Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
CSeydel

CSeydel

Joined February 2018

📝Science writer 🧬 Angeleno 🌴 Library addict 📚
blurb
CSeydel
Untitled | Unknown
post image

Lately I‘ve been listening to Tophouse, an indie folk/bluegrass/rock band from Montana. I‘ve never been a particular fan of bluegrass, but something about their music always lifts me up! Their new single is called “Be Nobody” and it‘s great. My favorites are “Sirens,” “Number One,” and “Better is the End.”
#TuesdayTunes

34 likes2 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

Still working my way through this chunkster. It‘s very detailed and quite well-written. I‘m really enjoying it so far. Also tonight enjoying a peanut butter swirl brownie (Sally‘s Baking Addiction) with coffee in this awesome mug that I got from @Gissy years ago in my first Litsy swap! I still use it all the time.

How‘s everyone‘s #hyggehour this week?

TheBookHippie All of this looks good! 4d
Soubhiville That brownie sounds like a delight! 4d
Chrissyreadit I love the mug!!! 4d
AllDebooks 💚 4d
40 likes4 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Charles | Shirley Jackson
post image

@dabbe !!! I love love love short stories!!! Choosing 3 favorites is - impossible! Ask me on a different day and you‘ll get a different answer. #threelistthursday #TLT

Here are 3 that I find myself frequently referencing in conversation, because they are so insightful and observant about human psychology:

Shirley Jackson, Charles
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dr. Heidegger‘s Experiment
Steve Martin, Hissy Fit

CSeydel “Hissy Fit” is available in the collection 1w
TieDyeDude Pure Drivel is available on audio through Hoopla! I'll keep an ear out for Hissy Fit 😁 1w
dabbe I love them, too, and I loved teaching them! Love “Charles“ and “Heidegger“--those were such fun to teach! You've given me some new ones for my TBR, too! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚
1w
33 likes5 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

#HyggeHourReadathon

Just drinking cold water tonight because I‘m feeling warm. Still drinking out of my snowflake mug, though, which I refuse to give up until March 20!

Reading this biography of the Beatles tonight and it‘s really well written. The author includes a lot of historical context for what was going on in the culture at large, very interesting so far!

TheBookHippie ♥️ 2w
AllDebooks Sounds interesting x 2w
Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛 2w
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Paul McCartney: A Life | Peter Ames Carlin
post image

Sick again (or still?) so taking a slow day today. Been listening to Paul McCartney‘s underrated 2005 solo album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Highlights for me are Friends to Go, Promise to You Girl, and the haunting Riding to Vanity Fair:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-2i5vBJed2w&list=OLAK5uy_lTjpalcx2wY_wX40c2TfpEiNl...

TieDyeDude Thanks for the recommendation! 2w
TieDyeDude Our local independent radio station is big on the Beatles and played “Fine Line“ a lot when it was released. I hadn't listened to the rest before. I like “Too Much Rain“ and “Riding to Vanity Fair“. 2w
CSeydel @TieDyeDude Oh, nice! I do like Fine Line as the album opener, but yeah Riding to Vanity Fair is probably my favorite. Too Much Rain is beautiful also. 2w
39 likes4 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Art Thief | Michael Finkel
post image

I‘m so ready for the #hyggehour readathon this week. No photos because I‘m sick 😫 The worst of it was yesterday, so tonight I‘m in my jammies at 8 pm but feeling better enough to get some reading in.

