Welcome to Litsy!

#ReadAwAy2024

The 3rd book from my #AuldLangSpine list from @Itchyfeetreader (I‘m trying to read at least one per month) is another WOW! This is a collection of 5 short stories & a 6th that‘s a bit longer, more of a novella. All are about belonging, or not & the black experience & while some hit harder than others, I appreciated all of them. I listened to it on audio & I recommend it that way as the readers knock the narration out of the park ⬇️

Thank you @TheSpineView for this #SundayFunday tag

Today, I‘m reading at least 3 of these 4 books. Continuing Lone Women, trying to catch up in The Golden Notebook & listening to the tagged book as I do some housework. I‘m planning on reading Nancy Drew tonight for #NancyDrewBR during #HyggeHour.

Anyone else want to share what you are reading? 🍀

When I was little, Momma told me about her first visit to Monticello. The whole third grade had traveled...to marvel at Jefferson's gadgets and admire the pristine grounds. As her group waited for their tour, eight-year-old Momma had realized this was the man her own mother had told her about. But we are, for real, kin with that old white president, Momma had insisted, even after her teacher bent close to warn her to quit "telling stories."

Argh, this book is making me anxious for the characters...

This is short but packs a real punch. Set in a too soon future where climate change has destabilised power and weather this is a character led story if a group of neighbours from a mainly black neighbourhood fleeing from a racist mob as@society falls. It‘s hopeful in the face of certain hopelessness and beautifully written. The ending is ambiguous but powerful for it. I think might be my favourite read of the year so far

#BlackHistoryMonth Recommendations
Day 6
Fiction

A compilation of short stories that are so vivid a year later and I can still picture scenes in my mind. My Monticello the novella as the anchor this short collection Set in a beginning apocalypse time where a group of Black folk run from white nationalists and end up making camp at Monticello. History and current political unrest is talked about but to not too heavily, a character driven take.

This was a very tense read, and all too believable, unfortunately. (The UK edition has only one ‘novella‘, whereas I think other versions also have short stories in).

Usually I don‘t like unresolved endings but I liked that this was left open, although you knew it would have been a bad ending anyway.

This was my 200th book of the year, so I won‘t be finishing any more books this year; it suits my perfectionist brain to be on that number!

I‘m going to be honest, this one took me a bit longer to read than I should have and that is only because I wasn‘t expecting something so deep and intense. This was a phenomenal book that left me in tears.

The Good: The short stories, particularly Control Negro, were fantastic. She brings an interesting perspective to immigration, assimilation, parenthood, & racism.

The Not-So-Good: The title novella that is the majority of the book lacked resolution imo. I don‘t mind if a 20 page story has an undefined end, but if you‘re writing a 140 pg novella, give me an ending. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Been trimming the shrubs now that it‘s fall. Enjoying the cooler weather!

A little random spin for one of my last #BookspinBingo squares! Unfortunately, I‘m not loving the title novella yet. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A couple of short stories followed by a novella. Stunning. Totally brilliantly stunning. I‘m still reeling from the novella. So much to process and unpack. Really solid audio as well. Lavar Burton reads the first story. It‘s heartbreaking. The whole book.

Wow. It has been a minute since I have reached a climax of a book and had to say Whoooh out loud.
While some of her shorter works were a bit forgettable a couple stuck out and the main novella was excellent. Highly recommend.

☑️ Vote, but don't expect it to save you.
☑️ March, but don't expect it to save you.
☑️ Pray, but don't expect it to save you.

This bit is accurate to today.

Despite some profound moments, it‘s a bit dull & at times reads like an unsophisticated YA romance novel. Maybe the author is hoping this becomes a key text in American schools, sparking debates about racial trauma fuelled by historical & modern atrocities & an exploration of rabid, Trumpian nationalism & misplaced (flag-shagging) patriotism. However, the blurb mis-sells it as a kind of Dawn of the Dead with white-supremacists instead of Zombies.

The U.K. published version seems to be different from other versions- no short stories just the novella.
I thought it was really well written, sad, tense and oh so believable.

#quicklunchtimeread
Friday evening can‘t come quick enough! Got 20 mins to eat….

#motherdaughterread
Her‘s is on the left! Monticello was mentioned in the book I‘ve just finished so I took that as a sign to read this one!

Black people chased by whites in the dystopian aftermath of the Charlottesville riot make a last stand in the abandoned Monticello estate. 2 are Jefferson‘s descendants. They, though are on shifty ground. Monticello‘s exacting architecture is both a solid representation of order, principle and equality & a house of hidden horrors. Will they fare better than their ancestors? Full review https://www.facebook.com/1082882538/posts/10224729051588657/

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2. I really liked the first short story and the novella at the end. The rest of the stories went over my head a little or weren‘t as compelling. The novella was great overall with great characters. It was a little slow in parts but that didn‘t take too much away from the poignancy of the story.

Hibernating this one. I connected with the first six short stories, but I got 30 pages into the 140 page novella, and it wasn‘t holding my attention. Sometimes it‘s just not the right time.

