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monalyisha

monalyisha

Joined January 2017

Head in the clouds, book in my hand, coffee in an I.V. ☁️📖☕️ (R.I. 🌊)
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Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi
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monalyisha
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“By the time I was ten or eleven, everyone had moved on from sticker collecting—everyone, that is, except for me…I particularly loved the fruits…

God, I loved scratch and sniff bananas. They didn‘t smell like bananas; they smelled like the Platonic Ideal of bananas. If real bananas were a note played on a home piano, scratch and sniff bananas were that same note played on a church‘s pipe organ.”

dabbe I remember these! 🤩🤣🤩 10h
ncsufoxes I can recall how each of these smelled by looking at them. It‘s amazing that many years later how vividly I can remember what each sticker smelled like. 10h
CSeydel Oh man I remember those! Like @ncsufoxes said - I can smell this photo! 9h
See All 9 Comments
CSeydel My favorite isn‘t there, though - the root beer mug 🍺 9h
monalyisha @Cseydel Yes! That‘s the one I most vividly remember, too. 🤎 Also…I need to share this ridiculous fact. When I was a tween, there was a plaza down the street from my house that I was allowed to walk to. It had a discount clothing store called Dots. One day, I bought a pair of *supremely* inappropriate underwear for an 11-year-old, a fact which went unclocked by me. I just thought they were cool: neon blue with a scratch & sniff strawberry. 🍓🙈 9h
Sparklemn I was partial to grape. 🍇 (edited) 8h
CSeydel @monalyisha 🤣🤣 6h
Bookwormjillk I can smell those through the screen. 3h
Bookwormjillk @monalyisha 😂😂😂😂😂 3h
37 likes9 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

I used to try to read aloud to my pet house rabbit and, though she was my little soul-twin in many ways, she was decidedly uninterested; she preferred a cozy silence.

Bite by Bite will go down in personal memory as the first book I read aloud to my pup. He *loved* it. We started with Nezhukumatathil‘s essay on potatoes. Jett is now my “best spud.” 🥔 He also loved the chapter on maple syrup. As such, I‘m unable to rate this book objectively.

Soubhiville I love this review so much. ❤️🐶 13h
monalyisha Truly, though, I love Aimee‘s writing. My favorite essays were: Mango, Lumpia, Jackfruit, Strawberry, Potato (even putting my puppy‘s opinion aside), Vanilla, & Watermelon. I‘m left with the desperate need to try mangosteens, paw paws, & apple bananas. I also need to do more research about “waffle-frolicks” (is this the type of celebration I need for my 40th birthday?). And I needed the tagged book, co-written with Ross Gay, so badly I bought it. 13h
JamieArc ABSOLUTELY DO THAT FOR YOUR 40th! This book is sitting on my shelf (along with the author‘s previous book). It feels like a perfect spring choice to me. 13h
47 likes3 comments
blurb
monalyisha
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My March reads, roughly in order of enjoyment (from least to greatest). The bottom row features all of my favorites.

I keep shocking myself with how many books I‘m managing to read each month. Either this is my new norm, thanks to deleting my social media accounts (and what a confirmation of my choices that would be!) or it‘s going to taper off at some point. With the gradually warming weather, I‘m starting to let myself dream of beach reading…

monalyisha Again, don‘t mind my personal tag tracker: #AWreads2025 1d
tpixie Great job! I‘m reading a 600 page book that‘s taking forever- my stats will be different this year! Audiobooks are moving along though! 19h
52 likes2 comments
review
monalyisha
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Mehso-so

Quite possibly the most three-star book I‘ve ever read. 😅

Too many small details, which I normally don‘t mind, but it doesn‘t feel like they add anything (e.g. “I dropped the keys into the bowl on the table”; “I slid the bin from the shelf and lowered it to the ground”; “I pulled onto the shoulder…sliding the gear into park”; “I opened the door, getting out of the truck”, “I reached out…I pushed it open…My eyes widened,” etc).👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: It could be the first person, present tense POV that doesn‘t work for me. At times, Young‘s writing style feels almost akin to a step-by-step instruction manual. I understand the choice. Each small action makes June feel real; it‘s basically a granularly-written, authorial mindfulness practice — an attempt to ground June in the moment, *whenever* that moment is. Still, it‘s grating. 3d
monalyisha 2/5: And…I‘m not fully convinced it‘s a stylistic choice and not just how Young always writes. It‘s fitting that what doesn‘t work for June is timing & tense; that‘s exactly what doesn‘t work for me about the whole novel. 3d
monalyisha 3/5: At the same time, if we‘re talking about living two lives, June‘s seems like one I *could* live. 3d
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monalyisha 4/5: Her blonde hair (check), her green dress (check), the abalone shell that holds her rings (consistent with my aesthetic sensibilities); her farm (a buried wish, to lead a simpler and more rural existence — one that our capitalist society and financial reality will never let me lead); her child (a sweet choice I did not make but conceivably could have) — not to mention her hunky Irish husband (yes, please). (edited) 3d
monalyisha 5/5: So, I can‘t hate the book entirely. There‘s a lot to feel sentimental and tender about. 3d
monalyisha Things I‘d like to have learned more about: 1. the origin of the curse, & 2. Birdie‘s life. June fights so hard to give Annie a life that doesn‘t disintegrate & unravel. What does she do with it? All we really know is that she ends up as June‘s parental figure & that she had a husband at some point. I need *more.* And, to be honest, I would have preferred more closure for Mason. “He fell in love with an intern” doesn‘t quite cut it. Why an intern? 2d
cariashley Such a great review, you nailed so many of my issues/questions with this one! 2d
monalyisha @cariashley Thank you! I was *scouring* reviews trying to determine if anyone else felt like I did and coming up wanting. 😅 So, your comment is both validating and appreciated! 2d
63 likes8 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

In recent years, there‘s no show I‘ve been more obsessed with than “Joe Pera Talks with You.” I‘m mentioning this because I subscribe to Jo Firestone‘s newsletter; she plays Sarah. Sometimes, she lets her friends (and fellow comedians) take over her newsletter for her. One such installment was written by Aparna Nancherla. In it, she mentions her forthcoming book. This one. I can‘t say I recommend the book as much as the show but…it was okay. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/6: I wasn‘t familiar with Aparna Nancherla‘s act before reading her memoir. She struck me as a relatable, vulnerable, honest, and brave — in utterly mundane ways, which I don‘t mean as a criticism! I felt especially proud of her as I listened to her speak about her sexuality (she self-identifies as “graysexual,” which isn‘t representation I often encounter). 5d
monalyisha 2/6: My favorite essay was “No Comment” (about being online). In a particularly quippy moment, she writes, “That‘s right! Now you can stay on the internet even if your whole deal is how you‘re sick of the internet. I guess you really CAN have it all! And by “all,” I mean “The Void.” Given that I‘ve also deleted all the apps from my phone recently 👇🏻 5d
monalyisha 3/6: (in a desperate bid to reclaim my time, attention, and mental quietude), I was primed to enjoy this chapter.

However, I caught myself zoning out and feeling bored at least half the time. There‘s a piece early on that she admits her editor “wanted her to cut.” She should have listened! 🙈 Her writing in the second half of the book struck me as a lot stronger.
5d
See All 6 Comments
monalyisha 4/6: But, as Aparna half-jokes (in a chapter largely about race), “My underlying hope is the chance to be just so-so for all.” Dream achieved, bud! 5d
monalyisha 5/6: Given the above quote, it would be a lot neater for me to slap a “so-so” rating on this review…but the truth is, I think it falls *just* north of that. I regret that my review probably wouldn‘t do much to help her overcome her Imposter Syndrome. The good news (for both of us?) is that I plan to seek out her stand-up! 5d
monalyisha 6/6: I‘m glad the book gave her the chance to earnestly represent all of herself. I think her thoughtful and intimate musings will resonate with some readers profoundly. Her sensibilities certainly align with mine in a lot of ways. I especially connected with her call for more “grace and expansiveness” when interacting with and judging others. Hopefully, this review conveys at least a little of that! 5d
53 likes6 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

I can‘t count the amount of people to whom I‘ve enthusiastically gushed about this book!

