@BarbaraBB on Litsy

Strongmen: How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall | Ruth Ben-Ghiat

#NotBookRelated I am in a taxi in France where someone left a New York Times on the backseat. I enjoy the article about Trump as a bystander while thinking he rules the world but it‘s in fact so sad. European leaders being so weak, Putin doing whatever he likes and Trump, well …

Amiable My head hurts and my heart aches …it‘s all terrible. 😖 13h

sarahbarnes Yes, what @Amiable said. I don‘t read anything very uplifting in the NYT these days. 13h

BarbaraBB @Amiable @sarahbarnes I don‘t often read the NYT of course but it is so spot on and I can‘t imagine what it must be like to be confronted with this reality every day. (edited) 13h

See All 70 Comments

BarbaraBB @Amiable @sarahbarnes the Trump reality I mean. I know all about weak European leadership but somehow I don‘t mind it as much as I mind everything I read about Trump‘s stupidity (edited) 13h

sarahbarnes Yes, he‘s much more dangerous than anything else I‘ve seen here in my lifetime. He has too much power for someone so bent on destroying everything for his own gain. 13h

Amiable @BarbaraBB Weak leaders are frustrating and infuriating, for sure. We‘ve been there in the U.S. A president who is actively trying to overthrow democracy in his own country and turn it into an authoritarian dictatorship is terrifying. That‘s a new reality in this country—one that too many people are still trying to ignore or excuse. 13h

Tamra I keep thinking I‘m going to run out of disgust and outrage, but nope. 13h

AlaMich He terrifies me. 12h

Suet624 We are in serious trouble over here. 12h

ImperfectCJ It feels like we've dropped into an alternate reality. I can't figure out why no one bats an eye at the things this man does when, if anyone else did them, they'd be pilloried. 12h

CBee I would much rather weak European leadership than the absolutely terrifying shit show we have going on here. Every day brings a new worry. 12h

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Amiable @Tamra @AlaMich @Suet624 @ImperfectCJ it must be terrifying. From where I live it is horrible as well but somehow abstract - I still can‘t imagine it really happening. I do really hope his age will catch up with him. And that the Democrats will stand up against this all. (edited) 11h

Librarybelle Well said, @CBee . These are horrifying times. 10h

Pigpen_Reads With the last current horrific events, it looks like America is changing. People are finally standing up for what is right and demanding an end to this insanity. Conservatives are coming out strong, loud, and proud. No more fear of what the left can do. Their policies have put us in the situation we are in as a country. 8h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads I‘m sorry, what? 8h

Pigpen_Reads @CBee Our country is a shit show because of the left. After the events this week, people are done. Senseless violence and murder. Enough is enough. I love this book community and I‘ve stayed quiet when everyone talks trash about Trump and conservatives, but I‘m not going to anymore. Why should I be silenced? 8h

Susanita @Pigpen_Reads I don‘t understand what “insanity” you mean or how the “left” contributed to the right on right violence. 8h

Pigpen_Reads @Susanita Iryna was brutally stabbed by a man who should have been locked up, but was out on a cashless bond. The school shooting in Colorado, the shooter was radicalized by liberals. The man that was beheaded in Dallas, was killed by an illegal. Charlie was assassinated by a man that was also radicalized by liberals. (edited) 8h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads I‘m sorry that you believe what you do. I had a whole response typed out, but I doubt it would make a difference. And, on the advice of another Litten whom I cherish very much, I will not clog up sweet Barbara‘s page with arguments. I wish the best to you and hope that you will dig a little deeper for the truth next time. 7h

Pigpen_Reads @CBee I hope the same for you too. 7h

Chrissyreadit I sadly canceled my NYT subscription- i believed they had Journalistic integrity but most recent events have me concerned by news they choose not to cover and the limits in the news they do. How is Journalism in France @BarbaraBB ? 7h

BarbaraBB Thank you @CBee I don‘t agree with you @Pigpen_Reads. I am not American and don‘t know about the people and cases your referring to, I only see a man doing very unresponsible things to the world and very little for the people who voted for him - unless they are billionaires too. 7h

BarbaraBB @Chrissyreadit I live in the Netherlands and things are polarized here too. The media are still neutral and doing the best they can to inform us but there are many people who prefer telegram and weird Facebook groups these days. 7h

Susanita @Pigpen_Reads I can‘t add much to what @cbee says, so I will leave it at that. 6h

Pigpen_Reads @BarbaraBB The media is doing a great job at only showing what they want. Trump did a lot for the lgb community and for people of color, but those went unnoticed. 6h

CBee @BarbaraBB 💚👏🏻 6h

AmyG @Pigpen_Reads They went unnoticed because he didn‘t do anything. I suggest perhaps you watch different media outlets. Learn all sides of a story before making a decision. Knowledge is power. (edited) 6h

Suet624 @Pigpen_Reads Hahaha. Your claims that Trump has done a lot for the groups you speak of is hilarious.
(edited) 6h

dabbe @Pigpen_Reads Nothing for the “t's“ and “q's“ though, right? Interesting. And I'd love to see proof of this. He did a lot of NOTHING for these people. Period. 6h

Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB I am so sad to hear that. I know that economics has a lot to do with the rise of fascism, and it is devastating that it is hard to share adequate information- so many people believe lies and corrupted information. 6h

Amiable @Pigpen_Reads Oh honey, you drank ALL the kook-aid and then went back for more, didn‘t you? Bless your heart. 🙄 (edited) 5h

Pigpen_Reads @AmyG @dabbe @Amiable You do know that Trump appointed the first openly gay Cabinet member, right? He also created a task force to focus on missing and murdered Indigenous people. He signed the FUTURE act for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. What have liberals done for my people? Nothing except want modern day slavery. 5h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads You are aware that the current budget will disproportionally have a negative impact on people- including working families, children and individuals with disabilities- all are at a very real risk of losing medicare- including parents who work full time jobs? That financial aid is what made greater percentages of all students able to receive an education- that has also been cut. But billionaires will have tax cuts. Also due process is 5h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads no longer being followed including for people hear legally- (although to be fair that loophole was put in by Bush). and you are defending a man who openly and gleefully ogled underage girls, was convicted for sexual assault and convicted for felony fraud- all of which was well documented in the 80‘s when he was still a registered democrat. I‘m sorry that we are having this discussion but also not sorry- there are many books in 5h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads history and science to demonstrate that reducing safety standards, not addressing climate change and not providing for public health via vaccination will result in catastrophic harm for generations because we have science. I‘m surprised that you support HBCU‘s but not Kamala btw. 5h

AmyG

For the United States cabinet, the first openly gay member confirmed by the Senate was Pete Buttigieg, who served as Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. However, the first openly gay person to serve in a cabinet-level position was Richard Grenell, who served in an acting capacity. 5h

Pigpen_Reads @Chrissyreadit Your last sentence. What do you mean by that? 5h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads also the First openly gay congressperson was elected in 1983- Gerry Stodds. Franklin Kameny in 1975 was the first openly gay US Congressional Appointee. Pete Buttigieg was our Secretary of Transpotation under Biden and openly gay. Currently the desire to overwhelmingly discriminate against trans rights is a hallmark of this administration. 5h

Chrissyreadit Kamala Harris‘ platform was about supporting everyone- and she was very active as an alumni of an HBCU. Sadly- one of the programs she championed- expanding medicare so that our seniors could receive services that let them live independently with medical support/nursing care in the home- is now a pipe dream. The cuts to medicare will debitaste our seniors who are also disproportionately likely to die from Covid- and that vaccine will be an uphi 5h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads uphill battle to receive. 5h

AmyG Trump states that we shouldn‘t focus on how bad slavery was at the Smithsonian. He downplays the role od systemic racism. In some red states “gag laws” have been set in place to resist how some teachers talk about slavery and Jim Crow. How does that help? (edited) 5h

AmyG As for the Trans community, MAGA does nothing by VILIFY an entire group of people. 5h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads both of those things - the task force and FUTURE act - happened in 2019. I‘d be interested to hear if those are both still in place. Because everything be is doing now is erasing any “good” he may have done previously. 5h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads have you read what Charlie Kirk said about black people - black women in particular? Not to mention the other minority groups he targeted and vilified. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/11/charlie-kirk-quotes-beliefs 5h

Pigpen_Reads @Chrissyreadit Trump is cutting out the waste and fraud in Medicare. With the OBBB act, PAYGO was triggered and that is where the cuts come from. That act has been around for decades and Congress can waive that. Trump is not looking to cut in the way you think he is. 5h

Suet624 @Pigpen_Reads Hahaha. Again! Hahaha. It's clear this thread disagrees with you. Maybe it's time to move on. Please go ahead and post under your own account. (edited) 4h

AmyG The new bill—formally named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB)—which Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, includes cuts to Medicaid of almost $1 trillion over the next 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this means that 11.8 million Americans may lose their health insurance. 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads i‘m sorry you are not recognising that to be incorrect. There are plenty of brilliant economists who recognize that this will be a system that causes harm. unfortunately there will be nothing we can do. I‘m a provider- who will not take medicare because the requirements are so stringent already- it is very difficult to see how there is waste or fraud. Did you know that dental nor vision are covered under medicare? two services that 4h

Chrissyreadit are needed more by aging populations. 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads the pay go you are describing was necessary because of the tax cuts being given to billionaires. we had an expanding population of seniors- who needed more services. honestly, while i am typically not a conspiracy theorist i am wondering if there is a hope all of the most vulnerable-elderly and disabled - will die off because they “cost money” that was just cut. 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads do you think senior citizens should have medical care? housing? what about the disabled? LGBTQ? Single moms? What is your belief of who does not deserve clean water, clean air, healthy food, health in general? 4h

Pigpen_Reads @AmyG As Americans, we all have the same rights and privileges. We‘re all equal. As for the trans community, they have vilified themselves. 4h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads we‘re all equal, unless we are transgender. Is that what you‘re saying? 4h

Pigpen_Reads @CBee That those specific women he was talking about were only in their positions because of affirmative action? Yes, I saw that. Dei was dangerous and annoying, honestly. People put into positions that they didn‘t work hard for, but got because of the color of their skin? 4h

Pigpen_Reads @CBee They are both still active. 4h

Pigpen_Reads @Chrissyreadit Of course senior citizens should have medical care and housing. Disabled too. Single moms have resources to help them, as do the lgbt community. But, single moms and those in the lgbt community can help themselves. Yes, they may need a hand, but they should be helping themselves too. Not rely on the government. I‘m all for helping where it‘s needed. 4h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads well, he just signed it. It‘s not like he wrote it or did any of the work to get there. He just isn‘t that smart. 4h

AmyG Please educate me as to how the Trans community has vilified themselves. I am legitimately curious. 4h

AmyG I know some people who got put into positions that they are not remotely qualified for but got because of the color of their skin i.e. RFK Jr, Pete Hegseth, Doug Burgham, Krisi Noem, Linda McMahon….to name a few. (edited) 4h

AmyG Recent executive orders by Donald Trump, signed since his inauguration in January 2025, have rescinded or weakened federal protections for the transgender community. These orders have affected health care access, military service, housing, prison housing, and identity documents. 4h

Pigpen_Reads @AmyG Push their beliefs on people and children. Incite violence. Demand that we use their improper pronouns. And then you have the men that demand to come into our safe spaces. 4h

AmyG I‘m sorry. You are transphobic. I‘m going to stop now. Everyone have a good evening. 4h

CBee @Pigpen_Reads this is a disgusting and false comment. I‘m stopping now as well. 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads I‘m so sorry that you believe this. I have never been assaulted by any one in the trans community. But i have been assaulted by cis white men- yes plural. I work with children- and btw- the single moms i know (including myself) work incredibly long hours- and do not have many safety nets at all. I am not going to write the book on the amount of ways that women are unfairly harmed. Or that i‘ve observed discrimination…the hate to 4h

Pigpen_Reads @AmyG You asked, I answered. I‘m not transphobic. 4h

Pigpen_Reads @Chrissyreadit I‘ve been assaulted. I‘m speaking from my own experiences. 4h

Chrissyreadit the trans community is intense- because they are so harmless. How do you feel about intersex ? cloacal extrophy? both which are typically when children were assigned a genital specifically vagina because it was easier to form. I WISH i could be lesbian!!!!! I can‘t stand the patriarchy but I cannot control who i am attracted to. Dis you know a disproportionate amount of trans individuals were sexually assaulted as children or adolescents ? 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads approximately 50%- yet you say they are groomers???? they were not assaulted by trans adults… 4h

Chrissyreadit @Pigpen_Reads you were assaulted by a trans person? I am so sorry! 4h

Pigpen_Reads @Chrissyreadit Yes, changed my way of seeing them for sure. 4h

41 likes70 comments

BarbaraBB

Gallows View | Peter Robinson

pick

Thanks to @kspenmoll I started this series and I did enjoy it. This first installment was written in the 1980s and it‘s rather misogynistic but I didn‘t really mind. I liked the characters and the setting and am curious about the second book.

📸 Cannes, France

Bookwormjillk Pretty picture 1d

Lesliereadsalot You‘re on the move! 1d

AlaMich That picture could 💯 be Los Angeles, with the ocean in the background ! 🌴 (edited) 1d

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kspenmoll Yes to your comment re Misogynistic, er time5, but improves over in time as series progresses. 1d

BarbaraBB @AlaMich I was surprised to see how much it resembles LA too. Just the Mediterranean instead of the Pacific. I love palm trees 🌴 21h

BarbaraBB @kspenmoll that‘s good to know and honestly I didn‘t really mind, growing up in the 80s myself! 21h

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I had to be in Cannes for work but have been going there by train from Nice which I think is a much nicer place to stay! 21h

Lesliereadsalot South of France is my dream vacation! 16h

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot Really? Well I hope you‘ll get here one day 💕 (edited) 13h

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BarbaraBB

I Want To Go Home But I'm Already There: A darkly funny and maddeningly relatable ghost story set against the backdrop of the rental crisis | R�is�n Lanigan

pan

Don‘t judge a book by its cover. I learned it the hard way. I loved this cover. And the title.

But… the book is about two very boring people living together in a flat that she thinks is haunted. She‘s there all day (doing nothing), he‘s at work and doesn‘t notice how she suffers.
Totally unbelievable that two people who are supposed to be deeply in love never talk to one another.
Okay. On to the next.

📸 Nice, France

Suet624 Sounds tedious! 2d

Lesliereadsalot At least you‘re in Nice! 2d

ChaoticMissAdventures Moving on from bad books did you hear about the girls who missed their flight and told the rebooking agent they needed to go "To Nice" and the agent put them on a plane to Tunis and they didn't realize until they were boarded where they were going? 2d

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BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot can‘t complain! 2d

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures oh no 😂 that‘s a lot of miscommunication! 2d

squirrelbrain That‘s so funny! @ChaoticMissAdventures 🤦‍♀️ 2d

squirrelbrain I‘ll skip this one then, Barbara! 2d

68 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

The Murder House (DCI Matilda Darke Thriller, Book 5) | Michael Wood

#WeeklyForecast 37/25

I am reading both I Want to go Home and Ripeness. The former I bought on a whim because of its title and cover but I‘m unimpressed so far. Ripeness I just started and is very promising.
I‘ll be traveling for work later this week and the tagged book seems a good companion. Cheri is a short one I‘ve meant to read for some time now.

sarahbarnes I‘m starting Ripeness this month too! 6d

Cathythoughts I‘m reading Ripeness now , and loving it so far ❤️ 6d

66 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

Misinterpretation | Ledia Xhoga

pick

#BookerLonglist #5

Very elegantly written, I became engaged in the book immediately I enjoyed following the narrator‘s struggle to live in NYC while she‘s still strongly rooted in the Albania she left behind. Het empathy for other refugees jeopardizes her mental wellbeing as well as her closest relationships. She moves between this empathy and self-preservation and there seems no closure. An impressive read.

#ReadTheWorld2025 #27 #Albania

GatheringBooks, AnneCecilie, TheKidUpstairs, Chelsea.Poole, rmaclean4, squirrelbrain, Graywacke, ImperfectCJ, Mattsbookaday

sarahbarnes Ah I see you liked it! 1w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Yes! I did! And I think you will too but reviews are very mixed so I am not sure. And if you have a lot other unread books to read, I wouldn‘t put this one on top! 1w

GatheringBooks Love it! Albania! Nice. 🥰 1w

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squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! 1w

Graywacke I liked this one a great too. Nice to see this! 1w

LeeRHarry Good to hear you liked it. This is one of two on the longlist I have on my shelves. I think what initially drew me to this one was the theme of immigration and that sense of where do you call home. 1w

kspenmoll Great review! 5d

82 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Read the World | Pushpinder Khaneka

Adding some new countries to #ReadTheWorld2025 in July and August: #NewZealand, #Finland, #Peru, #Pakistan, #SriLanka, #Hungary and #Sweden.

I now have covered 26 countries!

GatheringBooks

GatheringBooks Oh wow! Way to go! Awesome! 2w

Ruthiella Nice work! 👏👏👏 2w

Suet624 Amazing! 1w

51 likes3 comments

BarbaraBB

Someone to Watch Over You | Kumi Kimura

pick

A wonderfully strange story about two lonely people seeking eachother‘s company while the coronavirus spreads across Japan. However, they don‘t become friends, they just live their lonely life in the same house. I can‘t say more, it is so weird. But I loved it.

