I'm a Ruhn girlfan. Chef's kiss to the way Maas writes Ruhn's and Bryce's sibling relationship. They adore each other with no bitterness or competition.

A very short biography. I appreciated his message of humility serving the poor. In Argentina and throughout the world. I'm glad I took the time to read it. #Italy #FoodandLit #Jubilee @Texreader @Catsandbooks Also P #LitsyAtoZ

I loved this book so much. There is not much dialogue. Pure action and integrity in the hearts of two young boys of Shoshone heritage. I loved the loose magical realism with the telepathy of the natives. The trickery and the development of the two separate personalities were just simply delightful. The time with the Roma. I could go on and on. My only wish is I want to read it in it's original language. #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader

Published May 1, 2025

I wanted more character development. There was not enough depth to Rose, Emma, and Libby. I thought Dennis was the most rounded-out character. You know why he made his decisions. Why did Rose go to Spain? Was she encouraged by peers? Hard childhood? Embittered by US's decisions not to accept refugees?

On the other hand, using the history of soap operas, World International Fair in Moscow, and the

I have often thought about purchasing this book. So many I do not know. Ivanhoe, Bleak House, and Wuthering Heights are three I enjoyed reading. Although, I do remember finding 6 pages of describing a dress quite tedious. Talking to you, Sir Scott. #TLT @dabbe

Ms. Maas can tell the most intriguing stories.

Another heartbreaking yet beautifully written Bangladesh story OR legendary heroic fun? I think I need something lighter before rereading A Golden Age. The photograph doesn't do it justice. The gold leaves are metallic. A gorgeous cover.

Evocative writing. Equal to The Kite Runner. The effects of war on different groups of people are exposed. Rape as a weapon. WOMEN CHOSE TO MARRY and leave with THE ENEMY BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES DISOWNED THEM. A brother turned into an extremist because of guilt. His sister remained a rebel to the new government because of guilt. They both neglected their loved ones while on crusades. Trigger warnings #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I have tried several times to read the tagged. Bleak House was the last Dickens I read. The Grapes of Wrath is on my tbr. #TLT @dabbe

I am not a poetry reader. That's on me, definitely not Ocean Vuong. There were some lines I thought were quite lovely.

I'm winning even / if it just looks like / my fingers are shaking

Nobody's free without breaking open

I was made to die but I'm here to stay

It seems to me like a roller coaster. The speaker moves from gutwrenching despair to the heights of victory. Maybe. #QueerBC @PuddleJumper
There's death. Then dancing.

The complexity of each character had been thoughtfully crafted. Auci has a way of bringing these historical people back to life by giving them likable and unlikeable traits. I'm sad to say goodbye to the Florios of Sicily. I learned a lot about the Industrial Age of southern Italy, especially tuna canning. All thanks to this captivating family. #Italy #Jubilee #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I had to read Shogun to understand the
"Whys?" of the series. I loved it. Although, it was Japanese historical fiction through the eyes of a white man. I need to read Musashi, written by Murakami, about the same time period. The penny dreadfuls pop out - Dracula, Frankenstein (I remember being so surprised at this-I had been influenced way too much by Hollywood), and The Picture of Dorian Grey. #TLT @dabbe

A humble man remains decent during a civil war in his beloved country. He doesn't shy from the atrocities he witnesses. He also still has lingering anger toward UN for taking so long to get involved and being hesitant in calling the atrocities a genocide. Even though he lives in Belgium, his heart remains in Rwanda, and he continues to be afraid for its future, of another genocide. A MUST READ. #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

Grann knows how to write for the readers to feel the fear, the hunger, and the anger of the castaways. One thing that will always stay with me is that wild celery saved the men from scurvy, but there was not enough to feed. He used primary sources such as the journals of the survivors. What a story.

It was not the largest genocide in the history of the world, but it was the fastest and most efficient.

I watched Hotel Rwanda many years ago. When my youngest was watching it in her social studies class this past March, it left her unsettled, and she needed to talk. I knew what book I wanted to read to get more information. You can't explain hate, I know, but you can remember. #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I don't relish ambiguous endings, but with each short story, I accepted it because the ambiguity added to the Gothic atmosphere. It truly was an awesome read.