Wholly compelling & nuanced characters (Niamh, I love you), great writing, a vivid setting, horrifying scorpion snacks, the gleeful destruction of every binary, and Spice Girls references *aplenty.* I‘ve heard the series described as a direct & oppositional response to JK Rowling‘s TERFdom — and yes, it‘s (needfully) that — but it stands on its own, too!👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: The only thing I‘m mad about is missing out on Nicola Coughlin‘s narration of the UK audiobook. But Aoife McMahon absolutely slays, too! 1w
CBee I LOVED this. Waiting on the second to come in at my library!! 1w
JeepChic I‘m sold! I‘m looking for it now. Thanks ;-) 1w
See All 9 Comments
AlaMich This series sounds intriguing. But is it YA? I ask because of the ages of the characters. 1w
MaleficentBookDragon Well with that review…stacked!!! 1w
monalyisha @AlaMich It‘s an adult book, for sure! 1w
monalyisha @AlaMich The group of friends bonds as children but the book is set decades later. 🖤 1w
AlaMich @monalyisha Ah, ok! 1w
monalyisha Love to hear it, @JeepChic! I hope you adore it, too. 🔮 1w
73 likes6 stack adds9 comments
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monalyisha
Touch Not the Cat | Mary Stewart
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I‘m at a lakehouse in upstate NY with two of my high school besties. We‘ve hit up 3 bookstores in 2 days. 🤓 This is my haul from the most recent stop.

It‘s BONKERS windy here! Obscured book title tagged. 🐈‍⬛

Suet624 👏 👏 👏 👏 1w
AnnCrystal 😍👍🏼📚🌊💝. (edited) 1w
Clare-Dragonfly That sounds glorious! 1w
See All 8 Comments
Tamra I was just looking for The Sea yesterday! Great finds. 😃 1w
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 1w
kspenmoll What fun! 1w
saritaroth My kind of vacation! 1w
tpixie What a fun getaway!! Friends and books! 2d
81 likes8 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

It‘s hard not to compare this to Erica Berry‘s Wolfish (tagged below, which I also enjoyed). Eight Bears is less of a memoir and more just straight-up science journalism and travelogue. It‘s also *far* more organized. Previously, if you‘d asked me how important organization was to me, I would have scoffed. I tend to think of myself (and my taste) as being sort of dreamy, floaty, and tangential. But Gloria Dickie proved me wrong! 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: I found this streamlined narrative nonfic to be endlessly fascinating…and sad. Ending with polar bears really drove the bleakness of our situation home. She writes, “At the end of my odyssey from cloud forest to sea ice, only three bear species seemed destined to prosper at the end of this century — the American black bear, the brown bear, & the panda. Indeed, the future itself reads much like a fairy tale: The Three Bears.” 2w
monalyisha 2/2: And, “Without bears, the woods and our stories would be empty.” To end my review on a lighter note, I‘ll leave you with a hot take: my new favorite bear is the spectacled bear. Hands down. Highly recommend! (edited) 2w
TheBookHippie Oh I still want to read this. It‘s on my wishlist. Library doesn‘t have it! Now I really need it! 😂 2w
monalyisha @TheBookHippie You do! (If you ever need an enabler, message me. 😅) 2w
61 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
monalyisha
Wicked Nix | Lena Coakley
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Pickpick

Another book down for my kids‘ fantasy book club at the library. I think they‘re going to love this one. Clear sentences, a shorter page length, whimsical illustrations, and some higher thinking about cruelty vs. kindness & how to manage deep emotions (anxiety, loneliness, abandonment, loss) make it an appealing & balanced book.

At the end of each meeting, we always make corner bookmarks. This time, it‘s twirly, leafy Green Man mustaches. 🍃

AlaMich It‘s a charming cover! 2w
Clare-Dragonfly What a fun book club! 2w
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

Yeah…that was great!

It‘s been a bit since I stayed up past midnight to finish a book but this was worth it. I only want to read about unlikeable characters from now on if it ends like this.

That the author thanks her “beloved sphynx cat, who sadly passed away as [she] was completing this novel”, stating “I would have started a death cult for you,” only makes it better. I know the feeling. R.I.P. Moxie Crimefighter. 🐰 Long live Samantha Allen!

monalyisha *Note: Maggie & Kathy‘s letters are such an important part of this book. What a wise & tender choice to compose and include them. 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures I thought this was so unique and fun. It really worked for me too! 2w
monalyisha @ChaoticMissAdventures Just a delightfully campy way to talk about being Othered and finding community! 2w
60 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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monalyisha
The Hearing Test: A Novel | Eliza Barry Callahan
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“I had developed a habit of making tea and not drinking it. Small swamp waters multiplied on every hard surface of the apartment.”

Kenyazero As one does with tea 🤭 2w
Aims42 “Small swamp waters” 😂🤣 (edited) 2w
Suet624 Great description. 2w
68 likes3 comments
review
monalyisha
The Hearing Test: A Novel | Eliza Barry Callahan
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Pickpick

The kind of novel which immediately makes you jealous that you‘re not a 30-year-old debut author with a longlisted book being considered for a prestigious award.

Callahan‘s stream-of-consciousness style might not be for everyone. But it is for me — and it lends itself to some brilliant one-liners. My favorite might be, “She said that coincidence was a religion and that she was agnostic.”

The form fits the plot exceedingly well. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: A woman is diagnosed with Sudden Deafness. What‘s outside of the narrator quiets; what‘s inside of her grows louder. Somehow, the text is both intimate and detached. Readers are privy to her every thought but not the details of her life (e.g. her unnamed ex is [rather pretentiously] referred to as “the filmmaker” and his appealing new partner as “the girlfriend”). 2w
monalyisha 2/5: I did find myself wishing for more intimacy, which felt befuddling. What can be more intimate than direct access to a character‘s thoughts? This sense, however, is exactly what the author intended. Of her own work, she writes, “In my mind, the book is about watching, and just being a little bit outside of life.” 2w
monalyisha 3/5: On a personal note, I found the story to be additionally discomfiting due to suspicions about my own hearing loss. Though I‘ve done next-to-nothing about it, I‘ve long suspected that my hearing isn‘t what it should be. 2w
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monalyisha 4/5: There‘s a particularly vivid passage about the “ghosts of sounds” and the street outside her window being suddenly in her kitchen, “the hum of passing cars…now coming from somewhere near [the] stove and sound[ing] like bees,” that made it apparent (though I did not confirm it until the end) that this is a work of autofiction. 2w
monalyisha 5/5: I think Callahan is an exciting new talent. Her taut sentences are a perfect pairing with her loose and floating observations about life. I enjoyed my reading experience of this (fairly short) book immensely. 2w
TheKidUpstairs This one really intrigued me from the Carol Shields list. Glad you loved it! I'm hoping a library near me will get a copy soon! 2w
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Yeah! It had a bit of an art school vibe & some name-dropping, etc. I can see that bothering some readers. Pretentiousness in books rarely gets to me, though, as long as it feels contextually appropriate (which this does) — & the writing backs it up. 😉 2w
sarahbarnes I bought a copy of this last fall and am excited to get to it soon! 2w
65 likes8 comments
blurb
monalyisha
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Beth Brower, author of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, on what she looks for in a March read.

I think this might be what I look for *always.*

AnnCrystal 💝💝💝. 3w
52 likes1 comment
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monalyisha
Ghosts | Dolly Alderton
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“I didn‘t think you were that keen for marriage…”
“Yeah, but that was with you,” he said.
“Cheers.”
“No, I mean, the future you decide with a person is different for every person, isn‘t it? It‘s not like you decide what you want, then someone fits into that. We decided we wouldn‘t have gotten married. Lucy and I discussed…that we would…”
“All these things we thought about each other…funny how wrong we were.”
“We weren‘t wrong…we were growing up.”

AnnCrystal 😍💝. 3w
63 likes1 comment
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monalyisha
Ghosts | Dolly Alderton
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“I had never known a feeling as unbearable — as sour, wrenching, and unshakeably sad — as pity for a parent.”

