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

Really enjoyed reading your article @rachelsbrittain on BookRiot tonight. They all look fabulous. I don't know if I am more excited about a vampire on Blackfoot Reservation or the trial from the tagged book.

One of Jimmy's first movies was the remake of Seventh Heaven in 1937. I never watched the original. As much as I love Wizard of Oz, my favorites are Katherine Hepburn's Jo in Little Women, Philadelphia Story (Jimmy won Oscar), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ❤️❤️❤️. I should've done better, but I only cared for Stewart, Hepburn, or Grant.

#TLT @dabbe

@bellabella @LoverOfLearning @MemoirsForMe play????

#ranttime

I have been cussed. I have been told to name a loved one whom I am willing to sacrifice if war escalates. I have been informed that Zelensky was a snake, conniving and very underhanded, and thank goodness, Trump was 10 steps ahead to ward off the evil Zelensky.

I am tired. I gave them a history lesson. I probably didn't change their minds. I then ended with heated sarcasm, we should go ahead and give away Alaska.

March #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

February #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks I know you are still moving. I did get 2 bingos.

I should not be reading a dystopian sci-fi in this day and time. It still kept my interest. And, validates the notion that leaders should have compassion while being bred to kill for the future to exist.

#LitsyAtoZ @Texreader

The family ate at Sarangi Restaurant near Charlotte tonight. It featured Indian and Nepali cuisine. Both of my girls ordered Butter Chicken with Naan while my husband and I ordered Sizzling Chicken Momo Dumplings with a spice level of 3. Sooooo, sooooo delicious. #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I love movies, especially the old classics. WooHoo, two of Jimmy Stewart's are on the list. If you're curious about my username, Butterfinger was his favorite candy bar.

#TLT @dabbe

The smartest, most creative, most real book I have read in a very long time. Don't worry about death. Sacrifice yourself to life. Cyrus will always be a part of my heart. The way Akbar wrote about historical martyrs through poetry was ingenious. Cyrus's dreams were beautiful and added so much to Cyrus's quest. It made me ashamed of being American (not owning up to killing 278 Iranian people), but there is hope. You just can't quit searching.

My kind of book; a family epic. A rags to riches tale set in Sicily during Napoleon's time and the following revolution. I loved the imagery of the surrounding sea and town and the determination of the men in the family and the stubbornness of the women in their anger and love.

My only regret is that I realized halfway through the book that the Bourbons and the Neapolitans were the same people.

#jubilee #foodandlit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

I need suggestions. Started watching the show recently and would love some fiction about the gangs in Birmingham. I know I could Google, but I'd like to see what Litsy suggests.

I haven't decided yet. It was very clever to combine a mystery, gothic horror, cli-fi, and juxtaposition of language and culture. The narrator was whiny, I did not care for her at all. But I would read it again just for the footnotes.

#SundayFunDay @BookmarkTavern

I schedule a visit to my therapist. There has only been one time that a slump lasted longer than a few months, and I was in a deep depression.

I also indulge in dramas based on books. Bridgerton and Masters of the Air. If I like the adaptation, I will read/listen to the books.

I never stopped reading. I read snippets of historical posts or magazine articles.

A collection of short stories. Each story centered around a character's passion - friendship, lust, a mother's love - and multiply the passion tenfold in the larger context. I was highly engaged and couldn't wait to start the next story. #FoodandLit #LitsyAtoZ@Texreader @Catsandbooks

Scary! First, the books. Then, the ideas. Finally, the ones who really scare the dictatorships, the ones with imagination.

Our children.

https://pen.org/transgender-books-removed-from-stonewall-national-monument-websi...

"And even though, time and time again, books had been presented to him as evil agents plotting to take over the world, and even though books had almost thrown him out of the house-not to mention biting his wife-he couldn't bear the thought of burning them. Banning them was punishment enough."

Everett poignantly describes the price of a pencil, the price of freedom, the price of humanity. James becomes more than the sidekick of Huckleberry. He becomes a hero. Hero doesn't do James justice. He becomes an avenger.

A lot of trigger warnings, but it is a must-read.

I thought I had read all of M. Henry, but this was new to me. Hans was precious. Maestoso Borina was a stinker - the way he taught Hans how to ride. What a fabulous pair. #ChildrensClassicRead2025 @TheBookHippie

I enjoyed reading Louise Erdrich, and the Round House was when I got hooked. The same with There, There. I read Zadie Smith for a challenge.

I only read 20 from this list. If you would like to play, visit @dabbe for the original post and link. #TLT

Written as a memoir. I thought it was very pretentious. It was a good thing I read this on my kindle because there were several times I had to figure out a word. I used to think I had an extensive vocabulary.

