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TheKidUpstairs

TheKidUpstairs

Joined September 2016

She/Her “When I get a little money, I buy books. If any is left, I buy food and clothes.”
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Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
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Snap by Belinda Bauer
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TheKidUpstairs
Edenglassie | Melissa Lucashenko
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The Wild and crazy trio are back to school today! So I'm savouring some quiet on the porch with my book and my tea 😁👍❤️

(My middle kid is incapable of taking a serious picture, he's a natural born ham!)

TheBookHippie 💙💙💙 2d
46 likes1 comment
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TheKidUpstairs
The Hounding: A Novel | Xenobe Purvis
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"The girls, the infernal heat, a fresh-dead body."

There's nothing like a good book and a cup of tea on a beautiful morning ?

WildAlaskaBibliophile I can't wait to read this one! 1w
TheKidUpstairs @WildAlaskaBibliophile I'm only a couple chapters in, but really liking it so far! 1w
61 likes3 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

While I didn't love this one quite as much as Very Secret Society, it was still a worthy follow up. All the found family, cozy magic vibes. Talking foxes and zombie roosters. The ending fell a bit short, but all in all a lovely time if you're looking for cozy fantasy.

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TheKidUpstairs
The Impossible Thing | Belinda Bauer
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Pickpick

This was a great break from Booker reading! Engaging, entertaining, and interesting history and mystery (of sorts?) about rare egg collectors and thieves. Loved it.

This was definitely a #BlameitonLitsy pick - thank you to @sarahbarnes for your review which put this delight on my radar!

JamieArc Interestingly, Bauer had a nominee on the Longlist a few years ago. I‘m forgetting the title, but I really liked it. 3w
JamieArc I think it was this one 3w
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc I'll have to check it out. This was my first time reading her stuff, and I really enjoyed it! 3w
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB I haven‘t read this one but remember @sarahbarnes review made me want to. I did read Snap though and it was really good! 3w
squirrelbrain I just read this before I saw the author at the Crimewriting Festival a few weeks ago -great review! 3w
sarahbarnes I‘m glad you liked it! @BarbaraBB I haven‘t read Snap but if you liked it I‘ll add it to my list! 3d
65 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Edenglassie | Melissa Lucashenko
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New in! I'm super excited about these. Edenglassie, I've had on order since January. It's from @CarolynM's #AuldLangSpine list, and I'm pumped to finally get a chance to read it (and that cover! 😍 BOTH these covers are fabulous 👌)

squirrelbrain I bought Edenglassie a few weeks before the Booker (just in case!) but haven‘t had chance to read it yet. 3w
CarolynM I look forward to seeing what you think of Edenglassie. You too @squirrelbrain 3w
53 likes2 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Endling | Maria Reva
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Pickpick

#BookerLonglist
What a wild ride! It burrowed into my brain in the best ways, made me think, and then every once in a while dealt a fierce punch to the heart. This kind of mutli-genre novel can be a very tricky tightrope and requires special talent to manage, esp. when you bring in elements of metafiction and autofiction. Reva accomplishes an impressive feat, like Percival Everett says in his blurb “I like it when a book is smarter than me!“ cont

TheKidUpstairs ...and this was smarter than me in delightful, surprising, and thought provoking ways.

Beginning as a combination of climate fiction and a satire on the Ukrainian marriage tourism industry, it felt like Charlotte McConaghy meets Emily St John Mandel. Yeva is single mindedly obsessed with snails on the verge of extinction, travelling the country in her mobile lab desperately searching for endlings - the last of their species...cont'd in next
3w
TheKidUpstairs ...taking dates with foreign men when she needs fast funds for her rescue operation. Nastia and Sol are trying to survive the disappearance of their mother, and have come to the marriage industry in an attempt to make sense of her absence. The three women hatch a plan, and then Russia invades Ukraine, and the author invades the narrative.

It is mind spinning, thought provoking, and very timely. A high pick for me from the Booker list!
3w
Chelsea.Poole Nice review! I‘m really looking forward to this one, though not sure when I‘ll be able to get to it, as I don‘t have a copy just yet! 3w
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB This sounds so good. It‘s one of the few I purchased so I hope to read it soon too. 3w
squirrelbrain Fabulous review! ❤️ 🐌 3w
Cathythoughts Great review. I have this too. I love the cover on your copy ❤️ 3w
59 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

Brilliant. Engaging and thoughtful.

Hard to think of anything to add to the outpouring of Litsy love for this one!

Tamra My only gripe is the serial publication! 😅 3w
Suet624 I wish I had liked this. 3w
64 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Starter Villain | John Scalzi
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If you're on Bluesky, John Scalzi is a great follow! And if you like witty, irreverent sci-fi, he's always a good choice for books, too!

Suet624 Good advice 3w
Susanita 💯 3w
bookandbedandtea I love this. Thanks for sharing. 🩷 3w
60 likes3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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“I have exchanged my hope for a mood and a frying pan.“

Graywacke My favorite line in the book!! 🥰 Really. I had to share it practically everywhere ☺️ 4w
TheKidUpstairs @Graywacke right?! How she managed to evoke humour, melancholy, and just a touch of despair in so few words. It's a practically perfect sentence. 4w
Graywacke @TheKidUpstairs yes, agree. I loved the book. 4w
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TheKidUpstairs
Endling | Maria Reva
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Her mother's theory: The Internet was to blame. The Internet overwhelmed young people with dating choices. The original Yeva, biblical Eve, had no such choice. God put her in front of the fact of Adam, and that was that.
"Didn't she cheat on him with the snake?"
"But it wasn't with the snake that she created all of humanity."
"Have you seen humanity lately?"

