@vivastory on Litsy

My #weirdwords is courtesy of Seth Meyers' Closer Look, when he made me aware of Grantifas. Don't f#$&$ with people with crocheting skills 🤘.... also who in their right mind would disrespect their grandparents?! ☠️☠️

vivastory @cbee 6h

TheBookHippie We had young white boys screaming at my group -we were standing by and with retired teachers & librarians -whose average age was 80 at the no kings …unreal. 5h

vivastory @TheBookHippie I wish I had rotten eggs for you 5h

See All 7 Comments

TheBookHippie @vivastory it‘s just unfathomable …all of it. 5h

CBee Thank you for this - I now have some new heroes 💚 5h

IriDas How old do you have to be to get into that club? :D 3h

AnnCrystal ✊🏼🦅✊🏼 Grantifas 🧓👵🏼🧓🏻👵🏽🧓🏿👵🏾🌟. (edited) 59m

27 likes7 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Untitled

The news of D'Angelo's untimely passing last week sent me on a bit of a soul music binge (both old & new). Following are 6 favorites, by both old & new artists for #tuesdaytunes
*Charles Bradley: The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
https://open.spotify.com/track/6MQlNH8e6jG0LZg2mocK1R?si=c4bcb25a5bc84556
*Al Green: Tired of Being Alone
https://open.spotify.com/track/10vkYRKw6Jjr7try1ir50G?si=142749ca59dc4a8d
(CONT)

vivastory *Sharon Jones & Dap Kings: People Don't Get What They Deserve
https://open.spotify.com/track/7Jxrwm2eodQRszp8s2yjvo?si=0549ca5984aa40a2
*Roberta Flack: Do What You Gotta Do
https://open.spotify.com/track/2tF6qsoOtu92PzCTk4OKOf?si=02d055228fd744b7
*Maxwell: Pretty Wings
https://open.spotify.com/track/22NLm3IIR9NLG0cUYtmHMW?si=0eb56163661f4237
*Marvin Gaye: Trouble Man (CONT) 8h

vivastory https://open.spotify.com/track/15pYj5ZiUJgBydzD7w6NbJ?si=03a803fda76e4497
@tiedyedude 8h

TheBookHippie Me too. ♥️ 8h

vivastory @TheBookHippie Such range in soul music 💙 8h

31 likes4 comments

vivastory

Plotted: A Literary Atlas | Andrew DeGraff, Daniel Harmon

I was just relaxing with a cup of wine at a theater down the street, reading the tagged story “Return of the Jedi: From a Certain POV“ when out of nowhere people started pouring in to meet some random guy. There was someone there taking pictures, a line forming to meet this guy, I'm giving him the side eye...he's not Chris Stuckmann who is releasing Shelby Oaks this weekend , but I eventually left & had to scooby doo it & it appears to be (CONT)

vivastory Kasim Hardaway, a local filmmaker who has a new movie (The Unbecoming) being released locally *cue sad trombone music* due to the drama, I thought this was going to be someone major*...I shouldn't talk shit..maybe his movie is good!Speaking of awkward encounters at the exact same theater, a few months ago I was there, exact same scenario: relaxing after hours with a book & a drink when a local news crew showed up to interview the owner just (CONT) 8h

vivastory feet away. I had no idea what was happening. I thought it would be over in 3-5 minutes. They talked for an hour! I've never reread the same page more than I did that night. I was literally like 10 feet away in chairs from the interview (AWKWARD) lolol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF6P-ddNMRE
(afterwards the interviewer came up to me & said, sincerely, sorry to mess up yr reading time lololol) (edited) 8h

Ruthiella You are a magnet for publicity! 😅 8h

vivastory @Ruthiella 😂 (albeit UNWANTED) Although I did see Brea Grant was at Screenland once a couple yrs ago. That would have been great. Reading Glasses is one of my fave book podcasts! 8h

28 likes4 comments

vivastory

Wild Child: And Other Stories | T.C. Boyle

This, the second story, in the tagged collection is wild. It has a relentless narrative force which nearly borders on stream of consciousness, but instead tells of a organ delivery driver who is delayed during a delivery due to a mudslide. I have read only a couple TC Boyle stories so far and he definitely seems more interested in portraying people warts and all, rather than saints and demons.

43 likes

vivastory

Politics | Aristotle

I do talk about politics on my feed from time to time, however I don't often speak about how it impacts my job. That changed today when because of the government shutdown (& to be clear R's currently control the entire federal government); it was made clear that beginning 11-1 (SNAP AKA Food stamps for people w/ IDD ,in my field) end. We went from a yr ago when people complained about the price of eggs to *literally“ no longer being able (CONT);

vivastory To buy eggs whatsoever bc they will no longer have SNAP benefits. These are the most vulnerable people in our country, but we have politicized EVERYTHING to the point where I am seeing emergency meetings held in my agency. If you voted for this, WTF. IF this pisses you off, then you can explain to a vulnerable individual In your family on SNAP why they are no longer worthy of receiving the *bare minimum “ of being a human who should receive food (edited) 2d

Readergrrl It is beyond exhausting, but we simply must not let this cruelty stand. I am so sorry that you are dealing with this as so many are. 🫂 2d

vivastory @Readergrrl Where I work at I'm in the health department and we're already planning food drives etc. & Im not saying this to give my department self-congrats, but just to point out how cruel & absurd this is. My agency serves people with disabilities of varying types... it's not like a lot of them can go and get jobs that would pay enough...but their food benefits are being cut off (month of Thanksgiving no less) It's enough to make Scrooge blush (edited) 2d

See All 26 Comments

DrSabrinaMoldenReads This is so awful 2d

vivastory @DrSabrinaMoldenReads America 10-205.... 2d

Prairiegirl_reading I also work with people with disabilities but I live in Canada. I‘m terrified for folks down there. I‘m so sorry this is happening to them and to you. I can‘t believe people voted for this. 2d

Posh_Salad I was just talking about this. A women my friends and I know feeds her 5 kids with SNAP benefits and she voted for this regime. Now the kids aren't getting school lunches and they aren't going to have enough food for the holidays. Meanwhile, the government is handing out planes like Halloween candy. 2d

TheBookHippie @vivastory I literally fought every day this summer and through the fall to make sure the kids got free breakfast and lunch. 2d

TheBookHippie @vivastory we have the kids taking home food on the weekends we figured out sack lunches for supper… we are setting up pantries in the schools. My everyday is trying to get kids fed and it‘s abhorrent. There is enough food. I‘m terrified for my Teen moms WIC will be cut. SNAP running out soon. We‘re all just trying to figure out a plan. 2d

TheBookHippie @vivastory I‘m terrified for the disabled as well. 2d

Deblovestoread It is all devastating. We can afford to remodel the White House but not feed our most vulnerable citizens WTAF are we doing. 🤬🤬🤬 2d

IriDas This must‘ve so hard for you and your coworkers. I‘m going to have to see if my work is doing anything. We are a TK-8 low income come district so we should be doing something. Maybe we‘ll all finally come together and create community to help. 2d

AnnCrystal There seems to be no empathy in this new government...feels like empathy is outlawed ✊🏼🤬🥺🌟. 2d

BarbaraBB I am so sorry for this. I hope it will at least finally open the eyes of people who voted for this mad government. 2d

KT1432 I hate seeing nasty people gloat about it too. I hate it here. 2d

Amiable @KT1432 Same. I vacillate between wanting to escape and wanting to march on DC with pitchforks, tar and feathers. 2d

Cuilin @KT1432 yes! I watched a TikTok of someone criticizing people with snap as she herself was eating. It was disgusting. What happened to America first?? 2d

lil1inblue My heart just aches. 💔 2d

TieDyeDude I don't understand how, in one of the wealthiest countries on earth, we need to do food drive for community kitchens, teachers and parents have to buy supplies to stock their schools, and healthcare puts people in life-long debt, and half the country votes for those who say we are giving away too much. This is why you can't run the country like a business; the gov't is supposed to support all, not just those who can afford to pay for everything. 2d

vivastory @TieDyeDude 💯 1d

vivastory @Cuilin That is repulsive. That person needs to have the guts to walk up to an individual with a disability and tell them why they aren't worthy of a basic need. Hiding behind a social platform is easy, the title of this book keeps popping up in my mind

