This was interesting, I really enjoyed it. At 50 pages in I worried that the book was going to be too long, it is "quirky" and often those books cannot be tolerated for a very long time, but this turned out to be perfect length. There were enough side characters and story lines to keep the story moving along, and the main thread - Linda's intense desire to marry a plane - was well balanced. I have always thought objectophilia was fascinating.

I met my Aunt Augusta for the first time in more than half a century at my mother's funeral.

#firstlinefriday
@ShyBookOwl

Travel writing for travel times - Currently in Vienna

Not my pet sitter sending library Glamour Shots of my cat 😂😍

Listened to this on my flight to Prague. I just think John Green is the most pleasant and kind person. 4.25/5
I really loved the idea of this book. Each chapter is a subject or item he "reviews" gives a story, tells the origin or facts about and then rates. I don't think I have ever seen this done before, and it is John so things are lyrical and filled with anxiety and a wish for a better world.
4.5/5

This was okay. About the last son of the Habsburg dynasty, and what a complete ass he was. He unfortunately took his wife and mistress down with him, his mistress much more so. I do think the authors make a good point about people needing a purpose and if these old guards keep gripping tight to everything the new generation flounders. But maybe I am looking too deep given my country's current climate.
Good if you like a rich family drama

A low pick. I had trouble concentrating on this, which is probably a me problem. Ondaatje's writing is gorgeous. This is just a very quiet book. I was going to rewatch the movie once done reading it for the first time but the movie is almost 3 hours long!!
Glad I read it but I am unsure how much will stick with be beyond the bomb dismantling.

No better place to read this than the airport and on a plane 😂

#bookspin = Classic
#DoubleSpin = Trace of Sun (if I don't finish this this month I will be donating it)

New #BookspinBingo board!

Thanks @thearomaofbooks and happy reading!

I am unsure if this is just a US thing but this is very cool. WCK is a fantastic organization, if you have been thinking of getting some Martha Wells this is a great time!

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/martha-wells-murderbot-and-more-tor-books

I read 16 books in August.

4.5⭐
Dusk
4.25⭐
Only God Can Judge Me
Just By Looking At Him
4 ⭐
Fugitive Telemetry
Network Effect
Tilt
Three
3.75⭐
The Poppy War
The Tokyo Suite
The Goldfinch
3.5⭐
King of Ashes
The English Patient
3⭐
Fearless and Free
Tell Me Everything
Book Lovers
2.75⭐
Too Loud A Solitude

A fun tiny book I got from a friend for my birthday!

It has chapters like
Stay Nimble and Unpredictable
Knock Things Over Strategically
Keep Your Claws Sharp

It is 55 pages of advice 😹😻

#bookspin #bookspinbingo

I read my #doublespin - or at least I dnf'd it and removed it from my TBR

I had my #bookspin on my coffee table all month staring at it, but never opened it, I will get to it though!

3 Bingos one that sort of feels like a cheat with DNFs but I am getting that TBR down so that is good progress!

#14books14weeks

Not the best and not the worst I guess!

I read 8 of the 14 I had set out to read this summer. For the most part they were all at least okay, and I am glad to have them off my TBR. Flamingo was probably my surprise favorite of this bunch, I don't know why I waited so long to tackle it!

Sometimes classics hit right and you understand why they are standing the test of time, and sometimes not at all. Unfortunately this is one of those lesser times. I hate the repetitive nature of his writing, you really need to know your philosophy and Eastern European literary critics (he throws a bunch of dead white men's names at you just to let you know he knows who they are). There are a lot of scenes with bodily fluids? Luckily this will 👇

A pick with a giant caution ⚠️

This book is dripping with misogyny and violence. A lot like Shakur's public persona. It is also filled with contradictions. I thought the things Pearlman did well here he did very well - showing Pacs two sides, explaining how they developed, showing the trauma of his early life and how it led to his inevitable end. But I think there are some not great things here also, it almost felt like Pearlman bought into 👇

Well. This makes the trip to Costco worth it!

How exciting

I really love RF Kuang, but this isn't my favorite of hers. It felt a bit too formulaic - sad child works hard gets into elite school, is shunned, but triumphs. This is why I do not read a ton of fantasy while there were some side quests, and I loved the Chinese mythology she was able to weave through everything flushed out exactly as I assumed it would and it left me feeling like the book was good not great.
I still enjoyed her writing.

