Litsy

Eggs

Gloom Town | Ronald L. Smith

Share what you‘re reading!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Play? @Kshakal @AnneCecilie @LeahBergen

34 likes

Librarybelle

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

#LiteraryCrew : There are 3 questions posted for today‘s discussion. They can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

We had a tie for the #BuddyRead list this year; I didn‘t want us to miss reading this book. I chose today for the discussion because in the US it‘s a day to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. It‘s a good day to remember those who continue to speak up for their rights in any way they can.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Our next discussion is January 31st for Hester, pictured in the graphic. Our February book is Villette by Charlotte Bronte—we‘re venturing into the classics for that one! I‘ll post a February graphic soon! Thanks for reading with me! 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle both great choices this month! Villette is one of the few Brontë novels I still need to read! Can‘t wait for February!! 10mo

Librarybelle @tpixie I‘ve not read Villette either, so this should be fun! 10mo

See All 16 Comments

tpixie @Librarybelle 🥳 10mo

julieclair I didn‘t get to this one, but I‘m looking forward to our Hester discussion. 😉 10mo

Librarybelle No worries, @julieclair ! I think the Hester discussion will be great! 10mo

Sargar114 Didn‘t get to this one either. But Time for me to pick up Hester. Hoping I can finish in time! 10mo

Librarybelle @Sargar114 Yay!! 10mo

SilversReviews Loved Hester!! 10mo

Librarybelle @TheSpineView I‘m looking forward to it! 10mo

CatLass007 My library hold for Hester just came through. But there are six other books ahead of it because they‘ve been borrowed on different days. I guess I‘ll have to change the order in which I read them. 10mo

Librarybelle @CatLass007 I‘m always playing the “which library hold to read first” game… 😂 Good luck! It is especially hard with different due dates! 10mo

CatLass007 Thank you. 😊 10mo

tpixie @SilversReviews I also loved Hester! ❤️A❤️ (edited) 10mo

SilversReviews @tpixie 😀😀😀 10mo

tpixie @SilversReviews ❤️ 10mo

50 likes16 comments

Librarybelle

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

This post contains spoilers

show me

3. How would you present this book to a teen? Would you recommend it to a young person to read? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CatLass007 I would recommend this to a young person to read. But I believe there would be attempts to ban this book from classrooms, school libraries, and public libraries. And, unfortunately, most of those attempts would be successful. When did “woke” become a dirty word? I‘m not quite sure how to present this book to a young person. I know if I were in the target age group I would consider a book that people don‘t want others (cont)⬇️ (edited) 10mo

CatLass007 to read to be just the kind of book worth reading. There are too many outside forces trying to tell others how to think. 10mo

AllDebooks This should be compulsory reading in schools. Unfortunately, it will be banned. Which is why it's important to shout about it and encourage everyone to read it. It's full of engaging characters, dealing with everyday difficulties in our contemporary world. How is that not relevant to our young adults? They'll keep the historic white guy dominance on the curriculum instead. I'm passionate about giving children books they can relate to and learn ⬇️ 10mo

See All 11 Comments

AllDebooks From. By all means read the classics but a growing mind needs a diverse and challenging library. It's how we learn to empathise and understand life experiences outside of our own. If only we could ban/cancel the book banners. 10mo

Librarybelle Yes, agree that this would be banned, @CatLass007 @AllDebooks . And it‘s so sad! But, I think it‘s a good read for a YA audience. 10mo

CatLass007 I wish there was a constructive way to get banned books into the hands of young people everywhere. The Brooklyn Public Library has an anti-censorship program called “Books Unbanned” that makes ebooks accessible throughout the country. The New York Public Library offers a Teen Banned Book Club. New Jersey and a few other states have “Right to Read” laws which makes book banning illegal. (edited) 10mo

Librarybelle I know, @CatLass007 ! 10mo

CatLass007 All those things are great, but it‘s not enough. I grew up in a small town in West Virginia and now live in a bigger small town in Tennessee. I was blessed with a Mom who let me read whatever I wanted. My Dad wasn‘t a book reader. He read the newspaper every morning but he never really paid much attention to what I read. As backward as East Tennessee is, I‘m grateful not to live in Florida. (edited) 10mo

Pogue I would recommend this to teens. I am sneaky and would have the audiobook playing in the car or at home. I have done that with other books that I wanted my son to read, and for him the audiobook worked. As a companion book I would also have the teen read Why Are You So Serious about micro aggressions. (edited) 10mo

Librarybelle Nice, @Pogue ! 10mo

tpixie @Pogue great tactic! 10mo

11 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

This post contains spoilers

show me

2. In her January 19, 2025 Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson discusses heroes, those who may not hold a fancy title but are average individuals who take a stand. I'll link to today's letter in the comments--you can read it without subscribing, just click “not now“ to avoid giving your email address--in case you wish to read this.

How are the characters in the stories heroes? Are they heroes? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Librarybelle Here is the link to today's letter: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/january-19-2025?utm_campaig...

