Welcome to Litsy!

1. I think all kids should definitely take "Life Math" where you learn how much it takes to pay the deposit and rent on an apartment, how down payments and credit scores and interest rates work. It should be totally separate from pure math and all about navigating practical realities.

2. Kathy in House of Sand and Fog. Why, oh why, did she keep ignoring the tax bills? Such a devastating book.

#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView

#NewYearNewBooks #FogCover

So my pup's face kind of represents how I'm feeling right now. This novel was an experience! If you are not a fan of any of the following, skip this one: unsympathetic characters; complex nature with no clear protagonist/antagonist; emotional & unsettled ending; slow burn towards end result. It is a pick for me, but I can see how many people would absolutely hate it. Virtually all content warnings I can think of apply.

Chipping away at this one. I was too caught up in my university craziness to read this when it first came out, but it's been on my TBR for the last decade or so and finally got around to it. Just a constant shifting of opinion as to who I think is more sympathetic, or more accurately, less abrasive and making the least terrible decisions. I like it, but definitely not sure yet where I will fall on opinions of characters.

30 Book Recommendations in 30 Days — Day 23 “House of Sand and Fog,” by Andre Dubus III.

Did a buddy read with a friend back when Oprah announced this as her book club pick. Our opposing views led to one of *the* most spirited discussions about a book I ever had.

#MayMontage #DiscussionBook

I‘m sure I either read this before, or watched the movie. You know it‘s a good one when you don‘t mind hearing the story again. Such a sad story, in which there are two sides. I honestly don‘t know who I felt worse for. I can see how the events that folded out could easily take place any where. I‘d you haven‘t picked up this book yet, so yourself a favor and go for it. I‘m glad I did….again.

This book just made me mad.... Lester and Kathy, really? The way the Behranis were treated. I had high hopes for this one and it didn't pan out. Boo.

I haven‘t stopped thinking about this since I finished. Compelling prose and impressive distinction in the voices of the multiple narrators. I had empathy and distaste for the characters and their choices in equal measure. The build up in tension as the conclusion unfolded was like watching a car crash that you can‘t look away from. Full credit for the emotional experience, but I‘m happy to leave these reckless and damaged characters behind. 4⭐️

Finished my #LMPBC book today, so it will go out in the mail tomorrow! Review forthcoming. 😀

Started reading House of Sand and Fog but I‘m not feeling it right now. Any suggestions on what I can start next? #newsuggestions

#ForeverNovember @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
#Fog

Day 15 - #Fog #ForeverNovember
#TheHouseOfSandAndFog #AndreDubusIII

Great movie too! Read this in 2010.

#3Books
#Idnfed

Circling the Sun ☀️ too many characters!!!
House of Sand and Fog - I really can‘t remember... it‘s been so many years!

Hunger- #Unpopularopinion Even when bad things happen to you, you can choose to move past it OR you can choose to blame your parents and everyone else and write about it in a book. I couldn‘t finish it, just seemed like pages and pages of self pity... I speak as a survivor of sexual abuse who moved past it.

A bureaucratic error sets in motion a cascade of events fueled by the hangups and weaknesses of the main characters. I liked the way the twists play out, how each feels surprising but also inevitable. The main female character is overly aware of her breasts, one of my pet peeves about men writing from a woman's perspective, but aside from that, I enjoyed this one.

Another for #bookspinbingo ! @TheAromaofBooks

#LitsyAtoZ #H✔️

Major book haul on Friday; 6$ for a library branded reusable grocery bag and all the books you can fit in it! House of Sand and Fog up next with Cindie once Oscar Wao is done. My TBR list just got VERY long!

I can see what this book is polarizing for many. For one, it‘s a slow burn and mostly character driven, which can make for a slow read. And secondly, none of the characters are particularly likable. That said - I found their flaws refreshing. This is not your typical “good guy” vs. “bad guy” story. Instead, I found myself alternating who I was “rooting” for and it ended up in a completely different place than I expected.

“...the pale blue glow of at least one television in every home. And I am told that many family meals are eaten in front of that screen as well. And perhaps this explains the face of Americans, the eyes that never appear satisfied, at peace with their work, or the day God has given them; these people have the eyes of very small children who are forever looking for their next source of distraction, entertainment, or a sweet taste in the mouth.”

My friend and I saw #Oprah speak live in November. During her talk she couldn‘t recommend this book more highly; to the point where she demanded we buy two copies - one for ourselves and one for a friend because we will need someone to talk to when we finish. I‘m seeing my friend tomorrow and surprising her with a copy.

Because when Oprah demands, Oprah gets.

#IllMakeYouSorry #NoFemmeber A film favorite of mine, book is still TBR. The song title has a great double-meaning that could be a threat or a depressed person's admission to a partner: it reminds me of something Kathy's character might say in either context. Screaming Females frontwoman Marissa Paternoster's lyrics & visual art (pictured here) evoke depression, contrasting SF's high energy. MP's guitar skills and punk vocals are unmatched 🎸🔊

Since I used the Auden yesterday, I‘ll go with this for #fog. #litsyclassics @Sarah83

#Houses in classic literature. Some I‘ve read, and some are still TBR, but all are in my library. #newhogwartsadventure @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

You ever finish a book and just kind of lay there contemplating life? This book had me feeling that. Reflecting on my own stubbornness and situations.

I can sum this read up in one word - TRAGIC. No ups and downs in this book, it just goes from bad to worse. And, when you think it cannot get any worse, oh it does.

Whenever I see the #films before reading the books, I am almost never motivated to read the book- this is the case with HOSAF, which is an excellent film. Luckily I read Life of Pi and Girl w. Dragon Tattoo before seeing the films. We all know which is typically better, but @BarbaraBB may have posted an exception to the rule (no disrespect to Mario Puzo intended). #nuyear @TrishB @Cinfhen

This book...just wow. Especially the ending, it will eat you alive with no mercy. Five heart breaking stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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If you are looking for a dark book, this is for you!
You will find yourself trading ideas with how you want the book to end, but you will never see the true ending coming until you finish.
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I will say if I didn't have an Iranian boyfriend myself I might have had a harder time getting past some of the Persian vocabulary.

"These people do not deserve what they have"
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I'm beginning to hate the male lead of this book! I really don't want to, but he is so rude! I understand Americans can be horrible but honestly he should be thankful to be in the states. Such a grumpy old man, honestly. I hope the main women gets her house back! ??

Great read. Love how Dubus plays with the language, so subtly that it took me a while to notice. Excellent story.

#homebythesea - not a cheery beach read, but a powerful book. #maybookflowers
@Cinfhen

This is the book that immediately came to mind for #immigrantsong
I also wanted to throw this book against the wall when I finished! (but would recommend reading it) #rockinmay @Cinfhen

#bookhaul. Found a flea market in Oslo today and found some goodies to bring home 😍 I bought Let it Rain Coffee solely because of the title.

Hi, my name is Amy, and I cannot be stopped when it comes to library book sales.
(All this for $35!!!)

I absolutely loved this book. Many people online disliked it because the characters are flawed and the book is so tragic, but to me that's the entire point. Everyone in life is flawed and the tragedy comes from their inability to empathize, which so often we see today in the world. This leads to senseless, avoidable tragedies, just like in the book. Also, I felt that this book could be read as an allegory for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Ugh this book was so frustrating. Kathy and Lester are two of the worst characters I've ever read about. And everything was just so needlessly tragic. All over a stupid house. Ugh ugh ugh.

#ImmigrantStories #Booktober @RealLifeReading

Was really pleased to run into these two books at the used bookstore the other day. At only $6 a piece I thought they were a still.