Welcome to Litsy!

After many starts and pauses, I have finished Wild Houses, a book that hit a few lists last year. A bleak Irish setting with depressing scenes and down on their luck characters made this a bit of a bummer but when the plot finally got rolling I was engaged and flew through the last quarter of the book. It‘s a pick because of the character development and the setting. Bad choices are made and the lives of several young people intersect. Low pick

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Late one evening Dev opens his door to find out that the Ferdias‘ brothers has kidnapped a young boy. They wish to stay at Dev‘s because of his remote location. The young boy‘s older brother owns the brothers money and they want them back.

We follow Dev, the young brother Doll and his girlfriend and mother, and his brother Cillian, and learn how they handle it and are willing to do.

Only on chapter 3, hoping it hooks me soon
#bookandbreakfast

A drugs-related kidnapping of a young lad: not a book I'd have picked up, were it not for its #bookerprize longlisting.
I enjoyed the characterisation (poor Dev, especially, and hapless Doll, and prematurely adult Nicky). There's something feels not quite complete about it though, and it could do with one more edit: not least to clear up the nonsensical imagery I kept tripping over (eg. the appearance of a distant building compared to an aspirin).

Ostensibly about a drug-deal related shakedown, this is actually an exploration of the lives of people living at the margins and at risk. It‘s described as “darkly funny” and I don‘t agree at all—I found it to be an encouragement to look more deeply at quiet desperation. #TOBlonglist

Book 6 for #TenBeforeTheEnd and another one I‘ve had on my shelf for at least a decade. It was interesting and a creative merging of two timelines and some magical realism, but I didn‘t love it. I realized this is by the author of a new book, which I do still want to read - The Most.

My 12th from the #Booker #longlist. One more to go.

A sensitive thriller? A low-level violent drug-deal abduction, that becomes very interested in the sensitive nature of its characters. The pacing is careful but controlled. When we want it to move on, it holds its course. Be patient dear reader. I enjoyed it.

#Booker2024

Solid pick. Rural Ireland crime drama with believable flawed characters; great writing.

#Nov2024 Book107 #audiobook #DogsofLitsy #CopperBopper #whpg #Autumn #MyStreet