Welcome to Litsy!

Um, I finished the book at the library but had to go to Whataburger to chew over what I thought of this book. Entering Whataburger, I got a little freaked out because I heard this loud “CUH CAWWWW,” looked up and saw this black hawk circling the joint. If you read the book you know. We follow Striker, a Black film location scout, as she joins this group of rich people taking this excursion to the Antarctica. Something horrible happens and we 👇🏼

Low pick, but overall solid. It‘s more inspirational than how-to, and some of the essays are better than others. I‘d #borrownotbuy for most readers.

Nonlinear, trauma-filled (past and present) set in an expedition to the arctic horror story. What a ride. I stopped trying to get my bearings with this novel and just let it wash over me. There‘s a cast of characters who set out on a luxury cruise for Christmas and end up stranded. Striker, our main character becomes a leader of sorts and remembers her past while interacting with the others and encountering horrors. #tob26 shortlist

This is an interesting read, with sections on Native peoples, Europeans, and Africans, and how the various food influences “braid” together to create American food. There‘s a brief history summary for each section, then a variety of individuals with a bio and a selection of recipes. I haven‘t tried any, but I did copy a few for future use (not a ton of vegetarian options, unsurprisingly). I‘d say #borrownotbuy but worth a look.

Gilbert is one of those memoirists that I want to roll my eyes at half the time but the other half I want to hug her for getting at such universal truths about human nature. I did enjoy this look at the death of her long-time friend turned partner Reyya Elias and the insight it gave her into her own problems with sex and love addiction. It‘s a #borrownotbuy for me.

The cover is gorgeous, I love the concept, but ultimately the book was… fine.

Maddie has been visiting Havenfall, the inn managed by her uncle, since she was a child. She finds a refuge there that offers love and friendship and magic… and solace from the grief of her life outside Haven. The concept of an inn at the crossroads of ancient, magical worlds is so promising, and the intrigue and power dynamics could have been compelling, but ⤵️

Posting these snippets from Nova Scotia House for @JillR - and for anyone else that may be interested. 😊

It‘s a very unusual prose style - lots of missing punctuation that creates a stream of consciousness style.

As I mentioned before, on audio this came across very differently- it lost its flow and became very choppy and staccato.

Another one from the #wpf25 longlist that I was halfway through when the shortlist was announced. After reading the second half, this has slid way down my own longlist.

It‘s a pick but only just and it‘s certainly no Americanah. Billed as a novel about 4 women, it‘s more like 4 separate stories, with the women being only tangentially linked. Upon finishing, I could only remember 3 of the women - I‘d completely forgotten the 4th and her story.

A baby is found washed upon the shore of an Irish fishing village in the 1970s. Ambrose Bonnar, a local fisherman, decides his family should keep him but Brendan is an odd boy, given to offering benedictions to the other villagers, and despised by his ‘brother‘ Declan.

This was a little reminiscent of Coast Road, but not as good - there was too much about fishing for my liking. A pick, but #borrownotbuy.

#netgalley Out 6th Feb in the UK