The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America

sarahbarnes I‘m sorry Scott. I was in a meeting this week where people were talking about needing to ask the public to make cash donations to food banks to brace for November without SNAP. Of course if the govt wanted the payments to go out to states they could do that, but they‘re choosing another way to hurt the people who have the least. Again. 1d

Branwen I hate it here 😔 1d

vivastory @sarahbarnes It's sickening 💝 7h

Suet624 Pressure needs to be put on all of these Republicans. Sit-ins at their offices, at their homes. They are complicit. Lack of health care and food will kill so many people. 7h

vivastory @Suet624 They'd probably see that as an act of terrorism now 😡 7h

55 likes26 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

Littens! 'Tis the seaon for spooky movies 🍿🎬
I'm genuinely curious what horror films released this ungodly year have riveted you the most? The following are my rankings so far:
1) Sinners
2) Weapons
3) The Monkey
4) The Long Walk
5) The Companion
*Some days I switch #3 & # 4. I genuinely believe that we received two of the greatest king adaptations the same year & I'm fairly certain that The Running Man will be another. Other (Cont)

vivastory Anticipated, but not watched '25 horror films:
*Frankenstein
*28 Years Later
*V/H/S: Halloween (The last one is definitely a favorite in the franchise)
*Shelby Oaks
*Good Boy
Oh, I also very much want to watch Life of Chuck! I recently read the novella and think it's one of the best novellas King EVER wrote 2d

vivastory *Anywhoo: drop me yr favorite spooky movie recommendations released this year* 2d

dabbe No movie released this year is worse than the last 9 months. ✊🏻 2d

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vivastory @dabbe The Long Walk felt pretty real! 2d

Reggie Bring Her Back was amazing. 2d

Reggie 28 Years Later I really liked it but that last 5 minutes had me scratching my head but it turns out we‘re getting a sequel to it next year. 2d

AnnCrystal I'm terrible with new movies. Maybe if drive-ins returned, but not a fan of theaters. It can take months/years depending on finding DVDs or TV specials.

Newest horror I was excited to have a chance to see: 2024 The Watchers by M. Night Shyamalan & 2024 Tarot.

Love most of Shyamalan's work, yet while The Watchers was a good storyline, I felt it failed in how the story was unfolded.

Tarot, I felt it failed by falling into a gory killing spree. 2d

AnnCrystal I noticed you listed 28 Days Later...never watched, usually hate zombies unless they are written by Garth Nix.

Yet, I accidentally watched Slash/Back (2022) and was surprised that I found it on the better side of good (again, zombies are not my thing...so this is a compliment even if it doesn't sound like one 😂🤗🎬💫). It's an Inuit Movie.

@Reggie (edited) 2d

AnnCrystal I also agree with @dabbe ✊🏼🥺🌟. 2d

Branwen Definitely Sinners for me! I've watched it three times so far. I can't get over how fantastic it is! 1d

vivastory @Branwen 👏 👏 7h

51 likes11 comments

vivastory

Night & Day: Dreadful Dark: Tales of Nighttime Horror/Merciless Sun: Tales of Daylight Horror | Ellen Datlow

*I have the tagged anthology checked out & I love Datlow's work, so will be reading 2-3 stories
*Total mood read: It will be either Samantha Downing's “Too Old For This“ (from what U gather, it's about an elderly serial killer) OR “Joy ,Land“ (I have recently read and enjoyed a couple hard case crime books!)
#weekendreads

48 likes

vivastory

The Mad Wife: A Novel | Meagan Church

I chose the tagged book for my October Aardvark selection, as I *really* wanted to choose a back catalog selection-Sangoyomi's “Masquerade“ (praised as one of the best recent historical fiction). I read around 75 pages of Churche;s novel before I bailed. Prior to each chapter, Church uses an epitaph from Plath's “Bell Jar.“ (CONT)

vivastory A portrait of suburban ennui/dissatisfaction-this didn't have anything new to offer in the exceptional line of fiction of female rage from Plath to Highsmith to Laurence to Ingalls to Moshfhegh Yoder & beyond. Other than disgusting Jello salads. A rare miss for Aardvark. 4d

Sace Oh. Maybe I‘m glad it was already sold out by the time I checked out the selections. 4d

CBee Omg this looks very similar to tomato aspic, which my mom loved. Basically weird gross tomato jello with shit in it. No idea who came up with that idea 😦 4d

See All 8 Comments

vivastory @CBee Apparently the Jell-O was big a few decades ago!?! 4d

BarbaraBB Great review. Won‘t read it 😊 4d

CBee @vivastory bad idea 😣😂 4d

KT1432 Oh nooo this is a highly anticipated read for me and I definitely got it. 😭 On another note, those aspic “salads” have always been wild to me. I still cannot fathom so many people thinking “yes, this would be good to eat.” 😂😂 Especially during a time period that is now used as some golden age of wonderful home cooking lol. Also, are in the Aardvark Facebook group?? 4d

vivastory @KT1432 Maybe this one will work better for you. I completely agree with you on how bizarre the salads were, maybe it was . I'm not on Facebook but I bet it's a fun group 3d

52 likes8 comments

vivastory

Midnight Movie: A Novel | Alan Goldsher, Tobe Hooper

It was only recently while browsing a library list online that I discovered that Tobe Hooper-director of Texas Chainsaw Massacre AND Poltergeist among others-wrote a book. MM is about his first effort Destiny Express which premieres during SXSW (in an interview in the afterword Hooper notes that an early film Eggshells had premiered at SXSW). Following the screening there is an outbreak featuring zombies & a lot of uh...strange spicy (CONT)

vivastory time side effects. (If the Smurfs got a series of spicy books, this might be the result) MM is wisely told in epistolary format .I can only imagine how tedious this would have been in regular prose format. I didn't think that I would dislike a book about cursed media more than Tremblay's “Horror Movie“ but here we are. I will admit that there were some clever lines. In one part Hooper says that if he was going to be killed & was in a Eli (cont) 4d

vivastory Roth movie, he'd be torn apart by a group of bloodthirsty businessmen, if he was in a Del Torro a vampire would materialize out of thin air & in one of his own it would be a jump scare featuring a woman holding an axe. I have to say that at the beginning the idea of only 60 people showing up to a screening of a TOBE HOOPER movie at SXSW is laughable. If this had been published a few decades ago, maybe. But the time it was pub. it would be sold out 4d

Reggie Soo speaking of Tremblay, he has a story in the Stand anthology and he brought back Art Barbara from The Pallbearers club, which I hated. But this short story is really good. But you kinda have to have read the PC to get it. And it low key bugs me. lol also, idk but some of these stories are a little crazy pants. 4d

vivastory @Reggie I actually liked TPC. Don't get me wrong, it's not my fave Trembnlyay. Did I like it more than Horror Movie? Absolutely. Did I like it more than the other stuff? No, (edited) 4d

vivastory @Reggie I have the Stand anthology, but haven't started it yet. I'm looking forward to it. I had the exact same issue with Tremblay's The Best You Are that you mentioned. I ended up bailing on it bc it seemed like half of the stories had references to his novels. It felt like he was writing fan fiction to himself. 3d

48 likes5 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

Joining the fun! Here is my #10beforetheend list:
*Stephen King-Running Man
*Nat Cassidy-When the Wolf Comes Home
*Conn Iggulden-Athenian Duology
*Orson Scott Card-Ender's Game
*Ursula K. Le Guin-Powers
*Jack Ketchum-Offspring
*Sōseki-Botchan
*Eliza Clark-She's Always Hungry
*Patricia Highsmith-Ripley's Game
*SG Jones-Don't Fear the Reaper
@chaoticmissadventures

RaeLovesToRead Great list! Assume you've already read The Long Walk? 6d

vivastory @RaeLovesToRead Thanks! Yes, i read it a few yrs ago & it's always been a favorite. The recent adaptation is in my top 5 of the year. Have you seen it? 6d