#BookerLonglist

Graywacke Great quote. ❤️ 4w
TheKidUpstairs @Graywacke I LOLed. I'm just shy of 100 pages into this one, but I love Yeva so far. Such a great character! 4w
Graywacke @TheKidUpstairs you have a different book ahead… !! 4w
67 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

I loved the first 3/4 of this book. The isolation of the country and the cold, the powerful sense of melancholy, and the beautifully drawn characters wrestling with who they are to themselves and how they fit in society and community in a post-war world. It is a thoughtful portrait of a frozen world and frozen people amidst a greatly changing time, and Miller's writing is deeply engaging.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs Unfortunately, the ending doesn't quite live up to the promise of the rest of the novel. I'm usually all for open ended books, but this felt muddled. The lack of closure didn't feel purposeful, it felt unsure, so I was left feeling slightly dissatisfied. But it is still, overall, a solid pick and a worthy selection from the #BookerLonglist 4w
Graywacke This is the book i was most looking forward to when the longlist was released. It‘s on the way here. 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, the ending was a little disappointing. 4w
See All 7 Comments
TheKidUpstairs @Graywacke It was my first Miller, but won't be my last. Atmospheric isolation is one of my favourite literary vibes, and this really hit that spot. I hope you like it! 4w
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain It was all set to be a 5 star read for me, but I still really like it overall. Have you read any of his other books? This was my first, but I'm definitely interested in reading more! 4w
Graywacke @TheKidUpstairs that appeals - atmospheric isolation. (And winter) 4w
JamieArc Ooh. I have this one coming too. I do love an atmospheric read. 4w
57 likes7 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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#FinallyReading 🎉
I've been on the hold list since the International Booker Longlist was announced, and it's finally my turn, just in time for Women in Translation Month! So excited to dive in.
#WomeninTranslation

Tamra Enjoy! 😄 1mo
mcctrish I got this for my birthday so I better get cracking on it this month 1mo
sarahbarnes It‘s so good! 1mo
54 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby
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Question for those who have read this one: how violent is it?

I've only read one of Cosby's previous books (Blacktop Wasteland), and while I thought his writing and especially characterizations were excellent, the visceral violence was just too much for me. So now I'm torn between being a #CampLitsy25 competition l completist and knowing that some things are just not for me.

Thanks for your input!

ErikasMindfulShelf I thought Blacktop Wasteland was too violent as well. I read this book thinking I should give him another try, but it‘s my last one by this author. This one was too violent for me as well. 1mo
BarbaraBB I am a hundred pages in and although it is violent it is also very human - not the violence but the main characters dealing with it. So far to me that outweighs the violence. 1mo
AmyG There is violence…Yes. But I am of the same opinion as @BarbaraBB (edited) 1mo
See All 9 Comments
Texreader Very very violent. I love all Cosby books and so I overlook the violence. But I‘d say this one is several times more violent than his previous books. 1mo
TieDyeDude A crematorium owner gets involved with a local gang, so, yeah, pretty violent and morally black. If Blacktop Wasteland wasn't your taste, you most likely wouldn't enjoy this. 1mo
BarbaraBB I am a bit further now and yes it IS violent. Very much so. Still a great story and characters though. 1mo
Prairiegirl_reading I‘ve never read any others but I did listen to this one. I fast forwarded when it was obvious there was going to be violence. I did get some of it and it‘s quite graphic. I didn‘t love this but it was worth reading, there‘s more than just the violence. 1mo
ShelleyBooksie It was my first Crosby. I did find it violent and skipped those paragraphs. I really enjoyed overall. 1mo
Leniverse There's one quite shocking scene relatively early on. You'll know it when you get to it. And then a pretty awful but less graphic scene a bit later. The rest of the violence is less explicit/detailed. 4w
57 likes9 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
The South | Tash Aw
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Pickpick

Like @squirrelbrain 's post from The Times said: Yes Please. This was fabulous.

One hot Malaysian summer, Jay's family leaves KL for the countryside and the run down, struggling family farm. As he works super by side with the farm manager's son, Jay experiences the longings and intoxication of first love. Flashbacks to the past test and expose family secrets and connections, and Jay and his sisters face coming of age in a struggling economy.

TheKidUpstairs The economy of Aw's prose presents it all as a quiet story that speaks volumes of the lives of these complex characters at a time of change. The characters and atmosphere are deeply engaging. This is the first of a planned quartet, and I can't wait to read more. Highly recommend! 1mo
JamieArc Thanks for the tag! I was on the fence about this one but I‘ll put it on my “yes, read” list. 1mo
See All 17 Comments
kenw3 I should be getting to this one this week at some point. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs Oops, sorry, don't know why the tags double sent! 1mo
BarbaraBB Fab review, looking forward to it. 1mo
Graywacke Sounds terrific! 1mo
squirrelbrain Hooray - looking forward to this one! (On audio, after I‘ve finished listening to Flesh) 1mo
Leniverse Does it end in a way that's ok for now? That's always a concern for me with a series. I like each book to feel at least somewhat self contained, even if part of a greater narrative. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse yes, the immediate story of this period of time feels complete. It's left in a somewhat open way, but not any sort of cliffhanger. Could easily be read as a single novel, just one with an open ended future for its characters. (I hope that makes sense) 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc I wasn't overly keen on it, but started with it because it was available and due back first. It's great when a book surprises you like that, eh? I hope you like it, too, when you get to it! 1mo
JamieArc @TheKidUpstairs That‘s why I can‘t stay away from the Booker Longlist even though I say I‘m going to skip it every year! There are always a few gems. 1mo
Leniverse Thanks, yes that makes sense! Starting to look forward to this one now. I have an audio hold but it will take a couple of weeks. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole I have listened to about 15% so far and I like it but I do wish I had the physical copy to read instead. It seems introspective and I‘m worried I‘m missing some nuance. 1mo
CarolynM Great review. Stacked🙂 1mo
67 likes2 stack adds17 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
The South | Tash Aw
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"In those moments, with the sun burning above us, we felt as though we could play that game all day, every day for the remainder of our youth. There were no rules, no winners or losers, no objective, and every match ended in laughter that we couldn't explain."

