Welcome to Litsy!

I seem to have forgotten to post yesterday - my November and December books are Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, a mind-bending exploration of human nature and the immortality of ideas, and Here One Moment … which actually could also be considered an exploration of human nature, in this case as it regards our relationship to mortality and time. Both excellent though they could not be more different.

Thanks for the game, @Andrew65 - this was fun!

I loved this book.
The way this author connects all the characters is my favorite aspect of her writing. This book about how one women‘s prediction changed hundreds of lives. Read it!!

My favorite 2024 reads! 📚

For the first time in 6 years, I met my reading goal! My goal was 35, but I totaled 37 books for the year. With two littles (2.5 years and 5 months) and two jobs, I‘m really proud of myself. Although beating my challenge is nice, it‘s never my end goal. My ultimate goal is always to read daily and enjoy good books, simple and sweet ❤️

Here‘s to challenging myself to 40 reads for 2025, happy reading friends! 🤓

This was a fun endeavor. The bracket method can throw off some top picks (like when I had two favs in the same month) but the tagged book is my number one of the year!

A beautiful, but challenging book that makes u look mortality straight in the face. On a delayed flight filled with frustrated passengers, the Death Lady tells each passenger their date& cause of death. As several predictions come true, passengers come to see the meaning of life once they realize it‘s something we won‘t always have. Following several characters makes this a speed read with a hopeful ending, despite some sadness along the way!

@CBee if you will permit me a late addition to my #AuldLangSpine list - this book was terrific! I always enjoy the cast of characters in a Liane Moriarty book - she can weave together a collection of storylines in a very satisfying way. I was afraid it would feel stale because, knowing the premise, I assumed (correctly) that the theme would be “enjoy your life while you can, because none of us knows what the future holds.” But she makes it fresh.

It‘s just math. It‘s all just math.

#aussiesecretsanta sorry for my late post. The holidays got hectic @CarolynM @Rissreads but I have started the tagged book in the brief moments I can escape. I got straight into the tea too. Thanks Carolyn for organising and Nerissa for wonderful presents yet again. You always nail it. British Rose is one of my favourite Body Shop smells. The fold away bag is perfect for carrying home books from Little Free Libraries on my wanderings. Merry Xmas!

#333Challenge

Auto-buy (I don‘t buy books, so let‘s say “auto-add” to my library holds):
Liane Moriarty
Candice Millard
Connie Willis

Want to read more of:
Charles Dickens
Hampton Sides
Terry Pratchett

Want to read for the 1st time:
Valérie Perrin
Han Kang
Tea Obreht

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I love Moriarty‘s books they are so entertaining and this one does not disappoint. I was so invested in every character. A wonderful lighter read for the holiday season.

This book was thought-provoking and entertaining. I loved becoming enmeshed in all of the characters' lives. I became addicted to them all, and I was on the edge of my seat.

3.5/5 🌟

This book started off on a strong note, pulling me in with its intriguing premise. However, the sheer number of characters introduced became a significant drawback for me and I didn't really connect with any of them. It‘s the kind of book that‘s entertaining while it lasts but doesn‘t leave a lasting impression. Good for a quick escape, but don‘t expect to be raving about it afterward.

Accidentally got lost in a book this afternoon. Time disappeared and I read 40 chapters. If I didn‘t have to stop to make supper I probably would have finished. Maybe I‘ll read instead of sleeping tonight. lol

This was not a knock out for Liane Moriarty, I felt like it was written to be made into a TV show and that affected the quality of the reading experience. I'll keep reading everything Liane Moriarty writes, but if this is your first intro to her try What Alice Forgot or Nine Perfect Strangers first.

During a delayed and stressful Australian flight, an elderly passenger tells the other passengers how and when they will die. After the flight, some of her “predictions” begin to come true. Is the “Death Lady” a psychic, a fraud, or just a confused old woman? The ride to find the answer is a rollicking one.

