April 2025 Theme: Mental Illness Rep

Please vote for what book we will read in April

https://forms.gle/YN2j1dcxPzpt5tgZA

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for the March #riseupreads book

Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Strong black woman stereotype

Soft black girl

There's strength in being vulnerable, in taking care of yourself

https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/15/black-women-soft-life/

https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/uncategorized/the-softness-of-black-women

Top right art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Housing crisis in USA

Not having a stable home growing up affects Amerie‘s life now

Wanting to feel safe and secure

Data on black home ownership https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/state-housing-black-america-report...

Homelessness and minority groups https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/ine...

Bottom left art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Sickle cell disease affects more black and brown people

Amerie‘s mom is living with this invisible illness

Healthcare system in our country is biased and broken

Basic info on sickle cell https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-cause...

Video discussing SCD from a Boston news source, it's long but a great discussion from experts https://youtu.be/xehrvNMSD4E?si=OV_3xaDmPXXqjBPd

#riseupreads

I really enjoyed this book! I love a fake dating trope. I liked the banter between Amerie's and Vincent. The friendships and family dynamics were great too and felt real.

My favorite/least liked scenes are in the comments ⬇️

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit March 2025 Ireland 🇮🇪

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
This week has been incredibly stressful but I still found joy. JOY IS RESISTANCE! ✊🏼🔥
1. Kitty cuddles on cold days
2. A bird visiting my heated water bowl outside for animals
3. Crossword puzzles
4. Girl scout cookies
5. Will. My partner and best friend ❤️

3/5 ⭐️ I was really excited for the premise of this story, witches based on Jamaican folklore, but it fell flat for me. It really needed a glossary for all the complex world building terms that were thrown in without explanation. I won't continue the series but I would read something else from this author.

#RiseUpReads March 2025

Winner - Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. I made a lemon cream cheese cake for my birthday tomorrow. I'm happy with how it turned out!
2. Morning cuddles with my kitties
3. Receiving valentines from the #Valentinecardswap hosted by @TheBookHippie
4. Kinder happy hippos
5. Will ❤️

5/5 ⭐️ I absolutely loved this book! While it is a romance, it's more about grief and the journey to love again after you lose someone. Also I love the friendship between Feyi and Joy! So glad I read this one! #queerbc

March 2025 Theme: Women in History

Please vote for what book we will read in March

https://forms.gle/ptQUndjGZijLWw8u8

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. I made it home safely after traveling and my cats were very happy to see me
2. I got Zola a raincoat 🌧️
3. Seeing my niece!
4. King cake season 💚💛💜
5. Fresh warm biscuits

5/5 ⭐️ Chloe is Queen! Long may her entertaining chaos reign! 👑🤯

#ChloeGongReadalong

#RiseUpReads February 2025
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Optional Storygraph readalong: https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/37a3e213-d6d7-4b0d-8121-b015806813f0

#blackhistorymonth

Please share any resources, people or groups you follow, or book recommendations.

https://www.instagram.com/liberaljane?igsh=MWV2cXlkNmhlbDFtbQ==

https://www.feministbookclub.com/

https://www.aclu.org/

How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Information on intersectionality

Remember to check your privilege!

I recognize that as a white woman I have immense privilege most of the time.

https://just1voice.com/advocacy/wheel-of-privilege/

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/6/explainer-intersectional-feminism...

https://www.womankind.org.uk/intersectionality-101-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-impo...

#RiseUpReads

I thought this was so informative & even with the subject matters being quite heavy, the sections were easily digestible. I highlighted the crap out of the book so much so that my highlighter was dying by the end.

"The process of becoming an ally requires a lot of emotional investment, & far too often the heavy lifting of that emotional labor is done by the marginalized, not by the privileged."

Help out trans kids by buying girl scout cookies!

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/2025-trans-girl-scouts-to-order-cookies

Please try to buy from scouts who haven't met their goal yet

🏳️‍⚧️🩷🩵🤍🏳️‍⚧️

#FoodandLit February Nepal🇳🇵

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads February 2025 Winner
The Kiss Countdown - Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

CW in comments

1. Ringing in the new year with my hubby and sparkling cider
2. Luna crawled into the sleeve of my sweater 😂
3. Art.brat.comics posted her yearly art about not getting sucked into diet culture. Fuck diet culture!
4. Setting up my new journal
5. Cheese 🧀💛

#5JoysFriday

#Two4Tuesday
1. My reading goal is 48 books. The last few years I've set it at that and it allows for wiggle room.
Hosting challenges #FoodandLit and #RiseUpReads

2. I don't have a specific book, but I've enjoyed reading the books I already own so I want to continue that

✨2025 Book bracket✨

Everyone welcome to play and share!