Suet624 Ugh. Yes. 3w
Aims42 So very true 😢💔 3w
CarolynM 💔 3w
51 likes3 comments
review
monalyisha
Ghosts | Dolly Alderton
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Pickpick

It‘s a testament to Alderton‘s writing (& my own healing) that I was so immersed in the story, I didn‘t even think to compare it to my formative heartbreak until 3/4 of the way through! Being “ghosted” by someone you care about, when you‘ve been lead to believe that what you have together is valuable, is so damaging to your self-worth. I love that in her novel, Alderton suggests we trust our friends to be keepers of our hope. Just for a while.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: Alderton‘s writing is often described as “wickedly” or “sharply” funny. While this is true, the overall tone is more sad and soft, due to the tenderness of Nina‘s relationship with her father & his burgeoning dementia. Themes like the slow disintegration of a friendship (and how or if it might be worth saving) are introduced. The show-stealing character for me is Nina‘s mother, Nancy/Mandy, a total hot ticket who is ultimately due compassion. 3w
monalyisha 2/2: This is a story of a life in transition [and its anchors]…but aren‘t they always (stories and lives)? 3w
AmyG Amazing review. 3w
66 likes4 stack adds3 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

This romance, featuring the statue of a medieval knight who comes to life and the museum conservator working to restore him, was somehow both more ridiculous and less ridiculous than I anticipated. 😅

The author says she took some liberties with “Griffin‘s speech patterns, because if he really spoke like someone from the early 1400‘s, he and Emily would struggle even more to understand each other.” And that‘s all well and good but…

monalyisha …I don‘t want medieval speech patterns invading my pillow talk (“meseems”, “methinks”, “my lord”), liberties taken or not! So, the spicy bits didn‘t *quite* work for me (but I think they would have otherwise). Fortunately, the art heist bit really *did* work. I thought it was super fun! I‘d read more by this author. I‘ll be interested to see what she does next! 4w
willaful She has a couple of dark paranormal romances I liked. Sorry she gave up that series. 4w
59 likes2 comments
blurb
monalyisha
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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.

charl08 Beautiful! 1mo
AnnCrystal 😍🐦💝💝💝. 1mo
Bookzombie ❤️ 1mo
Gissy 🐦😍❤️❤️❤️ 1mo
CBee Okay, can we both be reincarnated as this little wonder bird? I love it. 3w
60 likes5 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Moominland Midwinter | Tove Jansson
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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

CSeydel Nice start! 1mo
See All 6 Comments
lauraisntwilder I love the Moomin books. 😊 1mo
Melissamcnally How did you make that graphic? 4w
monalyisha @Melissamcnally I somehow missed your comment. Sorry about that! I got the template from @Cseydel (who made it on Canva). I just saved her original to my Notes app (so I could use a high quality image) and then added my own books to it using PicCollage. 😊 3w
56 likes6 comments
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monalyisha
Hello Lighthouse | Sophie Blackall
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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! 🤞🏻

Bookzombie Good luck! 1mo
Texreader Good luck!!! 1mo
jen_the_scribe That does sound amazing! Good luck! 🤞🏼 1mo
See All 21 Comments
Amor4Libros Good luck!!!! 1mo
AmyG All the 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 1mo
SassyPants617 Good Luck! 🤞🏻 1mo
NovelGirl82 Good luck!! 1mo
Ruthiella Good luck! 🤞 1mo
AnnCrystal Best of luck 👏🏼😎🤞🏼. 1mo
Cupcake12 Good luck 🌟 1mo
DaveGreen7777 Hope you get to join the workshop! Sending positive vibes your way! 🙏 1mo
SconsinBookyBadger Sending good 🍀 vibes to you! 1mo
BookwormAHN Good Luck 🍀 1mo
zezeki Good luck! 🍀🍀💪🏼 1mo
Lesliereadsalot 🤞🤞🤞 1mo
Laughterhp Good luck!! 1mo
Read4life Good luck!!!🍀🍀🍀 1mo
marleed Oh best of luck! 1mo
BookNAround Good luck! 1mo
Deblovestoread Sending luck! 🍀 1mo
CoffeeK8 Good luck! 1mo
85 likes21 comments
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monalyisha
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“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?”

67 likes3 stack adds
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monalyisha
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“I was (and am) unsure about how I am related to my old self, or to myself from year to year.”

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

BekaReid what a sentence! 1mo
monalyisha @BekaReid If I had a nickel for every time I exclaimed the very same thing… 1mo
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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monalyisha
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“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.”

willaful Same, tbh. 1mo
monalyisha @willaful 100% relatable! 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Oh mine is parentheticals. I freaking love them and I have to go back through my email to remove some every day 😂 1mo
shortsarahrose @ChaoticMissAdventures I am also a parenthetical addict! 1mo
JuniperWilde I‘m all about the Oxford comma. 1mo
56 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

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!

BkClubCare Yowza!! 1mo
76 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
monalyisha
Where They Last Saw Her | Marcie R Rendon
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Pickpick

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. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: Quill, the MC, made me want to tear my hair out. The choices she made felt so reckless and irresponsible. When Crow, her husband, finally reacted in the appropriate manner, I nearly cheered. Still, Rendon made her intentions and motivations clear at every step (or pound of her feet on the path). (edited) 1mo
monalyisha 2/5: The mystery portion of the story wasn‘t really a mystery. You‘re never left wondering what‘s happening to the disappearing women. It‘s obvious. But that‘s the point. It IS obvious. The Author‘s Note includes information about Highway 16 in BC, known as the Highway of Tears “because so many First Nations women have disappeared from or been found murdered there.” 1mo
monalyisha 3/5: Official reports put the number at 1,181 missing or murdered Indigenous women & girls between 1980 & 2012. “Indigenous groups estimate the number to be closer to 4,000.” Rendon puts blame where it is due: “The “man camps” that spring up to provide temporary housing for the labor that arrives to work for extractive industries such as mining operations and oil pipelines create an environment that fuels…atrocities.” (edited) 1mo
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monalyisha 4/5: “Native women and children are targeted because the men who occupy these camps know that local law enforcement agencies will not have the resources to stop them or to prosecute them, often because of legal conflicts that exist between tribal, state, and federal criminal jurisdictions.” 1mo
monalyisha 5/5: Ultimately, what saved this book for me wasn‘t just its message and powerful outcry (though that‘s undeniably a big part). The saving grace is in the details: the gift of a red ribbon skirt by the village elders; the final resting place of Mabel‘s beadwork earring. I think, If I‘d chosen to read this on my own, I would‘ve stopped a few chapters in. I‘m glad I didn‘t. I need to be reminded, sometimes, that lyrical writing isn‘t *everything.* 1mo
AnnCrystal 📚👏🏼😢🙏🏼❤️‍🩹💝. 1mo
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blurb
monalyisha
Moominland Midwinter | Tove Jansson
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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!

Kristin_Reads I loved the Barbara Brown Taylor book! 1mo
monalyisha Again, don‘t mind my personal tag tracker: #AWreads2025 11h
48 likes2 comments
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monalyisha
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“It‘s a life skill: finding the sweet spot between solitude and loneliness.”

Susanita Aww Stumpy 😢 1mo
Kerrbearlib Beautiful picture 1mo
monalyisha @Susanita I just learned about Stumpy when I was looking for a photo to go with the quote and found this! What a story. 💓 1mo
AnnCrystal 😍💝. 1mo
73 likes4 comments
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monalyisha
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“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? 😅

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monalyisha
Happiness Is a Warm Puppy | Charles M. Schulz
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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.