📸 Amsterdam Castle

Cathythoughts I think I might like this one 👍🏻❤️ 2w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I think so too. Same goes for you @sarahbarnes 2w

sarahbarnes This one is on my list! I‘m glad to see you liked it! 2w

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BarbaraBB

Mona's Eyes | Thomas Schlesser

After the wonderful job @jlhammar did, @Lesliereadsalot and I are happy to announce the revival of #EuropaCollective. We‘ll read and discuss an Europa Edition every three months. The tagged book will be our October read.
For more details check out Leslie‘s post.
If you want to join us, please say so below and we‘ll keep you posted!

LitsyEvents

JulietteReadsALot Looking forward to it. Just ordered my copy 🙂 2w

BarbaraBB @JulietteReadsALot I just ordered my copy too! 2w

Suet624 I'd like to be included. 2w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 👌🏽 2w

Chelsea.Poole So glad to see this! Thanks for hosting you two -- @barbarabb and @lesliereadsalot 2w

51 likes5 comments

BarbaraBB

You Be Mother | Meg Mason

pan

I enjoyed ‘Sorrow and Bliss‘ but this book by Meg Mason was disappointing. Such one demensional characters. A despairing young mother, a piece of shit father, a nasty MiL and a coward of a FiL. All so predictable.
Neighbour Phil, a just widowed woman, makes up for this but her character didn‘t really make sense either.

And yet I wanted to know the ending. It had some good points but was overall too predictable as well.

Cathythoughts Oh dear ! I enjoyed Sorrow and Bliss too. 2w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Maybe you‘ll like this one too. I saw many good reviews but I didn‘t enjoy it at all. 2w

sarahbarnes Unstacking 😁 2w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Yes, don‘t bother! 2w

62 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

August | Judith Rossner

#AugustStats

4.25⭐️
King of ashes
Under the storm

4⭐️
Seascraper

3.75⭐️
The tenderness of wolves

3.5⭐️
The return of Faraz Ali
Silent parade
Thursday night widows

3.25⭐️
I see you‘ve called in dead

3⭐️
Crying in H Mart
Deal breaker
One boat

2.75⭐️
Flesh
The Plot

2⭐️
Nightwatching

57 likes

BarbaraBB

Misinterpretation | Ledia Xhoga

#WeeklyForecast 36/25

I am reading a short Japanese novel (Someone to Watch Over You) ad then am ready for another #Bookerlonglist book, the tagged. I also want to read the new Sarah Moss, that I bought because of @TrishB ‘s review.

squirrelbrain I loved Ripeness too! ❤️ 2w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I must have missed your review. But now I‘m sure I‘ll love it too 2w

quietlycuriouskate Ooh, a new Sarah Moss! 😍 2w

BarbaraBB @quietlycuriouskate How nice is that?! 2w

55 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

Under the Storm: A Novel | Christoffer Carlsson

pick

Wow, this is a what you call #NordicNoir! A fire and a murder in a small Swedish village continue to have effect on the village for years to come. A former police officer can‘t let go and neither does the nephew of the man convicted for the crimes.

In the mean time the book sketches a pretty good picture of the political and social circumstances of the country during the 90s and the 00s. ⬇️

#ReadTheWorld2025 #26 #Sweden

GatheringBooks, Cathythoughts

BarbaraBB Also, I learned about the cycloon Gudrun, that hit Sweden in 2005 and took down more than 75 million cubic metres of trees with many implications for the national economy. Recommended! (edited) 2w

Bookwormjillk Sounds good! 2w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk It is, it is! 2w

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monalyisha I‘m actually considering trying this! I normally wouldn‘t be drawn to it but I‘ve been trying to find books for my stepdad, who recently started reading (in preparation for his retirement). He‘s a homicide detective with a history as an arson detective. He doesn‘t have a literary bent but I‘m wondering if this is one we *both* might be able to read? Worth “investigating,” anyway! 😉 2w

BarbaraBB @monalyisha I loved it but it‘s not your traditional thriller in the sense that it is real Swedish and rather quiet. I loved that. Not much violence either. But definitely worth investigating 🕵️‍♂️ 2w

Cathythoughts Great review. There‘s feeling and depth and intrigue and thriller … my absolute favourite kind of book. X 2w

GatheringBooks Ooh! Stacked! 2w

CarolynM Sounds great. Stacked. 🙂 2w

68 likes4 stack adds8 comments

BarbaraBB

I, Spy: a Bletchley Park mystery | Rhian Tracey

Another four months of #ISpy2025 (May-August) with lots of my unread books waiting to be a read and having that ✅ added!

Scroll down for an updated Jan-April grid.
I love the spying!

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fantastic progress!!! 2w

BarbaraBB @TheAromaofBooks Thank you for putting it all together! 2w

TheAromaofBooks I don't know why, but I absolutely love this challenge 😂 2w

BarbaraBB @TheAromaofBooks I‘m obsessed! 2w

57 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

I, Spy: a Bletchley Park mystery | Rhian Tracey

#ISpy2025 January - April

TheAromaofBooks

Ruthiella Impressive! 👏👏👏 2w

TheAromaofBooks Looking fabulous!!! 2w

50 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

Thursday Night Widows | Claudia Pi�eiro

#WeeklyFavorites

This week‘s choice was good but not memorable as were many of this month‘s books. King of Ashes is my favorites of these, followed closely by Seascraper.

Read4life

Dralex090 I try to send a direct Message to you but I noticed I can only write comments which is not private . Are you on WhatsApp? Or telegram? 2w

BarbaraBB @Dralex090 I am not interested in private messages 2w

52 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

Thursday Night Widows | Claudia Pi�eiro

pick

Not her best one but this early work by Claudia Piñeiro is still very entertaining. It is set in a gated community outside Buenos Aires where the very wealthy live so far away from reality that strange things can and do happen.

Hooked_on_books I looked at the picture before looking at who posted and said to myself, “this looks like a Barbara picture.” Ha ha! 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I am so predictable 😀 2w

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BarbaraBB

Winners: A Novel | Danielle Steel

And with the end of #CampLitsy25 we add Wild Dark Shore to the #HallOfFame! These are our winners since 2022.

If you‘ve been camping with us, you know 💕

If you participated for the first time and are impressed by the excellent taste of the campers🤪, you know now what to read next!

If you haven‘t participated and have been wondering what Camp is all about, this is it! You‘re welcome next year.

A big SO to Meg and Helen for co-hosting 💖

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Bookwormjillk Thank you @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain this was so much fun. 2w

DGRachel I didn‘t attend 2022‘s camp, but I had such bad FOMO I tried in 2023. I think the winner was one of two I read that year! 😂 I bailed on at least one last year, too, but I read all of them this year. This was an amazing year. 2w

AmyG Oh Yay! This year was my favorite. I really enjoyed all the books. (edited) 2w

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Meshell1313 Awesome!!!! Thank you @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain for hosting! 2w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Meshell1313 You are very welcome! Would be nothing without you! 2w

BarbaraBB @DGRachel This really was an amazing year, I think so too. We always have some hit or miss books except for this year! 2w

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome @Bookwormjillk @Meshell1313 - we love hosting! 2w

squirrelbrain @DGRachel @AmyG - Audition was *almost* a miss this year, but the thoughtful discussions and comments elevated it for me. But I still agree - best year yet! 2w

AmyG @squirrelbrain Agree. This book and discussion had me thinking! And that‘s why I gave it a pick. 2w

dabbe Thank you, @BarbaraBB @Megabooks and @squirrelbrain for all your hard work in putting this together. I feel off the wagon midway but am definitely going to read the winners! 🩶🤍🖤 2w

yourfavouritemixtape Thank you @barbarabb @megabooks and @squirrelbrain so much for organisig this! It‘s the only „reading challenge“ i took part in this year. And it was - again - really cool! 2w

Daisey Wonderful! I didn‘t read enough of the books to feel like voting, but I did love Wild Dark Shore! 2w

BarbaraBB @dabbe @yourfavouritemixtape @Daisey Thank you! We‘re happy you participated one way or another 😘 2w

DavidDiamond Just saw this and sounds like fun. How does one sign up for next year? Or is there a specific date this starts? Thanks! 2w

BarbaraBB @DavidDiamond I‘ll add you to the taglist and will keep you posted! You‘re very welcome to join us next year 2w

DavidDiamond @BarbaraBB Yay! Thank you! 2w

Suet624 I agree with @squirrelbrain … Audition was a mess until I read all the comments. It‘s still not a book I would recommend, but the commentary certainly made it worthwhile to read. The rest of the books were a real treat. Thank you so much for everything. 2w

77 likes17 comments

BarbaraBB

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

We do have our #CampLitsy25 winner! A majority voted for this fantastic book and I couldn‘t agree more 😉. Woodworking ended on a second place, Tilt ended third.

Helen, Meg and I have enjoyed Camp again so much and want to thank you all for reading and discussing six great books with us. We have loved your thoughts, stories, reviews, insights, puns, etc.

We‘ll be back!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 2w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine 2w

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 2w

See All 48 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @jenniferw88 2w

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 2w

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn 2w

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 2w

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 2w

Kitta Oh wow great winner, wild dark shore was amazing. I loved it although I voted for tilt! So I‘m happy with the result. Thanks so much for hosting. Camp Litsy is my favourite part of the summer and I can‘t believe it‘s over and I have to wait for a whole year for the next one!! 😭 Great book selections I wouldn‘t have read otherwise and great discussion from everyone. ⛺️❤️ @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @Kitta Thank you! Your contribution has been so much appreciated - as ever! 2w

Kitta @BarbaraBB you guys put in a ton of work for this, it‘s much appreciated!! ❤️ 2w

LeeRHarry Thanks for all your hard work guys! The only book I managed to get to was Wild Dark Shore so I guess I backed a winner! 😊 2w

Bookwormjillk Now the count down begins for 2026 long list… 2w

Chelsea.Poole Thanks hosts! @megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB —great job as always! 2w

BarbaraBB @LeeRHarry As if you knew it ❤️ (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I was thinking the same! 2w

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks I just want to tell the three of you what a difference you‘ve made in my life and the lives of many other readers as well. Opening doors for all of us, asking important questions, bringing us all together. So much fun for all of us and so enlightening. Thanks for it all. 🩷🩷🩷 2w

DGRachel Thank you all. Camp Litsy stretches me way beyond my literary comfort zone. I appreciate your thoughtful questions and facilitation of discussion. 💖 2w

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole @Lesliereadsalot @DGRachel you make me blush (and o think @Megabooks and @squirrelbrain too)! Thank you so much but the pleasure is all ours, we love Camp Litsy and couldn‘t have done it without you 💕 2w

JenReadsAlot Thanks ladies and looking forward to next year! @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain 2w

AmyG Thanks to all the book counselors! I loved Camp this year!!! 2w

Kitta @Bookwormjillk totally! I can‘t wait for next year. 2w

Meshell1313 Camp was so fun this year as usual! Thank you! 🎉 2w

Jas16 I had a great time at camp! Thank you to our amazing counselors for the work they put in to make it so amazing and to all of my fellow campers for the insightful discussions. 2w

BkClubCare All winners! 🏆 2w

Ruthiella Thank you @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks for the leadership and organization! 👏👏👏 2w

TrishB Great stuff 👍🏻 would have been happy with any of the final 3 winning! Thanks to the 3 of you @squirrelbrain @Megabooks 2w

CBee It was hard for me to choose between this one and Woodworking so I just flipped a coin in my mind 😂 So glad this won! Well deserved 👏🏻 2w

BarbaraBB @JenReadsAlot @AmyG @Meshell1313 @Jas16 @Ruthiella @TrishB Thank you for making it such an amazing ‘25 edition 💝 2w

squirrelbrain Aw thanks you guys! ☺️ Like Barbara said, we love hosting camp and we couldn‘t do it without you all! @Kitta @LeeRHarry @Chelsea.Poole @Lesliereadsalot @DGRachel @JenReadsAlot @AmyG @Meshell1313 @Jas16 @Ruthiella @TrishB 2w

Suet624 Thanks to the three of you for all of your efforts in making this camp such a delight each summer. 2w

Hooked_on_books @Bookwormjillk Yes! Bring on the longlist! 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books @Bookwormjillk When do they announce the longlist? Is it November? 2w

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB late November/ early December I think 2w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk That‘s a long time 😬 2w

Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk Yes, usually around US Thanksgiving, which is late November. Right now, I‘m anxious for the National Book Awards longlists, announced in 2 weeks, so that should tide me over for a while. 😆 2w

Bookwormjillk @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB perhaps someone on Litsy can infiltrate the nomination committee and give us a spoiler? 2w

Hooked_on_books @Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB That would be amazing! 2w

Karisa Amazing line up this summer! I also loved Death of the Author so much… Just fantastic books all around. Thanks for hosting! 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books That‘s something to look forward to in the mean time! 2w

BarbaraBB @Karisa thanks for having you 😘 2w

BookwormAHN Thanks for hosting. It was lots of fun 🧡 2w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN Thank you for making it fun 😘 2w

Gissy Agree! Beautiful book but so sad😭I loved the audiobook, the narrator has a beautiful voice! (edited) 2w

Prairiegirl_reading I just finished this because I needed a long break from this. Wow it‘s bleak! I was thinking it might be my most hated book of the year but then I remembered Audition! LOL!! I‘m super glad so many of you liked it but it was not for me. 6d

BarbaraBB @Prairiegirl_reading Thank you for checking in and for camping with us 😘 6d

Prairiegirl_reading @BarbaraBB thanks again for hosting! It‘s fun even when I have a dissenting opinion. 🤗 6d

BarbaraBB @Prairiegirl_reading It would be so boring if we all liked the same books with little to discuss 💕 5d

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BarbaraBB

One Boat | Jonathan Buckley

pick

#BookerLonglist #4

Nothing much happens is this meandering novel about a women revisiting the Greek village she went to nine years ago to grieve her mother‘s death. Now she has lost her father. She notices the changes in the village and reacquaints with some of the people she met the first time.
It was nice to spend some time with the narrator yet I am not sure what the books is about or why it is nominated for the Booker Prize. A light pick

AnneCecilie, TheKidUpstairs, Chelsea.Poole, rmaclean4, squirrelbrain, Graywacke, ImperfectCJ, Mattsbookaday

squirrelbrain It meandered rather a lot didn‘t it?! 3w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Yes… I got a bit lost in it! 3w

squirrelbrain I did too but I quite liked that! Still, I can‘t remember much of it now and it won‘t be on my shortlist. 3w

See All 6 Comments

TheKidUpstairs This is on my “if a library near me gets a copy, I'll read it, but I'm not too bothered“ list 😂 I've been able to read most of what I'm interested in from the Longlist, the only one I haven't is Seascraper, but it was just given a release date for North America so I've got it on pre-order! 3w

Graywacke Some readers really admire this one. Say it‘s philosophical. I hope to read it soon 3w

Suet624 Well shoot. That‘s too bad. 3w

85 likes1 stack add6 comments

BarbaraBB

Thursday Night Widows | Claudia Pi�eiro

#WeeklyForecast 35/25

I am reading One Boat, another Booker nominated book. It‘s short so I‘ll finish it soon. Next will be the tagged book. I have been reading Claudia Piñeiro‘s backlist and it hasn‘t disappointed yet. She‘s a fabulous writer.
The third one was on the ToB longlist once I think. It‘s been sitting in my shelves while I‘ve been wanting to read it for a long time. Now finally its time has come ?

squirrelbrain Sounds like a good week planned! 3w

Sace The Piñeiro looks interesting. The Spanish kindle edition was only $3.50 so I took advantage I bought it. ? 3w

BarbaraBB @Sace I hope we‘ll both like it! 3w

Cathythoughts I loved Under The Storm. I wish I could find more books by this author. 👍🏻❤️ (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts That is very motivating. I remember @batsy loving it too! 3w

60 likes5 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 1

Our final discussion. Summer has flown by and so has Camp. We hope you‘ll stick around for choosing this year‘s winner in the coming days before packing your bags and return to autumn and reality!