This was a hard decision, but I really loved the conclusion of the Shanghai universe from Chloe Gong!

#RiseUpReads February Voting 🩷

Please vote for the book you would like to read in February.

https://forms.gle/P9bJrmGYVz5j5D1G7

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads January 2025
Hood Feminism: Notes from the women that a movement forgot - Mikki Kendall

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

CW in comments

#FoodandLit January Netherlands 🇳🇱

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

I forgot to post yesterday but thank you very much @kspenmoll for my #jolabokaflodswap24 book! I'm looking forward to reading it! Hope you have a happy holiday! ❤️🎄

Thank you so much @LibrarianRyan for the wonderful #stuffedstockingswap package!! The books are perfect! I love the jewelry and am going to put the pin on my coat! I laughed when I saw the reindeer treat bag because my pets do the same thing! I love that your pup helped with the package! 😂 Happy Holidays! ❤️

#stuffedstockingswap package has been sent!

My December TBR for #WinterGames2024
My most anticipated read is A Sky beyond the storm - I really want to finish the series
#holidaybookdragons

❄️Hot chocolate with whipped cream
❄️Xmas eve
❄️Star
❄️We usually have Italian for Christmas and Chinese for new years
❄️stay at home and watch Christmas movies

#holidaybookdragons #wintergames2024

#5JoysFriday

1. Delicious food for Thanksgiving
2. My favorite sweater
3. My family in WI sent me a care package including crafts my niece made for me and her preschool photos 🥰
4. Snuggles with my furbabies
5. Will and all his love and support

#RiseUpReads January 2025
Winning book: Hood Feminism: Notes from the women that a movement forgot - Mikki Kendall

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices ?✊?

#FoodandLit December Finland 🇫🇮

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Resources, including a book list & more, can be found at https://foodandlit.pisani.me/

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. I got a small pink Christmas tree this year! I still have to decorate it, but I love how bright and fun it is.
2. Hallmark Christmas movies
3. Planning for 2025 Litsy challenges
4. Working on Christmas cards
5. Will making me laugh 🩷

#FoodandLit 2025 🎉

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

January 2025 Theme: Feminism 
Please vote for what book we will read in January. 

https://forms.gle/7ZNU5FLjg6ap4hASA

If you're not currently tagged for #riseupreads & would like to be, let me know.

#seasonalspiritshare #sss

All the cozy vibes, especially with my furbabies! Tasty goodies, festive traditions, time with loved ones ❤️

My favorite treats on the list are
- cherry cheesecake
- lemon meringue pie
- cinnamon rolls

#tlt #ThreeListThursday

5/5 ⭐️ Heartbreaking but beautiful! One of the reasons I loved this story was because of the setting in the UP of Michigan. The UP will always hold a piece of my heart. My grandpa was from there and even had Obijwe ancestry. I ended up going to university at Michigan Tech and lived there for almost a decade. While reading I knew the places, the roads, and the food they talked about.

I want to work on reading more marginalized voices. I am going to put in the work to listen, learn, and grow.

My plan is to pick a book to read and then have a discussion at the end of the month.

If you want more information and are interested please read and fill out the form!

https://forms.gle/4CFYBK7aTwCywenN7

#RiseUpReads

I love Litsy and feel safe sharing this message here

Cuddled up with 2 of my babies while reading Firekeeper's Daughter for the #comfortreadathon

Final reviews for #HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows

Still enjoying this series! 🐈‍⬛

#31by31 total hours: 68.25 hours

So close to a bingo but no success for #halloweenAtoZreadathon

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows

Got a few bingos for #FrightFestBingo during #HauntedShelf
Watched
- Twilight saga
- Hocus Pocus
- The Vampire Diaries

#FoodandLit is coming back for 2025!
Let us know your nominations for the countries you'd like to explore next year!

See @Texreader for the countries we've visited in the past 💙