review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

My eldest is a devotee of all things Pilkey, and he's getting his younger siblings into the Pilkey-verse, too. Yesterday we had some errands to run, and he needed an audiobook for a summer reading challenge, so we found this one available on Libby.

Pilkey gets kids. Fart jokes abound, the kids are smarter than the adults, the teachers' names are perfectly ridiculous (Ms Ribble and Miss Guided are my faves), purely funny silly fun. Cont'd 👇

TheKidUpstairs I've always enjoyed reading these with my kids, just because they love them so much and are so engaged when reading them. But this was my first time listening to an audio. The presentation was excellent, a cross between audio narration and radio play, just as engaging as the source material. A great way to engage the kids while running errands. The whole thing was 1h15m, so we were able to finish it all between stops. 👍👍👍 1mo
AmyG My grandson just jumped on the Pilkey bus….recently got into Dogman! I am hoping this fall to read him Captain Underpants as I actually enjoy the books, too! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @AmyG DogMan was my kids' entry as well. So funny and ridiculous. If he hasn't read them yet, the Cat Kid Comic Club graphic novels are great, too. Same totally ridiculous humour, but also a really cool way to learn about different forms of storytelling. 1mo
AmyG Oooo thanks! 1mo
52 likes4 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

I loved Patricia Wants to Cuddle, so when @Reggie reviewed this one I needed it. It was just the right rom com-ish read before I dive into Booker territory! Like with Patricia, Allen serves up a quirky premise and delivers depth and heart. Adam is hired to ghost write a memoir for megawatt Movie Star Roland Rogers, but when he arrives at Rogers' LA mansion, he discovers the star is, in fact, dead and haunting his own home and electronic devices.

TheKidUpstairs Roland wants to share his true self with the world, but Adam faces a time crunch to finish the book before the movie star's body is discovered. The set up sounds a bit goofy, but Allen uses it to give her characters space to reach a level of vulnerability with each other on a short time frame, allowing genuine connections to build as they explore each others truths and frustrations. And the ending feels genuine, right, and satisfying. 1mo
Reggie Great review, every time i see a donut I think of this book. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Reggie right?! Especially the bright pink sprinkle ones! 1mo
54 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Audition | Katie Kitamura
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Start your engines! The Booker Prize Longlist is here https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2025?utm_source=subst...

Who's reading from the list this year? Which titles excite/interest you the most?

@BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Graywacke @JamieArc (I can't remember who else follows the Booker, feel free to tag others for discussion! Or just hop on in!)

JamieArc I‘ve only read Audition so now I‘m really glad we read it for Camp Litsy! 1mo
BarbaraBB @JamieArc so did I! 1mo
BarbaraBB I will be reading @TheKidUpstairs and am very interested in all your reviews because I don‘t plan to read them all, just the best selection 🤣 1mo
See All 35 Comments
Ruthiella I‘ve heard conflicting opinions about the second Natasha Brown title. I still have to read her debut 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Quite a list! Ive only read Audition. I‘m very interested in Endling—I‘ve been seeing it around and I need to secure a copy! Not sure how much I‘ll read from this list but will start with two: I just requested Flashlight from the library and I already have a copy of 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc Audition is the only one I've read so far. Are there any you're looking forward to? I've only really just started looking into them, One Boat and Endlings are the two that intrigue me at first glance! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I'm probably not going to read all of them, either, but luckily most are available through my local libraries so I can try them out and pick and choose from there! The only one that I'm looking at possibly buying at this point is 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Chelsea.Poole Endling sounds god, I hadn't heard of it before. But I've placed a hold with one of my local libraries so hopefully I can get my hands on it soon! 1mo
JamieArc @thekidupstairs I'm sad that I'm not as intrigued by this year's titles as I was last year's. I like road trip novels so I am curious about The Rest of Our Lives. I'm also interested in Seascraper, in part because of @squirrelbrain 's review. I think I'm going to wait to see more reviews on Litsy, maybe look up some Youtube reviews, before I dig into a bunch of them. 1mo
squirrelbrain I will, of course, be reading the whole list! 😜 I‘ve read 4, already owned 5 and reserved 1 at the library yesterday. (I‘m not psychic- I reserved about 12 just in case!). I just ordered the other 3. Now to decide where to start… 1mo
squirrelbrain @JamieArc - Seascraper is my favourite of the ones I‘ve read, closely followed by The Land in Winter so I‘d definitely recommend those two. @Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB 1mo
JamieArc @squirrelbrain I will put those two at the top of my list then! 1mo
Graywacke I‘ve started two - one on audio. Ready to read them all, i think. 1mo
BookishTrish I‘m going to start with 1mo
Leniverse I'll read them in the order that my library holds come in and then see which of the remaining ones I feel keen to spend money on 😅 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Thanks @squirrelbrain —I‘ll look forward to your take on the whole list. Impressive, as always ☺️ 1mo
JenP I‘m reading them all. I‘ve read 2 already. Reading the third now 1mo
Graywacke also two new littens and Booksr addicts: @vikaplus321 and @kenw3 1mo
AnneCecilie I‘ve read Audition and had Flesh out from the library. Then I‘ll see what the library gets in and the bookstore. Put a hold on Universality yesterday, but the waiting is long and also I didn‘t understand all the fuzz around her debut 1mo
vikaplus321 I've read four, and made arrangements for the rest (bought 3, the rest is library). I guess I missed something in Audition because I do not get all the attention it is getting... maybe I should read again. It is character driven, not much plot.