BarbaraBB King, LeGuin and Highsmith: Scott is back 💕 6d

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ChaoticMissAdventures Great list!! I have been reading P. Highsmith this year and she is fantastic!! Good luck 🤞 6d

TheBookHippie What a list! 6d

vivastory @BarbaraBB 💙📚 You know me well 6d

vivastory @TheBookHippie I'm 💯 a mood reader, but these are definitely the ones I'll be reading by the end of the year 6d

TheBookHippie @vivastory I‘m both mood and list reader 😂🤦🏻‍♀️🤭😅 5d

RaeLovesToRead I need to watch it still! 5d

vivastory @RaeLovesToRead One of the few King adaptation that I have teared up at.. Mark Hamill is a great villain in it! 5d

Reggie I‘ve checked the Cassidy out like 3 times from Libby and never started it. lol, I need to change that. 5d

vivastory @Reggie Lolol Have you read his novella Rest Stop? If not, it's a gory good (short) read 5d

56 likes12 comments

vivastory

Ogres | Adrian Tchaikovsky

I'm going to quote the description from Penguin site bc it perfectly summarizes this one:
“Ogres are bigger than you. Ogres are stronger than you. Ogres rule the world.
It's always idyllic in the village until the landlord comes to call. Because the landlord is an Ogre. And Ogres rule the world, with their size and strength and appetites. It's always been that way. It's the natural order of the world. And they only eat people sometimes. (CONT)

vivastory “But when the headman's son, Torquell, dares lift his hand against the landlord's son, he sets himself on a path to learn the terrible truth about the Ogres, and about the dark sciences that ensured their rule.“
Ogres is written in the unusual POV of second person & when you realize why it is a jaw-dropping, holy shit moment. This is my second Tchaikovsky (other one was Service Model) & I think that he is great at light handed satire (CONT) 6d

vivastory social commentary, often calling to mind Terry Pratchett. He is def a new favorite author for me, This one was also a short, satisfying, one-sitting read. 6d

Branwen Oooooooh this sounds AMAZING! 1d

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vivastory

Three Fires: A Novel | Denise Mina

Having read a few historical fiction novels this year, my love for the genre has def been reignited (no pun intended). Mina's novella tells of Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola who would go on to challenge the most powerful Italian political families of his time. Published in 2023, Mina does not shy away from drawing parallels between Savonarola & his ambitions & the power of rhetoric & what is happening in politics today. (CONT)

vivastory A lot of historical fiction tends to be bigger books, however I felt that Mina was able to tell the story that she needed to tell in the 144 pages that can easily be read in one sitting, 6d

LeahBergen I‘ve been enjoying historical fiction again lately, too. 6d

TheKidUpstairs Have you read her earlier historical fiction novella? It is fabulous

Rizzio: A Novella

See All 12 Comments

vivastory @TheKidUpstairs I have it checked out from the library, but haven't read it yet. I actually grabbed Three Fires during the same trip when I went to check out Rizzio, I noticed earlier that Rizzio is part of a series of historical fiction novellas by different authors: Darkland Tales. They all sound really interesting! 6d

vivastory @LeahBergen Any favorites? I finished this one a few months ago & LOVED it

The Book of Longings: A Novel

AlaMich Oooh, I‘ve always been sort of low-key interested in Savonarola. 5d

vivastory @AlaMich I would definitely recommend this one. The impression that I have reading it was that he was in the vein of a modern politician using rhetoric to manipulate the emotions of different classes. He made “predictions but they were dumb luck It's a quick, fascinating read. Some of his teachings found their way into Martin Luther's doctrines 5d

AlaMich @vivastory Now I really want to pick it up! 5d

vivastory @AlaMich I don't know if you do audio (I read this one with one my eyes) but I did notice that the dark lands historical fiction series are short on audio 5d

AlaMich @vivastory Thanks for the tip! 5d

TheKidUpstairs Ooh, I didn't know there was a series. I'll have to check them out. I know we've got Queen MacBeth at my library, because I've been eyeing it (anything Shakespeare adjacent automatically piques my interest!) 5d

vivastory @TheKidUpstairs Queen Macbeth is the only other one in the series that my library has. I placed a hold on it immediately. Will probably do mix of ebooks and audio for the rest. 5d

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vivastory

Coffin Moon | Keith Rosson

I'm going to post reviews of 3 books that I have read recently & have stood out the most. First up is Rosson's “Coffin Moon.“ Vietnam vet Duane Minor lives above the bar The Last Call with his wife, Heidi, & their niece Julia whom they have been raising since Julia's mom was sent to prison. The typical clientele of The Last Call are vets & blue collar workers with zero tolerance for drug dealers, (CONT)

vivastory so when a couple of bikers arrive one night they are soon thrown out. Minor's mother-in-law tells him to not only allow them into the bar, but to let them do whatever they want. Shortly afterwards things go sideways & a road revenge story ensues. Rosson has created a good entry in vampire fiction with solid character work, perfect pacing, vampire story easter eggs strewn throughout without weighing down the story or hitting the reader over (cont) 6d

vivastory the head. This one was a pleasant surprise & yet another great selection from Aardvark, 6d

sarahbarnes Good to see you Scott! 😊 6d

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vivastory @sarahbarnes Thanks, Sarah! 😊 6d

KT1432 I cannot wait to read this! 6d

vivastory @KT1432 It's great for spooky season. Or any season, really! 6d

aeeklund I keep seeing this one on “read if you loved the movie Sinners” lists. I‘ll have to check it out! 🧛 6d

vivastory @aeeklund Sinners remains my fave movie of the year! 6d

aeeklund @vivastory Hands down, mine too!! Truly incredible!! 6d

DeeLew I loved this one! 6d

vivastory @DeeLew It was so satisfying!!! 5d

Reggie I want to read this so much. I loved his previous duology a lot. 5d

vivastory @Reggie I haven't read the duology, but definitely plan on it! 5d

Branwen I'm really digging this cover! 1d

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vivastory

The Bibliophile's Devotional: 365 Days of Literary Classics | Hallie Ephron

This meme is my thanks to all of you amazing people 💙🖤💙🖤...my life the past few months has been wildly chaotic, largely due to personal loss. Listy is the best community around & I have missed all of you so much. Please bombard me with the best books you've read 📚📚📚📚 I'm dying to hear about it. I. the immortal words of John Wick...“I'm back...“ 📚📚

Bookwormjillk Welcome back! 6d

KT1432 So sorry for your loss. Glad to see you on here! 💙 6d

CBee SCOTT! I‘m emailing you right now. 6d

See All 68 Comments

vivastory @Bookwormjillk 💙📚 Thanks! 6d

vivastory @CBee Cyd, I you've been in my thoughts a lot my friend 💙 (edited) 6d

vivastory @KT1432 Thank you! 6d

CBee @vivastory I‘m a bad friend, I haven‘t checked on you in so long! I emailed. Let‘s catch up when you feel like it 💚 6d

MaureenMc Hello!👋 6d

Amiable I‘m sorry you‘ve been having a rough time —happy to see you back here. 6d

CatLass007 I‘m sorry for your loss. Litsy is a true community and everyone here is supportive. 6d

TheBookHippie Yay!!!!! Welcome back!!! 💙💙💙 6d

Ruthiella Glad you are back! 😃 6d

kspenmoll So happy to see you back! 💕💕 6d

AmyG I am sorry for your loss. I hope things are better for you now…for lack of a better word. 6d

Reggie I‘m so glad you‘re back, Scott. 6d

Dilara Welcome back! 💐 6d

Leftcoastzen Welcome Back! Sorry for your loss , it‘s always great to see you here and chat about books . I have had challenges that have me reading less this year, but Litsy perks me up! 6d

squirrelbrain Lovely to see you‘re back! 6d

AnnCrystal 💫💫💫 The harshness of loss is horrible. I hope you're doing well. 💫💫💫 Welcome Back to the most magical community on the web 😉📚💫. 6d

AshleyHoss820 One thing I‘ve noticed is that the book community (especially the one I‘ve experienced here) has been an increasingly safe place in a time of madness. It‘s good to see you, Scott! 6d