We‘ll tag everyone once. Please scroll down to find questions 2 and 3!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 3w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine 3w

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 3w

See All 46 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 3w

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 3w

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 3w

TrishB Think I‘m turning into a terrible person! I didn‘t feel sympathy or discomfort….just general annoyance. Every decision they made just made the situations worse… 3w

Reggie At one point I thought Roman was just gonna kill Dante just to keep him from making more mistakes. But then you find out what happened with their mom. 3w

DGRachel I‘m with @TrishB on this one. I never felt sympathy, just annoyance for those two. My heart broke for Neveah, but I also wanted to shake her. 3w

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @DGRachel - I thought Nevaeh was rather pathetic. 3w

squirrelbrain They did bring it all on themselves didn‘t they? @TrishB Although I had more sympathy for their actions once we found out about their Mum, @Reggie 3w

TrishB @squirrelbrain @Reggie you‘d have thought that may mean they would put more thought in to the decisions they were making! 3w

fredthemoose I‘ll be honest, I got to the scene where they brought Dante‘s friends to the crematorium and now I‘m sort of scared to finish the book. That was a lot and I‘m sure there‘s a lot more where that came from. 🫣 (I‘m not worried about spoilers—i‘m interested in everyone else‘s takes.) 3w

Chelsea.Poole I can understand the frustrations with the characters‘ decisions. Especially Dante and Roman. But at the end of the day everyone is just lost. Their mother disappearing at such a young age must have really messed with their foundation and they have to cope with her loss—two of them dealing with the guilt of causing her death. Can you imagine what that would do to a child? Plus keeping the secret. I bet I‘d make some questionable decisions too. 3w

Lesliereadsalot I know I‘m alone in this, but I felt absolutely nothing toward any of these characters. From the opening pages I felt like Roman was as contrived a character as you can get. Of course Dante was who he was and ended up as I thought he would. The mom story was slightly interesting, but that was it for me. 3w

Amiable I‘ve loved everything Cosby has written, but I struggled a bit with this book. Cosby is a master at creating characters who aren‘t saints, but you root for them despite their faults and failures. But in this one I couldn‘t bring myself to root for anyone, even after finding out the secret about their mother. They were all just a bit too far over the line into unlikable territory for me to care about them. (edited) 3w

Suet624 I think it's safe to say I felt discomfort all the way through with both Roman and Dante. I really wanted to feel some kind of connection with either of them but neither of the characters had anything I could really hold on to as far as a redeeming feature. 3w

GatheringBooks @Suet624 agree about the lack of redemptive features. And I still maintain that Cosby did his female characters wrong - it‘s a very male / macho book. That being said, I was glued reading and remained riveted thruout. (edited) 3w

Suet624 @GatheringBooks Now that I think about it, does Cosby have any female characters in his other books that stand out? I can't remember any. And, yes, I was glued to the story despite everything. 3w

Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot you‘re not alone. I loved all of Cosby‘s other books but didn‘t really get into this one. Not sure if it was my mood, or wanting something less stressful after Tilt, or maybe because I did audio instead of print, but I didn‘t connect. 3w

Lesliereadsalot @Bookwormjillk @amiable We‘re a party of three! 🎉🥂🥳 (edited) 3w

AmyG I agree with @Chelsea.Poole about them being lost. The 3 were so traumatized. I felt sympathy for them in that they lost their mother and their father was pretty much emotionally absent. They were all a very very verynhot mess. With that said, who knows what I would have done if in shoes, having lived their life? People do crazy things. Was this over the top crazy? It just worked for me. 3w

mcctrish I honestly wanted to kill Dante myself, until we found out what happened to the mom. Then I thought no one does therapy ? How? They were all fucked 3w

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks I totally agree on the machismo. And yet I loved it. There is one female who stood out to me. Jae, T&T‘s sister @Suet624 (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @mcctrish I was about to say the same in reaction to @Reggie ‘s post. That he couldn‘t understand why his girlfriend must stay out of town drove me craazzzy! But indeed, after their mother‘s death they were both traumatized. You‘ve pointed it out well @Chelsea.Poole (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @fredthemoose That was the most horrible scene of the book I think 😱. I get that you couldn‘t read on. 3w

Megabooks @reggie @mcctrish I kind of thought Roman would kill Dante, too. But I feel the same way as you, Trish. It became a lot clearer (motivation wise) when we knew what happened to their mom. 3w

Megabooks @GatheringBooks agree. The female characters were poorly rendered and one-dimensional! 3w

ImperfectCJ Once we find out what happened to their mom, I felt sympathy for Dante. He ended up seeming like one of the only "good" characters in the story. Neveah, I felt some sympathy for, but her doormat-itude was a little tough for me. And the young kid in T&T's group...I can't remember his name (I'm horrible at remembering character names), but I felt sympathy for him, too. 3w

Hooked_on_books I‘m with @Chelsea.Poole and @AmyG on this one. I felt a lot of sympathy for them both. From the start they‘re clearly both lost—Roman ran away entirely and Dante ran into drugs. Neveah is the only responsible one. And then they end up in an impossible situation that really doesn‘t have any good potential decisions. It very effectively made me feel dread. 3w

Texreader @AmyG I‘m with you. It worked for me too 3w

Texreader @BarbaraBB I liked Jae 3w

squirrelbrain Love that portmanteau! @ImperfectCJ I‘m going to use that in the future. 3w

squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks @Suet624 - I can‘t recall that Cosby writes female characters at all…. 🤔 3w

Kitta So weird I see I‘m tagged but I didn‘t get a notification! 3w

Kitta @BarbaraBB I liked Jae a lot too, and I feel in the minority here maybe but I really loved this book. I related to both Roman (fixing other peoples problems) and Dante (falling into addiction after trauma). I have lost a lot of friends to addiction and understand how you can lose sight of how what you‘re doing affects others - though I did want to kick him at points. I‘m not as cold as Roman though. I enjoyed reading the violence but damn. 3w

Jas16 I felt sympathy for them while wanting to throttle them at the same time. They were both very lost and struggling and ultimately not very good people but I still ended up caring about them. 3w

fredthemoose @BarbaraBB Thank you! I was expecting more where that came from and just didn‘t want worse things rattling around in my head.😬 3w

vonnie862 @TrishB I'm with you. I was most annoyed with them two. The only discomfort I felt was the description of the people screaming in the ovens. That was too much for me. 3w

DebinHawaii So, while I‘ve had Razorblade Tears on my TBR for ages, this is my first Crosby book & while I liked it well enough for the action & it kept me in a constant state of dread over what fresh hell Dante was going to bring about through his actions, none of the characters were well drawn, especially the women. I did feel some sympathy for all of the siblings but they also felt wooden to me & as several have said, I just couldn‘t connect with them. 3w

fredthemoose @vonnie862 I put it down after that and haven‘t been back to it. That was too much for me, too! 3w

fredthemoose @DebinHawaii I‘ve really like all of the Cosby books I‘ve read before this—I‘m not done with this one, but it feels the weakest to me in terms of character development. I thought Blacktop Wasteland was really good. Also Razorblade Tears. And All the Sinners Bleed! (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Kitta I liked Jae and Roman too. To me he felt like a victim of the circumstances. He really wanted a way out for his family. And I am with you in that minority, I really loved the book! (edited) 3w

Christine I am so late to this convo and am a bit surprised that loving this book is a minority opinion! 😮 @BarbaraBB @Kitta I certainly loved it, too. And I agree, @Chelsea.Poole , @AmyG , and @Hooked_on_books - I felt for the siblings throughout. 3w

47 likes46 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 2

That was quite the plot twist towards the end of the book, or wasn‘t it? Let‘s talk!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

TrishB I guessed the twist half way through and thought the way they left Neveah live in despair all that time was the truly despicable part of the plot. Go Neveah! 3w

squirrelbrain You‘re cleverer than me @TrishB - I didn‘t see that coming! 3w

DGRachel I don‘t know that I‘d call any of it really a twist. I didn‘t know what was going to happen but it didn‘t surprise me when any of it did. It all just felt inevitable. If the boys had just told Neveah what actually happened before the end, she could have been such an ally and maybe Dante wouldn‘t have been such a mess and the whole mess could‘ve been avoided. 3w

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DGRachel As for their father - I had a little more respect for him. He felt more like a father and less like a man who only cared about his business. I can‘t imagine living 15 years under a cloud of suspicion of murdering your spouse. 3w

Chelsea.Poole I think this reveal was done well. It didn‘t come across as obvious to me throughout but when it came out it made total sense. I agree with @DGRachel that I felt more sympathetic towards their father after learning what happened. 3w

Suet624 I agree with everyone. I didn't guess the twist but I wasn't surprised by it. I feel very badly for both Neveah and her father. Both of them suffered at the hands of Dante and Roman. 3w

GatheringBooks I am with @Suet624 and @Chelsea.Poole - there was this growing sense of dread at the pit of my stomach, and yes, it also made total sense that it happened the way it did - and partially explains why people turned out the way they did. However, we still make our own choices despite the hand we‘re dealt with. Cosby could have made Neveah much more wily, clever and pragmatic, rather than a doormat & a victim of her circumstance and ignorance. 3w

AmyG I didn‘t see this coming either. Good twist. It explained Dante and Roman‘s pain and I, too, felt a bit more respect for the father. As for Neveah…ah, the first born only daughter…she seemed like she carried the weight if the world on her shoulders. I felt that is common for alot of women. Cosby could have written a better woman, better people…..but again, people are who they are…like them or not. 3w

mcctrish The dad totally changed in my eyes too @DGRachel but trying to protect his baby girl only alienated her from them all and wrecked her just as badly. I wonder how differently the dad would have done things IG he could go back ? 3w

BarbaraBB I had no idea of what was about to happen but to me it all made sense once it did 3w

Leniverse I almost shouted, "This is what happens when you don't share information!" Not just Neveah's action but Roman's futile one as well. 3w

ImperfectCJ After the truth about their mother was revealed, I kind of stopped liking any of them, except maybe Dante. 3w

Megabooks I was suspicious of the twist, but I try not to think too hard about it when I'm reading mystery/thrillers and concentrate on how the author reveals it. I enjoy seeing how they structure it, and Cosby didn't disappoint. I was a bit surprised about Nevaeh giving her dad the blood thinner. I hated that Cosby never seemed to give her any peace yet I didn't feel I understood her by the end either. 3w

Hooked_on_books I felt respect for the father that he lived under suspicion rather than allow his kids to be under suspicion, but it doesn‘t change the fact that he emotionally neglected his kids their entire lives. There is a way to build a business but also be present at home. Women have to deal with this every minute of our lives. So I‘m not nearly as ready to just let him off the hook for his neglect. 3w

DGRachel @Leniverse I wanted to strangle Roman after Neveah killed their father. I know the only one technically responsible for her actions are hers, but she never would have even considered doing it if anyone had shared the truth with her. They had so many opportunities just during the course of the book to come clean. 3w

Kitta @TrishB I guessed it too, though I thought Dante had caused some sort of accident not Roman 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I was kinda wrong. I did have more respect or something for the father after finding out how he dealt with it and thinking about the suspicion he was under. He was so absent, at least he stepped up in that regard. 3w

Jas16 I never really thought their father had done it but was surprised when the truth was revealed. I hated what Neveah did. Comparing her actions to Roman‘s and my reactions to them both… They both thought they had justification but but they both turned into what they were fighting against. 3w

jenniferw88 Just before the reveal, I thought it was going to be one of the kids. BUT I'm going to be in the minority here, but I 100% understand where Neaveh is coming from re going into care homes and think she's probably done the right thing for her Dad (if not for the right reason!) 3w

vonnie862 I had a feeling that there was more to what happened to the mother. My feelings towards the dad were always neutral. However, I felt for Neaveh. 3w

DebinHawaii Like @Kitta I guessed wrong & thought it was Dante that accidentally did it. I never thought the father killed her. But okay, I‘m still confused about the cookie jar. The father must have put her ashes in there but it seemed like they were all avoiding the jar. Did he put her ashes in there wanting them to find them or thought they would never open it again? This is pretty macabre of me but I keep thinking “thank God no one opened a pack of ⬇️ 3w

DebinHawaii … Oreos & dumped them in there!” 😱🤢😳 3w

Kitta @DebinHawaii oh my gosh!! 🤣 I assumed it was because it was avoided and no one would ever look in there. I can‘t imagine if someone did. 3w

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii That cookie jar indeed! How comes that no ever opened that before?! 3w

BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 That might very well be possible, that she did it out of compassion somehow 3w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Agree!! I was wondering the whole time why he couldn‘t raise his kids and run a business. He‘s not the only single parent 3w

BarbaraBB @Megabooks I couldn‘t relate to Neveah either, she felt a bit unreal to me. I didn‘t understand the choices she made throughout the book. 3w

jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB I think Neaveh did it because she truly believed her Dad killed her Mum, but if I'd been in her position (without everything else going on), I'd have done it out of compassion. 3w

CBee @Leniverse 🙌🏻 3w

CBee That was not totally unexpected - I just wasn‘t sure what the ending would be. There were two times my jaw dropped in the end - when Roman turned the tables on the BBB and then when Nevaeh found their mother‘s ashes/killed their father. And to think that yes, so much of it could have been avoiding it - like a train wreck that you can‘t look away from. 3w

43 likes29 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 3

To conclude, let‘s discuss Roman, the “King of Ashes”. How do you feel about him?

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

TrishB In a way he got what he didn‘t want 🤷‍♀️ whilst I was reading this book I thought the author (and I‘ve loved his other books!) must have been rushing against a deadline as it felt sloppy and rushed. 3w

Reggie The end reminded me of the Godfather where Diane Keaton is watching her husband meeting with the mob people while the door closes. Hoping/lying to herself that he‘s not part of that world anymore but of course he is. 3w

DGRachel @Reggie I didn‘t make that connection but you‘re exactly right, down to Jae peeping into the crematory. I struggle with ends justifying means in any situation. That tends to be an excuse made for inexcusable behavior. He lost his whole family any way. 3w

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Reggie @DGRachel 😁 3w

Chelsea.Poole Things didn‘t exactly go his way. But now it looks like he‘ll have a new family to fight fire for…does the very end set us up for a follow up with Roman? 3w

Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole Jeepers, I forgot all about that part at the end. I'm not so sure I want to hang out with Roman in another book. @TrishB I think you're right - it all felt rushed like a deadline was fast approaching. Granted, once I got about halfway through the book I couldn't put it down, but still... it just wasn't like his other books. 3w

GatheringBooks I can just imagine Roman uttering “I am the danger” ala Breaking Bad. I had a feeling he would end up being the leader of this ragtag gang of sorts. No longer as a means of survival - but to test his boundaries of how far he can go, and clearly he can go veryyyy far. (edited) 3w

AmyG @GatheringBooks YES….I thought a few times of Walter White while reading this. And @Reggie….great point about The Godfather scene. Doing bad under the guise of good. Doing bad to save the family. Yeah, the ending did come a little fast. (edited) 3w

mcctrish Roman made the same mistake his father made for the same reason and it‘s going to go just as well. Walk. Away. 3w

GatheringBooks @AmyG not to mention Ozark with the financial manager thing ala Marty. Lols. 3w

Leniverse The end really reminded me of Marvel's Luke Cage. You start out with good intentions, trying to protect your family/neighbourhood from gangs. Then you start justifying more extreme acts, and in the end you have become the new villain but you can't even see it - you still think you're doing what is needed. It felt like more of a proper ending than Luke Cage did though. There it just felt like a plot twist and then the show was cancelled. 3w

ImperfectCJ At the end, I wondered if Roman's philosophy of doing anything to protect his family was just his internal justification for all the work he was doing setting up his new business venture. He's meeting up with and helping T&T's employees from really early on, and I found this curious until the ending. He's obviously adept at lying to himself. 3w

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I don't think we'll see a sequel, and if we do, I doubt I'll read it. Definitely not my favorite Cosby. I'll read him again though! @mcctrish Good point! Stop the cycle!! 3w

AmyG @mcctrish @megabooks Yes…stop the cycle. Alot if this book reminded me of generational trauma in families and a people. How Roman tried to stop it and may think he did….yet just continued it. 3w

mcctrish @Megabooks I don‘t need to go any further in this hellhole 3w

Megabooks @AmyG @mcctrish yes, I think Roman felt he could “outsmart” or “outmaneuver” the trauma, but I think he was deeper in by the end of the book. He created more (like I don‘t think Dante and Nevaeh‘s lives were better for his interference). 3w

Megabooks @mcctrish we were typing at the same time and I agree!! 💯💯 3w

mcctrish @Megabooks his dad should have sold up and they all moved out of town after the mom died and if not then then when the dad saw Dante spirally into addiction to cope and if not then Nevaeh should have once the dad was hit and if not then then then Roman should have when he came to town 3w

Hooked_on_books Roman had already leaned into greed and been seduced by power before the narrative started. We all have sides of ourselves, and if we lean into one particular thing, we can find it hard to refind other parts of ourselves, and for me that‘s exactly Roman‘s arc in this book. He‘s stepped so far into the greed and power and can‘t see how into the wilderness he is. I thought it was a really interesting character exploration. 3w

Megabooks @mcctrish very true. Without hearing from the Dad, we lacked a clear sense of why he continued to stay in JR among all that. Crematoriums are needed everywhere! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

AmyG @Hooked_on_books Exactly. Well said. 3w

squirrelbrain Yes I agree @Hooked_on_books - I felt Roman was already on the ‘dark side‘ before he came home. Just because it was paper-based rather than physical doesn‘t mean he was any less corrupt. 3w

Kitta @GatheringBooks oooh good point. I hadn‘t thought about Breaking Bad but « I am the danger » seems very much like something Roman would say. He, like Walter, does stay on past what is necessary because he wants to. God I loved Breaking Bad, so well done. 3w

Kitta @Hooked_on_books it‘s funny when he talks about T&T‘s weakness being greed because I think it‘s probably Roman‘s weakness too. I‘m sad Jae doesn‘t leave when she realizes he‘s running things in place of her brothers though, she was so vocal about wanting nothing to do with it. 3w

Jas16 Roman thought he was smarter than them all but in the end he just became the evil he was fighting. 3w

vonnie862 I was disappointed in him. He became the very thing he was trying to save his family from. 3w

Hooked_on_books @Kitta Yeah, it‘s a really tough spot for Jae. She really likes Roman and is now pregnant with his child. But how much more is he going to change with the focus on power and greed? I feel like the theme of this book is “no good options,” as no character really seems to have any. 3w

DebinHawaii As the ending was happening, I kept thinking Roman would set the remaining BBB team up & be able to walk away with Jae but the greed & power were just too much & it‘s only going to get worse. Definitely a Godfather vibe—you can‘t get out. 3w

BarbaraBB @vonnie862 @DebinHawaii I was so disappointed in Roman, I really thought he would walk away from it all. But @Hooked_on_books is right; he already was tempted by power and greed in his white collar life in Atlanta. 3w

39 likes29 comments

BarbaraBB

The Plot | Jean Hanff Korelitz

so-so

Called The Plot this book is about the mindblowing plot of a book the narrator wrote and which made him a bestselling author. Until someone accuses him of having stolen that same plot.

