Litsy

#WeeklyForecast 16/25

I don‘t want to get too crazy yet about all CampLitsy nominations that are calling my name, and stick to my plan! I‘ll read the tagged one, by a favorite author, gifted to me by the wonderful @CarolynM . Where the Forest Meets the River is my #Roll100 book and Small Rain is the last one I wanted to read from the #ToB25 longlist.

But first I have to finish Moon Road that‘s not in the photo but that I am reading now.

CBee Another The Road to Dalton lover! I need to get to the second one. I likely wouldn‘t have read it were it not on my #ALSpine list 😊 2w

Lesliereadsalot Really liked Where the Forest Meets the River. Same group from the first book and still so endearing. 2w

BarbaraBB @CBee @Lesliereadsalot I liked the first one a lot! This one, that I just started, promises to be just as good. And as you say so Leslie I am sure it‘ll be! 2w

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squirrelbrain I adored Small Rain. I also have Moon Road on my physical TBR shelf, so I‘ll be interested to see your review of that. 2w

CBee @BarbaraBB very glad to see that you‘re liking it so far 😊 2w

CarolynM Hope you enjoy the Tsiolkas 😘 (edited) 2w

sarahbarnes I haven‘t read this author! Adding to my list. 1w

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BarbaraBB

James: A Novel | Percival Everett

#ToB25 and #LitsyToB25 have taken very different roads this year (which makes it so fun!) but in the end we all agree (at least a majority does 😉) on James as the winner of both tournaments. Percival Everett finally takes away the 🐓!

Thank you all for participating in this year‘s LitsyToB and I hope to see you next year. But before that, it won‘t be long until we‘ll be back with #CampLitsy25! Meg, Helen and I hope you‘ll join us there!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 4w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 4w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Well-ReadNeck @fredthemoose @AnneCecilie 4w

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AmyG Thank you so very much. Camp Litsy will be here before we know it! 4w

ChaoticMissAdventures Yay!! Thank you! This was fun to see, I know people wanted to root for underdogs but I really feel like this book deserves all of the flowers. And we all got to read some other interesting books along the way! 4w

Suet624 Thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate it. 4w

Megabooks I know ladies!!! We‘ve got to start our longlist planning emails! It‘s about time to get submissions!! @squirrelbrain 4w

sarahbarnes Crazy! I‘m glad Everett finally won the Rooster, although I would‘ve rather it was for Telephone. Oh well! Thank you for organizing our tournament again this year! ♥️ 4w

GatheringBooks Looking forward to joining #CampLitsy2025! 4w

fredthemoose Great tournament! Got me to read several books that would not have been on my radar otherwise. Thanks @BarbaraBB for organizing! 4w

BkClubCare @sarahbarnes - For me, it is The Trees. Looking forward to reading Glyph soon. 4w

BkClubCare Yes! Happy Spring Reading 🌷 everyone as we look for jewels 💎 to discuss at Camp 🏕️ BIG THANKS 👏 to everyone organizing and participating. 💖 (edited) 4w

Deblovestoread Thanks @BarbaraBB Fun as always! Looking forward to camp 🏕️ 4w

Jas16 Totally agree @ChaoticMissAdventures! And thank you so much Barbara for all the work you put into this. I look forward to our tournament every year. 4w

Lesliereadsalot Chiming in with my thanks Barbara! Added lots of new books TBR! I did love James, so happy it won out. 4w

Bookwormjillk Thanks very much! Can‘t wait for Camp Litsy and hope that next year‘s books will be a little less awesome than James so that the winners won‘t be quite so obvious. 4w

Hooked_on_books It‘s a wonderful, worthy book and deserves accolades, but I would also like to see the love spread around a little bit. Thanks for hosting once again and all that goes along with it! 4w

Kristy_K @BarbaraBB Thank you for organizing! I‘m glad to see James won. 4w

squirrelbrain Yes, I was only thinking about that the other day! @Megabooks ☺️ 4w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks Looking forward to doing this again with you two ❤️ 4w

Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB already thinking about the 4 I want to nominate!! 4w

kwmg40 I'm happy with the result and had a great time following both #ToB25 and #LitsyToB25. Thank you so much for hosting! 4w

cariashley Woop woop, what a great year all around! I‘m happy and unsurprised with the outcome as James was probably favorite read of 2024. I still think he should have won TOB for The Trees. Thank you so much for organizing again, it‘s been so fun! 4w

sarahbarnes @BkClubCare that‘s another great one! He really is just a phenomenal writer. 4w

Butterfinger My first year that I read so many from the list. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you. 4w

BarbaraBB @fredthemoose @lesliereadalot @GatheringBooks @Butterfinger Thank you so much for joining. I am glad you enjoyed it. I‘ll tag you for #CampLitsy25 this Summer, which is the best! 4w

BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain I need to dive into the booklist but I can‘t wait to do so. We‘ll email soon - I always forget when we start posting and in what order things go! Xxx 4w

Gissy I really want to read it but I will read Huckleberry Finn first 🤷🏽‍♀️ 4w

Megabooks Usually we start talking now and post around late April so people have time to vote and then buy winning books before June. @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I‘ll try to pop an email today or tomorrow. 4w

squirrelbrain Look forward to hearing from you! @Megabooks 3w

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cariashley

The Book of Love: A Novel | Kelly Link

pick

Finished this the other day and am now a #tob25 completionist (better late than never)! I really liked it, though it took me forever to read; in fairness, that wasn‘t really the book‘s fault as I have a lot going on right now (7 months pregnant). It felt like a cross between Stephen King and Neil Gaiman in a good way. Darkly entertaining and I liked the ending, after not being sure how it would be wrapped up.

BarbaraBB You‘re pregnant! That‘s wonderful! Congratulations, on completing the shortlist too of course 😘 4w

squirrelbrain Congratulations on both! 🤪🎉 4w

cariashley @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain thank you!! Both feel like major accomplishments 😊 4w

BkClubCare Woot! 🙌 Completist!! 🌟 oh, and AW! Congrats on all your announcements (edited) 4w

cariashley @BkClubCare thank you!! 🥰 3w

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Bookwormjillk

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

pick

Finally got around to this one for #TOB25

I assumed this would be total fluff (not that there‘s anything wrong with that) but it was pretty deep albeit in a fluffy way. I liked what it had to say about taking care of yourself, finding the true you as you get older, loneliness, and grief. I loved how the author handled the pandemic. It made me laugh too.

Not my favorite short list title, but I can see why so many people love it.

BarbaraBB Glad you know now what all the buzz is about! 4w

kspenmoll In my TBR -one day…. 4w

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BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

It was to be expected that The Book Censor‘s Library didn‘t stand a chance against The Wedding People. So we‘re left with two very popular books left in the #LitsyToB25: TWP and James (James is a finalist in #ToB25 too).

Please vote one more time for your favorite and I‘ll see you on Monday for the final match! Have a good weekend. https://forms.gle/QksJX14ZcJMmmYij7

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 1mo

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 1mo

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sarahbarnes Two great books indeed. Although not the type of TOB books I hope for! Oh well, it seems like the tournament may never be what it used to be. 🤷🏻‍♀️ At least we still have the longlist every year! 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes what book(s) from the long list were you rooting for? There were a few I was sad didn't make the shortlist. 1mo

ImperfectCJ I appreciate that the judge in today's official ToB decision addresses the challenges of reading fiction in times like these. It can feel indulgent while at the same time feeling essential (at least to readers). Her comments remind me of how blown-away I felt when I read James and how important fiction is (although it doesn't take much to convince me of that). 1mo

sarahbarnes @chaoticmissadventures I would‘ve liked to have seen Ghost Roots, Banal Nightmare, and Poor Deer on the shortlist. Which ones were you rooting for? 1mo

BkClubCare Today‘s TOB readthru made me glad that I read The Safekeep 1mo

BkClubCare @sarahbarnes - Poor Deer is such a great read! (The author admitted that she was relieved to not have it on the short list.) 1mo

BkClubCare AND as much as I cheer for and (believe it or not,) continue to learn more to appreciate of James, I am choosing The Wedding People as it was my favorite read of 2024! 💒🍾 🌊 (edited) 1mo

AmyG Thanks for the book rec of Poor Deer. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I‘m torn about who to vote for. I have to think about this. (About 1/3 through Wedding People.) I loved Help Wanted from the long list and thought it should have taken George‘s place. 1mo

