Welcome to Litsy!

This book is so lovely. Any time people ask for recommendations, this is usually one of the first ones I suggest. Not only is it aesthetically just so pleasing, it is one of very few books that have made me cry. I definitely read this at a time where it hit me a lot harder though. What's a book that made you cry?

#KeepLitsyActive @ljuliel

My latest read #under250pages.

#Gratefulreads @OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Wow! Just wow! My #Litsypenpal outdid herself this year! Don‘t know what I did to deserve such an awesome Penpal but I count my blessings each and every day for these bookish acts of kindness! Thanks, @Beck9lol - I love it all and I was just looking at A Monster Calls yesterday thinking how good it looked. I know what I‘ll be doing on my current ‘stay-cation‘‼️ Happy Halloween, Becky! 🎃👻🤡💀🎃😊👽☠️ (That skull wrapping paper tho...🙌👍💀❣️)

#SoaringScores Day 27: #HowIWouldDie reminded me of this searing portrayal of death and dying done in a fable-like fashion. In its genuine voice and deep (yet refreshingly youthful) wisdom about pain and loss, it attacked me sideways, reconfiguring my slightly-cocked eyebrows, shattering my adult skepticism to smithereens. My glowing review of this unforgettable title: https://wp.me/pDlzr-2WV. I think I have 3 copies of this in my shelves.

Sometimes it's just the best feeling to put on hold all blogging obligations and instead reread an old favorite. ❤ I watched the A Monster Calls movie the other day and just couldn't resist picking up my recently arrived physical copy for a reread... It was absolutely magical as well as heartbreaking all over again. 😍😭❤

This was a very unique and interesting book! I liked it a lot and how it dealt with issues like bullying and confronting a parent‘s illness. I also really enjoyed the illustrations throughout as it added an extra dark element to the reading. I get to finally mark “black cover” off of #ScaryScavengerHunt and earn 11 points for #TeamStoker #Scarathlon

Catching up on #ChillingPhotoChallenge for #Scarathlon
Day 18: #monster

#TeamStoker +1
@TheReadingMermaid

(Pts total=420)

Ok, caught up lol ... this is one of my favorite books. I suggest it to everyone. The art in it is dark and cool. And the story (& even the movie, which was actually ok) made me cry.

#monster #ChillingPhotoChallenge #TeamStoker #Scarathlon @TheReadingMermaid

I have never done a #24b4Monday challenge so doing my first with #TeamStoker and the #Scarathlon crew seems like a good idea (once I figure out how it works).

I DID start gathering books for next weekend though. Some from the school library and local library—with a few more on the way. Mostly graphic novels so I can really rack up points!

Oh and the due date is Oct 31!

1 point participation!

#TeamStoker As requested, we are replaying this game so our team members who live in a different time zone can play as well. If you played last week, try not to use the same book titles.

Both teams will be playing the same game, and each book title will be worth 2pts. Be creative! Each team captain will choose 1 title they like the most & award that person an extra 10pts!NOW IS THE TIME TO GO HAM!Allowing unlimited comments til 8pm EST.

Amazing story of love, sadness, and the complicated/guilty thoughts/feelings of human beings. Tear jerker for sure. Beautifully written.

This book has the coolest artwork!

@NataliePatalie

Oof, after two sad stories in a row with disappointing fathers 😭, I just need an old fashioned horror novel.

#scarathlon #TeamStoker 3pts

Making a fake sad face is very hard to do. 😂 But that doesn‘t change the fact that the books I want to talk to you about made me cry very hard! Check out my top 5 tearjerkers here: https://youtu.be/yUWs6j9McHE

#booktube #bookvlog #sadbooks #tearjerkerbooks #booksthatmademecry #needmoretissues #sadsad #sadstories

#quotsyoct19 Day 1: #midnight

@TK-421

“I wish I had a hundred years, she said, very quietly. A hundred years I could give to you.”

The original author of this novel Siobhan Dowd passed away from breast cancer at the age of 47 before she could start this novel... Her agent gave her idea to Patrick Ness to complete. 😓😓

My grandmother was a breast cancer survivor... Mammogram scheduled for January.

#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
#Spooktober

#midnight #quotsyoct19

Easily one of the best books I‘ve read in a long time! First of all, this isn‘t a horror novel—which, I admit, definitely threw me for a loop when I first checked this out. Secondly, for a teen fiction read, I thought the themes were very mature and powerful and can just as easily resonate with the middle-aged dad in me as well as any teenager. I am officially a new fan of Patrick Ness!

