Litsy

Beautyland: A Novel | Marie-Helene Bertino

so-so

I feel like the gimmick (an actual alien reporting on the coming of age of an ace, lower middle class girl through living it) detracted from the story. It made the MCs identity uncomfortable and her v literal “dispatches” annoying rather than quirky. Sorry #tob #tob25 and I guess all the other best of lists last year but I wasn‘t here for it. #unpopularopinion

Ruthiella Hot take! 😂 I liked but didn‘t love her debut

2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas

Larkken @Ruthiella I didn't realize it was the same author! I had heard good things but am less interested now 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5m

21 likes1 stack add2 comments

Larkken

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

pick

I enjoyed this book and how it used a youth sports competition in Reno, NV to frame the lives of the 8 contestants. The last chapter was a little weird, maybe? But Reno is a weird place, so whatever I guess. #tob #tob2025 #tob25

28 likes

BkClubCare

The Book of George: A Novel | Kate Greathead

so-so

This was a tough one. George was so annoying and so I give credit to the author for capturing it, terrific pacing, always up to the edge. “Oh George, I am worried about you.” “George, you need therapy.” Clueless and yet self-pitying. What a rough ride this was! OMG. I am so glad it is over but afraid I might be thinking of George for a long time. #Jan2025 Book11 #ToB

BarbaraBB Fantastic review. I wasn‘t really planning to read this book but now you make me leaning towards doing so again 2d

BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - Thank you? You‘re welcome? I read an interesting review/opinion that Greathead has captured the Millennial generation - is it collective or just one messy individual 🧐 2d

Chelsea.Poole Great review! 2d

See All 6 Comments

sarahbarnes Ugh - I haven‘t been interested in reading this one and you‘re not making me feel any differently. 😆 2d

BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 🤣 No worries! I won‘t mind at all if you end up skipping this. 2h

BkClubCare @Chelsea.Poole - aw, thx! 2h

45 likes1 stack add6 comments

Larkken

The Book Censor's Library | Bothayna Al-Essa

pick

Wow, this dystopian novel was great! I loved how it plays with how books can take over one's subconscious, giving fiction more agency than is usual in these types of books. Only one quibble with this one, #tob #tob25 : why oh why is it up against James? I have no idea how to even compare them 😂
#weeklyfavorites25 @Read4life

Read4life 💙📚💙 2d

32 likes1 comment

ChaoticMissAdventures

Prize Women: A Novel | Caroline Lea

Hello!

I cannot see that there is anyone on Litsy that is a dedicated poster about the Women's Prize (formally know as the Orange Prize)

This is my very favorite literary prize and I would like to know if anyone would be interested if I hosted some things - Predictions; Longlist reading, shortlist, and voting for favorites to win?

Both prizes are sort of on top of each other so I am unsure how it will all shake out, just gaging interest?

AllDebooks I would 😀 6d

fredthemoose I‘d be potentially interested! 6d

BarbaraBB I‘d be interested! It will be around the same time as the #ToB so we will be busy 😀 6d

See All 15 Comments

ImperfectCJ I would be interested! 6d

squirrelbrain I‘m interested! I usually read the full fiction longlist. Did most of the NF list last year too, but I won‘t aim for that this time. 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I know!! I am trying to get through the #ToB now so I am ready to go for the WP but it isn't going well 🤣. I wish they were more spread out. 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain they are too close together! I am a die hard for the fiction list and last year I spread out the NF. I found so many gems! I am happy to host for both, but I will not be reading the full NF list before moving to fiction. 6d

squirrelbrain I think we‘re prize list twins! 🤪 6d

Suet624 I would!! 6d

Jas16 I would! 6d

Hooked_on_books I‘m not into the predictions for prizes, but I‘ve read the fiction list the last 2 years (though I still have 2 left from last year to get to) and most of the NF list last year. I plan to do so again, though who knows if it‘ll be in time for the prize announcement. 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures @Hooked_on_books I skipped the one from Karen Lord, I don't read books if they are part of an ongoing series (I find it annoying they are even put on the list!) and I still need to read Traces of Sun which I own but just haven't felt the desire to pick up. 6d

