#MentalHealthMonday

1) The news today was horrific so I bounce between anger and despair. However, I worked today and the sun shone bright and warm so I did have breaks from the doom & gloom.
2) I have never been able to use positive affirmations, just not my thing.

@Kerrbearlib

#WeeklyForecast

Lovely to start the week off all caught up on my buddy reads. I have not been interested in picking the Donoghue back up. Will give it to the end of the week. MVBBC is fine. I‘m finding the audio of Afong May confusing so am switching to print. The up next are library books, so deadlines.

Hope everyone has a good reading week.

Along with Litsy and coffee I also read a newsletter or two that keeps me up to date with the news of the day. The above is from Meidas Touch Network. We have a huge problem when the guy who stacked the Supreme Court in his favor doesn‘t honor their ruling! The other I recommend is Your Local Epidemiologist. I started following her during the pandemic. I encourage you to find a trusted source for public health info.

#MondayMood

Pics from IG

#WeeklyFavorite

I finished 3 great books this week but the tagged gets all the stars. I usually am hopeful that the summer #CampLitsy books are new to me but I think I‘d love this one to win a slot so I can reread it and discuss.

@Read4life

Here we go! Audition by Kate Kitamura was at the top of my list but since @squirrelbrain nominated it I chose Penitence instead. Loving the nominations so far! So happy camp is back!

@Megabooks @BarbaraBB

#CampLitsy25

Loved every little thing about this book. The setting, characters, atmosphere, plot, all the things. 5 🌟

#5JoysFriday

1) My new candles from a small Oregon business
2) A sign found on the internet that explains why
3) I was at local protest on the 5th. Was my first, won‘t be my last
4) Loving the art that is included in tagged book
5) Bibimpap! Another first at lunch with a friend. Yummy!

Thanks for the tag! @DebinHawaii

#TLT #ThreeListThursday #Twofer

Thanks for the tag! @dabbe

I forgot to post last week‘s results which was my best one of the bunch in terms of numbers anyway.

Favorites: All 3 LOTR movies, Moonstruck, and Sense and Sensibility

This week‘s faves: Midnight in Paris, The Martian and American Fiction

This has been an a great reminder of so many movies I want to see.

Thanks for the fun, Denise 🩷💚🩷

See @TheLudicReader 's original post to see what color reader you are. I'm not mad at my results. It will be fun to see what further recommendations I get.

Thanks for the fun, Christie

This one kept me guessing and I have thoughts. Can‘t wait to discuss! #Shardlakians 4.5 🌟

@dabbe

I really enjoy Kate Quinn books and this is no exception. Set in a Washington DC boarding house during the McCarthy era 7 women, each with their own secrets, bond over weekly dinners. The audio was great but now will borrow from the library to look at the recipes from each character‘s chapter. Pic is from IG of Candlestick salad. 4.5 🌟

Look forward to discussing with #LiteraryCrew

@Librarybelle

New to me word. Love purple and love the description.

#WeirdWordWednesday

@CBee

#WondrousWednesday

1) I love all flowers, but today‘s pick is lilacs as I wait for mine to bloom. It amazes me how quickly they grow from the tiniest bud to a stalk of lovely color and scent.
2) My kids are safe and secure, good friends and my snuggle pug, Pippin.

Want to play? @Lesliereadsalot @Bookwormjillk @Amor4Libros

@Eggs

#Two4Tuesday

1) Most definitely! Being around books is my favorite place.
2) Tagged

I‘m late to the party so if you want to play consider yourself tagged.

@TheSpineView

https://youtu.be/b4IXXpTHjok?si=FhUJE58LE7JGXBsD

On Sunday my daughter and I went to the Oregon Symphony. The opening piece was Mozart‘s first symphony written when he was 8! I was probably still making mud pies at 8 😂. The closing piece was his last symphony Jupiter. It‘s been the year of Mozart this season as we also heard Requiem and saw Amadeus.

#TuesdayTunes @TieDyeDude

#BookReport

Only 2 finished last week. I read the tagged book after seeing it recommended on a Parnassus Books video. It sounds like it is a much loved coming of age story. I did enjoy it but didn‘t love it.

I also enjoyed the Pride & Prejudice continuation by McLeod.

#WeeklyForecast

I normally do not have this many books going at once and it all looks like a bit much grouped together like this.

April buddy reads: About 1 1/2 hrs left on Briar, close to finding out who‘s dead and why hopefully. Next will finish Heartstone on audio.

