Normally, I'm a fan of Palahniuk, but this one fell flat.

What started off as an interesting premise gradually lost its balance for me, resulting in a boring last act. I couldn't help but feel that Palahniuk went overboard with the repetition in this one (especially as it pertained to his world-building), and could really benefit from more "show" and less "tell".

All in all, this one was a "meh" - teetering on a pan. Color me surprised!

At one point during my reading, I put the text down, turned to my spouse, and said "This is a profoundly f*cked up book." That's about all that needs to be said.

Told in 4 parts (by 4 distinct narrators), this novel tells the story of a family's desperate attempt to evade grief - and the creature that's born in its stead. Most certainly a modern "Frankenstein"; this was a lush and visceral read.

An alien crashes on Earth and uses dating apps in order to secure their next meal.

On the surface, it's bizarre, gruesome, and oddly sexy. But when you dig deeper, this one speaks to anyone who has feels out of place, unable to conform, and desperately trying to survive in modern society.

Surprisingly queer, and brilliantly translated - I absolutely adored this one!

This one... wow. I laughed, I cried, I felt so many emotions along the way. What I thought was going to be a simple YA love story turned into so much more: commentary on identity and belonging, how it feels to have to parent our parents, the complexity of race, and the persistence of change as we march through life. This is a beautiful, relatable, heartbreaking book.

Tinged with regret, this story is an ode to our past selves, and the decisions we cannot take back. It's an exploration in grief, self affirmation, and the need to recognize that we can only do the best we can in the moment.

Oshetsky's writing is lush and stylish, capturing the way our minds naturally try and alter the narrative of our lives. An effortless read, and another triumph from this author.

A divine collection of short stories. ✨️ I absolutely adored the perspectives from a host of diverse voices and experiences. With a touch of haunting and the surreal, this was the perfect book to use as a detox from some longer novels I've been wrapped up in. And... can we talk about this cover!? Gorgeous!

This one juuuuust squeaks by as a "Pick" for me. I really enjoyed the fast pace and quick chapters as we tag along with Nora living other possible lives. This is a feel-good story that doesn't shy away from incredibly dark themes and situations - which earns it points from me!

That said, the book could have been shorter. The end felt a bit pandering and predictable - at times minimizing the depth at which many struggle with choosing to live.

Unpopular opinion: If I weren't reading this for book club, I would have bailed. I'm not sure what all the hype is about - this was one of the dullest books I've trudged through in a long while.

Delightfully unhinged; just what I expected from Palahniuk. A wild tale about a ragtag team of people trying to save the world from a deadly lullaby, one book at a time. In particular I found the ending to be bizarrely endearing - not what I expected!

A lush and bittersweet tale of "life" after death that ponders whether we can find our truest humanity after we pass.

A little fantasy, a little romance, and a lot of heart - I really enjoyed this book. I laughed, I cried... as a grieving person this one really hit hard.

Also, dog lovers take note - this story features a fabulous pup! ❤️?

If this weren't my book club's current selection, I would have bailed. I found the main character quite unlikable - and the end chapters made me roll my eyes more than once. Had high hopes for this one, but alas it wasn't for me!

Yet another book that sits teetering on the edge of a "Pick". Beautifully written and heartbreaking - this feels rife for a TV miniseries (fans of "Fargo" take note!).

I'm giving this a "So-so" because I felt it had pacing issues, and could probably have been trimmed by 10-20% for a more potent story. Definitely not a book for those who like clear, happy endings.

Visceral. Heartbreaking. Real. Ollie is one of my favorite poets, and their work never ceases to amaze. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Teetering on the edge of a "Pick" for me - my biggest complaint about this one is just how idealistic this story is. Everything is tied up in a neat little bow - not something I'm a fan of as a reader.

The characters are rich in personality, and the world-building is lush. A quick read, for sure!

This book deals with a lot of heavy subjects, but only at arms length - an edgy summertime/beach read, but lacking some substance for me.

I loved it? I hated it? I didn't actually read it all? I read every word? It's actually two books in one? I'm not sure if I understand this book at all?

... I'm still mulling this one over.

This slim novel follows a serial killer on a rampage through a small town. Burgess' writing style might be jarring for some at first, but really captures the essence of a madman. Through artful descriptions of an unhinged mind, this story is surreal, grotesque, and a wild ride.

This one comes with a heavy content warning for violence and gore - I had to physically put the book down twice to curb my nausea.

Solid so-so on this one. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't exactly like it either. This slim novel felt deceivingly long, and at times pleasantly dull. This book feels like it's aiming for deep existentialism, but I just wasn't all that moved by it.

A stunning collection of short stories - so grateful that this author took the time to translate her work into English. Stylish, eerie, and thoughtful - surely a collection worth revisiting!

Without a doubt, the best book I have read in a very long time. Filled with breathlessly artful language and metaphor, I couldn't help but inhale every line. Definitely not for the faint of heart - dark, gruesome, feminist, queer - and a delight for all non-conformists. Absolutely a book that I will read again.

My first attempt at Backman, and I'm not impressed. I found his writing style to be pompous and distracting. Bailed at around page 50. Not for me!

For me, this one fell somewhere between a "Pick" and "So-so" - but Walker gets points for being SO right about how our society handles a pandemic (this book came out in 2019). An interesting read, but lacked any real punch of meaning for me.