#Bookspin September!

Reading this new biography on Tupac Shakur, so of course #TuesdayTunes with @TieDyeDude has to be him. Thinking about “Battle of A Dead Soulja“

What a chaotic person, caused mostly by his chaotic upbringing. The book so far has been a bit long, and a bit too detailed but over all I am engrossed and enjoying it. It is defiantly giving me a side of him I was not aware of (mostly a softer side).

Expected publication October 21, 2025

"I can sing in French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and German. I've learned these languages to different degrees, enough to understand them and not get the accent wrong, their nuances."

What an impressive woman. This isn't exactly what I hope for in an autobiography. It sort of felt like sitting on the porch while grandma randomly tells you bits about her life. There is massive details missing and emotion. ?

I am cutting down on buying new books, but it's my birthday and there is the first ever Baldwin biography out. I cannot believe we have gone this long without a major biography on his amazing life.

It is 700pgs and I plan on reading it next year when I tackle his less famous works.

CH 5 "An Enormous Appetite And Soft Skin"

"Those chemical products in little jars are, in my opinion, not great. They make your skin flakey.
First, you should dance as much as possible and sweat a lot. You'll sleep like a log afterwards. Sleep clears your eyes: that's all you need for your eyes."

What great advice.

An article I just found from last month.
I think this brings up an interesting topic.
Honestly in Nonfiction
How much do you expect to be truthful in a personal book

What could (should?) happen when it is revealed an author is being disingenuous?

I found this article led me to be disappointed in Winn. Talking to my partner last night, landed on I will read a book by a scammer, as long as I don't feel like they are scamming the reader (me).

Well this is a bummer. I am going to Prague for the first time next week and I was hoping to get some history under the belt before I left. This book looked promising it is all about the year 1913 and the lead up to WWI. Unfortunately the format is just not working for me. It is like reading tweets from the year. You have to know everyone already (I know must but still) and you just get these tiny tidbits about what 300 people did each month

I have one week to tackle and return my library books 😂🤣😂

Simon Savidge has been raving about this all year on his YT channel so I thought I would give it a go, and I am ecstatic I did. This is excellent. Set in Australia sometime before cars, twins Iris and Floyd look for work and become embroiled in a Puma hunt. I thought the language was gorgeous, the way he describes the land is beautiful. The characters were real and complex and I found myself really rooting for the twins through the twists.
4.5/5

#Bail but not far enough to officially claim it. The introduction was so interesting, Lange had an amazing life and seems like a truly cool woman. She was a loud and proud anti-fascist who also challenged gender and sexuality norms. She was related to and highly influenced by Borges (who I have not read). This book feels very stream of conscience and I cannot figure out what is going on. Going to keep it though and maybe try again someday.

"It's just life, that's all it is "
I am sad I do not enjoy Strout more. She has all the right ingredients, she just isn't for me. I like the juxtaposition between sweet and scandalous. But I had a hard time keeping track of the characters. About half way I decided to take the book like I was overhearing gossip of strangers at a coffee shop, it didn't work as well as I had hoped. Not my favorite on the list but I understand why people enjoy her

Weekend reading

Tell Me Everything the last book for me to read on the Women's Prize shortlist. It didn't win but people seem to love it, and my ex- MIL sent me a copy after she read it so I am going to try it. I read Olive years ago and feel meh about it.

People in the Room is a #WomenInTranslation book from Argentina

#WomenInTranslation month this reminded me a bit of Elena Knows it might be the South American setting, or the traveling, but it gives the same vibe.

I liked the bits with Maju and her travels with the child best, I struggled a bit to care about the mother and her affair, but the reasoning behind both women's actions pulled me along. I liked the language and tone shift between POVs and thought overall it is well done

4/5⭐
Murderbot. Filled with fun.
#6 takes us back to novellas. In this one It is going to solve a murder. I still struggle a bit with secondary characters, but love the fast clipping pace and the rye sarcasm. It's just a good quick fun time.

Excited to talk about the details with #CampLitsy25

Overall this is a low pick for me. I found all of the characters super irritating (and a bit stupid). I have mixed feelings about most of this. Not my favorite Cosby.
Positives - it was quick paced and kept you reading. The writing was fine ( sometimes a bit too cheesy)

Heads up Emily Austin fans! A new book coming!