There were moments I read with great interest, as when he talked about his childhood. But, even those stories would be interrupted by another tangent.

I knew this book was not for me when the word "miracle" invoked Judy Garland's singing.

#ChildrensClassicRead2025 @TheBookHippie

What do guitars, carousels, dryer socks, statues, and bears all have in common?

LOVE and MAGIC and MUSIC. Maybe. I think. I think the book showed different ways to love. From the NICU nurse to the writer who introduced her town to inventors of color through statues.

And love, magic, and music can be synonomous.

The writing, at times, was very lyrical. I'm afraid I will forget the characters and their adventures by next week.

There should be more celebrations of practicality and problem-solving had been her opinion. Fewer stated of murderers and the rich.

Two come to mind:

Wuthering Heights and A Tale of Two Cities.

I just didn't appreciate them the first time. Too immature, I guess. I was in high school. I tried again when I was a young mother. Still, no. It was in my mid 40s when I finally understood the appeal.

#SundayFunDay @BookmarkTavern

And here MO was, reconstituted like a dish of mashed potatoes from woe and mysteries most sinister.

As a lifelong reader, I don't think I have ever read a book that's so evocative. I'm a wreck.

Young love. Protection of one's secret. Acceptance, (makes you wonder, is it really "better to be late than never?") Corrupt religious practices (beating the sin out). Grief. Deep, bone-crushng grief. Unconditional love of the parents.

Every child in the LGBTQ+ community should be able to be themselves. To form their own identity. To be accepted.

1 - I
2 - went
3 - back
4 - to
5 - school

where I belong. The joy on the children's faces was priceless. They will never know how much joy they give me.

To keep my mind from my school's upcoming meeting about new policies, may I interest you in a game? Use the following tags. If someone has done something similar, my apologies.

#myfancast @Butterfinger

I want Kiowa Gordon for the role of Xaden. The rumored actor is okay (too pretty, not rugged enough for me). I just want an Indigenous actor.

Who would you choose for your favorite characters? For any book.

Just for fun. Just for today.

13% Egad. I know I have read Cather, and I am sure it was O Pioneer, but I couldn't remember anything, so I didn't claim it.

I loved Our Town and came so close seeing Jim Parsons last Thanksgiving, but lost our seats when we arrived too late. Also loved Solzhenitsyn.

I own a copy of Out of Africa. And, again, I have not read Shakespeare.

#TLT @dabbe

@zezeki @BookNAround

Thanks to Yorkshire Publishing, I received a copy of Careful What You Hear by Helen Dunlap Newton in exchange for my honest review. This middle grade novel showcases 2 children who become spies for the United States government after becoming hurt in two separate accidents. Noah has a cochlear implant that enables him to read thoughts and Lena is an amputee who wears a prosthetic. She also has an eidetic memory.

It left me so depressed. At times, I felt like George - aggravating everyone around me, being callous, and just plain hateful. Most of the time, I felt like Jenny - being an enabler because he doesn't know how hurtful he is, or finding the bright spot in a bad situation. I stayed mad the whole time. Mad at George. Mad at me. MAD AT MY HUSBAND. And, now I canceled plans because I am choking with my own depression. Thank goodness for my therapist.

My February #BookSpinBingo. @TheAromaofBooks

The romance between Blackthorn and Mariko was a lot more in-depth and satisfying than the newest adaptation. The book goes back and forth from showing women submitting to the men to manipulating the men's actions because they have wisdom. The machinations of daimyos, especially Toronaga, and needless death upset me as much as it did Blackthorn. Although, by the end, BT began to respect the other cultures' differences, even to Catholicism. 👇

I wish I had access to this book through my whole teaching career. In my opinion, having the main characters have disabilities who become leaders, spies, and heroes is so inspirational. I can't wait to read this to my class. The first day back is Wednesday.

I have read several biographies of Bronson and Louisa, but did not know May(Amy) was a leader in her passion. Not only growing up with Transcendentalists and being offended by her portrayal in her famous sister's book, she knew several renowned artists of her time. I learned so much and stayed on Google to learn more about May's art. She was very independent and did not want Louisa's monetary aid once she was established.

Adina is very relatable to me. I was committed to learning about her life, her likes, her dislikes, and her struggles in society. I remember as a child thinking I talked in a different language than anyone else, which is why everyone thought I was weird. I didn't know anything about the Spectrum. When Adina was hurting, I felt it deep in my gut. At one point, I realized I was clenching because I knew how her honesty would be misconstrued.

I have not finished all of Dickens's works. Or Shakespeare. I shy away from philosophical works because I fear I don't have the intellect to understand it. Although, I did enjoy Thoreau. I have tried Ulysses three different times and bailed. The Art of War is still on my TBR, too.

#SundayFunDay @BookmarkTavern