Welcome to Litsy!

Raw and honest, this is an urbanized fictional perspective of an individual who grew up in the rough streets of Brooklyn, New York. Afro-Latina and trans protagonist Carlotta is released from prison on probation and tries to assimilate back into her community. However, her new identity ostracizes her from everyone as she attempts to navigate while dealing with themes of family, crime, gender, queerness and the threat of gentrification.

It's like I been away so long that motherfuckers all done learnt a different language from me, an every time they get a second to theyself, they start messin round with that phone. Motherfuckers useta talk to motherfuckers, now ev'body be a zombie trapped in they own li'l world, watchin some apples blow up on a li'l portable TV.

She crossed the street and studied the building closely-no LIVE NUDE REVUE, no xxx movies, nothing Is this where it was at? Yes, definitely. The place had become a haunted house; the sign read TIMES SCARE Huh? So what is it now, like a dead nude revue?

What a voice! This is an unconventional novel told mostly in first person and in Black American vernacular about a trans woman‘s 48 hours after being paroled. I felt Hannaham is riffing on Joyce‘s Ulysses, putting his own spin on it. There is minimal punctuation, stream of consciousness, switches from 1st to 3rd person in the same paragraph...one has to read it carefully. I found it surprisingly exuberant despite the dark subject matter.

Okay #unpopularopinion. You all loved it but I am halfway through and calling it quits. It probably is the language. I have to read out loud to make sense of what I‘m reading. It‘s been taking me forever that way and it leaves no room to enjoy the story. So it‘s me, not the book but I just lost patience and want to read something I actually like to read 🤷🏻‍♀️

#Booked2023 #wronglyincarnated

#WeeklyForecast 21/23

I have started the tagged book, and I have a hard time getting used to the language and style. I have heard so many good things about it though, that I‘m not giving up. Next it is time to start The Bandit Queens for #CampLitsy23, excited about it. If there‘s time I also like to start The Regrets!

I really liked this. Carlotta went to prison 21 years ago & now re-enters society. She navigates the new New York (no subway tokens? No twin towers? Gentrification) life as a woman (she transitioned in prison) & family connections (grown children, aging relatives etc). It was really humorous & entertaining even while dealing with traumatic circumstances & didn‘t make a joke of Carlotta herself.
#20in4

#20in4
Goal is to clear out the current reads before the month‘s end Death of Mrs Westaway for #authoramonth RingMaster is the only nonfiction I am reading for April. Astrid & Carlotta are due back to the library imminently so they gotta go.

& maybe start a couple new reads

Bordering on a pick/so-so for me. I loved Carlotta, she was an amazing MC. Full of humour to cover the awful life she‘s had in prison. And there was some laugh out loud thinking from Carlotta.
It was the writing that moves it down a bit for me. The dialect was fine- you got into the rhythm- though there were very long passages. The switches between 1st and 3rd person irritated me so much and ruined the flow. Just stick with Carlotta!

Carlotta is a trans woman who was wrongly convicted and spent 21 years in prison. Most of this book takes place in 2 days when she is released on parole, as she tries to figure out how to fit back into the outside world while following all of the rules of her release.

Tackles hard subjects with surprising humor, I couldn‘t help loving Carlotta.

Do this on audio if you can, I loved the narration.
#booked2023 #wronglyconvicted

I wish this book had been picked for the #tob23 shortlist. I loved it.

The characters are so rich and diverse, set against a dysfunctional family background making this an emotional, often times funny read that I couldn't stop reading once I started.

Some might be put off by the language, but to be honest, after a few chapters I really didn't notice.

This is one of my favorites this year.

Why on earth didn‘t this make the #tob23 shortlist? Carlotta‘s attempt to reintegrate into her old life after two decades in jail and also follow all of the rules of her parole was thought provoking, funny, and so damn sad all at once. Carlotta is not a character you will soon forget. #booked2023 #bookwithtransperson

Here's an example of a book that should have been on the #TOB2023 shortlist. A wild adventure. Playing with diction/thoughts/events in a captivating, endearing, and propulsive way. Carlotta, a trans woman, is released from prison after 21 years following a wrongful conviction. We follow her for just a few days as she tries to reintegrate into a life after prison and follow the rules of her probation. Had me chuckling quite a bit.

Oh boy…I know folks with this look…and I always want to wrap them up in a big hug despite their protests.

My first chuckle of the day. I have to slow down when reading this book. The one-liners are so good I have to savor them.

End of week four. Slower week for me with family holiday time. Ocean State was audio.
Total books for the challenge so far: 18
#WinterReadathon

Had just burned my #audiobook credit on this when the #TOBshortlist #TOB2023 was announced. I *almost* turned it back in but the terrific reviews told me to listen to it anyway. Glad I did. Carlotta is just too lovable and it humbles me to realize that I need to open my heart and love more. God bless the Carlottas in this blasted world. Bless the down and out, the strivers and the thrivers for being true and positive and lovely.

Heads up British TOB-ers!!!

As he did in Delicious Foods, which I loved, Hannaham takes a very dark situation, a trans woman wrongly convicted and held in a men‘s prison for 21 years, and gives it humanity and even humor. #toblonglist FTW again!

Carlotta has just been released on parole, and we follow her first days in the free world as she suddenly navigates a world of new technologies and tries to fulfill her parole conditions while dealing with the trauma of her stay.

Carlotta Mercedes needs to hold her shit together, no matter what. Even though life hasn‘t been kind to her, nothing is gonna keep her down. After 20+ years of being wrongfully incarcerated, Carlotta is back in Brooklyn but the free world she left is not the same place she‘s returned to. And despite her determination to play it clean, the world seems destined to mess with her. Carlotta has spunk & sass 👇🏽

I wasn‘t joking @sarahbarnes when I said I wanted to read this right away😉Here we go! And so far, I‘m LOVING the tone ( narration is fantastic) LOTS of f bombs for those who don‘t like foul language. #ToB23 longlist

This book has you trying to catch your breath the whole way through. The narrative voice is stunning and a glimpse into the mind of Carlotta, who is equal parts tough as nails and vulnerable, and who never gives up fighting for her place to live as her authentic self. A fantastic book. #ToB2023

“Two decades and change into her beef, Carlotta Mercedes braced herself for audition number five with the New York State Board of Parole.“

#FridayReads #FirstLineFriday

Hello, Group L. Do any of these look interesting to you for the #lmpbc ? Bloom is a graphic novel. Two are hard-boiled mysteries, and the tagged book is a new-ish release about a trans woman reentering society after being in prison. Are these too heavy? Do we want lighter reads? I have other options I was considering, but I limited it to these four unless we prefer other choices.

Human, stop leaving your things where I nap

This book was hilarious and brutal at the same time. Carlotta Mercedes is a Black, Latina, trans woman who is released from prison on parole after being incarcerated for 22 years. Her past comes with all the horrific details you might expect under those circumstances, but what stands out is her absolute zest for life and indomitable spirit. I really loved this book!

TW: rape

Picked up new books at Parnassus. The tagged book is one I hadn't heard of before but was displayed as being written by a local author so I grabbed it.