Welcome to Litsy!

Missed a few days of #12booksof2022.

April: To All The Boys I‘ve Loved Before which was a 4⭐️ read for me.
May: The Namesake which was also 4⭐️.
June: I actually didn‘t finish any books in June 😳
July: Lost Roses which is a fantastic read and 5⭐️.

#alphabetgame #letterK
My finds on my bookshelves for #letterK
I can recommend the author Martha Hall Kelly, but I have yet to read The Mayflower Bookshop.

A prequel to Lilac Girls, this novel follows the stories of Eliza Ferriday - NY socialite (Caroline‘s mother from Lilac Girls), Sofya & Luba - sisters who are Russian aristocracy & dear friends of Eliza, and Varinka, a Russian peasant. War is coming. Sofya & Luba and their family are in danger. Varinka is looking for an escape. Eliza, does her best to help Russian families, but can she save the ones she loves the most? Unputdownable! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Picked up this WWI novel for #deweysreadathon. Another book in preparation for my journey to France, as some of this book takes place there. #readathon #deweysreversereadathon #deweys24hourreadathon

Headed to bed and will be back at it in the morning! (I can‘t sleep deprive myself after two weeks of less than normal sleep, so no late night reading this go ‘round.) ❤️📚

Very much like when I read her book The Lilac Girls, I experienced a deep, challenging, visceral response while reading. At times It felt too much for me so I put the book down & listened to a cozy that asked nothing of me. In this novel the author writes almost a prequel to LG. Eliza Ferriday, mother to Caroline in LG, becomes involved in the rescue of her close friend, Sofya,cousin to the Tzar. The author‘s research is impeccable.🔽

We visited the gorgeous Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park Yesterday. 2.5 acres of the 102 acres are dedicated to about 15,000 rose bushes of 800 varieties.It‘s an immersive world of roses, where you can wander aimlessly,marvel in its beauty,and revel in its bounty of colors.
I plan to visit the Bellamy- Ferriday House, home of the family,the Ferriday‘s,who inspired the author to write 3 books historical fiction, based on this philanthropic family.

Excellent advice!

Hello, spring! Nice of you to finally join us in Chicago😁😎☀️🌴🌷

1. “Lost Roses” (tagged book). I‘m only 20ish pages in but so far enjoying it
2. Library Holds; I honestly don‘t know what I would do without my library‘s app 😳
3. My current read, which was a library hold 😆

#WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

One from my tbr that #BeginsWith Lost

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Misty, thank you so, so much for this sweet Christmas surprise! It means so much that you took the time to do something like this 💜💜 I'm really excited to use the journal (it's so pretty!) and the pencils and pouch! I've been curious about Lost Roses for a long time! Once Winter Games is over, I'll definitely be reading it 😊 Also, those are my favorite peppermint candies! Thank you, friend! I'm grateful for you 💕💕

It's was hard not to love this book, a gripping story that had me go through the highs and heartbreaking lows with its incredible characters

I enjoyed the book but I read the last one first by mistake. It went back and forth between characters so you had to remember who was who. I am now starting on Lilac Girls to fill in the beginning. Great story based on events that happened many sad years ago. War is never easy and these woman were brave, scared, out of their comfort zones but forged on to make a better life for Russian Immigrants.

An incredible prequel to “Lilac Girls” set during WWI. Love that some of these characters were based on real people and the historical details make you feel transported back in time. Just love this author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lost Roses is about the unbreakable bonds of women's friendship. It is set a generation earlier than The Lilac Girls and also inspired by true events. It features Caroline's mother, Eliza, and follows three women (Eliza, Sofya and Varinka) from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I. Sofya Streshnayva is a cousin of the Romanovs. Kelly explores the fate of the next tier of the aristocracy and how they fared during the revolution.

Not quite as good as Lilac Girls, but still a solid pick!

This second book by this author wasn't quite as good as the first book, Lilac Girls, but was still an enjoyable read. I do enjoy Russian history and the story gives wonderful insight into the Bolsheviks history.

I've been looking for this book for ages. Eventually found it on a online platform, and although I had to wait three weeks for it to arrive, it finally came today. Yay!!

Not as good as LILAC GIRLS, but still gripping historical fiction set during a time period I know little about. Kelly writes so beautifully about the power of female friendships. However, the last third of the book didn‘t seem as strong - as though the author was rushing to tie up all the loose ends. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #netgalley

Another amazing historical fiction by Martha Hall Kelly. I absolute loved her first book Lilac Girls and lost Roses didn‘t disappoint. Martha‘s writing is beautiful. I felt as if I was living through the events and emotions with the characters. Sept 17/20 #bookspinbingo

Came down to the wire, but I finished tonight to complete two lines for #bookspinbingo for August. Excited for September!

Tagged book was a bit slow to start, but did eventually pick up and I enjoyed it. I have never read about the Russian revolution so it was fascinating to learn more. The story follows three women and I found myself rooting for all of them, even as they found themselves on opposing sides of the revolution.