LeahBergen Oh, Scott. I‘m so sorry for your loss. I‘ve been thinking of you and hoping you were doing well. And I‘m (selfishly) happy to see you back here. Lots of love! 😘 6d

BarbaraBB So good to see you Scott. I am very sorry for your love and personal turbulence, I hope you‘ll find some relief in books and wine and Litsy ❤️ 6d

Librarybelle Welcome back! So sorry for your loss. I‘ve often found Litsy to be a safe space in challenging times…everyone is so supportive. 6d

Liz_M Hello Scott, always a pleasure to see you here! I am sorry for your loss and life turbulence and hope the coming days are better. ❤️ 6d

RaeLovesToRead We missed you! Welcome back 🩷 (I'm working on a video at the moment for my 100th YouTube video that is ONE HUNDRED BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS! So if you fancy a mega bombardment that'll drop at some point hahaha) Hope you are doing well 🫂 6d

RaeLovesToRead Best books of this year... The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson was 🔥🔥🔥 and I've read some great Japanese mysteries too 6d

vivastory @MaureenMc 👋Hi! 6d

vivastory @Amiable Thank you. Very much appreciated! 6d

vivastory @CatLass007 Def the most supportive online community 6d

vivastory @TheBookHippie 💙 💙 Thanks! 6d

vivastory @Ruthiella Thanks. I hope you've been doing well! 6d

vivastory @kspenmoll 💙It'll be nice to talk books with a great group of people again 6d

vivastory @AmyG Thank you. I appreciate it! 6d

vivastory @Reggie Thanks, Reg. It's good to see you still active on here. I have some books & movies to catch up with you about 6d

vivastory @Dilara Thanks! I appreciate it 6d

CatLass007 @AnnCrystal It really IS the most magical community on the web! 6d

vivastory @Leftcoastzen Thanks, Linda. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to hear about yr challenges, 6d

vivastory @squirrelbrain Thanks! 📖 6d

vivastory @AnnCrystal Thanks. It really is a great community 💙 6d

vivastory @AshleyHoss820 Thanks, Ashley. Litsy is def refreshingly free of a lot of the toxic behavior on other social media sites for sure. 6d

vivastory @LeahBergen 💙 Thanks, friend. V much appreciated 6d

vivastory @BarbaraBB Thanks, Barbara. I greatly appreciate it. I'm sure it will def bring some much needed healing 📖 🍷 6d

vivastory @Librarybelle This is very true. I greatly appreciate it! 6d

vivastory @RaeLovesToRead 100 book recommendations? I WILL DEFINITELY be watching that! I 💙 a long book recommendation video & I love Japanese mysteries so I'm curious what some of your recent faves have been 6d

Cuilin Welcome back, sorry for your loss and hope the healing continues ❤️‍🩹 📚 6d

AnnCrystal @CatLass007 😉👍🏼🪄📚💝. 6d

lil1inblue Welcome back! 6d

TrishB Nice to see you back. Sorry to hear about your loss. Hope you‘re doing ok. 6d

vivastory @TrishB Thanks, Trish! 6d

vivastory @lil1inblue Thank you. It's appreciated! 6d

Hooked_on_books Didn‘t Ahnold say it first? No, wait, that was I‘ll be back. Close! Welcome back and my I recommend The True, True Story of Raja the Gullible. It‘s marvelous!

True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

vivastory @Hooked_on_books Thanks, Holly! I appreciate it! That one is on my TBR. I love Alamedinne. An Unnecessary Woman is one of my faves 6d

youneverarrived Good to see you back 🤍 6d

vivastory @youneverarrived Thanks, Katie 💙 Hope you & your kiddos are all doing well 6d

dabbe Good to see you! 🧡💜💛 5d

Bookwomble Glad to see you back on Litsy, Scott 😊 5d

vivastory @dabbe Thanks 😊 5d

vivastory @Bookwomble Thanks. 💙 5d

merelybookish Hey Scott! 👋 So nice to see your likes on my page again! Hope you are doing okay! 4d

vivastory @merelybookish Thanks, Margot! I appreciate it. 4d

Billypar Welcome back, Scott! This year for me has been about discovering some wildly popular books are popular for good reason - classics like, Mrs. Dalloway and The Bluest Eye, and newer hits like The Safekeep and All Fours. A few other gems as well - I loved Chess Story, Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid, a couple poetry volumes by Kiki Petrosino, and I'm almost fished my favorite essay collection in some time, Thin Places by Jordan Kisner. 4d

Centique So glad you‘re back Scott and so sorry to hear that you‘ve been going through a lot. I hope you‘ve got lots of love around you. And of course Litsy is full of friends and books for you! A book thats really stuck with me recently is

Awake in the Floating City: A Novel

Bookzombie Welcome back, Scott! I‘m always happy to see your posts. 🙂 3d

vivastory @Bookzombie 💙📚 2d

Branwen WELCOME BACK SCOTT! 🩷📚🩷📚🩷 I'm so sorry for your loss, my friend! ❤️ We all really missed you! 1d

Suet624 Oh my goodness! I saw you had posted today and was so darn happy. Thanks for coming back to us. We missed you - as you can tell. 7h

vivastory @Suet624 💙 7h

vivastory @Branwen Thanks, I really appreciate it. It's nice catch up on people's posts. I hope you are doing well, friend! 💙 7h

70 likes68 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

FYI: Due to an unexpected death in the family I will be on social media hiatus for the time being.

marleed I‘m so sorry. Hugs to you and yours. 4mo

squirrelbrain I‘m sorry to hear this - thinking of you. 4mo

Eggbeater I am sorry for your pain. My heart goes out to you. 4mo

See All 47 Comments

Librarybelle So sorry to hear. 4mo

IriDas Sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you will find comfort with those around you. 4mo

Bookwormjillk Sorry for your loss 4mo

AmyG I am so very sorry. My condolences. 4mo

Deblovestoread Sending my deepest condolences. Take care! 4mo

kezzlou85 So sorry for your loss. 4mo

DaveGreen7777 I‘m so sorry! Sending healing energy to you and your family! 4mo

xicanti I‘m so sorry. 4mo

TheKidUpstairs So sorry for your loss 💕💕💕 4mo

Lcsmcat I‘m sorry for your loss. 4mo

RaeLovesToRead 🫂🫂🫂 4mo

Liz_M Oh no! I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you are able to take care of yourself (social media history is a good start!) hugs. 4mo

kspenmoll I am so sorry! Please give yourself the time you need. We are here & will be when you return. I am so sorry for your loss. 4mo

Susanita I‘m sorry for your loss. 😢 4mo

Bookwomble I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Scott. Love and hugs to you and your family ❤️🫂❤️ 4mo

CoffeeK8 I‘m so sorry for your loss 4mo

AnnCrystal How terribly sad. Prayers for you and your family. Take care of yourself 😢🙏💝. 4mo

Ruthiella So sorry to hear that. ❤️ Take care. 4mo

Meshell1313 So sorry. Sending healing thoughts and strength. 4mo

Lesliereadsalot So very sorry 🩷 4mo

Jas16 So sorry for your loss 4mo

quietjenn I'm so sorry. Take care. 💙 4mo

Rome753 Sorry for your loss 4mo

BarbaraBB My deepest condolences Scott. Take care 🤍 4mo

TheBookHippie So so sorry … sending love & light. 4mo

CarolynM I‘m sorry for your loss. Take care💙 4mo

JessClark78 Sorry for your loss. 🖤 4mo

LeahBergen Oh, Scott. I‘m so sorry to hear this. 💔 4mo

Dilara My condolences. 4mo

MaureenMc I‘m so sorry 💗💗 4mo

TieDyeDude Best wishes to you and your family 4mo

britt_brooke Hugs to you Scott. 🫶🏼 4mo

Chrissyreadit Im so sorry! 4mo

sarahbarnes Sending my thoughts to you ♥️♥️♥️ 3mo

TheBookHippie Checking in ♥️ 3mo

Suet624 I‘m so sorry, Scott. 3mo

merelybookish Scott-- just seeing this. Hope you are doing okay. Sorry for your loss!!
3mo

Billypar I missed this before, but I'm so sorry to hear this! Hope you've been coping okay this past month 💙 3mo

PaperbackPirate Keeping you in my thoughts. 3mo

Hooked_on_books I‘m so sorry Scott. I hope you‘re doing ok. 2mo

TheBookHippie Just checking in. 4w

Branwen Miss you, dear friend. Hope you're doing okay 💕 3w

Suet624 Thinking of you. 💕 3w

Bookwomble ❤️‍🩹 2w

53 likes47 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

I've fallen behind on posting thoughts/reviews of books read the past few weeks. The ones I have loved the most:
*Toni Morrison: Recitatif
*Alex Gonzalez: rekt
*Rivers Solomon: Model Home
*CJ Tudor,: The Gathering

Reggie Loved the bottom 2. 4mo

54 likes1 comment

vivastory

Penance | Eliza Clark

I started this one yesterday and I almost bailed. But I returned to it today and I'm so glad that I did. Very similar vibes to Danielle's Devil's House. Plan on finishing tomorrow. Such a fascinating, complex, disturbing portrait of a terrible crime.

