Welcome to Litsy!

I wasn‘t confident about my choices, so I never posted it…but here‘s my April #ReadingBracket2025.

I‘m thinking about it now because I‘m musing about May‘s selection. I‘ve been reading Idle Grounds & just loving it. I‘m only a few pages from the end — really dragging my feet on the conclusion. What if I‘m somehow disappointed?

Anyway, my choice for April is John Green‘s The Anthropocene Reviewed. Eminently listenable! 🎧

Mantel is still ahead.

I had never read anything by this author, although he has published extensively. This is a surprisingly uplifting in life, affirming book, and I will probably seek out his other nonfiction.

If I wanted to review this book properly (and follow the author‘s lead), I‘d give each essay a rating out of 5 stars and then calculate the average. My actual method was far less scientific, which is how I roll. I basically just went with my gut.

This was my first John Green book. I say that as a librarian who works in Youth Services, by which I mean I‘m saying it very quietly so as not to be publicly shamed. The good news is that I loved it.👇🏻

“By the time I was ten or eleven, everyone had moved on from sticker collecting—everyone, that is, except for me…I particularly loved the fruits…

God, I loved scratch and sniff bananas. They didn‘t smell like bananas; they smelled like the Platonic Ideal of bananas. If real bananas were a note played on a home piano, scratch and sniff bananas were that same note played on a church‘s pipe organ.”

Beautiful! I want a tattoo of a Canadian Goose, a river, a cantaloupe and many other things now. I love how important Green makes everything seem. We get this one, beautiful life and we should think critically and appreciate everything around us.

Reading this in 2025 is something else. ❤️‍🩹

✨ Also I am criminally behind on Litsy posting 🫣 and have been MIA for a bit. Hoping to catch up this weekend. ✨

Well, I think I missed the boat on this one. This was for IRL bookclub. I dipped in & out of it as if it was the podcast it is modeled after. I found it mostly light & fluffy.

I accidentally ordered the large print edition. It was really distracting. 🫤

#Nov2024 Book104 #NonficNovember

Green has a self-deprecating and nerdy love of learning that I adore. He is vulnerable, big-hearted, fascinating; I am here for it. I took down the names of many authors to add to my tbr and admittedly felt a bit smug when he mentions authors I *have* read (Akbar, Rosenthal…. Of course Vonnegut.)

(photo of book on mantel with autumny cards)

I cannot tell if the day
is ending, or the world, or if
the secrets of secrets is inside me again.

By Anna Akhmatova, written in the face of a beautiful sunset; so says Green in his chapter on Sunsets 🌅

Is the secret HOPE? Is it LOVE 💖 Does it need to be a secret? Just some questions on how I will navigate this future with new resolve…

#NonfictionNovember

We not only set up the tree after re-arranging the furniture, but we decided to light it in hopes for a brighter tomorrow. 🌟 Go Chiefs 🏈

I adore this man. He and his brother have influenced and inspired me for many years now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
I read this slowly throughout the year. Some of the essays really moved me, all were educational, and some contained really poignant reflections about life and the little things.

"We've caused a lot of suffering, but we've also caused much else. I know the world will survive us—and in some ways it will be more alive. More birdsong. More creatures running around. More plants cracking through our pavement, rewilding the planet..." (p.19)

December 21, 2023 AT LAST! I finished the book. I thought it was a good read. Okay... maybe better than some of his other books because he basically incorporates the meaning of life and what it means to be part of life; to live among others and how that feels. What is the meaning of life? A quote at the end captured my attention: "And most of all, I am here to be. To be not just on this planet, but with it" (pg 295)

December 17, 2023 This specific excerpt from the chapter "Auld Lang Syne" written by John Green, but originally thought of by Amy Krouse Rosenthal touched my heart very deeply. It is not only emotional to read, but it is also true. Quote: We live in hope --- that life will get better, and more importantly that it will go on, that love will survive even thought we will not (pg 152)

December 16, 2023 WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE! It was the beginning of December when I posted about reading this book and now it's already past half of the month. I am approximately halfway through this book and I like it. I like how John Green writes about various topics and gives ratings (nice little touch). Anyway, my goal is to finish this book before the end of the year. Can we do it you guys????! We will see 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed this book overall. His essays on sunsets and googling people were a couple of my favorites. I recommend this on audio. It‘s a great way to listen to an essay, or a few, when you don‘t have a lot of time to read.

