Welcome to Litsy!

Third book completed off my #AuldLangSpine list from @Deblovestoread . It was a bit of a strange read for me—I enjoyed it while I was reading it but was never in a hurry to pick it back up again after I put it down. I did appreciate the historical aspects that drove me to Google to discover what really happened with the witch trials in Finnmark in 1617-1619.

When I read the blurb for this I knew it would be right up my street. It did not disappoint! I was hooked from the beginning, a beautifully written story of some incredible women. What more could you want?
#pick #themercies #love

And that‘s a wrap for my 2022 reading year! It was a great year of reading with The Mercies being the standout. Looking forward to more great reads in 2023!
(December 31, 2022)

#12Booksof2022. Loved this book about a small village and the women who became integral to its survival. After reading her newest The Dance Tree she is an auto buy author for me. #12daysofChristmas

For February‘s #12BooksOf2022 , this is a definite standout - atmospheric historical fiction that really reminded me of Hannah Kent‘s Burial Rites, which is one of my favorite books. Witch hunts and superstitions and religion and the patriarchy…what could be better? Based on a true story too.

Very lyrical writing but it was a little too slow for me. I may not have been able to get through it if it was not my option for #aboutanonpatriarchalsociety for #booked2022

1600s remote Norway where inhabitants rely on the sea. The men of the village are shipwrecked and the women are left to carry on without husbands, brothers, fathers. They are doing fine until an outsider comes to their shores and begins accusing women of witchcraft. I liked the story but I listened to the audiobook which matched the tone of the book, but a bit flat.
completes my 1st #booked reading challenge! #booked2023 #nonpatriarchalsociety

This is an interesting novel, but I didn‘t enjoy the #audiobook narration. It was too monotone for me. However, this finishes both #pop22 and #booked2022! 🎉🎉

In the 1600s, a ship carrying all the men in a small northern Norwegian village capsizes, leaving the women to build a #NonPatriarchalSociety. But trouble comes when King James I sends a minister to oversee the women and they don‘t want him there.

This was quite an interesting read about the which hunting taking place in 17th century Norway. Set on the small island of Varsø, where a sudden storm has wiped out the entire male population, women rule. One day a new Commissioner arrives with his wife. While she takes to the women of the island, his mission is to find out what caused that storm that took all the men.
Thanks for sending this one to me Cindy ??

#pop22 #aboutwitches

This book is based off in Norway in 1617. I thought this book had great and detailed descriptions. It was hard to understand for me what exactly was going on but I think I made my own inferences while reading.

I thought this book has great descriptions that were easy to understand.

“The boats are loosely pegged out against it by their two small lights, bow and aft, barely flickering”

“as she watches, a final flash of lighting illuminates the hatefully still sea, and from its blackness rise oars and rudders and a full mast with gently stowed sails, like underwater forests uprooted.”

The Mercies is a great book that takes the reader on a journey of love, obsession, and evil. I think this is a must read for older grades.

The Mercies by Koran Millwood Hargrave( 2020) is a book about a twenty year old who lost her brother and father in storm, along with many others. Three years later someone arrives who she becomes drawn too. This book was also inspired by real events. This book is about love, evil, and obsession.

And then maybe both of them are screaming but there is no sound save the sea and the sky and all the boat lights swallowed and the boats flashing and the boats spinning, the boats flying, turning, gone

Powerful

This book is about a devastating storm that wipes out Maren‘s father and brother out at sea. Maren stands on the coast and watches it all happen before her eyes. Maren and the rest of the widowed women become independent and strong. The commissioner does not like what he sees

“Maren‘a ears ring with silence.”

I really like how this story takes the true events of Norway and paints an imaginative story to captivate readers of all ages.

This book was published in 2019 and is a book about 20 year old Maren. The details of this story captivate you and place you in Finnmark, Norway in 1617. The words describe the setting with such detail. This is a story about tragedy and how people may come together to stand for themselves in a time of need.

How lucky have I been thank you so much @Cupcake12 this is a perfect package for me! I also wanted to thank and @Avanders for setting this up. It was my first swap in ages.

Also #Booked2022 ~ Non-Patriarchal society

I was super excited to read this story based on the historical events of the Vardo storm and the 1620 witch trials. Unfortunately, I found it somewhat dull. I loved that it was set in Norway on an island where the men were killed at sea during a storm and the women were living on their own until a witch hunter is sent. I‘m using it for #pop22 ~ a book set in a no patriarchal society.

I can't...I just can't. This books moves slow like molasses in January and I just don't want to read anymore of it. I'm at the point where I'm reading maybe 20 pages over lunch and don't want to pick it up after hours.
This was for a Booked2022 prompt and the third book I've attempted for “non-patriarchal society“. So I put a hold on Stephen King's “Night Shift“ and going to count “Children of the Corn“ as a fulfillment of that prompt.