Loving Wild Dark Shore. Still making slow progress on King.

NG: Finding it hard to get into the Donoghue and the Book & Beach Club is ok.

I quite enjoyed this sapphic Pride and Prejudice continuation. With every book that begins in JA‘s world I always look for authors to stay true to the characters I know and love as well staying true to time and place. And McLeod does that while giving me a story of exploring Charlotte‘s awakening to who she is and finding the courage to be herself.

Her post showed up on my IG feed so I commented and she responded. Fun!

#WeeklyFavorite

#5JoysFriday

1) Coffee, Litsy, and Insta in the morning.
2) This morning‘s post from Robert Reich and a small dose of optimism
3) Cory Booker, Susan Crawford and others that are driving the Hope train.
4) Both my kids at the dinner table last night. My favorite joy always!
5) Disney decorations Spring edition

In a world where we are currently inundated with 💩 almost minute by minute this act of reflection and finding joys is necessary! TY to

#ReadYourEBook

I started the tagged yesterday as it‘s next up on my #NetGalley list. I “enjoyed” her other books and am hopeful about this one. I doubt I will get to #12 as I‘m not feeling it but the top 2 stand a chance.

@CBee

I rarely cussed until around 2019. Maybe because I turned 60, or because the end of that year was horrible and then 2020 came along with its own set of things 🤷🏻‍♀️. And to be honest I still don‘t cuss a whole lot but a well placed 💩, f*ck, damn does wonders. Nice to have a word to justify my profane word usage. 😂

#WeirdWords

@CBee

Litsy is part of my morning routine with my coffee. This community always helps my day start off with a smile. My towering TBR is proof of how powerful your book reviews are. So many ways to participate and all open, inclusive, and kind.

Congrats on your milestone @CSeydel ! So glad you are here.

#50KGIVEAWAY

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGi_zfHyB07/?igsh=b3M1bmd6NWd5djQw

Love this short clip about in justice.

Justice is not justice unless it is for all human beings. Every creed, every color, every religion, every gender, every sexual orientation…Every.Single.Person.

My only finish for the week but it was a great read.

#WeeklyFavorites

@Read4life

This follow up to Count the ways was everything I didn‘t know I needed until I started reading. Between the two books is a family saga with all the ups and downs, wins and losses, etc. Told in mostly short chapters it is a fast read. Loved it!

Read for #TransRightsReadathon. My first choice was Meet Cute Diary which I had to DNF as it was way to YA for my 65 year old brain 😂

#5JoyFridays

1) Pippin! It was a short trip from the couch over a small end table onto the top of a kennel for a patch of sun.
2) All the spring blooms!
3) My new resistance pins ❤️ I love Mary Engelbreit
4) #SpringCardSwap and daily joy in the mail. Notes, poems, stickers, bookmarks and lovely cards. Thank you all! Thank you @TheBookHippie for organizing 🩷💚🩷
5) Popcorn with added melted Irish butter and salt. My favorite comfort snack. 🍿

#ReadYourEbook #April

I haven‘t read one book of March‘s selection but hope springs eternal. Here‘s April‘s list a combo of series and NetGalley.

@CBee

#ThreeListThursday

This made me remember all the popular disaster movies of the 70‘s. Favorites on the list:

Fiddler on the Roof
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Witness
Mary Poppins

See @dabbe ‘s original post to play along!

#BookspinBingo #April

Ready to go!

@TheAromaofBooks

#WeirdWordWednesday

Although it doesn‘t appear in Webster‘s dictionary it popped up on more the one site when Googling. Seems appropriate in today‘s political arena. And I just like the sound of it.

@CBee

#Two4Tuesday

1) Music, Pippin snuggles, a trip to the ocean
2) For me it‘s usually a return to the familiar, either a reread or the next in a series I enjoy.

@Lesliereadsalot @Meshell1313 @Ruthiella

@TheSpineView

#MentalHealthMonday

1) Although I had to work it was 73 degrees today and lovely. A beautiful day goes a long way in improving my mood.
2) I‘m going with neutral leaning towards positive. I keep the negative to a minimum and have some trusted sources I follow for action tips and feel goods. Except for Litsy which is my happy place.
3) Yes, even the positive can be a bit much weirdly so breaks are necessary.

@Kerrbearlib

#MondayMood

It is very Spring like today and I wish I could stay home on my patio with a book but taxes await. I will say reading the tagged book during this time provides encouragement and strength.

