⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food and other miscellany presented in a loose diary form plus a few sporadic recipes. Many delicious meals, and some not so much, a fair amount of wine, and a ton of familial love. He speaks of food as memories, and I totally felt that; like how a song elicits the same. If you haven‘t read his memoir Taste, start there. I could listen to Tucci read all day. Soothing tone, and he‘s low-key hilarious.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Heard about this book on the Murder in America Podcast. A Canadian doctor murders her American doctor boyfriend in Pennsylvania, then flees to Canada. The extradition process is a nightmare, and here‘s the kicker, she‘s pregnant with his baby. Penned by the victim‘s dad, David Bagby, this is well organized and written, and beyond a memoir, it‘s also a commentary on the justice system failures which resulted in the death of a baby.

A sweet acrostic from my 10 year old son on my 43rd (how?!) birthday. 💚 Rizzful, indeed.

With this guy, and a 12 year old, gen alpha slang is killing me a slow and obnoxious death.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had the privilege of hearing Watson speak at Southern Festival of Books. Here, she teaches us the history of Black Portland through three lifelong friends. As they navigate life in general, they speak to micro- and macro-aggressions regarding skin color and body size. An accurate portrayal of female friendship; simultaneously painfully honest and dishonest, with a permeating theme of self-love. Watson‘s a poet at heart and it shows.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loss, love, secrets, lies, and generally too much going on for my taste. But it was entertaining enough. Mourning the death of her mom, then a bad (good) break up, Iris seeks a geographical fix in NYC. She finds herself essentially immersed in a life that once belonged to her mother. Enjoyed the writing, but “liar revealed” tropes stress me the hell out. Nonetheless, it was an easy read to cap off our #bookclub year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “It‘s never a matter of time, but a matter of timing.” A little hokey, but cute. A unique NYC apartment meddles in the love lives of its residents. Obviously, you need to suspend some belief here, but once you do, it‘s a very sweet and thoughtful story about love, change, and grief. Thanks to my good friend Rachel for the rec!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Attenberg is an expert at family dramas. She writes believable, often relatable characters and dialogue. I saw her speak two years ago; she‘s very cool and uniquely stylish. The kind of aura that makes you want grab a coffee with her. Multigenerational family stories are not something I‘m usually drawn to. I think it‘s because they often feel similar to one another. That‘s probably an unfair generalization, but 1-2 a year is all I can do.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A story of knowing what you don‘t want, rather than what you do. Three generations of tough, somewhat shunned, women, all unique in their strengths. Dorothy, aka Donkey, steals the show. I loved the symbolism of the rattler. An ouroboros; the circle of life. I picked this up after hearing Campbell speak at Southern Festival of Books. She‘s so sharp and funny! Meeting her was an absolute pleasure. Will def read more from her!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I barely even know who Tendler‘s famous ex-husband is, and that‘s because I had to google him, so that held zero bearing on my opinion. Celeb gossip isn‘t my strong point. This is tough because everyone has a story to tell, and memoir lends itself to freedom of expression and self indulgence. The discussions around mental health were good, relatable. But some of this went off the rails for me. I didn‘t love it, nor the title / cover combo.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The woods weren‘t done with them. “Goddess Game” rituals took hold of three friends at a time they desperately needed to bond. These early friendships reminded me of myself and my two best friends at that age, only we worshiped at the altar of T Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli. I don‘t usually enjoy thrillers since they often lack character development, but this checked all the boxes, and was well-written. Couldn‘t put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Definitely go audio here. Julia Roberts gives voice to the late Lisa Marie, who tragically passed during this memoir‘s writing. Keough narrates her own parts perfectly as well. At times, I wanted more detail, but this really was the right amount. Joyous and sad, much like most lives, though most of us didn‘t have a superstar father. Loved how this was organized. A must-read for memoir fans!

You‘ll float, too. 🎨🤡

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ellis blurs the lines of reality. This is quite the satirical waylaying of capitalism and sexism, which I loved. Brilliant at times even. HOWEVER. The animal cruelty and extreme sexual violence were so depraved, I nearly bailed multiple times, which I rarely do. Kept going because surely that was all in his head? I choose to believe it was. The gray ending works well to support this. Still, I‘ll never get over some of the scenes. NEVER. ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Everything in life is a bit of scam if really you think about it. Comedian Laci Mosley, host of the titular podcast (which I‘ve yet to experience), lays out specific moments of her scammy life in relatable, often funny, essays. An enjoyable listen!