Universality has a fun new format, a quick read. Flesh is great (a David Szalay fan here, read it when it was published in March). Which brings me to Endling: great story, nice plot, lots of snails!!!
1mo
vikaplus321 @Graywacke I read 60% of Flashlight before I had to return it. To be continued in 3 weeks (on hold). How are you enjoying it so far? Multiple countries, families, decades - Choi packed a lot in it 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Graywacke thanks for sharing the tag list, excited to see everyone's reviews and keep the discussion going! Which ones have you started? I just picked up 5 from the library today, so I've got to get to reading! Just have to decide where to start... 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse that's how I make my decisions, too. But then 5 came in on hold at once! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JenP which have you read? I've only read Audition so far. I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I loved the experience of reading it. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain Land in Winter was one of the ones I picked up from the library today. I'm excited for it! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @BookishTrish @AnneCecile Flesh wasn't really of interest to me before, but it was also one of the ones that was available, so I'll give it a try with an open mind! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @vikaplus321 you're off to a good start! Endling really intrigues me, glad to hear you liked it! 1mo
Graywacke @vikaplus321 I‘m adjusting to Flashlight. It‘s a wordy style. Not maximalist, just info dumps are drawn-out through character sense, making it wordy. 1mo
Graywacke @TheKidUpstairs i started Flashlight on audio, and Endlings on ebook. I ordered six through three different sellers (and a fourth account) 🙈 I need to figure how to get the last four. Might come ultimately from @vikaplus321 Or i might order through Blackwells. But i think i have enough to keep me busy for now. ☺️ 1mo
squirrelbrain Snap! @vikaplus321 - I had also read 4 and have bought 3! I think most of us missed something in Audition - we read it for our summer camp book club #camplitsy25 and no-one really ‘got‘it. Scroll down my thread to early June to see our discussions about it. 1mo
Leniverse Turns out I'm starting with The Land in Winter (because I too picked it up from the library today!) and then Audition, which I have but didn't find the time to read for Camp Litsy 🤦🏻‍♀️ I'm looking forward to it since everyone is saying it's weird and confusing. That's practically my favourite genre 🤣 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse if you like weird and confusing, it should work for you - it totally did for me! I've just started The South because it is due back at the library first, I'll probably do The Land in Winter next - looking forward to your review! 1mo
rmaclean4 I just got Universality today from the library. 3 are not published in the US yet. Lucky for me, I am going to Scotland in 3 weeks and hope to pick up what I can there! I have not read a single book on this list! Thanks for the tag. I love Booker season. 1mo
60 likes35 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Moon Tiger | Penelope Lively
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Pickpick

What an absolute gem of a book. It's been on my shelf for a while, and I thought it was a good time to pick it up as I await next week's Booker Longlist announcement.

Claudia is fiercely intelligent and independent, straining against the strict boundaries society places on women. But the interwar period and the dawning of WW2 allows ambitious women like Claudia a foothold to a different kind of life.

cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs Lively presents us with a beautifully wrought portrait of her life - determined, unconventional, imperfect. The style allows us into Claudia's inner thoughts, but also acknowledges the different sides of any history, flipping between her POV and the others in her life. It is a technique that could falter under a lesser talent, but Lively crafts an engaging combination of style and substance. Highly recommended! (edited) 1mo
Graywacke ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ One of my favorite books. Love seeing your post and review. Claudia is all that. 1mo
BarbaraBB Fantastic review. Brings back memories. I loved this book so much too. 1mo
CarolynM A favourite of mine too. 1mo
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review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

There are so many layers to this short, compelling novel, I feel like I could read it 5 times and discover something new and different each time.

When a woman is found, battered and malnourished, on the side of the road near a small Australian town, she becomes "The Unknown Woman" - a sort of cipher for the fragile hopes of too many who have lost a loved one.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs Angie is a freelance journalist in a dwindling marriage who turns her attention to these left behind people in hopes of delivering a story without exploiting this damaged woman. Bev is her long-time best friend and a detective on the rise with Sydney's police force, seconded to the community of Broken Hill to find out where this woman came from. Cont'd in next comment 1mo
TheKidUpstairs The result is a lot to pack into a small book; a literary story of loss, the stories we tell, and how society, community, and individuals treats trauma but also strong elements of an investigative thriller. It is, again, a lot, but in the end it all works, delivered with Jones' gift for gut-punch prose. 1mo
squirrelbrain You‘ve read some great-sounding books recently! Also stacked. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain I had such a great run of books at the cottage! The two you stacked were my favourites 😁 1mo
CarolynM Must get to this one soon! Great review. 1mo
52 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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"Geordie never just cried. He wept the uninhibited, noisy tears of filterless mourners, shrieking and thrashing the way the rest of us want to but learn much to early to control."