Hooked_on_books Boo!!!! I loved TWP, but BCL is such a special book! I‘m not surprised, of course, but very disappointed more people didn‘t see in it what I did. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes so many of us liked Poor Deer, it is sad it didn't make it in. I also really enjoyed I Cheerfully Refuse. There are a few on the longlist I still want to read eventually Cahokia Jazz and Small Rain look great. 1mo

sarahbarnes @ChaoticMissAdventures yes! I want to read all three of those. Good to hear you enjoyed I Cheerfully Refuse. 1mo

kwmg40 Two excellent books for the final! 1mo

GatheringBooks Woohoo!! Voted!!! Thank you for the opportunity of participating. I have yet to finish around three books or so but this has been a fantastic experience. Til next year! 💕💕💕 1mo

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare How cool that the author was glad Poor Deer wasn‘t shortlisted! And I totally agree @sarahbarnes , none of my longlisted favorites ended up on the shortlist 4w

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Very happy you enjoyed it and to have you participating ❤️ 4w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I voted for it because I think it deserves more audience but it didn‘t stand a chance 4w

BkClubCare @Bookwormjillk - g2k, will stack Help Wanted. I need to glance again through the long list. 4w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Suet624 @Kristy_K @kspenmoll Voting for the winner is a draw so far. Your vote can make the difference. If you want, please do so! Thanks!! 😘 4w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB thank you for the reminder!! I got distracted yesterday 💃 4w

Suet624 Oops - thought I had done this. Thanks for the reminder. 4w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks!! 4w

Kristy_K @BarbaraBB Thanks for the reminder! Just voted. 🙂 4w

61 likes26 comments

BarbaraBB

James: A Novel | Percival Everett

We have our first #LitsyToB25 finalist. The History of Sound didn‘t really stand a chance against James.
I personally am disappointed, I rooted so hard for THoS 🤷🏻‍♀️
In the #ToB25 we‘ll see tomorrow if James there too advances to the finals. Today Martyr! beat Margo in the first ToB Zombie round.

Tomorrow we‘ll have the second Zombie match: The Book Censor‘s Library vs The Wedding People.

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 1mo

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 1mo

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Bookwormjillk I'm disappointed too. Hoping to finally start The Wedding People today! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk Just in time to vote for it in the finals - if it wins against The Book Censor! (edited) 1mo

TheBookHippie I like HoS better than James 🙃 1mo

ImperfectCJ I'm disappointed in the results of both our contest and the official, but more in a *sigh* way than a stomping-my-feet way. I could go either way in our contest, and I shouldn't be surprised that an mfa prof chose the artier novel. I liked Martyr overall, but Cyrus's self-involvement wore on me after a while, and the creative-writing-class ending annoyed me. As did the totally predictable "twist." 1mo

Hooked_on_books I‘m not surprised by either result. I threw my vote behind the underdog for us today, but clearly not enough of us did the same. Oh well. 1mo

Suet624 Rats 1mo

fredthemoose @ImperfectCJ I felt exactly the same about Martyr! 1mo

squirrelbrain Meh - I wish HoS had got through but didn‘t really expect it to, with the James juggernaut. 1mo

Megabooks Boo! History of Sound was just a bit better imo! 1mo

68 likes12 comments

ImperfectCJ

Wandering Stars | Tommy Orange

pick

I kept putting this one off because I wanted to re-familiarize myself with There There first, but finally I picked it up, and I'm glad I stopped delaying. The interwoven stories, including those in the past and present and about figures both fictional and historical, are gripping and deal poignantly with how various addictions can draw a person in and how the legacy of colonialism continues today. Another #tob25 longlist title.

ImperfectCJ The repetition of "hella" and the focus on breadth rather than depth in character development detract a bit from an otherwise well-told story. 1mo

52 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

Happy birthday Jen 🎈!

Another very hard choice in the #LitsyToB25: The History of Sound vs The Wedding People, two absolute favorites. An almost equal score, but The Wedding People has won in the end.
It's not the end though, for The History of Sound. It will return as a zombie!
I'll annouce both 🧟 🧟‍♀️ shortly - along with another GForm for you to vote.
In the #ToB25 we were facing Irena vs Margo and again Irena wins. What‘s happening?

