Welcome to Litsy!

I finished a second book for Nonfiction November, a recently published memoir by Marie Wilson, one of the 3 commissioners for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The commissioners had to listen to harrowing testimony from survivors of Canada's residential school system. This was an informative read but some of the stories are very disturbing.

#NFN @Bookwormjillk

Most people know about Vegas/jewel-encrusted-jumpsuit Elvis, but what about before he was really famous? This book looks at the first 24 years of his life including his early life in Tupelo, his start in the music business at Sun Records, & it runs up until he was drafted into the US army at the height of his popularity.

This book looks at the topic of premature interment (a more genteel way of saying buried alive) & some miraculous escapes in the nick of time. To be honest, I'm really not sure what possessed me to read this book, I can't think of something more likely to induce nightmares! It was shocking just how many possible 'premature interments' there may have been, particularly around the time of war or disease. (continued)

I loved this memoir. Jedidiah and his mom drive from Louisiana to Oregon to retrace the route she walked in the 70‘s. They have fundamentally different beliefs but their love for each other and their willingness to keep talking is inspirational and hopeful, especially at this particular moment in time. #NFN

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the toughest hikes in the US. Running between the Canadian/US border at one end & the US/Mexico border at the other, it totals 2653 miles. Its terrain encompasses whole gamut between deserts & snow-logged trails, minimal signage, & the local wildlife includes rattlesnakes & bears. Still, many people try to thru-hike (travel from one end to the other) [continued]

#WeeklyForecast. I plan on finishing Piece Like a River. I'm loving it so far
#BookReport after not reading much in October since hurricane Helene hit. I'm finally getting back in the swing of things this month.

For #NFN #nonfictionNovember I read The Foundling and Under the Banner of Heaven (not pictured)

I had three four-star reads and two five-star reads.

This book was something. Russian prison is something I haven‘t thought a lot about, but now I will never forget it. And I will always empty my bags before I travel. #NFN

An account of the 1906 sinking of the 'Valencia', a ship sailing between San Francisco & Seattle with 108 passengers and 65 crew members aboard. Bad weather & human error combined to cause the 'Valencia' to strike a reef off the coast of Vancouver Island which lead to the deaths of 136 people, including all the women & children onboard.