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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

I loved every single page of this marvelous book. Reminiscent of some of the best CanLit, I couldn't help but think of Margaret Laurence and Ann-Marie MacDonald while reading.

One November day in 1967, two women disappear from a small community in BC. The book that follows is about the lives lived in the wake of that disappearance. It is beautiful and melancholy, with just enough glimpses of beauty and joy to maintain balance.

Cont'd 👇

TheKidUpstairs This will no doubt find its place on my best reads of 2025 lists, just as Higdon's second book was one of my favourites of 2024! (Tagged) Can't wait to see what she does next! 1mo
squirrelbrain Ooh, sounds fabulous! Stacking. 1mo
ErikasMindfulShelf Sounds great. Ordered! 1mo
58 likes6 stack adds3 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Woodworking | Emily St James
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Pickpick

Not much to add to all the wonderful reviews of our latest #CampLitsy25 selection. It was a lovely, quick read about found family and finding yourself, and pushing back against a society that forces people into conventional pigeon holes. I enjoyed it, and loved catching up on everyone's discussions from last weekend!

squirrelbrain 💙💜🩷 1mo
59 likes1 comment
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

I wanted a light crime novel to bring to the cottage, and Thomas King didn't disappoint. Great lead character, intriguing secondary characters, an interesting enough murder to solve, and a nice sprinkling of humour (to be expected from King!). Will definitely return to this series!

61 likes1 stack add
review
TheKidUpstairs
Christ on a Bike | Orla Owen
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Pickpick

This was very different than I expected, but it left me questioning (in a good way)!

Faced with an unexpected inheritance and some strange accompanying rules, Cerys moves to an isolated house in Wales and is forced to contend with everyone's views on her windfall, including her own. I was expecting a lighter comedy, but this one goes to some darker places. Would be an interesting one to read with a group!

65 likes4 stack adds
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

Such a lovely read, perfect cottage book. Sybil is such a fabulous character, and I loved getting to know her through her correspondence. The ups and downs of life, the difficulties of aging, and the power of connection 💕📫

Aims42 Reading this now and I‘m loving Sybil 😍 2mo
BarbaraBB Glad you loved it too! 2mo
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TheKidUpstairs
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This was one of my reading spots for the past week. We were at a cabin in Ontario's Near North, with essentially no internet or phone connections to the outside world. I spent a lot of time on the lake, and a lot of time reading on rocks. 6 books down for the week, all great reads, tagged was one of the best. Reviews to come!

squirrelbrain Perfect! 😍 2mo
TheBookHippie Lovely! 2mo
ShelleyBooksie Beautiful spot 2mo
rabbitprincess Ahhh that sounds like a great time! 2mo
sarahbarnes Sounds lovely!! 2mo
68 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

Love love loved this! From start to finish, I loved all three different layers and levels. This is one that will stick with me for a long time. I'm packing for a cottage trip, will try to be more eloquent at a later date!

#CampLitsy25
@Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

TheBookHippie I found this author while doing #FOODANDLIT Nigeria she‘s such a good writer. My hold for this is finally enroute! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @TheBookHippie I've read a couple of hers and always enjoy them, this is by far her best to date! 2mo
squirrelbrain Yay, glad you loved it! Have a great trip! 2mo
83 likes3 comments
quote
TheKidUpstairs
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“Hope, even a small, new hope like mine, can be a heavy weight to carry when you've grown unaccustomed to its heft.“

I'm trying not to spam your feeds with quotes from this one, but some are just too much not to share.

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TheKidUpstairs
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I am two essays/stories into this collection and I just pre-ordered a paperback copy because I just know I'm going to want to revisit this on the regular. I'm reading it through Libby and my fingers are itching to underline and annotate. It's beautiful. Thanks for bringing it to our attention @JamieArc and for seconding that with your review @Chelsea.Poole

JamieArc Love seeing this! I don‘t annotate/highlight in books very often anymore but I did in this one, and have gone back to see what I noted. @monalyisha Another nudge for you to read this one 😁 (Unless for some reason you already have and I just forgot??) 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc I don't usually do it, either, unless I'm hosting a discussion on the book or back when I had to write essays and the such. But there are just so many lines and sections that I have been reading two or three times before continuing. It just begs remembrance. 2mo
monalyisha @JamieArc @TheKidUpstairs You didn‘t forget, Jamie! I haven‘t read it…yet. But it IS waiting on hold for me at work. 😉 The essay collection I‘m currently reading is not fast-going! 2mo
Chelsea.Poole This one truly is special. ✨ So happy it‘s reached you too @TheKidUpstairs and looks like @monalyisha soon. 2mo
55 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Mehso-so

Meh. I skimmed the last 1/3. I'm all for this being widely read, if only because they tried to stop it being published. But really, while there's plenty of vile behaviour, there's not really anything all that revelatory. I'm not at all surprised that Meta/FB is run by a bunch of power-hungry children with little to no concept of tact, morality, or diplomacy.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs SWW herself doesn't come across all that great, even though she tries to paint herself as the lone voice of morality and decency. I mean, Zuckerberg is clearly a tool, but making fun of him for enjoying Disney karaoke is its own kind of gross. Cont'd below 2mo
TheKidUpstairs If you've been on the fence about reading this one, I'd say don't bother. The summary is "FB/Meta is run by people who care about money, power, and adulation above anything else and don't care about people." But if you're in the mood for an incredibly gossipy workplace memoir filled with awful people, it's a quick read! 2mo
64 likes2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Nottawa Cottage Bookstore | Nottawa, Ontario, Canada (Bookstore)
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Cutest bookstore ever? It just might be! A really good selection, too, for such a small place.

