Welcome to Litsy!

This grid is telling me that I‘m loving books published this year! And yet, the win goes to the tagged - a masterclass in writing.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

1. Tagged “novella”
2. Hearts in Atlantis- Stephen King
2. The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

#TLT @dabbe

I‘m sure I‘ve never read a story as masterfully told inside of 88 pages as this. My recommendation: Treat yourself to a master class in writing!

….Last month I unexpectedly hosted my IRL bookclub discussion on Small Things Like These. To prepare I watched several 30-90 minute YouTube videos about the book. Often, as much as the speaker liked STLT, they liked Foster even more and I thought, No Way. Then I read it.
…Updated thought, Way!!!

*I have to read every night before sleep in bed
*Smart, helpful, magical Hermoine Granger. Maybe she‘d take pity on me and magically organize my house and garage 😂
*House on the Cerulean Sea and American Gods
*Foster (tagged), Kindred, Handmaid‘s Tale…
*I need reading glasses but am always losing them🤓

#LItsyFoundFamilySwap @KateReadsYA

A young girl from a financially challenged family is dropped off with richer relatives for a stay of unknown duration. This is the way 10 year olds experience life. You are simply swept along in the happening. Her birth parents have made poor choices. Her foster parents have experienced hardships about which they had no choice. This heartbreaking and heartwarming book is about knowing when you have to accept versus when you have to act.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 92 pages of brilliant storytelling.

Foster was my final #auldlangspine read in January from @IndoorDame ‘s list. I definitely saved the best for last. I LOVED this novella. Keegan can do no wrong in my book. Her stories seem like grownup fairy tales without magic. I‘m amazed at Keegan‘s ability to create such atmosphere and character development in so few pages. A girl from a large family spends the summer with a childless couple, past traumas abound. Neglect and hints at abuse.

Novella- sweet, concise,with an open ended ending (if that makes sense). My edition was 92 pages. A little girl is sent off from her family (who have little resources and a lot of kids) to a relative‘s home for the summer. She flourishes in their care. Impactful in its simplicity.#Ireland

Two exceptional stories. So Late In The Day (not shown) is my fave of this author‘s so far.

I am struggling with a bookclub-book, so had to sneak in a short read. This has been on my tbr ever since I read „Small Things Like These“ and when I saw it on @JamieArc #AuldLangSpine list, I was very happy. Claire Keegan manages to built so much with so little words. I like it a lot. @monalyisha

This was lovely and another total win from @Deblovestoread ‘s epic #AuldLangSpine list. I wondered a bit at the ending and enjoyed the thoughts about it and more that Keegan shared in this brief Q&A (with schoolchildren! How sweet.): https://www.juliangirdham.com/blog/claire-keegan-on-foster

This was PERFECT! How can something so short convey so much? I am in awe of Claire Keegan. Her sentences are beautiful but so precise. I am going to gush about her and this book to anyone who will listen. The world needs more foster families like the Kinsella‘s. More humans with heart. Kindness is undervalued in our world but not in this book.
Apparently there is a film adaptation, The quiet girl. Hopefully I can find it to watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think this novella was a #blamelitsy pick after seeing it on a number of best-of-2023 lists on here. And it's lovely. Sparse prose where the love can shine clearly through. Love this cover, too.

This was my first book of 2024! Although I‘m just getting around to reviewing. I do like a good novella. The author does a brilliant job of portraying the young protagonists feelings whilst showing us the adults lives and character traits through her. It‘s a soft pick as I didn‘t LOVE it and don‘t think it will stick with me although I appreciate the talent of her writing.

Wow! This beautiful novella packs a punch. Set in Ireland, a girl goes to live with another family and sees how different life can be. Not a word is wasted. It‘s absolutely perfect!

Lovely book and the film that was adapted from it is lovely too

Read for reading prompts

Library book 📖

4/5

Started off 2024 with a reread of a favorite. Happy new year!!

Keegan has a way of conveying so much feeling with so few words. The narrative is spare, but leaves such an impact. Just beautiful.

#12DaysOfChristmas

Like @Deblovestoread this was my January favorite.
Claire Keegan drafts her story so carefully and tenderly. This one is about a little girl that is staying with her uncle and aunt and learns about life, trust and grief. Perfection.

First day of Christmas my favorite book was Foster by Claire Keegan. Small but mighty.

@Andrew65

My #top130f23 is no particular order, like my #top10of23 posted previously. Now my #top23of23 is complete. Dedicated to Cindy.
Any Litttens, please post your pwn picks!!!