Lreads I hope you feel better soon! 💕 4w
CSeydel @Lreads Thanks! Me too 🤧 4w
AllDebooks Wishing you a speedy recovery x 4w
See All 7 Comments
Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon! 4w
Chrissyreadit Hope you feel better soon 💛 4w
KathyWheeler Feel better! 3w
TheBookHippie Hope you‘re feeling tip top soon!!! 3w
43 likes7 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Killers of a Certain Age | Deanna Raybourn
post image

February #wrapup

True Diary - in person book club - 4⭐️
The Burden - #MaryWestmacottBookClub - 3.5⭐️
The Postcard - #EuropaCollective - 4.5⭐️
Housekeepers - 3.5⭐️
Killers - #AuldLangSpine - 4⭐️

blurb
CSeydel
post image

March #bookspin roster. Feels a bit cheeky because I‘m so behind on my January and February selections, but March is going to be the month that I get caught up. Yeah, that‘s the ticket…

blurb
CSeydel
The Burden | writing as Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie
post image
CSeydel Here we go again with the “interfering always backfires.” I think she‘s right, but I also think it can be taken too far. 1mo
CSeydel I‘m also interested in what you all thought of the discussion between Llewellyn and Wilding about human nature. Wilding says, “To believe the best of someone is to call the best into being. People respond to one‘s belief in them.” Llewellyn disagrees: “To keep up being what someone expect you to be is to live under a great strain. Too great a strain leads eventually to collapse.” Which do you believe? Can they both be right? (edited) 1mo
Ruthiella Sure, they can both be right. I think everyone needs both, but in different doses and o 100% of one or the other would be harmful. The rehashing of previous themes wearied me a bit in this one, but maybe because we‘ve read them all back to back now. 1mo
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraJean I appreciate what Christie was trying to do here, but I don't think it was executed well. Her insight into human nature is masterful, but the plot elements just didn't work together coherently for me. I agree with the “interfering always backfires,“ to a point, but wasn't the opposite the problem in A Daughter's a Daughter? I don't think it's a universal rule, and I think Christie knows it. She had a hard time communicating that complexity here. 1mo
BarbaraJean @CSeydel @Ruthiella Yes, I do think Llewellyn and Wilding can both be right about this. It depends a whole lot on who the person is who's being “believed in.“ Some people will rise to the best that is believed of them, others will collapse under the expectations, and still others will resent and therefore want to go against those expectations. I agree about the repetition of themes--but it's also clear this was the first of these novels she wrote! 1mo
quietjenn I agree with what others have said - both can be true to an extent and the balance is the key here, as it is with so many things. Very often, interfering gets you nowhere, but Not Interfering is sometimes easier said than done. I wouldn't say that this book resonated with me particularly. It's probably one of my least favorites and I'm glad it was short. 😅 And I really liked Baldock. 1mo
Librarybelle Yes, I think both can be right about their human nature observations. And, I agree that this one seems to be the weakest of her non-mystery novels. I‘ve not read all of them as of yet - I plan to read those I missed this year! - but this one seemed not as polished, if that makes sense. @BarbaraJean is right that Christie had a hard time communicating the complexity of interference. @CSeydel @Ruthiella @quietjenn 4w
36 likes8 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Burden | writing as Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie
post image
CSeydel Llewellyn and his visions were so strange to me. I‘m still ruminating on what he represents. I thought the religious overtones of Shirley “paying the price” for Laura‘s sin was discomfiting, but perhaps that was the intention. 1mo
CSeydel In this one she weaves in a religious dimension, using the story of Job to drive home the point that God has God‘s plan and we are really not capable of understanding God‘s priorities and purposes, only human ones. I think her point here is that when we “try to help” we inevitably fail because we only see from our perspective, not that of the recipient of the help. What do you think? 1mo
Ruthiella I think it was in interesting decision to include such a mystical character. I don‘t agree with his interpretation of Laura‘s actions or their results, personally. The story of Job makes me think more of Greek gods, toying with humans for their own amusement. 1mo
See All 12 Comments
BarbaraJean Other than providing a deus ex machina for Laura at the end of the book, and giving us an outside perspective of Shirley and Richard, I didn't think Llewellyn added much to the novel. I felt that last third of the book would have been better from Shirley or even Richard's perspective. I was troubled by the implications of the religious aspect: both Shirley “paying the price“ for Laura's sin, or our helplessness to understand higher purposes. 1mo
BarbaraJean I think the idea that help/interference is misguided, because we cannot understand another's perspective, isn't well-supported by the narrative. Mainly because I don't think the problem was Laura “helping,“ it was Henry being an ass, and with Richard, it was Shirley not understanding herself or what she needed. Maybe the problem was the plot Christie chose to explore these ideas! Overall, I thought the message was muddled. 1mo
quietjenn It was ... odd? I honestly found the book, overall, a bit disjointed and I definitely was not expecting a televangelist who has had visions of Laura his entire life swooping in to show her what love is! 1mo
CSeydel @BarbaraJean I was thinking of Laura killing Henry as her trying to help Shirley be happy, but it backfired. The premise seemed to me to be that Shirley would have been better off continuing to be unhappy caring for Henry rather than the soft, comfortable life she had with Wilding. It was definitely a hard message to accept. 1mo
CSeydel @quietjenn Definitely threw me for a loop as well. Not sure if it was just a device to allow a 3rd-party, objective view of Shirley‘s later life, but the visions went over my head - I didn‘t understand why that was necessary 1mo
CSeydel @BarbaraJean I agree, the religious angle in this one didn‘t sit well with me either 1mo
Librarybelle I was a bit confused as to Llewellyn‘s purpose. It seems to come out of nowhere, unless you consider Laura‘s prayers at the beginning of the novel. I‘m puzzled why Christie chose a religious discussion - it‘s a little out of character for her novels, at least to me. @CSeydel @Ruthiella @BarbaraJean @quietjenn 4w
Ruthiella @Librarybelle It seemed out of character to me too. In her mystery novels, the few times spiritualism or the mystical comes up, it is always debunked. 4w
Librarybelle @Ruthiella Yes! She gives many pages to the religious discussion in this one rather than her mysteries, except maybe Hallowe‘en Party (though I‘ve not read that one yet. I‘ve only seen the new Poirot movie very loosely based on it). 4w
25 likes12 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Burden | writing as Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie
post image

