Reading about Paddington‘s home — the cloud forests of “darkest Peru” and the creatures who live there, including the pictured hummingbird. It‘s called a Sparkling Sunbeam and being reincarnated as one is now my plan for the afterlife. They‘re so pretty, are a part of something called “the brilliants tribe” (how aspirational!), they‘re a species of Least Concern, & they build those tiny little moss cups as their home and live in the clouds.

Sold.

Moominland Midwinter was my pick for February, given that I read and loved it first. But I can see Giving Up the Ghost potentially sweeping the whole board.

I‘ll tag each of the remaining books below (to make it easy for anyone who may be considering adding them to their TBR).

#ReadingBracket2025

This is the face of someone who has just applied for admission to Sophie Blackall‘s “Workshop for Writers of Picture Books” (published and unpublished) at her farm retreat in upstate NY. What a stupidly amazing opportunity that would be! It‘s beyond competitive (10 spots), so I‘m not expecting miracles.

STILL.

Wish me luck! 🤞🏻

“I am writing in order to take charge of the story of my childhood and my childlessness; and in order to locate myself, if not within a body, then in the narrow space between one letter and the next, between the lines where the ghosts of meaning are.”

“You need to find yourself, in the maze of social expectation, the thickets of memory: just which bits of you are left intact?”

“I was (and am) unsure about how I am related to my old self, or to myself from year to year.”

“It was afternoon: that time, around three o‘clock, when a day seems to pause and yawn, before stretching itself and ambling towards teatime.”

“Since then I have always been addicted to something or other, usually something there‘s no support group for. Semicolons, for instance, I can never give up for more than two hundred words at a time.”

Have you ever wanted to burst into a round of applause at the end of a book? God, this was so good.

Hilary Mantel‘s memoir isn‘t especially uplifting. Her story is shaped by institutional — specifically, medical — neglect. It makes the pleasure I took from being welcomed inside her brain, where I could luxuriate in the craft of her sentences, feel almost shameful. I‘m choosing to feel wonderstruck (and a bit star-struck), instead.

What a writer!

Just a few chapters in, I texted a friend in my book club and lamented, bluntly, “I don‘t like our book.” The fact that I came around is a surprise to me!

I never did come around to Rendon‘s writing style, however. Her short, declarative sentences are not my cup of coffee (nor are they my peanut butter cookies). More variation of sentence structure would‘ve gone a long way. 👇🏻

I‘ve felt sort of scattered and dissatisfied lately; I think those feelings have transferred to my reading life, too.

For the second month in a row, I read more than I typically do. But the vibe is off. 🙈

I did read two books I absolutely adored: Moominland Midwinter and Giving Up the Ghost. I hope that same passionate energy guides me and focuses me in March.

I‘m still reading the last two. But I‘ll be done before the clock strikes noon!

“It‘s a life skill: finding the sweet spot between solitude and loneliness.”

“It is time for me to take up skipping…I don‘t want to but I have to try. I‘d rather turn the rope and say the rhyme than skip…

[Hopscotch] is better than skipping, but I find that when I try to stand on one leg, the pressure of my thoughts pushes me over.”

Perhaps this explains why I‘ve never had any luck with sports? 😅

You‘ll have to forgive me. I know folks have complained about Litsy not being as book-focused anymore (a complaint I don‘t share…but maybe I‘ve just been vigilant in muting hashtags I‘m not interested in). Anyway, I deleted all of my social media when Meta made its most recent changes (re: fact-checking & hate speech). So, this is all I have left. And I need the world to know that yesterday was my puppy‘s birthday! Jett tasted his first ice cream.

In college, I took a course called Celtic Christianity. I learned that in the Celtic version of the Adam & Eve story, all of nature prays in the river alongside the Edenic couple while they beg for divine forgiveness: the fish, the frogs, even a big, blue whale. It shouldn‘t have surprised me, then, to read about all of the animals in this story, set in Wales, who help Gwynn process the grief of losing his sister: …👇🏻

I discovered that I‘m way less of a word nerd than I think I am! 🙈 Listening to Curzan‘s musings on the English language, I found myself feeling amused and surprised by the text as often as I caught myself zoning out. The main takeaway is that language evolves; unless clarity is being lost, we should watch how it does so with interest and curiosity instead of gatekeeping and policing usage. 👇🏻

Billed as a “queer, feminist Western,” this novel is full of supposedly captivating characters but I wasn‘t totally sold. Never once did I feel like the narrative straddled me, stared me in the eye, and let down its hair. It all felt a little fast and loose. I wanted something deep and tight. I galloped along the surface of the text and was happy when I found myself at the end. Like Bridget, I‘m eager to move on to something else.

