Welcome to Litsy!

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

How perfect is this wallpaper especially as I start the tagged book??

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Although there are witches, Giddings' world in The Women Could Fly is not too distant from our own. The witches have given her a means to emphasize the oppression of women, especially women of color, under patriarchy. She also comments on the complexities of parent-child relationships, as well as on the importance of community.

It wasn't a perfect book, but I enjoyed the ride. Thought about it for a long time after it was done.

"Once, there were men who loved to see punishment. They were elected officials, businessmen, community pillars, and every kind of man in between. They loved anything that would balkanize everyone they considered beneath them. If everyone was busy fighting for their rights, fighting each other, and the men stayed together, they would always be in charge of everything." (p.270)
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There were quite a few grim and maddening sections of this book.

"Here was another thing I had forgotten about being around my mother. Maybe it's a universal thing about mothers in general: their questions have fangs that can pull up and tear out the truth." (p.156)
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Mother-daughter relationships are tough. Tougher for some more than others. The manipulation and weaponization of that relationship is such a tragic perversion of what it can and should be. :/

"My mother's feelings were always a sudden downpour to me. I was always soaked with the intensity of them. If she was upset, my teeth were clenching. If she was crying, my eyes were watering. No one else has ever made me feel that way." (p. 5)
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Reflecting on some of my favorite descriptions, quotes, + commentary before I review The Women Could Fly. As much as it is about being woman, Black, + queer, it is also about relationships. Esp. w parents.

I‘m excited for this one!

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Set in a not so hard to imagine misogynistic dystopian society where magic is real and women are frequently persecuted as witches, our MC Jo is faced with the near insurmountable odds of being female, black, bisexual, unmarried AND the daughter of a suspected witch. As the marriage deadline looms Jo must come to terms with what it means to be a woman in this society, constantly toeing the line of impropriety simply by being herself.

This is a qualified pick for me. I like the premise of this novel, but it's not developed enough to provide the impact I think the author is going for. All of the elements are there: our relationship to our parents as we grow up; our desire for love, belonging, and community, and the things we sacrifice for that desire; destructive racism and sexism inherent in systems to keep certain groups in power. They just feel like they're behind glass. ⬇️

With one thing and another, it's taken me more than 5 hours to drink my decaf this morning (I wasn't drinking and reading that whole time, which is why it's taking me so long and I've reheated the coffee twice). A few more minutes before I have to go on to the next task, but for the moment, I'm enjoying this novel and how well my mug coordinates with this section of the story (minus the fact that the poem was written by a man).

Finished last Sunday & didn‘t take part in the #independentwomen #buddyread festivities. I may go back & look at the discussion questions but maybe not.🤷🏻‍♀️ I wanted to love this book but found myself slogging through it-the idea was there, but it didn‘t quite hook me & I spent much of it a bit confused. Given recent life events, I was also not in the mood for a too-close-to-today‘s-world & ultimately depressing book, so just a so-so from me.

Finished up a little late for the #independentwomen buddy read from last weekend. This was not on my radar prior to this, though I did read her book Lakewood. I found the two titles similar: fascinating ideas but the execution left a bit to be desired. In this novel, some women are witches and to be accused of being a witch in America is a potentially deadly accusation. Entertaining audio, but left something to be desired. Low pick.

What if we lived in alternate reality where women can still be accused of being witches? I was not expecting the book to be the way it was. For a moment I thought this book was just making social commentary but then magic came into play. Did I like it? Yes, there were some parts that captivated me. Was I confused? Uh yeah! I give this 3.5 ⭐️

#BookSpinBingo #15 @TheAromaofBooks
#MarchMadness @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

And my second completed book from this set: Title Begins with W. I'm still not sure how I feel about this book, but I'm glad I read it.

@BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen @alisiakae

#Booked2023

Pantone, baby! #BluePerennial

Guess how many I have to go? One!

#Pantone2023 @clwojick

And another March # Wicked Words done! @AsYouWish

Joining in late for #IndependentWomen! I unfortunately didn‘t get to reading the tagged book (Feb was a terrible reading month for me).

