Litsy

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

so-so

I appreciate the authors unique take on showcasing depression, grief, and trauma and the back sliding that people can face when trying to overcome that. Especially as people of color and the weight of having to deal with racial discrimination on top of that. I recognize the points the author is trying to convey but the way it was delivered through this grim fairytale style didn‘t hit for me the way I wanted it too.

Makyah

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

This book would be a great tool for students to use in order to practice reading comprehension skills and practice the skill of understanding the author‘s deeper meaning with this story as well as recognizing the authors purpose. This would also be a good diverse read for people to understand the harsh realities of the way black families view/ deal with mental health.

StayCurious

Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas

#LittensLoveSJM #TOG Book 1 Ch.25-27: Hmm, Celaena gets a visit from a long lost queen and receives cryptic warnings and missives and a protection necklace. Better not let anyone know about the secret chamber with the tomb - and stop asking everyone about the Wyrdmarks - you‘ll paint a target on your back. If the King finds out what she‘s up to she‘s cooked. There are 16 Champions left. And still more tests to come. ⬇️

StayCurious Focus on surviving and becoming the Champion. Leave the investigating to Chaol. Of course that would make for a dull book - and I realize that Celaena is not one to stay by the sidelines. 1h

StayCurious @LiseWorks @5feet.of.fury @mcctrish @BarkingMadRead @Read4life @Laughterhp @Roary47 @Butterfinger @lilybird 1h

LiseWorks @StayCurious my thoughts exactly about the marks. Do it in secret, lol. I think both boys are jealous of each other, and you're right about both having a crush 51m

BarkingMadRead Omg this is getting so creepy and delicious! 48m

mcctrish Where does Chaol think she went? Did he not think any other champions would be at the party and now feels guilty ? Dorian and Chaol both need a slap. Nehemiah knows something and she‘s not talking and I want to know why 10m

9 likes5 comments

Makyah

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

So far I am interested in the story in regards to mental health among black teens. The whole whimsical aspect that the author is going for to symbolize what Whimsy is going through feels almost dream like. However sometimes I‘m finding myself being a little lost within the story due to the excessive symbolism and it being too abstract.

Shemac77

We Were Liars | E Lockhart

Next audible

kspenmoll I love your photos.💕 6h

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 5h

15 likes1 stack add2 comments

AroundTheBookWorld

Pumpkin | Julie Murphy

#Pumpkin #JulieMurphy #Dumplin #book #books #bookmark #bookmarks #bookmarket #bookmarkets #bookmoment #bookmoments #bookquote #bookquotes #bookqueen #bookquirk #quote #quotes #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #bookworld #bookword #epicreads #bookend #bookends #bookending #bookendings #bookedit #bookedits #bookeditor #YoungAdult #LGBT #Romance #Contemporary #Audiobook #Fiction #Queer #RealisticFiction #Teen 💟🌈

7 likes

limada

A Court of Frost and Starlight | Sarah J. Maas

pick

This one was a little... fluffy. Maybe unnecessary, but there are definitely kernels of details that might be important later. #29-2025

4 likes

Rachel.Rencher

Elatsoe | Darcie Little Badger

Evening porch vibes 🤍 I'm already a good bit into Elatsoe and I'm enjoying it. I have Blue Sisters on standby in case I feel like switching it up.

The temperature outside finally got to a point where I can breathe, literally. It was so hot when I ran errands earlier that I was worried about flaring up, but a nice breeze is rolling in now, and the fireflies are dancing around the yard.

Aims42 Gorgeous picture!!! 8h

46 likes1 stack add1 comment

StayCurious

Throne of Glass | Sarah J Maas

#LittensLoveSJM #TOG Book 1 Ch.22-24: ooh - a secret passage! I love me a secret passage! And now Celaena has an escape route if she needs one. I was miffed though when she saw that most of the champions got to go to the feast and she was excluded. Unfair! What do we think those symbols mean around the clock tower? And why was Cain looking at one? I think it has something to do with his ring. And Nehemia knows much more than she‘s letting on.

StayCurious @LiseWorks @5feet.of.fury @mcctrish @BarkingMadRead @Read4life @Laughterhp @Roary47 @Butterfinger @lilybird 23h

mcctrish I am so mad all the ‘champions‘ get to go except Celeana ( Cain doesn‘t count cuz something is seriously up with him, he‘s probably plugged into a power source somewhere like a machine ) I‘m excited about secret passageways and are the symbols runes like in 4th Wing? and for sure they have something to do with Cain and his sponsor 23h

BarkingMadRead Ok, I was really steamed that she didn‘t get to go and everyone else did. Plus she can‘t even bitch about it, because of how she knows! 23h

See All 9 Comments

Roary47 I didn‘t like that she couldn‘t go either, but think the ring she was provided was pretty sweet. I‘m also glad she saved Nox and neither of them were eliminated because of this.. only because the other guy died though. How many champions are left? I‘m losing track. 23h

5feet.of.fury Oh boys 22h

5feet.of.fury @Roary47 I think 19? I believe it said she came in 18th but Nox was after her 22h