Her letters are very informative, though she does show her political leanings at times, so fair warning on that. However, as a political historian, she uses facts to back up her narrative. I've found her words to be very helpful of late, and I love her use of history to talk about the topic of the day! 10mo

CatLass007 I believe that the main character in every story behaves heroically. Anyone who doesn‘t respect themselves can‘t expect to be respected by anyone else. By respecting themselves they can and do command respect. Maybe others don‘t understand the actions or the reasons behind the actions our heroes take but no one has control over what anyone else thinks, says, or does. We are responsible for setting boundaries, we are responsible for (cont)⬇️ (edited) 10mo

CatLass007 respecting the boundaries set by others. We have no responsibility for anyone‘s feelings, thoughts, or actions except our own. 10mo

See All 7 Comments

AllDebooks I agree with @CatLass007 All of the characters were heroic and positive role models. 10mo

Librarybelle Completely agree, @CatLass007 @AllDebooks ! The first step is to respect oneself and set boundaries and then do amazing things from there. 10mo

Pogue The characters in the book are hero‘s. It is difficult to stand up for yourself, it is difficult to learn where your boundaries are and to set them. 10mo

Librarybelle So true, @Pogue ! 10mo

10 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

This post contains spoilers

show me

1. This collection of stories represents a diverse group of young adults, each facing a difficult situation. Which story resonated with you the most?

For me, it was the “homecoming“ story--what a terror the MC had to face, and why did her crush think this was the coolest way to ask her out??? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CatLass007 Yes! That‘s the story that hit me the hardest. I thought the “practical joke” was such a horrific experience for this young woman to endure. This story is a strong reminder that it‘s not just young Black men who have to be hyper-vigilant about encounters with the police. That everyone who participated in and observed what was a mental assault didn‘t realize what they were doing is beyond my comprehension. The police officer who put (cont)⬇️ 10mo

CatLass007 his hands on her was guilty of professional misconduct and battery. 10mo

Librarybelle @CatLass007 I know I kept gasping aloud as I read that one! It‘s beyond my comprehension too that everyone who participated had no clue that this would be traumatizing. And the police involved too! Ugh! And yes, a good reminder of those who have to be hyper-vigilant. 10mo

See All 13 Comments

AllDebooks Homecoming completely stood out above the rest, good as they were. It was a shocking, enlightening read about such a simple, should be lovely experience turning into such a traumatic event. It deftly shows how we take our liberty and rights for granted. 10mo

Librarybelle Yes, @AllDebooks . I keep thinking about that story! 10mo

Pogue Homecoming does stick with me because of the cruelty of the story. The connected story‘s that Darcy Little Badger wrote made me say “Yes, you go girl!” 10mo

Librarybelle Yes, @Pogue . That was another good story! 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle Homecoming was so crazily insensitive! That shocked and agitated me the most! 10mo

Librarybelle @tpixie Yes! 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle Such ignorance! No insight. 😂 I‘m still bothered by it today! 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle here‘s a very thought provoking book about racism. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61224230

White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better

(edited) 10mo

Librarybelle @tpixie I need to read that! 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle it‘s quite an eye opener. 10mo

11 likes1 stack add13 comments

Librarybelle

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

pick

Everyone can make a difference. Even a small step against an injustice makes an impact.

This #Anthology of fictional stories for a #Teen audience shows characters from diverse backgrounds standing up for themselves, sometimes loudly and other times quietly. It takes lots of courage to do what some of these characters did to support themselves and their communities. A great book for a YA discussion group!

#LiteraryCrew : discussion on Monday!

Librarybelle #LitsyAToZ #LetterT @Texreader 10mo

Librarybelle #BBRC @LibrarianRyan 10mo

CatLass007 Looking forward to the discussion on Monday. 10mo

See All 10 Comments

LibrarianRyan Nice 10mo

tpixie @Librarybelle this book was done very well with lots of great voices! 10mo

Librarybelle Yes, @tpixie ! This should be a good discussion, @CatLass007 ! 10mo

CatLass007 Okay, new year, new brain fart. I can‘t remember. Do you tag us when the discussion starts? 10mo

Librarybelle @CatLass007 Yes. I tag everyone when the questions are posted. 10mo

CatLass007 Thank you. 10mo

Librarybelle Your‘re welcome, @CatLass007 ! 10mo

82 likes10 comments

CatLass007

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

pick

#Read2025 January 2025 #LiteraryCrew There is some powerful story telling in this book. I look forward to discussing it with the group on the 20th. If you care about civil rights, if you care about human beings, I urge you to read this book!

DieAReader, Librarybelle

Librarybelle Hooray! Glad you liked this one! My library copy finally came in, so I can finally dive into it. 10mo

CatLass007 @Librarybelle It‘s terrific! A great selection for #LiteraryCrew! 10mo

62 likes1 stack add2 comments

tpixie

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

Great series of short stories of differing groups that feel marginalized.
Thanks! #LiteraryCrew @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Yay!!! Glad you liked it! 11mo

tpixie @Librarybelle yes, more than I thought I would. I‘m not a real fan of short stories, but these were well written! I listen to the audiobook, which was very good. Thanks! 11mo

48 likes2 comments

Deblovestoread

Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance | Bethany Morrow

pick

Book 2/175

I really liked this short audio book and the messages portrayed. I think it would be an excellent book for a family to read together. I‘m rarely a fan of short stories but these worked for me. Read for #LiteraryCrew discussion 1/20. #52Bookclub25 #MultipleNarratorsAudiobook 3 squares #JanuaryISpy

@Read4life @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks