Litsy

booklover3258

Jillaroo | Rachael Treasure

Cousin's gift is done... only 3 more to go

TheBookHippie 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3d

kspenmoll Lovely! 3d

dabbe 💚💚💚 3d

willaful These are so gorgeous! I wish we were related. 😁

Are the color themes related to the person in any way? 3d

booklover3258 No I just asked everyone what their favorite colors are 3d

35 likes5 comments

Jeg

Shirley | Ronnie Scott

so-so

Nearly a Pan. Seemed very long to me , wasn‘t sure where it was going so I kept going, seems it was going nowhere. The narrator was a female but I had to keep reminding myself as the voice felt like male to me.
Picked up because it had a rainbow sticker and the author is Aussie.

16 likes1 stack add

staci.reads

Farewell My Ovaries | Wendy Harmer

September is Ovarian Awareness Month, and this is my plea to every woman to make herself aware of the symptoms. Ovarian cancer is called the silent killer because the early symptoms are so subtle they can be attributed to other common issues. Because of that, women often go undiagnosed until it has advanced to a point that prognosis is grim. There is no lump to find, no screener to routinely give, no clear way to diagnose except surgery. ⬇️

staci.reads In the summer of 2023 I started feeling bad. I had major digestive issues, intense night sweats, pelvic pain, fatigue, and irregular and sometimes heavy bleeding. I told myself it was probably perimenopause; after all, I was a 51 year old woman.
Then in August, the digestive problems got worse, and the pain became more persistent. Finally, I got concerned enough to make an appointment. I met with my family doctor, who I hadn't seen in years. ⬇️ 3mo

staci.reads I explained my symptoms and said "You're probably just going to tell me it's perimenopause."

He said "maybe...but maybe not." Then after asking a lot of questions and ordering blood tests (which ultimately would show nothing), he made me promise that as soon as I left I would make an appointment with my obgyn because - in his words - "gynecological problems can often mask themselves as gastro issues."

That statement may have saved my life. ⬇️ 3mo

staci.reads I kept my promise & made the appointment.
By the time I saw my obgyn, my symptoms included loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss. Luckily, my obgyn recognized the red flags, and she ordered the right tests. We found out I had a 13 centimeter tumor on my right ovary and a CA 125 of over 700. Now, we were off to the races. Countless tests, procedures, and appointments later, I was having major surgery and hearing the words "it's cancer." ⬇️ 3mo

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staci.reads But it could have been much worse. My early symptoms were challenging, but not debilitating. I could have rationalized them longer and continued to put off going to the doctor. I could have had doctors who moved slowly, didn't recognize the symptoms, or chalked my issues up to an aging reproductive system.

I could have given the cancer time to spread.

L 3mo

staci.reads Before the summer of 2023, I knew nothing about ovarian cancer - but luckily my doctors did. But survival shouldn't be about luck. Information is power. Listening to your body is key. I will continue to broadcast the symptoms.
I will continue to share my story in the hope someone listens and gets checked in time. I will pray for the day researchers develop a screener and this disease becomes less deadly. #MakeTheAppointment #KnowTheSymptoms
3mo

TheBookHippie Thank you for this. My daughter‘s longtime dance teacher just died from this. There isn‘t enough knowledge out there. 3mo

TheBookHippie I‘m so glad you caught it. ♥️ 3mo

Librarybelle Thank you for sharing ❤️ 3mo

Caryl Thank you for sharing your story, Staci. Beautiful told, and excellent info that will increase awareness. Grateful for you! 💕 3mo

Amiable You are a warrior! Thank you for continuing to tell your story so that others may heed the warning. 🩵 3mo

mrp27 Thank you for sharing! 💗 3mo

LeahBergen Thank you so much for this! ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo

Bookwormjillk Thank you for sharing this! 3mo

AmyG Thank you for sharing and educating us. Wishing you only good health from this day on. 3mo

Chrissyreadit thank you for sharing this. My primary care dr insisted i get some testing done and i go Friday. Now i have more clarity on why. 3mo

lil1inblue I'm so glad you caught it and are here to share your story. 💓💓💓 Thank you so much for spreading awareness. I didn't know gyno issues often masked as gastro. Good info to have. 3mo

staci.reads @TheBookHippie I'm so sorry to hear that. It's the outcome for too many women. 3mo

staci.reads @TheBookHippie thank you 🩵 3mo

staci.reads @Librarybelle You're welcome! 3mo

staci.reads @Caryl thank you so much🩵 3mo

staci.reads @Amiable Thank you 🩵 3mo

staci.reads @mrp27 @LeahBergen @Bookwormjillk You're welcome! 🩵 3mo

staci.reads @AmyG Thank you 😊 🩵 3mo

staci.reads @Chrissyreadit I'm sending you tons of good vibes. I hope the tests go well and bring answers for you. 💗 3mo

staci.reads @lil1inblue Thank you! I am incredibly lucky 🩵 3mo

TheBookHippie @staci.reads I agree and she dismissed the symptoms as women do. I‘m so glad you posted this. 3mo

nanuska_153 Oh wow, thank you so much for sharing this! I had no idea that gyno problems masked themselves as gastro, that's such good information to have. You are very lucky you got such good doctors, never let them go! 3mo

Chrissyreadit This is crazy- because…. i do need further testing/biopsy. My only symptom was spotting- that i thought was due to hormone therapy. I barely thought to mention it- my pcp asked about gyno and i told her i could not get in until next april so she ordered the tests- and they came back abnormal…. otherwise i would be waiting until spring and may not have insurance after december- im glad you are posting this info. i had no idea. 3mo

staci.reads @Chrissyreadit I'm sorry you're going through this. The unknown truly is the hardest part. I hope your doctors are able to work through the process quickly and get you some answers. 😔 3mo

Chrissyreadit thank you for your thoughtful words! 3mo

BkClubCare 🤗 🙏 2mo

78 likes31 comments

LapReader

Childhood at Brindabella: My First Ten Years | Miles Franklin

Last Thursday I couldn‘t get to work as the trains were down. It‘s never happened in my 20 years at my current job. I made it a treat myself day. First stop was the local Little Free Library. I also visited St Paul‘s Thrift Shop Stockton and Starter Stories, the yummy sourdough bakery there where I spent $60 on treats! My tummy was sore the next day after dieting for so long for my showgirl performance. It was a shame it was windy and rainy.

