Welcome to Litsy!

Siblings struggle to find their place in the world & discover their true origin stories. They are raised unconventionally, which could be expansive for them, but it leaves them feeling unmoored. This is a road trip, an adventure story, a ghost story, and a coming-of-age story (for characters who are 30+). It‘s full of grief, rage, trauma, & ultimately love. It‘s also…A LOT. The key word IS “struggle.” It‘s not easy — inside the story or out.👇🏻

This character driven family saga takes us through multiple locations on land and sea with excellent prose, thought provoking storylines and a stoic look at poverty in America…with just a bit of mysticism.

In other news, after several rounds of voting, my IRL book club‘s choices for our next year of reading have been decided! Exciting stuff!

Two sisters go to their estranged father‘s wedding and discover the answer to a long-held family secret, and then set out to unravel it. The novels follows them separately and together, and includes road trips, fishing expeditions, assault, and a silent retreat. The best kind of family novel.

This is not a book I normally would gravitate towards. Filled with characters who are all a bit (some more than a bit) narcissistic, a family drama of sorts. But the writing is enchanting and the story filled with tragedy - often if the characters own making - is absorbing. I really enjoyed this.

This week's TBR. I finished 2 books over the weekend, so hoping to get these 2 done over the weekdays.
Fun that they have the same goodreads score!
#readinggoals
#weeklyforcast

1. The Great Offshore Grounds & Kim Jiyoung, Born 1983
2. The Office of Historical Corrections
3. 100 books, and 1 book each a month that is LGBTQAI; BIPOC; From a non English speaking country.

#weekendreads with @rachelsbrittain

Sharing my fabulous #NewYearWhoDis list from @erinreads 🎉!

Pictured are those I‘m most excited to read...but there are plenty more I‘m looking forward to. I‘m especially thrilled about tagged (which I‘d not heard of yet! I love that!) & the L.M. Montgomery.

I didn‘t read “Anne” until I was in my late 20‘s, when I became immediately enamored. Such scope for imagination!

Thanks, Erin! 🙌🏻

This book only has three reviews here (& all only so-so), so I guess I get to be the first to give it a pick! This is a heartbreaking story about a family who at their core love each other, but constantly drive each other away due to their own issues. But seeing the story play out was such a ride! I also really enjoyed the short chapter format so you were never too far from continuing on another character‘s journey. Ugh. So good. 💕 #bookspinbingo

Got absolutely no reading in today because work consumed me like 10 minutes after I woke up today (the joys of working from home!) and now Korsnacki is distracting me. DAMMIT STEVE, JUST CALL ARIZONA ALREADY.

Starting my third book of the day on my sun porch with all of the windows open for some fresh air. I‘m so in love with this cover. 😍

And that‘s bingo #5! 🎉

Adding an audiobook edition to #bookspinbingo really helped push my listening to new heights. I usually listen to a lot of audio, but playing on the bingo board was an encouragement. But I am now abandoning it, as my hold on the latest Ruth Ware came in and I‘m out of free spaces. 😆

I‘m not really sure what to say about this one. It‘s the story of a fractured family who at once cling to one another and push each other away. It has the potential to be an affecting exploration of these characters, but it actually just comes off a little cold. And there‘s some weird stuff here that doesn‘t fit—a random ghost and odd attempts at comedy. I‘m bewildered by its presence on the NBA longlist.

My husband‘s birthday gift to me yesterday was four simple words: “Let‘s go buy books.” He also bought me a new bookcase as well, so A+ guy right there, 1/1 would marry again. 😂 The Dodie Smith I found at a used bookstore and the other three are all 2020 releases that I‘ve been looking forward to.

Some scenes btw family members in this book were so touching and beautiful. But there were some experimental choices the author made that flat out didn't work for me-- the inclusion of Raleigh and Lejeune. Cheyenne frustrated me for too much of the book. A lot could've been cut and replaced with other missing elements, some threads were started and left hanging. I personally wouldn't recommend this book, it seems like it has a very niche market.

Some scenes between the family members in this book were so, so touching and beautiful. But there were some experimental choices the author made that flat out didn't work for me. And Cheyenne frustrated me. Also seems like there was a lot that could've been cut and replaced with other missing elements. Some threads were started and left hanging. I personally wouldn't recommend this book, it seems like it has a very niche market.

You guys, I won something! I was so excited to get this email. I picked up the tagged book and two shirts from their merch store. This is so cool!

I enjoyed this beautifully written book. But, ultimately it was just a bit too long and drawn out to be a full on pick for me. #Edelweiss #ARC