Welcome to Litsy!

Finally, one I‘ve appreciated from the #ToB25 shortlist (of the ones I hadn‘t read prior to the announcement). Translated literature is always tricky for me but I‘ve come to appreciate it more and more. And this one was especially relevant in this day while the book banning runs rampant in America. The Alice in Wonderland combined with 1984 vibes really worked for me.

Set in Kuwait, this covers the Iraqi invasion and subsequent occupation while getting into the nitty gritty of the Sunni / Shi'a divisions.

I know about and have read about the Iraqi occupation before and this book built on that knowledge but this was my first deep dive into the two interpretations within Islam.

This has definitely pipped my interest into this topic and I would reread this book once I'm more educated on the subjects.

Reading my next #ToBshortlist 📚 🐇

Photo is the latest full moon that shown like a huge spotlight.

#Dec2025 Book117

Loved this. It‘s the first non-reread I‘ve given more than 4⭐️ to this month. I love how she brought in classics like 1984 and Alice in Wonderland. A truly important read in this time of repression and book banning.

A man gets a job as a book censor in his repressive state. But he didn‘t anticipate falling in love with books. Now he must manage his books and his family with ever increasing danger from the state and the resistance. #tob25

I wished to drink tea with you at night, it means to be happy together... ☕🍂

“‘When the world is this abysmal, getting used to it is the worst thing that can happen to you.‘”

Holly, you were so right about this one!

I find this to be more accessible than Fahrenheit 451, though I think it‘s because the prose is more to my liking. It‘s also eerily a parallel to the current book banning climate in the US, so much so that it felt in parts like I was reading a nonfiction text.

And this is meant to be satire! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Once the book censor reads a book that captures his imagination, he is lost. A victim of new thoughts that worm their way in. It leads him to ask questions about existence and colors his experiences in a new way. This becomes dangerous because the more he reads, the further down the rabbit hole he goes. And real reading is illegal. His journey includes trying to save his daughter from her "affliction" of imagination. The ending leaves you wanting.

I'll read anything with a rabbit on the cover. Go ahead and judge me. Bunnies are awesome and I will defend this opinion. This book is also quite great. Very big brother meets Fahrenheit 451.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

"What about the department head? How come he gets to keep the books he banned?" The question tumbled out before he could stop it.
"People who make the rules are allowed to break them."
"It's not fair"

My daughter and I went out for some retail therapy and to commiserate. I got this because it sounded interesting and timely.