Welcome to Litsy!

First vaca in 4 years with a fave author for August #bookspin and new bookmark from Bee store in Myrtle Beach❣️

@TheAromaofBooks

It had been quite a while since I last read an Anne Tyler and I really enjoyed this one. Some parts depressed me, feeling triggered by my fears over how my children will look back on their childhood, but I loved the way the character developed and found her place later in life. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One from my TBR!
#bigjunereadathonphotochallenge #bigjunereadathon

I have had this on my tbr list for some time and when I saw it at my local Ollie‘s for$3.99 I had to get it. I wasn‘t a huge fan of the book. It was cool to have some references from some small towns near me but other than that I wouldn‘t rush out to read another book by this author.

The success of this novel hinges on how sympathetic of a character you find Willa to be. I typically find Anne Tyler's main characters relatable and can root for them wholeheartedly, but this one was an exception. The writing was as good as usual, but this (her 22nd novel!) just missed the mark for me.

I‘m a fan of fictional and non-fictional characters who live an examined life. Ordinary or extraordinary, it‘s the examination that fascinates me. It was fun reading the quick jump from 1967 to 77 to 97 until the story took shape in 2017.

...And can y‘all hear me scream...
SEPTEMBER #BookSpinBingo BLACKOUT!

Book 108 I listened to this novel about a woman who's unfulfilled as an empty-nester. The book gives the reader a brief glance into her childhood before jumping to her college years, then to her later years. Well-written with intriguing characters, the gaps in the story are disappointing and the ending is an abrupt turn. However, the disappointment stems from investment, and that is a compliment to Tyler's storytelling and character- building.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ • A quick read that I didn‘t think I‘d like, but I liked it enough. Subtle but interesting commentary on a woman‘s reliance on men.

I can‘t even give this my usual 10% before bailing. Somewhere along the way I lost my love for Anne Tyler. And it‘s just not coming back 🤷🏻‍♀️😔

Our magnolia tree bloomed this week- smells amazing! Just finished audio of Clock Dance- love this style of book where it is a place I am familiar with and a everyday story with flawed characters.

Need an audio book. Penguin is giving away one free on their volumes app. Not something I want to listen to but hey it‘s free and I may need it during my #covidvacay

Here‘s a cool freebie!

I felt like it took me a while to push through this book. I wasn‘t a huge fan of it. I‘ve never read anything by Anne Tyler before and I‘m not sure I will again. It just wasn‘t my cup of tea. Overall the book wasn‘t bad but it didn‘t keep me interested enough to not want to put it down. I‘m trying to catch up on the Barnes and Noble book club picks because I‘m so far behind! I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
#bnbookclub

Just finished my book club book way too early— we don‘t meet for 2 more weeks! Oh well. The writing is so so good, but the ending? Just like that? Give us an epilogue or something please!!

I listened to this over the weekend, driving to and from my 6 jobs, & today on my day off
I loved the everydayness in this story & is similar in this way to a recent novel I read of Tyler's, Patchwork Planet.

I think I see here how absurd it is when your own family act/feel like acquaintances to you & the importance you can have to people who are no relation to you at all.
And how much you grow when you take yourself out of your daily routine.

Long drives to different jobs this weekend so I started Clock Dance on audiobook in the car.
Loving it so far. Willa's life and some of her experiences are very relatable for me.
I can't wait to drive to my jobs tomorrow so I can keep listening!!

The Anne Tyler books I‘ve read have tended to be understated. I appreciate that she writes well about normal people, in stories with little drama, and that that is part of her appeal. In parts this was touching and also amusing but like her other books I‘ve read it didn‘t grab me and I feel like I might have forgotten it by next week. Maybe I just want more drama! 🤷‍♀️

Last night, with peppermint tea in hand and Downton Abbey (re-watch for the movie release) in the background, I read the first 150 pages before bedtime. This is my first Tyler, and I‘m finding the storyline is simple, and addictive. I‘m hoping to finish this up later this evening, after attending a special advanced showing of the new Downton Abbey movie. If you‘re a Tyler fan, I‘d love to hear what you‘d recommend next from her.

We're gonna rock around the clock tonight🎶

#swingthemood

#ayupaugust @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain

This is really two books.

Part one follows Millie through three pivotal points in her life: her time as a young child in the 60s, meeting her husband in college in the 70s, and raising sons in the 90s. ⅓ of book.

The other ⅔ is 12 chapters where she fills in as “grandma” to her older son‘s ex-girlfriend‘s daughter after the ex-girlfriend gets shot, not by Millie‘s son.

The writing is enjoyable, but the two parts make no sense together. 3⭐️

I can‘t believe it! I‘ve been avoiding historical fiction, but now I‘m reading this and Enchanted Islands. I‘m very hot-and-cold on this genre, so we‘ll see! 😁🤷🏻‍♀️

I love Anne Tyler. Reading her work is a bit like coming home. Although I found this read enjoyable it did not challenge or add anything for me. Not her best book, but I will continue to read all she writes.