Late to the party with this one, and a book I'd probably not have picked up but for the copious favourable comments by Littens, and can only endorse what's already been said about how lovely and poignant a story it is. 5❤️

After finishing the novella ‘Small Things Like These‘ this morning I was left wanting to read more Claire Keegan. I found this short (just over an hour) audiobook on the Libby app and listened this afternoon. The story is about a poor Irish girl taken in by kindly relatives. The writing is once again perfection. Keegan is my favorite ‘new to me‘ writer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can‘t remember where I saw this novella recommended but I am so glad I stumbled upon it. It was highly enjoyable. #summerendreadathon

Well … that was a beautifully perfect little novella. 💙

This was a simple, quiet short story about a girl from a large family living with very kind relatives for a short time. I understand the praise it‘s gotten, but I think this just isn‘t my genre; I wanted to know a lot more. At some points I felt like I was missing some greater point that other readers picked up on.

❤️❤️

5/5 🌟

What a beautiful and heartwarming book. Perfect Sunday read! ❤️

My second Keegan and damn if I am not just obsessed with her now. This is such a beautiful story of kindness and longing. Keegan's writing is phenomenal and the ending is simultaneously gutting and heartwarming.

(Please forgive the dorky photo, this is how we do currently reading at the bookshop and I didn't have a different pic!)

Claire Keegan‘s beautiful prose says so much in less than 100 pages..about the power of love and kindness. Lovely story.

I really short book, maybe even a short story set in Ireland. A young girl goes to stay with a couple for a while. Her mum is about to give birth, and I presume she needs the eldest child out of the way. She ends up liking to live there. I enjoyed it.

I do like seeing where my just read books are going to go (if I ever manage to get enough shelves to fit proper alpha order!) 🙃😀

12-5 Jul 23
Sitting next to the cash register at my local bookstore last week and I could not resist (despite having a TBR bookcase). And it was as lovely as expected.
A gentle story of a young girl sent to live with relations for an indeterminate time whilst yet another baby is born. Despite her initial trepidation, she comes to cherish her time as an only child receiving full attention and love.
Keegan evokes so much emotion with few words.

A lovely, quiet novella 💚

This novella is one of those rare stories that can dig deep into your heart in less than 100 pages. A young girl is sent to live with distant relatives when her large family can‘t afford to keep her at home. She‘s shocked by the family‘s simple acts of kindness and her innocent observations are so lovely. I‘m aching to read more from this author.

“Many's the man lost much just because he missed a perfect opportunity to say nothing.”

Sweet

This was a great short story, but I wish I knew more about the families (family?) involved.

Why is it that the one day I have to sleep in is the day I wake up earliest? Oh well, I cleaned out a closet, did the dishes, and now it‘s time to read.

It took a couple of hrs to read but will stick in my memory for yrs. I loved 'Small things...' so was stunned again by the complex simplicity of the writing in this novella telling a tale of a yng girl whose pregnant mother leaves her with a childless couple for a summer. Its heart warming to read a bk abt good people doing good things and an ending that had me in the same state as I always am with the final scene of The railway children. 5*

Adding to everyone‘s praise, such a short powerful novella. I felt alternating tension and relief on each page - I couldn‘t put it down. She really captured the feeling of how the girl must have experienced living in a new home and trying to manage her expectations and emotions.

Some great reading as we do a short road trip through areas west of us. I love Clare Keegans writing. Foster is another wonderful novella by her. I‘m now enjoying Willa Cather‘s 3rd story in her Great Plains Trilogy. I‘ve loved them all!
It‘s a beautiful time to travel watching the leaves change colour, the big clear skies full of stars and the ancient mountains🧡
#booksandtravel #literarure #nswaustralia

Attended this event and got the tagged book signed 🥳

This novella is pure perfection. Beautiful.

Thank you for sending me this one @TrishB - I loved it.

"Foster" is the story of a young girl from a large family who is sent to live in the home of a childless couple for the summer.

The foster parents are loving and kind.

I wanted this short story to be longer, but it is beautiful just the way it is ❤️

Thank you for these lovely birthday treats @jhod and @TrishB I'm excited for all of them.

My first time reading Keegan. Gorgeous writing- equally delicate and evocative. Like many here, I found the subtlety of Keegan‘s writing really worked for me. I don‘t have much to add that hasn‘t been said, but I‘ll definitely be seeking out her other books. This was a perfect match for me as I wind down the weekend.

Thoroughly enjoyed this short book. I was able to read in one sitting which is always a plus. . . . subtle, simple yet packed with emotion. . . . and it takes place in Ireland!

More of a short story than a novel. Can be read in one sitting. The writing is lovely. It is a very soft spoken story. Not recommended for readers that like an active plot. This book is perfect for a quiet afternoon and a cup of tea. ☕️

I feel like I need to apologize that this book didn‘t do for me what it‘s done for so many others.