Welcome to Litsy!

Having breakfast (coffee and homemade fa gao 发糕) with Vladimir and feeling the need to cover up this rather naughty cover

Normally not something I‘d pick up and I should listen to my instincts/judging a book by it‘s cover. It‘s not atrocious to the point of not finishing it, but it was irritating and just meh.

An English professor whose husband - also a professor - is being investigated for alleged sexual abuses finds herself attracted to a hotshot new writing professor at her small upstate New York college. The way she writes about aging and desire was brilliant. I couldn‘t put this one down.

Tried out this audio today…. Just didn‘t feel right for right now. Maybe I‘ll come back to it later.

I wasn't sure I would like this one based on the reviews. I'm grateful I didn't let them scare me off. I thought this was a really interesting book. It explores the topics of privilege, power, feminism, sexuality, and age in a thoughtful way. I thought this was a bravely written book in a world of #metoo feminism. I'd love to hear your thoughts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book portrays relationships from a different angle than most are used to. Neither of the couples depicted in the story had a traditional marriage. I found it very interesting. I‘m not sure that I particularly liked any of the characters. They were all very odd. This book is different than any I‘ve ever read. I recommend it.

An interesting character study with an academia setting that raises questions concerning power dynamics and consent, as well as aging, unrealized goals, loneliness, and selfishness. Despite the cover, the “obsession” of Vladimir doesn‘t come into play until about 3/4 in, and then it kind of goes off the rails. It will leave you uncomfortable and at times appalled, but I believe that‘s by design. Rebecca Lowman was a great narrator! #botm #pop22

This book is an academics playground.
The description & early sentences of the book misleads towards Lolita vibes, and it is in the obsession sense, not the underage sense. It‘s reminiscent of The Picture of Dorian Gray - debates art and morality and beauty in a provocative way. It is about power dynamics and consent and sex and agency in relationships and systems. It leaves a bit of an icky feeling behind, an intent I‘m sure the author intends

This book deals with sexual politics in the wake of #metoo & illustrates resulting moral & ethical questions including how we understand past events & behaviour in the light of changed ideas about right & wrong. All of that was very interesting & the writing is good but I found the narrator irritating & her behaviour bizarre. It makes a change to centre-stage female sexuality, but not necessarily for the better. A low pick. #Bookspin

Another really good book, set in US, a professor is facing charges of inappropriate relationships with former students. In the meantime his wife is increasingly getting obsessed by Vladimir a writer. The only thing I don't like is the cover.

Short, well written. Are the characters likeable? No. Are they familiar, especially in this politically charged moment? Yes. Speaks volumes on the fine line between selfishness and loneliness and our society is plagued with miscommunication and trauma. Especially white Americans. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Don‘t let the cover (which really doesn‘t speak to the story inside) fool you.

Very behind on posting books I've been reading, so apologies for the multiple posts in a row..

Despite the creepy cover, I enjoyed this read.. messy relationships set against an academic background. #botm

Thanks for the tag @MaleficentBookDragon ! 😘😘
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

> 🙋🏼‍♂️✍🏽🤤😤🏊🏻‍♂️… I‘m only about 1/4 in… 🤷🏽‍♀️

> I‘d love a sequel to Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I know, it‘s nonfiction, but the number of times I think, I just want more of that…..

> The last book I finished was Buried in the Stacks, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tagged some folks to play! 🦋🦜

I started this today, only one chapter in. Although I really don't like the cover! #currentlyreading

I guess the key to garnering a lot of attention for a somewhat mediocre book is to slap this cover on it.

Did I mainline this audiobook in less than a day? Yes, and my gosh, what a ride. The main character‘s voice is fascinating. I‘m a sucker for campus novels, and this one is as good as it gets for that genre. Love the examination of sex and age and bodies and the changes of mores over time.

⭐️⭐️ The character study of an unnamed middle-aged female professor who is 1/2 of an open marriage where neither party acts like they give a shit about anything but themselves. How fitting because I gave zero shits about these people nor what did/didn‘t happen. Impressive writing, dreadful story. Most repelling cover since A Little Life. Apparently the image represents the woman‘s objectifying gaze, so at least there‘s an explanation.

Book 65

🎧 This book was just not for me. It read like a slice of life of a couple in their late 50‘s that were ok with extramarital affairs. Oh & they‘re college professors (student affairs).

The narrator is the wife & she‘s worried about her appearance & wanting men to be attracted to her & worrying that they aren‘t, comparing herself to younger students & she‘s horny/masturbating all the time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻

I really enjoyed this surprisingly literary look at campus sex scandals, aging, power and marital relationships. Both husband and wife are respected professors until inappropriate relationships are called out. All from the perspective of an ambitious 57 year old professor it has a little crazy ending but it is really well done. This seems to be somewhat divisive but if you picked this for content and nor the cover you might very well like it.

An interesting concept and voice but I felt it dragged on too much for a short book. I never fully understood the narrator‘s obsession and it goes a bit batshit there at the end. #BOTM

I mean the book was better than the cover.... lol

I did not love this. In fact I would rate it 2.5⭐. I can relate to some of the narrators feelings but at times this felt bizarre.

The emphasis of sexuality from the cover art as well as the descriptions of the novel I read led me to think this was going to be focused on the affairs/sex and power in the workplace. However, it was much more inward-looking, as our main character considers aging, recognizes her own vanity, and reflects upon her relationship with her grown daughter. A reversal of #metoo/lolita..I‘m not sure. But I did enjoy this novel.