Ruthiella This one has been in my list since I head booktuber Mercedes at Mercy‘s Bookish Musings praise it. 4mo

LeahBergen I‘ve been wondering about this one! 4mo

Leniverse I feel like I'm the only reader on the planet who didn't really like Boy Parts, and this one actually got mixed reviews so I've stayed away 🤪 4mo

Tamra I bailed on the audio. 😏 4mo

BarbaraBB I didn‘t like this one. It was my first Clarke 4mo

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vivastory

Doctor No | Ian Fleming

An interesting experiment: read the original Fleming, watch the adaptation starring Connery and then read the P Everett update, and post about your experience!!
Calling the bravest Littens for an arbitrary experiment!!

TheBookHippie Oooooo 4mo

vivastory @TheBookHippie I think that you can do it! I'd love to see your feedback 😄

4mo

TieDyeDude That sounds like fun! I've never read any of the Fleming novels. I'd be down. 4mo

See All 11 Comments

TheBookHippie @vivastory I think I have the book here 👀 4mo

Ruthiella I‘ve already done all three, though not back to back. Dr. No is IMO the movie that most closely resembles the books, though I stopped watching the movies in the‘90s. 4mo

Larkken This would be a lot of fun 4mo

CarolynM I agree with @Ruthiella that the film is close to the book. From Russia With Love is pretty close too. I‘m not usually keen on updates, I‘ll be interested to see what you think. 4mo

Fr3NcHtOaSt I gotta do this at some point. I‘m a huge Bond fan 4mo

Branwen Okay, this sounds SUPER fun! 4mo

Reggie Sir, when you watch 28 years later please let me know because I have thoughts. lol 4mo

vivastory @Reggie Going to have to watch it soon! For some reason I haven't felt like going to the movies lately but I have watched a few vod movies lately (Notable: Final Destination Bloodline & Death of a Unicorn) 4mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

I'm a couple days early, but my #tuesdaytunes selection is the last Doomtree album, appropriately titled No Kings. I have been a DT fan since I first moved to the Twin Cities for a few years back in '09 and to this day No Kings remains one of my favorite albums from a hip hop collective.
@tiedyedude

BarbaraBB Have to give them a listen! 4mo

vivastory @BarbaraBB I think that you'll like this album 💙 4mo

TieDyeDude Good stuff! Thanks for sharing. 4mo

vivastory @TieDyeDude They're fantastic 💙 I also love the solo work from Dessa 4mo

55 likes4 comments

vivastory

Model Home: A Novel | Rivers Solomon

My reading concentration took a major hit due to the leveling up of authoritarianism and political violence (Padilla/MN targeted killings/militarization of protests) this week. Great to see the mass No King nationwide protests, but overall this has been a dark dark week for this country. As far as current reads: Jeff Strand's fun macabre middle grade Finder's Keepers, Rivers Solomon's Model House, Lethem's Fortress of Solitude.

vivastory #weekendreads @rachelsbrittain 4mo

Julsmarshall This has been a challenging week for me too. So sad to see how many truly horrible people there are in the world. I just keep trying to remember that we are on the right side of history. 4mo

vivastory @Julsmarshall Agreed. It's about standing for your principles, even if you may be losing in the moment (an important lesson learned from LoTR) 4mo

See All 9 Comments

AnnCrystal ✊🏼🇺🇸✌🏼🇺🇲🙏🏼💫. 4mo

rachelsbrittain Definitely understand the difficulties focusing enough to read. Audiobooks are often a big help for me, but it's hard to focus when things feel so bleak. 4mo

sarahbarnes ♥️♥️♥️ 4mo

Reggie I love Jeff Strand. When I went to Stokercon I always went to his readings and he is a performer. So funny. Also, I just started A Wild Dark Shore today and I‘m already captivated by the first 15 pages. 4mo

vivastory @Reggie His middle grade I read this week was so much fun. I've read his adult comedy horror before and loved it 4mo

Suet624 It‘s such a difficult and depressing time. So many things … I‘m having a tough time with it all. The fact that people are getting kidnapped and sent to El Salvador is just beyond comprehension. 4mo

59 likes9 comments

vivastory

Dispatches from Dystopia: Histories of Places Not Yet Forgotten | Kate Brown

I swear, every day since Drumpf's second inauguration has felt like the shittiest dystopian. Unfortunately, this is not merely fiction. This is very much real and all of the policies/authoritarian aspirations are causing real time pain and suffering.

kspenmoll Totally frightening-daily onslaught. Yes to all you said! 4mo

itsjustme40something It's an almost out of body experience to begin making contingency plans, discussing safety with my kids all while trying to function "normally " 4mo

TheBookHippie @itsjustme40something I so agree. 4mo

See All 8 Comments

TheBookHippie So much long lasting cruelty. It didn‘t have to be this way. 4mo

TieDyeDude 😡 4mo

IriDas Still waiting on the Dem leadership to do more than talk. :/ 4mo

AnnCrystal It was unbelievable! Alex Padilla is the first Latino elected to the United States Senate from California, it must have been all they saw...

This is crazy, not even a Senator has rights to question Little t's policies?

This is horrifying in America!
4mo

AmyG June 14 should be fun. Buckle up. 4mo

55 likes8 comments

vivastory

The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky | Fyodor Dostoevsky

This story collection, pub. by Pushkin, highlights the absurdity & black humor that Dostoevsky excelled at. I am halfway through the book & have loved both stories I've read. A later entry “The Crocodile“ I had previously read as a New Directions double feature along with Gogol's The Nose and found it to be just as memorable.

MrsMalaprop Stacking this as a potential gift for my husband 🤗. 4mo

TheBookHippie I adore it. 4mo

sarahbarnes I love The Nose so much. 4mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

My final selection is a psychedelic sci-fi manga about chemically altered emotions and the fallout from this industry. The artwork in this one is wild & trippy. Definitely one of the more memorable graphic narratives read so far this year.
#bestof2025

54 likes

vivastory

High Lonesome: Stories 1966-2006 | Joyce Carol Oates

Is JC Oates a disaster online? Absolutely. Did she write some of the most unsettling stories of the 20th C? This is also true. The title story is a noir masterpiece.
#bestof2025

Reggie I‘ve only read her Zombie, and it was sooooo dark. Good but real disturbing 4mo

56 likes1 comment

vivastory

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century | Timothy Snyder

I don't believe in “essential reading“ with a few exceptions. This is one. A short, but blistering impactful examination of our times with historical parallels to the current aspiring tyrant.
#bestof20205

TheBookHippie This is essential. 4mo

vivastory @TheBookHippie Unless you're a fascist. Agreed! 💙 4mo

TheBookHippie @vivastory ♥️ 4mo

Christine Yes. 4mo

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vivastory

Diary | Chuck Palahniuk

It has been years, YEARS, since I had read Palahniuk. Beginning of the year: COVID, drumpf inauguration insanity, moving in the middle of winter & somehow the insanity - and satire of Palahniuk clicked again. This was one that I read very shortly after recovering from COVID and I couldn't decide which was more unsettling.
#bestof2025

