Welcome to Litsy!

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Another short read based on a Lovecraft tale! I‘ve never read the original story upon which this one is loosely based, but I really enjoyed this one. There was something strangely cozy about this novella, and my delight in reading about a middle-aged woman going on a dangerous quest made me realize we need more stories - particularly in SFF - that center older women‘s perspectives.

I am definitely finding novellas are easier on my quarentine brain. This is a really well balanced piece. The writing is excellent but it is not trying to be too literary, the story still has guts and heart. Vellitt Boe is a character you'll think about for a long time afterwards. Strong pick.

First DNF of the year. Boring, dull, and drab. It‘s 168 pages, I made it to 60 pages before I called it quits. Interestingly this is the 3rd HP Lovecraft inspired book that I have either hated or dnfd, I have never read HP Lovecraft and I feel I would not like their work based on this realization haha.

Inspired by the work of HP Lovecraft. Professor Boe travels across the dreamlands to retrieve a student - if she does not the effects will be catastrophic.

Ending was pretty moving.

Partially a fix-up of HP Lovecraft's exclusion of women in his stories.

Nominated for some SFF awards when it was published - usually pick from the current batch of nominees but my library had a copy.

Finished this one while I was eating my lunch at work. Fun romp through the Lovecraft dream world. Lots of references if you are familiar with Lovecraft, but stands on its own regardless.

#lovecraft #fantasy

Finished this just now.

I didn‘t realize it was a part of Lovecraft lore, although I should have from the title. I haven‘t actually read Lovecraft so a lot of this went right over my head BUT I still enjoyed the dreamscape descriptions and the story itself. I also really appreciate how the author addressed and altered the sexism and racism that has put Lovecraft on low priority in my mind. Wish I had read his first for clarity though.

I am REALLY enjoying this book so far.

Something‘s been making me crave Masala Chai lately so I cooked some up this afternoon. I feel like finding the perfect masala chai for your tastes is kinda like the holy grail when you enjoy making these things at home but I can‘t find my favorite recipe right now 😭 need to keep hunting for it. This was pretty close though.

#chai #masalachai #teaandbooks

My collection of novellas to possibly read this weekend. I think they‘re all under 200 pages so surely I could finish one or two?

I‘ve basically made myself a nest of books, blankets and art supplies.

#longweekend #novellas

I finally narrowed down my pull stack for #24in48! I definitely won‘t get through all of it, but I like to have options. I have a mix of novels, novellas, and manga/comics.

I‘m hoping to hit 24 hours this time. I reached 22-1/2 hours during the last readathon, so I think I can make it. I‘ll probably take a nap today before the countdown starts. I have my coffee and snacks ready to go! 😀

Surreal and wonderful fantasy novel set in Lovecraft‘s Dreamlands.

After you get to the waking world, you realize your boyfriend is pretty much irrelevant. Loved this female interpretation of a H.P. Lovecraft story.

Loving this tale of one woman‘s journey to find a missing student set amongst HP Lovecraft‘s scenery.

Super sick today! Thankfully I have Smokey Joe to keep me company while I read this book.

Just got out of work so I can join in on #24in48 !

1. Buffalo, NY
2. Yep! Maybe like 4 times?
3. I heard about it after I did Dewey's 24-hour readathon for the first time and I was asking around for more things like it.
4. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire. Also excited to finish A Million Junes by Emily Henry and find out what the heck is going on with these ghosts!
5. My favorite animals are sharks and bunnies.
6. Litsy, Instagram (beachesnbooks), beachesandbooks at wordpress

A girl, a cat, and a quest. What else do you need?

April was already a great month for my reading, but it was nice to have Dewey's readathon to give it an extra boost. Mt TBR has increased a little with the release of the shortlists for the Hugos and the Ditmars. However, the award shortlists also mean I'm not having any trouble meeting my new year's resolution to get to the library more often.

Full report at http://earlgreyediting.com.au/2017/05/05/mt-tbr-report-april-2017/

I have not read any Lovecraft but I still enjoyed this!

Short but excellent!

One of my librarian friends recommended this and I'm having a really hard time not jumping into it. I'm in the middle of 5 other books right now! #blameitonlitsy #bookishproblems

I confess: I've never read Lovecraft and have no desire to, so maybe what irked me about this is due to my ignorance. I really liked the fact that Vellitt is a woman in her 50s(?) going on a solo quest, but otherwise, how is this supposed to be so feminist? All knowledge keepers are men, she seems to want to uphold the complacency of women, and then there was a reference to rape like it was NBD. Language was too flowery. Kinda boring euro fantasy.

First day of conference was blessedly short, AND I got my two presentations out of the way. Returned home and put on my jammies ASAP for more novella reading! I finally got a good start on this at lunch today and apart from a little typical fantasy silliness, I think this is going to be fun!

And then Lois.

Because today's Binti binge has given me a sudden urge to read down the Tor novellas on my TBR...

Can we take a moment to lament how crappy #mapsinbooks appear on a basic Kindle screen? It's just cruel!

#booknerdproblems

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5 ⭐️s

I went into this expecting a cosmic horror story, but what I got was a gorgeous quest story that's really a hell of a lot more like fantasy than anything else. This reimagines the horrorscape of Lovecraft's imagination as...well, something not entirely unlike our own world, actually. Not what I expected, but I absolutely adore it all the same - especially since Johnson calls out Lovecraft's racism and misogyny :D.

Feeling in the mood for something Lovecrafty tonight - and oh look! It's also a Nebula Award nominee XD!

I am enjoying this novella, but I feel that I would get more out of it if I were familiar with Lovecraft at all. Has anyone else read it? Did you feel the same?

Finished today as well. I started just liking it and finished living the novella. Kij Johnson has written more than a Lovecraft pastiche. She treats his Dreamlands with full respect while bringing a missing perspective to the setting. A perspective that I doubt Lovecraft would have recognized was missing. Love Kij Johnson's voice here.

You almost don't notice that what isn't said is almost as important as what is. The descriptions reminded me of reading HG Wells' Time Machine as a kid but it wasn't until I read the afterward that I realized it was a reimagining of Lovecraft. Some poignant thoughts on growing older, women's roles in society, the choices we make in life, and what it means to identify as a traveler.

The cover is lovely and I'm looking forward to a longer piece by Kij Johnson. I enjoyed her shorter works that Clarkesworld picked up.