#FEBRUARYWRAPUP Once again, I spent a lot of time reading this month, with just over half of these as audiobooks.

My favorite book of the month was the lovely and thoughtful Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. (Spoiler alert: she's not, but who is?) I also loved C.S. Lewis' honest, thoughtful journals on grief, and Frederick Bachman's A Man Called Ove, which I was surprised to discover was also about grief. Life has a way of reaching out to you.

#JANUARYWRAPUP: I'm pretty sure I've never read 16 books in a month before, but I spent a lot of time this month listening to audiobooks especially, and ones that would normally take me a week or two to finish, I was finishing in a few days.

My favorite book of the month was Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology. I also loved Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, Busy Philipps' touching memoir, and the 3rd Cormoran Strike mystery. Yes, my tastes are eclectic. 😅

I decided to finish off my #24in48 with more audiobook and coloring app. Though I'm bummed I didn't make it to 24 hours, I'm pretty sure this is the most I've ever read for one of these challenges, and I was able to take it easier today once I realized I wouldn't hit the goal.

In the end, I read 3 books in their entirety and parts of 3 others (finished one, started 2 others). I'm looking forward to the next challenge!

I knew as soon as I woke up that it was logistically impossible for me to get to 24 hours for the #24in48 readathon, but I have no other plans for today, and I want to get as far as I can, so I spent the morning listening to a new audiobook and coloring in the Happy Color app.

I love Cormoran and Robin and this book is just as stressful and thrilling as the first 2. Next up: eat some lunch, take the dog for a walk, and more reading.

I'm about 20% through book 5 of my #24in48 and I'm going to take a break to get some sleep. At this rate, I probably won't hit 24 hours before the end of the challenge (that nap today did me in!) but I'll try to make it as far as I can!

My hold on this one finally came through from the library this week after months of waiting, so I saved it to breeze through this weekend. So far, I still want to punch Nick's mom, but that's nothing new.

Book 4 for #24in48 = done! Volume 5 of this series is my favorite so far, with long-awaited romantic progress finally happening between 2 of the super awkward leads (and some jealousy from the 3rd lead). Also, so thoughtful conversation about why people love the clothes they love, and how to make clothes that people who don't love style will want to wear.

And just like that, my 3rd book for #24in48 is done! I decided to fit in some manga this time, so my reading wouldn't feel as monotonous. I read the first volume in this series at the end of last year and decided to give it one more volume to see if I'd continue it. This second volume was more engaging than first, but I'm still more frustrated than intrigued with the villainization of Dr. Tenma by the police and the lack of info on Johan.

My second book for #24in48 is done! I'm behind pace, but I have nothing to do tomorrow except read, so I'm still hopeful I can finish!

This was a creepily delicious, psychologically fraught murder mystery, and so different from all the other Christie books I've read! Until the epilogue, where the murderer explains in detail how everything went down and why. I honestly wish they had left the identity of the murderer up in the air, but oh well.

I started off my #24in48 by finishing up this audiobook I've been listening to! It took a few books for this series to get rolling, but under advisement from my friends, I stuck with it and now I'm loving it. There are a few things about Harry (and Jim Butcher's writing) that still annoy me, but the world he has built is really fascinating and I love the creative detail he has sunk into the plot, characters, and relationships.

I've been largely absent from Litsy since my dad passed away in November. I've kept reading for the most part, since reading fills the silence, but even the idea of social media was oppressive. But I've had #24in48 on my calendar since the last one, and this is the first in which I actually have very few plans for the weekend, so here I am.

I'm pretty sure I read this book years ago, but I didn't really feel it then. Now, every word rings true.

An intriguing and powerful story. What would you do if you were thrown back into a time of slavery, if you were forced to exist in a system you despised in order to ensure your eventual birth? Dana is in a unique position, trying to find the balance between what her conscience is telling her to do and what she knows she needs to do. To complicate things, Dana and Rufus have a strange magical and emotional connection to one another.