Unfortunately the plot of The Plot (are you still there 🤣?) isn‘t that mindblowing. Almost from the start I could predict what would happen and I didn‘t even try that hard. So, another underwhelming read. Not my best month, this one.

📷 Sail Amsterdam

AmyG Well, then get all the crappy books out of the way! 3w

Lesliereadsalot You made me laugh out loud! 3w

Ruthiella I agree. The plot of the plot wasn‘t all that and the whole premise is pretty shaky. Generally I liked it but I have a high tolerance for crime fiction weaknesses compared to other genres. 3w

See All 15 Comments

LeahBergen 😆 Great review! 3w

squirrelbrain Yeah, I guessed this one from a mile off! 🤷‍♀️ 3w

AlaMich Yes, I didn‘t understand the hype about this book at all. Meh! 3w

CarolynM It was pretty obvious. I would have liked it better if it hadn't been structured as a thriller. 3w

TrishB Agree, this was poor. 3w

BkClubCare Ok then, guess I will skip. 3w

Suet624 Great review. 😂 i‘m sorry you‘re hitting a bumpy spot in your reading 3w

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare Please do! (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I have that tolerance to for crime fiction but this one really was below my standards 😉 3w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @AlaMich @CarolynM @TrishB I guess we won‘t read 🤪

The Sequel: A Novel

CarolynM Nope😆 3w

AlaMich I‘ll pass. 3w

68 likes15 comments

BarbaraBB

Nightwatching: A Novel | Tracy Sierra

pan

This book was recommended to me by ChatGPT. Well, they have a lot to learn. I kind of hated it. But I always dislike books about terrified mothers, protecting their children like lionesses. I don‘t know why but it happened before. And then the plot, it is so weak and predictable. A definite pan.

📸 Rotterdam, Netherlands

IriDas Yeah, chat gpt is not really great for that sort of thing. :/ 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures I am staunchly anti-AI so this doesn't surprise me. People can code and pay others to boost different books that it will recommend. (It is also using up all of our natural resources like nothing created before). 3w

shortsarahrose Everything @ChaoticMissAdventures said. ChatGPT cannot replace an actual librarian or bookseller for these kinds of uses. 3w

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures @shortsarahrose i wholeheartedly agree AI can‘t replace real bookish people. It was for a reading challenge and it proved what I already thought! 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I love being proved right! 😂 3w

JuniperWilde I love a well-written pan 3w

Suet624 Great review though. 😂 3w

67 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Flesh: A Novel | David Szalay

so-so

#BookerLonglist #3

I really liked Szalay‘s other books but I can‘t make much of this one.
István doesn‘t live his life, it just happens to him. He doesn‘t make choices or decisions. He just says okay to everything that is decided for him. There‘s just one time he does takes action, and it changes the course of his life. Yet it doesn‘t have any real impact on him or on me as a reader. So. Not very impressed.

And can someone explain the title?

AnneCecilie, TheKidUpstairs, Chelsea.Poole, rmaclean4, squirrelbrain, Graywacke

squirrelbrain I‘m sad you didn‘t like this more as you were looking forward to it…. I looked up why he‘d chosen the title and he said it was to do with the physicality of the book rather than the cerebral nature of some stories. 🤷‍♀️ 3w

Graywacke @squirrelbrain make sense. I see the title has highlighting the body‘s unconscious motivations - the sex drive especially, but also other things along those lines. 3w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Makes sense indeed. The flesh seems to dominate his decisions, that‘s true @Graywacke 3w

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks #ReadTheWorld2025 #25 #Hungary (edited) 2w

75 likes1 stack add4 comments

BarbaraBB

The Plot | Jean Hanff Korelitz

#WeeklyForecast 34/25

This week‘s Booker read is Flesh, which is an easy read and I‘ll be finishing later today.
The Plot and The White Lie are from my TBR, I really want to clear some of those shelves before I buy new books!!

JulietteReadsALot I have the same struggle! I keep reading books from the library, and I still buy books, but I don't read my physical copies at home... Need to make space too. 4w

Suet624 @JulietteReadsALot I‘m exactly the same way. 3w

63 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

Pantone: Colors | Pantone

I haven‘t started yet with the winter colours but here are my choices for the books I read and paired with #Pantone25 until now.

Eggs, Lauredhel, julieclair

Suet624 Fantastic! 4w

Sace What a beautiful post 🎨😍 4w

Lesliereadsalot Wow! Very cool. 4w

See All 6 Comments

Eggs Thanks 🙏🏻 4w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @Sace @Lesliereadsalot @Eggs ❤️♥️💙🖤💛💚🧡 4w

youneverarrived Looks fab 💛 4w

69 likes6 comments

BarbaraBB

Silent Parade | Keigo Higashino

pick

These Japanese thrillers are so addicting. The decency: no cursing, no swearing. Just people talking and eating delicious food and in the mean time solving murder mysteries filled with twists. Quite the comfort read to me!

Tamra Must check out! 1mo

LeahBergen I love good food in books so much 😆 4w

BarbaraBB @Tamra It‘s a series. If you‘re interested in these quiet atmospheric detective series I would start with

The Devotion of Suspect X: A Detective Galileo Novel

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Me too! It really adds something for me 🤣 4w

Cathythoughts I read The Devotion of Suspect X and loved it. Do I need to read them in order. Stacking. 👍🏻❤️ 4w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts No you don‘t! You can read them separately, it‘s just that detective Galileo is introduced in the first installment 4w

Tamra @BarbaraBB thanks for the head‘s up! 4w

69 likes4 stack adds7 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Welcome to our final #CampLitsy25 book. We hope King of Ashes hasn‘t scared you off because of its violence. There‘s so much more to the book. We are looking forward to your insightful comments.

We‘re discussing the first half of the book (until chapter 19) so please try not to include spoilers about the rest of the book!

As usual, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find both other questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 1mo

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 1mo

See All 55 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @jenniferw88 1mo

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 1mo

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 1mo

Megabooks I think probably to his father it meant burning down their life as poor people and uplifting their status in Jefferson Run by allowing them to move into a better house and have more opportunities for their children, especially Roman.

I think the fire has a different meaning for Neveah because it ties her to think house and this town in a way that has become stifling. It's a barrier encircling her from leaving. 1mo

mcctrish @Megabooks I think the same about Nevaeh- she‘s trapped by the fire ( the job, the responsibility), her dad rose from the ashes ( out of poverty) I feel like Roman is playing with fire with his business and Dante is being consumed by it (edited) 1mo

Megabooks @mcctrish Ooooo...yeah! Good point about Dante. 1mo

JenReadsAlot @mcctrish I love how you said that! 1mo

mcctrish @JenReadsAlot I spend a lot of time in shock reading this book 😱 1mo

AmyG I agree with @Megabooks but I am going to add another side of this….the trauma of their childhood. Rising also from the ashes of that. 1mo

Megabooks @AmyG Another great point!! I feel like Dante is still burning in that, though. He seems like he's always trying to escape reality through drugs and partying. 1mo

AmyG @Megabooks….they all seem to handle things differently. 1mo

GatheringBooks I think the cohesiveness of the narrative is what impressed me the most - fire, as you pointed out, was played out to perfection across various characters - esp the way @mcctrish captured it. One may dismiss the novel as gratuitously violent - yet the masterful way in which it was written, so tight and sparing, yet also powerful - showcases the literary craftsmanship of Cosby. I bought all his other novels that I can find after reading this one. 1mo

mcctrish @GatheringBooks I don‘t even think the violence is what upsets me the most, or unsettles me, it‘s the ‘no rules‘ morally bankruptcy of so many people. It‘s like The Walking Dead without the zombie apocalypse and considering the state of the US right now I‘m getting Margaret Atwood foretelling vibes 1mo

ImperfectCJ Roman's mantra (from their father? I can't remember) is "everything burns," and I think he's expecting more cleansing from fire than perhaps it can provide. Dante runs from it (or perhaps is trying to create an internal fire?) and Neveah seems to be trapped by it but also becoming one with it (how she can take the pan out of the oven bare-handed). There are allusions to fire throughout, like Chauncey's eyes described as "whiskey-soaked embers." 1mo

ImperfectCJ I recently read Long Island Compromise, so I have inherited wealth on my mind, but I'm wondering if fire here is serving a purpose of demonstrating how the second generation (the one after the generation that made the wealth) handles their inheritance. I have to mull that over a bit, though. 1mo

AmyG @ImperfectCJ Yes…everything burns. With what you said….Rome (the burning of Rome) Dante (inferno), Neveah (heaven spelled backward). And the second generation handling inherited wealth, very interesting point. (edited) 1mo

AmyG Also, as a reader, I became numb to the violence….as did the people in the book. I saw much of this a reflection of our country, how we become numb to so many things. Do we have to burn the country to the ground to start anew? Look at the generational trauma in our own country. (edited) 1mo

GatheringBooks @mcctrish Cosby‘s writing is definitely unsettling - that is one way to describe it. I hear you about the “moral bankruptcy” - I see it more as moral ambiguity and I admired how cleverly and realistically this is portrayed. It‘s like when “good” (or at least socially upstanding ones in appearance) people do the bad stuff in order to survive or defend/protect one‘s own, does it make it any less evil? 1mo

mcctrish @GatheringBooks YES, Roman keeps saying ‘it‘s us or them‘ and while that‘s true and T & T shouldn‘t be the winners in this game, can Roman ( all of them) live with the choices they make- Nevaeh is a shell of a person because she has no time for a life outside work, Roman sees a dominatrix to give him what he thinks he deserves and Dante self medicates to the point where he‘s got one foot in the grave 1mo

mcctrish @AmyG Heaven, Earth and Hell - I didn‘t think of Roman as the burning of Rome @ImperfectCJ I said Holy Shit out loud when Nevaeh took the pans out with bare hands - all three kids are desensitized to some kind of pain besides emotional 1mo

Maggie4483 What @mcctrish said! I think it's important to remember all the aspects of literal fire. It gets a bad rap because, yes, it can be incredibly destructive. But it's also necessary to life. I work for a Fire Academy, and we have one of the best Wildland Firefighter training programs in the country. These classes are held at a local nature preserve, and students go out and do prescribed burns in a controlled setting. (1/2) 1mo

Maggie4483 (2/2) By reducing fuel buildup (dead leaves, branches, etc.), prescribed burns can significantly lower the intensity and spread of future wildfires. It's literally fighting fire with fire. Which is exactly what Roman is trying to do. Unfortunately, he's in over his head and things are getting out of control. 1mo

mcctrish Ooo @Maggie4483 fighting fire with fire is a perfect summation of what Roman is doing 🔥🔥🔥 and a lack of funding for prescribed burns in a lot of canada is why we are on fire right now ( and funding has been found to get back in the game 🤞🏻) 1mo

BarbaraBB @mcctrish You‘ve said it so well and I agree with @GatheringBooks the fire metaphor was played out perfectly. You were right to buy his other books too Myra. I read two of them and they were both so good as well. 1mo

BarbaraBB @AmyG your pointing out their names in relation to the fire is excellent. I hadn‘t noticed Neveah as Heaven spelled backwards! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Maggie4483 Yes! Roman is fighting fire with fire. So true! 1mo

BarbaraBB I‘ve also been thinking that fire exposes Roman‘s duality. On one hand, he is the educated financial genius, rational, controlled. On the other, he becomes the very thing he fears: a man who manipulates fire (figuratively and literally). 1mo

Maggie4483 @AmyG - OMG yes! Great catch about the names! 1mo

Jas16 So many great points already. Fire can be dangerous and all consuming but it can also be cleansing depending on how well it is controlled which I think ties into your second nicely. All three of the siblings definitely have different relationships with fire which others have captured beautifully. 1mo

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ - interesting thought about Long Island Compromise and how the next generation burns away the legacy of the first. 🤔 1mo

Christine Wow, @AmyG - love that names observation!! 1mo

squirrelbrain @AmyG @BarbaraBB - I knew Neveah was heaven backwards, but hadn‘t thought of it in the context of Heaven being the opposite of fires burning in Hell. 1mo

peaKnit @AmyG I like your insight and sadly agree to wonder do we have to burn it down to cleanse… 1mo

DGRachel I think @mcctrish summed things up perfectly at the beginning of this thread, with fire playing out for each of the siblings. I like the repetition of the phrase “everything burns”. It takes on various meanings depending on where the vocal emphasizes is placed and all of those elements are here - an inevitable “shit happens”, a sad pointlessness, a (potential) cleansing, and a destructive rage. 1mo

peaKnit Interesting point also about Neveah being heaven backwards. I have personal negative feelings about the name from my past career so it just felt right to me in this book, like “of course” for me. What lost souls here. (edited) 1mo

mcctrish @peaKnit I cringed at Heaven backwards, also Patience, Devine, they all mean trouble when they show up at school 1mo

vonnie862 Ooh, many great points mentioned. Fire is not only destructive but also cleansing. 1mo

Hooked_on_books I‘ve been so absorbed by the story that I haven‘t even thought of this aspect. Love the points @mcctrish and @AmyG made about the names and places of each character in relation to fire. 1mo

Kitta @mcctrish I love the way you said that too, how each of them is touched by fire. Roman is definitely playing with fire and Dante is consumed by it. 1mo

Kitta @Maggie4483 yes fire can be cleansing too! And controlled burns are necessary. Reminds me of those seeds that only sprout after there‘s fire. It can be a rebirth. 1mo

AmyG @Kitta Exactly. I viewed it all as burn it to the ground and rebuild….rebirth. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Great perspective @Maggie4483 —fire can lead to regrowth. I find it fascinating how some plants are “fire responsive”: sprout after a burn. In this book, some of the individuals are born of fire/the trial by fire concept. @AmyG great observation of the names. I‘m impressed by all of these comments as I‘ve finished the book so quickly and barely had time to consider the literary aspects since the plot was plotting so well 🔥 1mo

DebinHawaii @mcctrish @AmyG Love the way you interpreted the fire theme for each sibling & the names—so powerful & well put. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole Exactly that 🤣, I raced through the book without taking the time to realize all these awesome details! 4w

Ruthiella Loving the discussion and insight here! 4w

Suet624 I got started late in this book. Hoping to have it finished by second week of discussion. 3w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 There will be a point after which you can‘t stop reading, that is if you‘re enjoying the book. I hope so! 3w

Suet624 @BarbaraBB You were spot on with that comment. 3w

Suet624 @mctrish @gatheringbooks Your comments at the beginning of this post were terrific. Thank you for highlighting so much for me. All the comments just added on in such a spectacular way. Such a great comment section! (edited) 3w

CBee @AmyG amazing explanation of their names!! Didn‘t even think of it 👏🏻 3w

48 likes55 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 2

Rowan thinks he can save his family. After all he is an extremely successful businessman. What do you think?

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Bookwormjillk These are great questions. But sorry Roman, I don't think you can save them unless they want to be saved. 1mo

TrishB The fact that they never spoke to each other about what was happening meant he was never in control. 1mo

mcctrish Part of me wonders if surviving will be worth it in the end? Initially I thought Roman wouldn‘t be able to handle so much law and moral breaking but then as he called in favours and we learn more about his job in Atlanta I realized he is already morally grey. Nevaeh will put it all together or just get the police further into it and Dante makes me want to scream and yet I‘d be him unable to handle it all 1mo

See All 25 Comments

Megabooks Roman thinks (incorrectly imo) that controlling his life financially (whether by driving an older Porsche or having offshore investments for later in life) gives him the ultimate control. I think, especially in their initial meeting, Torrent and Tranquil have shown him it's not. It gives him a false sense of security. Dante is so frustrating in his ability to continuously make poor decision after poor decision that Roman has to clean up. 1mo

AmyG How many people do we know….who try to contol things? Roman is the eldest, type A, control freak. I also believe he has a great deal of guilt about his mother‘s disappearance. I think all the kids do. And because Roman is the oldest he feels the need to make things right. But nobody can control everything. One can only try. SO MUCH of what these three are, what they do, is directly related to the mother‘s disappearance and to how the father… (edited) 1mo

AmyG Handled all of it. His absense because of working. He wasn‘t there for them emotionally. 1mo

mcctrish @AmyG absolutely and Dante being the youngest got the least amount of full family time 1mo

GatheringBooks I was rooting for Roman - and his attempts to wrest control over what is no doubt a s**tshow that Dante has left him to clean up. I think Roman is also testing his own boundaries; the entire thing a challenge, a conundrum for him to solve making him feel relevant once again in his siblings‘ lives. Dante is your classic epic loser, needy & oblivious. My only peeve about Cosby is how the female characters in this story are untapped & sidelined. 1mo

ImperfectCJ @Megabooks @AmyG Agreed, and it's like Roman has this idea that there will be some future date when everything will be handled and in control if he just does everything right. I think Dante has this idea, too, he just doesn't have the illusion that he's controlling any of it. 1mo

BarbaraBB Like @Bookwormjillk and @TrishB say, it seemed hopeless from the beginning. Dante destabilizes (pulling Roman into the conflict), Neveah moralizes (demanding truth and accountability, stripping Roman of denial) and Roman himself mediates: but in trying to hold both together—recklessness and righteousness—he is being consumed by the fire as well. 1mo

jenniferw88 Up until chapter 10 I thought Dante had some sort of learning disability because Roman had to explain so much to him, but after that chapter I realised he does understand how much danger he's put the family in. I think Dante is probably quite bright, but the dad couldn't afford to send 2 sons to college, and the eldest would take priority. ⬇️ 1mo

jenniferw88 Dante needed Roman around when growing up, as I think Neaveh was always destined to be working in the family business and so didn't always have time to keep an eye on him. I think if Roman had stayed around, Dante might not have gotten in so deep with no idea on how to get out of it. 1mo

