Welcome to Litsy!

Gosh, how to review this? It‘s a slow pick, and what comes to mind is that old saying… Life‘s a bitch, and then you die. …It‘s heartbreaking to think about so many live with such little support and even less hope.

Collection of fictional stories of a queer man in Houston and its residents. Easy to become invested in these characters and relationships and lives they represent and tell.

This book touched on so many topics central to queer, Black, and Latinx. It did so in a way that was both truthful and respectful. It's been a long time since I have found an adult book that has done this. If you're looking for something that will draw you in, make you feel at home, and then make you think hard about why it is you relate to a book so much....then this is the book for you

I went on a #supportyourlocal trip and booked a half hour appointment at the bookshop (yes, I booked an appointment, the only way to shop in our lockdown...🤷🏻‍♀️). Only one for myself, the others I‘m sending out to some Litsy friends!

A phenomenal collection, set in a city I love and miss.

It didn‘t take long to see that there‘s the world you live in, and then there are the constellations around it, and you‘ll never know you‘re missing them if you don‘t even know to look up.

Like many of us, I‘m not a big short story reader, so I fought with this one a bit. But actually, it reads as more of a fractured novel than stories, with many of the stories settling on one family and the rest about the greater Houston community in which they live. It‘s a portrait of a mixed race community struggling to survive, whether through dealing, hustling, or whatever works. The writing is excellent. #botm backlist

These characters popped off the page and wove an unfamiliar story of Houston. I appreciated each story and the different lenses used to capture often overlooked experiences.

The last book I read in July and what a book it is! A collection of short stories which interconnect with each other. About the lives of Black and Latino people living in Houston, Texas. It was very powerful , witty, tender and moving. It won the Dylan Thomas prize in 2019. #books

Lot is a collection of short stories written by Bryan Washington. While most of the stories center around Nic, a young man with a black mother and a Latino father, who is coming of age and discovering he likes boys, there are other stories interspersed throughout the book that capture the lives of other Houstonians. My favorites include SHEPHERD, SOUTH CONGRESS and WAUGH. Overall, a strong collection.

Our Pride Month episode of Books On The Go podcast is up now! Some great book recommendations and our TBR. So many books! 😜📚🌈

Winner of the Dylan Prize! https://twitter.com/guardianbooks/status/1261006500224331787?s=21

#family #poc #qpoc #family #deep #stories #neighborhood #home “you bring yourself wherever you go.” “you are the one thing you can never run out on.” I highly recommend this book 📖 book 📚.

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(Excerpt from "Gloria" in LOT by Bryan Washington.)
#deweyapril #readathon #deweysreadathon @deweysreadathon

Dewey's Readathon hour 2: genuine

These characters are breathing on the page. It's a #bookofthemonth pick, a series of interconnecting stories set in a Houston neighborhood. Can't wait to dive in more (and drink more chai to wake up).

I'm giving more commentary on my bookstagram (more character space):
www.instagram.com/bookandcat_ig

#deweyapril #readathon #deweysreadathon #botm

On Friday nights no matter what the game plan is I usually spend a great chunk of time in the bookstore as relief to my it‘s-been-a-helluva-week mood. So this past Friday, I got there earlier than usual, because, of course, there were no conflicting engagements. As I was entering I was confronted with a probing reality...is this wise? Maybe I shouldn‘t go in there?
I returned to my car & sat in the parking lot CONTEMPLATING for 20 minutes...
👇🏽

Stories set around the same few people.

Best way to pass time in an airport 👌🏼🛫

It‘s surprisingly hard to find books and stories that take place in Houston (not sure why, HTX is awesome 😤) but HERE‘S ONE!! I am so impressed by this story collection that follows a young man through the streets of this deeply diverse city, showing us glimpses into the lives of HTX‘s multi-faceted people. AND the author is a member of the English faculty where I did my undergrad 👏🏼

February 2020 - Book 3 (12/52)

#popsugarreadingchallenge

Prompt: Anthology

Waugh, the penultimate story in this collection, is one of the best short stories I‘ve read. Period.

Every other story (Waugh is not one) follows the same family pre- and post-hurricane Harvey. The family weathers death, poverty, & gentrification.

I feel I have a better understanding of being queer, male, and Latino. I didn‘t necessarily understand all the slang, but the emotion and duality in the characters came through well. 4.5⭐️ #BOTM

An interconnected collection of short stories set in a Houston “Lot” comprised of migrants from various ethnicities & colors. The theme of belonging is the common thread that weaves through these stories. Washington shows us even if there are no physical borders, there are still “walls” between us: straight & queer, dark & light, male & female, family & friends. Some stories are more poignant than others, but overall a promising debut. 👇🏽

My new listen 🎧Of course not on my #WeeklyForecast 🙈Interconnected short stories / good so far

Quick, gritty, complex book of short stories based in Houston. Some of the stories are of the same family while others complement the theme of community, family, and survival. Worth the hype!