#westmakittens #LMWBR

Our final selection for the #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead ! Who‘s up for discussion? What did you think? I‘ll put my question under a spoiler tag in case anyone hasn‘t read it yet.

@ruthiella @KathyWheeler @quietjenn @Librarybelle @kspenmoll @BarbaraJean @peanutnine @Roary47 @willaful @batsy @rubyslippersreads

CSeydel Laura longs to be loved throughout the book, and it‘s only at the end that she feels “the burden” settle on her shoulders - the burden of someone else‘s love. Do you think that‘s a fair description of love? How do you think the burden of Laura‘s love ultimately harmed Shirley? 1mo
CSeydel This was not as painful as A Daughter‘s a Daughter, but I still found it a fairly bleak representation of family relationships. 1mo
Ruthiella I think the burden goes both ways: the burden of loving and the responsibility of that care and of being loved and the expectations that come with that. I agree it‘s not as bleak as A Daughter‘s a Daughter, but it comes close. However, I think that many, many humans would see love as a privilege and an honor. I wonder how things would have turned out differently if Laura hadn‘t been saddled with a parental role at such a young age. (edited) 1mo
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraJean I'm not sure if I agree with this description of love--I think it's problematic as a description of healthy love! I do think it's a fair description when it's an unequal relationship. And honestly, I don't think the novel does a good job of bearing out the “burden of love“ as a thesis. Shirley supposedly bears the burden of Laura's love, but she doesn't seem stifled by it. She does seem stifled under the burden of Richard's love, but ⬇ 1mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I think that burden is due to her own choices & lack of self-knowledge, not Laura's actions. Shirley didn't understand herself well enough to know what she needed when she turned to Richard. Shirley wasn't old enough/experienced enough to gauge Henry's character—I don't think that situation would have turned out any differently regardless of how Laura handled it. And I don't think Shirley would have been better off if Henry had lived! 1mo
willaful Sorry, I couldn't find a copy and participate. :-( 1mo
quietjenn Love is complicated and I do think that, even in the best of relationships, there are times when it can feel burdensome - especially in those moments that it feels unequal, as others have pointed out. But I think that's only a small part of it, and I think to define it just by that quality is an unfortunate and limited view of things. 1mo
Librarybelle This was definitely a bleak representation of family relationships, @CSeydel ! Love as a burden seems to be a pretty strong statement by Christie, but Laura‘s idea of love is a bit shady given what she went through at a young age. @BarbaraJean @quietjenn @Ruthiella 4w
21 likes8 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Bell Jar | Sylvia Plath
post image

My #Tuesdaytunes is “Cemetery Somewhere” by John Muirhead.

