Welcome to Litsy!

@TheAromaofBooks, here's my #bookspin and #doublespin - it's worked quite nicely with one fiction and one nonfiction.

I was expecting this novel would be like BlueBird, Bluebird duology but it was my fault as a reader nothing related with the author☺️The novel is set in a plantation that has been owned by different generations of white people. Now is operating as a tourist attraction and some employees are descendants from families that were slaves. But part of those lands should be inherited by those descendants⬇️

Five star writing, five star characterisation, four star plot. This book is crime genre, but the writing is so good that I feel a lot of lit fic fans would also enjoy. I had to read it in chunks because I felt like I was skin grafted to the character and my fear for her would overwhelm me. But at the same time I had to keep going back to it. A slow burn so maybe not for people who like a lot of pace. Everyone else needs to try this book.

This one will be in the mail tomorrow @Kappadeemom
@suvata @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I‘ve had a pretty hectic and bad last few months. There was a lot of maintenance on my complex and then I had a break up with my boyfriend of over five years and that‘s been a struggle. Bit of a repeat from my last post but just wanted to let you guys know too and that it‘s on it‘s way tomorrow. I‘m really sorry this happened. I‘m not normally like this.

#LMPBC #LMPBRound15GroupP

@Kappadeemom @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks

@suvata has mailed a book to @allureofbeauty

• Read in December 5-7, 2017

• Re-Read in August 2022 for Litsy Markup Postal Book Club #LMPBC Round 15 - Group P
#LMPBRound15GroupP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#StoryGraph: fiction historical mystery thriller emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
376 pages | first published 2012

Caren Gray manages Belle Vie, a sprawling antebellum plantation that sits between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where the past and the present coexist uneasily.

A mystery with heft, the antebellum plantation setting invoked feelings of both wonder and discomfort as the line between preserving history and the whitewashing of that history blurred. As the novel unfolded, the plantation itself became a character rich with complexity and long held secrets. Locke cleverly creates an opportunity here to explore our dark roots and brings together the past and present in an uncomfortable, but necessary, way.4⭐️

#LMPBC -ing is just better with a beer. 🍺 🌞 📚 #mcmenamins #summer #beers #books #battlestargalactica

My reading goals for #jubilantjuly! This is a mix of #LMPBC #bookspin and #booked2022 selections, so I am excited to knock some off my TBR. Happy Reading!

#LMPBC Round 15 - #GroupP
@suvata @AllureOfBeauty @Kappadeemom
@BeckyWithTheGoodBooks

Graphic Updated

I finished a book! I‘ve been in a bit of a reading slump. This book took at least a month to read, picking up, putting it down etc…no fault of its own. Great mystery that takes place on a Louisiana plantation, written by one of the producers and writers of the show, Empire. Great read! #mystery

So good!!!

Another amazing presentation by Attica Locke. Gorgeous description, characters that represent time and place without succumbing to stereotype, and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. Drama, mystery, intrigue and crime novel. 4/5 ⭐️

Book haul for my birthday weekend...

#wordsofoctober #season

I read Bluebird Bluebird earlier this year and I loved it. Can‘t wait to read this one.

Being on vacation is really cutting into my reading time. Apparently I‘ve only finished 1 book this week 🤷🏻‍♀️

#BookReport- have 3 books in progress. Started Smiled Beads on audio. Only about 2 hours in.
Am about 180 pages into The City We Became, it‘s due back at the library TUESDAY! So I‘ve got to get my butt in gear. And started Home Before Dark at the river yesterday.

#WeeklyForecast - Start Wild Seed for #BookSpin and one #LMPBC book

This book was so good. I‘m so glad I finally read Attica Locke. I can‘t wait to read Black Water Rising for #LMPBC. This mystery was so layered and I just enjoyed reading it and discovering everything going on.

#15Book15Weeks

We were supposed to get severe thunderstorms starting at like 2pm and it keeps getting pushed back. So I‘m sitting outside reading until the rain comes.

I‘ve had this book since like 2017. I tried to read once when I first got it and couldn‘t get into it, but kept it to try again later. And here it is later and I‘m already 80 pages into it.

(This happens to me a lot, which is why I own 448 books and have only read 230 of them! 😬)

Hey #GroupJ - Here are my choices for mysteries. Let me know if any of these sound good. I have others, but they are all much darker.

I‘ll tag the other books in the comments section. 2 are historical mysteries.

#LMPBC

I love all of Attica Locke‘s mystery/thrillers. These addictive page turners are compelling, thoughtful, and beautifully written. Highly recommend them all! #BlackVoices @ShyBookOwl @Ireadkidlit @Soubhiville

My favorite Locke book that I've read! This whodunit thriller is set in Louisiana and the author does an amazing job with the setting. 💚

As with most of Locke's writing, she delves into racial injustices still present in our society, while also creating an exciting mystery that keeps you reading.

If you enjoy mysteries and like books set in the South, you should give this one a read. 😁

I loved the setting and atmosphere Locke invented here, plus that there were twin mysteries, one of which is historical. It also begs uncomfortable philosophical questions about preservation and rightful ownership of the artifacts of a brutal immoral past.

The pacing seemed off, it did drag in places for me. The “whodunit” element of the contemporary mystery was not very creative either, rather transparent.

