Welcome to Litsy!

Gotta say, out of the two things about the meaninglessness of things happening that I can recall experiencing, I like this a lot better than the movie about the killer tire.

1) Tagging the book I'm liking most, though I also have a small chunk of The Girl Next Door to read, plus some library manga, probably.
2) Physical! It's a paperback I definitely got out of a B&N bargain section.
3) Like 4.5 stars? No one is more shocked than me (because I -really- didn't like my first day with it)
4) Sticky notes. Honestly, I'm very charmed by written in the margins ephemera, but don't have the confidence to do it myself.

This was so good! The narrative jumps around in time around a huge event in the narrator's life, and another pivotal event although it's not personally catastrophic. Anyway, I got a bit confused sometimes but not too badly and the writing is absolutely fantastic. Interestingly, and if you know me at all, exactly to my liking, you don't get a clear picture of where things end for the narrator, what lies next. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I started and got bored with a few books in a row, and then another Litten posted about his second book. I discovered they're both on Scribd and of course had no self-control. I adore John Darnielle/the Mountain Goats but I was wary... So many bad books are published every year, after all. But I need not have feared - brilliant lyricist, brilliant writer. So good so far.

Sean Phillips, recluse since an injury during his adolescence, is the creator of a mail-in text based RPG. He lives in an immersive fantasy world, this has a real emotional punch to it. #maladjusted #maycharacters @eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I loved his other book (Universal Harvester) so I have high hopes for this one.

#3Books that were recommended to me @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

1.- a recommendation by one of my husband's employees when she found out I liked to read and liked Game of Thrones. I was highly skeptical, but it's amazing. Nothing like GoT though.
2. -a staff pick of a fellow bookstore employee. One day I sold 4 copies in a row, so of course I had to buy it and read it!
3. - recommended by @kimmypete1 and got me hooked on Shalvis.

I haven't managed a Bingo yet, but I'm happy to mark another book off my list. #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Fans of Blake Crouch's Recursion will probably like this one. The story is told in reverse order. Parts of the story involve an RPG that is played out through the mail. People choose their paths in the game and the owner writes them back what their next step is. But something goes wrong.

This was a very unique reading experience.

Next up. Going to enjoy a little reading in the jungle room before work today.

Day 6 #7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Some heavy truth from Wolf in White Van. The quote is describing a game, but it‘s also a nod to a simple fact about every day that is sometimes easier to ignore. Hope everyone is pushing on and making progress this weekend.

Looking back on some of my favourite books to get inspired and think I‘ll re-read this one soon. This slim volume deals with some of the heaviest topics out there—serious TW for suicide—but it treats its characters with enormous sympathy and humanity. This book knows life is hard and deftly explores the choice we make every day we choose to keep going.

Sometimes you have to love what Barnes and Noble puts on the 75% off table. The Scott Pilgrim game, Heavy Metal history book, and the Tesla puzzles book were only $16! Wolf In White Van looks really interesting. (Thanks for finding that one @cobwebmoth ) Plus we found a bunch of exclusive Funko Pops at another store. Death! She is just delightful.
Now to try and make time for reading again.

“This album began as a rock opera about a besieged seaside community called Riversend ruled by a benevolent wizard.”

The new Mountain Goats album is being described as “dragon noir” and my brother got me an advanced copy as an early birthday gift!

I‘ve loved lead singer John Darnielle‘s novels and I am so stoked about this!

#spectacular #quotsyapr2019

I love his writting. Beautiful and dream like. Such a small book with huge impact. Trigger warnings for attempted/ failed suicide and untreated mental health conditions. Very eye opening when thinking about who you know that is needing help and how they may be ignored, not approached or not believed.. until it's too late. This will stick with me.

Reading in between work tasks.

#Reccomendsday (I haven't done one of these in eons!) If the Black Mirror Bandersnatch episode left you wanting more obsessed game designers & violence, look no further than Darnielle's excellent "Wolf in White Van." Bonus points for listening to Darnielle's band The Mountain Goats while reading it, as good of a soundtrack as found on Black Mirror.

This was recommended to me by a friend who loved it. And I can understand why people would love it. But I definitely did not love it. ⭐️⭐️

Half way through my #screamathon #tbr. 2 out of 3 gems isn‘t bad, I guess.

Here is my tentative #screamathon TBR. I‘ve been on a horror binge lately, so hopefully I can keep it up through Halloween.
There are a couple of books that come out at the end of October (Slender Man by Will Hill and the King Novella) that will also be possible for me to sneak in this month. 🤓🎃🧛🏻‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️💀

Whoa.

Just finished this and I can tell I‘m going to have to sit with it for a while. This was my first #screamathon pick, started early.

It deals with the complex knot of adolescent thought mixed with adult nostalgia. The actual story is about a disfigured man and the events that led to where he is now.

Man o man is it good.

#themountaingoats

“But generally the only way we ever know anything about anything is if something goes wrong.”

Oof. This book is getting to me. Damn it‘s good.