Sylvia Plath wrote:
“I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”

CSeydel Reimagining that theme, “Cemetery Somewhere” by John Muirhead describes the cemetery of abandoned dreams, a mourning for all the lives that could have been. I can‘t stop listening to this song; it is simple, compelling and beautiful. 1mo
TheBookHippie Love this! 1mo
See All 6 Comments
TieDyeDude A lovely song. Thanks for sharing! Have you heard Jason Isbell "If We Were Vampires"? 1mo
CSeydel @TieDyeDude I haven‘t - I‘ll check it out! 1mo
CSeydel @TieDyeDude Turns out I actually have heard it, I just didn‘t realize - I‘ve heard the Noah Kahan version 1mo
43 likes6 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image
Chrissyreadit 🤍 1mo
TheBookHippie 💚 1mo
AllDebooks Perfect x 1mo
kspenmoll Love your mug! 1mo
36 likes4 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

#weekendreads

Reading Part-Time Indian for my “Banned Book Club,” but in the end I didn‘t have the energy to go to the meeting this afternoon. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Great book, though I understand why some parents would be bothered by it.

Reading The Postcard for #europacollective

blurb
CSeydel
post image

#TuesdayTunes I love it!

My current hyperfixation is the band First Aid Kit, two Swedish sisters who sing this achingly beautiful folk rock Americana music. Gorgeous harmonies, contemplative lyrics and lively arrangements make this album emotionally stimulating and just so fun to listen to.

Bonus points from this SoCal listener for their song “29 Palms Highway” 🤩

https://youtu.be/q0QROxhsggA?si=O1W67r5eNz06gY7k

RaeLovesToRead 💕💕💕 1mo
TieDyeDude Yes, I love their harmonies! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs Love First Aid Kit! I don't know why the Scandinavians really seem to do Americana so well... 1mo
See All 10 Comments
Deblovestoread So good! 💜💜💜 1mo
merelybookish Love them! Was obsessed with their song Emmylou for a while! 1mo
vivastory Love First Aid Kit! 1mo
BarbaraBB Yes, I love them too! Great choice!! 1mo
Bookwomble @TieDyeDude Dammit, Andrew! First Beth Gibbons alert from @BarbaraBB , now First Aid Kit from @CSeydel ! This is going to be an expensive hashtag for me! 😄 1mo
TieDyeDude @thekidsupstairs They are a little north of Scandinavia, but do you know Of Monsters and Men? 1mo
51 likes10 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Neuromancer | William Gibson
post image

#HyggeHour #AuldLangSpine

Thought I could read this during the game, but it requires intense concentration. Giving myself an hour to really get immersed. I think the plot is picking up and hopefully I‘ll start to understand more of what‘s going on as I become more invested.

CSeydel Update: well, I read one paragraph before I was lassoed to help with homework. While I was helping with homework, kid 2 reported that all the rain last week had caused a major leak in his room that he hadn‘t noticed until now, so I spent the next hour blow drying books and setting up fans to try to dry out the carpet 😩😖 2mo
AllDebooks Oh no. Reschedule for tonight x 2mo
Chrissyreadit ugh!!! I hope everything is dry now 🩵 1mo
CSeydel @AllDebooks I like the way you think! @Chrissyreadit I hope so too! I haven‘t been out there yet today. (His “room” is a little out-building behind our house). 1mo
46 likes4 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Postcard | Anne Berest
post image

