Welcome to Litsy!

Lily is a Chinese-American girl growing up in 1950s San Francisco, worrying about friends and Communists, and eventually coming to the realization that she is a lesbian. This book is rich in historical detail and provides a different view of the 1950s than what I usually see. I liked Lily and my heart ached for or leapt with her. I can‘t call this a happy book but it isn‘t too depressing either.

Took a while for this one to come in from the library holds but excited to start this next one off of the #auldlangspine list from @kspenmoll @monalyisha

A wonderful and thought provoking story with a detailed historical background. I especially loved reading the afterword by Lo with many more information, also about her own background. The story is moving and I totally got lost in it. Even though it seems like Lo picked up a lot of different topics, they all fit together to show us life as a queer in the 50ties.

“Lily blinked and took a sip of tea. ‘Yes, he must have been a spy,‘ she said. But the game felt wrong now. She was relieved when the woman in black paid her bill and left.”

“Grace turned to look at him. He put down his glass and reached across the table for her. She was surprised, but she put her hand in his.”

“Lily smiled. ‘Right.‘
She stepped back to give Kath room to bowl, and also to block the men‘s view.”

“Now she laid the women pilots on the bed next to Katherine Hepburn and Tommy Andrews and looked at them all in succession. She couldn‘t put into words why she had gathered these photos together, but she could feel it in her bones: a hot and restless urge to look-and, by looking, to know.”

This is another book that took me a while to finish, for no particular reason, but it turned out to be my favorite from July. #12booksof2023

LOVED our June #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD 🏳️‍🌈🌈♥️

#12Booksof2023 @Andrew65 JUNE

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD June 2023

https://www.malindalo.com/blog/2021/6/22/the-raid-on-tommys

I was reading holding my breath most of this book! I really did love it! Definitely in my top 20 this year.

We read this author again next June 2024!

This was an intriguing book, and by the end of it I really couldn‘t put it down. The only thing I didn‘t like was the ending, but it is believable because I can also see it happening to some I might know.

November #bookspin pick. I‘ve been looking forward to this one for a long time now.

#2023Book72

Lily was really likable & relatable character, I adored her. I loved the setting and writing style too.

This was maybe a bit too slow-burn for my taste; I didn't get romantic vibes and was surprised when I understood who Lily's love interest was. I didn't like the ending.

This was interesting and captivating read.

#SummerEndReadathon

9-13-23: My 86th finished book of 2023! Set in 1950s San Francisco, Lily Hu is 17 year old senior living with her family in Chinatown. While she has her main friends including Shirley, she becomes close with Kath and a whole new world is opened up to her when she visits the Telegraph Club a lesbian bar in North Beach, right next to Chinatown. This was a sad but lovely story of a young girl coming of age during a time when who she was wasn‘t seen.

This book has been on my #TBR since 2022 when it was recommended to me for #AuldLangSpine by @MallenNC
I thought the setting, 1950‘s San Francisco was fantastic, and I enjoyed the atmospheric quality of Chinatown with its food and culture beautifully portrayed, but the story of forbidden love was a bit too YA for me. This IS a YA novel, so it‘s really #MeNotYou when it comes to the the author. It‘s just #RightBookWrongReader

Though there was a gap between the starting and ending dates, I enjoyed this book enough that it was my favorite for July. Background is the doves display at the National Cathedral a few years ago. #wrapup

I finished Yellowface for #camplitsy23 last night, a little late to join the discussions.

As a response to questions about what authors should be allowed to write about, I would like to share Malinda Lo's thoughts. She manages to articulate very well the issue with demanding authors prove their authenticity.

@Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

#JuneWrapUp

My best reading month in forever. 20 books read with the tagged as one of my favorites. Other favorites were Dopesick, beyond that, the sea, No Two Persons and We All Want Impossible Things. 3 DNF‘s, 7 Bingos, 5 finished in my quest to catch up (or start) series.

I‘m on track to finish my book goal early which looks great but my intention was to set it low so I would read more chunksters. Maybe in the 2nd half of the year?