Posting a pic from my bachelorette party a couple weeks ago - I have to say, building a strong group of female friends has been such an important part of my late 20s and really value those relationships as I‘ve matured into my 30s.

I‘ve been continuously adding to my Girl Power playlist on Spotify for years:

Question 5 of 5. #IndependentWomen

Question 4 of 5. #IndependentWomen

Question 3 of 5. #IndependentWomen

Question 2 of 5 #IndependentWomen

Welcome to our #IndependentWomen #bigbuddyread discussion!

We came up with 5 questions which I will post on this page. I‘m tagging everyone now, please return to this page for the other 4 questions!

Afterwards Cindy and I will get back to you!

I finished this late last night. It did take me a bit to get into this one, but I ended up really liking it. In this world where witches exist, twomen are monitored for aberrant behavior and men are supposed to protect and guide them, I felt rage and fear at times. Some of this felt too close to home. If I lived in this world, I would have had to register with the government because I was not married by 28. I also had emotions about the ⬇️

Hmmmm. I‘m a bit conflicted about this book. I feel like it didn‘t quiet hit its mark. It was definitely an interesting story, a world where men control women‘s lives. What‘s sad is we kinda already live in that world! I also struggle with books where mothers abandon their children. But still there was a lot to like in it.
@BarbaraBB
@Cinfhen
#bigbuddyread
#independantwomen

I was seeing posts for this #BigBuddyRead and thinking, "hmm, might be one to pick up," and what do you think one of my (surprise) Book Riot Tailored Book Recommendations that arrived today was? The other two look pretty cool, too!

I won't finish it in time for the discussion, but I'm glad that I have it. #IndependentWomen #gettbr #bookmail @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

I‘m conflicted. The writing was engaging and the audio narration was good. It was also too timely for me. The raw fear and anger is something I feel in the current political/ cultural landscape, and it was not something I enjoyed experiencing in fiction. It has rage and resistance, but also a sense of sad inevitability that is heartbreaking. I think there‘s supposed to be a subtle hope, but this book just hurts. A soft pick as it will haunt me.

Finished last night in time for our #independentwomen discussion tomorrow. I had a hard time getting into the writing style in print so switched to audio at an increased speed which helped a bit. I have mixed feelings so a so-so for me.

#Pantone23 #ElectricBlueLemonade

I was sticking things on here randomly because I intended to be better at participating.... The Nina Simone song is mentioned in the book. Lizzo might be a theme lately. And Enzo Enzo is a little treat for those of you that read Three by Valerie Perrin. But I may have gotten distracted....

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6HEHuM59oClVALGz7xy6zq?si=g4LqH0bxRjCitTEK2BoJ...

#IndependentWomen @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

Love a good #IndependentWomen playlist! I got a good start, with some Joan Armatrading, Dolly Parton, Kate Nash, Florence + the Machine, Nina Simone, Veruca Salt, and more. I'll be adding to it through the day! Can't wait to see everyone's lists.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0NqdZsr87lAVert6leDK3S?si=Zp_s_xArQwuhN38IYt_g...

@BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

#WickedWords @AsYouWish #readingchallenge

When you find the word on day one in your current read :)

@Rissreads Thanks so much for sending me this book this X-mad. I really liked this book. We follow Josephine in this modern world where witches are real and to prove you‘re not one you get married and live the life the good creator wants you to have by providing for your man and family. Lol. Women who are not married by age 28 are required to register with the state and have someone monitor them. I appreciated what Giddings does in here. Pick!

So if I‘d known so much Michigan was in here 😵‍💫😵‍💫🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 so close to how the people in my town are it‘s almost PTSD .. #yikes
Trying to finish it is a struggle
Also I was sent to the island in Lake Superior as a teen 👀
🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐

That‘s all -carry on -I‘ll see you all this weekend OY VEY 🥴
#independentwomen BuddyRead

My favorite new vocab word from this week‘s reading! #weirdwords @CBee

Somehow this one never quite landed even though I think I‘m exactly the target audience. Party that‘s more that the expectations I had beforehand didn‘t pan out than that it wasn‘t a good read… And partly the magical realism element didn‘t totally work for me here. #independentwomen #buddyread

When I was in my early 20s, I lived with my best friend at the time, Nakia. She loved this moment in a Woman‘s Worth that showed Black love that she said we never really got to see. So anytime I read moments like this I think about that video and Nakia. Just fyi these parents in this book are an interracial couple. It‘s still wonderful.

