Welcome to Litsy!

#SummerEndReadathon These are my goals for the month on top of finishing my current reads and my stack of audio books in Libby. I know September is technically still summer but to me it is the kick off of autumn.Autumn reading to me has me immersed in stories of school, fairy tales and food. So a few of those had made the list.

When you find your name on a book cover.

For a book where nothing really HAPPENS, this was decent. Lots of long, run-on sentences, but an interesting portrayal of soldiers and the America they leave behind when they go to war.
⭐️: 3/5

It was ok.
I read this because so many reviewers I trust said this book is amazing.
It‘s a commentary on the war and disillusionment, class discrimination, and misplaced priorities. I just expected something to happen, something surprising or shocking, but nothing did. I guess that makes it more realistic but not necessarily engrossing reading.

#Booked2019 #Autumn #SoldiersStory

*This book is one I was absolutely not looking forward to reading. On the recommendation of a great friend, I decided to give it a go. This book is utterly fantastic. It is an older book (2012), so I‘m sure loads of Littens have already read it, so I‘ll make it brief. Three points: a) Fountain has his thumb firmly on the pulse of American culture; b) he is a wordsmith of the highest caliber—I learned ⬇️

Spent most of the day working, but squeezed in a little bit of this audiobook!

This workout is brought to you by audiobooks, without which my physical activity would be significantly less.

Back on Litsy after a long hiatus not because I‘ve forgotten about it, but simply because I haven‘t finished a book in a while (I redirected most of my free time to Scrabble stuff for the last few months). Ready to get back on my reading grind. I really enjoyed this book, which manages to be about war despite almost no scenes of combat - it‘s more about perception vs. reality with respect to the lives of modern soldiers.

Reading a book while overlooking the city it‘s set in.

#hometownread #texas

#OctoberXFiles #BitingTheBullet

Two of the best war books I‘ve read. Both made into movies.

The best novel I have read in years

I know this may not be everyone‘s thing but I LOVED this and thought it was brilliant. It‘s on sale for Kindle right now for 1.99 USD 🎉

My month in books --
As for being the "Catch 22 of the Iraq War" - I wouldn't go that far, but it was a blistering commentary on the war, politics, corporate money, pro-sports, and much more. Worth the read.

Trying to listen to this one while I work today, but I'm struggling. I feel like I'm overhearing high school boy conversations. Is the whole book like this? I may actually have to bail on this one. Anyone have some praise to share that may make me stick with it?

I recently finished Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. The writer does a superb job of honoring the sacrifice of soldiers while criticizing the vulgar, ignorant, shallow, war-mongering American public that sends kids to die in meaningless wars. It's funny, creative, and insightful.

Engaging: 4/5 stars

#RockinMay #america #MemorialDay

I don't usually enjoy books about war. This was such a great story (war is in flashback). A great read for Memorial Day.

Reading faces. Also, I put that ring there. 💜 Also also, I've always thought Tall Dude looks like a grownup Harry Potter.

Blegh. Wanted to like it, but after so many pages of being in an aimless macho teenager's head, I couldn't take it anymore. I appreciate what the author was going for, and bravo for taking risks, but it wasn't for me. I'd like to see the movie though.

OK, I read this about two years ago, but I'm now making Neil read it. He doesn't have to love it, but it would help. #readingparty #recentfaves

I had watched the movie a few weeks back, but checked it out from the library again so I could watch the bonus features this time. I didn't read the book, but brilliant film? Ang Lee put his expertise to full use in bringing Billy's story from the novel to screen!

Starting tonight. #readharder #bookaboutwar

This is on sale! Ok maybe only in N America, but still! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

$1.99 today on Kindle!!

I don't #DNF a lot of books. I'm pretty good at choosing books that I will like and sometimes I've been tempted but then ended up really liking the book. The above are 4 that I did. I would really like to try Catch 22 again at some point. #readjanuary

Superb, and heartbreaking. The terrible contrast between the hyped up life in America and what the troops abroad, and their families, are actually going through is portrayed in a way that really hits you in the gut.

Loved this novel. Loved this movie.

#photoadaynov16 Day 23 I didn't really expect to like this book as much as I did. It's set almost entirely at a Dallas Cowboys football game and I'm not much of a sports person. Billy Lynn sticks with you. His visit home is only a very small portion of this book, but it's enough to know his family is dysfunctional. #dysfunctionalfamily

I read this book as part of the book club at my local indie. As one of my fellow readers noted, this book did not "have" to be written. A great satire of American culture and the Iraq war, but not anything ground-breaking. I did appreciate the accurate depiction of these war heroes, who are really just young guys who were thrown into a war and are now just trying to get by.

What to do in the interminable hours between the end of the work day and the time election returns begin to come in . . . Library!

Best book I've read in a long time!

My favorite kind of book - makes you laugh and smacks you around a little.

The trailer for the upcoming movie looks good.

So...1/4 in and I'm paying bills instead. What does that tell u?

I tried hard to like it. I really did. But there seems to be a windowless iron door between myself and the characters. Narration is pretty much "Detached Observer" and its painful people!!

Pain. Dead. GAH!

So the glorious full review I'd planned is dead. Beaten with the same heavy cudgel Ben Fountain is using to drive his social commentary home in this book. ?

Tried reading this once before but I couldn't get through it. Trying again.

“It is sort of weird being honored for the worst day of your life."

I'm enjoying this book and an Italian chopped salad this evening. I hope everyone is having a great night or day depending on where you are! 💜

I really liked this and would recommend the audiobook. billy and his Bravo squad need a sequel! wanted to read this before the movie came out...

For today's #AugustPhotoChallenge , I present a riff on the impulse buy! I impulsively bought each one of these at one time or another, but I have yet to read them. I was planning on working in the Wonderbook today, but while going through my shelves, I impulsively pulled down the other two to add to my TBR. (For September, probably.)

I'm just praying he made it back.

Fantastic satire of the war on terror, American patriotism and culture, the super wealthy, football, the military... A bit more introspective than I expected for a satire but it really worked overall. Billy Lynn was a great character that will stay with me for awhile. Not a quick read even though it isn't very long; the writing is excellent and slowed down my reading to appreciate it more.

Normally one of the boys would be in my lap but they're keeping me company in my guest room nook. Skippy snuggled in on the far left, Toby sprawled because he doesn't care, and Radar pouting. At least they're not trying to chew my book or smack my coffee cup. #24in48

40% in and I'm tapping out. Just not keeping my interest despite some interesting I thoughts.

Time to get cracking on this month's book club pick. Looking forward to this one!

Fountain creates that narrative that feels like you're hearing a story from a batto, but doesn't fall into jargon-world, which is a great balance to achieve for a military writer. It shows he did his army-isms research, oftentimes that crucial niche lacking for writers without an OD background.

Every so often Bradley Whitford (the West Wing's Josh Lyman) recommends a book to me. He's intelligent and well-read and knows good writing, so I listen. Here's what he recommended last night at Justice For Vets' PSA launch. And what he looked like.