Welcome to Litsy!

Fred is keeping a close eye on the chatty birds that take over the backyard at this time of year.

Happy Independent Bookstore Day. Visited a new-to-me bookstore. Leopoldo‘s Books Bar Caffe in Madison, Wisconsin.

Damn.

I finished 200 of 327 pages before the library started getting testy about me keeping it out so long. Not wanting to be on the bad side of librarians, I'm taking it back but plan to purchase a copy each for myself and my dad. I knew I tended towards existentialist thinking, but I didn't realize how closely that thinking aligned until I read Bakewell's interpretations of some of the big existentialists. June #doublespin. @TheAromaofBooks

Friday's calendar is open, but my to-do list is full.

Front cover is towards the bottom of the photo. It's 5:30pm. I suspect I won't be finishing this one before June 1. It's interesting but dense.

A little morning reading time.

💚📚❤️📚💙📚💜📚💛📚🧡📚💚📚❤️📚💙

I think this book is a possible life-changer for me. I found everything about it fascinating and it introduces you to some key existentialist figures in such a lively and accessible way. Would 1000% recommend. I'm now keen to read more about existentialist ideas and the people behind them!

Next up though is Akala's 'Natives' which I'll start later today!

I am off work for the next 4 days (woo yeah annual leave and the weekend!!), and I plan to read LOTS! My #midyearrush goals involved at least 2 hours on a weekend and I'm going to apply that to any day I'm not at work😊 @Clwojick

My love of reading is well and truly back in full swing post-degree and I'm SO EXCITED about it! I've read about 10 books this year but I intend to read more for the second half if I can!

I'm going to try to read for at least half an hour on weekdays and at least a 2 hours a day on weekends (this is at a minimum) & at least 2 books a month (again at a minimum)!

#Midyearrush @Clwojick

There are lots of green spaces near my parents' house (which is where I'm staying during covid) & I spent a full day at this one yesterday reading At The Existentialist Café!

Sarah Bakewell executed this beautifully. It flowed well, moving through the decades and to the lives/works of a vast cast of Existentialists. It was like reading fiction. In between their work/writings each individual had a lot going on: two world wars, imprisonment, affairs, open relationships, betrayals, political activism, losing friendships. I was fascinated, and now more interested in Existentialism. I've added so many books to my TBR.

Sitting out on my porch as the sun sets, listening to the rain as I read. I'm coming to the end of this book, and I'm even more interested in philosophy. I want to read almost every book in the bibliography. Does anyone else get overwhelmed by the amount of books you'd like to read? So little time...

"We can never move definitively from ignorance to certainty, for the thread of the inquiry will constantly lead us back to ignorance again."

Emmanuel Levinas was in a POW camp after fighting the Nazi's for France. He talked about how they were treated by the guards at the camp, in comparison to how they were treated by a stray dog there. This paragraph got to me.

Sunday ❤ I'm loving this book; a wonderful introduction into Existentialism and phenomenology, and the greats involved in these fields. Sometimes it feels like I'm reading fiction.

"Sartre here resurrects the ancient Stoic idea that I may not choose what happens to me, but I can choose what to make of it, spiritually speaking."

"...art brings liberation because it captures things as they are and gives them an inner necessity."

She keeps pawing at me for attention, so I have to hold my book awkwardly with one hand and pet her with the other. #dogsoflitsy

"Remember being--out there, in here, under you, above you, pressing in upon you. Remember the things themselves, and remember your own being!"

It's a rainy day, the perfect time to get started on the many books waiting for me on my shelf 😁

Well I have always been interested in the existentialists and this is a great primer on the subject. Part discussion on the underlying philosophy of existentialism part history of the movement focussing on both the French and the German schools. What came across to me was how flawed these philosophers were; volatile, sensitive, friendships breaking and reforming, and in one case associating with Nazi‘s. But they lived an examined life.

An interesting look at Satre and Simone de Beauvoir. With an insight into some of Camus and Heidegger.
Sarah Bakewell makes some complex philosophy far more accessible.
Beauvoir is frequently referred to in glowing terms. Personally, I much prefer the writing of Camus, but it's interesting reading a different perspective.

I love reading about historical moments like this. I am really enjoying this book and reading through at a leisurely place while I speed through some other books.

Long train ride from Boston to NYC, but with some good company. I could use an apricot cocktail right now.

Pub sitting for someone and missing my books. Turned to Audible for now. But what do I read first? 🤔

Reading about existentialism and drinking Guinness - this could go one of two ways 😂 #bookandabeverage #riotgrams

#currentread #riotgrams

Starting a new book on the way to London 🧡 I feel like I‘ve been reading a lot of ‘light‘ books lately so looking forward to this.

This book is less of a philosophy book and more of a history of philosophy book. Though it discusses the ideas of the philosophers surrounding the 20th century existentialist movement it is more interested in the people in themselves. Their relationships with each other, their intellectual interests, the events surrounding their lives, etc. This makes the content easier to digest and enjoyable by a wider audience. Greatly enjoyed it!

At #bookcon totally overwhelmed (it's my first). Finally bought up At the Existentialist Cafe for $10. 👍🏻 highly recommend for all book nerds next year. (Major book haul photo to come)

I picked up this book that's been on my TBR list for #Independentbookstoreday. The other is a library hold that came in. ⚜️

"'To the things themselves!' Don't waste time on the interpretations that accrue upon things, and especially don't waste time wondering whether the things are real. Just look at this that's presenting itself to you, whatever this may be, and describe it as precisely as possible."

Holiday reading plans!

Managing to cram in some late night reading before term finishes tomorrow

This is a simply marvellous book: informative and entertaining, though it never succumbs to the risk of dumbing down its subject. All together a dazzling book. See my goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25658482-at-the-existentialist-caf

A lonely commute for me today, as @WanderingBookaneer is sick 😕 -- twentieth century philosophers kept me company.

New audiobook. I'm alternating with "Trump Revealed," because well, I need palate cleansers. Hope you have a good day, Littens! (And heartfelt thank yous for all the lovely anniversary wishes yesterday! ???)

@BookishMarginalia and I are enjoying this audiobook. #SeptimusCat may not be.

Coffee enhancing my existentialist studies ... and existence itself (though this marvellous book is not in need of any external enhancement). #existentialism #philosophy #coffeeandbooks

WOOT! I've been waiting for my chance to get this one for about a YEAR!