Campbell is a new-to-me author, and hearing her speak was such a treat, I had to buy her newest and meet her. She‘s a whole vibe and I love it!

Rachel Khong was so sweet and lovely! She also brought her own copy of Real Americans for all of us readers to sign which was so cool.

I hit up the Southern Festival of Books on Saturday. Loved hearing, and meeting Rachel Khong and Bonnie Jo Campbell. Renee Watson was also incredible, speaking about her first novel for adults (tagged). I would‘ve stayed longer, but we had family visiting from Colorado, so I felt like I could only ditch them for so long. 😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ King‘s stories that are laden with supernatural elements aren‘t nearly as scary to me as his more realistic ones. A coven of vampire-adjacent creatures are on the verge of dying out. They feed off of a certain kind of rare human. King connects this plot to the original story fairly seamlessly. Getting to know Dan Torrance decades after The Shining was a real treat. Abra is incredible, too.

I looove Will Patton. He‘s incredible w/ King.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This debut is book one in a rom-com series set in, and around, Nashville. Locals will definitely connect with the atmosphere and references. The meet cute caught me off guard and had me laughing my ass off! There are some super funny, relatable one-liners. I always appreciate a bit of satire. And the spice is spicing. I‘m friends with the author and she‘s a very cool book nerd. Looking forward to the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mary Shelley was a pioneering badass. It‘s difficult to grasp that she was 18 when penning this boldly and brilliantly written gothic horror tale; also considered one of the very first science fiction novels. Timeless themes along with creative structure and multiple points of view evoke an unexpected compassion. This was my fourth reading.

The books were so fun, the background was not. Love the outcome, though! 🎧🧩

#audiopuzzling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Picked this up after hearing about it on Well-Read Podcast, co-hosted by my dear friend, and librarian, Ann (give her and Halle a listen)! The premise sounded pretty corny, but I really enjoyed this super cute seasonal-ish romance. The witchy parts are actually quite subtle. Adorable meet cute, but can the hex be broken? Just what I needed to break up the scary stuff I‘ve been devouring. Smart and fun debut! Will read El-Fassi again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ How does he do it? How does King make horror so human? The focus isn‘t fear, nor the horror elements, it‘s the people, and the mundanity of their everyday lives. The Terror lives on the periphery, waiting. A father enveloped in grief allows naiveté to take hold. Questionable decisions are made. “Sometimes dead is better,” honey. There are some conveniences in this plot, but they work. I‘m not mad about it.

#coverlove

Another gorgeous walk with my boy Champ. The leaves are slowly staring to turn here in middle Tennessee. 🍁🍂

#audiowalk

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Nightmare Momma,” or the “Woman with No Face, or the house itself? What‘s real, what‘s not? There is so much pain. Ezri and their sisters return to their mysterious childhood home after both parents are found dead. There‘s a lot to unpack, and it‘s challenging to describe. Literally and figuratively harrowing. Stunning writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Social commentary mixed with horror may seem like an odd combination, but honestly, it makes sense. Literal name-tag wearing demons are tasked with aiding in coercive conversion therapy. The realistic parts are the true terror. Other small details are a bit gag-worthy. Mayflies will never be viewed the same again. A solid read by an author whose real name is unknown. He seems an interesting fellow, indeed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “She was crazy, but he needed her.” Rabid, unstable fan finds extremely drunk, injured author in snow bank, takes him home for torturous rehabilitation, forcing him to reprise her favorite character, or DIE. Terrible nurse, impeccable editor. Wilkes‘s speech patterns are hilarious considering how brutal she is. Cussing is unbecoming, but killing infants is okay. The “deus ex machina” conversation was utterly brilliant given the outcome.

Absolutely gorgeous morning for a walk with my pupper. ☀️

#audiowalk

Finished product! 🎧🧩 #audiopuzzling

🎧🧩 This book. Wow. Just can‘t stop listening.