It took me a while to get into this but once I was in, I was in. Sensitive misfits abound and hints of natural magic are tucked into each corner, as is Alice Hoffman‘s way. It‘s not my favorite of hers…but I can‘t imagine anything other than Practical Magic ever will be.

I was not expecting the Very Upsetting Thing that happens towards the very end. Check your trigger warnings (the big one is concealed in a spoiler below).

My parents have a condo in Florida. I came down with them just for the long weekend. I fly back to New England tonight and I can‘t say I‘m looking forward to leaving the pool behind!

I‘ve had this book on my shelf for probably a decade now. I think about bringing it every time I come down here. It finally made it into my carry-on. 🐢🌖

❄️ Welcome to my new obsession. ❄️

First, some backstory. Depending on how long we‘ve been Litsy friends, you may or may not know that I had a little house rabbit for 12 years. Her name was Moxie. A common nickname for her was “Moomin.” Understandably then, I‘ve been meaning to read a Moomin book for a long time! 👇🏻

I haven‘t been playing #TLT, so I went back & checked-off all 3 lists. I have to admit…my results are less impressive than expected! I‘m averaging about 20 books per list.

Some favorites from this week:

🌖 On Earth We‘re Briefly Gorgeous (which I read long after graduating from AP English class)
💐 Mrs. Dalloway (who bought the flowers herself)
🐋 Moby Dick (which I‘ve read at least thrice. Does that get me extra points? 😅)

Link below.👇🏻

Using these monthly graphics as another way to track my reading.

I read 9 books in January, which is high for me but January always skews high. I credit the motivation of a New Year and my commitment to #AuldLangSpine! Three of the books were fairly short, as well.

The Witching Year was my favorite. Hard to beat that premise in terms of my interests, and her writing is clear, fun, colloquial, and sometimes poetic. Fire Exit was also a stand-out!

I almost bailed after the first chapter but, as I told a friend (who did bail!), “I think the sexy parts are going to be well-written so I might stick it out. 😅”

LISTEN.

I wasn‘t wrong.

The astute Litten may notice that all of Jen Comfort‘s books are now on my TBR. What can I say? I‘ll shamelessly allow a couple of initially off-putting characters to win me over if you throw some supreme spice and a Jeopardy!-style game show into the mix. 🥵😜

I have more thoughts about this book than a Litsy review warrants. I think the crux of it is that I found many beautiful passages that spoke to me…but I don‘t think it‘s a perfect book.

Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “Every job has revealed some ability I did not know I had, just as it has exposed some clumsiness I was pretty sure I had.”

I think, in this (rightfully) sensitive and inclusive time, Taylor‘s writing is sometimes clumsy. 👇🏻

January has been a heavy month…in ways expected & in ways that have blindsided me. Friends & family are engaged in some pretty dramatic fights for their health. As a consequence, I‘ve found myself reaching for lighter books.

All that to say, I made it through 4 books from @Christine ‘s #AuldLangSpine list (and no more). My clear favorite was Fire Exit. I‘m listening to “Says Who?” at the moment, which is providing both levity & substance.👇🏻

I‘m not sure about this one yet.

I added it to my list when going through #AuldLangSpine recs with a fine-toothed comb. I asked my husband to buy it for my birthday. I decided to dive in now to scout it as a potential gift for my stepmom. I think I support the author‘s overall message. I‘m not sure (yet) whether I‘m here for her *tone.* TBD.

It might not have been a natural follow-up to “A Well-Trained Wife.” Religious content is tricky atm…

I read this for Bookwyrms Book Club, my newly-minted fantasy book club for kids at the library. It‘s based on “The Reluctant Dragon”, a short story by Kenneth Grahame (which, admittedly, I‘ve never read). It was super sweet — basically “Ferdinand” made mythical, about a cultured & sensitive dragon who would rather read, paint watercolors, play the piano, eat creme brûlée, and put on plays than fight. The kids all loved it! ??

