Welcome to Litsy!

Mixed feelings about my first 2025 read. The writing, the ingredients, this strange family: all was there to create a great story. But we only follow two of the siblings and we don‘t even get to know them that well, let alone the other family members. There are no real answers and while this may resemble real life, it‘s not what I expect after almost 500 pages. #ToB25Longlist

#WeeklyForecast 52/24

I am reading the Marrs, which is always a good idea when on vacation. Next will be the tagged, a Christmas gift from Meg. I also hope to read another #ToB25Longlist book, Wolf at the Table.

Three sisters are destroyed by the death of their fourth sister. All three deal (or don‘t) in their own way, not looking out for each other because being together makes them feel so incomplete without Nicky. Their stories make a raw and tender portrait of grief and unconditional love.

#ToB25Longlist
📸 Frankfurt, Germany

I so enjoyed this one. Dolly Alderton writes from a man‘s perspective after his break-up with Jen and it felt completely believable and funny. I felt for him and felt sorry they didn‘t make it.
Then the perspective changes and we learn Jen‘s take on things. All the pieces fell into place. A light and hopeful read. Recommended! #ToB25Longlist

I loved this, it was brilliant, but then maybe it is something only another Classicist would love? I have beef with the blurb calling it a comedy, it is def a tragedy, if a madcap one, and it is about POWs being forced to perform in order to eat, so rather brutal for even dark comedy. But there were still some flashes of beauty, and I appreciate the decisions the author made in plot and execution. #tob25 #tob25longlist

Margo is a single mom and, not surprisingly, she‘s got money troubles. Becoming active on OnlyFans means financial security for herself and her baby but there are many more insecurities. You have to root for Margo and her team, consisting of father Jinx (a pro wrestler), roommate Suzy and influencers KC and Rose. A fun read and a light pick for me. #ToB25Longlist

#ToB25Longlist In the 1st part of the book a woman, living in a Paris apartment, is coming to terms with a miscarriage and the fact that her husband works in London.
The 2nd part is set in the same apartment, years earlier. A couple lives there and the wife is very much into female liberation
Both parts are terrific. The 3rd part is a continuation of the 1st and that one fell a bit short. I‘m not sure what it adds even though it was engaging

#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!

In between the space of time when Ezra lights themself on fire in front of the Trump Tower and when Ezra dies, life flashes before their eyes. People Ezra loved, people who left or betrayed them, places they‘ve felt at home or estranged, good and bad feelings of being queer. Written in short fragments , Ezra dissolves into everything that made them into the person that‘s decided on this final act of protest.

#ToB25Longlist A light pick

I still need to look and see which I'd like to read, but here is a list of ones I have & ones I own. Since I was so scant on doing reviews parts of this year I've marked the ones I loved (top pick!) and ones that were still fantastic (HM - honorable mention). I honestly didn't think I would've read so many because I've read more nonfiction and fewer books overall this year. ToB and I just must've been on the same wavelength. #tob25 #tob25longlist