33 likes

Hooked_on_books

National Fictions: Literature, Film, and the Construction of Australian Narrative | Graeme Turner

And finally, the NBA longlist for fiction has arrived! I have to say, I‘m fascinated by this list. Though I‘m a bit annoyed that fully half aren‘t out yet (and 3 won‘t be out until November), I‘m delighted that some of the “expected” books (like Audition) aren‘t here. I like the surprise and the continued NBA habit of including small press books (there are 2). I haven‘t read a single one of these and can‘t wait to dig in!

AmyG Thanks for posting. 3mo

squirrelbrain Yes, many / most aren‘t out here yet, and they‘re not on NG (yet) either. I‘ve read Flashlight and have an ARC of Palaver. I‘ve reserved The Antidote at the library. I think the only other one I can get hold of (to buy)is North Sun and that doesn‘t sound like my thing. 3mo

Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain I‘m so envious that you have Palaver! I would read it regardless, as I like BW. I‘ve requested it on NG and am waiting for them to turn me down. 🤪 Though I did get approved for the Majumdar! It‘s funny, since I can‘t even get my hands on half of these, it takes a lot of the urgency away. I haven‘t figured out if that‘s good or bad. 3mo

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squirrelbrain It makes me more impatient to read them! 😜 I looked for the Majumdar on NG a while ago and it wasn‘t there, and still isn‘t. 🤷‍♀️ 3mo

BarbaraBB I haven‘t read any of these. Very much intrigued. Let‘s find out which of these are available in the Netherlands 😀 3mo

Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Ha! I love our different reactions! I was able to get The Antidote from the library today and thus should start that soon. I also swung by the bookstore in Seaside and struck out. I had hoped they would have the Alameddine, but no luck. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3mo

37 likes6 comments

LapReader

Time of My Life | Myf Warhurst

More Friday after work op shop purchases. Grand total= $54. I saw Myf speak at the Byron Writer‘s Festival and have been waiting for the op shop gods to deliver her to my hands. The festival was rained out after one day this year so thankfully I decided not to go and devoted my time to preparing for my showcase this weekend. Still quite a bit of preparation to do so I have taken this week off on long service leave to get ready to do my 6 dances.

marleed Good luck and great purchases! 4mo

LapReader Thankyou @marleed. I‘m excited but also poohing my pants 4mo

marleed Oh, and to what does long service leave refer? 4mo

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LapReader @marleed after you have been working for the Department of Education for 7 years you get a months leave then two weeks every year after. You can use it when you please. I‘ve been with them 21 years. 4mo

Bookwormjillk Good luck! 4mo

LapReader Thankyou @Bookwormjillk I will need it. 4mo

marleed Ohhh, I love some of the Australian phrasing that differs just slightly from my American experience. …A phrase, I picked up in one Australian book (not sure typical or unique to that book) was ‘it‘ll be right‘ vs ‘it‘s okay‘. I loved it and incorporated it into my dialogue with my brand new grand twins 🥰 4mo

LapReader I say it all the time @marleed. What book was it? 4mo

marleed @LapReader I just love that phrasing. It feels so compassionate and I knew it needed to be part of my lexicon with my grandkids. I love that it is indeed an everyday Australian phrasing! From:

When We Believed in Mermaids

4mo

32 likes9 comments

Suzie

Body Friend | Katherine Brabon

Where I read a book that makes me feel seen, and I'm not sure if I like it. Thank you Katherine Brabon for writing Body Friend.
https://www.suzs-space.com/body-friend-by-katherine-brabon/

thegirlwiththelibrarybag

Australians: From Eureka to the Diggers. Volume 2 | Thomas Keneally

The [British Monarch] birthday honours list is always questionable but this is pretty insulting to the people who actually deserved recognition.

(This is a headline from a satirical article but he was a genuinely terrible PM who left the county & lied about it during some of the worst bushfires in recent times. He‘s one of the architects of Robo Debt, he secretly appointed himself into multiple ministries & that‘s just the tip of the iceberg)

LeeRHarry It just goes to show that the honours list is all a complete joke that means nothing. (edited) 6mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @LeeRHarry, it‘s sad that it devalues the honours list for people who should be celebrated. All Scott Morrison deserves is people hissing at him like he‘s the villain in a bad pantomime, every time he walks into a room. 6mo

CarolynM I have always loathed the honours system, but this is a new low. 6mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @CarolynM 💯 6mo

33 likes4 comments

AllDebooks

Unsettled: A Journey Through Time and Place | Kate Grenville

The June prompt for #BookedinTime is Australian colonies 1800s. I have chosen Kate Grenville's exploration of what it means to her to be descended from colonisers.

@Cuilin @dabbe

Cuilin I think this is the one I‘m going to read also. Though I‘m still trying to finish my book from the Spanish Civil War prompt.🤦‍♀️ 6mo

AllDebooks @Cuilin it's very good so far. It would be a great read for #NaturaLitsy too. Her descriptions of landscape are beautiful. I've yet to finish

Penguin Classics Homage to Catalonia

6mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks Now I‘m really interested. 6mo

35 likes3 comments

LapReader

That Deadman Dance: A Novel | Kim Scott