Welcome to Litsy!

The good news is there will be a summer edition of the ToB, the setback is that the longlist is the same as that for #ToB25 minus the ones that were shortlisted. This means I‘ve already read most of the books that were appealing to me. However, there will be good discussions and voting is possible now and here: https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/welcome-to-the-summer-bracket?ref=themorningne...

Starting June 27!

February 2025 Book #8 (last book read this month)

😬Another unpopular opinion🤷🏽‍♀️What is the purpose of this book? Margo tried to manage her dysfunctional parents by establishing emotional barriers. I still think she underestimate what happened with this professor. She tried to stand alone for herself and son by creating an “ethical kick-ass pimps of all time..” where “sex work can be a legitimate profession…then why not being a pimp?”⬇️

February 2025 Book #7

Sorry, unpopular opinion here. I think this book was overhyped for me. That situation at the hotel was so unrealistic to me. Then, we have a character not only with suicidal ideation but also a plan to do it and it was ignored? I have read books with morbid humor like Hagman by Maya Binyam but from the beginning you see the absurd tone. I didn‘t see that in this novel. It was tragic so sad her situation but ignored⬇️

February 2025 Book #4

Maybe I expected more from this book since it was recommended by YouTubers with I follow their recommendations, but not always we have the same taste in books, and this is an example. Loved and intrigued by the premise. But I felt disconnected with characters. I thought Irena was arrogant and thinks everyone needed to please her. Some of the translators invited to this event in Ireba‘s house had infatuated feelings 🙄⬇️

#Bibliophile Day 17: This #LongTitle is still waiting for me to get back to it. Been distracted by #ToB25, my EmiratesLitFoundation Book Club Titles that led me to Sabaa Tahir‘s Ember in the Ashes quartet - where I am now in Book 3. Then we move into #CampLitsy25. Backman, I don‘t know when I can return to you, honestly, but will get there soon.

#WeeklyForecast 16/25

I don‘t want to get too crazy yet about all CampLitsy nominations that are calling my name, and stick to my plan! I‘ll read the tagged one, by a favorite author, gifted to me by the wonderful @CarolynM . Where the Forest Meets the River is my #Roll100 book and Small Rain is the last one I wanted to read from the #ToB25 longlist.

But first I have to finish Moon Road that‘s not in the photo but that I am reading now.

#ToB25 and #LitsyToB25 have taken very different roads this year (which makes it so fun!) but in the end we all agree (at least a majority does 😉) on James as the winner of both tournaments. Percival Everett finally takes away the 🐓!

Thank you all for participating in this year‘s LitsyToB and I hope to see you next year. But before that, it won‘t be long until we‘ll be back with #CampLitsy25! Meg, Helen and I hope you‘ll join us there!

Finished this the other day and am now a #tob25 completionist (better late than never)! I really liked it, though it took me forever to read; in fairness, that wasn‘t really the book‘s fault as I have a lot going on right now (7 months pregnant). It felt like a cross between Stephen King and Neil Gaiman in a good way. Darkly entertaining and I liked the ending, after not being sure how it would be wrapped up.

Finally got around to this one for #TOB25

I assumed this would be total fluff (not that there‘s anything wrong with that) but it was pretty deep albeit in a fluffy way. I liked what it had to say about taking care of yourself, finding the true you as you get older, loneliness, and grief. I loved how the author handled the pandemic. It made me laugh too.

Not my favorite short list title, but I can see why so many people love it.