Slowly but surely, I am catching up on tags and challenges. I was tagged a second time in the #alphabet book challenge on #instagram and I am all for doing this fun challenge again! I could have used my author pick pr character pick for my title pick too, since my assigned letter is A, but I was happy to put A Monster Calls and Alice in those spots.

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Anthony Doerr
Character: Alice

An excellent YA book about loss and grief.

Am I a book snob? You can decide after you watch my next video: https://youtu.be/ZRQ2-abO3L4

Let me know what your answers would be over on #BookTube!

#booksnob #booktag #bookvideo #booktalk #bookpreferences

What a great little story about a boy that won't admit to the death of his mother dying. In his dreams a Yew Tree visits to help him cope with dealing with his feelings towards the the whole experience of his mother's last days and all the anger he is carrying around.

Have you ever read a certain author for the very first time and fallen so madly in love with the book that you‘re afraid to read anything else by that author because it might not measure up?

A Monster Calls is the only thing I‘ve read by Patrick Ness. I love it so much. I‘ve put off reading his other books but I‘m ready to take the plunge! Continued⬇️

“You were merely wishing for the end of pain, the monster said. Your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.”

#CreatureComfort
#AugustABC

This book was such a beautifully heartbreaking story about grief and working through and trying understand your emotions. If you're on the fence it's only about 200 pages. Definitely worth your time.

I‘m not exactly winning the day.
Depression fog and heaviness kinda took over as soon as I opened my eyes this morning.
That said, I did snag this one off of my Audible wish list for $5 today because of their member sale going on until 8/4.

So there was an individual win in the midst of an overall heavy day.

You‘re welcome and please feel free to tag me in any posts about what you snag to put further smiles on my dial today!

🎧💯👂🏻💯 🙂

Yup, I'm hooked. And I'm loving the art in this book.

A beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes. I love the drawings on the pages, and the lesson the monster teaches is really lovely. Devoured this book in 2.5 hours, and will definitely read again.

"You be as angry as you need to be."

My security blanket book. It gets me through all the hardest times.

I‘m participating in the slump stacks challenge on Bookstagram!

I haven‘t hit a reading slump in quite some time. Here are some that have pulled me out of previous slumps. I‘ve found reading multiple books at once & being deliberate about DNFing books that I‘m not enjoying helps! When I am feeling especially drained with my reading material, a good psychological thriller helps keep me on track.

What books have gotten you out of previous slumps?

“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?”

“Don't think you haven't lived long enough to have a story to tell.”

There are so many amazing quotes in this book, these are just a few.

#amonstercalls #patrickness #emotionalread

Very touching book, I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down for a second. I would definitely recommend A Monster Calls, I think a lot of people would connect with this book and appreciate it as much as I have.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. But I would definitely recommend this to certain folks. Perhaps those who have gone through a battle with cancer either themselves or with a loved one. Be cautioned though, the ending will pull your heart right out 💔

Please read my full review here:
https://tamarathereadingmermaid.weebly.com/book-reviews/a-monster-calls-by-patri...

Day 3: Read it in a day❤️

Man was this a good borrow. It is such a beautifully done story and one that is needed for all ages. I now get the hype for this one. Also the illustrations add to the somewhat gothic feel of this book. A good quick read that I wish lasted longer.

So I was not prepared for this book. I am working on a show and reading this while listening to the music has me in tears. The best and worst combo possible.

Okay, this was hilarious.

I love the way Ness credits Dowd for the ideas that became this book, and the brutal honesty and emotions in the plot. I would love to teach this in a YA lit class. The illustrations are also haunting and perfect for the story.

This is so true and brilliant

Enjoying this one so far.

One of my all time favorite books!! I've read it multiple times and it never disappoints me. It's so beautiful and heartbreaking.

An ancient monster helps a boy navigate some tough real life situations. This is the first book that ever made me have a complete meltdown. Not your typical watery eyes...nope, ugly crying... completely lost it! Great message but what a tear-jerker 😭
Overall Score 4.5/5.0

I don‘t ever post the reads for #24hourreadingroom postal group because the books were supposed to be a surprise for whoever was next. But since this is the last round, I guess I won‘t be spoiling the title for anyone! Hard to believe we‘ve been passing books around the work for the last two and a half years. I hear this is a good one.

A short but powerful story. I listened to the audiobook and had to wipe away a few tears at the end 😥

When #BoysDontCry, a monster might have to show up to make them realize what it is they are scared of, what makes them sad and angry, what their most painful thoughts are. At least that‘s what the monster in this book tries to do

#AnglophileApril

Finally got my #diy book quote wall art up ?

The shadows make them look uneven, but I swear they aren't ?

"Stories are wild creatures" (a monster calls)
"All of our stories begin the exact same way" (saga, volume 1)