MittenGirlPeach It‘s adorable! 2mo
kspenmoll What a sweet find! 2mo
Prairiegirl_reading Oh wow! That is so cute!! 2mo
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Amiable I love that! 2mo
LeahBergen Ooo! 😍 2mo
Gissy 📚😍👌 2mo
Chelsea.Poole So cozy! 2mo
86 likes7 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire
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Mehso-so

This one is tough to rate, I keep bouncing back and forth between pick and so-so. I loved much of this book, the sense of found family, finding community and healing after trauma, and the beautiful healing power of nature and the sea. But some things were just so frustrating, they take away from my enjoyment. And in the end the frustration wins out. I'll put further thoughts in the comments under spoiler warnings!

TheKidUpstairs First of all, while I loved Grace, it seemed like the author had a hard time drawing a portrait of a 50 year old woman. Honestly, I thought she was at least 75 for much of the book and was shocked when her age was mentioned. It feels like Maguire wrote a book with a much older character, and then altered it when she wanted to insert the love story between Grace and Evan (more on that in another comment).

cont'd in next comment
2mo
TheKidUpstairs cont'd from above comment...

It seemed like inconsistent characterization to me. And I find it hard to believe on a search and rescue mission in a small coastal town, an able bodied 50 year old woman would be shunted to the side like an old lady.
2mo
TheKidUpstairs And the aforementioned romance/dalliance/whatever it is between Grace and Evan did not work for me at all. The first time Maguire hinted at it, I almost laughed. I REALLY felt like the book was setting up for a found family vibe, and then that? And then following through with it? It didn't feel earned to me at all. 2mo
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monalyisha Agh! I want to read this one so much and I‘m SO tempted to read your spoilers! I guess that just means I need to bump it up on my list so I can click “reveal.” 😅 2mo
Jas16 I totally agree about the romance aspect but it felt so tacked on to me that I pretty much ignored it and it didn‘t impact my appreciation of everything else. 2mo
BarbaraBB I hear you @monalyisha I feel the same! (edited) 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha @BarbaraBB So far, I really seem to be the outlier on this one. Others either don't have the same issues I did, or like @Jas16 are better able to separate them from the good stuff. Maybe I'm just extra grumpy these days? 🤣 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha @BarbaraBB if either of you want to read it without buying it, I'd be happy to send along my copy! 2mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs I don‘t want to make you pay for shipping but I also wouldn‘t say no! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha no worries, I'll send it your way this week! 2mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Amazing! 🤩 I can Venmo you shipping if you want; just say the word! 2mo
BarbaraBB That is super kind but I am in Europe so that‘s quite expensive. @monalyisha is much closer! I will be looking out for a copy here 🤍 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha it's on its way to you! Should be there in a week or so 👍😁 2mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Exciting!!! 2mo
monalyisha I was hoping to be a beach bum at some point this weekend and get a thematic shot of the book, which has indeed arrived…but I never made it there. Soon! And thank you! 😘 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha you're welcome! Glad it arrived, and I hope you enjoy it. And that you get your beach bum day soon 😊 1mo
57 likes16 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Can someone help confirm for me that I'm not Mandela-effecting my brain right now? I've just started the tagged, and she's recounting the shark attack she survived at 13 (I don't think it counts as a spoiler here, it's in the first few pages). I SWEAR I've read/heard this exact story before. Has she told it elsewhere? In an article or on a podcast or something? Does anyone know?

ChaoticMissAdventures Ohh interesting. I am way way down the list on my library hold list so I haven't read this yet. 2mo
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review
TheKidUpstairs
Tilt | Emma Pattee
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Pickpick

I'm reading ahead for #CampLitsy25 as my holds on this one all came in early! I had a physical, digital, and an audio copy of this one at the same time 😂 Audio is definitely the way to go (if you can do audiobooks and have an option) - Ariel Blake is the narrator and she is fantastic. I didn't find it as effective in digital or print formats. Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs But as an audio it is gripping and intense, following Annie as she tries to make her way through Portland following an earthquake, telling her story to her unborn baby “Bean“. Can't wait to discuss this one with our fellow campers! 2mo
Bookwormjillk Good to know! Thank you! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @Bookwormjillk no problem! It's interesting, there is something about this style/format, of a mother talking to her child, that reminds me of Soldier Sailor. And that book I tried in digital and physical formats as welkl and couldn't get into it, but then absolutely loved it on audio. Some books just work best in certain forms! 2mo
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squirrelbrain Interesting! I loved this one in print anyway, so didn‘t even try on audio but I can see how it would be even more compelling. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain I may have had better luck with print if I had started that way, but I started on audio and when I switched to other formats they just didn't feel as engaging. I think that Blake just sold it so well as an audio performance, that I just wasn't as good at reading it in my own head 😂 2mo
BarbaraBB Looking forward to this one! 2mo
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review
TheKidUpstairs
The Sitter | Angela O'Keeffe
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Pickpick

A thoughtful, beautifully crafted novella that carries a lot in its few pages.