I thoroughly enjoyed this eerie whodunnit set on an old plantation, with all of the history that entails. I've only read a handful of Attica Locke's work but I'm definitely going to make a point to check out more 👏🏽

A beautiful historic plantation and a crime scene make for good mystery! Uncovering the killer while also uncovering layers of racism and social justice will keep you enthralled with the characters and story. I liked it!

Thanks Cathi & Anna for the encouragement to pick this up! This mystery explores America‘s ugly history, racism and corporate greed. Caren Grey returns to the plantation where she grew up, now run as a tourist attraction. A direct descendant of the slaves who worked its cane fields her feelings of “home” are complicated. When a migrant worker is found murdered on the property, she becomes reluctantly involved in the resolution of the crime.

Six reasons I should be allowed in McKay's Books! First time visiting the #Knoxville location and I got a wonderful haul! 😍📚#BookHaul #Mckay #TBRexplosion

I don‘t know where I‘ve been or why it‘s taken me this long to pick up Attica Locke! Her writing is awesome. I usually have a hard time with mysteries that are a a slow burn, but this one kept my attention. She wrote authentic characters and I couldn‘t put it down. The twist wasn‘t earth shattering but it was a good ending. I recommend if you‘re still shopping for your #BlitsyHistoryMonth match #BHMSwap #BHM

This is a very slow burn mystery, with so much backstory and character history and racial history and politics and economics packed into it. While Locke ties up the central plot and the murderer is caught, many more questions are less-satisfactorily solved. Particularly that of the Louisiana plantation itself and it‘s role in the 21st century as an event hall that offers a highly dramatized play about the history of the area to the tourists.

⭐️⭐️⭐️: This was good but not great. For some reason I never connected to the characters and it dragged a bit for me. #UnpopularOpinion

When a dead body is discovered on a historic plantation in Louisiana, Caren, the property manager ends up thrust into a web of unraveling mysteries. Caren and her daughter are both in danger as the shocking murder unearths connections to her family‘s past. This is a great character-centered mystery that also touches on post Civil War, reconstruction era history and modern day racism. Great audio.

“Anywhere there is work to be done, someone somewhere will be standing with a boot to the neck of the one who must get down in the dirt and do it. Cane, cotton, rice . . . it is all of it the same.”
Loving my first Attica Locke.

Starting my first Attica Locke.

1. The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
2. Meg Cabot ( Size 12 isn‘t Fat)
3. Catch and Release
4. Creme brûlée
5. #manicmonday

Historical murder mystery set on an old sugar cane plantation in Louisiana. Good story but main character was frustrating in some of the actions she took, in my opinion. I felt the ending fell flat a little as well.

I am unfamiliar with the work of Attica Locke but am eager to read this based upon many positive recommendations.

Fantastic! Attica Locke is so good! Suspenseful, thoughtful, with historical heft that makes it really memorable. I want to go back and read it again! I can see why this seems to be everyone‘s favorite of hers, it might be mine as well. Seriously, just read this book!

The only one if hets I haven‘t read yet! So excited to jump in! #MountTBR #mystery #currentread

This book made me want to write a long article about public history and memory. I mean, it was also a great murder mystery and a gripping drama. But the whole public history angle made me even more fascinated with the story! #ReadingWomenChallenge #booksetintheSouth

Well paced and plotted mystery, with over and undertones of racial tension, the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, who is really family and the hold the past has on us. Excellent narration by Quincy Bernstein. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#audiobook #audiobooklove #mystery

Ok- so 1st read of #Femmeuary and a solid book. I liked Bluebird,Bluebird better but I was leaning toward this one until the last 40 pages then she lost me. I cannot discern the motivation for the ultimate solution or in fact the motivation of the main character to take the actions she does. However- Locke can write and is a joy to read! Wine will be consumed and I will start #Femmeuary book 2 (next post!)3.5⭐️

It is sleeting here but I am cozy drinking green tea from my new mug courtesy of @Scurvygirl ❤️ Tomorrow I am making RI coffee to go! Thanks again!

New audiobook for my commute! 🎉🎉🎉

Husband and Whiskey lounging watching Ted (wow, that teddy bear movie is an acquired taste). I have decided to put on the headphones and read Attica Locke which I snagged at the library today- after reading Bluebird,Bluebird for 24in48 I had to go straight to reading this!👍

Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise... Opening the first page of book 5 for the @24in48 readathon and I see a quote from another favorite author. It's like a secret shorthand that lets me know that I am in good hands. I'm entirely in your thrawl, Attica. Carry on!

Finished my first #Litsypartyofone read. Wow, Attica Locke can write a scene! You can imagine the beauty of the antebellum plantation, you can feel the increasing tension , a truly enjoyable experience. Quite proud I guessed who dunnit. A page turner with a social conscience, I highly recommend this mystery.

Had a dessert first supper to celebrate #Litsypartyofone so final course is orzo Greek salad

Continuing with #Litsypartyofone with a slice of lemon cake 🍰

#Litsypartyofone. Decided to start this thriller and it is definitely living up to the hype! Caren a single mother, is managing a restored plantation site when a dead woman is found near the fence line. Is the murderer one of the employees? Does her young daughter know something? I can‘t wait to find out !