Perhaps an unpopular opinion here... there were parts I connected with and kept me reading, but many of the stories failed to pull me in. The style of writing was not my cup of tea either. Overall a so-so. #botm

This whole book felt like Houston - hustling and hopeful and full of hard knocks. Sometimes raw, sometimes sweet, but always beautifully written.

My first read from the new Tournament of Books 2020 long list is a book recommended by a Houston-based previous podcast guest, Elizabeth. Each story in this book takes place in a different Houston neighborhood and includes all sorts of characters (and lots of drugs.) I was impressed by how quickly Bryan Washington can develop characters and give the reader deep insights into their lives.

#covercrush #7days7covers #day4

Afternoon reading with Hank!

🌟🌟🌟
This collection of stories was ok but not as good as I expected them to be. However, I am looking forward to seeing more from this writer in the future.

This collection of interconnected stories tell about the life of a young man in Houston. It poignantly details his life in a lower income, ethnically diverse part of town, his family, his sexuality, and his struggle to live for something more. Well written and well narrated.

I‘m a little mixed on this one but still think it‘s worth a read. I am not the target audience for this collection of stories, and sometimes, that makes it more important for me to read something. To me, the storytelling didn‘t provide the depth of character I prefer but it did offer and specific view into a time and place that I otherwise wouldn‘t have experienced. It‘s graphic and disturbing but oddly, in the last page, hopeful.

Although, the writing is amazing, I just liked this collection, not loved. I definitely look forward to reading more of Bryan Washington's work.

Beautiful day to relax and read outside! 😊 #BOTM

Sharp stories loosely woven together around the city of Houston. Washington focuses around the everyday lives of everyday people, with a young black man narrating the majority of the collection while coming to terms with his sexuality. Based on his writing, I‘m sort of shocked this is a debut release- looking forward to what Washington does next.

I‘ve visited Houston but not the places in this story collection. Cultures and races collide and swirl in the city‘s humid air. There‘s one family whose story weaves in the various tales of neighbors and neighborhoods. Think modern James Baldwin with less religion and more Mexican food. Its a solid story collection. #botm

Excellent interconnected short story collection set in a poor Houston neighborhood following the son of a black mother and a Latino father as he comes of age and discovers he likes boys. Not for the feint hearted.

Pictured above a puzzle of delicious macarons.

#moremehthanyeah on this one. A fast read of interconnected stories that have one story which is threaded throughout the book. That is the story I probably liked the most because I felt like I got to know the characters the most. I feel like a lot of the stories had narration that was too similar in voice, and because I have not been to Houston, and this book has stories that reference different areas of Houston, I couldn't relate.⭐⭐⭐/5 #botm

Short stories based in Texas with the main theme being the homosexual experience for people of colour. Good but not mind-blowing.

My morning read. Waiting for the kids to wake up before we hit the waterpark for the day. These stories are amazing, but I may need to switch to something lighter for vacation mode.

I liked this collection. The world he created was vivid and full. My only major criticism is at times many of the narrators felt very similar so it was hard to tell whose head we were in when moving from story to story. About halfway through I got into the flow and would be interested in future works of his, it just felt obvious he‘s still honing his voice. #BoTM

So I‘ve noticed with a few of my recent #botm that the binding comes loose super easy. I don‘t feel like a book should already look like this on the first read through. Anyone else noticed a dip in quality? I don‘t mind if covers are cheaper quality (like Circe), but if the books actually fall apart I may just have to #quitbotm

I‘m on the Alief chapter so I thought I‘d post a pic of it! This is Alief in the 70‘s. I had to pick this botm because Houston is near and dear to my heart!

I wanted so many of the #botm picks this month! Mine arrived today, complete with photobomb courtesy of #Bindi. Thanks, pup.

#dogsofLitsy

Book 📚 + tea 🍵 mail = 😊 ❤️ #BOTM #SIMPLELOOSELEAF

I‘ve noticed this pattern that I read used books before any of my new hardbacks. I like to give them away when I‘m done so I can make room for more books. So I‘m pretty much collecting my botm books and never reading them like some weirdo. This end today! When botm emails me asking how was this book, I‘m gonna be able to tell them. 😄

😀I can‘t recall being so excited about the #BOTM selections! I really wanted four of the five, so I got three and then used my #Audible credit for the fourth! I love the beginning of the month! ❤️❤️❤️

Alright, bit the bullet. I'll add on What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker later this spring. #botm

My #BoTM pick! I'm a sucker for short stories - and I'm intrigued by them all being tied together by a common character's perspective.

I've been M.I.A. from Litsy for a bit... not necessarily by choice. My winter depression has hit me hard and work is hectic and I just can't bring myself to read lately (which makes me even more sad). I'm on vacation next week in a warmer state so hopefully that will kick me out of this funk.