Twenty minutes of pure pleasure. #ChildrensClassicChallenge @TheBookHippie

YES!!!! THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! Some of my all-time favorites are on this list - A Separate Peace, Where the Red Fern Grows, Count of Monte Cristo. Some I would love to read again- Don Quixote, Flowers of the Attic, Another Country. Some I want to read - Invisible Man, Confederacy of Dunces. #TBT @dabbe

It took me a while to understand. I thought I was to nominate for a vote of best books. I understand now. I nominate Fagin the Thief, Death of the Author (tagged- Author of Binti trilogy and Akata Witch), Snowy Day (translated from Korean, published in US Feb. 2025), and Harlem Rhapsody. #CampLitsy @Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB

I appreciated the attempt to tie archaeological finds to the Norse folklore or Sagas. I learned quite a bit, but I could not stomach the slang. "No take-backsies" doesn't sound very academic, in my opinion.

It was no Jane, Emily, or Anne. I feel so guilty. I don't understand why it was a big deal to be read by a male. He is not a good oral reader. I hope my negativity is because of him, but I don't think so. I didn't like all the misconceptions of the children. By the last hour, it was just background noise. #ChildrensClassicChallenge @TheBookHippie

Interesting culinary news from Rwanda. #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

Littens, my friends, you are amazing. You have exceeded my goal. Each Daytonator will get to choose a book without thinking of money. Each one of them. Please email me tammydayton75@gmail.com to leave your address. I have knitted you a bookmark. 🥰🥰🥰

@ImperfectCJ I meant, with everything in me, to email you as soon as I got to school Monday to tell you my schedule. It has been a crazy week, finalizing grades, parent/teacher conferences that lasted late. Please forgive me and my forgetfulness.

#SpringBreakReadathon I'd love to join @ShananigansReads School returns Monday, so my goal is 50 pages per day. For a total of 250 pages.

https://shop.scholastic.com/viewCampaign?campaignId=a62e694c-0bf0-4896-9e4d-5a5e...

If you would like to donate to give my Daytonators a book of their choice, this how I want to spend my birthday. My goal as a reading teacher, besides standards, is to encourage reading for pleasure through choice. If you donate as little as $1, I will knit you a beautiful bookmark and send it to you. WIN-WIN-WIN. Please share. @Butterfinger #Tammyturns50

I have 2 ideas. Tell me what you think because I want to spend it with you. On May 29, I will be turning 50.

1) Before the pandemic, we planned safe meetings. I remember @Chrissyreadit and I were going to meet in Asheville. I think she had tickets to Biltmore, but... For those around NC - Raleigh, Charlotte or Asheville, would you want to gather at an independent bookstore?

Please finish reading...

1) a very restful Spring Break with my youngest.
2) healing from my surgery (doc even said I could play kick ball).
3) #SpringCardSwap thanks to @TheBookHippie and you, Deb. So much joy. SEEDS! What an awesome idea. I think @Bookwormjillk sent some and I can't remember who else.
4) Redbuds are blooming.
5) Boy George

@Cuilin @maich #5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

I admire a person who is honest about his flaws and wrongdoing. Boy George accepts who he is, and if you don't like it, he will let you know that it's on you. He admits to being aggressive and is still working on his passionate temper. Reading between the lines, I think there is still hurt that he is trying to let go. He was bullied for being different, and critics today still call him campy or irrelevant. I liked him. Now, I love him.

(Shooting of the video KARMA CHAMELEON) looks like an episode of Bridgerton...😆

Published February 25, 2025.

What a book!! I read to learn; learn I did with Eroshenko. I never knew of his existence or of Kamichika Ichiko. By reading this novel, I felt like I was in 1916 Tokyo. Lennox made the passion of their convictions come alive. Learning about Esperanto was also a new experience. What a grand idea to create and share a language to make all world inhabitants equal. But hate and bigotry are...

My childhood. If I watched them once, I watched them hundreds of times. Perhaps that is why my scores are not high. I just rewatch my favorites.

Mary Poppins
Indiana Jones
Star Wars

#TLT @dabbe

Up next. A beautiful cover.