December 4, 2023 Started this book and like it so far. It has short chapters of random things that John Green thought of while in the hospital. His brother Hank Green helped him think of the title of the book and the title is better than nothing...

I didn't know the definition of the word anthropocene when I bought this book. It is the current geologic age in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity.

In this fantastic book, John Green gives ratings (5 stars being the best) to things like sunsets, scratch & sniff stickers, the Indianapolis 500, and much more.

In the spirit of the book, I give Fall 5 stars.

I give this essay collection 4 1/2 stars 😄

Read every day was and is my only resolution for 2023. We are now 222 days into the year, and I haven't missed a single day! Some days I read as little as one poem, but that still counts.

On days where I get to bed and realize I haven't read, I pick up either a book of poetry or the tagged book of essays and read aloud to my husband. Tonight was one of those nights. But we're nearing the end!

1. The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
2. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
3. Maybe Anne Lamott

I tag @NataliePatalie.
#WonderousWednesday @Eggs

I give The Anthropocene Reviewed 4.5 stars. Reading this book is very comforting and makes you appreciate all the small things about life even ones that are unpleasant. Green writes short essays reviewing things from Diet Dr. Pepper, the world‘s largest paintball, to pandemics. Within these reviews he combines historical facts about the item or place as well as his personal experience.

In this collection of personal essays, novelist John Green rates a number of things on a five star scale. From Canada Geese, to Diet Dr Pepper, to an orbital sunrise, Green uses these essays to examine despair & hope, grief & joy, everything that makes us human.

I listened to the podcast this was based on multiple times, and finally sat down to listen to this charming & moving collection. It was everything I wanted it to be. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

What an absolute joy listening to John Green read this was - some of the essays moved me to tears (and I‘m really not much of a crier) as well as laughter. I‘m a longtime fan of both Green brothers - and yet - this marks my first time reading a John Green book - one I would have missed out on completely if not for my recent discovery of how much I enjoy listening to non fiction. His capacity for hope is inspiring - this was 10 hours, well spent.

I found this book so charming. The pretense is great - how absurd it is that we are used to rating things on five star scales. And so John Green goes through everything from comets, geese, soda, vaccines, songs, etc and not only gives history and stories and moments of humor, but also an absurd five star rating on each topic that is probably never meant to be given star rated reviews. It‘s such a delight.

@PuddleJumper #roll100

While writing the last post, I remembered I never finished the 12 books of Christmas or posted my top 2022 books. I did a Top 12 because these were clearly my favorites. Five happen to be Kentucky authors. #2022

I don't think I've heard of the Council on Books in Wartime before, but on googling it I've come across it's logo - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxWn4c-x21M/UShxFNQoloI/AAAAAAAADeI/DycF8UH-Tqc/s1600/... - and realize I have a few such books in my collection.

I don't think I've ever heard of The Council on Books in Wartime before, but on googling it I've found it's logo - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxWn4c-x21M/UShxFNQoloI/AAAAAAAADeI/DycF8UH-Tqc/s1600/... - and realize I actually have some such books in my collection.

“It is our attentiveness that is in short supply, our ability and willingness to do the work that awe requires.”

Love starting the year with this thoughtful read ❤️

#12Booksof2022 This remains one of my favorites of the year. It was such a great mix of funny and insightful, with unexpected gut-punches of emotional depth. @Andrew65

#12Booksof2022 April
@Andrew65
@NataliePatalie

Hurray! I‘ve been wanting to read this book for too long and so has my husband. The chocolate is also delicious (sampled some already 🤣).

