Welcome to Litsy!

Finally getting to this book of short stories after buying it for #ReadingOceania last year. Only the first story took place in Tonga, but I enjoyed all of them. They were about different things but I liked how they embraced nature and took place in unique locations.

April wasn‘t a great month for 5-star books but I do remember really liking the tagged book and I did give it 5 stars. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

#wondrouswednesday

1) sadly, allergies, but also here in Texas, bluebonnets ❤️❤️❤️
2) tagged
3) my son‘s high school graduation

I‘ve really slowed down reading for the month of April with only 8 books finished. Six were for #foodandlit #Venezuela, 1 for #authoramonth (I wasn‘t inclined to read more by this author), and 1 for #readingOceania #Tonga (and completing that challenge for the year). I‘ve tagged my favorite book this month, oddly a book of short stories that I normally don‘t care for, but these were exceptional.

Superb short stories, the first being the title of this book. The giant tortoise named Tu'i Malila was captured by Captain Cook stuck in the ship‘s hold without food and water for a year, to be fresh meat if the crew needed. When he got to #Tonga he gifted her to the queen. The tortoise lives like royalty but never forgets the pain of that year. 😭 Each story is unique and I felt the author did an amazing amount of research. One is hilarious: ⬇️

I adored this book of short stories (review to come). But this book marks my completion of the #readingOceania challenge!! I do plan to keep reading for the challenge because I found so many good books I want to read. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

I‘m just going to say this may be one of the best short stories I‘ve ever read—Darwin in Heaven

#Tonga #readingOceania @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

This book of short stories (not all of them are about #Tonga) are particularly well written. But this opening sentence is definitely one of the best I‘ve ever read.

#readingOceania @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

If you need a book for #Tonga for #readingOceania, the ebook is only 75 cents! @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

My next ebook for #Tonga, my last country to complete the #readingOceania challenge @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB although I do plan to continue reading books for the challenge