Jas16 Even if Roman were half as smart as he thinks he is there are too many variables for him to have complete control over anything, including himself. His own brother is impossible to control and trying to keep Neveah in the dark isn‘t going to stop her from asking questions. 1mo

DGRachel Roman is absolutely not in control. He may be a shark in Atlanta, and he‘s definitely not soft, no matter what T&T initially think, but he walked into chaos. I don‘t know that he‘s in over his head, Khalil‘s presence suggests he‘s not, but I cannot see this ending well. I just got to chapter 19 today, but phew. 😅 Everything is already burning. 1mo

DGRachel As for the siblings, because they‘re trying to keep Neveah out of it, she‘s making things worse by involving her shady cop “friend” (who is probably my most hated character - I‘d almost be ok if Roman put him in crematorium‘s fire alive). Dante? He‘s an absolute f-up who is desperate for someone to save him, but then has the audacity to be upset about the nature of the help. I have zero compassion for him. (I‘m sorry…what was the question? 😂) (edited) 1mo

peaKnit @DGRachel 🤣 yes what was the question, I‘m onboard with all you say. Dante just keeps doing exactly what is expected of him, like STOP dude. Roman is definitely not in control, who Khalil is and how Roman tied up with him is a little left to imagination. But if you know this guy and what he is capable of your hands are not clean. 1mo

vonnie862 He thinks he can control and fix things. He might make changes but you can only fix things if people want to change. 1mo

Hooked_on_books Lots of good commentary here about the siblings, though I‘m surprised no one‘s mentioned that Dante is clearly an addict. And an addict in the teeth of their addiction is always going to be self-centered, so there‘s no controlling that. But what I immediately thought of when I read the question are T&T. It seems there‘s no line those 2 won‘t cross, which means there‘s no control to be had in this situation. 1mo

AmyG @Hooked_on_books Absolutely. And there will be so much more to discuss next time. 1mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books I agree, and Dante being an addict makes his behaviour unpredictable and he‘ll be thinking mainly about himself. I don‘t blame him for the drug addiction given what he‘s been through but, from experience, it‘s hard to think straight and be making good decisions while chasing the next high. I keep thinking he‘s going to fuck up somehow and this is going to come crashing down. 1mo

Hooked_on_books @Kitta Yes! His situation (and I empathize with where he is given the family history) is so precarious and could knock all this over so quickly! It‘s what helps build the dread Cosby is so deftly building. 1mo

DebinHawaii @Hooked_on_books So much dread! I literally cringe every time Dante is on the page because he is such the wildcard in the story—just waiting for him to mess up one time too many. 😱 1mo

Hooked_on_books @DebinHawaii I do too! Every time he leaves to go get high, I think, “no! What are going to let slip and endanger yourself and everyone?!?!” Cosby threads the needle so well, because it would be so easy to hate Dante or just be fed up with him and instead he‘s someone you can have empathy for. 1mo

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii @Hooked_on_books Cosby has created such a great character here. Dante is such a wildcard and still Cosby makes us care for him. How is that even possible?! 4w

squirrelbrain I was exactly the same @Hooked_on_books @DebinHawaii @Kitta - every time Dante appeared (or disappeared) I had a feeling of dread as to what was going to happen next. 4w

41 likes25 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#Camplitsy25 Question 3

There is a lot to be said about the setting of the book in Jefferson Run. Let‘s talk about a bit about what it meant to you.

Next week we‘ll finish the book and discuss the second half. See you there!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Megabooks Because of systemic policies of racism, it has been historically hard for Black people to build generational wealth. I think you see two different sides of how people try to build wealth. Roman has tied himself to the new Atlanta wealthy (music stars, Real Housewives, athletes), but Torrent and Tranquil have gone about protecting their interests financially in a very different way. 1mo

Megabooks Roman is bridging that gap by making risky investments in a more “white collar“ crime way to feed money into Torrent and Tranquil's illegal schemes. But T&T also have their own “legal“ laundering fronts with restaurants and clubs.

Added: And it was the start of the funeral home that supported Roman while he got the education that allowed him to start his investment business. (edited) 1mo

TrishB It does imply that you can only become wealthy by breaking the law and there‘s no other way for certain classes/minorities. 1mo

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AmyG I viewed this story, in large part, as a family story. The Dad trying to create that wealth for his family, Roman trying to create that wealth…..tied to the generational trauma created by the Mom‘s disappearance. But as they work to create that wealth, they have to live in the world that sometimes “forces” them to do less than moral things….as the only way to do this. Yes @Megabooks…the two sides of that. 1mo

AmyG Does the town just symbolize the direction of our country? Capitalism. 1mo

mcctrish @TrishB or the American dream - the robber barons of the Gilded Age down to T & T 1mo

GatheringBooks I don‘t know whether you have also seen the parallels of this story with Ozark. While I was reading the book, I keep seeing Marty, Ruth, Darnell in my head - except this one is African American, which added a layer of intersectionality and twist that is much needed. Characters are not one or the other - they are complex beings, no heroes nor villains, just people trying to protect their families and survive with a semblance of dignity. 1mo

ImperfectCJ This novel takes place geographically near the setting of Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, and while the plot is quite different, there's a similar feeling of hopelessness, of a system set in place to grind part of the population down. I don't feel like this is new. It's similar to that in any former factory and/or mining region. People make money how they can make money and create a sense of agency from whatever they can. 1mo

BarbaraBB I was sincerely shocked by this reality and kept thinking that towns like Jefferson Run (that, hollowed out by systemic neglect, leave crime as one of the few economic engines) don‘t exist in this extreme way in reality in the US. But I am probably naive. 1mo

Christine Agreed, @TrishB and @BarbaraBB . And yet we have leaders who think we should deny the existence of/do nothing to address systemic racism while also claiming to care a lot about reducing crime... 😖 1mo

DGRachel @AmyG I agree with the family aspect, and the generational trauma elements. Sadly, I don‘t think it‘s indicative of the direction our country is headed. We‘re there. If you look at a lot of the towns where manufacturing or mining were booming and where those mines or factories closed - this is the reality and it‘s been happening for at least 30 years that I can recall. @BarbaraBB I wish this was hyperbole. 😭 1mo

peaKnit Jefferson Run feels like a microcosm of the darker part of what we can imagine a big city to be. You can feel the pockets of poorer areas everywhere but here the bad guys seem to run the town. Or think they do. 1mo

vonnie862 To me, it's not easy to make wealth for certain groups and leading a life crime may seem to be a quick solution for some. 1mo

Hooked_on_books I lived in Detroit from ‘04-‘09 and JR reminds me so much of it. Detroit was once the wealthiest city in the US and when I was there it was the poorest. I‘ve been picturing it in my head while reading this. Much like JR, there were people deeply committed to Detroit, those who were stuck, and those who wanted to exploit whatever they could. The similarities are really striking. 1mo

Hooked_on_books Regarding wealth, I feel like a major theme of the book is that there is no healthy way to strive for wealth. Each example we see here of someone striving for wealth is bad and fraught in its own way. Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to immediately continue reading! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books please do, kudos for postponing it until now 😘 (edited) 1mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books it made me think of Detroit too, though I‘ve never been there I‘ve read a lot about it and the turning point to what it is now. Really interesting. 1mo

DebinHawaii I get the Detroit vibe as well. One quote that really struck me & I highlighted was when Roman is at the Save-U-Moore convenience store… “Roman thought when folks talked about a food desert, what they really meant was that the food available wasn‘t any good. Instead of a desert, he thought of it like an ocean. All that water, but if you drank from it, You would die. Little stores like this were the flotsam and jetsam in an ocean of junk.” That ⬇️ 1mo

DebinHawaii …idea & the imagery is so perfectly put—it just struck me. 🤯 (edited) 1mo

39 likes19 comments

BarbaraBB

Silent Parade | Keigo Higashino

#FridayHappyReadingHour

Can I join this hashtag? My mom has dementia, it‘s slowly increasing and I am cherishing these moments with her and a glass of French rosé wine

mcctrish, Aims42, kspenmoll, Tamra

mcctrish Absolutely- looks like a perfect reading spot with your mom 1mo

AlaMich I‘m so sorry about your mom. 1mo

BarbaraBB @mcctrish @AlaMich Thank you 💝 1mo

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Cathythoughts Lovely time to spend with your mom ❤️ 1mo

Tamra The more the merrier! I‘m glad you are getting time with your mom, even if it‘s not as it used to be. 💕 1mo

Yuki_Onna Have a lovely time with your mom 💞 1mo

AmyG Sending much love to you and your Mom. Cherish every moment. My Mom had this, too. Sending a hug. 1mo

squirrelbrain It looks like a lovely evening! 😘 1mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts @Tamra @Yuki_Onna @squirrelbrain Thank you, Litsy friends are truly the best 💝 (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen I‘m so sorry to hear that, Barbara. Sending love. ❤️ 1mo

Leftcoastzen Oh that‘s hard ! Hoping there are some small joys to be found.Hugs to you . 1mo

Ruthiella Sorry to hear that. Glad you are cherishing the moments you have. It‘s easier said than done. ❤️ 1mo

Librarybelle So sorry to hear about your mom. ❤️ 1mo

BiblioLitten To these small joys and cherished moments. Sending hugs 💕 1mo

Amiable Hugs to you —and to your mom. We have a very close friend who has frontotemporal dementia and we‘ve been watching him steadily decline for the past 7 years. It‘s heartbreaking to lose loved ones piece by piece. 🙁 1mo

Aims42 I‘m echoing what everyone else has said, the more the merrier!!! Cheers!! 🥂 I‘m sorry to hear about your mom, it‘s such a mean disease 😔 1mo

rebcamuse Sending you love as you navigate this @BarbaraBB. 1mo

dabbe So sorry about your mom. Sending 💛🤎🧡 to you, your mom, and your family as you cherish your previous moments with her. 1mo

CindyMyLifeIsLit So sorry about your mom. I went through that with my mom, as well. It‘s a terrible disease and we mourn as we watch them forget more and more. If it‘s any comfort (it was for me), my mother was happy. She wasn‘t aware of what was happening (after a certain point) and was just content with being around her loved ones. It comforted me that she wasn‘t suffering. I hope it does you, as well. ❤️ 1mo

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella @Librarybelle @BiblioLitten @Amiable @Aims42 @rebcamuse @dabbe Thank you so much for your comments. It means a lot 💝 1mo

BarbaraBB @CindyMyLifeIsLit thank you for reaching out! I think my mom is too, most of the time, fortunately. It is just when she can‘t remember how to do ordinary things as how to undress or use her telephone, she becomes sad and frustrated and that‘s heartbreaking 💔 1mo

Lesliereadsalot One of the things from going through this with my mother and mother-in-law, play music on your phone from your mom‘s era. That was something they both seemed to love. 💕 1mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot Thanks! I‘ve tried that before. My mom used to love French chansons (!) but her hearing os deteriorating as well. I will try again though, haven‘t tried it lately! 1mo

CBee Just wanted to send love to you, @BarbaraBB 😢💔 I can relate and know how it feels 💚 1mo

BarbaraBB @CBee Thank you so much. I know you can relate 💔 1mo

CarolynM Sending love, Barbara 💕 I know how hard it can be. I‘m glad for you that you and your mother can enjoy time together. 1mo

BarbaraBB @CarolynM You‘ve been dealing with it too, your support means a lot 💝 4w

janeycanuck I‘m so sorry about your mom. We are just starting on this road with my dad, it‘s so hard. 4w

71 likes1 stack add28 comments

BarbaraBB

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens | Shankari Chandran

pick

Set in a fictional Nursing Home in Sydney, this novel follows Sri Lankan immigrants Maya and Zakhir, who transformed the home into a sanctuary where “people will be valued.” Decades later, Maya is a resident, while Zakhir‘s disappearance remains unresolved. The flashbacks to war-torn Sri Lanka do complete the book.

Thanks for sending me this Carolyn🤍

#ReadTheWorld2025 #24 #SriLanka
#fictionaltraveler #someplacehot

GatheringBooks, CarolynM, julieclair

julieclair This sounds fascinating! Stacked. 1mo

Jeg I loved this book and gave it as a gift to several friends . 1mo

BiblioLitten Ah I wish this was in our local library. I suggested it but they said it was not published in Canada. Only Amazon has it. 😑 1mo

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BarbaraBB @BiblioLitten It‘s hard to get a copy where I live too so I was very glad that an Aussie Litten sent it to me ❤️ 1mo

BarbaraBB @Jeg good choice! 1mo

CarolynM Glad you enjoyed😘 Still haven‘t got around to it myself, yet. 1mo

83 likes5 stack adds6 comments

BarbaraBB

Deal Breaker: The First Myron Bolitar Novel | Harlan Coben

so-so

I listened to this one to see if it might be a series I‘d enjoy but I don‘t think so. The plot is good and so are the twists but I didn‘t really warm up to main character Myron Bolitar. Also the sexism of Bolitar and his friends and probably Coben himself as well, was irritating. I know the book was written in the 90s, but is that an excuse?
So I‘m kind of relieved I can let go of these series!
I will try another stand alone Harlan Coben though.

Lesliereadsalot I wish I could remember some good ones, but I can‘t. Could be this style is just not for you. Beach reads, every one of them! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I enjoyed that stand alone one that I read a few months ago so I will get another one of those! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot The tv series about Myron Bolitars son was horrible! 1mo

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BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot his son? Jessica‘s as well? 1mo

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB The mother in the tv series was named Shira. Myron was supposedly dead and Mickey, the kid, was looking for him. I didn‘t watch that much! 1mo

Readerann I‘ve given up on Coben. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Readerann I get why! 1mo

65 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Seascraper: A mesmerising portrait of a young man hemmed in by circumstance and class, but dreaming of more | Benjamin Wood

pick

A truly lovely book about a boy who scrapes the sea for shrimp and then meets a man who promises him Hollywood. The setting and scenery are drawn out so well, Thomas Flett is quite a special boy and the ending is… wow. Do visit the website mentioned at the end of the book 🎶

#Bookerlonglist #2

squirrelbrain I‘m glad you loved it too! ❤️ Gorgeous photo! 1mo

Caroline2 Ohh I‘m so intrigued by this book. So glad you liked it. 👍 1mo

BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs This seems totally your kind of book! 1mo

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BarbaraBB @Caroline2 Do read it! It‘s short but very powerful! 1mo

Graywacke Sounds lovely! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Graywacke I hear mixed things about this year‘s longlist but this one is definitely worth reading! 1mo

TheKidUpstairs I think it is! I think I'll have to put in an order from Blackwell's for this one. I'm being slightly more selective with my Booker reading this year, but everything I've picked up so far has been really good. 1mo

ImperfectCJ I can't get this one here yet, but I did put another by Benjamin Wood on hold at the library 1mo

ImperfectCJ @TheKidUpstairs Thanks for mentioning Blackwell's! I totally forgot about ordering from them! 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I have been having a hard time getting ahold of this one in the States, going to see if I can nab an English copy next month when I am in Czech. 1mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures How cool you are going to Czech! If you can‘t find it over there, let me know. I‘ll send you my copy. It‘s your kind of book too 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Sounds so good! Will look for it. 1mo

Graywacke @BarbaraBB so far I‘m smitten with this year‘s list. Love the variety and the fun and literary play 1mo

BarbaraBB @Graywacke that is good to know! I only read this one and Audition so far and both are at least memorable! 1mo

Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m just starting it. 👍🏻 1mo

Chelsea.Poole I think this‘ll be right up my alley. It‘s one of the ones not available here at the moment. Something to look forward to 😊 1mo

CarolynM Stacked! 1mo

82 likes11 stack adds17 comments

BarbaraBB

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens | Shankari Chandran

#WeeklyForecast 33/25

I‘m about to start my first (well I read Audition of course) #Bookerlonglist book, which is Seascraper. Afterwards I‘ll read the tagged one.
And I hope to start another Keigo Higashino.

squirrelbrain Seascraper is top of my Booker list so far - enjoy! 1mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain That‘s good to know! 1mo

CarolynM I still haven‘t read Chai Time🤦🏻‍♀️ I hope you like it, I‘ll have to get to it soon. 1mo

BarbaraBB @CarolynM I‘ll keep you posted 1mo

66 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel | Stef Penney

pick

This had been on my TBR since 2009 but I am glad I finally picked it up. It‘s a great read, set in Canada in a historical setting of empty landscapes, trackers, hunters, etc. A man is murdered and a boy is missing. What follows is a journey across the winter landscape with lots of pov‘s and storylines.

You were right Soubhi, it is a good read!