Hooked_on_books I started A Trace of Sun months ago and it‘s written (at least early on) in dialect that wasn‘t right for the moment, so it‘s been on pause for a while. Then I have Nightbloom on audio to get to. I hear you about series books. I tried that one but bailed about halfway through. 6d

Chelsea.Poole I‘m interested 😊 6d

CarolynM I‘m interested 🙂 5d

33 likes15 comments

BkClubCare

The History of Sound: Stories | Ben Shattuck

Finally, my in-hand so-excited-for hardcover edition of #ToB favorite! Posed with a cooperative Copper - look at that face! Starting this as my last #ToB2025 entry that I am sure I devour but want to savor and not pressure through #ifyouknowwhatImean. Through my reading, I am having a lovely January ❄️ 🌟

Btw, Jan 23 is National Pie Day! 🥧 grab a slice 😁

TorieStorieS What a cutie!!🥰 1w

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1w

sarahbarnes It‘s a good one! 📖 1w

BarbaraBB Enjoy the pie and the book 🤍 7d

Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to this one. Enjoy 7d

44 likes2 stack adds5 comments

squirrelbrain

The Book of Love: A Novel | Kelly Link

pick

I wasn‘t going to read this, but then it made the #ToB shortlist. I still wasn‘t sure but thought if I borrowed it from the library, I could bail.

I ended up really liking it and it didn‘t feel (quite) as long as it looked.

Thanks #ToB - you made me read and enjoy a fantasy book about teenagers, with ghosts, magic and weird creatures, where I didn‘t always understand what the heck was happening!

Henry liked it too! 🤪

LeahBergen Hello, Henry! 😘 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures Oh this is good to hear! I am not hearing many enjoy it, I might give it a shot 2w

Hooked_on_books This is my last one left from the shortlist. I hadn‘t planned to read it initially but put the audio on hold in case I changed my mind. I don‘t have it yet, but several of you all now liking it, I feel a little more hopeful about it. And I love that Henry is a goof! 😆 2w

See All 12 Comments

youneverarrived I love when a book surprises you and you end up liking it more than you thought! 2w

BarbaraBB Wow! Kudos for giving it a chance and continue reading it! 2w

Readerann 🐶 😍 2w

squirrelbrain Henry says snoof! @LeahBergen 🐾 2w

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures @Hooked_on_books @youneverarrived @barbarabb - the more recent reviews on GR are awful and it‘s not my thing at all but I was pleasantly surprised. (edited) 2w

sarahbarnes I‘m glad you liked it! I liked it more than I expected, too, but it did often feel long to me. Cute pic!! 😍 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain often times when reviews are overly terrible I read the book and think well this is fine, IDK what these people are talking about. They can really skew (either way) how I feel about a book which isn't always good but sometimes my expectations get so low I can say really pleasant things about a book! 2w

squirrelbrain I probably did skim it a bit @sarahbarnes as I often do! 🤪 2w

squirrelbrain In this case @ChaoticMissAdventures reviewers on GR either love it or hate it. But the last few reviews on here were good and I trust Littens more than GR readers so I gave it a go! 2w

88 likes1 stack add12 comments

squirrelbrain

The Book Censor's Library | Bothayna Al-Essa

pick

I clearly didn‘t love this #ToB book as much as other Littens (looking at you in particular Holly, @Hooked_on_books ). I mean, I loved the writing style and all of the bookish references but I found it really depressing and the Book Censor‘s life was so ultimately futile.

I‘ve been trying to figure out why it felt more so than 1984 and I think the MC was actually likeable and, of course, there‘s the inclusion of his daughter in this one.