Here One Moment is a slower burn than some of Moriarty's other novels, and it doesn‘t land quite as firmly, but it‘s still a solid beach read – albeit one that will make you contemplate your own mortality. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/here-one-moment-liane-moriarty/

Reading challenge update!
🦎Wingardium Leviosa: includes a flight - The Most Likely Club by Friedland
🦎Accio: a book you have to get your hands on- Briar Club
🦎The Grim: related to an omen- Here One Moment
🦎Harry Potter: a book that mentions him- The Guncle Abroad
🦎Arthur Weasley: rules are bent - Eight Detectives
🦎Draught of Peace: peace is restored - The Rom-commers
🦎McGonagall: has a matriarch - the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers

Really good! I usually like Moriarty, with Nine Perfect Strangers as the main exception. I was worried this would be too upsetting or grim, but it wasn‘t. Now I can discuss it with @BennettBookworm ! ☺️

I finished this a couple of weeks ago, but only just realised I forgot to post a review. 🤦‍♀️

On a delayed Australian flight, an unremarkable lady stands up and starts telling all of the passengers how and when they‘re going to die.

I really couldn‘t see how Moriarty would bring this to a satisfactory conclusion but it ended up being far more than just satisfactory - fabulous if rather worrying in places!

Thank you for this gift, Holly! 😘

Such a good read! Liane Moriaty did it again :) I highly recommend it!
The story is emotional, witty, mystical, dramatic. The author blends determinism and intuition.

It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had 🦋

As Anne Lamott aptly said in her cover review, “You don‘t know how she‘ll land it, and then she DOES!” I was nervous this book would be too depressing or grim, but I should‘ve just trusted in Moriarty‘s consistent genius. This book is not only an absolute master class in gripping and witty writing, it‘s a story that is truly life-affirming and heartwarming. Trust me, it‘ll surprise you!!

Another great read from Liane Moriarty. I flew through this book and didn‘t know where it was going, but I enjoyed the journey!

Book 1 of #10BeforeTheEnd

This was a ride! I honestly don‘t know what I‘d do if someone came up to me and told me when and how I‘d die 😳. It was so interesting watching the various characters deal with it in different ways. And the interspersed chapters from the POV of the psychic really added a touching backstory. Well written, interesting concept and characters, and a well rounded ending. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Finished it this morning! Liane is a must buy author 4 me! I was very excited 4 this premise! It‘s a thick one but it reads quickly w/ short chapters & switching POV. You‘re not sure where it‘s heading at first but just keep reading. I‘m typing this as I‘m ready to get on a plane. I hope no one predicts my death on it! (Knock on wood!) I‘ll be eager to discuss this one at book club! I just hate that I‘ll have to wait a few years for her next one!

I‘m excited to join @ChaoticMissAdventures for the #10BeforeTheEnd readathon! Here are the 10 I‘m hoping to get finished!

4.5⭐️/5⭐️

A big fat book about predestination vs. making your own choices and the grief that shapes us. It felt a bit like The Measure and Lessons in Chemistry combined. Cherry is the main character & she‘s hard to know at first, but she grew on me. It runs long & there are so many characters, but it was a perfect vacation read. Save it for when you have time to sink into the story & appreciate the layers. It‘s a satisfying read if you can give it the time.

I would have liked to spend more time with the passengers. I just didn‘t really like Cherry or her story for the first half of the book! So I could have done with less Cherry and more with Allegra, Paula, and Leo in particular.

This tagged book is among my favorite Moriarty books so it wins the grid, but dang I read two fascinating memoirs in this 3x3.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Wow!! This was a really great read! I didn‘t really enjoy Liane Moriarty‘s last 2 books but this one is definitely a winner! I couldn‘t put it down! Such an interesting and unique storyline. On an ordinary flight between Hobart and Sydney a woman stands up and walks through the cabin and one by one tells each passenger what age they‘ll die and cause of their deaths. The book then deals with the subsequent fall out of these predictions. Brilliant!