Soubhiville

Soubhiville I‘m glad you liked it too ☺️ 1mo

BkClubCare Cool pic 📷 1mo

Caroline2 I really enjoyed this one too. 👍 1mo

BarbaraBB @Caroline2 I was pleasantly surprised, it had been on my shelves for so long but it‘s great story! 1mo

87 likes2 stack adds4 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 1

Today we‘re discussing part two of Tilt.
As usual, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find both other questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 1mo

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 1mo

See All 45 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 1mo

BarbaraBB @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 1mo

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 1mo

Kitta For me it was the children. The boy trapped in ikea, the one she gives the caterpillar too, the daughter they‘re searching for in the school. I think because Annie is pregnant, her descriptions were extra heartbreaking. 1mo

Jas16 The parents searching for their children at their school. Even trying to imagine myself in their situation… 1mo

mcctrish The children 😭I liked that at least one reunion could be made. It struck me that one had to make split second decisions on whether to trust or not and it could go either way fast adding another horrible level of stress to survival and coping 1mo

AmyG The woman from IKEA looking for her daughter at the school. As a mother, I just couldn‘t imagine. That part made me so anxious. (edited) 1mo

DGRachel I guess since I don‘t have kids, they had less of an impact. For me, if was the clerk at IKEA who pulls Annie from the wreckage and who later reconnects with her. I don‘t think Annie would have made it as far as she did without the other woman by her side. 1mo

Butterfinger The parents. When the woman from IKEA decided to crawl in the tunnel, and she was probably still there during the aftershock. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Secondly, the girl who knocked Annie off the bicycle. 1mo

ImperfectCJ Taylor definitely stands out for me, how Annie's impression of her goes from an annoyed (annoying) employee to mom driven to get to her child. Also the teens at the end are particularly puzzling/disturbing to me, and the creepy guy in the van who she doesn't get a ride with. Still not sure if he was legit or a predator. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah Taylor stood out because we were able to hear and see her full story while others were passing moments along the side of the road. Also, the love for her daughter was a strong contrast to Annie's lukewarm excitement about becoming a mom. 1mo

BkClubCare And the creepy guy who walks with her for a bit; described as soulless. Annie‘s hackles up but she plays along until he finally leaves. But that was what provoked her need to get the razor blades (which I admit I was baffled by until we saw why) 1mo

BkClubCare And the married couple out for a bike ride - heartbreaking 💔 Her wanting to help but needing to survive. That scene hurt me. 1mo

BarbaraBB Oh so interesting we all mention other characters. I‘ll add one too, that stuck with me the most: I keep thinking of that man who offers her a ride in his van, and how she argues“Men aren‘t necessarily bad… Every man was once a baby… nobody wants to hurt a pregnant woman,” yet she still turns away, frozen. ❤️‍🩹 1mo

squirrelbrain I agree @ImperfectCJ @Zuhkeeyah - we could see the full trajectory (almost) of Taylor‘s story. But the snippets of all the other people she encountered were valuable too. 1mo

vonnie862 Oh my gosh, the children! 1mo

Deblovestoread Definitely Taylor‘s journey with that desperate need to get the her child. 1mo

yourfavouritemixtape For me it was Taylor too, being a parent, the scenes at the school were what hit me the hardest. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel I agree, I also think since she spent so much time with Taylor stands out the most to me. But honestly I keep thinking about the military men. The guys who are blocking Annie's only way to her husband (maybe, if he is still in the west side) and I agree with @Butterfinger the girl who knocked her off the bike is just horrifying. Nature is going to do what it does, but it was the bad actor people who really threw me. 1mo

GatheringBooks I echo what everyone else is saying about Taylor - hers is the most enfleshed narrative, I thought, and there was also a full circle kind of twist in the end when they found each other after all they have experienced. 1mo

Megabooks Taylor, of course. I read this the first time months ago, and I've thought at least a few times a week about her crawling into that school since then. I'm not a parent, but I can feel her desperation.

The man on the bike whose wife is obviously dead. That moment when everyone deserts her because they have to survive themselves. Those decisions made me grapple with my own humanity and how I'd feel as any of those people. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Whoever stole her water bottle really pissed me off! 1mo

willaful Taylor's story is excruciating... they each saved each other, but Annie may never know what happened to her and her daughter. 1mo

CBee Definitely Taylor - I wish we‘d had more resolution with that part 💔 1mo

Hooked_on_books I read this book back in March, so reading all the comments are refreshing the details in my head. But before reading the comments, the person I remember most is the pickup driver with a load of people who stopped for her. When someone is worried for their own safety and people yet stops for a stranger, that‘s humanity at its best. 1mo

TEArificbooks Well, like everyone, Taylor‘s story and the bike riders and the children really moved me. So I‘m going to add the mother at the school that found her child had died and how Taylor and Annie held her through the Initial trauma and grief. They had their own people they were searching for and time was of the essence but they both stopped to see that woman through for a few minutes. 1mo

BarbaraJean Like so many others, Taylor stood out because Annie‘s with her the longest. @ImperfectCJ Yes—how quickly the dynamic shifted between them once the earthquake hit! I loved how the annoyed employee & customer end up keeping each other going. I appreciated the realism of how many people Annie encounters and never sees again, so the reader never finds out what happens to them, either. But I also REALLY wanted to know what happened with Taylor. 1mo

BarbaraJean I also appreciated the range of encounters we saw: the best and worst of people, as well as everything in between. @Megabooks That man and his dying wife really haunted me. Everyone leaving felt so callous at first, but I kept thinking: what else could they have done? The teens at the end really shocked me, though. 1mo

Megabooks @BarbaraJean I think there were so many slices of humanity at its most desperate in this book. The teens did not shock me. I think with the brain development level, there's a finer line between being taken over to violence or negativity. It seemed that one girl was really egging the other teens on, but she also could've been turning them against others to protect herself. 1mo

Suet624 @Hooked_on_books I love that you brought up the pickup driver. You‘re so right… 1mo

Suet624 Taylor - needing Annie to go with her to the school but then, once there, being brave and desperate enough to go inside the school on her own - was the character that we knew more about and so it makes sense that‘s the character we focus on. But I appreciated how many other possibilities we encountered along the way- those who help, those who hinder, and those that hurt. 1mo

MeganAnn @Hooked_on_books yes, the pickup driver stood out to me as well and also the people in the back of the truck who helped lift Annie into it and find her space to sit. 1mo

MeganAnn I loved how the characters she meets along the way each seem to show another side of humanity. We see good and bad and in between and I think it makes her journey through the disaster of the city more realistic. Of course Taylor is memorable since we get to know more about her with Annie, but I also think the brief moments with all these other people are just as important. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Great question! Those side characters really did pack a punch. I‘m with everyone who mentioned Taylor. I‘d be crawling into that brick pile that used to be a school too, searching for my child by any means necessary. An aside in the next comment [with a spoiler] that doesn‘t have to do with the book but happened while I was reading it and related to this scene mentioned above. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole My second grade teacher‘s grown son (late 40s) went missing in our area while I was reading this book. He‘s a brilliant man but dealt with mental illness throughout his life. He left home around a boat ramp and the search party gathered there. I‘ll never get the image of his mother sitting there day after day at his last known location. Tragically, he was located deceased after a week. It brought to mind Taylor‘s reaction to her missing child. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Also, the husband and wife bikers really hit hard. Annie showed such a kindness to them both. 1mo

CBee @Chelsea.Poole that‘s just horrible 💔 1mo

Maggie4483 Maybe it‘s my “Murderino/Crime Junkie” side coming out, but the potentially or explicitly dangerous characters (guy in van, guy near bridge, teens) that stuck with me the most. It reminded me of The Walking Dead, where you think the villain in the story is going to be one thing (zombies there, earthquake here), but it‘s the people that you have to watch out for. The zombies and/or tectonic plates are just doing what comes naturally to them… 1mo

Maggie4483 When there is a big natural disaster like this, I think the news tends to show only the best of humanity-people providing medical aid, helping clear rubble, handing out food and water-but there will always be those who take advantage in these situations. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole @Maggie4483 excellent point! Also makes me think of The Last of Us. 1mo

52 likes45 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 2

Let‘s discuss the title (and maybe the bird on the cover?)!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Susanita The literal tilt during the aftershock at the closed bridge was alarming! The story of the bird was very sad to me. (edited) 1mo

mcctrish The cover made no sense until it did and it was bittersweet. The entire story was one where Annie was trying to get her footing, first as a playwright, in a relationship, in a job she didn‘t really want but was good at and needed, in a relationship, pregnant, in a disaster. The title was kind of brilliant 1mo

AmyG @mcctrish YES. I kept thinking how life tilts one way, then another. Her marriage, how it was not “tilting” or leaning in a good direction. I, too, thought the title was perfect. 1mo

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ImperfectCJ I think the title fits well. Some of the tilts I noticed: sitting with the cyclist (and deciding to leave), her observation of Taylor and other parents at the school, the bridge scene and having no way to get to Dom, her recollections of the sneaker wave and her mom's birds. All push her towards a self-reliance and confidence in her own strength that I don't think she had before. 1mo

Butterfinger I agree with @mcctrish her stability was her mother, and then her husband. It was a brilliant title. I think, when there was no where else to go, was when she decided she was the only one who she can lean on. She was so strong when she fought back. The bird...just encapsulates her feelings towards the mom. It didn't do anything for me. It could have been the caterpillar, broken bridge, anything. 1mo

DGRachel This is fascinating to me because I didn‘t even think about the title once I started the book. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo

Jas16 The title was well chosen. You go into the story just thinking it refers to the earthquake and then realize it captures so much more. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I agree with everyone- it was a good title. The literal tilt of the aftershock was most memorable to me. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah The title is perfect. Everything is shifting for Annie literally and figuratively. The world no longer makes sense as it was because a big change is here. 1mo

BkClubCare @ImperfectCJ - excellent thoughts 1mo

BkClubCare Yes, how off balance you feel physically and morally, all of it. Constantly unsettled. 1mo

BarbaraBB I agree with everyone. Such a well chose title. Annie has tilted into a new reality: one where survival is about carrying forward with a new clarity about what matters. 1mo

squirrelbrain The more you think about it, the more places you can see how perfect the title is. 1mo

vonnie862 The title matched the book. Everything was shifting: the physical world and Annie's life. 1mo

Deblovestoread II was glad we finally figured how the bird related because it didn‘t seem to fit what is a perfect title. 1mo

yourfavouritemixtape What @squirrelbrain said: I notice the more I think about it, the more perfect the title becomes. And I also like the fact that the word itself feels almost… soft? And not at all like the horror she lives through. 1mo

JamieArc @yourfavouritemixtape I agree that the title feels a bit soft. I still think it‘s a good title. I think a lot of her relationship with her husband. I imagine it tilting and tilting until eventually it‘s going to fall over. 1mo

Christine Well said, @mcctrish ! Including about the bird. And I realize design/visuals are subjective but the cover was not for me!! I love a house finch (the most prevalent bird in our backyard), but I was planning to skip this one until it became a #CampLitsy25 pick, in large part, I think, bc of the cover! 🤦‍♀️ (Glad I didn‘t skip!) 1mo

GatheringBooks I love the question. I think one pivotal “tilting” moment for Annie was when she went back home after feeling out of sorts in her 1st semester in NY - what would have happened if she stayed? Or if she did not marry her husband for health insurance, another tilting moment; & finally her husband‘s decision to lie & go to that audition thing which led to Annie‘s miles-long trek. It‘s the little decisions we make that make a world of difference 1mo

Megabooks I never gave it a thought until Barbara wrote this question. I can see what all of you are saying. I can also think of it as “tilt“ in a pinball machine - are things stuck until you give it a shake? I'd say Annie was certainly stuck in a lot of ways. The aftermath of this will greatly change her and her child's life. 1mo

Ruthiella @GatheringBooks Great point! So many decisions that led her to be where she was at that moment. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot The tilt affected everything in Annie‘s world, so it‘s a much larger tilt than just the earthquake. It‘s a tilt of how she will now perceive herself, and Dom were he to show up. One big tilt changes all the other aspects of her life. 1mo

willaful Some of the other editions had a raccoon on the cover, which may make more symbolic sense, but I hate it. 1mo

CBee It‘s a perfect title - not much to add as I agree with everything said here. The bird was odd at first and then it wasn‘t - that was a difficult part for me (my own loss and symbolism of birds in my life too). 1mo

mcctrish @GatheringBooks yes!!!! 1mo

Jas16 @Megabooks I like your thought about the pinball machine. 1mo

Hooked_on_books I hadn‘t thought about the metaphorical meaning of the title, only the literal one, but you‘re absolutely right! It adds depth to the title, linking it to all the life events in the book. 1mo

TEArificbooks I agree with everyone here life is being tilted figuratively with a baby and realizing her husband will never grow up and do responsible things for her and her child. 1mo

TEArificbooks I think another pivotal tilt was the bike riders. On a normal day, if someone is hurt you stay and help until first responders come. But knowing they weren‘t coming really changed things. It was her first oh things are really bad moment. Yes she survived the earthquake and new things were bad, but it was her first situation that showed all fast humanity devolved. 1mo

BarbaraJean @mctrish YES. I actually felt like the circumstances of Annie‘s life as they were revealed made the earthquake a little too on the nose as a metaphor! The title was perfection. There were a couple pivotal tilts for me. When Annie decided to head downtown to find Dom once she reached his work and discovered he‘d called out, and then on the bridge when she can‘t get through to where he would be. Those two shifts are almost reversals of each other. 1mo

BarbaraJean @yourfavoritemixtape @JamieArc Yes, the title seems like a huge understatement. These are jolts and ruptures and irreversible breaks, rather than a small tilt! But I love the sense of being off-balance that the title evokes. I think that‘s perfect for the aftermath of the violent ruptures Annie goes through here. 1mo

Suet624 @megabooks I really liked what you had to say about the pinball machine. So true. 1mo

MeganAnn I agree with everyone‘s comments about the title. At the beginning it simply seems to refer to the earthquake, but after finishing the book it has so much more meaning. I think the same can be said of the cover. The design with the bird feels absolutely perfect for this story after reading it. But, I don‘t know if I would have read it off the cover alone had it not been a camp pick. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Loved the title. Loved the cover art with the bird 🥺 I perked up at use of the word “tilt” throughout, used in several situations without reference to the earthquake. 1mo

Maggie4483 I kept staring at that bird trying to figure out what it had to do with the story…and didn‘t notice the wire legs until just before I got to that scene. When her mom comes home without selling a single bird was heartbreaking. We all eventually come to the realization that our parents aren‘t perfect and infallible. But seeing your parent‘s vulnerability or insecurity, especially after a “failure” is on a whole different level. 1mo

48 likes35 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 3

That was quite the ending. You must have thoughts about it. Talk to us!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Suet624 Questions 1 and 2 are not showing up on my feed and that also means that no one was tagged. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 you were too fast, they‘re here now 💕 1mo

Susanita I found the ending a little frustrating TBH. Somehow, though, I knew better than to expect everything to be tied up in a bow. 1mo

See All 50 Comments

mcctrish The ending was gripping - I was getting Walking Dead vibes sometimes in this because of how fraught it is for a pregnant woman to be alone in the world #idchoosethebear EP is a MASTER at building tension 1mo

ImperfectCJ The ending feels right to me. The teenagers attacking her (and her self defense) seem brutal in comparison with her previous thoughts/actions, but I read it as an indication she was moving out of her ambivalence and into Mama Bear mode. She's accepted doing this on her own, even not knowing what happened to Dom. The birth scene uses language similar to how I describe my son's birth (although I was in my dining room, not a park), which was cool. 1mo

AmyG At some point I realized the ending. And all her doubts about being a mother….her instinct took over. It was all inside of her all along. 1mo

DGRachel I did not like the near-feral teen scene. It felt thrown in for shock value, but I liked that she still hadn‘t found Dom. There was an inner strength that I think finally became clear to her when she gave birth alone, like @AmyG said. 1mo

Butterfinger I liked the ending. Everything that @AmyG said. Instincts took over. Pattee even described her as snarling when she tried to pass the teens. 1mo

Jas16 I agree with @DGRachel I didn‘t really like the scene with the teens but the rest of the ending felt right to me. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I would have liked a more detailed ending but I do understand why it ended that way. You can‘t really tie up something like that neatly. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah The ending was fitting for her journey. Annie found a new axis to spin around despite all the uncertainty she had experienced since the morning. 1mo

BarbaraBB To me the ending felt inevitable in a way that matched the rest of the novel‘s tone.There‘s a sense that Annie has tilted permanently into a new reality: one where survival is about carrying forward with a new clarity about what matters. But maybe that‘s how I want to see it! 1mo

BkClubCare I didn‘t “like” the scene with the teens either but I think it worked. She needed to be provoked into her fierceness and know she could be ready for what might be next. I am liking the book more and more upon reflection and I was on board for it before and during. (And the cover is perfect, too) 1mo

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @DGRachel @Jas16 @BkClubCare - the scene with the teens felt really jarring at first but looking back on it, it did fit with the narrative and led on to the ending. 1mo

vonnie862 I had mixed feelings about the ending. The attack from the teens and the birth were fitting but I needed closer when it came to Dom. 1mo

Deblovestoread The scene with the teens was tough but I think necessary so the we know at the end Annie has the determination to face the future with her baby in her now chaotic world. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @ImperfectCJ goodness! Can I ask, did you mean to have a home birth, or was it a surprise? I agree with your thoughts on the book, the ending felt good to me also. I like how you describe her going into mama bear mode. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel I also like that she didn't find Dom, though I felt bad for her about it, I know she loves him but throughout the book IMO he did nothing but drag her down. She will be so much more without him. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I was a bit nervous about the ending, you can feel the birth coming, and I was getting flashbacks from a book I hated (Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy - I despise the birth scene in this) but I think this one worked for me, it lead to this cumulation of Annie's development, bringing in new life, to her whole new life - being stronger, not having Dom, knowing herself better, and being in a physically new world after the quake 1mo

JamieArc I didn‘t need her to find Dom. The reunion would have felt… I don‘t know. Not true to the reality of their relationship? But the abrupt ending left me a little “ugh.” I didn‘t love it. 1mo

yourfavouritemixtape I agree with @BkClubCare she needed to be provoked to have her do what she‘s able to. I knew the end had to be open, but somehow I kind of hoped that the story would end before her giving birth. I don‘t really know why. 1mo

