Welcome to Litsy!

A fascinating, multifaceted, historically contextual and futuristic book to read while contemplating my own Midwest move! From erstwhile frontier farming fund, failed utopias, and the origins of the Midwest‘s “normalcy” to corn and the birth of standardized futures trading, the “death” of manufacturing, and the pinned hopes of a region safer from climate change, Christman sets a wide table in the Heartland and offers a true cornucopia to chew on.

Geologist Bjornerud takes us through various rocks as she works through her life in geology. She weaves in features of her science, like volcanism and seismology, beautifully. This reminds me so much of Hope Jahren‘s Lab Girl, and I loved both books.

RIP Marilyn Hagerty

#Sep2025 Book85

Listened to Heretic on audio while taking walks over the last week often finding myself at a cafe to scribble in my journal & gather my thoughts as much of this hit very close to home coming from a similar background and subsequently leaving the evangelical church when I was in my early thirties. It's a lot to unpack; even a decade later, I still find myself unpacking more and more. I appreciated hearing someone else's experience and perspective.

A few of the books read in 2024. Highly recommend #divineproverbofstreusal and #lionwomenoftehran

This #TOBlonglist book actually looks like snarky fun that I would enjoy. But it‘s just not working for me right now. So back to the library it goes!

My first audiobook of 2025 was a #1001books listen. I liked this one better than the previous book I listened to by this author, but her style is not apparently for me. I felt like this book had somewhat disconnected storylines, left too many things unanswered, and ended rather abruptly. I guess that makes it true to life, but I‘m not sure what I am supposed to take away from it.

#audiobook #Reading1001
#TBRTakedown January 2025

#ToB25Longlist

Millennials in a Midwestern university town, unhappy with their situation, or maybe not but everyone is feeling sorry for themselves anyway and nagging and complaining about their situation (just like in The New Me, Halle Butler‘s other book I read).
Nothing much happens and it is kind of engaging but definitely not worth to be shortlisted.

NB Why is there a visiting artist? What does he add to the book? I really have no clue!

An appropriate title for this book I‘d say. A cast of unlikeable characters living sort of mundane lives, feeling unsatisfied for various reasons, and making poor decisions. I liked the fluid movement between points of view and the sheer bizarreness of people‘s thoughts and actions. A really weird book, but I think I liked it. 😆 And looks like it‘s on the TOB long list!