Welcome to Litsy!

I listened to this over audio, which was fabulous. Although I feel like I need to get a physical copy because I loved this book. Quirky, a story about siblings, family, love, figuring out your life, academics. I also love highlighting a character, Valdin, that has OCD (representation matters). When Greta talks about how her parents are always going to worry about Valdin because of his mental health (very validating for a mom of a kid with OCD &

I read this book for a global reading challenge. I was deeply moved. Some parts were rough/odd, but by the end of the book, there is that sweet redemption and apology for jaded/hardened ways. I didn‘t expect to, but I cried and cried by the end. Beautiful visuals and connections with the ocean and spirits. I didn‘t like all of it but I am definitely glad to have read it. A beach read for me this week.

I look over at my sister lying on top of the piano singing 'Graceland'. I don't know if it's the best song to dance to, but V's dancing anyway, slowly, with his arms loosely around Xabi's neck, looking the happiest I've ever seen him. Happier even than when he got a flip phone for Christmas.

🤣🤣

... but only in the special postgraduate areas designed for crying and printing out hundred-page documents...

Everything was going well with the dinner. No one brought up colonisation or euthanasia or the Springbok Tour.

Taken me a while, but getting into this now.
Which is a good job given that bookclub meets by the end of the month!

A harrowing story but useful to consider in difficult times—these poor people had such a hard time.

(Image: batik by Jessica Land)

Now that we're a third through the month, I figured it's time I posted my #BookSpinBingo board. This month I really am going to read the tagged book.

Anyone read any good, contemporary, offbeat, funny fiction lately?

Everything on my shelf seems to be diametrically opposed: weighty, dark, lyrical, and poignant OR a floofy romance. I‘m looking for something more like the titles pictured. Witty, modern, and not *necessarily* sweet (but it‘s okay if there‘s some sweetness, too).

*It should probably be noted that I‘m not a fan of massively unlikeable characters.

Parts of this book were bleak and I was almost constantly listening with a slight feeling of dread about what might be about to happen, but I also enjoyed it. It actually ended on a more hopeful note than I expected through most of the story. I felt it described the setting of 1860s New Zealand and the gold rush very well.

#ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #NewZealand #audiobook #1001books #TBRTakedown