Who knew that the hero I needed was a introverted gender-less TV-loving human-protecting humanoid robot? Not me, until I got to know Murderbot, who hacked its own system so that it would never again lose control of its weapons and kill the people it was meant to protect. The big debate seems to be what makes a person a PERSON. I can't wait to spend more time with Murderbot as it explores the outside world as a free person for the first time.

Terry Prachett's writing is clever and funny, and there were certain turns of phrase that I chuckled at and highlighted, but I also find his work challenging to read in an unpleasant way that makes me feel a little stupid. Sometimes I had to re-read a paragraph 2 or 3 times to even understand what it was trying to say. The further I got into the book, the more I enjoyed it, but ultimately, it was a bit of a frustrating experience.

I needed a break tonight so I went "shopping" at the library and picked out some books that looked good. Don't tell my TBR pile! ? Has anyone read any of these?

#bookhaul #library

A super fun mystery featuring my favorite teenage sleuth, all grown up. The mystery wasn't the most difficult to figure out, but there were some twists and turns, and I really enjoyed seeing Veronica's evolving relationships with her dad and mom. Pretty much the only part I didn't like is how far Veronica and Logan are from one another, how little Logan is in the book, and any doubts Veronica might be having. The audio is read by Kristen Bell! 👌

Thanks @GypsyKat for the awesome #AllSoulsGiveaway you're doing, it's so kind of you! ☺️ My favorite things about fall are watching the leaves change color and listening to the sound of the rain outside my window. 🍁🌦

So heartbreaking and powerful and REAL. This book is a vital must-read for everyone, an eye-opening look into the tragedy that is racism in America today. Starr and Khalil and the rest of these characters will stick with me for a long time, reminding me of the real people who are dealing with and fighting back against the same injustice and prejudices we see clearly in this book. I hope this book encourages people to use their voice as a weapon.

A interesting and humorous look at the US presidents who had the misfortune to be assassinated while in office, delving into their lives, careers, politics, legacies, and the weird quirks of fate that connect them to one another. I really enjoy both Sarah Vowell's lighthearted style of writing and her blunt honesty regarding the negative aspects of our country's past and its supposed heros.

A starkly painful yet lovingly honest glimpse into the lives of Chinese women from the 1950s through the 1990s. Xinran, a radio host and journalist, developed a deep passion throughout her life and career to track down and share the untold stories of her fellow women, a need perhaps spurred on by her own painful past, a long kept secret. This book was very hard to read at times, but so important.

Everyone needs to read this book! It is eye-opening for extroverts to read, while also being reassuring and empowering for introverts. I am definitely an introvert, but can easily present as an extrovert because I'm not shy, and I don't mind talking to strangers. I appreciate all the detailed research that went into this book, and will hold on to the advice Susan gives on how to manage my life on a way that supports my happiness and mental health.

Romance with a side of feminism and also bad decisions. For the most part, I admired Twinkle, with her clear vision as a filmmaker and desire to use her talents to push forward the stories of those who don't normally see themselves on screen. Sahil, her producer and love interest, is both deeply caring and incredibly thoughtful, and also a true feminist, supporting Twinkle in her vision and decisions and doing everything in his power to help her.

Yet another fun volume. I love that Tsukimi got the opportunity to design more dresses, and I'd love to see her brand become huge, but I'm not sure this hasty, rushed job is the way to go. It doesn't seem likely that they'll be able to save the building anyways, but at least they are trying.

This series has definitely become a comfort-read for me right now, and I'm trying my best to at least space them out between my other books.

In September, I finished my library's Summer Book Bingo challenge, and check some of the list of other challenges I've been working on this year. I also found a fun, lighthearted manga to distract me when real life and the heavy books I seem to be picking bring me down.

For October, I have some Halloweeny books picked out, but I'm mostly going to working on my challenges (Read Harder, A to Z, 192019, SRC Fall). Happy reading!

A delightfully sweet, gentle, lovely story of a orphaned girl who people can't help but love. Exactly the balm my soul needed right now. Emily is so sweet and smart and charming, it's no surprise that most people end up delighted by her. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I can't wait to see her talent as a writer continue to develop, and watch as she works her way into the hearts of many more people.

