Welcome to Litsy!

My last #OffMyShelf book “unusual form” and my last book of 2025/first book of 2026.

I‘ve owned this for 12 years and finally picked it up. It‘s an experience more than it‘s a novel-a puzzle The text is last novel of the reclusive (possibly non existent) author VM Straka and in the margin notes and ephemera, an adventure and a love story (two really). From the creative minds of Doug Dorst and JJ Abrams. Style over substance but entertaining.

#HappyFridayReadingHour

Sitting down with a mug of toffee flavored instant coffee. It‘s not very good - more like hot chocolate than coffee- but it brings happy memories of those Suisse Mocha Coffee commercials from the‘80s which I somehow thought represented my future. The lifestyle they were selling is what I thought I wanted. 😉☕️

The books are my attempt to complete the #OffMyShelf challenge in the next five days. 🤞

The COOLEST of concepts. The execution made me want to cry I was so frustrated with the lack of sense this book had. A book within a book including notes and inserts to help along the mystery of the author of the fake book Ship of Theseus

You seek a world populated by trick-monkeys who dance to your tunes for the empty promise of coins.

Can't wait to start this book!

Photo Prompt Day 1:Black #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

#bookmail !
Bookmail from me to me lol

I went down a rabbit hole and watched a Youtube video about ergodic literature (think House Of Leaves, which I also brought LOL ) and was hooked by the concept. In the video S was mentioned and sounded the most interesting so snatched it up- thanks Thriftbooks!

Very cool concept, 2 stories in one. The book itself, and the 2 scholars communicating in the margins about the mystery of who the author and editor truly were. The book itself wasn‘t all that engaging to me but the pair in the margins, I absolutely loved them, and all the extra letters and postcards folded in from them to each other. The different color ink to convey time passage and different read throughs, so good.

Definitely one of the coolest books I‘ve ever read! The “main book” itself was kind of dull but the “side story” of the characters writing to each other in the margins and scrutinizing about the book and the mysterious author was AMAZING. So fun to follow these characters through months of their lives as they get to know each other and see the postcards and notes they leave each other between the pages.

So the two mystery books were Ship of Theseus, and The Pisces 😊

Well done @Soubhiville for guessing The Pisces!

These were ordered to my table with a cup of tea and a ginger beer. Literally all cafés should have books to order...

Thanks for guessing @Meshell1313 @DaveGreen7777 @Ruthiella

This book, which is a novel within a mystery & two love stories, is entitled S.. 2 college students use the novel to communicate, writing in the margins & leaving emphera throughout the novel.
The book was interesting, the novel was boring. I enjoyed the story of the students and the mysteries but wished that there has been more from the college students. All the little pieces of paper & things are cool but irritating to keep in order.
3/5 stars

First I‘m not sure how to describe this book. It‘s a story within a story within a story. Got it? Yeah neither did I until I started to read it. I have to say all the storylines held my attention but it was difficult to read at times. Read the notes on the book page. Or read the page and then the notes. Yeah I switched back and forth. J.J. Abrams wrote it…so…it‘s going to be different. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #springread #impulsebuy

I am ecstatic to finally own this beauty, a Christmas present from my husband & daughter. Someone on here recommended it to me (sorry, can't remember who but if it's you thanks for that!) and I've coveted it ever since. Can't wait to get stuck in but it's the bookworm's eternal dilemma - put it on the TBR pile or read straight away?

Going to try and give this one another go! Love the concept! I‘m also trying to start a discord book club if anyone is interested in checking it out the link is https://discord.gg/neCDqqwqj5 would love to have you!

This was a pick for me, but only because of the format, NOT the content/story. Truthfully, I found the central story in this book within a book pretty boring, and the secondary story somewhat (but not a lot) better. But I really enjoyed the experience of it (including the ephemera incorporated throughout). If you like unique formatting in your book, this is worth checking out!

I thought I'd try giving this a go again, but I'm not sure I'll be able to read it. Finding tracking the conversation in the margins hard - I can't get into a flow with either story. Maybe I should try reading the book story first, then the notes?
Anyway, regardless, it's a thing of beauty. All the inserts, like postcards, a map on a napkin. Gorgeous.

Beautiful 😍😍😍

A very wise friend said it‘s never too early to start celebrating your birthday, so I‘ve opened my gifts! SO AMAZING @BarbaraBB THANK YOU XXX Tagged book is SO COOL!!!! It‘s going to get a separate post!!! And I‘m SUPER excited to try my FIRST Ali Smith and another Russo🙌🏻 Thanks for these fabulous gifts 🎉🎉🎉VERY EXCITED ♥️

Next up. For those in the know...do I read all the notes along with the chapter or after each chapter?
Looking forward to this. I still don't know why the cover and true title are different 😆
Reading with @NataliePatalie

1. The Lost City of Z.
2. The above for movie/bookclub and then "S.".
3. Michael Tolliver Lives

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain @Nataliepatalie

@TheAromaofBooks I took this quote from the _review_ on your blog (https://bit.ly/2T6tCOi) because I find it so apt. I can perfectly see those two:

“In some ways, I guess Eric and Jen come across as authentic stupid college students who need a decade or so of real life to realize that maybe their parents weren‘t as dumb as they always thought.”

