Welcome to Litsy!

A novel set in the early twentieth century in Washington. A story of how those fighting for unions were treated. Characters with courage and determination to trying for equality in the workplace. Historical fiction opening the eyes of those unfamiliar with the battles of workers. A solid 4/5⭐️

Thank you to @CarolynM for gifting me this book! It took me a little while to get into this (i think just because the pov changes interrupted my reading flow at first) but then the plot started to wind up and it was GRIPPING! Walter can really write and while there are many agreeable characters to connect with here, i really adored his villains and ne‘er-do-wells. 4.5 stars for me 😍 ⬇️

Stopped into the charity bookshop and found this book which I wasn‘t looking for but it was obviously looking for me @Megabooks @Anna40 😁 #serendipitous

First and last reads of 2021- not a great year in general, but a really good reading year. So glad for good books.

#12booksof2021 #2ndbookof2021 #February

I loved this story of itinerant workers and fledgeling unionism in early C20th America.

@Andrew65

This was a slow build of a book for me but I enjoyed it regardless. The book was centered on two brothers who must move throughout the Northwest to find jobs. There was some great secondary character development throughout the book and strong women depicted in varying roles. It was interesting and also devastating to see the impacts of free speech and union organization battles during that time.

I thought this was a really well written historical fiction piece. I enjoyed the focus on Eastern Washington State (I‘m from the East Coast, US) so I felt like I learned quite a bit about the geography and it‘s effects on the characters. I won‘t make comparisons to the Grapes of Wrath (my favorite novel) but I thought there were shades of that book in this one.

Jess Walter offers an intriguing look at the free-speech battles that roiled Spokane, Washington, in the early 20th century in his 2020 novel, “The Cold Millions.” The book held my attention from beginning to end, but I thought the main character. Rylan Nolan, was not as thoroughly realized as the colorful secondary characters who swirled around him.

Book 69

I listened to The Cold Millions. The story is complex and well-written, but I never felt invested. Reading it may have been better for me. ⭐⭐⭐

This had a slow build to a five slicer rating but I was enthralled and extremely pleased with the experience of reading this by the end, including through the acknowledgements. I loved thinking about what inspired Walter to research this, curious about his thoughts and creative process. My esteem for this author continues on a logarithmic scale! (LOL debating with husband how to spell that 🤣) History, strong female characters, empathy, craft. 👏

Look what arrived from @CarolynM !! A wonderful early birthday present! I can‘t believe you remembered my birthday Carolyn - you are a gem! (I am notorious for not remembering the dates of anything 😬) Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift. The amazing thing was I had just looked up this book two days before and added it to my TBR. I love MOR products and this cream smells amazing - and that bookmark is gorgeous! Thank you so much!

Just arrived digitally via the library Libby app. Reading something that just sounded good and not for any other reason! 🤣 I am a big fan of the author.

Rye had never seen anyone compete with Gig in the quoting of famous men. This Early Reston was like Gig meeting his match and his best friend at the same time, and they went back and forth about this fella Nitchee, or that one Marks, or some guy Russo, who Early said believed that "liberty with danger is preferable to peace with slavery."

"Tommy Russo?" Rye tossed in from behind, thinking of a young Italian they'd picked apples with...

I was so hopeful to love this book the way I do Walters‘ other works. Although this one still had Walters‘ signature gorgeous prose, I was not as enthralled with the story as I was his previous works. Definitely still worth the read though!

It's Mr B's subscription day 🥳
A new author for me - look forward to starting this.

I quite enjoyed this tale of two brothers in the early 1900‘s northwest. But then, I‘m predisposed to like anything by Jess Walter since ‘Beautiful Ruins‘ is one of my favorite books. #ToB longlist

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView 📖

1️⃣ 2nd dose of my Covid vaccine 💉 🎉☺️
2️⃣ Two cats live with me, Ali (a Bombay tri-pod kitten) & Carly (a 9-year old Ginger); they belong to my siblings
3️⃣ Ohhh so hard! Maybe an anthology containing one of my favorite series ((Like Harry Potter or All Souls)), if such things exist.

#MotivationalMonday

📚If you‘re reading this & want to play: you‘re tagged!