TheBookHippie I feel we should have a what to read in the midst of this shit show. 4mo

vivastory @TheBookHippie Truth 4mo

Reggie I read like 4 of his and then lost touch. Maybe I should try him again. Invisible Monsters and Haunted are my favorites of his. 4mo

51 likes3 comments

vivastory

Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak | Marvel Various

Just read volume 6 and I'm 100% convinced that in the right hands this could be something very very special, with a GoT fanbase if done well and smart. This is adult Star Wars and it rocks 🤘

Reggie I just wanna say that my dad and I went to see Bring Her Back tonight and that movie was effing amazing. Also, A Dark Song which has no cast or crew related to this movie, I would say is requisite watching before this movie. I think it would add a lot of context. 5mo

vivastory @Reggie I have been SUCH a homebody the past couple weekends that I didn't see anything in theaters, despite the abundance of great movies.... will see if I can watch Bring Her Back this weekend 4mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

Lololol

Hooked_on_books It was only a matter of time, but still worth celebrating! 5mo

AmyG These two fools. God help us all. 5mo

JenniferEgnor I‘m having fun watching this little showdown. We knew this would happen at some point… 5mo

See All 12 Comments

Bookwormjillk We knew it would happen but I‘m surprised it got so ugly so quick 5mo

TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 God help us… 🍿🍿🍿 (edited) 5mo

kspenmoll 😂😂 yay for 🍿 5mo

ncsufoxes And Sabrina Carpenter released a song tonight called Manchild, so apropos. 5mo

BarbaraBB Two spoiled kids ruling the world. 5mo

dabbe #theateroftheabsurd #passthepopcorn 🎭🍿🎭 5mo

LeahBergen 😂😂 5mo

Leftcoastzen 😂🙄 5mo

Branwen 😂🤣😂🤣 4mo

50 likes12 comments

vivastory

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth | Zoe Thorogood

I raved about Thorogood's graphic narrative over the weekend & it has displaced one my selections for #bestof2025 (Barry Windsor-Smith's raw & gritty Wolverine: Weapon X). It's Lonely etc was a ceaselessly surprising, deeply touching portrait of an artist's lifelong mental health struggles & the solace & freedom they were able to find in art. This is one I will be recommending for awhile.

vivastory *The Smith is def worth reading. Summer=great reading weather for superhero graphic novels & this is one of the better ones I've read. 5mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

This isn't in the litsy database for some reason, but I just read the first 100 pages wow what a powerful & disturbing portrait of the ways that loss & grief can change a person.

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vivastory

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth | Zoe Thorogood

I loved this graphic narrative of a young artist as they struggle with their own work & mental health issues. It's Lonely At etc is one of the most creative graphic narratives I have read in awhile, but there is a strong emotional & personal core throughout so it never becomes tedious or overly cerebral. Instead, it is a surprising exploration of mental health & the power of art. Just absolutely remarkable.

RaeLovesToRead I have this on the TBR. I've been avoiding anything too emotional for a while, but I do hope I manage to read it soon because it looks amazing 😊 5mo

Suet624 I‘ll be on the lookout for it. 5mo

52 likes2 comments

vivastory

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die | Peter Boxall

I haven't chimed in on one of these posts in awhile, but as I've read a few of the books selected from the tagged book I felt like doing a post. 3 favorites from this list would be:
*Larsen's Passing
*Schulz's Street of Crocodiles
*Sayers' Murder Must Advertise
*Tolkien's The Hobbit
*Du Maurier's Rebecca
(you really thought I'd stop at 3?! LOLOL)
3 books I want to read from the list:
*Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God
(CONT)

vivastory *McCoy's They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
*Remarque's All Quiet On the Western Front
#TLT @dabbe 5mo

TheBookHippie The three you want to read are excellent! 5mo

dabbe You've given me a few to add to my TBR! Thanks for playing and sharing. 🤩 5mo

40 likes3 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

*Doordash
*Coffee
*Libraries
*BoTM including the latest SA Cosby as a selection
*So many great new movies/books./music to catch up on.
*Loyal co-workers (I had one retire today that I have known for nearly 20 years!)
#5joysfriday @debinhawaii

AnnCrystal 💫💫💫💫💫💫. 5mo

kspenmoll 🩷🩷🩷 5mo

Suet624 💕💕 coffee for sure. And now that I‘m retired I miss working with my coworkers. I can visit them, but it‘s not quite the same. 5mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

Friday night at library
Armful of books from lists
Due dates? Challenge accepted
#haikuaday

vivastory Books checked out:
*C. Ward's Looking Glass Sound
*H. Le Corre' s Dogs and Wolves
*S. Ashworth's The Death and Life of August Sweeney
*A. Gonzalez' >rekt
,*V. Feito Victorian Psycho
*L. Bardugo Hell Bent
*N. Haynes A Thousand Ships
*M James Black Leopard Red Wolf 5mo

Cathythoughts Enjoy ❤️ 5mo

vivastory @Cathythoughts There is something v. soothing about ending the week at my church. I hope you are doing well! 5mo

See All 10 Comments

AnnCrystal 👏🏼🐝👍🏼📚🐝💫. 5mo

kspenmoll 💖 5mo

TheSpineView 💛🐝💛 5mo

BooksandCoffee4Me 😁💛💛💛 5mo

DebinHawaii Perfect way to end a week! 🖤🐝💛 5mo

Reggie I can‘t wait to hear what you think about the Feito. 5mo

Suet624 Ha! Challenge accepted. I get that. I‘m always juggling what I have to read by those dates. 5mo

53 likes10 comments

vivastory

Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 | Annie Proulx

By far one of the most consistently surprising single authors story collections read so far this year. Bad Dirt ranges from a gritty realism to a magical realism that truly works. I loved this linked collection and Proulx has a truly Dickensian knack for character names. I have been meaning to read Proulx for awhile and was not disappointed. Will definitely be reading more.
#bestof2025

Lcsmcat She‘s a favorite of mine. If you want to stay out west try Close Range. But for something completely different, yet lots of fun, try

Accordion Crimes

5mo

Tamra Close Range is fantastic! 5mo

Suet624 Shoot – I‘ve read a few of hers, but that was quite some time ago. You reminded me I should try finding more of her. 5mo

See All 7 Comments

vivastory @Lcsmcat Accordion Crimes is high on my list. Hadn't heard of Close Range, thanks for the recommendation! 5mo

vivastory @Tamra Adding to my TBR 🤘 5mo

vivastory @Suet624 I loved her balance of outrage at environmental destruction with a sense of humor & all of the misfits in her work 5mo

Suet624 Her misfits are definitely top notch. 5mo

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vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

First, let me say that I love all of the answers to my previous post on beach reads. 💙
Favorites of May (w/ the caveat of I was unable to finish Swallow the Ghost by today, but might tomorrow.) The past couple months it's pretty much been impossible for me to accomplish much reading during the week. Anywho, here are my favorites of the month (in no particular order):
*Before Watchmen: Nite Owl/Dr. Manhattan (Specifically for the DM origin story)

vivastory (CONT)
*Gareth Brookes: The Dancing Plague
*Greg Pak's: Star Wars Darth Vader vol 1 & 2
(hon mention: Elmore Leonard's Gunsights & Maggie Su's Blob) 5mo

monalyisha Ooo Swallow the Ghost looks COOL. 5mo

vivastory @monalyisha I very much expect it to be a favorite of the year. Will write a review tomorrow when finished 5mo

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vivastory

Summer Reading | Hilma Wolitzer

Summer reading! Beach reads! WTF does that even mean?! Escapist literature? 19th C Russian door stoppers that have been clogging the TBR for years. Is it the new Emily Henry? Or Count of Monte Cristo? Littens, I need to know! Chime in in the comments with your 10 favorite beach read/TBR beach reads On July 1st I will use the advanced science of the random number generator to select a winner & gift a $30 gift card of yr choice.
#beachreadsfindaway

CSeydel Ooh ooh for me it‘s a combination of murder mysteries (like Agatha Christie and other classic crime) and chunksters that feel like too much commitment to dig into during the “school year” (which still feels like a thing even though my kids are all in college now) 5mo

Prairiegirl_reading I definitely don‘t want to cry on the beach so nothing too emotionally heavy. Also, can‘t be too physically heavy to carry in the beach bag. And, since I live in a colder climate, I don‘t want anything to do with winter or snow. Lessons in Chemistry was a good one for summer. Something good on audio - Talk to Me by Dolen Perkins Valdez was excellent although had difficult subject matter. Currently reading the tagged book,awesome so far!