Next up!! This is actually from my #screamathon stack but I hope I am forgiven for starting early. I‘ve wanted to read this since it came out.

#themountaingoats #wolfinwhitevan

I enjoyed the game aspect, but Shawn‘s backstory was just “meh” for me. I probably wouldn‘t read anything else by this author.

I‘ve been enjoying this on my work commute for the last couple days. I love the idea of a sort of role playing game you play through snail mail. One move per letter. Cool.

I‘m heading into my glass studio for the morning, I may even finish this up today.

This was hard for me to get into at first. I guess I understand why it is structured like it is, but I enjoyed it a lot more after it dispensed with all the goddamn mystery early on. Though, oddly, I sort of wish the ending had been left more unreconciled.

A book, a hotel bed, and I‘m not going to work tomorrow. ☺️

#RainbowBookStack #Riotgrams

Shamelessly reposting this from awhile back because these last few days of the school year are wearing me out.

1) Today is in the 50s & sunny, which means Woohoo! Denim Jacket (full of cute pins!) weather! ☀️
2) I‘ve had this for years and it‘s supposedly really good, no idea why I haven‘t just read it! 🙈
3) Sheetpan Sweet Potato Hash with runny eggs on top! 🍳
4) #Catsoflitsy/#littenkitten 🐱
5) Patriot Games by Tom Clancy. It figures, folks of the 80s loved them some Tom Clancy... 😝
#humpdaypost

#24in48 hour 42 challenge was Best/Worst covers! Wolf in White Van is one of my favorite covers, so that‘s an easy best! I don‘t really have any books I hate the cover of, but this copy of Dune is the worst in a so bad it‘s good kind of way!

This is not the book for you if you like tidy, pat endings. It's also not the book for you if you like a coherent storyline and action-based plot. However, if you're into exploration of character, food for thought, and rather good writing, this is excellent. Darnielle's a good and thoughtful writer, and the structure he chose for this book kept the story compelling. 👇🏽

I went out shopping for my #secretsantagoespostal match and ended up with a few books for myself...Wolf in White Van is a book I have already read, and gave my copy away to a friend, so I needed to replace. I can honestly think of no greater recommendation than giving a loved book away with no thought of getting it back, because you need it to be read by someone you love.

I didn‘t buy a single book last month so tonight I bought 4. The Darnielle book was on clearance, the rest were Buy 2 Get 1 Free at B&N so I don‘t feel as bad 💁‍♂️

@Crowcah and I are seeing The Mountain Goats tonight!!

I read the first few pages of this a while back and was immediately drawn in. Also intrigued by the idea of a novel from a songwriter and what that might entail. How I've managed to still not read the whole thing is a mystery. #tbr #giveawaysix @Liberty

Jumping into the #readathon by finishing up this one. It is a bit like Invisible Monsters meets Ready Player One.

It's #bookmatch time! They all have similar sensibilities, which is why I chose them for #exorciseyourdemons--whether those that come of family traumas or past mistakes. Wolf in White Van and Splitfoot have a connection via journeys and imagination, while Splitfoot and Universal Harvester are connected by family issues and confusion. I love the mood of these books, but sadly I felt only WIWV followed through as much as I'd hoped. #hallowreads

I am obsessed with the thrift books website!! I've been buying books faster than I can even finish them but everything is so cheap! And free shipping after 10$!! My bank accounts new enemy lol

Wolf in White Van is a melancholy, introspective novel following a man who, after an injury at the age of 17 that left him disfigured, develops a mail-based role-playing game. Beautifully written, it explores themes of escapism - finding refuge from the "real world" in books, music, and in the narrator's case, creating the world his game takes place in. It's a wonderful read and one I'd highly recommend!

#jubilantjuly day 5: #workaholics
I figure that these musicians who write fiction/comics/poetry are pretty much workaholics!
Wolf in White Van by Mountain Goats' John Darnielle
Comics series Umbrella Academy by My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way
The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave
Infinity Series by Ryan Adams

This is patiently waiting in my kindle... #wolves #JuneTunz

Definitely one of the strangest I've read, but I LOVED it! Even the cover is a bit of a mind f*ck. #COMEONEILEEN

Really enjoyed this one. It's introspective and explores the ideas of isolation and escapism. Lots of food for thought. 👍

I read this when it came out. I thought it was weird and enjoyable. I want to read his new one that's out. Also a #crazycover #marchintoreading

This is the second John Darnielle book I've read and I liked it much more than Universal Harvester. I felt the story captured the isolation of the MC well and skillfully walked the reader backwards in time to understand how he got that way. That being said, like his other book, I felt there was too much not explored and other things that didn't seem relevant to the story that were explored too much. Quick audiobook and good writing style.

Back to this lovely today.

Between So-So and Pan for me. There's certainly a lot of interesting commentary about escapism and loneliness, about the choices we make in life and how people cope with extreme trauma. The writing is good. But overall this just did NOT work for me. (Maybe because gaming and fantasy typically bore me?) I think there's a lot to get out of this book if you put in the effort, but I was so underwhelmed that I had no desire to expend that extra energy.