Wholly unsettling, yet incredibly captivating. Tension was palpable throughout, and the ambiguity of the ending lends an extra layer of "choose your own terror". Enjoyed it!

My only critique: The author needs to rely less on his Thesaurus - it often feels as if he chooses a random word, and finds the most obscure, complex synonym to use in its place. It was distracting and felt inaccessible, in spite of my own expansive vocabulary.

Getting very near the end on this one - for whatever reason this has been a difficult one to get through. Curious how it all turns out.

Treated myself to this old book - which details the life and lessons of a hermit, Mason Walton. His cabin once stood along my favourite local hiking trail - and I often think of him whilst tromping through the woods. Excited to read his book!

Finished this quick read last night - perhaps not the best choice for bedtime reading! ? Surreal, bizarre, and at times downright nightmarish... a new take on an old story that will leave you reeling. Definitely not for everyone!!! Fans of the movie "Mother!" will likely enjoy this one.

A short one-sitting read... a delightful collection of strangers lamenting their "what if...?" moments - straight from the annals of Craigslist. Touching, funny at times, and full of the rawness of life.

Bizarre and visceral - I practically inhaled this book. I'm a sucker for the macabre, strange, and sexy - so this one really struck a chord!

A must-read. Filled with eloquence, emotion, and power. If nothing else, read the very last piece, "Blackberries". Poems like these are blessings. ♡

(Life update in the comments!)

Big, BIG thumbs down for this one. Aside from a tone and cadence I find annoying - this book willingly (and blatantly) excludes transgender, male, or otherwise "non-bleeding" witches.
I bailed on this - but I read enough to know that this one is a pan. And while I am not in the habit of putting books in the trash - this one's fate has been sealed. I will not perpetuate this mentality by donating or otherwise paying-it-forward with this one.

I know I haven't been particularly active as of late... but today I was alerted that it's my 3-year #Litsyversary 🥳

I just wanted to say that I love the community here - and I miss using this app more. I have now been unemployed for over a year - and the struggle is REAL to hustle up the money to stay afloat. Unemployment gives me some stability, but it is continually being revoked and then reinstated. (more in comments)

Been wanting to read this for a while - here we go!

Easily one of my favorite poets... but this collection fell very flat for me. It almost felt as if these were all partially fleshed out ideas that were pressured onto the page, rather than thoughtfully written. Sad to say, I'm disappointed - and the only thing saving this from a "Pan" is the fact that Leav has always been a favorite.

This was a surreal and emotionally weighty story. It didn't shy away from heavy lifting when it comes to trauma and identity... and instead faced their complexity head on. I couldn't read stories like this all the time, but this type of work is a keystone element of pushing for more dialogue about the difficult topics of sexuality and assault.

Apparently I need to be listening... I went into a bookstore with no specific intentions today, and walked out with two titles that share the same word. I didn't realize until I got home.
Okay universe... what do you have to say? 🤔

Wildly excited to read this. I heard Atwood herself reading some selections on NPR, and was moved to tears.

As much as I wanted to like this one... I didn't. The poems all seem half-baked and uninspired - the sort of thing that a student might write for a homework assignment in a class they're not invested in. I fear that this publication was more of a pandering money grab based on her celebrity status rather than a poetry book of any real merit.

A close up of the spiral goddess that @JoScho made for me for the #BasicWitchSwap exchange... simply marvelous! I'm going to keep her in my art studio for a boost in my creativity and art making. She can also represent fertility, but 2020 doesn't need any more surprises. 😬🤣 Thank you from the bottom of my heart Jody!

OMG 😱 @JoScho !!! This #BasicWitchSwap collection is INCREDIBLE. Seriously, I'm worried I didn't do enough for you!!! Everything is perfect - and I love the t-shirt! ^_^ I'm absolutely blown away by the handmade spiral goddess... she's perfect! Thank you so much, you brought me enormous joy. 🌛🌝🌜
Thanks also to @Meaw_catlady and @sprainedbrain for hosting!!!

Lyrical, deliberate, and often poetic... I really liked how it explored aspects of kink and sexuality without exploiting them for mass consumption. My only complaint here was pacing - a slow burn, but well worth riding the tide.

Excited about this one - I've heard good things.

🦇 The eagle... erm... bat has landed! 🦇 So excited to see what's in store from @JoScho for this #BasicWitchSwap package! 🌛🌝🌜
@Meaw_catlady @sprainedbrain

I was re-organizing my bookshelf and found this the other day... it's proven to be very timely.

Real, raw, and relentlessly human. ♡

All packed up and ready to go - this #BasicWitchSwap box will be en route tomorrow!!! 🌛🌝🌜📨📚
@Meaw_catlady @sprainedbrain

Getting the last little bits of my #BasicWitchSwap package ready - hoping to mail out tomorrow! ???
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@Meaw_catlady @sprainedbrain Stay tuned for my official "in the mail" post! #BasicWitchSwap #litsyswap

Beautifully illustrated throughout... but I'm afraid that the hand-painted typography and density of message got in the way for me. Moments of beautiful clarity met me as I made my way through this one, but I couldn't help feeling like it was a bit of a slog. I'm likely to return for another try... someday.

Diving into this short graphic piece tonight - the illustrations are beautiful.

Plath in the bath! 🧼

I haven't had as much time for reading lately as I wish I did... but this one has been delightful so far.