#audiopuzzling #dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It‘s absurd that no one really wants to talk about menopause, healthcare providers included. Medical misogyny is real. If this was regarding men, they wouldn‘t be merely placated nor simply ignored. This is a fact of life for women, and is comparable to puberty, but in reverse. As I age, I realize I don‘t know enough about my own body. This is an excellent resource. Dr. Gunter has a knack for explaining, and keeps a keen sense of humor.

Spooky season school car rider line accessories. Not pictured, but always present, is my good boy, Champ.

“There was a big old St. Bernard went rabid downstate a couple of years ago and killed four people. That was a hell of a thing.”

I love when King references his other stories. 🖤

Car rider line. Champ has listened to many, many audiobooks this way. 😂

#dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) sounds more mentally stable than UFO. Former Pentagon director of the now defunct Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, Luis Elizondo claims there is government proof of extraterrestrial life. This is all very clandestine and conspiratorial, yet some of it leaves you thinking way more about this than you maybe want to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cujo was the best boy until he wasn‘t, but unlike the human monsters in this book, he couldn‘t help it. King is very good at making insane things seem real. This story feels like it could‘ve happened. In his memoir On Writing, King states that he was regretfully so deep in his alcoholism, he doesn‘t really remember writing this book. #coverlove

⭐️⭐️ A family drama / thriller with all the usual types of characters. Too many convenient coincidences for me and the resolution was anticlimactic. A other one where the cover grabbed me. #coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ve never listened to Pod Save America, but this was an informative, often funny, quick read. A good reminder to stay engaged, factually informed, and vote!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A very strange coming of age story. Devin, desperate to overcome heartache, takes a job at Joyland to distract his mind and body. Surrounded by eccentric characters, he finds himself immersed in an unsolved murder. Though mystical elements come into play, this is not “typical” King, which is evident by the Hard Case Crime imprint. Devin is a fab narrator and I enjoyed getting to “know” him. A fun October #bookclub pick! #coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dublin Murder Squad #4. A family is murdered in a failed luxury community. Tons of unfinished and crumbling homes. “Scorcher” and his potential new partner are on the case. Tana French is a master storyteller, but I didn‘t love the resolution here. The journey was so well done, though. I was rapt.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The role of stories in everyday life and how they can negatively affects us. Psychological warfare, propaganda, misinformation. We tend to treat fiction as politics. So many slippery slopes. Nothing much positive here, but a quick, interesting read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I hate comparisons, but this is 100% for Caitlin Doughty fans.

⭐️⭐️ People are not rational beings. Too godly for divorce but not murder. Make it make sense. This isn‘t lengthy, but still a slog for me. I just didn‘t care about the story. Everyone was awful. The pretty cover got me. #coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We don‘t deserve dogs. This is the story of the goodest girl, a guide dog named Roselle. She calmly led her human and others down 78 stories of the North Tower, and through smoke, dust, and debris, to safety. As he should, Hingson also uses this as a platform to destigmatize blindness. A very worthwhile read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees on 9/11. Located in the floors above the North Tower impact, they were put in an impossible situation. Many called loved ones to say goodbye. Unfathomable fear. We owe it to them to hear these stories. Barbash chronicles the 6-month period after the devastating loss of life: families, business, recovery, media, grief, guilt. ⬇️

Fun puzzle! Jury is still out on the tagged book. 🛸

🎧🧩 #audiopuzzling

Walked the goodest boy at the library adjacent greenway this morning. It was too early for it to be open, but enjoy these outside photos. It‘s a very cute suburban branch. ✨

#audiowalk #dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read this to round out my Kennedy deep dive. It was, of course, super interesting at times, but insanely long for a book covering a six day period. I slogged through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The epitome of a powerful woman. She played the games, and dealt with the consequences, all while looking fabulous. Facetiousness aside, this is the biography of a woman who experienced unspeakable trauma and lived with it the best she knew how for the rest of her days. Yet, I‘m left wondering if she was ever truly happy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mimi Beardsley kept her affair with Jack Kennedy secret for literally decades. She evaded press by JFK chroniclers until 2006 when a reporter appeared at her door. As an 18-year-old White House press office intern, she was propositioned by the president and, well, didn‘t decline. Thus started their relationship which only ended with his death. Young, naive, and taken advantage of, Mimi‘s story is both fascinating and appalling.