, & maybe something a little longer like LoTR to pass the time!

Snack: a nice cuppa

Weirdest reading place: At a concert with 500,000 people on a blanket in a field! SARSStock in 2003 in Toronto & the new Harry Potter had come out. 😂

When not reading: I‘m a scientist and pole dancer!

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My sister sent me her copy of this WW II novel about French women in the resistance during the Nazi occupation of France. And wow. So good.

Some things felt a little clichéd but I don‘t care, I was moved by the story of Isabelle and Vianne, and still want to give this five stars.

It was scary to be reading about this and how it mirrors some of what is happening in the US right now. Not the same of course, but there‘s some parallels.

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jaye‘s second poetry collection delivers some really good stuff but a few of them missed the mark for me. Maybe it‘s cause I‘m reading on the subway and it‘s hard to take it all in while reading on a phone. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do think it‘s important to read more queer, indigenous voices and jaye‘s description of their relationship with their body as a 2 spirit indigiqueer person is really moving.

#indigenous
#lgbtqia2025
#transrightsreadathon

« I can see her in the falling leaves » hits so hard.

New poetry by jaye simpson!

My nominations for #camplitsy25! Always my favourite summer activity. Tags in comments!

@Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB

I found a new bookstore cafe/wine bar today when wandering around the neighbourhood! It was so cute inside and had a great selection of books - I‘ll definitely be back!

Corner of Franklin and Bergen in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

https://www.readyourcolor.com/take-the-assessment

I think blue (introspective) fits me better but red (adventurous) is something I enjoy too!

Fun little quiz with book recommendations.

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Not as good as the power but an interesting read!

Science fiction/Speculative Fiction/Dystopian

Started out a little slow, but it builds. Some plot twists I guessed at, others I was genuinely surprised by.

And crochet blanket I finished today as the background!

#lgbtqia2025
#litsycrafters
#transrightsreadathon

March wrap up from StoryGraph!

Got my special copy from Barnes and Nobel! Look at those edges!! 😍 🐠🐟🪼🦀🦑🐙

Bonus: I only bought this one book like I was planning to. Got too many to read!!

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Working as a traverser who moves between worlds in the multiverse, Cara mainly collects data and brings it back to Earth 0. She‘s been picked for the job because you can only visit worlds where your other self has died and she‘s dead in most of them. One day she discovers she‘s been murdered in one of the other worlds and she starts digging into what happened.

Excellent LGBTQ sci-fi. Would recommend!

#lgbtqia2025

Hazel being my reading helper again!

#catsoflitsy

First snowdrops coming out in Prospect Park!

Finally found Unnameable Books!

Couldn‘t stop in because my family is visiting and they wanted to continue our walk but at least I know where it is now!

#brooklyn

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Just noticed this free short story from the Legends & Lattes series! Set before the first book, it‘s about a quest Viv is on to capture Bodkin and retrieve stolen documents.

https://www.travisbaldree.com/pages-to-fill

Just found out from a friend about the Queer Libration Library which offers membership cards to anyone living in the US and grants you access to their Libby library of queer books!

It looks fantastic. I just joined!

https://www.queerliberationlibrary.org/members

#lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtqia #queer #lgbtqia2025

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Murderbot #0.5 a short story about before Murderbots first adventure (All systems red).

Only 9 pages, but a great little intro to the tone of this funny science fiction series. Available free on Wired!

https://www.wired.com/story/future-of-work-compulsory-martha-wells/

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More Murderbot!!

Mensah is in trouble and Murderbot (a bot programmed to protect clients and kill those who attempt to hard them) uses its free will to decide to help.

Dry humour & science fiction, I love this series so much.

#lgbtqia2025 as Murderbot sorta counts as asexual? @Kenyazero

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Shea writes a blog about cold murder cases and is particularly fascinated the the unsolved Lady Killer case which took place in her town in the 70s. The story follows Shea and the woman accused of the murders, Beth, starting in 2017 and how their lives become intertwined.

A bit too paranormal for me and took too long for me to get into, but fairly engrossing once it got going.

#litsycrafters look at the crochet blanket I made! 🌼

StoryGraph wrap up for February! I‘m one book behind on my challenge but that‘s okay. I can catch up!

I should add progress that I do when I read but I don‘t bother so the graph of reading says just marks the end lol. So spiky.

Not surprised Murderbot is the top read, really enjoying that series. And Isaac‘s song was good but not as good as Don‘t Cry for Me.

Here‘s to March! Happy reading everyone!

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I had high hopes for this as I loved Black Cake, but I was kind of frustrated with it and coincidences that kept happening.

It‘s not really my kind of book, I prefer heavier literary fiction and science fiction over historical fiction and romantic storylines, but I did enjoy the historical parts more than the modern day parts.

The book is about a jar made by an enslaved potter, a murder, and a wedding that doesn‘t go to plan.

#botm

Oh my god, it‘s a glitch but it certainly feels like my TBR is this long!!

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Low pick for me, I was annoyed at the chapters narrated by the octopus and I guess I dislike knowing things the characters have yet to figure out. It seemed very obvious to me what was going to happen even from the start.

Still, I was enjoying it more than the other book I‘m reading so that pushes it more into the pick category I guess?

Have you ever watched a movie then really wanted to read the book?

