Litsy

pick

I‘m 4 for 4 so far in the #ToB25! I‘d probably put this one last of the 4, but I surprised myself by enjoying this tale of girl boxers and their bouts in one tournament. Definitely outside my wheelhouse, which is what I love about the ToB.

BarbaraBB Glad you enjoyed it! 9h

12 likes1 comment

quietlycuriouskate

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

so-so

#bookerprizelonglist
My run of ho-hum books continues. ?
It took me to a world I would never have thought to enter otherwise, so I'm grateful for that, and the opening chapter/fight was interesting... but thereafter it proved to be a one-trick pony, until we reach the Space Odyssey-esque ending (wtf was that about?!). Nor do I buy the "competitively hitting seven bells out of eachother as a metaphor for girls maturing into womanhood" angle. Meh.

TrishB I don‘t think I‘ll bother! 5d

JenP I felt the same way 5d

Magpiegem Thanks for this review, I‘ve heard some people raving about it but I was struggling to see how it wouldn‘t be a one trick pony. My TBR is so long it‘s good to be able to find a reason not to add another! 5d

quietlycuriouskate @Magpiegem You're welcome! I don't regret reading it but, by the same token, I'm glad it was a quick read and can now get on to something that I will hopefully enjoy more. 🙂 5d

Readerann I enjoyed it, but also am glad it wasn‘t longer - and the ending… 🤔 9h

40 likes5 comments

GatheringBooks

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

#25Alive! Day 12: Here is my #BookHaul for the #ToB25 - and this is just half of what had already been delivered - plus a few more titles besides. I blame @BarbaraBB for tagging me. Lols.

Megabooks, Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, squirrelbrain

Megabooks Enjoy! It‘s an addictive thing to follow! 6d

BarbaraBB Sorry not sorry 🩷 6d

squirrelbrain That‘s it - you‘re hooked now! 🤪 6d

sarahbarnes Some great books in there!!😍 6d

Eggs Great Haul! 5d

64 likes5 comments

cariashley

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

pick

Really unique structure; I liked some of the linked vignettes more than others. This felt different and more interesting than typical writing about teenage girls, which I appreciated. I‘d give it a slightly low pick overall given the unevenness. Am glad I read it and wonder how it‘ll do in #tob25!

AmyG Exactly! Very well said. You summed up my thoughts perfectly. 2w

61 likes1 stack add1 comment

akfreeborn

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

pick

My last book of the year and very much a favorite. Beautifully written, the structure is clever and I loved the stories of the girls. I did not find the boxing too much. I loved that it gave them a commonality and focus. Highly recommend!!!

16 likes

Graywacke

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

pick

#booker #booker2024 #longlist

My last longlist book. This is an interesting narrative style, a series of snapshots from each fighter‘s past, future, and rather violent present. The 8 girls fighting for the u-18 boxing championship in-front of 12 fans in a neglected arena. But the narrative is doing a lot more than just following our neglected lady gladiators.

My full longlist summary will go in the comments.

Graywacke Some thoughts: 2024 was not my favorite Booker list. Four terrific books. And three others that I found rewarding reading. But that leaves six of thirteen that didn't really work for me. Seems like a lot. What was unique this year is that last September I joined the Booker Prize Book Club on Facebook and got really involved. So I had a different and much higher level of excitement around the list than ever before. That was rewarding. 4w

Graywacke Here's my breakdown, a personal list

My top two:
- Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
- James by Percival Everett

Other books I really took to and that are really well done:
- Orbital by Samantha Harvey
- Held by Anne Michaels

The book that was just too cautious to be great
-My Friends by Hisham Matar

The imperfect but with terrific elements
-Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
-Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel 4w

Graywacke The interesting ones that didn't quite work for me
-Playground by Richard Powers
-Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

The book that never quite took off and overcame itself
-This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

The ones that I didn't like (although I can talk about some of their strengths)
-The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
-Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
-Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange 4w

See All 13 Comments

Graywacke I enjoyed my reading of the list with other Booker peeps here: @rmaclean4 @squirrelbrain @Leniverse @JamieArc @BarbaraBB @jlhammar @AnnaCecilie @JenP @TheKidUpstairs @charl08 @BookishTrish @Suet624 4w

BkClubCare Just wanted to say…. Cool post. I am not a Booker follower other than being interested in which book wins. So with all the overlap of lists I *do* follow, I like to see other opinions. I appreciated Safekeep but didn‘t enjoy it; will look for the Charlotte Wood (the only one I don‘t recognize). 🌟 4w

Suet624 I never think that facebook is consistent enough to include me in a reading group. I‘m glad you got a lot out of it. I primarily agree with how you‘ve rated the books, but I liked My Friends more than you apparently. It‘s true that Booker was a bit disappointing this year. 4w

BarbaraBB Very interesting post! It‘s been great following your progression. Overall I was a bit more positive about the list although I haven‘t read all of them. I am looking forward to Playground and will skip Creation Lake. 4w

squirrelbrain I love the way you rated the books, although I disagree with some of them. ☺️ Actually, only one - The Safekeep. I‘ve enjoyed seeing all of your reviews and opinions. 4w

Graywacke @BkClubCare thanks. I have found the Booker winner often less interesting than the Booker longlist over all. But that‘s 13 books instead of one. SYD is terrific. 4w

Graywacke @BarbaraBB thanks. Creation Lake has its fans. Playground is much more universal, though 4w

Graywacke @Suet624 That FB group is the only thing l like on fb. ☺️ I joined last year and found it unexpectedly kind and encouraging. 4w

Graywacke @squirrelbrain i‘m probably too hard on The Safekeep. It‘s not the 🍐 🍐 so much as the clean wrap-up that left me feeling down on it. Thanks. I enjoyed all your posts too! 4w

Leniverse We have the same two favourites! After that I would put My Friends and Orbital. I still have three that I haven't read though, but I doubt they would make the top of my list. 3w

47 likes13 comments

BkClubCare

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

pick

Posing Copper with the🎄has been a challenge this season! Or maybe he only cooperates when I tell him it is for Litsy?! 😂

Audio 🎧 was a good way to experience this and I give kudos to the narrator Cassandra Campbell 🌟 Her voice was perfect for the present tense and the repetition. We get such interesting insight into a broad view of the female psyche; how diverse our wants and needs might be. We are fighters all.

BkClubCare #Dec2024 Book114 #ToBShortList (edited) 1mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1mo

Readerann I liked this, too, but thought the very end was perhaps too “out there”. Also, do you have any insight as to the constant use of last names? 🧐 8h

BkClubCare @Readerann - oh dear. I seem to have forgotten the ‘out there‘ ending?! And tbh, I didn‘t notice the last names, other than suggesting the sports angle? 5h

46 likes4 comments

BkClubCare

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

“Her head feels like it is filled with undercooked pie”

#LitPie #PieinBooks #iLovePie #CaresPieShow #ToBShortList #ChocPearPie 🥧

Readerann Undercooked pie! Haha. 8h

BkClubCare @Readerann - a great image 🥴 5h

46 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel

Starting my last from the #Booker2024 #longlist. This is my first book after drowning in Faulkner‘s Absalom, Absalom! for 20 hours at 4-minutes a page. So, this one is so far crazy fast and clear

Suet624 It's always fun to read a fast book after slogging through your last one.
1mo

BkClubCare My next audiobook! 1mo

BarbaraBB And what did you think of the Faulkner? I still have it on my shelves but 4 minutes a page doesn‘t sound encouraging! 1mo

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB Also I read your comment on LT, thanks! 1mo

Graywacke @Suet624 it helps! 🙂 1mo

Graywacke @BkClubCare cool. I hope we both enjoy. (I loved the 1st fight) 1mo

Graywacke @BarbaraBB that was the hardest Faulkner i have read, by far. It‘s important and interesting. It‘s just difficult to follow the five-page paragraph you might currently be reading. 1mo

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