I did not enjoy this one at all and DNF. Just did not connect to the narrator/story and ultimately couldn‘t stick with it. By the way, this cover is so cringeworthy… 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'm reading “Vladimir“ right now. Wondering if anybody else finds the narrator's daughter annoying. I just want to slap her. There is no way I'd talk to my mother in such a disrespectful manner. She's such a brat! She's not the only one though. The author has done a great job of making some really unlikeable characters. Now that my rant is over I must say that I'm really enjoying this book! 😄

Oh, this cover - how can we forget this cover!? If you like books in an academic setting, if you like character studies, if you wonder how/why any open marriages succeeds - read this book. It‘s a great read. I often consider perspective better in fictional #MeToo stories when my personal opinion about IRL people involved aren‘t involved which was another reason to thumbs up this book!

I seem to be in the minority, but I love this cover and absolutely requested it on NetGalley for that reason. Happily, I loved the book, too. 😉

Full review on my blog: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2022/02/18/review-vladimir-by-julia-may-jonas/

I did the ‘ole audio/kindle combo for this one because it was compulsively readable and I didn‘t want to stop. Narration is excellent, print is great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#BlameItOnLitsy because otherwise I never would have read this book.

Highly entertaining, fast paced, with a wide range of characters to keep you invested. I loved the point of view of the main character and I felt her voice is one not often explored in literature. The ending surprised me because it's not the direction I saw things going.

There's also a mention of Stephen King's Misery in this one. 😀

About 2/3 of the way in I thought, nothing much has really happened outside of the main character's fantasies.

Then the last third of the book things happened - unexpected things!

This is a book full of characters who possess little to no moral compass.

An entertaining page-turner with an eye-catching cover 😄

#botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A bold and lacerating look at female desire, aging, and power with a really intriguing (and sometimes cringey) protagonist who I know will linger in my mind for awhile. This was especially interesting to me as someone who works with college students. By the end it made me feel unsettled and bleak, but I can‘t deny that I was riveted. #BOTM

I like that the narrator of this novel is NOT a highly self-aware millennial. 😂

Our middle aged narrator is married to a professor embroiled in a sex scandal at the college where they teach. Vladimir, a sexy youngish writer, is brought into the department, and our MC is hot and bothered, but her fantasy is as much about being untied from her husband‘s scandal as about Vlad himself. The ending is abrupt but still an enjoyable book. #botm ⬇️

This is the perfect example of don‘t judge a book by it‘s cover. This book is way meatier than expected and quite literary as well. The unnamed narrator is a 58 year old professor at a small liberal arts college where her husband has been accused of numerous cases of sexual assault. What she‘s unaware of is how the allegations will affect her. A true page turner with some unexpected surprises. #Booked2022 #DarkAcademia

#AudioSouping Really engaged with this audiobook #DarkAcademia

Wow. I was completely enthralled by this author‘s writing and found myself reaching for a pencil to underline passages. Do not let the cover fool you, this is not a romance. This book was interesting and thought provoking. I wish I could articulate better but what a fresh unique read. This one is a keeper and I look forward to more work from this author.

This was the perfect reminder that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover! I went in a little bit blind to the plot, but with low expectations fed by preconceived notions, only to be pleasantly surprised by its level of depth. Equal parts provocative and thought provoking, I was riveted from start to finish. I still don't necessarily regret not having this cover on my shelf though 😉 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #BOTM

#DarkAcademia #Booked2022 🤓LOVING IT

Relate to this so much🖤

I'm glad I went the library route for this #BOTM pick! My hold came in almost immediately, I don't have to look at the cover on my shelf, and I saved a credit. win/win/win 😂

#BOTM for February ordered! I usually hem and haw a lot more but just went for it this time. The cover is indeed ridiculous, can‘t wait to see my husband‘s reaction when I take it out of the box 😆

At first I didn‘t like the cover for Vladimir, but it has really grown on me 😂 I can appreciate something that takes a risk and elicits strong reactions. I hope the content is as provoking as the cover!

I‘m excited to try out another Agatha Christie mystery before watching the movie! I might also get “The Christie Affair” on Audible 🧐 #BOTM

I saw something on Litsy...
Then I read about it in People Magazine...
and had no hesitation choosing it for my Book of the Month.

Something salacious this month ❤️‍🔥😄

Yay!! Excited about reading lovey cutesy fun reads this month (watching lovey cutesy fun movies too) just really feeling February this year✨ Also very excited about Vladimir, sounds really interesting🖤
#BOTM

I know a lot of people hate the cover but I find it hysterical and I‘ve heard some good things about this book, and as soon as I saw the plug for Peach Blossom Spring being for people who loved Pachinko I was sold. #botm

You guys are getting my hopes up that this is going to be a #BOTM pick for February! I‘ve wanted this book since I saw a little video on the creative process of picking and creating the cover, Link down below if ur interested👇 I thought it was cool (I did love cover option Number 4 tho)

https://youtu.be/UULrqMJtDQE

Word on the street is that this book is a #BOTM pick for February. The synopsis sounds interesting but that cover is 😖🙈

A pretty messed up female narrator, lots of literati references, hints at potentially dark directions for the plot.

Just the worst cover. I was told the inspiration was reversing the male gaze of a book cover like Lolita, but it really lands at “dated romance,” which isn‘t necessarily the same reader #ARC

The first two-thirds of this book I was completely engaged, but then Jonas completely lost me in the last pages. Reality almost felt like a fever dream to me and I kept asking what I am reading? This could be just my experience, but be forewarned, not everything appears as you might think it should be

These are all books I have recently won from Goodreads giveaways. Ive also won a few straight to Kindle books. I had no idea how good the chances are to win these giveaways…if I had known I would have started entering years ago!

My bf keeps questioning me about getting more books in the mail, and I have to convince him it‘s okay because they are free!