I was hesitant to start this one since the Russian Revolution isn't really something I love reading about. But I was sucked in quickly and by surprise. I flew through this book. Which is also rare for me these days. I recommend this one for any history lovers who want something to take them away instantly.

This is literally a historical fiction verson of "Guys/troubles/etc come and go, best friends stay forever" ❤️

I struggled with this at first. It failed to grab me as the many characters were introduced and backstories explained. I almost gave up but then the narratives combined and I finally started to enjoy it. I have never given much thought to the plight of the Russian people during the revolution before but this totally opened my eyes to how it had been for all classes.

📗💚📘💙📒💛

#BoundTogetherJune #rose

Loved Lilac Girls. This is in my TBR.

#BoundTogetherJune #Rose
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Good historical fiction read into the Russian Revolution. Quite sad

Round 32 of our #tenatatime #tbr project. I‘ve been getting through my never ending piles of books, but I still really want the libraries to open back up soon!!

This is not a book I would have chosen for myself—I didn‘t find the idea of a book set during the Russian Revolution very appealing. But man, was I surprised! I couldn‘t put this one down. Martha Hall Kelly also wrote Lilac Girls, which I have also read. While I did like Lilac Girls, I really think Lost Roses was much better. And now I need more books set during the Russian Revolution. 😊

4 ⭐️I thought it was pretty good, but I don‘t think I‘ll remember it in the same way that I have with Lilac Girls. A really good read. #bookstagram #bookreview #2020 #historicalfiction #ww1 #russianrevolution #l #litsyatoz #litsyatoz2020

Hello #Littens and Happy 2020 to y'all!💕

I happily discovered last night that whatever weirdness occurred with my iOS 13 update is gone! After updating to 13 some bizarre sensitivity to links made scrolling through Litsy a pain-in-the-ass; hence my absence 😖

I've missed you guys and am happy things seem working again! ☺️

I liked the historical setting in this story and I was content with how the journeys resolved for the three main characters, But my journey in this book couldn‘t find a way out of so-so status. I found the dialogue corney, and the cliff-hanging pivots from one POV to another made me want to skip pages to stay with the current storyline.

1. Tagged - really enjoyed it
2. Black and grey
3. Went to a distillery in the Catskills and had some tasty drinks 🥂
4. I can sort of whistle, I can snap my fingers
5. On it ❤️❤️
#friyayintro @howjessreads

Forgot to post yesterday
#7covers7days #day6

Almost done with this book and really enjoying it.

I loved Lilac Girls and was excited to read a WWI novel by the same author. I enjoyed the story, particularly the parts in Russia, but the varying perspectives were awkwardly done. This was fine otherwise but not really memorable. The photo is from a recent sunset boat ride and felt it appropriate for an immigrant story. #aty2019

Library #bookhaul for the weekend! #tbr

“Why argue with a person so happy in their ignorance?”

In May, I launched a new seasonal book club ‘Seasons By The Book‘, with a dear friend. Our first book, ‘Lilac Girls‘ by Martha Hall Kelly, was such an incredible read - emotional, disturbing, haunting, & well researched! I loved it! So, I‘m looking forward to reading the prequel pictured above.

We‘re hosting a giveaway to win a copy, click the link for more details and to enter:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqAeiBn4r9/?igshid=nmyo9ktun3v0

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just as with Lilac Girls, i read 50 pages, or Part 1 in this case, and did not find myself compelled to continue. I am generally turned off by ultra-privileged characters in times of great poverty, and this book features at least one, maybe two (I‘m not sure about Sofya). The action in Russia had me interested, but the book‘s focus on Eliza was such a letdown.

“Men may leave, but books will always remain true.”

Having not read Lilac Girls yet, I wasn't sure how I was going to like this pre-quel to it. However, I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the focus on the women's lives as they were affected throughout history by the unrest and the war. Showing how the situation was for those in Europe and abroad in America, gave a nice overall view of the circumstances at the time.

Excellent story about 4 women in WW1, told from alternating views. I had to pay attention at the beginning to see whose story i was in or i got confused, but once i learned their voices i was good. This is the prequel to Lilac Girls, which is still on my tbr shelf 🙊 read this in one day bc it was good..and it was due back at the library yesterday 🙉

I am struggling a bit with this one. Based on other reviews I just need to power through. I am not sure why I don‘t connect with the story as well this time.

This book felt made for me. Historical fiction about female friendships during wwi and the Russian revolution.

This is my #daytripper read for the day. We‘ve been up since 4:15 to get Owen to his baseball tournament 2 hours away. I‘m keeping my fingers crossed it doesn‘t get rained out after this long drive and hopefully I can get this book finished soon. #beatlemaynia

Sophie and I are comfy on the couch listening to the thunderstorm outside. I love how she holds her back feet with her front feet. That fur that sticks out from her toes just kills me. #catsoflitsy