These stories take place in Virginia and deal with the racism Black people face in the South. The novella is a bit dystopian. A white supremacist group has taken over Charlottesville, so local Black residents take shelter in Jefferson‘s home, Monticello.

This semi-dystopian fiction takes place during just a few days in which a group of neighbours find themselves seeking shelter in the former home of Thomas Jefferson after a rampage by white supremacists. This group of people are fighting for their lives and futures whilst the main character also struggles with seeking refuge in the place where her ancestors were kept as slaves. Short, sharp and compelling 👇

The short stories were fine, but the titular novella was excellent.

Speculative fiction at its finest.
Patriotism is based on love towards people with an emphasis on values and beliefs.

proud boy types have it all wrong.

#botm + a blame it on @Hooked_on_books 💜

Always a great day when there‘s #bookmail!

The bookmark is funny because my nickname around the house is The Laundry Wench 😂😂

This searing book of short stories and the titular novella explores racism by showing what a shock it is to the body to experience it. Several of these pieces slapped me across the face. This one will stay with me for a long time.

This book is comprised of five phenomenal short stories followed by the novella that it‘s titled for. ‘My Monticello‘ explores racism in a way that feels both dystopian and very much of the moment — all juxtaposed against the problematic history/hypocrisy of Thomas Jefferson. This is really good writing, the fact that it‘s Johnson‘s debut makes it all the more impressive.

My pulse is still racing a bit from the ending.
I thought the main story was very good. The first few chapters are completely separate stories which was a little confusing. After I finished reading I saw that the first chapter was initially a stand-alone short story. 4⭐️ for the book but 5⭐️ for the first chapter!

Finished A Flicker in the Dark for February book club and it was predictable but good. I picked up My Monticello spur of the moment from the library and am surprised by how invested I am in this short story collection!

January wrap-up! I finished 11 books including 4 ARCs.
🥇My Monticello
🥈Love & Other Disasters
🥉Electric Idol
Least favorite: A Marvellous Light

I went into this with high expectations based on reviews I‘d read. I found the premise confusing which ultimately detracted from the experience.

Really enjoyed this one on audio- each story uses a different narrator, with Levar Burton reading the first one! Loved the title story and “Buying a House Ahead of the Apocalypse”.

This collection of 5 short stories and 1 novella is short (only 200 pages) and INCREDIBLE. So well-written, and packs intense emotional punches. The stories' themes focus on racism and use some uncommon perspectives (second person, first person collective). It's a book I honestly think everyone should read. 5⭐️!

This debut collection‘s title comes from the novella that makes up the majority of the book. It reminded me a bit of Parable of the Sower in that it follows people who take refuge after an environmental disaster sparks unrest. It has the additional layer of the main character being a descendant of Sally Hemmings and the place they take refuge is Monticello. The novella was well done and it was my favorite part of the book.

This one. 😳 This was a book I both read and listened to to absorb it all. The short stories were good but the novella was frightening and stressful and made me feel anxious and claustrophobic. But it was so beautifully written. And given our current state of division, it felt plausible in a terrifying way. I highly recommend this read/listen.

This book includes 2 short stories and a novella. The pace of the plot of all three were perfect and characters interesting. Her endings to all three were worth the read in itself. Great debut book!

https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com/2021/11/02/%EF%BF%BCmy-monticello-jocelyn-nic...

This is so good. It's short stories and a novella. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. In the novella, descendants of Sally Hemings take refuge in Monticello and try to survive the end of the world except white supremacists are threatening to take it back.

#BookSpinBingo square 17
@TheAromaofBooks

Pub date was 10/5/2021. I'm a little behind.
#ARC #Goodreads #Holt

Rich language and critically important topic make this debut short story collection a must-read. Read my review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#my-monticello

#MyMonticello #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio

"Tell yourself you can start again---there is still time! This time, you'll trek a high pass in Asia. You'll sail to Antarctica to witness the great ice cap's weeping. This time, you'll fly to Africa to follow the last wild elephants' run--- you've read they have a secret language, sonographic as whale song. You'll sing them a dirge and kiss the dust. Lay a humble ear to the ground and listen."

Starting over....

#BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo
@TheAromaofBooks

Received the tagged book today. Good thing I procrastinated on finishing my list. Let's pretend there's a method to the madness.

Several short stories and a novella (My Monticello). The first story and the novella were my favorites. Well worth listening on #audiobook Read by a cast including Levar Burton. #Netgalley

Look at for this collection of short stories coming out October 5. My favorite was the novella My Monticello.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audio copy.

I don‘t read many books that are made up of a series of short stories. I‘m not sure that format is for me. I prefer a novel where you get to know an understand the characters. That being said, this author has a beautiful way with words. Reading her work felt like reading poetry. The last (and longest) of the short stories was my favorite. Thank you, Goodreads, for the ARC.

This is one of the most astonishing and powerful books I‘ve read in a long, long time. An absolutely stunning debut collection. The invention, the language, the passion, the stories! It has everything. Coming in October. Don‘t miss it.