Part One sees a writer working on a book about Hortense Cezanne (wife of the artist), traveling from Australia to Aix-en-Provence to Paris, accompanied by the ghost of Hortense herself. It plays with classical ideas of the muse, as Hortense watches and occasionally contributes to the writer's efforts to unearth the story of the woman behind the famed artist.

Cont'd

TheKidUpstairs Part Two takes on a darker tone as Covid lockdown, a horrible accident witnessed, and illness strike to drive the writer into her own memories. As she pivots to writing a version of her own life, she, Hortense, and is as readers are forced to reckon with her past, with what control over your own life and choices can mean, and how is lack can haunt. Emotional and thoughtful, this is one that will stay with me for a time. Cont'd 2mo
TheKidUpstairs O'Keefe brings to mind Claire Keegan with her ability to do a lot within the confines of a shorter narrative, and to craft a story that will linger long after it's complete. 2mo
BarbaraBB Sounds very good. Stacked. 2mo
CarolynM It‘s beautiful. Glad you enjoyed😊 2mo
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TheKidUpstairs
The Sitter | Angela O'Keeffe
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"It was then that I became aware of the sea. Though not visible through the window, I could smell its seaweed smell, I could hear its roar of outrage - for the sea is a constant agitator for change, for resetting, for rewriting old rules."

CarolynM Enjoying it? 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @CarolynM very much so! Her writing is beautiful. I love how she plays with the classical idea of the muse, and takes a concept that could be quite hokey but instead gives something quite lovely and thoughtful. 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @CarolynM I've had this one on my shelf for a couple months, but your review inspired me to move it up the TBR, so thank you for the nudge! 3mo
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CarolynM 😊😘 3mo
sarahbarnes I added this to my TBR following @CarolynM ‘s review as well. Glad to hear you‘re also enjoying it! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @sarahbarnes I finished it a few days ago, it is definitely well worth the read! 2mo
49 likes6 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

After a horrific act of violence in her teens, Babs Dionne reclaims her power and rules over Little Canada with an iron fist, unafraid to use all those around her as workers, or weapons. She loves her family as best she can with the same fierceness. But some threats are just too big, and things begin to unravel.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs cont'd...I loved the first third of this one, absolutely whipped through and couldn't put it down. Then the pacing started to wane, and it felt a bit sluggish, until picking up speed again towards the end. Overall it was still a solid, engaging read, but with a bit of editing this could have been great. 3mo
61 likes1 comment
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TheKidUpstairs
Friends of the Museum | Heather McGowan
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"I should really take a break from borrowing new library books and read some from my own shelves"

Oops!

sarahbarnes It‘s so challenging! 📚 3mo
51 likes1 comment
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TheKidUpstairs
Scugog Memorial Public Library | Port Perry, Ontario, Canada (Library)
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Our Makerspace Associate left to take up a great opportunity at another library, but before he left, he printed us all these adorable little book people. I'm sure mine will be featured in a lot of upcoming Litsy posts! What should I name him?

lil1inblue That's adorable! 😍😍😍 Can you name it after the associate that made it? 3mo
TheBookHippie Omg!!!! Book people!!!!! Love it. 3mo
Bookzombie So cute! Maybe after your favorite author or character. 3mo
61 likes3 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Audition | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

What a ride of a book! I absolutely loved it, and will be thinking about it for quite some time, just trying to wrap my head around it! The first part is fairly straightforward, but thoughtfully wrought. Then that second part comes in, full of questions and a growing sense of unease. Like many others, I am left wondering WTF exactly just happened, but in a really delicious way.

cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs It raised so many interesting thoughts and questions that I can't wait to discuss this weekend with the #CampLitsy25 folks! 3mo
peaKnit Agree with your assessment, the second part 🤯 look forward to discussion. 3mo
BarbaraBB Fab review! 3mo
squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 3mo
kspenmoll Great review. My impression: What did I just read?! Discussion will help. 3mo
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TheKidUpstairs
Untitled | Untitled
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(I couldn't fit the full image, credit to @Lindss_tastic on X)

To Littens in California and across the US, sending you love and strength for the fight ahead, whatever it looks like for you.

Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
JenReadsAlot ❤️ 3mo
TheBookHippie ♥️ 3mo
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Eggbeater ❤️💔 3mo
AmyG This is frightening. Prayers with the resistance in LA. 3mo
Deblovestoread Love this message! 💙✊🏼💙 3mo
Jas16 ❤️ 3mo
kspenmoll ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
lil1inblue ✊🏻✊🏻 3mo
Kerrbearlib 💜💜💜💜 3mo
Ruthiella Thank you. 🙏 3mo
BarbaraBB Well said. And I wish the same 💪🏽 for California and other states 3mo
55 likes12 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

I'll save the detail for the #CampLitsy25 discussions, but the quick review is this:

I loved it. One of the best I've read this year. And with an ending that is infuriating, and beautiful, and ultimately perfect.

