Welcome to Litsy!

Did not like this at all. I found the dialogue particularly bad - the characters spoke to one another in a manner that seemed all belligerent "F**k you!"s and zero meaningful communication. A lot of the sexual detail is totally gratuitous (an ejaculations count?! Every time?!) and really unsexy. And the characters are self-absorbed, one dimensional & immature. Even worse - they're just not that interesting! And they don't develop much either ??

Starting this one today. Hate this cover though - I can literally hear it in my teeth! If you know what I mean....!

I loved this one. I loved the way it felt. It‘s a moody read that really got me hooked, I finished it in 2 days which I wasn‘t expecting. I loved the diversity. I want more reads like this one.

These PJs are ridiculous, but I'm including them b/c I neglected my TBR in preparation for and recovering from a trip to WDW with my sister. I did manage to finish this today though. It didn't grab me quite like Memorial did, but it was still great. Washington creates such complete, believable characters. His writing continues to impress me. The connection between love & food is beautifully done. This was my #bookspin for March. @TheAromaofBooks

I really liked Memorial, and I‘ve given this a so-so because it felt like Memorial part 2.
It also felt a bit sentimental/preachy. It may also just be bad mood Monday.

Deserving of the attention it‘s gotten this year, Family Meal is layered and tackles grief in a messy and tender way.

Bedtime reading. Good-night, my friends. #bryanwashington @RiverheadBooks

Feels like a remix of Memorial, but more subtly structured. Grief & self-destruction. Accepting care. Family & food. Healing through community. Tender & brutal. 2023

P141. “My family taught me the difference between acceptance, allowance, and understanding. Also: just being. Sometimes they overlap. Usually, they don‘t.”

P284 “We need everyone. Like, it‘s a group effort […] it‘s our responsibility to take care of each other.”

Great book!

I loved Memorial so was eager to read this one. It has similar ingredients that I loved: a Houston setting that feels ethnically diverse with Korean-American families & gay characters authentically portrayed, & food as a motif. I loved how Cam & TJ make space for themselves & their (found) families. It felt slower & more downbeat with casual sex, drug use & grief. I enjoyed Memorial more but this is complex & accomplished w trademark raw honesty.

I pre-ordered Family Meal from the library, following Meg‘s @Megabooks great review.

When I went to pick it up today I *may* also have perused the ‘New In‘ shelf, and couldn‘t resist Disobedient, which comes highly recommended by @TrishB . ☺️

#blameitonlitsy

I feel like Washington‘s 2 previous books were solid but with room for improvement. Well, now he‘s seriously hitting his stride. This is a terrific, intimate portrait of grief that also serves as a quiet social commentary. We get to know the interior world of these few characters so well that I felt so much for them. Just terrific.

For the first time i managed to get a brand new book from the library reserves right on release! I loved Memorial and this was another 5 star read for me. Washington takes us inside the lives of first Cam and then TJ. Two childhood friends, both gay, black/multi race, who became estranged as their choices took them to different places. There is trauma in both lives & Washington reels the reader in to these details once youve started to care ⬇️

Still taking pictures of books! 😂 I was downtown at the river for an appointment and snapped some at the bridge.

Family Meal was great! 5⭐️ I didn‘t care for Memorial, but FM was a win! Got v attached to the characters.
Proulx is a master of capturing stark lives in the American West.
Black Sheep was 💯💯 campy horror fun!! 😈 #aardvark
I didn‘t enjoy The Road as much as I hoped. By the end I was just tired of it. 🤷🏻‍♀️