Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m trying to remember when I first encountered the phrase “The truth is in the tension.” I think it might‘ve been when I was learning about the divine in high school — how Jesus was both man and God; how God was both three AND one. Regardless, the phrase perfectly describes this book. Philpott writes about how she once took a personality test that “claimed to be able to rate a person‘s most prevalent traits.” She says, 👇🏻

It‘s not NOT how I would use them…🔮

Time to choose my next book!

I liked I Miss You When I Blink better, but I still liked this one. I was a little thrown off by all her fears surrounding her son‘s epilepsy, since it‘s just a “it‘s a thing I have” issue with me. Philpott doesn‘t describe his seizures as being particularly bad or frequent, so her fears seem over the top to me. But maybe not — maybe my parents were just really good at hiding their fears from me.

Mary Laura Philpott (tagged + I Miss You When I Blink) “in conversation” with Margaret Renkl (Late Migrations + Graceland, At Last). This was so fun because they‘re best friends! Both are local authors and have written fantastic books. I met Mary Laura afterward and she loved my Frankstein‘s Monster t-shirt, so we‘re BFFs now. #southernfestivalofbooks #nashville

“There will always be bombs, and we will never be able to save everyone we care about. To know that and to try anyway is to be fully alive.” ❤️

Literally the story of my life. 😖😬

I‘m not quite sure what I expected with this book, but it took me completely by surprise. The writing just flowed so well and the author is funny and genuine and so relatable. I loved her stories about her life and children and what it means to be a parent and alive in general. This isn‘t an action packed book, but I couldn‘t put it down and it has a message in it that I think is something that everyone needs to hear.

My July #bookly reading report. I read 21 books this month.

There is loss inherently built into every single thing we love. We deal with it—some days better than others. This book is about all the ways we deal with that, in a vivid kaleidoscope.

I laughed. I cried. I nodded. I highlighted so many things in this book.

Book 83/150.

I read this author‘s previous essay collection and liked it fine, but didn‘t really connect with it. This one was great! I related so much to her anxiety and worry for her family and other life concerns. She does a good job connecting the different essays, making the reader care with a dash of humor.

This is my #DoubleSpin for July.

My June reads. Tagged was my only 5-star read, but overall, another good month.

🎧 6-28-22 || Love this one just as much as I Miss You When I Blink! Especially loved listening to the author narrate it. Laughed out loud and also got teary many times.

Not terrible, but honestly, the only essays that held my interest were about her son‘s epilepsy diagnosis. 2/5🐢s

Essays about family that are observant, funny, sad, and thoughtful. Philpott‘s children are slightly older than mine, so that could be why I felt that this memoir of parenting was so relatable and enjoyable. Perfect phrasing of conflicting emotions in various stages of parenting. This one was the right book at the right time for me.

I loved is a memoir. Sometimes it had me in tears both from laughing and from crying. It is the story of family, love, and letting go.

“Bomb Shelter is a gorgeous, gut-wrenching memoir that drew me in immediately. Mary Laura Philpott puts words to the human condition in a life-affirming, joyful, and surprisingly funny way — even as she leaves readers in tears. I‘m blown away.”
Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

I love the theory of a quiet room to go have a breakdown in, a “crying room” at the airport. But why stop there, I‘d like one at the office as well.

Getting back to some work from home lunch reading just in time for summer!!

I recently discovered this author after picking up "I Miss You When I Blink" on a whim at the Dollar Tree.

Now Mary Laura Philpott is a can't miss for me.

This memoir covers both the scariness and joy of life, makes you laugh and cry, and bolsters you for whatever comes next.

Philpott has what she refers to as a “keen eye for alarming possibilities.” I‘m kind of a prophet of doom myself so I can definitely relate.

“Worst-case Scenario” was the stand-out essay for me. As a child in the 80s (stranger danger), I too worried about getting abducted. And the titles and topics of those after school specials! I was crying laughing. Strange times. Glad I added this to my #BOTM box.

