Welcome to Litsy!

After a slow start, I ended up finding this pretty compelling. I really liked the characters and the writing was beautiful. The themes of community and loneliness are well-handled and give the reader a lot to think about.

I‘m DNF-ing at over halfway through…and that says a lot. “Boring” is not a descriptor I use often but seems spot on for this one. Character driven is my jam, but I could care less about Gil. Millet‘s other book (which oddly isn‘t mentioned in her author‘s blurb 🤔) didn‘t work for me either, so I can officially cross her off my list.

Eh. This struggled to hold my attention on audio, although it was read really well. As others have said, it felt a bit flat to me and never really pulled me in. #tob23

Not my favorite and I‘m glad it was short. 🤪
It seems like I either really like these #ToB23 books or they leave me cold.

I‘m trying…and hoping it starts keeping my attention a little better. 🤞

I really enjoyed this listen. I liked , even loved Gil, who is finding his way through a painful breakup, who is still and I imagine always will be, figuring out what life is all about. There are some nice characters in this book. I loved figuring out in my mind why it‘s called Dinosaurs. There was a welcome softness in the writing and the story. I must look up more by Lydia Millet 👍🏻

I really enjoyed this endearing book. Quiet and careful, the narrative style very much embodies the essence of the MC. I too was drawn into the lives of these characters. A win from #ToB2023!

Really good listen. My first Millet so wasn‘t sure what to expect. Gil is a great character and it was a pleasure to spend time with him. I also dig the title (birds being descendants of dinosaurs) and the various ways you see it reflected in the story. Is Gil a dinosaur among birds? Does it speak to his (or our collective) journey changing, growing, adapting, surviving? I‘m sure there are more layers I‘ll be thinking about in the days to come.

Gil is an independently wealthy man meandering his way through life, trying to do good things for others but otherwise lacking focus. We see his current life in Arizona and his past in NYC as well as how they intersect. There‘s a bit of a melancholic tone here in this interesting character study. #tob2023

Finished my last book of 2022 last night at 11:30 pm, and what a book! How to describe it? About a guy who just wants to do good in the world. One of those books that reminds you how small acts can make a difference. Also people are messy and complicated and that's okay. I was smitten! A new fave for #tob23
Brought my year-end total to 125 books! Maybe my best year ever!
Happy New Year Littens! Here's to more good books in 2023!

Might be my last book haul of 2022.

Loved this. LOVE ❤️ 💕 💗 🐦 🦅 🛹 🦕

#TOB23 #QuietProfound #LitPie

“It was a peach 🍑 pie” 🥧
#TOB23 #iLovePie #CaresPieShow #PieinLit #LitPie

Is cozy literary fiction a genre? If so - this book is it.

#BookReport #PlayingCatchUp

Still loving the Gaslight murder mystery series and a big change has happened at the end of this one. Secret of Snow was good for #LMPBC, enjoyed Matzah Ball and Mouth to Mouth. Favorite of the bunch is the tagged book. Working my way through the TOB23 short list, still on the fence about my two current books. Ariadne is last book for #Booked2022.

What a gem of a book. Gil is a wealthy man who hasn‘t been happy in NY. He decides to give it all up, walk all the way to Arizona and start afresh. It‘s not easy but he tries. He is such a kind and good man. I rooted for him all 230 pages. Beautiful and touching! #ToB2023

Although I found the ending a little disappointing, overall I thought this novel was excellent. It's an honest portrayal of mid-life, when even those of us who thought we were paying attention open our eyes one morning and realize that 1) we're mortal in a more urgent way than we'd felt it before, and 2) we went a little sideways when we thought we'd been following the path to happiness and fulfillment and aren't where we thought we were. #tob2023

This is the 3rd book I‘ve read by Millet. I‘ve liked every one of them. This might be the most “normal” of the three. I listened to the audio and was interested the entire time which rarely happens with audio-fiction. Gil was a lovely character, overcoming the recent loss of a partner and long-ago loss of his parents. Watching as he developed relationships in a new location was a lovely experience. #TOB23.

Gil, raised by his grandmother, now a grown man, has strong moral character. His grandmother was absolutely horrid, in my view. He walks across the country and ends up in Phoenix where he becomes involved with his neighbors‘ lives, who happen to live in a literal glass house. Gil begins to notice birds that have been shot dead in his area which he finds out for despicable. Not big on plot, but meaningful scenes make it a pick.
#ToB23 long list

@Cinfhen wrote a great review about how this book is full of small moments w/ big impacts. So true. This is a satisfying book to read.

Gil, an independently wealthy New Yorker, needs a shake up and walks all the way to Phoenix where he buys a house next to a family. As he becomes more involved in their lives, he begins to open up about what brought him to Phoenix so suddenly and finds the community he‘s been longing for. As I said, v satisfying!

#ToB23 long list - After a breakup, Gil an independently wealthy New Yorker leaves the city and walks his way to Phoenix to begin a quiet life in the wilds. Instead he becomes enmeshed with his neighbors & rural community life. This book lacks BIG moments but it‘s small everyday life experiences creates BIG impacts. A definite pick! Audio #Hoopla

I bailed on this earlier in the month but since it‘s now on the #ToB23 long-list I thought I‘d give it a second chance. It‘s actually good. Millet has a way of effortlessly writing the inner lives of highly moneyed privileged New Yorkers. Gil is an interesting character. Audio #Hoopla

#NetGalley #AudioARC

I really love Lydia Millet. Like some of her previous books, this one has that beautiful connection between humans and the world around us. The way she writes about nature and the impact we have on it, while also telling a story is so impressive to me.

This follows a lone man who moves and becomes friends with the family next door. The story makes you ponder our existence and what makes us as people good.

I really liked this novel. It‘s about friendship and grief and will stay with me.
Put it on your tbr. Out October 11.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I devoured this book. It‘s one of those books in which not much happens plot-wise, but you fall madly in love with the characters and never ever want it to end. It‘s also an elusive goldmine of ideas and philosophy. Subtle and wise and lovely. Comes out in October.

It took special effort to get this ARC for the store, so I felt I‘d better read it immediately. I enjoyed it, but I don‘t know how to describe it? POV character Gil is odd but slowly charmed me over the course of the book. I‘d say very little happens: except I gasped and nearly cried. A little beauty in the sentences reflecting the natural beauty that drew Gil to AZ. A little sorrow, as current loss tangles with older grief. And a little hope.