Such an incredible day with an incredible author! She‘s engaging and funny and very knowledgeable. I couldn‘t have asked for a better day. Pictured is her inscription to me in the tagged book. Such a humbling experience.

Incidentally, she found out today that her editor accepted the draft for her fifth book. A few revisions needed, but it‘s slated to be published November 2020.

I‘ve been a bundle of nerves lately, a lot due in part to today. This has been a year in the making - arranging the author of my library system‘s One Book program to visit the library system. I‘ve never done anything on this scale before; I‘m so excited and nervous at the same time. My library system is reading the tagged book this month, and in just a few hours, I get to meet the author.

If you haven‘t read these yet, please do. They‘re amazing

Gaiman chronicles the #Superfeats of the Norse gods in this collection. I bought this one based on a friend‘s recommendation, though I‘ve yet to read it. #SoaringScores

Don‘t #CountMeOut of this group, but I am not a Tolkien fan. I read The Hobbit years ago, and it was such a struggle. Lord of the Rings holds no fascination for me. I‘m glad there is a huge fan base, but he‘s just not for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #SoaringScores

Image of Tolkien from Wikipedia

Yesterday began Week Six of this #literarycrew #buddyread . I‘m nearly finished with the week five segment - the last couple weeks have been amazingly busy and stressful, so very limited reading time! Any thoughts on the week five segment? Personally, I‘m riveted by the clash of religions. What a fascinating, yet scary period!

This book had so much promise, and yet it really fell flat for me. Granted, I did listen to it, and while I did appreciate multiple narrators telling the story, the narrators made everything sound more theatrical than necessary. Long pauses; long drawn out words. The story itself could have been interesting - a gown that haunts its owners - but the storyline seemed disjointed and stilted at times. Not the book for me!

Jay Gatsby = the ultimate #PartyMan

#SoaringScores

Playing catch up on the #literarycrew #buddyread this morning, and I came across this passage. I love quotes that speak to me, especially when I need them right at that moment!

“‘A wise woman realizes this. She keeps her heart as full in times of pain as she does in times of good fortune. This is because her heart is full of trust.‘
...‘We are meant to live our stories whether it pains us or no.‘l

I can‘t help but think Heathcliff would muse #DidIMakeTheMostOfLovingYou to Catherine, if he could... #SoaringScores

Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White combine efforts to tell various stories in the past and present, all centered on the Lusitania. Such a wonderful story, and an early #LiteraryCrew #buddyread . #TheSkyeBoatSong #SoaringScores

Thank you to everyone who entered my #200KGiveaway ! Using a random name picker online (TextFixer‘s random choice generator), congratulations to @Butterfinger ! I‘ll send you a copy of Dracula via Book Depository. Please send your mailing address to my email address, my Litsy username AT gmail DOT com. 😁

I posted about this book under a similar prompt a year ago, but it‘s always a good plug for a #ghoststory ...

Nesbitt wrote some nonfiction books before coming to Gettysburg and opening up a ghost tour establishment. He also wrote several ghost books; this one is the first. #FallIsBooked

Set in the #MistyMountains of West Virginia, this dual timeline story evokes mystery and ghosts and murder. Another boom I‘ve yet to read; this is my copy from the days of Page Habit. I like the cover of this one! #SoaringScores

Definitely #wicked things are going on in this book! #FallIsBooked

It has been so many years since I read this, but I recall pieces of this story. Charlotte is strong and opinionated and ends up working alongside a crew on a ship. #LeavingPort #SoaringScores

Reminder that the deadline to enter my #200KGiveaway is Thursday, October 17th, 6pm Eastern time. To enter, create a post about a book on your tbr list that you really want. I‘ll pull a Litten‘s name later that night, and the posted book will be sent to the winner via Book Depository. Every Litten who has entered so far has posted an amazing book! Thanks, and good luck!

#TheConfession - I haven‘t had a dining room table for two years now. It‘s become book storage. There are also boxes on the floor. 😂 #SoaringScores

What to say about Evvie Drake? I kept thinking while reading this how human Evvie is - she‘s flawed and complicated, and there were times I could totally relate to her. The middle of this book is the slowest part. I liked this one. My #Newin2019 for #Booked2019 and my #Newin20192020 for #GrowUp #BBRC .

I scoured my shelves for a #mysterious #redcover and found this one. I loved this and quickly became a Horowitz fan. Horowitz is brilliant at devising unique story lines. A story literally within a story? Yes, please! #FallIsBooked

I missed posting this on Sunday! We‘re on to Week 5 of the latest #LiteraryCrew #buddyread . I‘ve enjoyed seeing everyone‘s posts and reading the reviews of those who have finished. I‘m behind in the readings, so I really hope to catch up by the weekend. Anyone care to share anything about the week 4 segment, or even a comment in general about the book?