Currently US release date set for January 13, 2026

Coffee out for this #weeklyforecast I cannot believe August is almost over. Life has been super busy so I have been very distracted but hopefully will get some good reading done soon.

3 library books to get through -tagged Slanting Towards the Sea and Twilight of Empire (history for my rapidly approaching trip)

Then - #camplitsy25 SA Cosby and #womensprize Elizabeth Strout

I have heard that the audios were the funnest way to read this series, I have already read 1-4 in physical form so when I noticed used copies of this were going for $50 I decided to wait on the library audio. I am so glad I did! This is great. The narrator does an amazing job getting Murderbot's sarcasm across.
I enjoyed this! It is the first novel length book in the series which I have been wanting. 👇

Sardines

My local cafe does these adorable shortbread cookies, they are different most weeks I love this one!

Time to catch up with #CampLitsy25

Terry Gross shows how she annotations books is fascinating! I normally do not annotate books because I read too fast but I think if I did I would take some tips from her
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT69cSHKv/

My second Emily Henry and I can now officially say she isn't really for me.

This was fine. The Hallmark story about being Anti-Hallmark. It felt a bit trying hard for my particular tastes, which is too bad because on paper (but not this paper) Nora is totally my kinda lady. I did love that she knows she is a city girl she isn't prissy about it but she is aware of what she likes. Charlie was nondescript Fine. Not a lot to get excited for.

For the niche group of Aardvark book boxers and lovers of Chuck Tingle! His book came out today, but I am going to wait until next month to get it and hope for this special edition.

My third (last??) Donna Tartt. Like Three from Valerie Perrin I wish I had read Tartt's books in the reverse order then I did. I was obsessed with Secret History, I really enjoyed Little Friend, and thought this was okay. A bit long and unbalanced, but Tartt is a genius writer so it is a pick. I think if I would have started here first I would have enjoyed it more. I liked Theo, I thought the opening was very compelling, the secondary characters👇

Have I just been super lucky in my couple of years on Litsy?

I believe I have 2 Sales/Spam messages on one of my posts, It makes sense there are scammers and spammers in every corner of the internet, just curious how many have seen this? Is it something you are seeing more of lately? Do you just block them and move along?

What is weird is it is 2 new accounts, and both commented on the same post, and the comments they made make no sense.

Almost done with this honker of a Donna Tartt! I am not liking it as much as her other two, but her writing is as always impeccable.

Started The Tokyo Suite (Brazil) a book from the library for Women In Translation month

I really want to get to Twilight of Empire a history book about the end of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, hoping to get into the mood for my trip!

I grabbed Book Lovers on audio this will be my 2nd Henry.

I had meant to read this for Disability Pride month but didn't quite get it completed in time, but that is okay! We should be reading disability rep books all year round. This book is not for anyone prudish. Our MC Elliott and his long time boyfriend are struggling, or so Elliott thinks, and so they start experimenting E starts it by secretly seeing a sex worker and then things start to spiral. I really enjoyed this. The descriptions of E's 👇

I really enjoyed this! I am unsure if the story would have had the same impact on me if I did not live in our MCs neighborhood. I feel like Pattee really made the city come alive. I could have used a bit more description of the aftermath, but I thought the characters were drawn well and the storytelling was great.
4.25/5

My Aardvark book box! I am trying to buy books I am either extremely excited about or that I already read and enjoyed. I read an ARC of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and really wanted to read it again so luckily they still had some copies, I have been fascinated by The Hounding. Small Worlds I have not heard a ton about but I loved his first book so here we are!

Getting the weekend started! Weddings and brunches and lots of friends this weekend.

I would do First Line Friday but this book's first line is super racy!

This was a remarkably layered story. Centering the relationship of three children who are now adults and have become mostly estranged, but still get pulled towards each other due to the fierce love of growing up together and the history they have with each other. Most of the twists I saw coming but it did not dampen my interest in the story. There was one reveal about the narrator that I am struggling a bit with But overall Perrin does it again.

Earthquake prep.

#camplitsy25

#TuesdayTunes. @TieDyeDude

I have been listening to a lot of French singers lately. They go well with reading Valérie Perrin.

Always my favorite French singers are Stromae, GIMS, Barbara Pravi, Indila, and I am super excited that Eurovision '25 introduced me to Claude from the Netherlands but who mainly sings in French.

Where it all began.

Running errands then hoping to finish this one today!