I just went down such a rabbit hole after learning that Seanan McGuire 1) found her agent through writing Buffy fanfic, & 2) genuinely despises the ending of the series.

NOW. I have plenty of complaints about Buffy. But the ending was never one of them. Any other superfans want to weigh in?

I may have bought a book just to read her essay about it.

Note: Don‘t worry! I bought it used. Because, ew, Joss Whedon.

I‘ve never been happier to be in a world with talking foxes, & turtles the size of ships, of houses, of islands.

This is far from my favorite volume of The Wayward Children series, however. It‘s not due to the story but the execution. When a book is so small, it needs to be flawlessly crafted. This has inconsistencies (like when the fox calls Nadya by her nickname, though she‘s never spoken it to him) & careless repetition (see comments👇🏻).

I thoroughly enjoyed this literary, travelogue romance with a UK setting. I mean, how could a book that features attendance at the Whitby Goth Festival with a bus-full of totally game octogenarians be anything other than delightful? Castles, sheep, British slang, & cream tea only richen the pot.

I have some complaints, however…

First, the conflict hinges upon a stupid, avoidable misunderstanding. I hate this trope. Just talk to each other! 👇🏻

I usually read a novel alongside my nonfic. I became so singularly obsessed with reading this memoir, however, that I skipped the novel entirely. I even felt compelled to underline this baby. I bought a special pencil and everything. 😅

The author & I are definitely kindred. Despite being soul-twins, there‘s plenty we *don‘t* have in common. She hates water while my childhood nickname was Alyish the Feesh 🐟. 👇🏻

“A Well-Trained Wife” is Tia Levings‘ memoir about narrowly surviving abuse at the hands of her husband and under the leadership of the fundamentalist church. For nearly 15 years, she hides her longing to “awaken as ONE Tia, a woman with a name.” With this book, she‘s made a name for herself, which is no small thing.

While timely and illuminating, the narrative is relentless. 👇🏻

Last year, I began the tradition of birthday bibliomancy using Mary Oliver‘s “Devotions.”

I sit somewhere peaceful, gently ruffle the pages with my eyes closed, and stop flipping when it feels right. This morning, I sat by a stream leading to the ocean at dawn. I landed on “Where Does the Temple Begin, Where Does It End?” The following words, which I found on page 186 (coincidentally, my birth month and year) will guide my year, 👇🏻

When I picked this up, I didn‘t even realize it was blurbed by AJ Jacobs and partially inspired by his book, “The Year of Living Biblically,” which is my *favorite.*

I can‘t express how much this is all resonating. ✨

Currently reading in a coastal cabin while wind, rain, and waves rage in the darkest night outside my door. Getting the sparkly star-shaped ceiling light; fresh, aromatic wood; and the animal skull in the shot just felt right.

A self-portrait.

“Penetrating eyes. Of course, moi can reads minds but frankly I prefer sexy gnovels.”

I‘ve had this follow-up to 84 Charing Cross Road on my bookshelf for years. It was just waiting for its moment. January 2025 has been exactly that moment. In a month of too much, it‘s blessedly mundane. It‘s a little book, wherein the author recounts living her dream to finally visit London (and its surrounding countryside). A blurb on the back promises that you‘ll “delight in the Englishness of England and the friendship of new friends.” True.

I cannot tell you how much I loved American Gods & The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I very nearly had my love tattooed on my body (in the form of forget-me-nots done in a chain around my left wrist, like the goddess Easter).

This developing story continues to be so sad, upsetting, & disappointing. While Pavlovich is not the “perfect victim,” I think it‘s undeniable that he has continually & harmfully misused his power.

https://archive.ph/2n1F6

Happy birthday, Lynn!

Your birthday giveaway closes on my birthday. That‘s fun! 🌊🐐🧁

The book I‘m most desirous of is tagged & in the number one position on the following list. Since I‘ve found it a bit tricky to find a copy, I‘ve added back-ups. Your pick!

1. Hagstone (Sinead Gleeson)
2. Rapture (Emily Maguire)
3. The Night Swimmers (Roisin Maguire)
4. The Summer Book (Tove Jansson)
5. Lolly Willowes (Sylvia Townsend Warner)

#49bdaygiveaway

My cute little niece & I share a birthday month. At her party yesterday, *she* gave *me* a gift. It‘s a (rather wide and) spectacular bookmark. I especially enjoy the taco dog being overseen by two googly-eyed sour gummy worms.

Reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury, which I found on my shelves when searching for something to add a little levity to my January. So far, it‘s just what I needed.

Despite being raised by a Native man and accepted fully into his family by the tender age of 2, Charles must leave the Rez the moment he comes of age because he does not have Native blood. When he fathers a child with a Penobscot woman he‘s been friends with since childhood, she leaves him and begs him to keep his parentage a secret — “for their daughter.” This secret turns his own life to ash and burns through the lives of others. 👇🏻

“Louise,” I said. “Do you know where you are?”
She looked at me again. “Where I am?” she repeated.
“Yes,” I said. “Do you know where you are?”
Never before had I heard such certainty in a voice. “I‘m in my bones,” she said, and she rolled back onto her side.

#AuldLangSpine @Christine

Sometimes, I have these dreams where I just wake up with a word in my head or a conviction. Last night, I had both. The word was “bachata.” After a quick Instagram video dive, I determined that learning bachata is not my destiny. 😅💃 The unrelated conviction, however, is that I‘m meant to explore literary magazines. Right now, I read none. So…

Which cool literary magazines am I sleeping on?

This was my first Sanderson. The takeaway? WHAT A NERD. 😅 Fortunately, I don‘t think that‘s necessarily a bad thing…

Sometimes, he takes too many doofy risks for humor‘s sake, like when he writes, “The more she learned, the less afraid she had become. It is that way with most topics…👇🏻

It‘s important to model behavior for your children. If they see you reading, they‘re far more likely to become readers themselves.

A note about Lula Dean & dogs. Miller reinforces the bad rap given to pit bulls, which I wish she‘d skipped:

“Isaac…was naturally cautious. As a boy, he‘d never stopped his brother from reveling in life, but he was always there, waiting to step in, if necessary. When Elijah danced too close to a campfire…👇🏻

It‘s so sweet that Miller wrote this book as a “loving tribute” to her childhood friend who died in 2021, and who “fought like hell” to have the Confederate statue in their hometown removed.

The level of hope encapsulated in this novel is almost painful. It doesn‘t feel real. But…it also feels cathartic to believe, for the span of its pages, that one book (or, even more remarkably, one conversation for Mitch Sweeney)…👇🏻

It‘s my 8-Year Litsyversary!

Happy, happy! 🥳

Whoops! I never finished my Book Bracket!

Olga Dies Dreaming won top billing in November. Aside from Young Hawkes, the dreamboat of a vicar in The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Matteo was the first character I found in a long time worthy of the title of Book Boyfriend!

Margo swept the latter part of the board, possibly because I just finished it and the love is brand-new.

But nothing beats the offbeat & lonely charm of Turtle Diary. 🐢

*About Me*

1. Overthinker. Seems the best way to start a list like this since I always deliberate too intensely about what should come first (& what that says about me).

2. I read mostly contemporary fiction, genre fiction, memoirs, nature writing, & romance.

3. I work as a Children‘s Librarian in an historical library with actual gargoyles (or, technically grotesques — of the stone sculpture variety, not just a mean name for my coworkers).👇🏻

We took the pup for a New Year‘s Day beach walk and stumbled upon a rowdy group of kids & adults braving the waters for a Polar Plunge! Maybe we‘ll join next year? We also found (real) bedraggled roses tossed amongst the seaweed. 🥀🌊📚

Here‘s my official #AuldLangSpine stack from @Christine (in addition to a couple of audiobooks I‘ve got queued up)!

Happy reading, everyone!

This is not the first review of the New Year you seek [insert Jedi Mind trick here].

I finished my final book of 2024 just after midnight. Shh. 🤐 It counts. It‘s also an unabashed pick. I learned so much about the lands, animals, plants, and peoples of the American West. Though an occasional essay seemed to strike an odd tone (like “Four Letters to My Father,” which I found too composed, or “Boom! Erosion of Belief”, which I found gimmicky)…👇🏻

Terry Tempest Williams, quoting Simone Weil,

“A truth that goes almost unrecognized today, is that looking is what saves us.”

Terry Tempest Williams, reflecting,

“We have made a cult of busyness and in so doing we have forgotten the simple truth of paying attention to the view before us, between us, in a word, a cultivation of intimacy.”

I think my word for 2025 might be “intimate.” It feels kind-of perfect.

Do you have a Word of the Year?