Litsy

so-so

Going to try to come back to reviews. Of course, I‘m starting with a hard book I didn‘t understand. I just couldn‘t grasp the why of this book. The Blake Crouch-ish aspects started way too late to pack a punch.

A woman moves back to Florida with her husband to care for her parents. She flashes back to times in an asylum there and works on her relationship for her sister but is flummoxed when the sister goes missing.

Chelsea.Poole I‘ve missed you ♥️ 1mo

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole thanks! I‘ve missed being here. 💙 1mo

AmyG Hope you are well. Nobody makes me add to my TBR…like you! 1mo

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Megabooks @AmyG thanks! I‘m starting to have a bit more energy, so hopefully that holds. I wish I had better books to talk about so far this month! 1mo

marleed Welcome home💕 1mo

BarbaraBB Happy to see you‘re reviewing again! I have a mixed relationship with Van den Berg, the blurb is always great yet the execution lacks a bit imo 😘 1mo

Megabooks @marleed thank you! Glad to be back! 💙 1mo

Megabooks @BarbaraBB same! Her novels sound so good but rarely deliver for me. Glad to be back! 💜😘 (edited) 1mo

74 likes8 comments

DrasticallyJill

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg

pick

A lush And deeply idiosyncratic book, State of Paradise is a post-Florida pandemic world, but feels so intimate that you can be in this quirky and mournful book. A ghost(writer), pet ghosts, cats, VR meditations (portals?), and family. The observational diary prose is what sold me; I was already hooked on what bizarre Florida story this would be…but bizarre is a beautiful way. A must read!

Kazzie

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg

pick

Amazing! Unclear what was reality and what was virtual reality, but it didn‘t matter. It was quirky and tender and interesting. Recommend and would like to read more

1 like

akfreeborn

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg

pick

This small book was amazing. It felt a little like auto fiction to start. Florida with all its quirks and its major weather events, COVID, grief and family all play into this and then it gets slightly fever dream, sci fi but it really works. So well written!

18 likes1 stack add

catiewithac

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg

pick

LvdB is one of my “must read” authors, and this was my most anticipated book of 2024. What I love about her writing style is that it‘s never what you‘d expect. Even if you think you know what‘s going on…you‘re probably a little wrong. If you enjoy surprises and Florida weather, this might be for you! 🌴

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome photo 🧩 5mo

50 likes1 comment

JoeMo

Key West | Lynn M. Homan, Thomas Reilly

so-so

This was an adequate collection of photos comparing what Key West looked like in the past to modern times. This is the fourth book I‘ve read in the Images of America series and the reality has typically failed to live up to my excitement going into the book.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Sadly, sometimes the concept is better than the execution. :-/ 7mo

27 likes1 comment

Reecaspieces

The Beautiful People: A Novel | Michelle Gable

pick

I enjoyed this tale of some pretty famous people!

https://reecaspieces.com/2024/04/19/the-beautiful-people-by-michelle-gable-bookr...

36 likes

catiewithac

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg

Laura van den Berg, Julian Barnes, Christian Kracht (when one of his books gets translated into English). These writers always deliver beautiful prose and surprising plots/characters. #SundayFunday

BookmarkTavern How fun! Thanks for sharing! 11mo

43 likes1 comment

catiewithac

State of Paradise | Laura van den Berg