Hooked_on_books I wish you had loved it as much as me! I thought it was magical. And, quite frankly, I loved the fact that the attitudes in a Middle Eastern country were echoing those of right wing book banners here, as I know that would rankle the conservatives. Do you have people trying to ban books there that‘s escalating like we do? 3w

squirrelbrain It‘s nothing like as bad here @Hooked_on_books - there have been protests around eg drag Queen storytelling and this article ⬇️ shows that there *are* requests to ban books, but not at the scale in the US. Didn‘t it feel too real / close to the bone for you? 3w

squirrelbrain https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/19/uk-school-librarians-asked... 3w

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Hooked_on_books I feel like when things are real they need to be shown in books so that they are validated and also so we can see a more nuanced view. So I think books like this one are vital. I hate to tell you this, but it started here as a protest about drag queen story hour (I think drag queens are awesome, so I really don‘t get the issue) and slid into book banning, so my guess is that‘s where you‘re headed. 3w

Hooked_on_books It looks from the article that the exact same books are being targeted as is happening here; unsurprising as many trying to ban books follow an online playbook. If your library association at the national level is smart, they‘ll get ahead of it by looking at what‘s been effective here in fighting the bans. Based on the article, sounds like that hasn‘t happened yet. 3w

BarbaraBB Great review and discussion. I get why you love it so much @Hooked_on_books and also why you did less Helen. I am with with you that book banning doesn‘t feel like reality here. I get scared by what you say Holly about the way it started in the US. Fortunately I haven‘t seen any protests around storytelling whatsoever where I live. For now the book feel like a modern, Middle Eastern version of

Fahrenheit 451

squirrelbrain Yes @BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books - I get the feeling that it‘s less of an issue here in the UK - our political parties are less polarised I think. Rachel @rockpools is probably better placed to comment though. 3w

rockpools Interesting discussion Helen and @BarbaraBB and eek @Hooked_on_books - I hope we‘re not going that way! The drag time story hour protests sadly are a thing. To the point that we‘re told not to promote them on socials, because they tend to attract an out-of-area pile-on. The book banning - ugh. So many things. Schools Lib Assocn and CILIP put out a statement last year about bans/censorship: https://tinyurl.com/5m749jf3 3w

rockpools However, as library staffing is deprofessionalised, it‘s going to be much harder for individual librarians to stand up to removal requests, as they won‘t have the clout or the support networks around them. I think active requests for book removal are a lot less organised in the UK atm, which ais helping right now. 3w

rockpools But with drastic funding cuts and everything else, libraries are going to have to work harder to provide a proper diverse range of books. Interesting times, sadly. I might give the book a go at some point though 😔 3w

BarbaraBB @rockpools I hadn‘t thought of the role of librarians in providing a proper collection. Thanks for adding that, it makes a lot of sense. 3w

squirrelbrain Thank you Rachel @rockpools - very insightful. I can send you the book if you like? It‘s very difficult to get hold of here, for some reason. @BarbaraBB sent it to me. 3w

rockpools @squirrelbrain That would be amazing- thank you Helen. 3w

Hooked_on_books @rockpools Sadly it sounds to me that you‘re heading in the same direction as my country (well, parts of it). It seems to be part of the conservative playbook at the moment. The upside for us is that people are aware of it now that there‘s a lot of pushback and it looks like those efforts might start being on the wane, though it‘s a bit early to tell. 2w

squirrelbrain I‘ll send it to you this week sometime @rockpools 2w

71 likes3 stack adds15 comments

Readerann

The History of Sound: Stories | Ben Shattuck

pick

Just loved this, especially with the unique way the stories are interconnected. The audiobook is fantastic, with different readers for each story.
#ToB25

sarahbarnes Glad you loved it too! 3w

BarbaraBB Yes, happy you loved it too! 3w

Suet624 I‘m really happy this is getting such love. 1w

Readerann @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB @Suet624 Kudos to the #ToB for selecting this gem! 1w

20 likes4 comments

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