#weekendreads

Still struggling through Neuromancer 😩 #AuldLangSpine

Also reading The Postcard for #EuropaCollective - starting it a little early because it came in on Libby

blurb
CSeydel
Beatlesongs | William J. Dowlding
post image

#BigFabBeatles

Today‘s the day! On Feb 9, 1964 the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, watched by 73 million viewers. I‘m celebrating the 60th anniversary with Beatles book bingo! Each square has a Beatles song title. You can fit a book to each square however you want to - be creative and just have fun with it. I‘ll give some examples ⬇️

CSeydel “Yesterday” - can be a book set in the past, a book published in the past, a book that uses flashbacks as a narrative device, etc
“Eleanor Rigby” - a character named Eleanor, author has initials E & R, theme of loneliness, main character is an older woman, etc.
Any way you want to tie it in is fine! This is meant to be casual and fun.
2mo
willaful How fun! 2mo
LiseWorks It's amazing with each title I actually sing the song. 2mo
41 likes3 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Weekly Forecast | Thomas Gibson Inc
post image

#weeklyforecast

Where did all these books come from??

blurb
CSeydel
Neuromancer | William Gibson
post image

#HyggeHour

Today is certainly the perfect day for #hygge — I‘m in Southern California in the path of the “atmospheric river” bringing major storms. Rain and more rain! All day the phone has been buzzing with weather alerts, flood warnings and advisories to stay off the freeways.

I‘m in my new LLBean flannel pajamas that I got for Christmas 😍 and sipping candy cane green tea. And not thinking about how we‘re going to get to school tomorrow…

TheBookHippie Oy. I‘m glad you‘re safe and dry for now! I totally get the getting to school safely. 2mo
CSeydel @TheBookHippie The university is going online tomorrow - I don‘t know why the high schools don‘t do that also! My daughter‘s school always floods! 2mo
See All 6 Comments
TheBookHippie @CSeydel we‘ve had that with ice,fog, snow … it‘s so easy to go online! Ughhh 2mo
Amiable I got flannel PJs from LL Bean for Christmas, too! They‘re the bomb. 😍 2mo
Chrissyreadit 🤍🤍🤍🤍 2mo
54 likes6 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Beatlesongs | William J. Dowlding
post image

February 2024 is here! Thank you all for joining me in the #bigfabbeatles 12-month reading challenge! This month marks the 60th anniversary (!!!) of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, kicking off Beatlemania in the US. Since everyone loves BINGO I decided to do a Beatles Bingo this month to cap off our challenge. Stay tuned … 2/9/24 🎶🤩🎶🎸

blurb
CSeydel
Happy Litsyversary! | Special Events
post image

My 6-year Litsyversary?!?!? Time flies!
#litsyversary @HappyLitsyversary

Thank you all for making this the kindest, most fun, most intellectually stimulating corner of the internet!
Littens 4-ever

LeahBergen Happy Litsyversary! 🎉 2mo
Birdsong28 Happy Litsyversary 🎊🎉📚📖 2mo
BarbaraBB Glad to have met you here 🤍 2mo
See All 20 Comments
Amiable Woot woot! Congrats! 🎊🍾🎈 2mo
quietlycuriouskate Happy Litsyversary! 📚📚📚 2mo
JessClark78 Happy Litsyversary! 🎊📚🎉 2mo
Chrissyreadit 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 2mo
IndoorDame Happy Litsyversary!!!! 2mo
Librarybelle Happy Litsyversary! 2mo
La_Cori 🥳📚🎉 Happy Litsyversary!! 🎉📚🥳 2mo
TheSpineView Happy Litsyversary! 🥳 🥳🥳 2mo
Jas16 Happy Litsyversary!🎉📚🙌🏽 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Happy Litsyversary!! 🎉🎊 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Happy Litsyversary 🩷🎉🎈🎊📚🙌🏻 2mo
Ruthiella Happy Litsyversary! 🥳🥳🥳 2mo
mrp27 Happy Litsyversary!! 🎉📚🎉📚 2mo
Deblovestoread Happy Litsyversary 🎉 2mo
dabbe HL! 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
Ddzmini Welcome all 😊📚 2mo
57 likes20 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Neuromancer | William Gibson
post image

review
CSeydel
Other Birds: A Novel | Sarah Addison Allen
post image
Pickpick

My third #AuldLangSpine book of January! This was a charming story of the residents of a strange little condo on a touristy island in South Carolina. All of the residents (both living and ghostly) had terrible, tragic childhoods, and the story follows their journey to love and healing.

