Welcome to Litsy!

#camplitsy24

I‘m sure you‘re all as excited as we are to continue our discussions tomorrow on the craziness that is All Fours!

Here‘s just a little reminder that our third month of this summer‘s camp will be The Alternatives, followed by Bear.

Next Saturday, 3rd August, we‘ll discuss up to the end of Act One, Scene Two. (Don‘t worry if you‘ve just started and that‘s confusing - it starts with chapters and changes to a script part-way through!)

I have a hard time with books where characters are trapped by circumstances and there seems to be no way out. This one felt similarly oppressive, plus the added menace of the bear! I found it difficult to read, emotionally speaking, but also so riveting I had a hard time putting it down.

I was impressed by how Phillips utilized a close, limited third-person perspective, filtering everything through Sam‘s POV but stopping short of first person.⤵️

A belated review for a fantastic #CampLitsy24 pick—it made for a great read & wonderful discussion!

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” —Scout Finch, in To Kill a Mockingbird

A retelling from a different character‘s perspective invites its readers to consider things from a new point of view—it was high time someone did this with Huck Finn.⤵️

Pretty batshit but I‘m firmly in the “liked it a bunch” camp. I‘m not sure what that says about me. #CampLitsy24

This #camplitsy24 book about 4 sisters had some interesting themes but fell short for me. The format was unique but I enjoyed when we got each sister‘s POV. I can‘t wait to discuss that ending during camp although I do wish there was more resolution at the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this. Thanks #CampLitsy24 I don't think I would have picked it up without you. Our artist narrator (does she have a name??) is going through a midlife crisis, and perimenopause. I love books that give us messy women, & this one does. Our artist is looking for more, and she falls into lust with a young guy who works at Hertz. The randomness of it all works well for me.Yes she is rich & eccentric, I also think she exudes honesty

I love unexpected connections.

Just finished All Fours for #CampLitsy24 and the epigraph of my next read seems like it could be used for the July as well!

Again I fell under the spell of Julia Phillips‘ writing. So unique in style and plot.

Sam and Elena live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. They work and take care of their dying mother. The days are pretty similar until a bear arrives upon the island. That changes all and my heart went out to Sam, the narrator of the story, and her elder sister. A lovely book about loss and hope and life in general. #CampLitsy24

(📸: Takayama, Japan)

I went into this #CampLitsy24 selection thinking I'd hate it and end up bailing. But it drew me in from the very first chapter, and then I couldn't look away. It is a wild and messy ride, coupled with some really beautiful, raw, tender moments (especially with Sam, and one particularly moving "scene" that I'll put under a spoiler in comments).

I wouldn't have read this without camp, but I'm glad to have experienced it.

Life is too short to read this book. 😆 It feels like just watching a train wreck and I have way too many other books to read!

#camplitsy24 - read 59 pages.