Welcome to Litsy!

Finished 6 NONFICTION books in October. The tagged book was my favorite. I love biographies, especially when they are about fascinating people I didn‘t know anything about.

#2024ReadingBrackets

Well it‘s Saturday night. But these are my weekend reads. Currently reading Dissolution #10BeforeTheEnd,finished my section first Free Will,#adventuresinphilosophy #NFNovember,just started The Editor, #NFNovember

My #ReadYourKindle list for November. 🍁🦃🍁 @CBee

I didn‘t know much about legendary editor Judith Jones, but after reading this book I‘m intrigued by her life story. Over her long career at Alfred A. Knopf, she nurtured the fledgling works of Sylvia Plath, John Updike and Anne Tyler, and became the go-to editor for cookbook authors —including Julia Child. Along the way she dealt with gender discrimination in the workplace. She was a fascinating woman.

#HauntedShelf
@PuddleJumper @Jadams89 #FrightClub
#BookRecommendations
#yellow #morallydubious

I'm counting this one for two. Kuang raises many questions and concerns regarding the publishing industry, but the one that encapsulates the novel in my mind is the undeniable fact that Juniper “Song“ Hayward knowingly stole her frenemy's ideas. A fast and fiery read.
+61 points

Reading about Oct. 6, 1948 on Oct. 6, 2024. It‘s always fun when these calendar coincidences align!

My #readyourkindle books for October! Thanks for organizing @CBee

Just… no. I get it. The publishing industry sucks. But this story, which had so much promise and so many interesting ideas, felt too much like a whoa-is-me semi-autobiographical editorial that I‘m frustrated I spent time finishing it. And the ending was just not what it could have been. Sad waste of good publishing space.

June Hayward, a struggling novelist, takes advantage of the sudden death of her very successful friend Athena Liu to steal an unpublished manuscript. As June narrates the story of her rise to fame, it is clear her self-absorption and hubris will lead to disaster. The true feat of this gripping novel is that the author manages to humanize June, despite her many, many flaws, while Athena remains a mystery, seen only through the eyes of others.

So. Four chapters, four perspectives: the writer, the editor, the critics and the reader (getting Breakfast Club vibes!) I didn't really get it until some pages into The Editor. Then I was gobsmacked. This is seriously brilliant. The writing journey start to finish. The role if The Novel in readership. I've actually underlined sections... I never do that. I keep reading aloud to anyone who listens!!!