Thank you for adding bookish fun to my holiday, @Sharpeipup (and to @MaleficentBookDragon for organizing)! Books and chocolate—what a perfect combination!

Catching up on this! Green beat St. James now I‘m off to remind myself what I read in November!

How can I read this book and not review it? This collection of essays made for some fantastic reading. A few didn't resonate as much, but I have noted/marked so many lines and passages and definitely plan on revisiting this volume in the future. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed 4.75⭐

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Contemplative, comforting, and hopeful. Some essays resonated with me more than others (the recording of the last Kaua‘i o‘o bird singing particularly struck my heart). I learned some interesting facts and I feel thoughtful and thankful for our world in all its complexity after listening to this gem. 🎧

A bit late but here is my #BookReport 44/22. Another good week. Three books I am glad I read!

I see why this book has got so many good reviews. John Green‘s essays are funny and serious and I love the idea of reviewing the Anthropocene. BUT there were quite a few essays which didn‘t work for me. Some of the very American subjects I could not associate with. So, a light pick and my #HopePunk choice for #Booked22. Thank you for sending me this one Cindy 😘

#NonFictionNovember I am not hosting anything this year. (It's been too hectic.for me) but I hope you all read some awesome non fiction this month. Here's my first week of Nov Reads. My goal is to read 8 books.

Hank and John Green's annual week-long Pizzamas celebration is almost over, so if that's something you're into, check out the sweet merch while you can. The three oversized shirts I ordered for lounging and sleeping have arrived! To round things out, my other oversized shirt from Maggie McGill also arrived. Looking forward to some solid lounging with some good autumnal books while I crank the AC to pretend autumn exists in Texas. 🍂 📚

Ooh! I wonder what The Night Circus will end up competing against!! I have loved doing this, thank you @chasjjlee 😊

47/23 I LOVED this book. Green reads the audio which I highly recommend. It brought me to tears more than once but also made me chuckle. It was about the smallest and the biggest things, the most personal to Green and the most important to us all. He has the most beautiful way of weaving many threads into a story. It was intensely personal and incredibly reflective. Going to find his podcast now! I give the Anthropocene Reviewed five stars.

I'm belated in posting this one. I read it last week and absolutely loved it! It's one of my favorites this year. I'll be recommending this to everyone.

My friend Kayla & I just got to be part of a dream book club! Hosted by Sharon McMahon and reading The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, we just spent an hour listening to him talk about writing & life, and if you‘ve ever spent any time listening to John Green talk, you know it was the best.
Wow. What a moment 💜

Was introduced to this book owing to the excellent podcast by the author. It is hopeful yet sad, funny yet thoughtful. The author weaves his life through the essays about different items which he gives a rating to. Glad I finally got to this book.
#roll100

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Anthropocene is the era we are currently living in “in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity.” Green takes aspects of life and rates them on a 5-point scale. But more than that he gives the historical, sociological, & personal stories of each, ranging from Diet Dr. Pepper to Canada Geese and everything in between.There were certain chapters I found bit dull and others that had me weeping.Outstanding.

Loved listening to John Green narrate his NF essays. Not sure why I hadn‘t read this before because I love Green‘s fiction. Some of these essays hit my emotions hard, some were more humorous. And the last few lines of the postscript are what sealed my rating. After all of his ratings in the book, I‘m rating this 5🌟

I loved this book SO MUCH. From familiar topics to ones I‘d never heard of before, every chapter was completely engrossing and entertaining. What a wonderful gift to come out of the pandemic. The audio was perfectly paced for my road trip, but now I need to get my hands on a physical copy because I have so many lesson plan ideas rolling around in my head! I give The Anthropocene Reviewed audiobook 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #teachersoflitsy #librofm