I feel like I‘m posting the same review as most on this #independentwomen buddyread.

There were parts I liked and a good chunk when I thought about bailing. “Uneven” is the description I‘ve seen of the writing and I have to agree. But the ending saved it for me. I‘m glad I finished it. Not quite a pick still. Looking forward to the discussion on the 3rd.

Sietje‘s tongue sticking out in her sleep felt appropriate 😆🐕. #SleepySietje

Like others have mentioned, this was an uneven read for me. I loved the concept, and some parts were really engaging, but there were also a number of inconsistencies in the world building and characterizations. The ending pushed it from a so-so to a low pick for me; I found it surprisingly satisfying.
#IndependentWomen @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Not my favorite read, definitely struggled with parts of the story but im looking forward to discussing and celebrating next weekend with everyone #IndependentWomen 👯‍♀️💪🏽 Our book discussions are always interesting and fun! More info later this week with times & reminders 😁Anyhow, book was meh for me. I found the writing and pacing uneven.

I‘ve been looking forward to this book. Picked it up last night. On my hook: a modern-couture twist on a classic squares pattern (Hooked on Grannies) - I‘m making a monochrome sweater for my son with fingering weight cotton from Hobbii. #litsycrafters #booksandcrochet

I‘m going in 👀 ……#independentwomen buddy read

I didn‘t think this would be my kind of book, as I don‘t often read ‘witchy‘* books and I was right.

Parts of it drew me in, but there were so many disconnects and unexplained back-stories that it didn‘t gel together. I‘ll save any more comments for the #independentwomen weekend!

*I am however about to start Weyward so hopefully that‘s better… 🤞

#quicklunchtimeread
Starting this one today 😉

“When I knocked on the door, he answered it by handing me a glass of whiskey and leading me to the terrible black leather couch he owned. Every time I saw it, I thought oh, ick, because it was obviously bought to say, Look I have some money, look I am a desirable man as described in men‘s fashion magazines.”

I got feelings from this paragraph. 🤣

This book really surprised me by how much I enjoyed it! Yes, it's a bit YA and bits reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale (which I hated), but it was different enough to keep me turning the kindle pages. Looking forward to the #independentwomen buddy read @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

#booked2023 #titlestartswithvw @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage
#pop23 #queerlead
#52bookclub23 #bookbyoctaviaebutler (her writing has been compared to Butler's)

#bookreport @Cinfhen

Continued Count!
Finished Emma, Melmoth & Kindred
Started tagged for #independentwomen buddy read. Not got very far yet!

Thanks @TrishB - when I saw your lovely ‘used‘ copy I went onto Amazon and ordered this one for Qa.70. I don‘t think it‘s even been opened. ?‍♀️

I did notice that there is no price either on the back or on the fly leaf so I wonder if they both came from a remaindered batch of books?

Looking forward to reading this and the discussions over the #independentwomen weekend. (I think I am, anyway, after recent reviews! ?)

Admittedly, I am not a fan of speculative fiction or magical realism, so this book had one strike off the bat. But I just couldn‘t suspend disbelief enough to get into this world. The narrative was uneven and unnecessarily convoluted at times. I considered bailing at 150 pages, but pushed through. There were some valid points made. I understood what the author was trying to do, but it just didn‘t work for me. #IndependentWomen buddy read

I didn‘t like our #IndependentWomen #buddyread as much as most others seem to, unfortunately.
The dystopian world never felt even close to plausible, it made really no sense to me.
The second part I caught myself skimming, and rolling my eyes.
Only the third part I did enjoy. Without saying too much, I thought the ending was cool and I loved Jo‘s character and friendships. Looking forward to discussing it on March 5!

Pic: Estepona, Spain