Started this one tonight. I love SGJ but this one might have too much gore for me. And I think, I should work on getting better at handling gore to read a good story….and then I wonder if that is really something I want to aspire to? 😂😬😂😬😂😬 #Scarathalon #TeamSlaughter

Life has been busy so just getting my #BookSpinBingo board together. I need it this month because I can‘t decide what to read! I might even score my first Bingo this month with #Scarathon #TeamSlaughter #Screamathon challenges. @TheAromaofBooks

What a fun read! Vampire story meets Aztec history/lore meets crime thriller featuring a jaded hard bitten female detective with Mexico City as the backdrop. My favorite Moreno-Garcia novel yet! Offered me a mental break from my battle with the developers who want to turn that forest—which should be added to the park it is adjacent to—into 7 homes. Wish me luck. It breaks my heart. #TeamSlaughter #Scarathalon #Screamathon @Clwojick

I‘m loving this crime noir meets Aztec lore meets True Blood style vampires. What a hoot. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is always a fun read. Perfect to begin #Scarathalon #TeamSlaughter Action Jackson would rather I play ball. #screamathon

Absolutely loved Circe. This one is making me laugh out loud with the purple prose and tunic-ripping purple prose. I‘m not a romance reader and this one is feeling like a Harlequin. I‘m told it gets better after 160 pages or so. Am reading a chapter a day…”He smelled like almonds and earth. He pressed against me, crushing my lips to wine.” These kinds of sentences are on replay….

I‘m really going to need #BookspinBingo to help me choose my October reads. I switched things up with more mysteries (but I still need a few monsters for the season) since I am #TeamSlaughter for #Scarathlon! #Screamathon @Clwojick @4thhouseontheleft @TheAromaofBooks Oh and I get my first 50 points! Let the games begin.

These are some working titles for #Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter Spooky reads, mystery reads will definitely include Karin Slaughter (of course!), Silvia Moreno Garcia #LatinxHeritageMonth Tana French, S.A. Crosby Stephen Graham Jones (gotta have some monsters), and Nordic Noir. Final list depends on library holds. I will need #BookspinBingo to help with decisions!. @Clwojick @StayCurious

Loving this read so far. Sneaking in some reading before meeting a friend and a great cocktail bar. And I love a bar that lets my dog in too!

I want to give a warm welcome to a new Litten, my good friend Sherry Jones! She is an author with a bent for historical fiction and a good human on this planet. Her last book was on Josephine Baker! Welcome Sherry to this quirky warmhearted community of readers around the world. @SherryJones

I know he isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I am very much looking forward to Richard Powers' new novel. The Overstory is one of my favorite reads on the past decade, and one that I will revisit. I really appreciate Tracy K. Smith's review in today's NYT (one of my favorite poets!) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/books/review/bewilderment-richard-powers.html... And have to share 👇

This book of essays looks fascinating. Stacked. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/books/review-right-to-sex-amia-srinivasan.htm...

And women report their “blow-by-blow election night story with the same boring annotated specificity with which women report their labor narratives after giving birth…”. I love this dark humor novel making me laugh at myself….How many times have I told my story? 😂😬🥲🥲

Not my cup of tea. More YA than I was expecting. It is 20 years old and only recently translated into English. Sexism and judgement against women pervades. Frankly was shocked to get to the end and realize the author was a woman. It was a book club pick or I would have DNF‘d it. A soul is given a chance to go live in the body of a teenage boy who commits suicide. If he doesn‘t learn these lessons he can‘t be reincarnated.

As a Samantha who has always gone by Sam, I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a book with my namesake. And from the descriptions, this one could hit close to home in other ways. While I‘m not a mother or a housewife…oh menopause. I love Dana Spiotta!!!

A qualified pick. Beautiful writing and I loved the main character. Having reread Austen's novels and delving into other classics, I liked how the novel explored how the genteel manor life of England and the pursuits of “gentlemen scientists“ were often financially supported by riches made from horrific plantations and slavery. I liked how it explored the complexities of racism, among the abolitionists and in the close relationships.👇

I put Palmares on my TBR list after reading a short blurb on it. I knew nothing about the author or her story and role as a groundbreaking author. This is her first novel in decades. Great article on her legacy and forthcoming novel. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mROZqAO4XvGBMlokJ7-SKtyKQcsVlO0SZkRlZW9I...

