I just finished An Affair of Poisons, and I loved it. It's an alternate history tale of a Shadow Society that poisons King Louis XIV and then takes power. There are two perspectives, one told by the daughter of the Shadow Society leader, and a bastard prince who is fighting to save his sisters. The two meet and try to take back the city in the name of the boy's brother, the dauphin Louis. I thought it was a beautiful story with strong characters.

Rayne and Delilah's Midnight Matinee is book about friendship foremost, but the characters (real names Josie and Delia) also have strong character growth individually.
⁣As a book about friends, is it refreshing to see that the romance doesn't overtake that story. All around, a good book.⁣
⁣

Note Simon's slightly confused look. We didn't "get" this book. It was okay, but just hard to imagine being plausible. Hard to relate to. Yeah, just not believable though it's contemporary/realistic fiction.

#yareads #catsoflitsy

This is a really great dystopia type book that takes place in a what could be our very own time. That's what makes it so haunting, you could see this happening. Because I'm weird though, I think it would have been fine if it had ended on page 367. #yareads #catsoflitsy

This was a satisfying mystery read, though I did not like the mothers, Lesley and Jenny. Bleh, could have slapped them a few times. I know they were grieving, but still, don't have to be annoying. Anyway, good stuff.

#mystery #catsoflitsy

Ugh, these books with these cliffhangers! Trying to kill me me! I need book 3 now!

Finally working my way through all my library books. Enjoying this one so far. I do love Maureen Johnson though, so not surprised!

#catsoflitsy #yareads #librarybooks

What the what? I mean....that ending was not satisfactory. The rest of the book was decent, though I don't really like her style (my first book by this author). But a big no to that ending! Too many questions remaining.

Just wanted to recommend this children's book we got at the library. It is super cute!

 @JenlovesJT47 Maybe Jace would like it?

#childrensbooks #dinosaurs #librarian

Finally reading this much belated #bbbbc book. Took me a moment to get into it because I kept trying to read when I was tired so I was falling asleep and not remembering what I'd read, but now I'm really enjoying it.

I also just tried to catch up with a few people's feeds. It's been awhile. I may need to cut back on follows so I can try to keep up.

#catsoflitsy

I struggled to decide if this is a top pick or just so-so, but I'm going with top pick. I love Zusak's writing, I just felt at one point over half way through that I still didn't know what the book was about. But I think I figured it out. It's a book of the love of a family, the love between two teenagers, and grief. Long and enveloping. #yareads

An interesting take on Alice in Wonderland. Liked it for the most part. A little repetitive in the beginning. Could definitely use some editing in the middle, lots of typos. Loved Hatta the most. #yareads

Sorry #bbbbc I could not finish this. I've heard such great things, but I was bored with it. Then I got to a fight scene and thought it was so repetitive, burned this, burned that. Had to put it down. Maybe I'll try again eventually.

4 1/2 stars, I think. I really enjoyed this. Loved the flow, the story, the characters. I just felt like the things that were changed to make it "original" weren't changed enough: Vorse instead of Norse, Obin instead of Odin, Valkree, as a goddess, instead of the Valkyries, Holhalla instead of Valhalla, Hel instead of Hell. Maybe that's just me being too harsh. #yareads

Finally starting Mistborn for book club. Actually tried to start last night but fell asleep. Nothing against book, I was just really tired. This will be my first Brandon Sanderson. I've heard great things! #bbbbc

The cover of this is so lovely! I like a good novel in verse, and this did not disappoint. It was a little hard for me to get into at first, but it was really good.

Simon gives this one 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (4 paws). I liked this more than the first one actually. Danna was still annoying, but I enjoyed everyone else, and I am eager for the next one. #yareads

Thought I'd better get my #letterZ up before we start a new #manicmonday @JoScho
📖 Zombie Survival Guide
📚 Marcus Zusak
📽️ Zombie and
🍜 Zucchini

I'm going to say top pick because I was happy with the twists and turns. I didn't really like Joey, one of the main characters, but that's a personal opinion, not a reflection on the book I think. I enjoyed most of the rest of the characters. Good development. I continue to enjoy this author who I just started reading last year.

Sorry I'm still a day late

📖 Year One
📚 Rick Yancey
📽️ Young Frankenstein
🍜 Yogurt
#manicmonday #letterY @JoScho

Catching up

📖 Xena by John Whitman, chosen because Xena is awesome
📚 I'm not choosing an author because I've not read an X author.
📽️ X-Men (the first movie) / 📺 X- files
🍜 Xavier steak sounds delicious!
#manicmonday #letterX @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 The Witching Hour
📚 Scott Westerfeld, Mo Willems
📽️ Wizard of Oz / 📺 Westworld
🍜 Watermelon
#manicmonday #letterw @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
📚 Jules Verne
📺Veronica Mars
🍜 Vinaigrette (Dijon)
#manicmonday #letterv @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 Under the Dome
📚 John Updike
📽️ Underworld
🍜 Udon
#manicmonday #letteru @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 The Time Traveler's Wife
📚 J. R. R. Tolkien, Tomi Adeyemi
📽️ Toy Story, Tarzan (Disney animated), 10 Things I Hate About You / 📺 Torchwood
🍜 Turkey
#manicmonday #lettert @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 Shiver
📚 Maggie Stiefvater
📽️ Shrek, Sixteen Candles, St. Elmo's Fire, Star Wars (various) / 📺 Supernatural
🍜 Steak
#manicmonday #letterS @JoScho

Very behind, catching up

📖 Ready Player One, Red Rising
📚 Patrick Rothfuss, J. K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith
📽️ Remember the Titans
🍜 Rice
#manicmonday #letterr @JoScho

My goal was 50 books, so I'm happy to say I surpassed that and almost tripled my previous year's results.