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 1mo

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 1mo

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Bookwormjillk I can't believe I still haven't read Wedding People! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk You obviously should. It‘s very popular among the #LitsyToB25 participants! 1mo

AmyG Happy Birthday @Jas16 🥳🎂🎉 1mo

Jas16 Thanks for the birthday wishes @BarbaraBB @AmyG I honestly thought History of Sound would be our winner today so I am surprised and pleased by today‘s results. Not so much the other tournament. 1mo

cariashley I said “ugh” out loud when I reached the end of the official judgment today, though I fully expected it. Margo is great but I knew it was just too flighty to go any further with the judges (same with Wedding People). 1mo

squirrelbrain Happy Birthday @jas16 - glad you got your birthday wishes with our results! 🥳 Let‘s just ignore the main tournament shall we?! 🤣 1mo

Deblovestoread Happy birthday @jas16! 🎂🎈📚🎉 1mo

BarbaraBB @cariashley I agree. I expected the judges to find Margo and The Wedding People not ToB‘ish enough! 1mo

Bookwormjillk Happy birthday @jas16 🍰 🍰 🍰 1mo

Hooked_on_books This was a hard choice for me, as I really liked both these books. I‘m not surprised the official tourney chose Irena. It‘s what they do. 1mo

Jas16 @squirrelbrain Thank you! And agreed. Another reason to be thankful for the Litsy tournament which I agree with more often than not and when I do disagree I can appreciate why. 1mo

Jas16 @Bookwormjillk @Deblovestoread Thank you both so much! 1mo

CarolynM I read about 20 pages of Irena before my irritation with it became too great to continue. This is the sort of writing the ToB likes? Sheesh! 1mo

BkClubCare Yay Wedding People! 1mo

64 likes17 comments

BarbaraBB

James: A Novel | Percival Everett

In the #ToB25 it's James against Martyr!, in the #LitsyTOB25 it's James against Beautyland.
That turned out to be one of the hardest choices for many of us but in the end James won, while in the real tournament Martyr! has grown into a serious contender for the Rooster!
We‘re sorry to see Beautyland go. The question is: can Percival Everett be stopped?! Tomorrow we'll know which Zombie he'll be up against!

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck @Bookwormjillk (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 1mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 1mo

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Bookwormjillk I guess there's still hope for a Beautyland Zombie! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I‘m sorry to see Beautyland go too, but James was amazing. Unforgettable. 1mo

GatheringBooks I am super pleased to hear this. Glad that Martyr is doing quite well too. 1mo

Suet624 My arms shot up in the air and I surprised myself by yelling, “YES!“ when I saw that Martyr! moved on on the TOB side of things. It's typical of me to root for an underdog and I was so glad to see the judge move Martyr! forward. I see that the commentariat disagrees with the decision but I'm thrilled. :). IMHO James has received its due praise. It's time for Martyr! to receive some love. 1mo

Jas16 Beautyland vs James pitted my two favorite books of the tournament against each other. So it was going to both please me and make me unhappy either way it went. I was pretty shocked by Martyr beating out James. In my mind there is no comparison but that is what makes the tournament so I fun. 1mo

Deblovestoread Not surprised James moves on and not unhappy either. I must read Martyr! 1mo

ImperfectCJ The biggest thing that bugs me about Martyr! beating James in the official ToB (aside from the total MFA-speak of the judge's decision) is that now Beautyland is bumped out as a zombie. I don't dislike All Fours, but I think Beautyland deserves the chance to come back more. 1mo

Hooked_on_books I‘m shocked by the judge today. For me Martyr was just ok and in no way a better book than James. Although I do like to see the book love get spread around, so it‘s a little tiring to see one book, even a really worthy one like James, hoover everything up. 1mo

Butterfinger I absolutely adored Martyr. I also loved James. Tough. 1mo

Butterfinger 100% agree @Suet624 1mo

AnneCecilie I really enjoyed Martyr! I read Huckleberry Finn at uni and I don‘t like books I‘m forced to read, so while I liked James, my enjoyment of it suffered from my memories of HF 1mo

BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie I agree! I hated HF when I had to read it and that definitely influenced my opinion of James. 1mo

56 likes15 comments

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