Welcome to Litsy!

Finished this one yesterday with many a mixed feeling. There are a lot of things to love about this book, but a strong plot definitely isn't one of them. It's a beautifully written but incredibly meandering book with characters that somehow always seem distant. I wasn't bored reading this book, but it was also a lot more work to read than it should have been. ⬇️

No pic since my phone is on the fritz (sigh) -

I've been in a bit of a book slump the last couple of weeks, so I picked up this one with virtually no anticipation of finishing it. I was pulled almost unwillingly into the story, though - a clan of stray cats living in India is disturbed when a Sender appears in their midst, as legend says that Senders only appear during times of great need - and everything seems to be going well for the clan ⬇

This was exactly what I wanted it to be: a quick, fluffy, happy read with likable characters. There were times when Emily felt a little slow on the uptake, but overall a fun story. GR shows a sequel coming out this fall, and I actually think there are other characters to explore so that could be nifty as well.

Set in the not-too-distant future, society looks very similar to today. Unsurprisingly, people are more dependent on their cell phones than ever, especially on an app called Lux, which analyzes every situation for you and tells you the optimal choice for every question - what to eat, where to shop, when to leave for an appointment. When Rory gets accepted to the most prestigious high school in the country, she's thrilled, especially when she ⬇️

I was surprised at how entertaining and readable this classic ended up being. Verne's heroes are always strong, silent, scientific men, and Fogg is no exception. We never really find out why he takes on his bet, but he calmly deals with every delay that appears. My favorite part is when his servant rescues the girl, but the girl views Fogg as the hero and falls in love! 😆 Published in 1872, so there is definitely a sense of inherent white ⬇️

So obviously I thought I would like this book, or I wouldn't have bought it. But I ended up genuinely loving this one. Atwood starts with a scientific look at color, terms, the color wheel, texture, etc. The rest of the book is rather on the touchy-feely side, but because she has set everything up so well, I didn't mind. Color IS very emotional and visceral, and Atwood very thoughtfully takes her readers through the spectrum of colors ⬇️

This was an engaging and fun read with plenty of adventure and action and likable main characters. There were times when the continuity of the world-building stuttered a little, but overall a fun pick.

This was another #NewYearWhoDis pick, so thanks for the recommendation @Cupcake12 & for the match @monalyisha !!

After a lot of intense/emotional reading, I was ready for something a little fluffier. I've had this Nora Roberts series sitting around for a while - a quartet of books about a (fictional) royal family. Relaxing, gently entertaining, and nothing stressful - just what I was looking for! Not her best work, but still enjoyable. And who doesn't enjoy a good family tree?

Challenge prompts below ⬇️

This was the first Backman book I've read, and the writing was stellar. I still can't get over how he was able to portray so many different people and perspectives in a way that made each decision - even the horrible ones - at least somewhat understandable. This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. Not sure if I have the emotional stamina for book 2, though!!!

Challenge qualifications below. ⬇️

This is a book that I have loved too long to provide any kind of objective review! I love everything about Valancy's journey of self-discovery and romance. This book is both funny and thoughtful, and even though I have read it dozens of times, I still enjoy every page.

This year, my mom, sister, and I are rereading one of our favorites together every month, and this is our January book. Still love it so much. ⬇️