I was rather unimpressed with Migrations, so i went in with low expectations. I'm so glad camp convinced me to give this one a try!

squirrelbrain Hooray! ❤️ 3mo
Shamzi What is #camplitsy25 3mo
AmyG Ooooo I just started this. 3mo
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BarbaraBB I am so happy you read it and loved it! 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @Shamzi #CampLitsy25 is a fun reading event hosted by @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB and @Megabooks - six books were chosen to read as a group and discuss, 2 each for June, July and August. Discussions are hosted on the weekends, and at the end of each month we vote on our favourite of the month (at the end of the summer we then vote for our overall favourite). June's books are Audition by Katie Kitamura, and this one. Anyone is welcome to join! 3mo
Megabooks Great review and great summary of camp for @shamzi! I loved Migrations, but only liked WDS. But I loved how the island and the environment was so woven in as another character. She's definitely a super talented author. 3mo
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TheKidUpstairs
Audition | Katie Kitamura
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Super excited for the first weekend of #CampLitsy25! Read (and loved) Part One of the tagged, so I'm all ready for this weekend's discussion.

There's a big hold list for Wild Dark Shore, so I'm reading ahead to get through it before it's due back. I'm about 50 pages in, and so far, it's fantastic. Definitely better than I was expecting after being disappointed in Migrations. But isolated islands are always my jam!

squirrelbrain It‘s nearly time for camp! ⛺️ 3mo
BarbaraBB WDS is so your kind of book! But fist Audition indeed 💝 3mo
Lesliereadsalot I could not put that book down, loved the whole thing! 3mo
59 likes3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Untitled | Untitled
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A couple days of warm weather has me turning on the summertime #TuesdayTunes

Childish Gambino and Brittany Howard - Stay High https://open.spotify.com/track/1bwDF6AU1iWPp8h6gDS8Ps?si=70Uok-byTlyenE00ntgDUg

Billy Ocean - Red Light Spells Danger https://open.spotify.com/track/557cxXIeiwh03kI2F2jKdh?si=8Z9Ri__oR2Sa0IKixkYjVQ

Pure Sunshine-y vibes 🌞

@TieDyeDude

uncommonlycozies so happy to have stumbled upon this new music! you might like Still Woozy! try the songs Habit or Goodie bag🤗 3mo
TieDyeDude So groovy! Thanks for sharing! 3mo
37 likes2 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

The short review: @monalyisha you were right ✅️ I loved this.

The longer review: I read this slowly over the last month, and it was a joy to do in and out of. This is a beautiful, thoughtful, poignant, emotional, fascinating, joyful, sorrowful, hopeful collection of essays. Imbler explores the lives and unique attributes of, often misunderstood, sea creatures, and....

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs ...parallels those fascinating stories with moments and elements from their own life growing up non-binary, queer, and a the child of a Chinese mother and white father. It is beautifully crafted, highly recommend! 3mo
monalyisha Love the short review 😅…and the long one! I read this a full year ago and I still think about it all the time. “Crafted” is the exact right word for it — not in the sense that it feels artificially constructed but their skill and talent is just so immediately apparent. The cover still gets me every time, too! A rare instance when the stunning outside and the stunning insides match. 3mo
HeatherBookNerd Great book 3mo
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TheKidUpstairs
Untitled | Untitled
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When I say I've got a little bit of everything on my bookshelves, I do mean EVERYTHING!

ETA: I was able to gently catch this little fledgling and release it outside safely. Didn't seem injured in any way, just a bit freaked out from being trapped inside!

Ruthiella 😂😂😂 3mo
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 3mo
Suet624 💕💕💕 3mo
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lil1inblue 💓 💓 💓 3mo
Aims42 What happens when a reader is reincarnated as a bird 😆🤓 3mo
marleed 😲 3mo
61 likes7 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
My Friends | Fredrik Backman
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Pickpick

Backman has an amazing ability to tap into my emotional core, laughing and crying in the same sentence. His latest is no different, a story about finding your people, the ones who will stand with you always, who make it okay to not always be okay.

It is far from a perfect book, I had some issues with the pacing in the first half, and there was some convoluted trickery towards the end -

cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs there is one section that l which felt like emotional manipulation rather than exploration. But there is so much truth about the beauty of friendship that it is easy to forgive. 3mo
66 likes1 comment
review
TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

This was a selection from last year's Women's Prize NF Longlist, I think I've been on the hold list for at least 8 months for the audio! Pleasantly surprised at just how worth the wait it was!

Equal parts fascinating, infuriating, and sometimes downright terrifying, Murgia dives into the possibilities, perils, and pitfalls of our growing use of AI technology.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs She offers a clear and balanced view of how this type of tech can work for us, but also how it can be used as a tool of control and exploitation. In the end she leaves the reader with a serious of important questions to consider as we move forward in this modern age. Very timely, and highly recommended! 3mo
Leniverse One of my favourites last year. So informative, and yet so accessible and compelling! 3mo
AmyG Just put a hold on it for the audiobook. Thank you. 3mo
See All 8 Comments
youneverarrived Yeah, this was really informative but also so scary 😟 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @youneverarrived oh my gosh, when the guy created and ordered a brand new chemical weapon to test the system 😱😱😱 Absolutely terrifying, the possibilities. 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse I was very impressed by the accessibility. I had worried it was going to be too dense, but it wasn't at all! 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @AmyG she does a great job with the audio narration! 3mo
Chelsea.Poole Agreed! Really appreciated this audio. 3mo
61 likes5 stack adds8 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Taskmaster | Alex Horne
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#MentalHealthMonday

1. Overall, rather anxious and disregulated. Having a hard time focusing on much at all. But the sun is shining, so that's something.

2. Binge watching Taskmaster Series on YouTube. There is very little that makes me cry tears of joyous laughter as readily as that.

@Kerrbearlib

Jari-chan Taskmaster has helped me through a lot of hard times. And good ones too. 3mo
Avanders 🤗💙 3mo
39 likes2 comments