Ruthiella ❤️🐶❤️🐶❤️ 1mo
vlwelser Love it! You can post puppy photos whenever you like imo. 1mo
Mollyanna Happy Birthday Jett! 🐶🐾💕 1mo
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shortsarahrose 1000% ok with all puppy related posts (Happy birthday, Jett! Enjoy that pup cup!) 1mo
Read4life So sweet!!! Happy birthday 🎉 I had a black schnoodle named Jett. 1mo
dabbe Happiest of birthdays, #joyousjett! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
DHill Happy birthday, Jett! 🍨🐾 1mo
merelybookish But pets are part of a reading life! Happy Birthday to Jett! 1mo
kspenmoll Happy birthday pup! Pets are with us while we read! I totally agree with @merelybookish 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Happy birthday Jett!!! 1mo
monalyisha @merelybookish @kspenmoll Oh, I totally agree! Plus, I like that there‘s humanity here. It doesn‘t need to be all business — no matter how pleasurable the business is. 😉 1mo
monalyisha @Read4life That‘s fun! What excellent taste you have. 😉 We adopted him in September and haven‘t encountered the name yet out in the wild. We named him after Joan Jett & her song “Bad Reputation” (in addition to the color of his fur) because he was returned to the shelter twice before we found him. Just not the right fit for the families (young, rambunctious kids & other dogs). He‘s such a snuggle bug. 🖤🐶🤍 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Happy Birthday Jett ♡♡♡♡ 1mo
Suet624 Love that you named Jett after the one and only Joan. 1mo
Tamra I only use Litsy. ❤️😊 (Though I watch booktube.) 1mo
Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 1mo
LeahBergen Happy Birthday! 🐶 1mo
AnnCrystal Happy Birthday Jett 🥳🐕🍨🐾💝. I'm good with variety posts too, especially our precious baby, reading buddies 💝💝💝...✌️📚💝. 1mo
mhillis I love seeing pets!! Happy birthday!! 1mo
mcipher I‘m always up for pet posts! ❤️ 1mo
Cupcake12 I love reading non related book posts as other platforms can be so depressing. Happy birthday Jett 🎉🐾🐶 (edited) 1mo
mrp27 Our reading companions always count on Litsy, Happy Birthday Jett! (edited) 1mo
Bookwomble Happy birthday, Jett! 🐶🍨 1mo
SconsinBookyBadger I 🖤 seeing pets of Litsy pop up on my feed with or without a connection to a book. Happy b-day Jett! 🐾🐶💕 1mo
Read4life Mine was 9 pounds and also loved to cuddle. He loved curling up on my stomach during my pregnancies & that bond with our kids stayed strong. Your Jett is the only other dog I‘ve seen with the double T spelling. 💙🐶💙 1mo
JamieArc I love getting to know the people I‘ve been interacting with and whose book tastes I love ❤️ 1mo
monalyisha @JamieArc Exactly! 👯‍♀️ 1mo
monalyisha @Read4life Gosh, that‘s so sweet! 1mo
AvidReader25 This looks like my pup too! 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Always here for this exact content. Happy belated birthday Jett! 1mo
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monalyisha
The Snow Spider | Jenny Nimmo
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Mehso-so

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: …👇🏻

monalyisha 1/9: …a spider, a black cat, and a herd of legendary horses. And it didn‘t surprise me, really. What caught me by surprise was the violent deaths of two-thirds of that list in a story intended for kids ages 8+. If I‘d read this ahead of time, I don‘t know that I would have chosen it for my children‘s book club at the library. 1mo
monalyisha 2/9: The group is for kids ages 9-12…but some of them are a very young and sensitive 9, and I‘ve known adults who have refused to pick up a book with an animal in the narrative without first consulting the site “Does the Dog Die?” 1mo
monalyisha 3/9: I don‘t believe the choice to include the death of these characters was a misstep, necessarily. These things happen, of course. Death happens, and we know that books provide a safe space for processing big feelings. But if you‘re not expecting it to happen — either in stories or in life — it can feel *especially* harsh and sad. So, I wish I‘d known to issue a warning (however vague). 1mo
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monalyisha 4/9: One positive is that Nimmo delivers on the promise made by the Welsh setting; descriptions of the sea, the mountains, and moody weather abound. It‘s the perfect backdrop for a tale of nature magic. 1mo
monalyisha 5/9: On Gwyn‘s 9th birthday, his Nain gifts him a handful of mundane objects, promising that if he‘s the right person to wield them, he‘ll be granted his heart‘s desire. His desire, of course, is to have his sister back, and for his family to feel whole again. 1mo
monalyisha 6/9: There were things I adored about the book and things I didn‘t — like his Nain‘s assertion that to be a magician, one must accept that they will always be truly alone. I think that‘s far too bleak a message for kid lit. I‘m with author Natalie Babbitt, who wrote about what makes Children‘s Literature unique: “Happy endings, of course — and also joy.” 1mo
monalyisha 7/9: She elaborates, “Not…a simple “happily ever after,” or…the kind of contrived final sugar coating that seems tacked on primarily to spare the child any glimpse of what really would have happened had the author not been vigilant; not these, but…something which goes much deeper, something which turns a story ultimately toward hope rather than resignation.” 1mo
monalyisha 8/9: Nimmo‘s ending isn‘t lacking in hope but it would have been more satisfying if Eirlys‘s presence had prompted the family to open up and talk about what happened. Then, the resolution would be more than simply “having the chance to say goodbye.” The resolution would be the realization that it‘s important and healthy to talk to one another, and to lean on one another. 1mo
monalyisha 9/9: Nain‘s declaration seemed wrong-footed to me. While there are hints that Gwyn‘s family is healing, they feel too subtle for the audience. It strikes me as a bit irresponsible and unhealthy, in a children‘s book, to introduce a message of profound isolation and then not soundly and explicitly negate it. I‘m torn about my rating for this one. 1mo
LeeRHarry I have this on my shelves, mainly because it‘s Welsh and my grandpa‘s name was Gwyn. Great review - I‘ll have to remember to reread it once I‘ve read the book itself. 😊 1mo
monalyisha @Thanks, @LeeRHarry! Wales is on the top of my travel bucket list. 1mo
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

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. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: It‘s a position that will make us look less foolish in the long run when change inevitably occurs; it‘s also a stance that promotes inclusivity and diversity. Listen to/read this book if you want to tuck intelligent arguments in your back pocket about use of the singular “they,” or about how responding “I‘m good” to the question, “How are you?” is just as correct as answering “I‘m well.” (edited) 1mo
monalyisha Thanks for the #AuldLangSpine rec, @Christine! 1mo
monalyisha *Note: The only time I caught myself going “grammando” was over the phraseology of “I could care less” vs “I couldn‘t care less.” While I don‘t feel the need to correct people verbally, I‘ll never be able to accept the first version in my heart of hearts! (edited) 1mo
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monalyisha 📣 PSA! A short summary of how to defend the use of singular “they”: 1. Singular “they” has over 800 years of usage in the English language. It‘s well-established and is not, by any means, new! 2. If you use singular “they”, you‘ll find yourself in illustrious company, rubbing elbows with Jane Austen & Shakespeare. 3. The history of pronoun usage in English is WILD. If you want to be persnickety about it, we shouldn‘t be using singular “you.”👇🏻 (edited) 1mo
monalyisha [3. continued] Technically, “you” used to be plural — and “thou” was the singular second person pronoun. So, if you want to rail against use of singular “they,” thou better get real comfy using “thou.” END PSA. 📣 1mo
willaful For me it's “literally“ now meaning the same as “figuratively.“ Admittedly it's hardly the only time an English word has meant two opposite things, but I still can't stand it! 1mo
ravenlee Oh, could/couldn‘t care less is a hot button for me! I also have trouble with “gifted,” because we already had a perfectly serviceable word for that but we had to misappropriate another one? Actually, I have a lot of peeves…should probably stop talking…. 1mo
Christine Love your review and especially your PSA!! ❤️ 1mo
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monalyisha
Lucky Red: A Novel | Claudia Cravens
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Mehso-so

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.