Way too philosophical for me. I enjoyed the plot...a planet's inhabitants are working quickly to prevent a catastrophic end to all species on their planet of Lusitania. When they started talking about physics and what created what, my mind wandered. I'm still glad I read it. For 30+ years, I wondered what became of Ender. #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader

Ancient coliseum battleground, sacrifice, early Christians, politics, and cruel villains are written in the background where two slaves fall in love and are heinously separated. This book truly has it all. I intend to read all of Kate Quinn. TW - coliseum fights and torture are graphic #ancientRome #jubilee #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I am not a people person, so I didn't visit an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day. I got chicken pot pie from Claddaugh's Restaurant in Asheville. We're going to try boxty tomorrow. My mother used to fry potato cakes when we were running out of food before payday. With a big mess of beans. The memories that food evokes. I wonder if it came down from Irish ancestors.

I have gone to several signings. The last one I attended was with my best reading friend when we visited Ruta Sepetys in Greensboro. We walked into the store with her. It was such an awesome experience. #FunDaySunday @BookmarkTavern

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! A ten year old girl broke the world record for the Longest Novel Written By a Child. I'm purchasing it right now.

At my school, the staff, children, and families read The Water Horse. For the past 20 years, we have also celebrated the arts and spring with Blooming Arts Day, which is always the day before our spring break. We paint, local bands perform. Appalachian storytellers come. It is truly a magical day that I look forward to each year. We also celebrate the children's writing.

Too much for one post. Please continue reading.

This book is sooooo good.

Such an enjoyable listen.

I thought the author did a great job describing the local attractions and scenery of Dublin. Although, I wouldn't trust the travel agency if there is a murder on every tour. Thank goodness, the tour guide is a past investigative reporter. I think I also wanted a leprechaun, not a statue of one.

I adored this book. It is so funny/strange that two girls from different neighborhoods- I grew up in a rural area, Razia in Corona, Queens, from different cultures-I grew up in a southern Independent Baptist home, Razia in a Pakistani Muslim home had the same experiences growing up in the 80s. We both had the very controlling mother and the hyper zealousness of our religions. Reading this book reminded me of how my childhood friends saved me.

My favorite era of Hollywood. Sometimes, it was the only thing on TV. Sometimes, it was what my parents rented from Winn Dixie before they bought the VCR. I'll never forget that big machine. It's hard to pick favorites, so I will list what I read. Of course, Anatomy of a Murder (Jimmy Stewart made the movie better), Ox Bow Incident (book was better-sorry Henry Fonda), Twelve Angry Men (read the play), Shane. I foresee movies in my future. @dabbe

What a wonderful accomplishment!!!!! And, thank you for sharing it with us. @Texreader

I'm going to cry. Litsy members are my tribe. When I was at my lowest, there you were. When I was ecstatic, there you were. You emailed me to share your strength when I was weak. You shared your books that gave us both comfort. As soon as I regained myself, all I desired was a reunion with you, my tribe, my circle.

Low pick. It was very tied to religion for my taste. You can't help but to adore Ender with all his compassion and grace when he travels to the planet "Lusitania." He wants to study a new alien species and to locate the perfect place for the Queen of the Buggers. It ended with humans preparing a war with the rebellious Ender and his new home planet.

I can't help it. He's such a good storyteller. I can't decide the author's view of women. At times, Mai Mai, Mary, Shavon, and Tess seem to be submissive, but they're also the ones who are behind the scenes, making things happen. Just like in Shogun. I was on the edge of my seat during the typhoon. Why isn't this a movie with Sam Heughn as Durk Streun, the Taipan?

#ChunksterChallenge2025 @amiable #petitechunster
#LitsyAtoZ @Texreader

This book has cleared up my misunderstanding of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Because my adoration of Nicola Coughlan led me to the Derry Girls, I wanted to learn more about the time period. There is so much division and hate all because Queen Elizabeth I planted British in this area. Will there truly ever be trust or peace? I will find another book for #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

This book was brilliant. The writing was beautiful and evocative. Loving Little Women and Louisa May Alcott, I know the father was based on Bronson, the Transcendentalist, who created utopian settlements that failed. Ms. Brooks seamlessly entwined the two figures into one. Maybe, even better than Miss Alcott, who only wished to make him properly proud of her. Ms. Brooks made him real,with desires and dreams. Marmee's character was also perfect. 👇

My five girls. #5joysFriday @DebinHawaii