The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel

5mo

Aims42 For me, it‘s reads that are fun & entertaining and don‘t require much brain power to read because I‘m reading them outside with birds chirping or at a pool with children screaming 😆 5mo

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AmyG One summer, when my kids were 2 (twins) and 4….I found a babysitter for 2 hours in the afternoon for the summer. While not on the beach, I spent every afternoon, locked in my bedroom, reading Ruth Rendell mysteries. Every one I could find (I was on a JAG). So beach reads to me are now mysteries. 5mo

MemoirsForMe For me, it‘s a juicy, scandalous romance novel…a light, entertaining page-turner. Who wants to read anything heavy or deep while on vacation lounging on the beach? One of my early favorites from way back when was Jackie Collins‘

Hollywood Wives

5mo

Tamra 😆 What a fun & funny post! I don‘t have any more of a clue than you do as to what is a summer or beach read. I‘ll tell you what I am going to read though

The Brothers Karamazov: A New Translation by Michael R. Katz

5mo

TEArificbooks For me it is light fluffy read that doesn‘t require too much brain power. Nothing too literary or classics. I am also a literal beach reader as in if the book has a beach/pool/body of water on the cover then I read it in the summer. No matter the genre. I mostly like rom coms and mystery thriller or some summer camp horror for my summer beach reading. 5mo

Deblovestoread For me it's something light and fluffy. Something that I don't need to finish the chapter before putting it down to go play in the waves. 5mo

sarahbarnes Love this question! I don‘t like the beach, but for me summer reads are ones I can get completely immersed in - like an Atwood, a Murakami, an Atkinson. A page turner. 5mo

Jas16 For me a beach read is something light that I can read and enjoy despite the distractions of being surrounded by other beach goers. It would also usually be a cheap mass market that I don‘t care about being damaged by water or sand. 5mo

BarbaraBB For me it‘s books I‘m pretty sure of that I will like them because I am usually in a more sunnier country when I‘m on the beach (and I can‘t bring too many). So mostly a book I‘ve been looking forward to, that‘s supposed to be a pageturner and in paperback format(because of the sand) 🏖️ 5mo

Ruthiella I had to make my own post because I had a good idea for a meme. 😂 I hope you don‘t mind! I am OK with heavier, serious books to read on the beach. I took Wolf Hall to the beach and to read in the car on the way there. 🏖️ But a good murder mystery can also be great. The main thing is that I have ENOUGH to read and having an e-reader is great for that. 👍 5mo

CSeydel @AmyG oh I love that! 5mo

willaful My favorite summer reads tend to be longer books I can really get lost in. Examples from the past are Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (used to reread it every summer) and Watership Down by Richard Adams, which might be one to reread! One I'm planning for this summer is Table for Two by Amor Towles. It's a great time for a new book by a favorite author. I also want to read the new Anne Tyler and John Scalzi books. 5mo

Bookwormjillk It‘s hard to define but I know it when I see it. For me it‘s usually a combination of a new bestseller (I do read the new Emily Henry every year), a good thriller during a thunderstorm, a chunkster like Stephen King or Lonesome Dove, or a book set in a hot climate. I also tear through mysteries and audiobooks while traveling. I tend to not read a lot of nonfiction in summer aside from travel memoirs which I love. 5mo

Bookwormjillk @AmyG love your story! 5mo

Amiable For me, a beach read is whatever book that I happen to be reading the day that I‘m going to the beach. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Except for library books. I don‘t take library books to the beach. I don‘t want to incur the wrath of the librarians by returning a sandy, salty book. 😳😬😀 This is the book that I‘m currently reading so it will likely be carted to the beach at some point:

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

(edited) 5mo

Liz_M I like episodic books or short stories. My favorite past beach reads are The Arabian Nights, Dangerous Liaisons (epistolary novel), Tenth of December, 5mo

TheKidUpstairs Sometimes it's chunksters, sometimes quick and cheerful, the most important thing is story. I need something totally engaging and transporting on the beach. And, like @Amiable said, NO LIBRARY BOOKS. Favourites that I read on summer/beach trips: Fayne, Poisonwood Bible, The Night Circus, The DaVinci Code. 5mo

AmyG @Bookwormjillk Yes….Stephen King on a rainy, thundery summer day…perfection. 5mo

TiredLibrarian I don't find that length matters to me; it has to be a really engaging and compelling plot. For me that's often mysteries. Summer's often when I catch up with my favorite mystery authors like John Sandford, Lee Child, or John Connolly. Or I might check out whatever the "buzzy" books of the moment are. 5mo

Amiable @TheKidUpstairs Oh, I have “Fayne” in my TBR pile —did you like it ? 5mo

TheKidUpstairs @Amiable Loved it. One of my favourites from the last couple of years (but definitely a chunkster!) 5mo

Meshell1313 Ooh interesting! For me it definitely has to be a physical book- no can do a kindle on the beach. I always think Hemingway was made to read on the beach. Nothing like a solid classic! 🌊👙☀️⛱️🐚 5mo

lynneamch I like reading about places when I am physically in that place. So, for me, a beach read has to be at least partially set in or near a beach. Love anything by this author, but especially

Beach Music: A Novel

5mo

TheBookHippie I read a lot of classic literature 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️ shocker I know. I generally read a ton of gardening books and nature books too. 5mo

monalyisha I‘m with @Prairiegirl_reading! If I can avoid it, I‘d rather not cry on the beach. It has very little to do with public embarrassment and everything to do with avoiding getting sunblock in my eyes! 😉 In general, I do tend to gravitate towards easier reads on the beach. I like something I can easily put down, in case I want to swim; look for shells, sea glass, or cool rocks; or just close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of *total* repose. 5mo

monalyisha As requested, 10 favorite beach reads are coming right up! 5mo

monalyisha 1. Cinnamon & Gunpowder by Eli Brown
2. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
3. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
4. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
5. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 5mo

monalyisha 6. World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
7. How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
8. Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas
9. Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
10. Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui 5mo

monalyisha Perfect image to accompany this post, btw. 😎📖🦖 5mo

Reggie 1. Black Tide-KC Jones 2. The Great and Secret Show-Clive Barker 3. Everville Clive Barker 4. The Off Season- Jack Ketchum 5. Blue World-Robert McCammon 6. Tom Lake-Ann Patchett 7. Camp Ghoul Mountain Part VI- Jonathan Raab 8. Tim and Pete James Robert Baker 9. Black Wave by Michelle Tea 10. Our Share of Night-Marianna Enriquez 5mo

59 likes32 comments

vivastory

Summer Haikus | S. J. Pajonas

Three day weekend, huzza!
What, four days for end of month
Math always weakest subject
#haikuaday

AnnCrystal 🐝👌🏼 absolutely true, I'm very bad/good at waiting till the last minute 😂🐝💫. 5mo

lil1inblue My procrastination is an art form. Great haiku! 😍 5mo

57 likes2 comments

vivastory

Haiku | Peter Washington

Phone scrolling at urinal
Spotting hipsters in the wild
Nerds or ephemeral
#haikuaday

vivastory *Inspired by spotting a level 7 hipster at a urinal, one hand on his hip and the other effortlessly scrolling through his phone. What struck me was when I left the bathroom the entire place had been invaded by hipsters. (edited) 5mo

AmyG Hahahaha. 5mo

LeahBergen 😂😂 5mo

AnnCrystal 👏🏼🐝😂💫. 5mo

38 likes4 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

This is atrocious.