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monalyisha
Turtle Moon | Alice Hoffman
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Pickpick

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).

monalyisha Spoiler: Animal Death (dog; violent) 2mo
TheBookHippie She‘s hit or miss for me. My favorite is 2mo
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monalyisha
Turtle Moon | Alice Hoffman
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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. 🐢🌖

Cuilin Perfect timing for a trip out of New England. Massive snowstorm this weekend. Oh for a dip in that pool. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha @Cuilin I know! I left my husband at home to shovel all by himself. 🙈 2mo
Cuilin @monalyisha My husband loves the snow blower, I couldn‘t take that joy away from him. 😆 Safe travels. 2mo
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peaKnit I‘m at my in-laws condo in FL right now too, it‘s snowing in WI…soon we head back to winter ❄️ 2mo
monalyisha @peaKnit Enjoy the rest of your stay! 🌴 2mo
Suet624 That looks wonderful, especially after all the shoveling I‘ve been doing lately. 😂😂 2mo
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monalyisha
Moominland Midwinter | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

❄️ 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! 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: As it turns out, Moxie was more a combination of Moomintroll and Little My — sweet, curious, *definitely* up to something, irritable (somehow in a cute way), and small. As for Little My? She never feels sorry. Instead, she‘s “always either glad or angry.” And “she always had the gift of having fun on her own.” That was Moxie (also called “Little Moo”) — to a “T.” (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 2/5: In fact, I think I might be more Moomintroll than Moxie ever was — with all my lamenting of winter; my sun worship; my not wanting to upset anyone; my begrudging admiration of softly fallen snowflakes; and the round, smooth pebbles in the pockets of my bathing robe all year long. 2mo
monalyisha 3/5: Character assessment aside, Moominland Midwinter was my first foray into Moominvalley. I‘m smitten. Immediately charmed. It‘s adorable and introspective; sad and lonely; curious and playful; hopeful, gentle, and sharp. (edited) 2mo
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monalyisha 4/5: It doesn‘t shy away from topics like death (of a squirrel, complete with a little squirrel funeral) but the author provides a footnote with guidance about what a reader should do if they find the content too sad. In short, Jansson‘s world is comprised of everything I love about Children‘s Literature — with fantastic illustrations to boot. 2mo
monalyisha 5/5: I‘ll leave you with Too-ticky‘s winter bonfire song:

“Here come the dumb,
The lonely and the rum,
The wild and the quiet,
Thud goes the drum.”

Thud, thud, thud goes my Moomin-lovin‘ heart.
2mo
willaful This was my first Moomin book too. Seems to be a good place to start! 2mo
Suet624 Oh, this post was so revealing and so lovely. 💕💕 2mo
Kerrbearlib I love Moomin! 1mo
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monalyisha
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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.👇🏻

shortsarahrose You‘re averaging better than I have (around 10 each list). But yay Moby Dick! It‘s one of my favorite books of all time and I‘ve read it multiple times. 🐋 2mo
monalyisha @shortsarahrose I had a college professor who was *obsessed* with it (fittingly, given the book‘s themes 😉). I read it twice in college and once after. I even went to a 24-hr reading aboard a whaling ship! 2mo
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shortsarahrose So jealous that you went to a readathon on a whaling ship! That‘s a bucket list goal for me. 2mo
dabbe My average is the same! So many books on these lists I want to read and so many I don't! 😂 And major kudos for MOBY DICK. That's one I tried and couldn't finish. Thanks for playing and sharing. 🩶🩷🩶 2mo
monalyisha @shortsarahrose If it makes you feel less jealous, they‘d recently done a bunch of restorative woodwork on the ship and I was allergic to all of the dust in the air. I was actually kind of a hot mess the whole time. 🤧😅 2mo
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monalyisha
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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!

TheBookHippie People keep telling me to read A WellTrained Wife… 😵‍💫😩🤷🏻‍♀️😝 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie It was certainly impactful! I‘m still thinking about it. Her writing is a little uneven, though, and it was far too heavy for my state of mind right now. 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I don‘t need to read what I‘m surround by. 😂 and certainly not now. 2mo
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monalyisha @TheBookHippie She intentionally published now, to make the threat abundantly clear to those who may not understand how real and pervasive it is (fundamentalists dedicating themselves to create a literal “army” to bring to the polls). I respect her purpose and her persistence, for sure. But yeah — it‘s such a balancing act between educating ourselves, motivating ourselves to act, and protecting (all the different aspects of) ourselves! 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I‘ve been telling people since 1982 how this is. No one listened. Here we are. Mostly people want me to read it to see that I was right I already know I was right. 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Sometimes, it really doesn‘t feel good to be right. ❤️‍🩹 2mo
monalyisha Don‘t mind my personal tag tracker: #AWreads2025 11h
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monalyisha
What Is Love? | Jen Comfort
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Pickpick

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. 🥵😜

monalyisha If you‘ve ever wondered what Natasha Lyonne would be like as a contestant on Jeopardy! (or if you‘re wondering now), this book holds the answer. (edited) 2mo
willaful I did bail on this one, but maybe I should give it another look. 2mo
monalyisha @willaful I don‘t blame you if you don‘t! It‘s hard to judge someone for being “too much” when what they‘re worried about is being “too much”…but Max is a character and the way she‘s written is a whole lot! Although, she actually reminded me of one of my best childhood friends (who I texted and told to read this book 😅). 2mo
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

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. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/11: At one point, she even refers to her accidental “oafdom.” What I‘m left feeling unsure about (and there should be NO such ambiguity) is if there‘s occasionally something insidious seeping through that‘s more close-minded than clumsy. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 2/11: For instance, she writes, “We are players but we do not direct the play. Certain decisions were made for us before we were even born. Did you decide to be born in Wichita? Was being a girl your first choice?” The sticking point for me is that we do not have a choice about where we were born. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 3/11: We DO have a choice about how we present our bodies to the world. We have the power to make our outsides match our insides…even if we can‘t change where we‘re from. We can also *leave* the place we‘re born. But she provides no further exposition on the matter. So, to me, this set-up feels like a false equivalency. It feels like dangerous territory. (edited) 2mo
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monalyisha 4/11: I worry that with her focus on the incarnation and on matter *mattering* to God, that it‘s entirely possibly BBT could hold anti-trans sentiment. This may be totally off base! The point is that there should be NO SUCH AMBIGUITY. With a more careful writer, there would not be. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 5/11: There are other instances where her position in the world shines through (cis, white, white-collar). She refers to a particular place in the Bronx as “a pretty scary neighborhood” and proclaims that the Uber driver who shuttles her away from it (without any concrete example of threat), “saved her.” (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 6/11: This abuts a chapter about “loving the stranger” where she asserts how divinely-inspired it is to “surrender the priority of your own safety for love.” I guess I‘m not convinced that BBT walks the walk as well as she talks the talk, despite her insistence that this book is meant to provide practical instruction. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 7/11: In other places, I made notes about passages where it felt like she was shaming the listener: for being overweight; for being a sex-worker; for not being part of a religious community (she says that these folks (folks like me) feel like they “need to walk off a cliff all by themselves” — and I don‘t get the sense that she admires our sense of adventure). (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 8/11: On the whole, I found her tone to be too judgmental, while asserting that she absolutely was NOT being judgmental! This tonal problem is one that the church itself struggles with. It‘s interesting that she was once a representative of their governing body. (edited) 2mo
TheBookHippie This is my petty comment. I loathe her and believe her to be dangerous. 2mo
monalyisha 9/11: Onto the good stuff, of which there was *plenty!* Many of her thoughts about reverence, awe, & attention hit home. In particular, I loved her thoughts about Moses and what made him special (his willingness to “turn aside” and “look”); her account of walking through a laurel portal with her husband, finding their way in the breathing, moonlit dark… (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 10/11: …and her assertion, inspired by the Jewish candle-lighting ritual which illuminates Shabbat, that rest and freedom are intrinsically linked.