Not a perfect book, but good enough to be enjoyable. I really liked the first one, so I was excited for the first one, but it didn't grab me at first. I slowly got into it. I know that the random people's perspectives were included to show that A and X weren't the only ones like this, but I didn't find that they added anything to the story. Though Liam and Peter's story was sweet. What happened with X was a little questionable.

@kaye Here's most of my brood. Sadie, Simon, Jack, Oliver, and Sam is the long hair whose head did not fit in the picture. Violet is not shown as she was helping take the picture! #catsoflitsy

I really enjoyed this. It flowed really well, and the jumps in age weren't jarring like I sometimes find them. Love the time period and topic. Looking forward to the next book.

Maybe it's just because it's been so long since I read the last book in the series, but I think I liked this one more. Though I do think that one new storyline was wrapped up, or not, too quickly. But it seems like there may be hints towards another series, so maybe it will be addressed then. #catsoflitsy

Interesting take on a school shooting, seeing the life of the survivors afterward. Secrets, some not what I expected and a little disappointing, but still a good book. Pretty diverse.

I enjoyed learning about her childhood the most, and her and Barack's early years.

I'm so sorry I've been so absent! I get behind on reading, so I try to read instead of doing social media. Then I get more and more behind on social media, until I can't catch up. I tried to read some posts!
1.#catsoflitsy
2. Of the places I've been, maybe Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas
3. Beef Curry stew
4. Curl up with a cat and read
5. Yes, yes, didn't know it was a thing?
#humpdaypost @MinDea

Meh. I like this author, but I didn't really like this as much as some of her other books. None of the characters were likeable.

So excited about this ARC! It says it has the world building of Brandon Sanderson and the story building verve of Patrick Rothfuss! Sad because I'm not going to be able to start it right away.

#unpopularopinion As much as I kept wanting to like this book, I couldn't get into it. I think it put me in a reading funk. Part of it was the writing, part of it was Agneiszka being the most Mary Sue of all Mary Sues.

I know I'm late, but I've been away again. Hopefully I'm back now!
1. The Magic Christmas (Sweet Valley Twins) I loved that book @JenlovesJT47
2. Having Thanksgiving and Christmas with my aunt and cousins since my parents passed away. I don't really see my family the rest of the year.
3. Muppet Christmas Carol, Grinch
4. All of it!
#Tuesdaytidbits

1. Finding Nemo
2. Nope. I had husband give me lesson, but it wasn't for me
3. My Sister's Keeper
4. Going to spend weekend shopping and lounging in Jefferson, TX to celebrate our anniversary, which is actually Tuesday
5. Done
#friyayintro @howjessreads

I've been away from Litsy for a few days while I was at a library ILS conference, but I'm back and I wanted to do my #letterQ #manicmonday @JoScho

📖 Quidditch through the Ages
📚 Matthew Quick
🎬 The Queen's Corgi (hasn't come out yet, but looks cute)
🥘 Quesadillas

Any Whaley fans? Corey's from a town near me, I've met him in passing 2 times at cons, and I'm friends with him on Facebook. But Friday at a small YA Lit con, I got to chat with him. As in sitting beside him at a session, & we just chatted & caught up on life. Pretty cool. I remember not being interested in his first book when it came out, but I had to read it in grad school, & I really enjoyed it, & I've loved his two other books!

1. I chose three!
2. Eh, I'm not sure. Way behind.
3. Staying home. It's supposed to be storming, so not even expecting the rare trick or treater.
4. Hopefully my husband and I could take a trip.
5. The costumes!
#HumpDayPost @MinDea

1. No kids come to my house usually
2. Black cats
3. Read a spooky story
Bonus: It's been a good long while since I read it, but listening to Stephen King's Lisey's Story at 3am was pretty creepy!
#tuesdaytidbits #thisorthat @JenlovesJT47

I was spoiled on one part of this, but even if I hadn't been, I still might only give this a so-so, which I know is an #unpopular opinion. I felt like the underlying plot was so much like so many other YA books. It just wasn't as good as as her Six of Crows, set in the same world, completely different plot and style. #yareads

I'm almost 200 pages into this...I do like it for the most part...I like the writing style. I like the Dragon. But as much as I want to like Agneiszka, I find her kind of dumb at times, and and at others, very Mary Sue-ish. I don't want that to ruin the book for me, so I hope I can get over it.

📚 The Pillars of the Earth
📖 Jodi Picoult
🎬The Princess Bride
🥘 Pumpkin or pears
#manicmonday #letterP @JoScho

For #NationalCatDay I thought I'd give you all another glimpse of Oliver, the newest member of the Oswalt family. We've had him a little over a week now. #catsoflitsy

1. Taken for a photo challenge on Bookstagram
2. 4
3. Yes, turn it on and off sporadically right now
4. Yes, since 6th grade. Short bout with contacts for a couple of years but went back to glasses.
5. Tagged book, I think I read it this year...it was rough.
#HumpDayPost @MinDea

📖 Odd Child Out
📚 Kenneth Oppel
🎬 The Office
🥘 Oatmeal cookies, yum. But hate oatmeal, bleh. I think it's the texture.
#manicmonday #letterO @JoScho