Reading this and loving it, but won‘t be finished by June 30. #tbrtarot. #tiredofpaintingmyhouse
Sorry @CBee - can‘t wait to see July!

This was the beautiful and somewhat sad coming of age tale of Lily, 17 year old Chinese American girl in the 50s in San Francisco. The look at the Chinese and lesbian communities of that time was fascinating. So well written that you feel like your there sharing those experiences with Lily. Highly recommend this one. Read for #sundaybuddyread

5/5 ⭐️ Loved reading this coming of age lesbian love story set in 1950s San Francisco. Lily and Kath are such loveable characters! And the author's research and notes were terrific! 🏳️‍🌈 #sundaybuddyread #pride

Read for #SundayBuddyRead June, I loved this one. I like YA historical fiction as it usually isn‘t all about teenage angst & teaches me history & paints a glimpse of life in a different time. This book does all of this as Lily, a 17-year-old Chinese-American explores her sexuality & lesbian awakening in 1950s San Francisco. The author did her research & brought Lily‘s experience & the history of the Chinese & homosexuality in the city to life. ⬇️

#BookReport. This was the week of finishing buddy reads. Really loved the tagged book. Great YA historical fiction and perfect for Pride month. Old Friends was a fun mashup of Jane Austen characters. The others were good not great. Loved We All Want Impossible Things. I think the Le Guin is more me than the book.

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD NEXT JUNE 🏳️‍🌈

This book! I‘ll keep an eye out for sales!

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

I truly loved this read. Thankyou so much for Sundays!!! Off next week then on to The Messy Lives of Book People

Happy SUNDAY🏳️‍🌈♥️🏳️‍⚧️

https://www.malindalo.com/free-short-stories

Intersectional coming of age novel set in 1950s SF Chinatown with McCarthyism lurking in the background. Despite touching on many issues, this novel also feels sweet and simple with themes of finding oneself and first love. #PrideMonth 🌈
(Photo from author‘s website)

Dreary Saturdays are perfect for catching up on all my reading ❤️ this was such a great coming of age novel! I loved the historical aspects of the 1950‘s in terms of the Chinese experience, San Francisco, and LGBTQ culture. Lily‘s story is wonderful; finding her first love, figuring out her future, choosing her path ( truth) I can see why it won all these awards

Well, my ipad won‘t turn on….the dreaded black screen of death. 😬😩 SO it‘s reading my book club book on my iphone while I am away. I also started Yellowface…so far excellent.

Just finished this this evening. Cannot wait for our discussion Sunday. A gem of a book, with multilayered themes as well as historical significance.#sundaybuddyread

See you SUNDAY for the FINAL discussion on this read! #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Make sure to read authors notes and extras!

Also I found this 😅👀🤷🏻‍♀️😂 https://www.mycast.io/stories/last-night-at-the-telegraph-club

Lily, a Chinese American high school girl living in San Francisco‘s Chinatown in the 1950s, falls in love with her Caucasian classmate, Kath. The novel sensitively and realistically explores Lily‘s struggles as a lesbian woman of color coming of age during a time of strict social mores and rampant prejudice, even within her own family.
Another excellent pick for #SundayBuddyRead, @TheBookHippie !

I couldn't wait and devoured the rest in one gulp! Will wait for Sunday though. #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

@TheBookHippie has picked another great read for #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD
#JoysOfJune (book 14) @Andrew65

Wheels up in 1 hour! This time, I've got a short flight to Columbus for the week. Sadly, one of my fellow sales ladies is moving along, and I have the pleasure (?) of covering the hotel until her replacement is hired. Doing the exit transition is much easier in person, so off I go!

I might actually get to read & reply to week 3 of the #sundaybuddyread today AND tomorrow I should have time to visit The Book Loft. Huzzah!

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

SO THERE IS A COMPANION BOOK !

Better believe I put it for June 2024 schedule 😂🏳️‍🌈✔️

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

San Francisco sea lions
They talk about them -made me think of Pier 39

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/pier-39-sea-lions-17760174.php

📷mine