Welcome to Litsy!

In debate, Adam must always prep for the “spread,” a confusing barrage of so much information that defense against each point is impossible. “Topeka”‘s slow set of character reflections finds narrative-changing power in repurposing language, in how debate becomes rap-battle with just a few tweaks. But there‘s peace when words and their meanings dissolve, no wires are crossed, and everyone shouts the same simple thing into the unintelligible noise.

A clever book, maybe too clever for me? Need to reread. The plot is pieced together through several narrative voices, jumping back & forth in time. Was totally hooked by some passages, particularly Jane's story arc, but if I'm honest, I let later themes wash over me, (and definitely skim read a few debate scenes!) Three quarters of the way through still wasn't sure if I was winning, then it came together. Quite beautifully.

I tried but not very hard. This just isn‘t for me. At least not now.

#WeeklyForecast 02/20

This week I have planned to finish Woman at Point Zero, that I started on this lazy Sunday morning and is a #1001books gift from @Liz_M
Next will be The Topeka School. I also try to make a start with two books for #ReadingAsia2022: Persepolis for Iran, Interpreter for Indonesia.

I loved Ben Lerner‘s other books, so this one was worth the wait. A young man in late-90s Kansas is the ostensible main character, but other sections are narrated by his feminist author mother and psychologist father, both of whom had their own trauma growing up and now deal with it in different ways as adults. One main issue is: how can you raise a good son in America?

About to start a new audiobook recommended by my #AudioGuru @Megabooks 🙌🏻🎧💜 Book 5 #FeastMode @Hestapleton

This was great the second time on audio. I loved the look at how Adam‘s life evolved in the toxically masculine culture in Topeka in the 80s & 90s and the way it was processed by his parents when Adam was an adult. I especially enjoyed the reflections of his mother.

It was interesting to choose debate as the outlet for Adam‘s masculinity. The BFF was debater in the late 90s, & she came to college with better structured arguments than I.

Episode 9 of #therewillbebooks is out today! We talk about The Topeka School, which frankly isn't all it's cracked up to be. Fun to discuss though.
https://anchor.fm/peter-murphy8/episodes/Episode-9-Autofiction-in-Kansas-eiir5v

#bookstagram #podcast #litsy

New book! Ready for #bookspin!

This is a thoughtful book on toxic masculinity and complicated psychological motivations. Adam is a 90s teen who is hot shit in a small pond. His parents are both therapists at a local hospital, and his mother is a famous pop psychology author.

Between the three narrators and frequent time shifts, this is a book that demands all your attention, but the poetic prose balanced by unrelenting testosterone make this worth reading. 4.5⭐️ 🔽🔽

This book is really intense. At least for me. I find myself taking breaks to get a drink or scan social media or even listen to my audiobook for a bit.

Still, I‘m enjoying it, even if my reading is half its usual speed.

Ambitious and challenging novel, a prime example of autofiction, which explores themes of toxic masculinity and white rage by going back in time to 1990s Kansas. It won't be to everyone's tastes but it's beautifully written and thought provoking.

Was really excited about this one, but noticed that by page 70 I was skimming and checking page numbers.
Great writing, but no narrative.
I can‘t read pages-long descriptions of inner monologue for the next 300 pages.
Can‘t.
One of my myriad cats, Eggy Say, sits in judgement.

Good multiple perspectives novel that hits on a variety of topics with a subtle hand. I liked the connection of high school debate to our current political climate. Good development of characters and a quirky ending.

I just read 282 pages and don‘t have any idea what the purpose and meaning of that story was. Another book that I‘m not smart enough for I guess. Someone explain it to me, please?

Adam is a debater. His mother is a famous feminist. His father works at a local clinic called the foundation. He and his friends deal with growing up, being good people, and living in the shadow of the foundation.

This book is the polar opposite of chic lit. It‘s a dark, gritty, well-written story that frankly I didn‘t like. I stuck with it because I knew the Topeka, KS of the 90s. I then found myself interested in the perspective of the mother. In the last quarter of the book, I got it and understood the grit needed to get me there.

November Roundup Part One: Overall I read a lot of great books. Eye of the World was a reread, and is always good, and Your House Will Pay was excellent. Tagged my favourite of this lot! The Twisted Ones was my biggest flop here and I didn‘t like Orange World. Everything else was quite good!

The books from my indiespensable subscription have been piling up, so I‘m jumping into this one.

I see the comparison to David Foster Wallace. Incredible writing but at times hard to keep it all straight. The ending wasn‘t what I was expecting but the again I‘m not sure what the ending should have been.

There is a lot to like in this one. I don‘t really know how to describe it, but it plays with timelines and revolves around the current political climate.

Started this one before bed last night. Really digging the tone so far. #scarathlon #teamStoker 1 point.