An Altar to the World won‘t become my new Bible (though, BBT would insist that the Bible doesn‘t have to be treated like your Bible [infallible teachings, taken wholesale]).
(edited) 2mo
monalyisha 11/11: I will take from it her suggestion to read Wendell Berry poems to trees. I will take from it her proclamation that “The meaning we give to what happens in our lives is our final, inviolable freedom.” 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie That‘s certainly a passionate position! Which details made you feel so clear in your conviction? I feel a lot muddier with the info I currently have. 2mo
monalyisha Tagging those of you who I know have read this, so I can get your two cents. 💞 @kspenmoll @BarbaraJean 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha she irritates me, I said it was petty 😅🤷🏻‍♀️… there is something in her writing and speaking that feels extremely dangerous to me. I know people love her and get a lot from her. I personally don‘t trust her. Her vibe is off for me and I also find her very condescending. 🤷🏻‍♀️😅 I love your review. It‘s very honest. I love a lot of Berry‘s poems. And a lot of his religion I do not. 🙃 I‘m fun. 2mo
Amiable What a wonderfully written and thoughtful review. 2mo
kspenmoll I did quote some passages from her that I liked… I grew up white & privileged (except for my femaleness)when Catholics, Jews, blacks, browns, whites were largely separated geographically, which meant socially, politically, & psychologically. Life has changed me because I sought that change & grasped the new. I went to a regional integrated HS when the nuns & priests were throwing off their habits & leaving the church in droves. So maybe 🔽 2mo
monalyisha Thank you, @TheBookHippie & @Amiable ! Christine, it can be hard to put your finger on the source of “vibes.” I‘m totally sympathetic to that! I need to read more Berry. Coincidentally, a friend (who‘s going through a really difficult time) just texted me that he was currently reading the tagged and was so grateful that he was. I think I‘ll pick up his most famous, A Timbered Choir, next. 2mo
kspenmoll 🔼 I can relate to some of her experiences. I avoided certain areas of Hartford (although I lived there several years) & the reality is poverty & violence still exists & there are places my students tell me not to drive thru aline-they know, they live there. Not sure what I trying to say here. @monalyisha @TheBookHippie Am I making sense?! Also I do enjoy Berry‘s (edited) 2mo
monalyisha @kspenmoll You *are* making sense. I just think language is so important. Why refer to “urban neighbors” as being a challenge to love, or call a residential area a “pretty scary neighborhood,” when you could introduce more nuance by calling it something like, “a neighborhood with high need and a high crime rate to match”? Neighborhoods aren‘t scary. They‘re a symptom of a scarier reality. Wealth disparity is scary. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha @kspenmoll I think when your whole M.O. is careful attention, that ethos needs to be applied to your language. 2mo
monalyisha @kspenmoll Another example: at one point, she talks about the “adolescent energy” of Hawaii. She writes, “its divinity had not yet suffered from the imposition of shopping malls.” But what about the suffering on the sugar plantations? It feels like she‘s negating the very real, historical suffering of the people. 2mo
monalyisha @kspenmoll I think so much of her writing *was* considered and crafted. The part where she discusses the beattitude plays, for instance, brought me to literal tears! Or her final discussion of transubstantiation (how Jesus has no hands but ours, no bread other than that which we make…How we ARE his body? Gorgeous!). But if you bring a judgmental tone to your writing and then aren‘t perfect yourself? 😬 That‘s a hard position to find yourself in. (edited) 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha She, the author, White Privilege is for sure, the number one feeling I get is bigot and unsafe ally. The vibe is way offffff. Oy.

Berry can be very very soothing. Some of his poems I read over and over. I'll have to go look which book I own, I know it's a collection.
2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie I guess, overall, I did feel like she was trying. And I think she succeeds in a lot of radical ways! She seemed open to me, and willing to admit her mistakes. But I do have concerns. I‘m inclined to think that it comes down to being a little out of it (which is evidence of privilege) and a lack of timely care. She doesn‘t know she‘s leaving room for interpretation. 2mo
kspenmoll @monalyisha Now I understand what you‘re saying! You have a wonderful way with the words. 2mo
JamieArc I think I read this (or at least one of hers) as I was leaving the evangelical church, and I remember I was glad to have read it at that hard and confusing time as a transitional piece. This was also just at the point that I started to examine my own whiteness, so I wasn‘t paying attention to certain aspects of it. I wonder what she would say for herself 16 years later. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha @JamieArc Oh! I was not *remotely* conscious of the fact that this was published more than a decade ago! That actually blew my mind. 🙈 It‘s an important detail to consider. I just saw it on more than one #AuldLangSpine list and assumed it was new, which is entirely my fault! Thanks for pointing it out! I did try to Google her stance on trans rights… but I didn‘t find anything directly related. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha @kspenmoll Thank you. 🥹 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I think for sure she does not know her privilege. I too appreciate any effort of any kind. I just didn't feel she was genuine. But I love this conversation! 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie @kspenmoll @JamieArc Yes! I‘m so happy I had people to discuss it with. 😊 2mo
DrSabrinaMoldenReads I loved this book too 2mo
BarbaraJean Thanks for the tag! And my thoughts aren‘t going to fit just one comment, so you‘re not alone! You‘re very right about the clumsiness/inconsistency, and I really appreciate your thoughtful review. I‘m frustrated I didn‘t pick up on more of the issues you raise—a measure of my own privilege that I missed a lot of the examples you pointed out, and was willing (perhaps too generously) to give her a pass on others. I think it‘s partly generational, ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...but I agree with @JamieArc that some of it can also be chalked up to when this was written. I really resonated with the chapters on getting lost and finding purpose (but even the purpose stuff comes from privilege, so…). I‘m not at home and don‘t have my copy handy, but doesn‘t she have a whole passage about a power outage where she tries to acknowledge her privilege while coming across as super privileged? ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) Same with her reflections on physical labor while volunteering at a shelter? All of that tracks with @TheBookHippie‘s vibes! And BBT‘s background as an Episcopalian tracks with the white privilege, unfortunately. I say that as someone who left the evangelical church and landed at an Episcopal church because of its progressive & affirming theology. The Episcopal Church is trying, and there‘s a lot of good intent (and actual good) there, ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...but a lot of the people in the pews are still pretty darn privileged and white. Much like BBT and this book. @kspenmoll Also, perhaps not coincidentally, I‘ve been (very slowly) reading through Berry‘s Timbered Choir for the past few months… 2mo
TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean My vibes have never been wrong in all my life. It is annoying but helpful. OY VEY. 2mo
BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie My husband gets similar vibes and I tend to find it annoying… then inevitably I have to admit he was right 😆 2mo
TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean Mr BookHippie suffers the same issues 😂😂😂😂♥️ 2mo
monalyisha @BarbaraJean I actually don‘t have my copy anymore, either! I passed it along to my stepmom, who I think will appreciate a lot of BBT‘s ideas. I just met her & my dad for brunch and I finished the book while my husband drove. 😅 My stepmom finds comfort in religion but she also has a bit of a wild streak, which always comes as a surprise given some of her other identities (Canadian, special or accessible education teacher turned principal)…👇🏻 2mo
monalyisha @BarbaraJean There‘s a line that reads, “More to the point, there are times when dancing on tables is the most authentic prayer in reach, even if it pocks the table & clears the room.” My stepmom‘s been kicked out of at least one bar for that exact kind of “authentic prayer.” So. It seemed right. 🙈 I underlined the sentence and directed her to it in my inscription (where I also mention that it‘s not a perfect book & note my favorite bits). 2mo
65 likes41 comments
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monalyisha
Fire Exit | Morgan Talty
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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.👇🏻