A sweet romance, if a bit simplistic. For the most part, this was a fun, quick read, and I mostly enjoyed the movie that was based on it, as well. I liked most of the characters, although the pretty-but-she-doesn't-know-it type of girl is a little cliche. What I really enjoyed was Elle and Lee's relationship, how supportive they were of one another, how they didn't let hurt feelings come between them. What I didn't? Noah's need to control Elle.

I don't abandon books lightly, but a third of the way through this book began the most violent description of rape and murder I have ever read. Especially in light of what's going on in our society currently, I can't make myself finish reading this. 😓

Another fun volume! Kuranosuke is still trying to figure out his feelings for Tsukimi, while also somehow breaking it to her that she maybe has feelings for his brother. Tsukimi has some deeply rooted issues - she doesn't feel she deserves to be a normal girl, whether that means liking a boy or wearing a pretty dress.

I really hope Shu and his family figure out that Inari's a liar and manipulator. She is TERRIBLE & I will be pissed if they don't.

An in-depth account of war-time Warsaw, and the role Jan and Antonina Zabinski played in the underground Polish resistance. I thought this book was compelling, but I feel like it could have been shaped or paced better. There were lots of very detailed anecdotes about their lives during the war, and sometimes it was hard to see how those individual stories fit inside the big picture of the war.

This was one of my favorite series as a kid, but I hadn't read it in 20 years. I recently reread this first book in the series, and while it didn't capture my attention the way it used to, and I wanted to punch certain little known-it-all main characters, I can appreciate the valuable lessons it provides for young readers. The writing itself is very descriptive, whether it's their tasty lunch or the severed head of their enemy being described.

Come from the monsters, stay for the pointed racial and political commentary. This book is less about zombies and more about race relations, both in our past and in our present. While it might seem like just an alternate history, what with the post-Civil War setting and zombie-fighting main character, Ireland interjects little references to our current culture here and there that make it obvious that she's not just talking about the past.

I'm a sucker for a transformation story, especially for girls who are somehow socially awkward. Add in the fact that the one doing the makeovers is a cross-dressing rich boy who is starting to have feelings for one of the girls, and I have to keep reading.

I haven't picked up a new manga series in a while, and I think this one will be a nice reprieve from some of the heavier stuff I have going on this fall.

#manga

My best friend and I finished our #HarryPotterAndTheSacredText discussion for Prisoner of Azkaban this weekend! Yes, we are really far behind the podcast. 😂 It's been really fun to do, though, and we are going to start Goblet of Fire next month, and invited another friend to join us, which will hopefully make our discussions even more interesting!

The book is a testament to the immortal nature that is Internet Infamy. Nothing can ever be truly forgotten if it can be googled. In the past, moving to a new area would have been enough to start over, but the internet doesn't allow that anymore. When Aviva was young, the Internet was so new, the potential fallout for her indiscretions was unfathomable. Overall I wish I liked the characters more, but I appreciated the nuanced female relationships.

This was a fun break! Super funny, and so relevant to my occasional introverted, avoid-people, stay at home tendencies. 😂😂😂 I'm sure we can all relate to this one.

This book was hilarious and delightful, even for a happily unmarried person like me. Like Lucy, I'm someone who has never felt the desire to be married, but I love the traditions of it: the coming together to commit your life, the celebratation of ones family and friends in a unique experience that will probably never be echoed again. To see your friends "make serious promises of love to one another is a very lovely gift."

Deep, moving, heartfelt, capturing both the heartbreaking pain and sadness of losing someone you love, and also the painful awkwardness of growing up and falling in love. Add in ghosts and mystical birds and magical incense that takes you into memories, and you have a modern day fantasy that feels more real than not. Leigh's grief itself is so real to me, tangible in a way, and I felt like I was with her on this whole journey.

Such a sweet, real story. I love that Dimple and Rishi bring out the best in one another, and encourage and support each other in their goals. There's a great lesson here: your life doesn't have to be just one thing. You can have both love and a career, and having someone you care about doesn't mean you stop caring about your work and your goals. Love is an enrichment to your life, not a distraction from it.