TheBookHippie Omg 5mo

PuddleJumper That sounds terrible! 5mo

BarbaraBB What a terrible idea 5mo

See All 10 Comments

Jari-chan Oh no! 😣 5mo

Liz_M While it's not great for the many talented voice-actors, I have an elderly, legally blind acquaintance that can only read through audio books and is frequently frustrated by learning about interesting books, new releases and older works, for which no audio recordings exist. She is very much looking forward to the expanded choices this technology can provide. 5mo

Suet624 @Liz_M that‘s a good point. Still, knowing the greed of capitalism I bet they will only use it on newer books in order to not pay real people. We shall see. 5mo

vivastory @Suet624 I tend to agree with you. I don't think that they are going to be investing this tech in books that otherwise would not receive an audio narrator unfortunately. 5mo

CSeydel @Liz_M I thought there was already text-to-speech functionality for kindle books (which I assume is AI powered) 5mo

ImperfectCJ Maybe not enough human narrators are willing to accept the very low rates on ACX anymore. 5mo

Bookwomble We are heading towards the implosion of capitalism as increasingly less of the population is able to earn a living. I hope the transition to a human-centred rather than a profit-centred economy will be smooth, but I expect it will be rather messy. 5mo

49 likes10 comments

vivastory

City Of Illusions | Ursula K. LeGuin

Book 3 of Le Guin's Hainish Cycle is one of her more under the radar works, but strangely seems to be a significant influence on major fantasy works of today (Song of Ice & Fire). I would be willing to eat my shoes if George RR Martin Had not read this one prior to writing his renown series; however distinct he made his own world he def paid homage to the singularity & brilliance of Le Guin's Hainish Cycle.
#Bestof2025

52 likes

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

NGL, ever since I saw the following Onion video I immediately knew that my #tuesdaytunes selection would be the excellent A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash
https://open.spotify.com/track/5xMNjx7uqCzMpJZSo4Wq55?si=3d4950ea7bb04f79
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXjvr9CPQjs
@tiedyedude

vivastory ...also, wouldn't be surprised if this became actual legislation in our current dystopia 5mo

LeahBergen I do love me some Johnny Cash! 5mo

vivastory @LeahBergen One of the best (IMHO) 5mo

TieDyeDude Song penned by Shel Silverstein! The Onion does occasionally knock it out of the park, like they did with this. I didn't realize they made such high quality videos now. 5mo

44 likes4 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

I'm just saying, what if there was also a memorial Tuesday,?

Ddzmini Hu where to start… 5mo

39 likes1 comment

vivastory

Blob: A Love Story | Maggie Su

Read this one in one sitting this morning, so clearly enjoyed it. Reading the description I thought it would be more of a dark comedy along the lines of Awad, but instead Su definitely treads her own ground. Su“s message at the end is: humans know as little as about the meaning of life as a sentient blob taking on the appearance of a conglomeration of the early 90s heart throbs, and this is reassuring in a way.

BarbaraBB Great review. I have been intrigued by this book and now even more 5mo

Cathythoughts Great review! Stacked. 5mo

sarahbarnes I‘ve been curious about this one too! 5mo

Reggie I have this. You make me want to find it. 5mo

54 likes3 stack adds4 comments

vivastory

Swallow the Ghost: A Novel | Eugenie Montague

Halfway through the tagged book: hard to describe. Will definitely be writing a full review when finished, hopefully tomorrow. So far, absolutely brilliant.

Cathythoughts Intriguing.. look forward to your review. 5mo

sarahbarnes This sounds very interesting 5mo

41 likes2 comments

vivastory

The Book of Illusions: A Novel | Paul Auster

It is very rare that I cry while reading, however I do distinctly recall crying while reading the tagged book last November. More recently, I do believe I teared up while reading Liz Moore's Long Bright River.
@bookmarktavern
#sundayfunday

Billypar This was my favorite Paul Auster novel, and I'm a fan of so many of his. But I read it in my 20s, and I don't think I had enough life experience to cry at books at that point. 5mo

BookmarkTavern Sounds like a powerful read! Thanks for posting! 5mo

Branwen Mine was definitely My Friends by Fredrik Backman! 5mo

See All 7 Comments

vivastory @Billypar This is absolutely my favorite Auster 5mo

vivastory @Branwen I keep meaning to read Backman 5mo

Branwen @vivastory He's pretty great! I haven't read all of his work yet, but I really like My Friends and Anxious People! 5mo

vivastory @Branwen What's your favorite? 5mo

48 likes7 comments

vivastory

Erasure: A Novel | Percival Everett

Uhhh..
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405022/fake-summer-reading-list-ai

Leftcoastzen Can things get any worse ?🙄😡 5mo

vivastory @Leftcoastzen Probably! ☠ ☠ 😱 5mo

Leftcoastzen It will , reading this

Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America

5mo

See All 13 Comments

IriDas 🤦 5mo

TheBookHippie Right?!?!?! 5mo

Bookwomble 😮‍💨 5mo

Lcsmcat 🤦🏻‍♀️ I want one of my Council members who is always asking if we can solve a current problem with AI to read this! 5mo

AmyG Put the person in charge of summer books…a person who knows nothing about books. 😳 5mo

Branwen 😒😒😒 I can't even with this crap! 5mo

vivastory @AmyG Literally 5 minutes on Google could have saved so much embarrassment... just absolutely ridiculous 5mo

vivastory @Branwen I recently heard that Chatgpt is the most downloaded app (we're doomed) 5mo

Centique Ive just taken a job proofreading (like 4 days a month) for a local magazine, and I was thinking this kind of work is nearly extinct! But its been amazing seeing the mistakes Ive picked up, and also AI generated text is beginning to stand out for me. Stories like this one just emphasize the need for some humans in the process 🤯 5mo

Branwen @vivastory Goddamn that is depressing! 😒 5mo

49 likes13 comments

vivastory

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes | Clay McLeod Chapman

My sixth selection for #2025bestreads is the most unhinged horror book that I have read so far this year. This book has a very important message one that seems that to have been missed as it is currently sitting at 3.38 on Good Reads. This is is Chapman's boldest book to date. Old school Stephen King for our current dysfunctional era.

TrishB Added to my list! 5mo

Reggie I got to page like 70 something but was like okay I don‘t think we need a 10 page fight between him and his mom. lol it just got on my nerves. I will try again. 5mo

51 likes3 stack adds2 comments

vivastory

Long Bright River | Liz Moore

I was deeply moved by this novel about family, addiction & grief. Set in Philadelphia, Mickey is raising her young nephew due to her sister Kacey's addiction issues. When Mickey learns that someone is targeting sex workers, she fears the worst. Police bureaucracy with a solid mystery: LBR is the literary equivalent of The Wire meets Agatha Christie. Immensely satisfying with great character work..
#bestreads2025

TrishB I enjoyed this one 👍🏻 5mo

Lesliereadsalot Really liked this one. The tv series…meh. 5mo

AmyG I also really liked this one, too. 5mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB A good read indeed. 5mo

squirrelbrain Yes, I heard the TV series was just OK. @Lesliereadsalot 🤷‍♀️ 5mo

Branwen I loved this one too 5mo

72 likes1 stack add6 comments

vivastory

Untitled | Unknown

*Having at least a couple reliable coworkers
*Start of 3 day weekend
*Libraries
*I didn't have produce (nor accused of being a heretic) thrown at me during the class I taught today
*Music, movies, book lovers
#5joysfriday

AnnCrystal 💫💫💫💫💫. 5mo

Bookwomble *4 sounds like it has backstory! 5mo

kspenmoll What @Bookwomble said!! 5mo

See All 6 Comments

vivastory @Bookwomble @kspenmoll Yesterday was the first 2 hr class that I will be teaching once per month at my job. I have taught classes before but was a bit rusty so was a little nervous. Overall it seemed to go pretty well 5mo

Reggie Ooof tell me about #1. I can‘t believe how much it matters at my job but it does. Today one of my favorites was out and it was rough. 5mo

vivastory @Reggie I used to have an A Team 😭 5mo

58 likes6 comments

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Joined November 2016