Thank you for your review. 🙇🏽‍♀️

I kind of aaaalways wanted to read this book and the review @TheAromaofBooks wrote on her blog (https://bit.ly/3kseIhv, screenshot also from there. ☺️) is the _first_ I ever read. Everybody keeps telling me the book is too complicated to summarise. – Well, maybe. But one _could_ offer some basics. Sarah did way more than that. And now that I‘ve engulfed her review, I need some time to think over if I really still wanna read this book. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I never actually got around to reviewing this book when I read it back in September, but I finally wrote a lot of thoughts about it over on my blog - https://thearomaofbooks.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/s-by-j-j-abrams-doug-dorst On the whole, I did enjoy it, and the level of detail & immersiveness (new word haha) is spectacular. But the story itself felt a little flat - both the text story & the margin story - partially because Eric & Jen's ⬇

☕️ Indeed, though I am trying to make tea more of a go-to for me...
☕️ I‘ve tagged a book I want to read with coffee ... because I think I‘m going to need the extra focus!
☕️ @Mommamanzi @SamHeartCoffee @MaleficentBookDragon to name a few... and of course @Chrissyreadit and @CoffeeNBooks who tagged me (thanks! 😘)

I've finished the base story, but not the footnotes, handwritten notes, and inserts (which I've started). I'll possibly review when I finish the bonuses. More importantly, I think I'd like to reread sometime when I have better concentration (not after >6 months in isolation and during multiple pivotal crises beyond the pandemic).

#BookReport - Really slow reading week - so many other things going on between bookshelf building, other home projects, and work (only 2 days this week, but they were long ones!!). Plus, I'll admit, we've been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 in the evenings a lot. We've completed the main story twice; now I'm doing things like riding around & collecting all the dinosaur bones whilst harvesting wild herbs. I may need a hobby! 😂

Tagged book is ⬇

#WeeklyForecast - Last night I randomly picked up the tagged book, pictured here as Ship of Theseus, as this book is a book within a book within a book... and now I'm completely hooked even though this one wasn't remotely on my radar OR (more importantly) my #BookSpinBingo board! 😂 Ah well, what can I say?? Anyway, I'm reading that one & Time Out for Happiness currently. Hoping to get one of my #LMPBC books read this week along with a few other⬇

Latest haul from Book Outlet came today!! That website is DANGEROUS! 😂 I was especially excited to get the tagged book better than half off. Someone on Litsy read it and I was completely enamoured with the story-within-a-story concept that is so involved that it has various postcards and clippings throughout the book, and its own slip cover to keep it all together!

Having a fun time rereading this book! Need to do some research on cyphers to keep up!

#s #reread #shipoftheseus #mystery #jjabrams #scones #sundaymorning

I borrowed this from my friend today. I guess now is the perfect time to take a deep dive into this crazy book with all the margin notes and extras!

Anyone read this? What did you think?

Book mail! Sqeee!!! So excited for this one! And here‘s to hoping that it‘s not as difficult as “House of leaves”

Wow this book. It contains a story within the story: on the margins of the book are the handwritten notes & messages of two students who are trying to analyze the novel, discover the true identity of the fictional author, and at the same time get to know each other better. There are also letters, postcards and photos between the pages - and even a napkin with a map drawn on it! If you love unconventional books, then this is definitely for you!

LOVE! 💕

Tagged book cost a bit more in itself than all the others combined. But it does look quite awesome! There's the printed story, and there are the notes of two people scribbled on the margins, creating their own story within the story. Sounds intriguing! 🤩

#hungarian

I loved the experience and appreciate the effort that went into this book! For that I'd recommend it and would give it 4 stars, but the story itself didn't do it for me.

Day 3 #7days7spines

Join in if you‘d like! 😄

One of my favorite literary loot items is this HPA mug! I love the design (and the quote, of course), and it makes a great bookmark container. #24in48

#alphabetbookishquiz @reallifereading

S. was recommended to me because I loved House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I didn't previously know what ergodic literature was, but now that I do, I'm seeking more! Like House of Leaves, reading this book was an EXPERIENCE, one I enjoyed immensely. I can't wait to find more ergodic pieces to read. #ergodicliterature #shipoftheseus

I decided to treat myself this weekend and picked up a copy of Ship of Theseus. I‘ve been wanting this for a while now and I am so excited to dive in! #shipoftheseus #jjabrams #dougdorset

I should not be allowed near a Barnes & Noble. I couldn‘t find the Funko Pop I wanted, but I gave a gnome a home, which is even better. 😉

#bookhaul #bookbuyingbinge #buyallthebooks #sorrynotsorry

I love this book layout! 😍

I EFFIN LOVED THIS BOOK. I could not put it down once I started...I‘m talking would rather read than sleep. I was engaged from the very beginning, I fell in love with Eric and Jen‘s story along the margins, and the Ship of Thesus book itself was full of weirdness, murder, espionage, mystery, and even a little of the paranormal funkiness. Read the margin notes as you go!! It really helps bring the whole thing together!!

I saw this on Litsy and immediately bought it simply because of the formatting! Super excited to get into this and see what it‘s actually all about!!

I positively LOVE all uniquely formatted books! They always add a little something to make the journey extra special I think!

Finally tackling this one. I‘m reading Ship of Theseus first and then going through the notes.

Some people would say I have too many books; they would be wrong.

This is essentially my xmas/bday book haul. And now I will go on sabbatical I definitely to finish my TBR.

My husband just got this beautiful and unique book and he is so excited about it. He says he knows what he will be doing the rest of the night. He also said I am making him a book nerd 🤓

So excited for this one