A gritty tale of the plight of itinerant workers in the US northwest in the early years of the 20th century. It is a story of exploitation & corruption, passionate idealism & the question of how far some will go for principals, family, or survival while others will go to any lengths for wealth. Real historical figures and events are integral to the story - lots of rabbit holes to explore! It has an unusual structure that really worked for me.

I adored Jess Walters‘s short story collection We Live in Water. The stories were sublime and rich. This novel was much different. It tells a story of the fight for unions in 1909 Spokane, and there is nothing sublime about it. The parallels between wealth inequality then and now are very clear. I don‘t disagree with the idea, but I thought the style was heavy-handed. I am glad that I stuck with it, because the last quarter was much improved.

Met with @JenReadsAlot for the first time in literally forever for our own #Galentines swap. I have to put the candy away before my family sees it, unfortunately, the book is safe 🙄 Thanks friend!! ❤️👯‍♀️

Terrific, story of union organizers in Spokane around 1900.

#joyousjanuary Attempting to get a good chunk read before the Bills game tonight!

I had a hard time getting into this, but the ending and the epilogue more than made up for it. Walter somehow has a way of making even the characters you hate seem sympathetic.

3.75⭐️ I enjoyed it, but felt a bit cumbersome at times #fiction #2020 #bookreviews #bookstagram #fiction #historicalfiction #wintergames2020 #readnosedreindeer +41pts

People expect a story to always mean the same thing, but I have found that stories change like people do.

Sent priority mail on Friday @katy4peas ! Sorry it is coming a few days late. What a great read, and double great read if you know Spokane. Starts with a lot of history and introducing several characters, but once the story leaves the station it is a fun read with a satisfying and poignant ending. Set in 1910 Spokane amid the labor and free speech fights going on at the turn of the century.

Whata reading day! Thanksgiving weekend is usually action packed but not this year. I think I read for 4 hours today, which hasn‘t happened in years. A little out of several books but a big chunk out of the tagged. I‘m in #Feastmode! @Hestapleton

This dark & gritty look at the labour unrest in 1909 Spokane is enthralling but it took some time to find my groove with how the story was written, flipping around in time & perspective. Don‘t pick this is up if you want a repeat of your Beautiful Ruins experience but do pick it up if you want to read about all the same problems we face today but set 100 years ago.

2/2 library books for #NovelNovember

One of the best holiday presents I‘ve received is a propane heater. I can sit on my porch, look out@on a sunny frosty morning across the park, and read! Enjoying this historical ride through my town by local author Jess Walter!

Thanks for the tag @LitStephanie ! I am grateful that a deal was signed yesterday to take four outdated dams of the Klamath River in N. Ca to restore salmon and honor Tribal Treaty rights. Paves the way to remove the 4 outdated dams on the Snake River in WA State! And as always, thankful for my sweetie and border collie Action Jackson. My current book: rabble rousers meet up in Spokane WA circa 1909. Hijinks ensue. @Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Downloaded the audio🤞🏽Maybe I‘ll get into this one on my long flight tomorrow ✈️Any other suggestions @Megabooks my personal #AudioGuru

Finally starting this for #LMBC. Here we go! @katy4peas @MoonWitch94 @Mynameisacolour

I LOVED Beautiful Ruins, but I just can not get into this one. I‘ve tried the book twice and picked up the audiobook, but nope. Just not for me.

Watching Jess‘Walter‘s hometown virtual event. He gave his hometown bookstore the book early. Got to pick my copy up today! Love Jess. He gives so much back to his community. Looking forward to sharing his latest book with @katy4peas @MoonWitch94 and @Mynameisacolour for #LMPBC! Meet my hometown!

#groupD This is what I have for title choices right now. @MoonWitch94 is looking to see if there is another title that she wants to start with other than Sea Women. 👍🏼 #LMPBC @SamAnne @Mynameisacolour

One day late here! Very much looking forward to a hometown writer‘s forthcoming novel The Cold Millions. Due out in October. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Near the top of my TBR list! I would love to interview The poet Joy Harjo. Poet, musician , jazz and blues lover and Native American.