This is a photo of Ann Tyler. The Clock Dance is the 22nd book for the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. She lives in Baltimore, and it is that setting that draws me to her books. This story transports a married 61 year old woman from her very comfortable life in Arizona with her lawyer husband to a Baltimore neighborhood that The NY Times describes as a “cross between Mr. Rogers and John Waters”. There, Willa decides to do what makes her happy.

Morning #audiowalk with my latest Playaway!

This was a very easy listen while I sat and peeled a ton of peaches. 10/18 #teamflow #BFC #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge @wanderinglynn @julesG @LibrarianJen @laurenslibrary @CocoReads @Moony @Reecaspieces @britt_brooke

Getting some audiobaking done! #teamflow #BFC #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge @wanderinglynn @julesG @LibrarianJen @laurenslibrary @Moony @CocoReads @britt_brooke @Reecaspieces

#2019book4

This is only my second Tyler novel, but both of them have been quietly affecting character studies that drew me in and kept me reading. Clock Dance doesn‘t have a ton of action, but I enjoyed following Willa through her life experiences. She‘s frustrating and meek and so very human, and I couldn‘t help rooting for her. Loved the people of the Baltimore neighborhood so much. ❤️

Excellent choice for #LMPBC, Ashley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anne Tyler has one story to tell, and she tells it over and over. It's a story about women who find themselves adrift, slightly out of step, disconnected from their families in ways that puzzle them but that they can't fix, until one day....

And that's this book. I loved it absolutely as much as I've loved every Anne Tyler novel. What else is there to say? Read it!

Light reading about how a woman‘s childhood experiences affect her relationships through the years. Entertaining but I can‘t say I ever engaged with the characters. Interesting plot. This is a #LMPBC book so I don‘t want to ruin it for @sprainedbrain 😬 Keep in mind, however, that it is highly rated by most Littens, so I‘m in the minority.

@EmilyM @EclecticBookLover

I've had this on my TBR for quite a while, but wasn't in a rush to read it until it became the pick of my online book club. I'll be moderating discussion in June.

I've read two other Tyler works, at least one of which I rated highly. Clock Dance was fine. Yes, I said it—it was fine. It was average. It was fairly nondescript.

I came across this signed first edition at Half Price Books this weekend—seemed like a sign. I may return it.

Saturday reading of my #LMPBC book. Entertaining...perfect weekend reading. 🍸

#LMPBC #GroupT #BooksAndBrews

@sprainedbrain @EmilyM @EclecticBookLover

Hi @EmilyM . I received this earlier in the week but didn‘t have a chance to post until now. Looking forward to it!
#LMPBC #GroupT @sprainedbrain @EclecticBookLover

Finished this in a few sittings! Ready to pass it on! #lmpbc #groupt @sprainedbrain @cathysaid @EclecticBookLover

@EmilyM this will be on it's way too you tomorrow! #lmpbc #groupt
@sprainedbrain @cathysaid

Selected my current audiobook using the "ignore my tbr and see what's available on Libby" method.

Rated 6/10. Liked not loved. Strongly prefer Spool of Blue Thread.

First finish of 2019! Great book, though it's exactly what I'd expect from Anne Tyler which makes it a touch predictable. I still enjoyed it immensely.

I adored this quiet story about self-discovery. It was my last book of 2018 and the perfect end to my reading year.

On yersel Willa!!! For once I was happy with an ending. Tyler has a knack for making you think not very much is happening but at the same time keeping you invested in the characters and the plot. She's definitely one of my favourite authors.

Studying means I can only read fiction in my holidays (my brain won't let me read fun stuff when I have soooooo much boring stuff to read) so I'm taking full advantage and reading books by my favourite authors.

Clock Dance is the story of a woman who finds her proper home among unlikely strangers. Anne Tyler writes wonderful characters and Willa is very appealing. As the story progresses we see her grow as a person and discover her own abilities. The ending is very satisfying and happy. 4 out of 5 stars.

Tyler does a great job of painting a diverse group of characters and their interactions. The story, however, didn‘t hold together for me. Despite, or maybe because of, the well-developed character of the protagonist, I did not understand her motivations for what happened in the second part of the book. Other rich areas (relationship with her sister) were not explored at all. You will, however, fall in love with the characters in this book. 3⭐️

I didn‘t come here for Clock Dance but I feel sad for it sitting on the shelf. I need to rescue it from the insufferable Mark Twain witticisms that are no doubt being whispered to her.

Pick up a couple of book at McKays used book store today...so lucky to have this in my town!

This was a sweet story, I thought. It was slow paced which I can understand isn‘t everyone‘s interest. It was what I needed right now though, and the characters were diverse and lovely! I‘ve not read other books by this author but will soon.

I found this book to be a very fast read—I couldn‘t put it down! Tyler creates very believable and original characters. In this novel we follow Willa through the decades. In her 60s, remarried after being widowed fairly young, and moved to a golf community in Arizona for her husband, she is bored. A call comes asking her to come take care of her son‘s ex-gf and her daughter after mom‘s accident—and she goes. And learns a lot about herself.