Welcome to Litsy!

I thought I saw somewhere that we had a couple weeks to post our @bookriot #2016ReadHarder challenge. I finally got around to posting it- hopefully it's not too late. 😬 Thanks to @bookriot for helping me to broaden my horizons this year and I will definitely be doing the challenge next year!

This book was recommended to me for the religion requirement on the #2016readharder challenge. I didn't quite finish it in time, but it fit for the #2017readharderchallenge for a book about war. The Hiding Place is original, enlightening, and thought - provoking. Really made me think about the current Syrian refugee crisis and if I'd hide people if my own life would be put in danger.

Asked a friend for a recommendation for the religion requirement on the #2016readharder challenge. She suggested this book and I'm really enjoying it. This is the one I need to finish it!

I need go to Red Rooster. Marcus Samuelsson has lead a very interesting, busy and inspiring life! He seems like a down to earth guy who doesn't shy away from the less savory parts of his life. He addresses the racism in the industry and he does things to help stop it - mentoring and other philanthropic ventures as well as taking chances on chefs! #2016ReadHarder

We learned so much from this book! I say we because I kept reading sections out loud to my husband. Information about plants, how they grow and survive, was interspersed with the narrative about how Hope Jahren become a scientist and th work she has done. I would love a book all about plants from her. Her writing style is readable and kept me interested. #nonfictionbookaboutscience Book Riot's #2016readharder Challenge

I listened to the audio for my #horror pick for Book Riot's #2016readharder Challenge and had a hard time stopping each night. Flinty Williams was an excellent narrator and the story is well paced. Fast when it needs to be and taking time to build tension slowly when necessary. I loved Melanie and her favorite teacher Miss Justineau. Other characters grew on me once I learned more about them. Others I just disliked more and more. Loved it!

I don't mind epistolary stories and this one was lovely because of the different voices involved. I'll be honest - this was my first Jane Austen reading. It was nice to get a wrap up of the tale that was not letters. This was a fun read. Watched Love & Friendship and had tea with my Bluestockings group today. We enjoyed the movie and liked how it expanded some of the characters. #2016readharder Challenge #booktomovie

Reading Lady Susan before a tea party and viewing of Love and Friendship tomorrow. It will be an interesting discussion since I am the only one of the group who saw the movie first. We are doing this reading/viewing as part of Book Riot's #2016readharder Challenge, but I hope we make it a regular occurrence. I so love how Jane Austen can twist and turn words!

And this is a picture of why I did housework and listened to an audiobook instead of reading. That's my spot. I enjoyed these essays. If it sounds like you're getting a story you've already heard, stick with it. Ann Patchett is going to provide details she didn't before. And you might not like her sometimes, but I don't like anyone 100% of the time. I especially loved hearing how Parnassus Books came to be. Book Riot's #2016readharder Challenge

My pick for the @bookriot #2016ReadHarder challenge --a book turned into a movie. This is the first Patricia Highsmith novel I've read and I loved it. It's a beautiful compact novel that works as a thriller, as an ex-pat story, as a travel novel.. The most unexpected part was that Tom's driving fantasy-- to travel the beautiful places of Europe as someone more cosmopolitan, rich & cultured than himself-- is so relatable. (At least to me!)