It took me a while to get into this book but I really enjoyed it by the end. I love reading stories with changing character perspectives every chapter and this one really pulled the threads together in the second half

I‘m always excited to read how Liane Moriarty gathers her cast of characters for a story, and this may be among my favorites. I‘ve read quite a few stories where the characters learn their date, if not cause, of death, Even when like the stories overall, they can sometimes sit a bit heavy. This didn‘t, and I think because she doesn‘t leave the reader with some big moral dilemma to consider. It‘s just a fun story.

I think this is my favorite Moriarty read! She masterfully explores how people might react when given a glimpse of their fate—do they fight it, embrace it, or ignore it entirely? The pacing is sharp, the character development is rich, and the story just kept me wanting to read, while wondering what I would do in their shoes. Another UNPUTDOWNABLE read for the year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m a big fan of Liane Moriarty, and this may be her most gorgeous, profound book yet. She‘s such a keen observer of human nature and culture. Can she actually see inside people‘s minds?! She had me smiling, tearing up, and philosophizing. As always, the impeccable audiobook narration adds even more texture to the lovingly rendered characters. I adored every word. 🎧

Death isn't taboo, but a natural part of life that should make us aware not cower in fear. And this book makes you face your mortality and take measure of how you're living your life.

I love how Moriarity can weave small coincidences into stories of connections.

65/62

"Later, not a single person will recall seeing the lady board the flight at Hobart Airport."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

What a relief to finally sink my teeth into a new Liane Moriarty book. I loved this story. It had such great lines that I'd read over twice for sheer delight. The plot and theme kept me engrossed and, of course, thinking... would I want to know when and how I die? Still undecided, but these characters and all the different ways they grappled with the aftermath were each a study in entertaining psychology.

I went into this blind and am glad I did, so I would reveal any of the plot. Suffice it to say, it‘s about mortality and living to the fullest and I absolutely loved it. My mom did, too. I think it‘s my favorite of Moriarty‘s so far and I love her books.

Moriarty‘s latest makes for a compelling, character-driven read. A delayed flight brings out the worst in many travelers, but a routine Hobart/Sydney flight turns into something remarkable when a lady walks down the aisle, pronouncing the age of death & cause of death for each of her fellow passengers. Alternating between the “Death Lady‘s” life story & the aftermath for a selection of the recipients of her predictions, it‘s soon hard to put down!

Cooking up some gravy and meatballs for tonight's family dinner, and starting this new one. A love a quiet Sunday!!!

"Later, not a single person will recall seeing the lady board the flight at Hobart Airport.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

My new book for the weekend 🤓
#hereonemoment

So lovely to be back in a Liane Moriarty world. This book gave me much to think about and I ended up reading whole sections to my husband. Obviously the butterfly effect in play with the cover is so enticing but it's the story, each character, that just draws a reader in. I can't wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on this book.

What a treat to read the latest from one of my fave authors a bit early! 🫶🏻✨🥰

Moriarty is so handy at creating a cast of full-fleshed characters, weaving together their stories expertly. This novel focuses on destiny versus free will, personal fears, main character syndrome, and “coincidences”. By the end, I was quite fond of several characters. To me, this is a return to peak form for this author. 💖

August recap. My goal of 100 books in 2024 is starting to look like it‘s out of reach if I don‘t queue up some novellas but so many chunks are stealing my interest these days. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The amount of serotonin I felt when I saw approval for the latest Liane Moriarty novel on NetGalley!! She‘s an auto-read for me. Excited to dive in. 🦋

This story is about life, death, risk and choosing to make the moments count. It illustrates that the actions of others have ripple effects. While the book revolves around lot of different and interesting characters, it is easy to follow and a very entertaining read. Cherry (the main character) was wonderfully developed. I loved it and it has risen to my favorite by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advanced reading copy. 5/5!

Who is looking forward to reading this??? A go to author me! Can't find on libby yet, I'll have to check for physical copy at my library!
@BarbaraBB @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs @Librarybelle @Read4life @Andrew65 @TheSpineView @dabbe