What‘s your mood today?

#NetGalley #WeeklyFavorite

As Sylvia and the Elm Street gang work through some financial challenges keeping quilt camp going, she reflects back to 1933 when she and her sister work together to sew a quilt for the Chicago World‘s Fair. I enjoyed the latest installment of this series. Always a pleasure to revisit comfortable places and likable characters.

@Read4life

The beauty of the Alaskan wilderness is on full display here in this modern take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Although Birdie has community support raising her daughter she feels stifled by their always watching eyes. When Arthur offers her an opportunity to live in solitude, nature and maybe even love, it seems like the answer she‘s needed to make a positive change for her and Emaleen. 3.5🌟

Thank you #NetGalley!

#ISpy #January

Finally worked on my I Spy boards. Glad it‘s a year long challenge.

@TheAromaofBooks

#5JoysFriday

1) Heart concert. They opened with a photo montage of 1 picture for every year since the band‘s inception. 2006 was EM and the boos were strong. MZ, the other douchecanoe featured, also was booed.
2) Bookmail
3) I caved because it makes me happy, Disney Spring from Costco.
4) Litsy! That last stat is strong because of this community and all the ways you have informed my reading and my growth. ⬇️

#WeirdWordWednesday

I don‘t know why but this word always makes me stop in my reading. It never sounds “right” to me for some reason.

@CBee

I've been tracking my daily reading on Storygraph and we are now a quarter of the way done. I'm loving it, especially as a chapter a day book. Also, I got the calendar for our next season of Broadway in Portland and Les Mis is playing at the end of March next year! Perfect timing.

@TheBookHippie

#Two4Tuesday

1) I can‘t pick a favorite but I love when my crocuses bloom as my first sign Spring is really on its way. Then my daffodils bobbing in the breeze.
2) Tagged book is always the first to come to mind and now that it has I want to reread it.

Want to play @dabbe @MemoirsForMe @TheLudicReader ?

@TheSpineView Hope you are continuing to heal!

Will be focusing more on King once I finish Murder on the Links for #ChristieCapers. Starting Star of the Seafor #BookedinTime, hoping the audio is good. Meet Cute Diary is for #TransRightsReadathon. That and my buddy reads will take up my reading time.

#WeeklyForecast

#BookReport

It was nice to be back in the land of Elm Creek Quilt manor with familiar characters and places. A nice palette cleanser after the tension of Nesting. Still thinking on Calculations.

#MondayMood

Another Monday wondering what 💩 will hit the fan this week. I‘m going to read the tagged book for the first time. I think it will be a nice escape.

#WeeklyFavorite

Will definitely be in my top books of the year and easily could be the best of the year. The audio was fantastic.

@Read4life

This is the only book, so far, off the Booker International Longlist at my library. It was lyrical and propulsive although I‘m not sure I totally understand what was really going on. Even with the ambiguous ending I enjoyed it and am looking forward to Volume 2.

#5JoysFriday

1) Even tho Pippin ended up with a tummy ache we had a good visit with my dad. My brothers and I call his house the dogs vacation home because they all love him and the beach. Can‘t wait for a better weather day to give Pip his first beach experience.
2) Postcards to the #ldf who is #nmp
3) Not pictured: Easy recipe for Lasagna with homemade marinara sauce.
4) Watching my lilac buds grow daily
5) Pippin loving daycare

@DebinHawaii

So many of them I do not know. Did watch The Nun‘s Story last fall with my dad.

Favorites:

1) The Quiet Man With Monday being St Paddy‘s Day I will be enjoying my annual viewing soon.
2) Miracle on 34th Street. Another annual treat at Christmas
3) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

@dabbe The link to her survey is on her original post.

#SpringCardSwap all mailed today.

@TheBookHippie

I know you are thinking there is nothing weird about empathy and you are right, we all know the word and understands its meaning. But it is a word and action that is now being criticized and used as if it were evil. When I hear Christians say that to empathize is unchristian I don‘t even have the words to address how far away from Christianity you are that you believe that.

#ranttime #pleasestopthemadness

@CBee

WOW, WOW, WOW!

This could very well be my favorite book of the year. I felt everything Ciara felt as she leaves her emotionally abusive husband, all the second guessing, anxiety and struggle to find her way. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This why I love the Women‘s Prize. Can I just award it the prize now? It‘s that good. Read it!