GatheringBooks @mcctrish agreed about the mastery in building up tension - it was such a gripping read and it is the perfect length for it. There is a tightness to the narrative - kind of like pared down to its barest essence and so subtle too, that it works well. Yet the lines are snappy, the momentum ever moving forward, and the story pretty engaging thruout. I am a fan of ambiguous open endings, plus it felt fitting for me. 1mo

Megabooks I liked the scene with the teens. I think EP needed to show how far Annie would go on her own to save her life and the life of her child. I like that she finally finds her inner strength. Not knowing (or really believing) Dom was alive also made her realize she had to be strong enough to face the aftermath of the earthquake and parenthood by herself. TBH, at times I thought of him more as a millstone around her neck than a husband. 1mo

Christine I liked the ending! And I just assumed Dom was dead with the news of Old Town being flattened - anyone else? 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I agree with @Christine I liked the ending and I was sure Dom was dead. That “deadweight “ will not be around to hinder her growth and she and the baby will be just fine. 1mo

willaful It might be because I identified too much with my own situation, but I found the lack of closure upsetting. 1mo

CBee At first I wanted more, but as I thought about it further, it needed to end that way. I had a feeling it would end with her giving birth. I was actually surprised she made it that long! 1mo

mcctrish @DGRachel @ImperfectCJ @Jas16 the teen scene has been niggling in the back of my brain - it did feel shocking or had greater shock impact to me because the other moments of violence were fleeting. So many adults were tethered by concern/worry-their loved ones, their property, their jobs so they don‘t react poorly, but the teens have had their ties to normalcy cut so gang mentality reigns. 1mo

Jas16 @mcctrish it some ways it just seemed too soon for me for the teens to be roving around in violent packs. Which I know sounds silly but if it had been a day or two of chaos later- sure. 1mo

mcctrish @Jas16 I get that completely - these ones were already bad to the bone 😂 they needed no persuading to go to the dark side 1mo

Hooked_on_books I thought the ending both worked for the book and was realistic in the sense that such a major shock spurring early labor is unsurprising. It was also a nice ending for Annie character arc. 1mo

TEArificbooks At first I wanted more at the end. I wanted confirmation that Dom was dead. I wanted her to find her home was still standing and give birth inside her own home. And I wanted her to have a safe place to recover for a few days at least. But I respect the author ending it when she did and adding the teens drove the Annie‘s character development to believing she has to do it alone and she can do it alone. 1mo

BarbaraJean For me, the ending was both too abrupt and also the only way this could have ended. I assumed Dom was dead (I‘m with you @Christine and @Lesliereadsalot!), especially after the bridge. And with what‘s revealed about their marriage and how little support I assume Annie would have had as a mother—no matter what, it was still going to come down to just her and Bean in the end. It was just the most extreme version of that! ⬇ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) So it was as expected and it felt right to me… but I was also disappointed. I wanted more answers, more resolution. I wanted to know definitively what had happened to Dom, to Taylor and her daughter, to so many others… but in the end, all that Annie was going to have was Bean. And that was enough. That felt right. 1mo

ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures It was a planned homebirth, so MUCH different circumstances, but still the birth itself Pattee described in words that really resonated for me. (I wrote about the birth at length on my blog, if you happen to like birth stories: https://imperfecthappiness.org/2011/08/08/my-sons-birth-story-part-1-ramping-up/ It's my son's 16th birthday today, so I'm thinking about his birth a lot) 1mo

JamieArc One thing that drove me a little crazy was why did Annie think that Dom would stay where he was instead of going to look for her? It felt risky. I would have just gone home first. 1mo

Leniverse @JamieArc Agreed! Although it made more sense to me with the ending. Her instincts were telling her to find her partner. Although I kept thinking that nesting at home would make more sense, I am also reminded that I paced the hospital hallways for about 12 hours on the day I gave birth to my first child 😂 Being still didn't feel like an option. 1mo

Leniverse I hate open ended books. This wasn't even an ambiguous ending, it just stopped. The only thing that had been resolved was her feelings about her baby. And as cathartic as the birth scene was, unless Annie has watched a YouTube tutorial on how to safely cut the umbilical cord with a razor blade coated in someone else's blood, I hope whoever is out there with a flashlight has some medical training. 🤪 1mo

Suet624 @Christine yes, I assume Dom is dead. 1mo

Suet624 @Leniverse I laughed out loud when I read your comment about the book just stopping and how to safely cut the cord. I felt the same way. 1mo

Suet624 I am so glad that I‘ve been able to read other‘s thoughts about the book. The comments have offered some insights that I hadn‘t thought about. Generally speaking, I enjoyed reading the story but was disappointed by the ending. 1mo

MeganAnn @BarbaraBB I agree that the ending felt inevitable. I thought it matched the tone of the novel and that we are getting the parts of the story we need to show that with the birth of Bean, Annie‘s reality has tilted into being a mother. It didn‘t really bother me that we don‘t get more answers. 1mo

MeganAnn @Leniverse your comment made me laugh as well as @Suet624 🤣 I‘m just going to assume that whoever is out there knows what to do and will take care of Annie and Bean. 1mo

Christine @Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraJean @Suet624 I wonder whether Annie also immediately thought he was dead but pushed past that? Can't remember if that was alluded to in the book.
@JamieArc I 100% would have gone home!! Though I guess the fact that Annie didn't might be saying something about what she knew or thought she knew about Dom...
1mo

Lesliereadsalot @Christine I think she continued to think he was alive, but when she couldn‘t get to him, decided to go home. She couldn‘t let her mind go to where he might be dead. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole The only part about the book I didn‘t like was the teen girl attack. It felt…wrong, somehow. @DGRachel I agree. And @Jas16 1mo

Chelsea.Poole I agree with @christine and everyone else who assumes Dom is dead. And @JamieArc I agree—Annie should have gone home to find him. I thought about what I would do in her situation and I like to think I‘d go home, but who knows how I‘d react in such a disaster. I‘m usually the panicking type. (edited) 1mo

Well-ReadNeck @Leniverse Yes! 💯 1mo

rockpools @Zuhkeeyah Love your comment about her finding a new axis to spin round - and describes really well her relationship with her Mum and with Dom. The whole day has been a conversation with Bean, so ending with her birth seemed right, even if everything is unresolved. 1mo

Maggie4483 I think we‘re all so used to disaster movies, where the MC‘s husband (played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) would show up at just the right moment to rescue her. Real life‘s not like that; it will likely be weeks or months before Annie knows what happened to Dom (if ever). So I think the ending, while somewhat unsatisfying, was more realistic. 1mo

42 likes50 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

This is a very violent read, as was to be expected of Cosby, yet I loved it - as was to be expected too.
Characters and their dilemmas are so believable that I can tolerate the violence just to stick with them. And the ending is mindblowing - at least it took me by surprise.
Looking forward to our #CampLitsy25 discussion next weekend. First tbe second half of Tilt though!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

AmyG Oooo I am almost finished. Love a good ending and figured it will be bananas. I love this author. 1mo

squirrelbrain Great review! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot After you said you liked this author, I figured you‘d like this one too. Lots of people loved it! Just not for me. 1mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I get that he isn‘t for you. As long as we stay in sync about our other books 😉 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I‘m not worried! 🩷 1mo

peaKnit He is a bit too gritty for me, but boy can he write a story, and it was believable despite all of the wildness. 1mo

87 likes6 comments

BarbaraBB

I See You've Called in Dead: A Novel | John Kenney

pick

Bud Stanley writes obituaries for a paper. After a bad breakup, a disastrous date, and one too many Scotches, he accidentally publishes his own obituary. The paper tries to fire him—only to find he‘s now listed as dead and can‘t be fired. Stuck in a bureaucratic mess, Bud tries to find meaning in living. This sounds sad but it‘s actually funny too!
Good recommendation @Lesliereadsalot

TrishB There are many days I‘ve fancied calling in dead!! 1mo

BarbaraBB @TrishB 🤣 1mo

Cathythoughts That‘s a great title. Stacking. 👍🏻❤️ 1mo

See All 6 Comments

Lesliereadsalot I knew you‘d like it! I loved the characters, they all seemed so real, especially Tim and the neighbor little boy whose name escapes me. Laughed and cried through the whole book. Now read A Language of Limbs!! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot yes! Tim and Leo were my favorite characters too. I will definitely read A Language of Limbs too! 1mo

Reggie Stacked! Fab review! 1mo

87 likes7 stack adds6 comments

BarbaraBB

The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel | Stef Penney

#WeeklyForecast 32/25

I started King of Ashes for #CampLitsy25 and have read a bit in I See You‘ve Called in Dead too. The tagged book is an oldie, I can‘t even remember why I bought it. It‘s my #Roll100 read for August.

Soubhiville I liked Tenderness of Wolves. I hope you‘ll enjoy it. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Soubhiville Maybe your review made me buy it! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on the other two! 1mo

70 likes1 stack add3 comments

BarbaraBB

Crying in H Mart: A Memoir | Michelle Zauner

so-so

I didn‘t love this book as much as most of you did. The narrator has been looking for her identity ever since her Korean mother died of cancer.
I loved the delicious Korean food descriptions and I could relate to the taking care of a dying parent but there were so many other subjects, that didn‘t really work for me. Less is more, I‘d say in this case.
Oh and I wish we had an H Mart where I live…it sounds amazing. #14weeks14books book 8

Liz_M

AlaMich They‘re pretty fun, I have to say. 1mo

ImperfectCJ I wasn't a huge fan of this one, either. It feels a little too performative for me. H Mart is pretty cool, though. 1mo

mcctrish I‘m glad I listened to this 1mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB @mcctrish It‘s a perfect book to listen to I think. 1mo

Suet624 I'm so glad to see you felt the same way about this book. I felt nervous saying I considered it a so-so read. 1mo

BarbaraBB I felt a bit nervous too, everyone seems to love it! 1mo

86 likes6 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

It‘s August and I‘m taking over the hosting from Meg for our final two #CampLitsy25 books. Today we‘re discussing Part One of Tilt.

As ever, if you‘ve read ahead, please try not to include spoilers for those who haven‘t.

Also, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find the other two questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 1mo

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @Cbee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 1mo

See All 66 Comments

BarbaraBB @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 1mo

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @jhod 1mo

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape 1mo

Meshell1313 Ooh I think it def adds more drama and makes the story more high stakes. I cared about her survival more and her situation seemed way worse because we were worried about the baby. 1mo

Kitta I think it‘s provided an interesting way for her to tell the story - directly to the baby. And yes as @Meshell1313 said it adds drama! I cared about her either way but it certainly seems more high risk given she‘s heavily pregnant. 1mo

jenniferw88 I'm probably going to be the #unpopularopinion here, but I think she'd have done the same things, pregnant or not. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I agree with @jenniferw88 Of course she was trying to save two lives, but at the end of the day, everyone tries to save themselves. I couldn‘t stop thinking about how cumbersome it was to be heavily pregnant! 1mo

Ruthiella Would she have behaved differently if not pregnant? If anything she would have been perhaps more reckless? The whole book I was on edge. She thought more of her husband than her own or her child‘s life, it seemed. 1mo

squirrelbrain I agree Kitta - it was a good way to tell the story. Otherwise there would have had to have been another person with her all the time, or it would have been a stream-of-consciousness inner thoughts-type book. 1mo

BarbaraBB I agree the pregancy added to the drama - 36 weeks 😱 @Lesliereadsalot I kept thinking about that too, but I agree with @jenniferw88 in thinking that she‘d make the same decisions without being pregnant. Like @Ruthiella points out, she seems to hardly think of her baby. 1mo

Megabooks @Ruthiella Me too. I was on edge. I think it also made the periods she reflected on the relationship with her own mother more poignant and impactful. I have heard there is some brain fog in pregnancy, and I have that with my chronic illnesses. Her actions and the split between being single-minded and not always rational is reminiscent of that for me. 1mo

jenniferw88 @Ruthiella this 100%! She doesn't seem at all bothered about her own life, nor her baby's. She is SO NOT ready to be a parent. 1mo

JamieArc I think one of the aspects that is directly affected by the pregnancy is how others perceive her or help her. More people are aware of her because of her pregnancy, and we as readers see that. And would she be getting the help she is if she weren‘t pregnant? 1mo

TrishB Jeez, harsh judgements 😁 first baby/pregnancy, hard to imagine a child or being a mother! I don‘t think it‘s that she didn‘t think of the baby, she was just panicking. I mean she made some dodgy choices. I think as @squirrelbrain says, it‘s a good story telling device. 1mo

Bookwormjillk @jenniferw88 I agree. Other than the physical issues she didn‘t really seem to think about the baby. The big thing though is that without the baby she would have been at work instead of crib shopping at IKEA. 1mo

jenniferw88 @TrishB, my medical conditions may be influencing my judgement for this book! As I've said somewhere else on one of my posts, I probably can't have children, so I can't empathise with Annie at all because I'll never be in her position. 1mo

TrishB @jenniferw88 no one is ever ready. It‘s life changing. 1mo

BarbaraBB @TrishB You‘re absolutely right, it‘s life changing, and I think she did what she thought was best - under pressure of the earthquake and not knowing where Dom was. I think she would have made those decisions anyway, mainly because she isn‘t a mother yet. She‘s a lonely panicky woman at this day! (edited) 1mo

Susanita She was “talking” to the baby constantly, for one thing. Yeah, she would be a hot mess regardless, but I think the story would have been different if she wasn‘t pregnant. Also, saving her life IS saving the baby‘s life. 1mo

mcctrish I agree with @TrishB that first babies/pregnancy are hard - no matter what you read it‘s a constant feeling of being out of control imo, I think Annie feels that on so many levels, she isn‘t exploring her dream job, finances are a shit show, her husband is going rogue, and there‘s an earthquake. She‘s lost herself and not having her mother is 💔 1mo

TrishB @mcctrish yes- that‘s a great summary. 1mo

TrishB @BarbaraBB she definitely is a lonely panicky woman! Felt for her. 1mo

vonnie862 Yes, I think her pregnancy added to her decisions and how people perceived her. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole I think the late stage pregnancy added to the emotional impact of the book—both in the present day earthquake aftermath and the lens through which we get Annie‘s past (her mother, her partner). It changed both others‘ perception of Annie and her own interactions/thoughts with the crisis (the little boy alone in IKEA, etc.) And I think that‘s pretty much how it is in real life. Motherhood colors everything: both the way I am seen and the way I see. 1mo

DGRachel Nothing new to add, but I think the pregnancy made it the experience physically harder for her. She‘d still be a hot mess if she wasn‘t pregnant, but I can see myself being just as lost, especially if I was alone. I agree with @JamieArc about it impacting the way others perceive and help her. I think if she hadn‘t been pregnant, she‘d have been invisible. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I have a moderate tokophobia, so normally I would never read a book centering pregnancy in this way, but I do think everything is heightened a bit by it. I am with @Kitta it provided an interesting way to narrate the story, @Megabooks pregnancy brain fog added to disaster confusion, I honestly thought she was holding up pretty well so far. I cannot imagine the pain in the body, I thought Pattee did a great job describing it. 1mo

AmyG Yes wha mt you have all said. I believe it changed how she might have reacted. We will bever know. It wasnmt just her, it was her and the baby. I also agree it changed how th e reader reacted to her. I may not have had as much compassion for her if it was just her. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah Her pregnancy definitely played a role in how others interacted with her. Annie seems to be mostly ignoring the existence of the baby despite being late in pregnancy. There is also an element of shock to it all that leads to some decisions I don‘t agree with. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @jenniferw88 I agree she is not prepared, but more so what the heck is she doing with that man, having a baby with him??? @Susanita yes, constantly talking to Bean, I almost think having someone to constantly talk to is a bit grounding for her. My stream of conscious would have been out of control, but it seems like she is able to talk to Bean in a way to get her thoughts a bit more in order than if she was just talking to herself. 1mo

GatheringBooks Was laughing out loud as I was reading the responses in this thread. Poor pregnant Annie lols. I echo the sentiment that pregnant or not, Annie would most likely make the same choices. However, I do sense her efforts to protect her Bean - she is very much aware of her own baby, but perhaps she overestimated her own capacity and underestimated the chaos and danger? As a first time hormonal mother, I think she would go even crazier if she went home. 1mo

Jas16 I agree that her pregnancy had a large impact in the ways others perceived her and in her physical capabilities, I think in some ways though the feeling of not feeling being prepared for the way a baby is going to change her life and the way she reacts to an unexpected earthquake, digging deep insider herself are connected. 1mo

Deblovestoread Not much new to add. I think she might be a bit better prepared for Bean‘s birth if she had a partner not just a husband. 1mo

Butterfinger While reading, I was comparing myself to Annie, not really thinking about her not being pregnant. I remember being scared out of my mind and being very rash when I was at that stage. I locked my keys in the car when I started laboring so I calmly went back into the trucks top restaurant to grab a chair. I was not going to have my baby at a truckstop. My husband, who stupidly was not panicking, said let's just call someone. I WAS NOT IN A DISASTER 1mo

Butterfinger I couldn't imagine being in that situation. I know I would walk to my husband's workplace to be with him. Maybe, if she hadn't been pregnant, she would have been more willing to offer aid to others hurt far more than she. 1mo

Hooked_on_books The physical challenges alone for her would have been so hard. She‘s late in pregnancy, so she‘s quite front heavy having to navigate broken ground. She‘d also have leg swelling and reflux at this stage. It would change everything compared to having to deal with all that. 1mo

CBee So strange - I never got a notification! Will check out all of the questions soon. @BarbaraBB Litsy being glitchy 🤪 1mo

CBee I kept thinking that what she was doing was impossible. But somehow, she did it. Being pregnant definitely influenced her decisions. 1mo

BarbaraBB That‘s frustrating @CBee I did tag you. I hope you‘ll enjoy the discussion nevertheless 🤍 1mo

CBee @BarbaraBB no worries on my end! I know Litsy can be wonky sometimes 🙂 1mo

willaful I'm maybe the only person here who has actually been this situation - NOT, thank goodness, pregnant! -- and getting home to my then boyfriend (now husband) was the only thing I cared about. I made what in retrospect were very foolish decisions and could have been killed.