I don‘t think my idea of funny meshes well with Inman‘s idea of funny. Parts of this I did laugh out loud - as a cat owner, I could totally relate to some of the pieces. A quick read with some hidden gems. My cats would certainly agree that they are the best, as they joined me while I read this one. #Zeke #Vladimir #SebastianKitty #catsoflitsy

I read this one ages ago, and it‘s one that I‘ve often recommended to people over the years. It has a low rating on Litsy, but I liked it. Maybe it‘s because of the indignation I felt towards Charles Dickens and his treatment of his wife, Catherine. This novel is based on the couple‘s relationship, which has gone down in history as odd and very complicated. I want to read more about her, just to see all the truths. #TheBlueDress #SoaringScores

Hey #TheBreakfastBookClub #GroupA friends - we‘re up to our next rotation! Because it falls on a Sunday, please try to get the book you have out to the next member by Monday the 21st.

Does anyone have Scythe, The Exact Opposite of Okay, Dress Codes for Small Towns, or The Lost Girl of Astor Street? Every other book is accounted for, which is good!

Thanks!

If I look at my familial #Homeland , I‘ve got ties to just about every Eastern European country, not to mention quite a lot of other Western European countries. Admittedly, I picked up this book for its description of suspense, as well as for the city name in its title, based in one of the many countries I can call “home.” It sounds interesting, with ties to history. #SoaringScores

I was going to post an image of a #blanket with a book I‘m currently reading, but then #SebastianKitty jumped onto my lap. My cats behave like blankets at times - keeping me warm while I read or watch TV. Plus, they‘re so adorable! #catsoflitsy #FallIsBooked

One of the best books I‘ve read. Hands down. President Garfield was assassinated rather early into his presidency. However, Millard argues that the assassin‘s bullet was not the cause of his death. What follows is a riveting, jaw dropping look at medicine and doctor‘s practices of the late 19th century. It‘s so well written and so well informed, a perfect blend of narrative nonfiction and well documented research. #TheCallOfDestiny #SoaringScores

The #leaves are just now turning in my area, though the tree in my front yard is still pretty green! I love the vibrancy of Fall‘s leaves and pulled this book from my shelves, not because of the content, but because the burnt orange and dark red colors of the cover evoke such autumn-like colors for me. I liked the book too, though it‘s not my favorite of Willig‘s books. #FallIsBooked

This was a recent #BookOutlet find...

This one sounds interesting! And, it took #ANationOfThieves to devise a plan to swindle art collectors out of millions of dollars. #SoaringScores

I am a big #sweater fan! Almost stereotypically, as a librarian, I love owning various kinds of cardigans for layering. Pictured is my favorite sweater - not a cardigan! I‘ve owned this since my freshman year in college, and I can‘t part with it. I enjoy the color scheme (pink is my second favorite color, right after black). I recently lost 30 pounds, so I‘m hoping I can wear this regularly again. Paired with a recent library find. #FallIsBooked

I love pictorial works that detail someone‘s library. That should be no surprise, and I highly suspect I‘m not the only one in this group who feels the same way! This is a collection of American classic authors‘ homes, including library images. Perfect armchair travel, though the book is a bit oversized. #LibraryOfCongress #SoaringScores

A #TimeBombTown ...or two or three...appears in this book.

I loved this one - Greene takes a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway to see how Russians live far away from Moscow. It‘s an eye opening endeavor, and it‘s quite apparent long held fears still exist. Though written nearly a decade ago, I would argue that some of these beliefs and fears in this book still haunt Russia today. A good travelogue and political piece. #SoaringScores

I‘m so #cozy I don‘t want to get ready for work! #Zeke #Vladimir #catsoflitsy #FallIsBooked

I read this one this year and liked it - definitely fits #ABookSetDuringAutumn ! #FallIsBooked

Maarten and his wife move to a small equatorial Pacific Island due to his wife‘s new job. Right away, Maarten realizes life on an island is way different than life in the states. This is a funny exploration of learning to reshape one‘s life, and yet there‘s an undercurrent of serious issues. I think this is the first of his books - Maarten has written a series of sorts about his family‘s adventures. #JourneyToTheIsland #SoaringScores

This morning, I made 200,000 Litfluence.