monalyisha @Christine I‘m still planning to read the 4 I didn‘t get to (at least)! Black Orchard, Very Nice, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, and See No Stranger. I can‘t predict when they‘ll hit my radar again; certainly, it will be this year. I‘ll tag you whenever it happens! Thank you for curating such a thought-provoking selection. Many of the books were new to me, and I love that breath of freshness and novelty! 2mo
Ruthiella Sorry to hear about your family and friends with health issues. ❤️ 2mo
monalyisha @Ruthiella Thank you. Some of it has been more manageable. Some has been uncommonly awful. My best friend‘s wife, for example, had a seizure. She‘d never had one before. They thought it was due to a fever, since she had the flu; ran some MRI‘s just to be safe. She has brain cancer. It sounds like she‘ll be able to take a recently-approved drug to keep it from growing, which is amazing. But she‘s in her early 30‘s. His mom just died. It‘s beyond. 2mo
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monalyisha @Ruthiella And this is after our mutual best friend‘s mom was *just* diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, which I mention because some #AuldLangSpine participants donated to her GoFundMe. She — Jody — is doing well, all things considered. She‘s living her life while she still feels relatively well. She‘s currently driving solo around California, because she‘s never traveled alone before and longed to. She booked a horseback ride on the beach! 2mo
monalyisha @Ruthiella So, there have been bright spots. But January has not been light. 2mo
Lesliereadsalot So sorry to hear all this. Such rough going for you right now. I thought you might be interested in listening to a podcast with Anne Curzan that‘s so interesting. See if you can find Chicago Humanities Tapes on Spotify and other platforms. It‘s the episode from December 17th. My daughter is the host on these podcasts! 2mo
monalyisha Thanks, @Lesliereadsalot — that‘s such a fun connection to the text! I‘ll make note to take a listen. 🤩 2mo
AnnCrystal Prayers for your family and friends 🙏💝. 2mo
monalyisha Thank you, @AnnCrystal 💎 2mo
Christine I‘m so sorry to learn of what you and your loved ones are going through, Alyisha! 😔 Holding everyone in my thoughts. I‘m sorry my list probably didn‘t provide nearly enough opportunities for levity! But Says Who? immediately jumped to mind for that so I‘m glad to hear it did for you, too. 2mo
Christine And I only made it through two of yours in January! 🙃 (Will be posting about that soon.) My reading ground to a near halt in the last third of the month. I absolutely will be reading many more of your wonderful picks throughout the year, though! 2mo
monalyisha Thank you, @Christine ! Says Who? is great fun (that‘s “fun” as a noun, mind you). I still can‘t get over the fun fact that “nice” used to mean “silly!” And, I know Bambi was released long after the meaning morphed but “If you don‘t have anything nice to say, don‘t say anything at all” takes on a whole new vibe. 😅 (edited) 2mo
Suet624 I just saw your post. I‘m so sorry things are so hard right now and there are so many people in your life having so many health problems. 2mo
54 likes13 comments
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monalyisha
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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…

TheBookHippie I cannot. If you needed the probs only person who 🤮🤢 this book. It‘s HER. Not necessarily the content for me I think. 2mo
Meshell1313 🤣🤣🤣 2mo
56 likes2 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

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! ??

monalyisha 1/1: I asked them to put up one hand if they liked it, two if they loved it, and none if they wished they‘d never read it. They all put up two hands…except for one girl who put up both hands and one of her feet. 😅 I‘d say that‘s a success! 2mo
AnnCrystal 🙌🏼🦶🏼😂🐉📚👏🥳💝. 2mo
68 likes2 comments
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monalyisha
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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.

willaful I was a big fan at one time and was pretty happy with the ending. I'm curious now too. 2mo
monalyisha @willaful The most I can find is a Goodreads quote, “The mythology warped and twisted back along itself until Buffy Summers, the girl who once railed against the unfairness of being Chosen, looked at a squadron of girls who were just like she‘d been and took away their right to Choose.” 2mo
willaful Ah, yes I can understand that point of view. It's presented as entirely a positive in the show, and you can argue that Buffy's pov has changed with age and that she's giving them something she mostly didn't have -- each other. 2mo
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AnneCecilie I liked that ending, but I had a completely different understanding off it. I took it to mean that every girl had the inner strength to be a slayer and stand up for herself 2mo
TheLudicReader I didn‘t hate the ending of Buffy. (My complaint has always been how they jumped the shark with Spike.) Curious to know what the author‘s fanfic handle was as I wrote a lot of fanfic back in the day and was pretty well connected to fandom. 2mo
monalyisha @willaful @AnneCecilie Yes! I viewed it as such a hopeful and beautiful example of the redistribution of power (and its decentralization)! Context is incredibly important. Community vs. isolation means so much. I didn‘t get the impression that every new Slayer would be forced into servitude, either. I bet McGuire feels even more passionately about her interpretation (which she‘s entitled to!) after the allegations against Joss came to light. 2mo
monalyisha @TheLudicReader Unfortunately, she removed her name from all of it after people started critiquing it like they would her published writing. I‘m not sure that info‘s findable anymore. I wouldn‘t recognize your handle (I was too young and my memory‘s too shoddy)…but I wonder if I read any of your stuff back in the day! I know McGuire specifically wrote Buffy/Faith fanfic. 2mo
TheLudicReader @monalyisha I don‘t think fic writers should be ashamed of what they wrote. It‘s great practice and I wrote stuff I am still really proud of. It sucks that Whedon tainted Buffy‘s legacy, but this is one instance where I separate art from artist. There were a lot of other people involved in the Buffyverse, too. Where did you read your fanfic when you read it? 2mo
monalyisha @TheLudicReader I truly have no idea. I was about 13. To me, it was all just “the internet.” 😅 I know I was a big fan of the Angel/Willow “ours is a forbidden love” storyline. To be clear, this pairing horrifies me now. 🙈 (As do many aspects of the show if I look at them too closely.) At the time, my thinking went no further than, “Angel is hot...and I am like Willow.” Reason enough for me! (edited) 2mo
TheLudicReader @monalyisha Angel is hot is the reason I started watching that show in the first place. 🤣 The next ten years I was full on fandom! 2mo
monalyisha @TheLudicReader Recapping the moment that he returned from Hell (in the nude), my bff‘s older sister‘s bff commented, “He was glistenin‘ like a Greek God!” That moment is forever seared into my brain. 😂 (edited) 2mo
52 likes12 comments
review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

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👇🏻).

monalyisha 1/2: One such repetition can be found in the transition between chapters 2 & 3 (chapter heading in bold): “There was time to make all three of them sandwiches before it was time for language class. / LONG TIME PASSING / “Time passed, more hours slipping down the river…” That‘s 4 instances of the word “time” in fewer than 3 sentences! The first sentence could have read, “There was time to make all three of them sandwiches before language class” OR… 2mo
monalyisha 2/2: “There was time to make all three of them sandwiches before leaving.” In a longer novel, these kinds of things are more forgivable. I expect more from a novella. 2mo
67 likes2 comments
review
monalyisha
Work in Progress | Kat MacKenzie
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Pickpick

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! 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: Also, the MC & love interest‘s relationship begins with an absolutely ridiculous, stilted level of grudge-holding & sauciness. She at least pokes fun at herself and her moods from time to time, like when she compares herself to Veruca Salt, e.g. “Annoyingly, he walked off before I got a chance to make any other stupid objections or demand that my father buy me the whole chocolate factory.” 2mo
monalyisha 2/2: Additionally, there‘s a sprinkling of unnecessary exclamation points (which I know is rich coming from me!), along with references to “fat thighs”, JK Rowling (sans critique), and gendered language. However, the book also contains LGBTQ representation, lots of heart, quirky jokes, and innumerable nods to books much-adored by bibliophiles everywhere! Despite my nitpicking, I liked it much more than I didn‘t. 2mo
monalyisha P.S. The MC‘s name is Alice Cooper, and the absurdity of this does NOT go unnoticed by the other characters. I used the steamiest accompanying pic I could find. 🐍 2mo
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JamieArc 🤣🤣🤣 2mo
CoffeeK8 Amazing review. I don‘t know if I could look past that name 2mo
monalyisha @CoffeeK8 Oh, it‘s very much a bit! Self-awareness will grant you lots in my book. 😅 2mo
CoffeeK8 @monalyisha oh gotcha. I can get into a book when the author is in on the joke too! 2mo
Amiable I too hate the trope of avoidable misunderstandings that cause unnecessary drama. 😖 2mo
MatchlessMarie Sounds ridiculous and I love your commentary 😆 2mo
vlwelser I love your steamy Alice Cooper pic. I imagine your review is better than this book. 2mo
quietlycuriouskate Oh my, I do not envy you your internet search history! 😂 2mo
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review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