“The Mercies“ is taking longer than expected to finish. I didn't read this weekend cause I couldn't get into it. Which is funny because I want to know what happens. So this will be my lunch book this week and hopefully I'll get it done in time to dip into “Ramona Blue.“
#WeeklyForecast #BookReport

Thank you so much @sprainedbrain for this fantastic #spookysummerswap package! This book sounds so interesting! I love the holographic moon phase bookmark and always love anything related to my astrological sign ♒️

April, as usual, had to inspect #catsoflitsy

Not to be confused with her kids books as contains graphic violence and sexual assault. The village of women are fine by themselves, until the witchfinder comes.

A historical fiction about a small community devastated by a natural disaster that killed most of the men in the village. As the women come together to deal with their collective grief and find ways to survive their harsh environment the outside world begins to take notice…and everything “unnatural” for women to do is suddenly a sign of witchcraft. Beautifully written and I couldn‘t help but relate to a time when rumors & hearsay can carry much⤵️

I liked this, but didn't love it. While it was atmospheric and the remote setting was like its own character, ultimately I wanted a little more than what we got. When the village's men are taken by the sea, the women must step up to ensure their people can carry on living. Add to it men who just can't imagine women will do just fine on their own and considering those with different customs as witches, well...it all makes me a little stabby. ⬇️

#2022 reading bracket I decided I need to separate fiction from nonfiction because I couldn‘t decide between How the Word is Passed and The Mercies. I‘m not sure I read enough nonfiction to make it interesting but we‘ll see as we go along.

#FebruaryBookSpin #Wrapup.

16 books finished including my BookSpin and Doublespin books

5🌟
Tagged
Sense & Sensibility
Watership Down

4.5 🌟
We Begin at the End
Thunderhead

4🌟
Cassandra at the Wedding
Razorblade Tears
The Art of Theft
Murder on Astor Place
She Who Became the Sun

Except for The Wife Upstairs at 2🌟 the rest were 3 or 3.5🌟

Looking forward to tomorrow morning and March‘s numbers.

Time for the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion! I have 7 questions under the spoiler tag - you can find them in my feed, in the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

This book brought up so many emotions for me, and I had no clue about the Scotland-Norway relations in the 17th century (and earlier).

Please feel free to comment anything else about the book (and use the spoiler tag if necessary). #LiteraeyCrew #BuddyRead

Thanks!!

Oh how I loved this one! I totally agree with @Cinfhen ‘s review that this has Burial Rites vibes - it has an isolated atmosphere with dark undertones. And the writing style is brilliant. Full of storms and witches and women struggling to make it on their own in early 1600s Norway, this novel captured my interest right away. I just had to finish it this morning (and household chores can wait!). #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ⬇️⬇️⬇️

This is a historical novel on a real event I‘d never heard about. It‘s very atmospheric, opening with a bang. My only complaint was it came to a close very quickly after all the build up. It never ceases to amaze me how people were so completely fooled and horrible in regards to these witchcraft trials. Great pick for #LiteraryCrew!

Starting this month‘s #20in4 #readathon by continuing to read this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead . I‘m entranced by this and absolutely hate having to put it down for IRL distractions (work, chores…you get the idea!).

I‘m hoping to hit 20 hours over the next several days, ticking more off of my tbr stack. Incidentally, I read over 17 hours out of the 20 hours I had hoped to read for #FabulousFebruary , which I forgot the post earlier!

Best book I have read this year so far. Well written and character driven. A storm kills all the able-bodied men from a small fishing village. The women left behind roll up their sleeves and do the “mens work” to feed themselves and their children. Then the witch hunters arrive… #19822022 2019 @Librarybelle

The imagery in this book is so vivid, it felt like I was there. Definitely a book that will sit with me for some time to come. After a horrific storm, wipes out the island of Vardo‘s men, the women left behind have to learn how to survive. The storm however is to be only the beginning of the troubles these women come to endure. Based on actual historical events the depiction of the witch trials during this time is chilling and heartbreaking.

I greatly enjoyed the lovely, atmospheric writing, the setting in a place and time I didn‘t know or think much about, and the sweet, delicately balanced sapphic relationship. However, in the end it fell a bit flat for me due to the lack of plot. There is a plot, actually, but it feels sort of beside the point.

#BookReport

To Paradise 3🌟 ALL will stay with me forever, this one will not
Letter to My Daughter 4🌟 #AAM Might have had more impact if I were younger #DoubleSpin
Broken Horses 3.5 🌟
The Mercies 5🌟 There‘s something about these harsh landscapes that appeal to me. Looking forward to our discussion. #Booked2022

#WeeklyForecast

Enjoying Astor Place. She Who Became the Sun is from my #NYWD list. Not sure what I think about Whereabouts.

I got about 40 pages into this one and knew it was not the right book for the right time, which surprised me! #LiteraryCrew @Librarybelle

OMG! This is a dark book…BUT SOOOOO GOOD! I immediately connected with Maren and Ursa. The storyline as I said is dark and it will definitely make you think which is always a sign of a good book. It‘s a super compelling read. All the stars for this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #BuddyRead #LiteraryCrew @Librarybelle