Watched Divergent last night and really enjoyed it! I think it would be up my alley. Has anyone read it? I know I‘m late to the party haha.

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Just what I needed to help motivate me to make my space work for myself and to help remove the shame around having a “messy” house or not keeping it clean enough 100% of the time, which makes me feel like a failure.

Short and fast paced. Recommended to me by a non-litsy friend.

#catsoflitsy Hazel being my reading buddy

My latest knitting project finally cast off!

#litsycrafters

More Hazel trying to get my attention!

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Loved this MurderBot story! Lots of fast paced action, emotion, and sarcasm. What a great series, already placed a hold for the next one at the library.

Counting Murderbot as asexual for #lgbtbookbingo2025. @Kenyazero

#catsoflitsy

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I think my hopes were a little too high for this one after reading Don‘t Cry for Me, by the same author, but I enjoyed hearing Isaac‘s point of view.

Overall a good book and not necessary to read the first to follow the story.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#lgbtqia2025
#BOTM

Apparently it‘s not reading time! It‘s attention for Hazel time!

#catsoflitsy
#littenkitten

#WhereAreYouMonday

I‘m in Chicago in the 80‘s. Reading this after I loved Don‘t cry for Me by the same author. So far it‘s good! I hope my high hopes don‘t let me down.

#BOTM

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Really interesting story of the world‘s most prolific art thief - who doesn‘t steal for financial gain but rather for being able to possess the beauty of the works himself. A deep dive into his psychology, relationships, and crimes.

I kept falling asleep when trying to read this at the beginning so I‘m making this as a 3.75 instead of a 4. I think I‘m just super exhausted right now though.

Read for #sharreadathon

Starting this today. Been a little behind on reading as I look for a new job. Stress has been a little high.

And yes my Christmas tree is still up 😂

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Finished this for #ohcanada a few days ago and forgot to update.

Amazing book looking into the effects and horrors of residential schools and treatment of #indigenous Canadians. Told as the story of a young boy, Saul Indian Horse, as he grows up.

Really interesting insight. Be prepared if you don‘t understand hockey to read a lot about it. I think it would be fine if you don‘t know a lot but as a fan this was a bonus for me.

#canada

« I couldn‘t run the risk of someone knowing me, because I couldn‘t take the risk of knowing myself »

#ohcanada #canada #indigenous #ojibwe

I finished one more since this was sent to me so 52 books this year!

Tagged was my favourite, I think. It‘s hard to pick!

#goodreadsyearinbooks

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Fun lighthearted read about a little free library, a book ban, and a town in Georgia where hate begins to take hold.

Book number 52 this year!

#10beforetheend

Reading with my lapcat Hazel. Just started this today!

#catsoflitsy

@Texreader posted this today!

I‘m so excited I really want to read this!

It‘s my birthday month!! Yay free book!

I went for Andromeda because the subject matter sounds interesting - about a publishing house, and for Isaac‘s song because Daniel Blacks earlier BOTM book Don‘t Cry for Me was my favourite read of 2022. So moving it made me cry!

#botm

« Damaged women? We don‘t think we deserve kindness. »

I felt this deep down. I used to have trouble accepting kindness from people, I felt I didn‘t deserve it and if I admitted to how much I needed help I‘d have to admit I‘m weak and a failure. It was a terrifying prospect. Therapy helped so much with this, but oh boy does this ring true.

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Moving lyrical memoir by a woman who was a competitive swimmer. Streaks of self destruction and glimmers of hope as she pursues a career as a writer. I could relate to the story a lot, having been a competitive gymnast and going through my own self destructive phases.

Very good read and glad I requested it for the #jolabokaflodswap!

Tigger warnings: substance abuse, child abuse, death of a child.

Wahoo! I finished my #lgbtqbookbingo card!

#lgbtqbookbingo2024
#lgbtq2024
@Kenyazero

Bought myself this while in Quebec!

I‘ve been trying to read more indigenous authors and haven‘t read any québécois ones yet (lots of Ontario because that‘s where I‘m from though).

Excited to get to this.

I was going to do a book haul post for what I got for Christmas but I didn‘t get any books! 😳

I think people don‘t know what to buy because I‘m reading so much. Still, I‘m glad I did #jolabokaflodswap this year so at least I got one book!

So here‘s some deer instead 🦌

Here‘s my book from the #jolabokaflodswap!! I had completely forgotten what I‘d requested so it was a lovely surprise!! Thank you @MittenGirlPeach

Starting this now, Christmas morning because I fell asleep super early last night. Whoops.

@MaleficentBookDragon

Getting in some Après Ski yesterday at the Sans Sabots Spa in Mont Tremblant, Québéc.

This is (from bottom up): hot tub, infinity pool, Lac Tremblant.

Very excited for #jolabokaflod tonight!!!

So I absolutely destroyed my reading challenge this year hitting 2x my goal!

Not the most I‘ve ever read but a respectable amount. Going to see how much I can get through this week and increase that number.

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Love the murderbot series! Absolutely brilliant, gritty and unusual in a way that really interests me. This was a novella and a quick read. Getting me closer to my ultimate year goal.

#10beforetheend and tagged with #lgbtqia for non-binary characters, but would you say murderbot is asexual??

#lgbtqbookbingo2024
@Kenyazero