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 🐟. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/6: She can‘t sit still; I live to laze. She hates October while I feel much like Anne (glad to live in a world with them) — as long as I can put my thoughts about the approaching winter out of my head long enough to actually live in the moment. 2mo
monalyisha 2/6: Still, we have the same spiritual drive and seem to experience the same discomfort about the earnestness of our longing. We deflect with skepticism and humor while continuing to yearn, and, occasionally, we manage to express that yearning when we‘re feeling especially honest and brave. We‘re also roughly the same age, so we share cultural touchstones (like Ferngully, Buffy, and Practical Magic). 2mo
monalyisha 3/6: Weirdly, despite the lengthy bibliography, I don‘t feel like I learned much about witchcraft. I don‘t blame Helmuth for this, however. It‘s the same way I felt after completing my Religious Studies major in undergrad. There‘s just so much history, philosophy, and content. Even a year (or 4!) of concentrated study leaves you barely skimming the surface. (edited) 2mo
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monalyisha 4/6: I‘ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes (and there are many): “If the Christian serenity prayer is ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,‘ the Witch‘s serenity prayer is probably… 2mo
monalyisha 5/6: “Goddess grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I think I can‘t, and enough candles on hand to make a difference.” 2mo
monalyisha 6/6: I can‘t say this is a *perfect* memoir but it‘s pretty damn good. And it‘s exactly my jam. 2mo
TheBookHippie I read the ARC and loved it! 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie I was fascinated by her conversations with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart about story, and about identifying as “spiritual but not religious” vs. “religious but not spiritual” (and how the latter talk didn‘t go as expected). I definitely don‘t see myself becoming a convert or anything like that but I‘d love to read more about/by him. 2mo
Sace Well you‘ve convinced me. I will be ordering this in the near future. 2mo
TheBookHippie @Sace It‘s good. 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I am spiritual and familial traditions of my grandma -and NOT RELIGIOUS(😝) So I enjoyed that part . I like it when books make you think. 2mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Oh, I definitely always say the line, too (“spiritual but not religious”), so it was interesting that he framed it as spirit vs matter, and made “religion” more about ritual & the body. Flipped the script on us all a little bit! 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha Exactly because ritual is in my life . I really did enjoy this book! I think so many would like it but it seems not well known. @Chrissyreadit & @BookwormAHN would like it I think. And many more. 2mo
Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie @monalyisha It is on my shelf- i will dust it off and read it since both of you are recommending. Maybe @BookwormAHN would be interested in a “buddy read” with me. 2mo
Chrissyreadit @monalyisha I don‘t know what I am anymore- but nature and ritual (with candles) are my guide these days. I def lean feminist pagan if it were defined. 2mo
Clare-Dragonfly Wow, I‘m really intrigued by the conversation with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. Even if the whole rest of the book is stuff I‘ve heard before (I‘ve been a witch for most of my life), that part is probably worth the price of admission. 2mo
Christine I am adding this in spirit to your 2024 list bc I will want to get to it sooner than later! 😁 2mo
BookwormAHN @Chrissyreadit Definitely, it sounds really interesting 2mo
BookwormAHN @TheBookHippie Thanks, this sounds really good 2mo
TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I think you‘ll love it. 2mo
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review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

“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. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: Tia describes her suffering in unflinching detail. She explains the Quiverful movement and their goals. They believe that a woman is a tool — specifically, a “quiver.” It‘s a man‘s job to utilize this tool, created expressly for his use. A man must fill his quiver with arrows, aka children, and prepare for battle. 2mo
monalyisha 2/4: Their mission is to create an army to bring to the polls. Tia herself bears 5 children. Reading this leading up to the second inauguration of Donald Trump was too chilling, and, frankly, verging on too much for me. (edited) 2mo
monalyisha 3/4: Levings‘ writing grows stronger as the chapters progress. She begins with a metaphor that feels unconnected and out-of-place (falling dominoes); unfortunately, it‘s carried throughout the text. Horribly and beautifully, the most powerful passages are a tribute to Tia‘s infant daughter, Clara, who died when she was nine weeks old. 2mo
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monalyisha 4/4: Tia‘s strength in sharing her story is commendable. If her identity were limited to any tool now (which it‘s not), she would be a torch. She uses her story to shine a light on the path to hell (which I have trouble believing is paved with good intentions at this point). I‘m glad Tia was able to find a trapdoor, despite the darkness. I hope there‘s still enough light in our country to find ours. #AuldLangSpine @Christine 2mo
thecheckoutstack I agree that the domino metaphor didn‘t really work. 2mo
monalyisha @thecheckoutstack It was so strange! It made me think I wasn‘t going to like her writing at all, which (thankfully) didn‘t turn out to be the case. Bizarre that it made it in and stuck around. 2mo
Christine Such a thoughtful review (and apparently I ignored the domino metaphor bc I don‘t even remember it! 😆). I almost stepped away when she started revealing Clara‘s health issues bc I could tell almost instantly that she would have exactly the same severe heart defect that my son has and I‘m sensitive to those stories sometimes, but I‘m glad I continued. (My son was luckier and is doing well, just turned 18. 😊) 2mo
monalyisha @Christine I‘m so grateful your son is doing well. Happy (belated) birthday, maybe? 🥳 2mo
Christine @monalyisha ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
82 likes9 comments
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monalyisha
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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, 👇🏻

monalyisha “I look; morning to night I am never done with looking. / Looking I mean not just standing around / but standing around as though with your arms open.” 2mo
monalyisha If you look closely, you might be able to spot a piece of sea glass sitting atop my book. I found it wedged in the sand by my feet after I read the poem. 🌊 2mo
kspenmoll What a lovely idea. Best wishes on your birthday!🎉 (edited) 2mo
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Suet624 Happy birthday!! What a beautiful spot and a lovely tradition. 2mo
wanderinglynn Happy, happy birthday! 🥳 What a fantastic tradition. 💜 Love Mary Oliver. 2mo
Sace Happy birthday! 2mo
Bookwormjillk Happy birthday 🎂 2mo
TiredLibrarian Happy birthday! LOVE Mary Oliver. 2mo
Birdsong28 Happy Birthday 🎂📚📖 2mo
llwheeler What a beautiful tradition, and beautiful words for your year. Happy birthday! 2mo
Mollyanna Beautiful! Have a wonderful birthday. 2mo
Soubhiville I love that. Happy Birthday! (edited) 2mo
Amiable Happy birthday! And may your year ahead be filled with peace. 2mo
Ruthiella Happy Birthday. 🥳 2mo
Deblovestoread Happy birthday! What a lovely way to start your next year of living 💙 2mo
monalyisha @Deblovestoread It also *directly* corresponds to the quote I chose for my New Year from the tagged, which is wild: “A truth that goes almost unrecognized today, is that looking is what saves us.” What a wink from the literary universe! 2mo
MeganAnn Lovely words to celebrate! 🎉 Happiest of birthdays to you! 🥳 2mo
quietlycuriouskate Wonderful quote! Happy birthday to you. 🎂📚 2mo
TheKidUpstairs Oliver will never steer you wrong. What a beautiful tradition. Happy Birthday! 2mo
AnnCrystal Wonderful tradition 🥳🎂🍰 Happy Birthday. 2mo
MaureenMc Happy birthday!🎈 2mo
Branwen I love this idea! How beautiful! 💙 2mo
Chelsea.Poole Very lovely. Happy birthday to you! 2mo
Christine Happy Birthday!!! Perfect way to mark the start of your personal new year. 🩵 2mo
83 likes24 comments
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monalyisha
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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.

AnnCrystal I am loving your ceiling and star-light 🤩, beautiful!

Read somewhere that the starshape symbolized time travel, and formed in crystal, it could transport the holder across time. Don't know if that was something written in the Spirit of Fantasy or once believd by an ancient people, either way I fell in love with the shape ever since. I know, I'm wacky 😂.
(edited) 2mo
Cortg I have a light like that in my foyer by the front door. Never thought of it as spooky 👻 Enjoy your spooky/cozy evening! It sounds delightful. 2mo
monalyisha @Cortg Ha! You know, I didn‘t even think of my description as “spooky” but I suppose it might be interpreted that way! 2mo
TheBookHippie I read the ARC of this I enjoyed it very much. 2mo
Suet624 Sounds like a wonderful place to be. 2mo
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