Welcome to Litsy!

I really enjoyed this epic novel. Despite its length, it was very readable, and is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. The last part of the book was so compelling and turned everything in the story on its head for me. A story about borders and rules and prejudice, and one woman who refuses all of it in the end. I won‘t forget Ma for a long time.

Friday Reads Aug 25 + travel vlog with siblings + bison & cattle

https://youtu.be/L8F5g9aYFX0

This book has been a great companion on my vacation this week! Long enough that I only had to bring one book with me, but very entertaining and readable. I‘ve wanted to read it since it won the Booker last year and I‘m so glad I finally am. It‘s wonderful.

Wow, what a read.

An elderly woman takes to the bed after her husband dies before she suddenly moves in with her daughter.

I had heard so much about the journey this woman takes and the physical journey happens quite late, but the personal on starts straight off. For who is she after her husband‘s death?

I learned so much about Indian culture and family culture, but it also covers the India Pakistan tension/ conflict.

#BookReport

I continued with the chapter a day buddy read of The Pickwick Papers

I finished Islands of Abandonment and read Polarsirkelen (The Polar Circle)

I‘m currently reading Tomb of Sand

I just love this first paragraph and feel that it has set the tone of the book so far.

Absolutely beautiful language here, but I‘m caring for a 91 year-old mother who won‘t get out of bed, and this is NOT the time to be reading this. I‘ll return it to my TBR list and will try again at a later date.

“She had grown tired of breathing for them, feeling their feelings, hearing their desires, carrying their animosities. She was tired of all of them, and she wanted to glide into the wall with a tremor …” (p.24)

When someone gives you an Amazon gift card, what else to do but order a few books you can‘t get from the library? Tomb of Sand arrived from a bookstore in Delhi, which was very cool.

Really interesting survey of Partition fiction here. Much to be added to your 2023 TBR list.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/01/02/seventy-five-years-after-indian-pa...

My April pick was the winner of the International Booker- a JOY to read. The language/translation is so playful, the story covers, well, everything, & it‘s all told with a big smile on its face.

Shutting down after the death of her husband, Ma‘s family rally round. But she needs time to readjust, then head out on her new adventure into her past, her friends & events of partition.

Beautiful out-there touching. Plus talking crows.

#12booksof2022