Read4life I think 19 is correct. I was annoyed that she wasn‘t at the celebration, too. I hope I‘m wrong, but I‘m beginning to question Nehemia and her motives. (edited) 22h

Butterfinger I am all twisted. Something about the runes or markings made Nehemia question Celaena. Was magic involved? Like in the woods? Is Cain there to protect her-like Snape? Are the tunnels used to take the Champions elsewhere to kill them? Is a wild animal there to hunt? She calls Chaol "friend," but he still treats her as a low class person. I need answers. 22h

LiseWorks I was so mystified by Nehemia reaction to her. Like what did she notice about her face. Diesnshe know whonshe really is? 21h

28 likes1 stack add9 comments

AnnCrystal

Bless Me, Ultima | Rudolfo Anaya

I finished this on the eleventh of June, but wanted to weigh the story...then reality became extra crazy...and remains frightening.

Warning, the following is a long babbling review.

This read was good, yet nothing like I expected.

There's no rhyme or reason to which book I investigate, nor how much I investigate, before reading.

I didn't give this book much research beforehand. I had learned that it had been banned, possibly even burned.

👇🏼

AnnCrystal But I didn't want to read anything too deep and telling about the actual storyline.

That was a mistake.

I had assumed this was a cozy fantasy about a boy and a magical, grandma-like character.

I mean, there's a kid, how bad could the story be?

This story was NOT a cozy. It's complex, and filled with tragedy.

At times, it feels current, from the prospective of a six year old boy...sometimes it feels removed, events being looked back upon.
1d

AnnCrystal I enjoyed the Golden Carp (fiction), and my favorite chapter was when Ultima went to help a family being harassed by unseen forces.

I did not like the notion that Ultima's fate was due to her using magic to “help.“

This felt based on the belief that all magic has a price.

Personally, I believe that whatever energies you send out into the world, is the energies that return to you. So be good, be positive, be helpful. The Threefold Law .

👇🏼

(edited) 1d

AnnCrystal Also, I feel abilities like Ultima's are a gift and a talent.

That Ultima helping was no different than cops protecting victims from perpetrators, lawyers defending clients, medical doctors saving patients, priests saving souls, or good old-fashioned self-defense, etc.

Personally, I do not believe that magic comes with a price when using for good, only when it is twisted into dark magic.

Ultima hadn't been the one to alter fates.

👇🏼
1d

See All 11 Comments

AnnCrystal My other issue...

I am Catholic, as known, my God is a jealous God.

Long ago, I came to believe that one can't cheat on a God. This belief allows me to acknowledge other Creators without fear of offending my own.

My mom also raised me to ask myself how I believe Jesus may weigh anything and everything I encountered in life, to ask myself this before seeking answers from our church. Right or wrong, only God Himself could judge me.

👇🏼
1d

AnnCrystal From my own Catholic prospective:

I understood Antonio's questions and even his building doubts about the Catholic faith he was born with...

It would've been nice to see a bit more resolve with his Catholic understandings, just a little.

I guess that's unfair. Antonio is only six years old...

Faith is built with time and patience.

My only issue is it seemed strange that this book both penalized magic and critiqued the Catholic faith??

👇🏼
(edited) 24h

AnnCrystal Perhaps it's message was suggesting that old Creators are waiting to be rediscovered??

My reflections about the banning and burning of this book...

I always felt that when people take such dramatic actions against books, it is because they are trying to prove something to themselves. Believing if they prove their faith publicly, then maybe it would also prove their faith to God.

Again, this is my personal opinion.

As mentioned, I am Catholic. 24h

AnnCrystal My religion is a gift from my mom (who has even taught Catechism in the past), an inheritance from her parents. While my maternal grandma wavered in the faith she was born into, my maternal grandfather was born and remained a devout Roman Catholic (read the St. Joseph version of the Catholic Bible).

I'm not new to my faith

I've grown comfortable in my faith. I believe the only proof my God needs from me is the Love I feel for Him.

👇🏼
24h

AnnCrystal Even when I believe I have encountered other Creators, (which I believe I have) it is my God I turn to, asking Him to give thanks for me.

I figure, hey, if my God can give me vengeance, then I can believe that He can also pass a message of gratitude.

Therefore, I took no personal offense from this book as a Catholic.

Although, I would like to highlight that Catholics do believe that there is no true washing of sins without genuine remorse.
👇🏼 24h

AnnCrystal There is a lot of Spanish dialogue without direct translation.

I only know English, but have picked up a few words over the years.

It didn't feel like it hindered the storyline, at least not for me. I felt it added atmosphere.

I love stories with healers, and this is my first read with a Curandera...I absolutely loved Ultima.

The New Mexico setting was fully detailed.

There are book warnings 📚⚠️👇🏼.
24h

AnnCrystal Child witnessing death, including murders.

Child threatened.

Drowning death of a child.

Bullying.
(edited) 24h

AnnCrystal I believe this makes my longest review ever posted on Litsy, posted on the longest day of the year...this wasn't done on purpose 😂📚💝.

#blessmeultimareviewedbyanncrystal

#bannedbooks (edited) 24h

22 likes1 stack add11 comments

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