Philpott is a fantastic writer and “I‘ll Miss You When I Blink” is one of my favorite books.

While I enjoyed and was touched by some chapters in Bomb Shelter, the themes and topics didn‘t connect or compel me as much as “Blink.” If you are a mother, I‘m sure this is a fantastic read. If the jacket copy and premise doesn‘t grab you, the essays may not either.

I love an essay collection and this was a good one! For some reason I thought this was going to be funny, and though there is quirk, I felt much more anxiety than I expected to feel. The author‘s son began having seizures which is traumatic. She writes openly and eloquently about her worries for him and how it has impacted their family. Also, the essay about the visiting turtle is adorable. But definitely not as light-hearted as I imagined.

My #libraryhaul 📚
Work is a dangerous place…I can‘t resist these beauties 🤩

This was a liked-but-didn't-love for me, and I‘m not entirely sure why! I thought I remembered feeling much the same about Philpott's first collection, and revisiting my Litsy post for that confirms it. That said, I really have nothing negative to say about this one and think I enjoyed it a bit more than her first. I like her candor, and she‘s relatable for me at times (especially re: the kids‘ health stuff). Great cover, too. 🐢💗

1. My sister and I like to pick books to read together. Also enjoy IRL book clubs as long as they actually read the book and want to have a thoughtful discussion. We have a fun local club I enjoy called Books & Bars, open to all.
2. I often build my monthly reading around a theme. For May, for example, I have a stack ready for Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
3. Started Bomb Shelter last night. Good so far!
#wondrouswednesday
@Eggs

A really solid, relatable collection on parenting, friendship, responsibilities as a daughter, aging, navigating life‘s uncertainty and general anxiety. You just know MLP is everyone‘s emergency contact- the type of friend you rely on for advice, laughter and maybe an amazing piece of clothing to borrow. A pleasant listen 🎧

#UpNext #Scribd #woohoo
#ThingsInCommon #EssayCollection

This essay collection is sweet and funny with substance. Perfect if you like Ann Patchett or Helen Ellis.

Mary Laura‘s life changed the night her teenage son had a major seizure. She writes about navigating those high school milestones (driving, first job) with his illness in mind. She shares about being squished between her parents‘ needs and her kids. I loved the animal essays about her dogs and the turtles on her property. Solid collection!

Awesome #NewReleaseTuesday this week! I‘m nearly finished with Bomb Shelter and enjoying it more than her last essay collection, which was popular here. Did anyone get to her Parnassus release party?

Seek and Hide is about digital privacy which is a pet interest of mine. JVN‘s memoir was so fun that I had to sign up for round two. I haven‘t listened to much of the press around Growing Up Biden, but I enjoyed Hunter‘s memoir a lot, so I‘m hopeful.

Happy Pub Day to local Nashville author Mary Laura Philpott! 🐢 I may have missed her book launch at Parnassus for my baby‘s soccer matches (no regrets), but - surprise! - I forgot I ordered a signed copy. 😂 Philpott is a great storyteller and naturally funny even when the topic is heavy. Highly recommend!

I feel like it‘s been a while since I last curled up with a memoir/essay collection! Hitting the shelves next week is this Nashville author‘s second book- and one that had me promptly adding her first to my TBR- a collection of snippets of her life, anxieties, fears and moments large and small over the past few years. In her forties and a mother of two, I think many will find something relatable here. It‘s a quick read and one that I enjoyed!

This author spilled the beans on Instagram about their new memoir being a #BOTM add-on in April 👏🏽

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you liked her first book, you‘ll love this just as much, maybe more. Philpott is a local-to-me author, and though I don‘t know her personally, her writing makes me feel like a friend. When she said she‘s always “waiting for worry to materialize,” that hit hard. These stories carry the common thread of parenthood, anxiety, and inevitable change. Heavy, but Philpott is a funny storyteller, so it‘s a good vibe. Very relatable collection!

Planning to finish this #ARC today. Philpott is a local Nashville author, and although I don‘t know her personally, her essays make me feel like I do.

#dogsoflitsy