I feel no one is giving Annie credit for listening to her intuition, turning down a bad ride for example. She's doing her best in incredibly dire circumstances. 1mo

peaKnit @AmyG I agree, I would not have had as much empathy if she wasn‘t pregnant either. I totally think her pregnancy influenced her decisions. 1mo

TrishB @willaful I hear you! I haven‘t been in this situation (thankfully!) but I understood the making decisions in a stressful situation and that‘s just the way it is. Some harsh judgements here 😁 1mo

BarbaraBB @willaful You‘re right, I cannot imagine those circumstances. Next week we‘ll discuss her encounters with people along the way! 1mo

cariashley Gah, this was such a tough read 8 weeks postpartum but better to read it now than when I was 37 weeks! The whole time I just kept thinking she was in shock and on autopilot out of sheer desperation, which I can‘t imagine would have been quite as visceral if she wasn‘t pregnant. I cannot imagine. My ankles were swelling so bad in heat at the end and it pained me reading about her walking such distances! 1mo

BkClubCare Fifty comments!! 1mo

BkClubCare Okay, I thought it insane that she was in Ikea and attempting to move/lift boxes; that she wasn‘t getting any help and that was before the earthquake. I was super happy that she connected to the girl again to assist getting out of the store. 1mo

BkClubCare @cariashley - it pained me for her! All that walking! Bad shoes!! No water!!! Wow. 1mo

BarbaraBB @cariashley You could relate to Annie very well much I think, and you describe her feelings perfectly. 1mo

Suet624 @BkClubCare Her attempt to lift boxes! Insane. :) 1mo

Suet624 I loved reading all these comments. I don't think she would have acted any differently if she weren't pregnant - she'd still want to get to her husband. That's anyone's first thought, isn't it? :) 1mo

Maggie4483 Only a day late this time instead of a week! Woo hoo! I kinda don‘t agree with everyone about Annie‘s actions. I think she‘s definitely looking out for Bean (she‘s always very aware and protective of her belly), but it seems instinctive, not intentional. And her guilt at leaving the little boy in IKEA, and her hesitation to leave Becky‘s body, makes me think that, were she NOT pregnant, she might have become a helper. (edited) 1mo

Maggie4483 @willaful - I think that‘s only natural. I imagine after a disaster all you want is to be with your loved ones, if anything just as reassurance that they‘re okay. I was a freshman in college on 9/11, away from home for the first time. Even though no one I knew was anywhere near NY or DC, but I called all my loved ones. I‘ll never forget my grandfather laughing at me and telling me that Nacogdoches, Texas was one of the safest places I could be. 1mo

Well-ReadNeck I def think her pregnancy makes a huge difference. For the reasons everyone mentioned, but also because this baby will be coming at some point in the near future and she doesn‘t have the option to hunker down and wait and take things slowly. She needs to get to civilization and medical care. 1mo

sarahbarnes I‘m sorry to have missed this discussion @BarbaraBB - I‘ve been so distracted lately and haven‘t even read this book yet. I hope you‘re doing well. 💕 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes No problem of course, I just hope you‘re doing well. Been missing you on Litsy 🤍 1mo

ImperfectCJ Annie seems incredibly aware of her baby (I mean, she's talking to it the whole time), but it seems like she's thinking of the baby as a part of her, which it basically is. And really, the baby is in the safest place it can be, so she doesn't really need to think of it separately. She's just got a need to bring her little family together and feel safe, and it's not clear to her how to make that happen. 1mo

ImperfectCJ I've no idea if she'd act differently not pregnant, but I suspect she would have less focus on one goal. And without Bean to talk to, she might be a lot more panicked. 1mo

BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ wow you‘re late to the party but you add a lot to think about! Very insightful 🤍 1mo

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 💕💕 thank you. My work is very connected to all the terrible things happening here and it feels very overwhelming these days. I still love Litsy and miss seeing you on here; I hope to have more time to be back on here soon. 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I am very sorry for you. I can‘t imagine how that must be but I guess it is frightening and frustrating. I hope books and Litsy can continue to be a much needed way out 💝 1mo

45 likes66 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25

Let‘s discuss the two most important people in Annie‘s life: her mother and her husband!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Bookwormjillk I think Annie is starting to lose patience with her husband. Dating an underemployed actor is probably not as romantic when you have a baby on the way. Her mother is not as easy to sus out. Annie seems to view her positively but I'm not sure if that's because she recently died. Overall Annie seems pretty alone. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot My daughter, who still performs sometimes, dated many, many unemployed actors over many years and I know a lot about this genre of guys. Annie was amazing to have as good an attitude as she had for so long a time, so accepting of who her husband was. I felt for Annie, just her and the baby. 1mo

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot - she seemed to have become frustrated with her husband. And that probably wasn‘t a one-sided view - the things she spoke about that he did / didn‘t do were factual and most people would be annoyed by them, not just her. Her feelings probably were heightened by the quake - a rather extreme example of another way she‘d been left to fend for herself. 1mo

See All 57 Comments

Ruthiella I think Annie is someone who probably could have used more friends in her life. Her entire emotional support is invested in two people, who are only human and mortal and so are not enough. I also think the husband should have found a way to perform (teaching, community theater, etc) rather than hanging on to a probably unrealistic dream of making it in LA. Also, they should have moved to LA. 1mo

Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot I agree she hung in there for a long time 1mo

Megabooks @Ruthiella Speaking from personal experience, having a small social circle is especially noticeable when you're facing heavy things like death, pregnancy, and marriage problems. I felt for her a lot. Could she have made better choices? Yes. It's easy to feel stuck, though. She definitely seems to feel incredibly lonely. 1mo

BarbaraBB Regarding Annie‘s mother I think her absence inflates Annie‘s fears and heightens her introspection—a missing anchor as she wrestles with becoming a mother herself. And that husband. While he is sympathetic and committed, Dom chases approval and recognition far beyond their financial means. Annie is very much alone indeed @Megabooks @Ruthiella in facing all that‘s coming her way. (edited) 1mo

JamieArc I was wondering if she was romanticizing the past when she was talking about first meeting, dating, early years with her husband. But then, we probably all do that, especially when facing mortality. 1mo

TrishB I think it‘s making her think a lot. But I don‘t think they‘re new thoughts. Impending motherhood is scary enough without a support mechanism and many financial woes. 1mo

Susanita As @Ruthiella says, she needed a bigger support network. She‘s dealing with unresolved grief from losing her mother so abruptly, and her husband has proven himself to be untrustworthy. Even before being trapped by herself in the rubble, she felt alone. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot @JamieArc Agree with you here! I‘m sure she thought he would “grow out” of that early stage of auditions, evolve into someone else. Especially with a baby coming. Unfortunately, this kind of guy, never does let it go. @squirrelbrain She‘s sick and tired of being left to fend for herself, good point! 1mo

mcctrish I feel like Annie‘s mother was the last person to do something for Annie and Annie is exhausted doing everything, her husband seems nice but clueless to the amount of care he requires. The stress of looking for the next gig does get offset by the high of hoping, whereas Annie just has the grind 1mo

vonnie862 The earthquake may have triggered to how she's feeling about her mom and husband but if anything, she's coming to the realization of how she really feels. She's irritated with her husband and feeling guilt on how things ended with her mom. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Her mom didn‘t come across as saintly to me, but just as a down to earth, supportive and caring mother. I liked that she created the boundary of “no more money”. Her husband is also not perfect but genuine and seems like he‘ll be a good dad. Or at least that‘s how Annie is operating at this point. She‘s still exasperated by him at times, seems realistic. 1mo

DGRachel It hadn‘t really clicked before, but yes. Annie is alone in her pregnancy. Her husband, no matter his feelings for her or the baby, is a child. She refers to him as Peter Pan, refusing to grow up. The earthquake is a chance for her to voice her anger and her grief. My issue with her mother was the encouragement to get married so Annie‘s husband could have dental insurance. 🤦🏻‍♀️ That doesn‘t seem like a great reason. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookwormjillk so very alone!! Her mother dies, her husband is useless, where are her friends? It is always bizarre to me when our characters have no friends. 1mo

AmyG I agree that her Mom was her rock, her anchor. With the earthquake she most likely felt the loss even more. As for the husband…can anyone blame her? She was the breadwinner while he was pursuing a dream with, at that point, low odds. I felt she gave up her dream for him and it was going nowhere. I also felt great disappointment on her part with him as things just didn‘t pan out as she thought. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah I agree with @mcctrish about her mom being the last person to focus on Annie. Her mom sounded like a practical person with limited means who passed that resiliency onto her daughter. Dom loves Annie but he‘s very committed to his personal goals which causes her needs to take a backseat. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot there were a couple of times she has mentioned that he wanted to move to more of an “acting scene“ and she has stopped it, I wonder how much of this is reflected in her having a good attitude with him for so long? 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella at one point, I think before they are married, she mentions he was acting and teaching acting on the side, but it was just a passing mentions so I did wonder what happened to that line of creativity and income. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks in my experience with disasters, pregnant or not, it is very hard to make the best choices. I kept yelling at her in my mind, go HOME. what are you doing. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @JamieArc agreed, I think we all romanticize the past. Especially in hard times. Not only is she nostalgic for life and love (being so lonely on her solo walk) but she needs to believe that she is walking towards something great. If she wasn't what would be the point of it all? 1mo

GatheringBooks @Chelsea.Poole i had the same impression of her mother: no-nonsense, caring, & as supportive as she can get given their limited means. I don‘t know if it is just me but Annie does not really strike me as the friendliest, most likeable person which may explain the absence of friends? Her ruminations & the way she describes people/circumstances suggest a dash of bitterness, sarcasm, a touch of standoffishness, like she is better than everyone else. 1mo

Jas16 I agree that she is scared and feeling the lack of support in the life. I do think she loves her husband but being pregnant changes her priorities quickly and being the supportive spouse is no longer as important as providing for their child. 1mo

GatheringBooks That being said, there is something very genuine and real and also broken about her - with all her missed opportunities and untapped potential that make her so complex. She has an open-eyed pragmatism that I also admire, and a predisposition towards mockery - even self-mockery, too, suggesting she can laugh at herself. But all these qualities do not necessarily scream Miss Congeniality. Lols. 1mo

Deblovestoread @DGRachel Same! Up to that point I thought mom was sensible but marrying to give him insurance ugh! And also shows him “I‘ll always bail you out” so he doesn‘t have to fix the problems, she will. 1mo

Susanita @ChaoticMissAdventures ITA that she should not have had a child with him. 1mo

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Well put, she appears very genuine. Life has been tough for her and she doesn‘t know what to expect of it with a baby and she can‘t ask her mom. 1mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Haha I too wanted her to just go HOME and kept yelling at her in my mind! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread @DGRachel That was not the best of advice I agree. So annoying too that he himself didn‘t take responsibility for his problems. He was always a victim, which is why she had to be strong all the time. 1mo

Butterfinger My views are most similar to @DGRachel and @Deblovestoread Of the two, she is the most mature and responsible. She is probably thinking, the dummy won't think of me so I had better go find him. Annie clearly misses her mother. That is one of the main reasons she wants to stay. The memories of childhood with her mom. 1mo

DGRachel @ChaoticMissAdventures As someone who doesn‘t have a social network, I can say it hits harder when the main characters don‘t have friends. I find I understand and empathize more. But also, yes. I keep thinking why didn‘t she go home. Wouldn‘t home be the best meeting place? (edited) 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel yes, sorry, that sounded very judgemental on my part. I don't have a huge circle either and 2 of them would be on the other side of the big river, probably impossible to get to and the other 2 would be on the other side of the river she is going to cross, and with all the phones down. Even with a support group you can end up very alone. 1mo

Megabooks @ChaoticMissAdventures me too. Home would make much more logical sense, which is one of the aspects where I really felt the brain fog whether it was because of or heightened by pregnancy or just the general fog of disaster everyone was dealing with. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks originally it made sense for her to go to the cafe. The cafe is between IKEA and home, but pivoting to cross the river is a wild choice. If she walks straight south down 60th she would be home! And we have zero clue where Dom is at this moment! I would assume he is trying to get across the river to her. Maybe (IDK, I don't trust the guy) 1mo

Meshell1313 @ChaoticMissAdventures yes! I am skeptical of him also! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot @ChaoticMissAdventures You think he‘s trying to get home to her? I think he‘s worried about his audition, haha! 1mo

Hooked_on_books I think the author made these choices to isolate Annie in her life from a writing craft perspective to heighten her isolation, and it really works. I feel like many people in that situation would be desperately trying to get to someone they care about, and for her to be focusing on just one person, because that‘s all she has, focuses the book. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I think you‘re right. She only has one person to turn to, one who probably isn‘t worth her. It makes the book so good. 1mo

CBee Dom drives me crazy. I understand having a dream but you have to contribute in order to get there. You have to do more and you have to figure out priorities, which he hasn‘t done. I really feel like Annie was forced to give up her writing and success because he‘s so delusional about the next “big break.” (edited) 1mo

CBee @DGRachel I feel this. Not much of a social network for me either. Virtual, yes! But not a lot of people to turn to for help in my life 🤦‍♀️ 1mo

CBee I think Annie‘s just been generally disappointed by life, and losing her mother/best friend so suddenly was the last straw in a way. I liked her as a character. (edited) 1mo

TrishB @CBee I liked her too! 1mo

willaful @Hooked_on_books Can confirm! And being pregnant would make her even more focused on the one person she's been relying on for support. 1mo

CBee @TrishB 😊😊 1mo

cariashley @BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures ah same! I wanted her to just go home too. It was so frustrating! 1mo

cariashley I actually think the takes on Dom here are a little bit harsh, and I have pretty bad economic anxiety/financial stability issues. Annie herself started out wanting an artistic life and while she gave up and got a practical desk job, she‘s clearly not making a career out of it. I think they‘re actually a well matched couple in a lot of ways. (edited) 1mo

BkClubCare @Susanita - um, I had to look up “ITA” 🤣 (should I be embarrassed?! 😞) 1mo

BkClubCare @cariashley - ah, and that it is too easy to say, “they should‘ve written plays for Dom and worked together with a shared dramatic vision!!” But we all aren‘t the 1%. I know nothing. But she did seem to lack friends for someone who grew up in the same area. I have moved SO much; always jealous of those “in town + grew up together” friendships that I just never had. 1mo

BkClubCare And, if the big one (earthquake) is a known possibility, don‘t you think about “where are we going to meet?” - we always do this! We still joke about meeting at the doggie daycare where we LOVE the proprietors, BUT. They are in Massachusetts and we now live in Kansas 🫤 1mo

Suet624 I'm surprised by how people view Dom (although he was a shit for lying about where he would be). He is attempting to pursue his passion. Annie seems to have just stopped pursuing hers. I don't remember him telling her to do so. It just seemed to me that she just lost her ambition to write. Oh, I just saw that @cariashley had the same thought. 1mo

Maggie4483 I agree with @cariashley and @Suet624 - Dom is definitely not perfect, but he does seem to really love Annie. I think for both of them, the baby is still an abstract idea (although more so for Dom). I‘ve known a couple of “deadbeat dads” in my life, and one thing they had in common was a lack of ambition. I see in Dom the potential to step up once that baby is a real living, breathing, eating, pooping, crying person in the world. (1/2) 1mo

Maggie4483 (2/2) Annie also seems very rigid. I get her attachment to her home & mother‘s memory, but that‘s really all there is for her in Portland. There‘s an opportunity for compromise here. Dom probably isn‘t to become a movie star in LA, but he‘s definitely not going to in Portland. Give him the chance to pursue it, with the caveat that at the same time he has to contribute more to the household. 1mo

Leniverse Annie grew up with just her mother, no siblings and no father. There's been no mention of grandparents or other relatives either, so of course they were close. Her mother died suddenly and with Annie not even 30. And now she's pregnant with her first child, that her mother will never meet. My mother and I are kinda like oil and water but I still went to her for advice and support when I was expecting, and it was invaluable. 1mo

Leniverse Her life seems to be all work and supporting her husband's dream. All her friends have moved away or are living very different lives. I think Annie gave up on her dream too soon, and Dom has held on to his for too long (but this might change when the baby is born). I didn't like the lie, he should have stood his ground if it was that important to him. 1mo

ImperfectCJ I see Annie as never having been given space to feel all she needs to about her career disappointments, her mother's death, her pregnancy with a guy who's oblivious. She seems very...protective. Like when you have a bad stomachache or some other pain and are afraid to move and make it worse. I guess this can appear as rigid, but I think it's just self-protective. And just like the pressure between tectonic plates, it's got to give eventually. 1mo

ImperfectCJ It's Annie's being responsible and holding down a "real" job with benefits that allows Dom to follow his star, and he seems to have little appreciation for that reality and little patience for Annie's ambivalence about starting a family in this situation. There's so much riding on her and not much open conversation. But then, I roll my eyes at "pursuing one's passion," so that's my bias. 1mo

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BarbaraBB

Joined June 2017