Welcome to Litsy!

I was fortunate enough to have met Laurie many years ago. Speaking with her was refreshing and engaging. She gifted my daughter several of her books signed & personalized. She was amazing.
Somehow, I never picked this one up. I‘m so glad I remedied that. This book is excellent. I can‘t wait to get home & discuss it with my daughter. (She reread it after finding out I hadn‘t read it)

Two friends, one black one white, explore the complexities of their friendship and social injustice after a black boy was killed by the police. Written by a black and a white author I was very interested in how they would tackle these subjects. The result fell short to me, to be honest. The book checked off all the points of a “how not to be racist” list but it lacked depth and authenticity. Their friendship felt a bit unreal and immature. ⬇️

Heffington writes an easily accessible look at tbt history of women who, for a variety of reasons, do not have children. She looks at society‘s view of women who follow this path and really dives into the reasons - whether it‘s reproductive rights or political or even climate related.

As a woman who does not have children, I found myself nodding along to the perceptions from society. This was so good, and it made me feel like I am not alone…

This book did not work for me. I know that with Oyeyemi, you just have to let the writing wash over you, and there will be times you have no idea what is "happening" in the plot. This novel was true to form in that regard. I found the use of Shakespearen and Mythical names heavy-handed. I still enjoy her writing, but this novel was a miss. 2 ?
#buzzword #52bookclub23 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Bluebird

Cleaver and engaging mystery. Something I dont usually read. Reminded me a bit of Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine, only more sinister. Fun on audio. 3.5 🌟 #52bookclub23 #murder @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820

This book is waaaayyy too long. And the author is so smug. Yes he is a famous lawyer and this is a famous and in itself super interesting true crime case but man, was it annoying. I wish it was 300 pages less and written by an objective author.

#52bookclub23 #sentmedownarabbithole

I don‘t think I ever rated a #Persephone a so-so before, but this one just brought a bit too little.

It‘s a sweet enough story (a spinster falls overboard a cruise ship, strands on a desert island, is saved four years later and returns to England in the midst of WWII) but it just fell a bit flat.

#52bookclub23 #AuthorWithTheSameNameAsMe #192025 #1946 #UKRoadtrip #Devon

What a surprising delight. The third of the Harold Fry series. I have not read the second book in the trilogy but want to pick it up now. A hopeful book about forgiveness at any age. Just loved it. 4.5 🌟 #52bookclub23 #contemporary @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee

Finally got to finish this this morning. It was nice to sit around in my PJs in the quiet house, drink my coffee, and finish a book. Most of this I did ‘listen‘ to, and man does Julia Whalen do a phenomenal job at narration. But I got the book in a swap, so it was nice to alternate. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the world we all love so much: books/audiobooks. The romance was nice too. The ending a little cliche, but not enough to dislike.

Retired police detective Tom Kettle is visited by officers investigating one of his unsolved cases, stirring up memories, both sweet & painful. It took me a while to get into the book, the narrative is very much in Tom‘s mind which wanders & occasionally hallucinates, making it difficult to get a grip on the story, but gradually it unfolds in all its horror & tragedy. It made me cry. It‘s a tough but worthwhile read. #52BookClub23 #SetinDublin