An exciting adventure filled with the heartbreaking loss of reality. I love the idea of time travel being used by historians to investigate and learn more about the past, and you get just enough science to make the theory plausible.

The real heart of this book is the journeys of pain and loss that the characters go through in both centuries. Through unimaginable loss, neither Kivran nor Mr. Dunsworthy either give up hope. ❤️

August was another busy month with travels, but I was able to focus and read a bunch of books for my library's summer book bingo card (and then finish the last one I needed in September).

September's goal: finish off the books I started this year and haven't finished, and work on some of the other challenges I've been doing this year (Read Harder, A to Z, 192019).

I think Parker Posey is a hilarious actress, and parts of this book made me laugh. But the whole premise/set up of this book, that she's randomly chattering to someone she meets on a plane, is just strange, and didn't work for me, especially in audiobook form. There were sound effects, and it was weird. I parts I liked the most were the notes about filming specific projects, like Best in Show. I wish there had been more of that.

While there are things on which author Terry and I disagree, I can't shake the way her words reach into my heart. She and her mother were obviously very close, and the way she links her grief over the loss of her mother with the environmental loss of bird habitat provides a new perspective of looking at both. Nature is the sanctuary in which Terry processes and heals, in the open air, with the sounds and the scents of the earth as her comfort.

Warm Bodies was the perfect little novel full of hope and new life. What this book, the second in the series, does is dig deeper into the messy world of "what next?" Julie and R's relationship is not going to be perfect, and they can't ignore the way the world is changing around them and affecting them. There is also the struggle of trying to figure out what's actually going on in the world, and trying to figure out where their place in it is.

I was obsessed with the BSC when I was a kid - it was the series that I would rush into the bookstore for, in case there was a new book out that I hadn't read. I love that there are new and adorable graphic novel versions, a whole new generation of kids can get to know and love them, including my 8 year old niece Ella, who told me this is her favorite book. Hearing that makes my heart happy. All of these stories are still so relatable!

An adorable, funny book about learning to accept and celebrate the ways we are different from others. This is one of my 9-year-old niece Maya's favorite books, and it's easy to see why. The art is super cute, and the message is clear. It's ok to be different, and as you get older and figure out who you are, you'll feel more comfortable and confident in sharing your true self with others, and making real, lasting friendships.

A thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced mystery. Having cruised down the Nile, and been to many of the locations mentioned, I found the setting particularly enjoyable. I was partially right on my first guess of murderer, I just couldn't figure out how exactly they'd pulled it off. I've been meaning to read an Agatha Christie book for years, and now I can't wait to read more!

A quirky, funny advice book that, with it's concise yet poetic language, reaches through to the core of important life questions and forces you to examine your own heart, mind, and feelings. The rich imagery provides a backdrop to rethink your issues and see them from a new angle. I also love the styling of the book, and it's lovely illustrations.

I know this is a "beloved classic" but honestly, I was pretty bored most of the time. I felt bad for the old man and his unluckiness, and his diametric love for and drive to kill the fish was interesting, but the fish chase drug on sooooooo long. I'm glad the old man held on to hope and kept fighting. I actually would have preferred to hear more of the old man and the boy's relationship, and less of his solitary hunt. Oh well.

I feel like I can't objectively review this book because I saw the movie first, and so a lot of the emotional tension was removed by knowing the big lie. I do believe this book is worth reading, and I'm sure there are lots of people for whom it wouldn't matter that they knew the truth. I enjoyed the writing, and believe that love can push you to do incomprehensible, magical things.

I love these characters, and I love reading about them, but this was pretty short, and with not really any conclusions, it would have made more sense to include parts of this in the upcoming 4th book in the series. Unless that book is going to be primarily focused on Cassian and Nessa, and it would have been out of place to include Feyre's journey with her creative purpose, which in my opinion is the best part of the book.

Real, heartbreaking, and unapologetically honest. This book of essays doesn't pull any punches, and should be required reading for both men and women. The only way we can attempt to break the cycle of sexual violence and rape culture is by facing it head on and acknowledging the way it has shaped who we are. This anthology is "a place for people to give voice to their experience..." It's difficult to read at times, but will hopefully be worth it.