This book is pissing me off. I‘d rather read a book entitled Self care So You Can Do Something. I really dislike “self-help” books written from a place of privilege. While she addresses that issue at different points, it is the place Odell is writing from. Too much about rich techies trying to get away from it all. Climate change is hammering us, whether it is the West on fire or poor people being crushed by hurricanes. 👇

My #spookyaesthetic for #hauntedhollowswap #HHS I'm not a big decorator--where we live we don't get trick-or-treaters much. But I love Day of the Dead motifs, and we do a big Mole enchilada party in Nov,. The skeleton guitarist painting hangs on our wall all year round. Love old silent horror movies like Nosferatu, carving pumpkins and fall champagne cocktails. Elphaba is my favorite witch. True Blood my favorite vampire show. @wanderinglynn

Sunflowers 🌻 Halloween 🎃 Thanksgiving 🦃. Bonfires 🔥 October 👻☠️. Thanks for the tag @Chrissyreadit !

Great profile of Anthony Doerr in NYT. He talks about the need to restore Snake River salmon and remove 4 dams blocking access to thousands of miles of river habitat. An issue I've devoted more than 2 decades to. Photo is of a projection Tribal people dead on one of the dams. Image to the right is of a Native platform fishing. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/books/anthony-doerr-cloud-cuckoo-land.html #freethesnake #HonorTreaties

This has received mixed reviews on LItsy. For me, between so-so and thumbs up. I appreciated the historical backdrop of this noir story and the Mexico City setting. Some readers have noted they didn't like the “unlikable“ characters. I liked that aspect. I liked the ending. Story centers on Maite, a 30ish frumpy secretary who escapes into romance graphic comics, who finds herself in the middle of a dangerous situation involving student👇

Wow! Martin Scorsese is directing a Killers of the Flower Moon movie. Starring Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Leonardo Di Caprio. I will watch. https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/killers-of-the-flower-moon-release-date-cast-d...

Really great profile on author of The Overstory & Bewilderment in the NYT. The Overstory is one of the best novels I've read this decade. Will read Bewilderment as soon as I can, but worry I am not in the right emotional/mental space to handle it. I work in conservation of rivers & wild salmon & grieve daily, trying to keep my hope. Might hit too close to the bone...https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/books/richard-powers-bewilderment.html

🎃Treats.
🎃Both!
🎃 Scary Book
🎃. Apple bobbing is gross. Give me a sliced apple with peanut butter and a caramel as dessert
🎃. Dracula.
🎃. Costume Party!
🎃. Chocolate
🎃. Skeleton
🎃. Hot,Chocolate
🎃. Bats! We put up a bat house. Love to watch them on summer evenings.

#HHS @wanderinglynn

Halfway through and enjoying this read. Spent the weekend camping and fishing on the St. Joe river in north Idaho and stopped in a tiny “town” called Avery, which for the past few months has been dwarfed by a large firefighter camp battling a big blaze. Heavy rains came Friday thankfully. I stopped in at a new wood fired pizza place that was delicious. It is interesting to read this boom after being immersed in rereading Austen‘s novels. 👇

1. China/Hong Kong in the early 90s, rafting trips down the Grand Canyon, London and England. 2. Reading, camping/hiking. 3. Empire of Pain. 4. I work to keep wild salmon and steelhead thriving in the Columbia and Snake Rivers—we need to get 4 dams off the lower Snake River in eastern Washington for them to thrive. Today I am grateful for the thousands of salmon supporters speaking out to save these amazing fish. @Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Wow. All the stars and the last few pages brought tears. Evaristo brilliantly brings together so many characters and life stories reflecting the good, bad and ugly of society and our times, as well as the love, beauty and hope as well, all intertwined. My soul needed this novel. And the stream-of-consciousness, prose style worked so well!

1. I love carving pumpkins! 2. No, wear super comfy running/hiking socks. 3. Autumn red, pumping orange, green, blue. 4. Earrings or anything Day of the.Dead themed, mittens/gloves. 5. Bookmarks, coffee mugs. 6. Frida Kahlo 7. Slouchy and/or warm hats! #HHS @wanderinglynn

I loved learning about the main character through her conversations and interactions with the many characters around her. Beautiful writing and I found myself noting passages throughout the book. I will read more Cusk. And loved finishing it on a deck overlooking the Salmon river in Stanley Idaho. Now on to some hiking and fishing!

Cosby is on my must-read list for this Fall. Great article in the New York Times today on him, his writing and his hard road to success. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/books/s-a-cosby-razorblade-tears-crime-noveli...