I‘m so touched. I‘ve met so many wonderful people on here. To show my appreciation, I‘m hosting a #200KGiveaway . To participate, on a separate post, mention a book you want to read and why. Tag me & use the above hashtag. Deadline to enter is Thursday, Oct 17th at 6pm Eastern Time. I‘ll draw a name that night send the winner a copy of their tagged book through Book Depository. Open internationally. ❤️

PSA for US Littens: if you are interested in reading the tagged book, and your library offers Overdrive/Libby, between today and October 21, you can get a copy free. No wait list. It‘s part of the Libraries Transform initiative through ALA, the American Library Association. #LTBookPick

I‘m snagging a copy tonight after work!

My #FavoriteFallTreat has to be a caramel apple. The more caramel and chocolate on it, the better. I‘m a salty and sweet person, so it fits that combination perfectly.

My edition of the tagged book has a recipe I‘ve yet to try, featuring chocolate and peanut butter on an apple. I live not too far from Hershey, PA, so I‘ve grown up Hershey‘s chocolates & have many a cookbook with their branding. #FallIsBooked

I may be the only person out there who has yet to see Game of Thrones or read the books! I actually had to look up #RainesOfCastamere to see to what it refers!

When I think Game of Thrones, I think bloodbaths, the constant vying for power. Dan Jones is a leading expert on all things British royalty in the Medieval times, leading up to the rise of the Tudors. Here is one of his works, discussing the English Revolution of 1381. #SoaringScores

We‘re moving into the middle part of the book this week! Any thoughts on the third week‘s readings? For me, now that I‘m into the rhythm of the narrative, I flew through this section. So many emotions in this part! I‘m really feeling for our heroine. #literarycrew #buddyread

I‘m not the biggest fan of #football (I‘m way more into baseball), but this one sounds interesting. A look at the beginnings of the NFL. #FallIsBooked

I gave this one 3.5 stars when I read it a few years ago - good, but it was dry in parts, and didn‘t fully capture my interest in others. Yet, I was completely unaware of this group of men who tracked down art that the Nazis, in true #theraidersmarch fashion, confiscated. It‘s good to highlight the group and to show the trials they went through, and learn of the exquisite pieces and landmarks lost forever. The film was just okay. #SoaringScores

Chevalier writes captivating historical novels. I‘ve yet to read this one, but she uses research to tell the story of Johnny Appleseed, a folk hero in the United States (yes, he was a real guy). #Harvest #FallIsBooked

Phryne is a savvy woman who knows how to solve problems. Though this took me awhile to get into, once I got into the rhythm of the narrative, I was hooked. I‘ll definitely continue the series, and it really, really makes me want to wish the Miss Fisher series! #WhoDunItTheSequel

I mailed this out to you today, @bookwrm526 !

This is also my #FemaleDetective for #Booked2019 .

I read this one several years ago - an intriguing look at how pirates helped, in their way, the cultivation of Colonial America. Treaties and blockade running aplenty! #HesAPirate #SoaringScores

Thanks for the tag, @EadieB !

1. Loved it!!
2. Black with light colored petals
3. Last night, my library hosted the first big One Book program of the month, featuring a local meteorologist who discussed forensic meteorology and what the 1888 blizzard (as described in the book What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson) would have looked like
4. I can barely whistle but can snap my fingers!
5. ❤️❤️❤️
#Friyayintro

There is a tradition in some towns to host a #bonfire the weekend of a home high school football game. I read this one for a class - it selves into the impact high school football has, specifically in Texas, though it could be argued that the culture is everywhere. #FallIsBooked

I recently unearthed this one from one of my boxes. Using guidance from Austen‘s characters, Henderson provides dating advice. There is a section at the end that details the good and the bad male characters in Austen‘s works. I‘m not sure if letter writing is mentioned, but Darcy definitely is! #DarcysLetter #SoaringScores

Yup, there‘s a cozy mystery featuring a #BlackCat . There are actually several, but this one is a bonus, as it‘s set in a bookstore. Haven‘t read this series yet, but a book with cats and bookstores can‘t be that bad, right?? #FallIsBooked

#ImperialMarch made me think of this book, which I read for college. Not exactly imperial, but it made me think of the struggles one family witnessed as Vietnam changed leadership and foreign control, and, ultimately, a look at how divided the country came. It‘s a narrative filled with sorrow, but yet also with hope. It‘s even more touching as the author wrote about her family. #SoaringScores

I really enjoyed this #orangecover book! Ocker decides to live in Salem, Massachusetts in order to understand the history of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, and how that history impacts the city today. He covers so much and really makes you think about Salem. #FallIsBooked