1. Current reads include East of Eden, Outline, and starting Velvet Was the Night and Song of Achilles. 2. Fav book from August was Empire of Pain. 3. I‘m looking forward to 3 days camping on the Salmon River in Idaho—headed there now! And glad we left by noon as they‘ve evacuated my block due to a serious gas leak! #weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

East of Eden is my #Bookspin and Moby Dick is my #Dpublespin. I never get a bingo but I still fill the card out every month. #Bookspinbingo 🙄

A day late….best novel was Persuasion-of course! And best non-fiction was Empire of Pain, which will be one of the best of the year! Not doing any swaps or challenges for September but am full on for October. #two4tuesday @TheSpineView

Gilda says what the cluck? This book is infuriating! While the writing and lists of statistics could have been better. It is an important read! Better late than never for #SheSaid

Memoir about loss of a mother, indentity and coming of age as an American with a Korean mom. A thumbs up for sure and I loved the food descriptions woven in. But…I wanted to like it more. And that makes me feel like an asshole. I was drawn to the story because I too took care of my mom in her final days in Eugene, OR. Dragged in places, coulda been shorter. Maybe it just dredged up some buried anger and pain for me. Audio is good! @Desha

I rarely do readathons because my work/life schedule makes it difficult, but this one worked for my schedule! Hilariously, I fell asleep reading my book with only 15 minutes away from making 20 hours! 😂🙄😂🙄 I did mostly audio, finishing Empire of Pain, A Thousand Ships and Crying In H-Mart, and Invisble Women. Thank you for hosting @Andrew65 #20in4

I never get a bingo. I usually read my #bookspin and #doublespin books. This month those were Persuasion and A Thousand Ships. But here is my bingo list! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I love retellings and enjoyed this one of the Trojan year, told from the perspective of the women. I think I like Madeline Miller‘s Circe more though! Starting The Song of Achilles next month as well as a reread of The Iliad, Caroline Alexander‘s translation.

A recent issue of the New Yorker had 2 Austen-adjacent articles. One on rationality, that used the examples of Lizzie Bennet & Charlotte Lucas: Charlotte exercised rational choice-making by marrying the safe Mr. Collins. Lizzie's initial dismissal of Mr. Darcy was not. Ha! Another article discussed the darker side of Britain's country houses, how many of them were funded by slavery, a fact that Austen touches on. #Pemberlittens @sprainedbrain

Fans of the tagged will enjoy Episode 6 of Reservation Dogs. This time it is Deer Woman, played by my fave Kaniehtilo Horn who played the bad ass Tanis on the Canadian show Letterkenney. Absolutely loved this episode of this great show.

Another 5 star nonfiction read from Patrick Radden Keefe about the Sackler family‘s role in the opioid crisis and their efforts to avoid a criminal reckoning. At least their name has been stripped from art galleries, museums and universities. And more than 10 hours in for #20in4 Now on to Crying in H Mart for my audio as as do yard chores. @Andrew65

Making spicy ginger peach chutney is a meditative activity as I listen to this excellent book on the Sackler family & the opioid crisis. Even for a cynic, the family‘s refusal to take any responsibility for hurting millions of people combined w/ their ruthless business practices & determination to continue making profits from the destruction of people is stunning. I‘m more than 6 hours in for #20in4 readathon. @Andrew65 #audiocanning

Between a pick and so-so. Not nearly as good as The Only Good Indians, but I liked the scrappy werewolf family, and the themes of fitting into society, not knowing where one belongs, having a foot in two worlds. Headed your way @Pogue on Monday. TW for violence towards humans and animals. Read for the #LMPBC group Indigenous authors. @Chrissyreadit

Oh, it‘s beat up, but my favorite mug to drink coffee in while I read is this clever “Transcend the Bullshit” beauty. It is an image that one of my favorite local artists snuck into a public sculpture in our downtown Riverfront Park. It‘s kind of become our city‘s motto. #littensdressedinblodd @MidnightBookGirl

A decent 4 star thriller. Kept me reading! Some good twists and turns.

I don‘t do many readathons, but I have a few books two-thirds finished that I need to close the loop on. I will be doing more audio than print as I have a lot of work to do around the yard/house. Goals are to complete 20 hours of reading/audio. Finish Mongrels, Empire of Pain, Invisible Women and Outline. Make some progress on Word
Slut, A Thousand Ships and start Crying in H Mart. Thanks for,hosting @Andrew65 !

Cozy mysteries are not my genre, but the titles often crack me up. An embroidery mystery? 😁 😁 😁 For today's #littensdressedinblood prompt of a punny mystery title. @midnightbookgirl

Really enjoyed with collection of poems put into a narrative about a Sudanese Muslim immigrant‘s struggle with her indentity, what makes “home,” her family history, and facing discrimination growing up in the U.S. post 9/11. The magic realism worked in some ways for me and not others, but an overall pick for me. Makes me want to read Poet X next. #LMPBC @TheBookKeepers @WanderingBookaneer @phantomx

Despite being a Steinbeck fan, I have never read East of Eden. Starting a buddy read with my neighbor.

Our city passed a new bond to upgrade and build new libraries. This is my new neighborhood library slated to open this fall. Can‘t wait. It is a major upgrade from our current one. I live in a mixed income, diverse neighborhood. A good library is a lifeline!!!! #littensdressedinblood @MidnightBookGirl