blurb
CSeydel
The Burden | writing as Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie
post image

Happy February, #westmakittens! This month we read the sixth and final Mary Westmacott novel. I haven‘t read this one yet and I‘m looking forward to discussing it with you all. I‘ve really enjoyed reading everyone‘s reviews and the good discussions! Thank you for going on this journey with me.
#MaryWestmacottBuddyRead

Librarybelle Got my copy ready to go! 2mo
CSeydel @Librarybelle Awesome! 2mo
See All 10 Comments
Ruthiella The last one! 2mo
CSeydel I don‘t know what‘s going on with my tag list 🤔 At first it didn‘t work. Now it looks like it showed up twice? Smh 2mo
CSeydel @Ruthiella Woohoo! 2mo
willaful I don't think I have this one. :-( 2mo
rubyslippersreads Looking forward to this. I‘ve enjoyed them all so much, I‘m going to go back and read any I‘ve missed. 2mo
BarbaraJean Thank you for organizing and leading this! I have enjoyed all of these so much. Looking forward to this final read and discussion! 2mo
40 likes10 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

By request! Here you go, @Littlewolf1 - a bracket to nominate the worst books you read this year.

CBee Omg LOVE 2mo
dabbe 🤩😂🤩 2mo
CSeydel 😆😂🤣🙃 2mo
See All 18 Comments
Chelsea.Poole lol!! 😂 2mo
Laughterhp 💚🤣😆 2mo
vonnie862 Love it! 2mo
TheSpineView 😂😂😂 2mo
willaful Where has this been all my life?! 🤣 2mo
Littlewolf1 😆 I love it… this is so awesome 2mo
AmyG The is is GREAT. Ha! 2mo
5feet.of.fury Oh yay 😂😂that‘s so funny 2mo
DieAReader 🤣❤️‍🔥Omg I love this! @CoverToCoverGirl maybe you‘d like this too?😉 2mo
AnnR 🤓😂🙂 2mo
BarbaraBB So fun! 2mo
julesG I'm going to do this! 2mo
Meshell1313 Fun!!! 2mo
CoverToCoverGirl What fun! 2mo
Roary47 Doing this! 🤣 4w
57 likes18 comments
review
CSeydel
post image
Pickpick

Soft pick. I was hoping for a little more depth from this one. It starts off strong with a British-y, Roald Dahl/JK Rowling vibe, and lots of promising characters, but the plot never really gains any momentum. A sweet, feel-good story of a man who lives his life as a cog in the machine of society waking up to new possibilities and allowing himself to love and be loved. It was pleasant to read, but ultimately a bit treacly. #auldlangspine

TheIntrovertedDodoBird I love TJ Klune! You should check out some of his adult fiction if you're looking for a more gritty read! 😊 1mo
CSeydel @TheIntrovertedDodoBird I‘ve heard good things ☺️ is there one you particularly recommend? 1mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @CSeydel I highly recommend Into This River I Drown and Murmuration. Both are dark and gritty. Also, the Greencreek series and the Immemorial Year duology are absolutely incredible! Then, if you're looking for something entirely different, try How To Be A Normal Person. It's honestly hilarious 😊. I've pretty much read everything he's ever written now 😂. 1mo
53 likes4 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Untitled | Unknown
post image

#bookreport #europacollective #auldlangspine #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead

Reviews incoming, but here‘s the summary:

The Hate U Give - 4.5⭐️
A Daughter‘s a Daughter - 4⭐️
The Thursday Murder Club - 4⭐️
After That Night (Will Trent, 11) - 3.5⭐️
Other Birds - 3.5⭐️
The House in the Cerulean Sea - 3⭐️
A Novel Bookstore - 2.5⭐️
Ether Day - (not finished yet)

blurb
CSeydel
The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas
post image

I read this for my local “Banned Book Club” and I‘m glad I did. I wasn‘t expecting to like it, but since my daughter is home from college, I invited her to read it too and come to the meeting. I thought it was really well written and not nearly as heavy-handed as I expected. Complex issues of family, race, culture, and policing are handled with nuance and insight. Plus, it was entertaining and compelling as a story. 4.5⭐️

blurb
CSeydel
The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas
post image

The Hate U Give was the best book I read in January, although if I‘m being honest about my /favorite/ book this month, The Thursday Murder Club was more fun to read. Both of these books surprised me by how well-written they were.

Most looking forward to Neuromancer next month
#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 2mo
29 likes2 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo
39 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
A Daughter's a Daughter | Mary Westmacott
post image

Happy Saturday #westmakittens! Sorry I‘ve dragged my feet on the discussion for this book. I have to share that I find this one incredibly painful for various reasons. I quite relate to Ann and her preference for self-sacrifice over conflict. Re-reading this book now that I‘m older, it strikes me how many of my worst regrets can be traced back to this tendency.

What about you? What did you see in these characters?
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead

CSeydel I fiercely hated Sarah and her selfish, bratty behavior. But this time around, reading it as a mother of adult children, I felt more of the blame lay with Richard for forcing a confrontation rather than being patient, and with Ann for not working on Sarah in private to communicate her feelings and try to lessen to conflict or at least get to the real source of it. 2mo
Librarybelle I felt so bad for Ann, sacrificing so much. Sarah and Richard were terrible. They put Ann in a terrible position, and as someone who also tries to keep everyone happy, I can relate to the strain Ann felt as she tried to “referee.” 2mo
See All 14 Comments
rubyslippersreads @CSeydel Sarah was a brat, but Richard was the adult in the situation and could have behaved better. And Ann was an adult too, and could have communicated better, as you pointed out. An interesting book, but not a comfortable one. 2mo
willaful @CSeydel It was definitely different for me too, reading as the mother of an adult child now. A&R could have done a lot more to defuse the situation.

Personally, I think it was very wrong of Ann to make a sacrifice that she couldn't do without bitterness and anger. It wasn't a reasoned choice, but a desperate one and she really did it more for herself than Sarah, and then took it out on her. For years. (Not that Sarah wasn't cruel & awful.)
2mo
quietjenn If like to think that I couldn't really relate to any of them 😅, although that might be denying my worst tendencies. I think they all handled the situation terribly and deserved some blame. 2mo
Ruthiella Dame Laura! The reader can intuit where the plot is going but is powerless to prevent anything. 2mo
willaful @Ruthiella Yes, Dame Laura is a good audience stand-in. She sees it all but no one listens to her. 2mo
CSeydel @willaful she‘s dead-set against giving advice as well 2mo
BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @willaful Yes, I definitely related to Dame Laura as well. She could see all sides, and the inevitability of how it would play out. @CSeydel What did you think of her determination to NOT give advice? I could see why that was her approach, but it also frustrated me that she was so completely hands-off. I wondered how things would have gone with Ann if Laura hadn‘t been away for so long, and/or if she‘d have offered some direction. 2mo
BarbaraJean I unfortunately related to Ann a lot as well. The avoidance of conflict is strong for me!! But there was more going on there than just avoiding conflict. The lack of self-knowledge/failure to understand each other was universal! Sarah was awful, but her selfishness & lack of consideration for others stemmed from immaturity & inexperience. Neither adult seemed able to see her behavior for what it was. Richard‘s behavior was just as bad as Sarah‘s⤵️ 2mo
BarbaraJean I felt he was more culpable, as an adult who should have considered both the source of Sarah‘s behavior as well as how his own actions were exacerbating the situation. Then Ann needed to take responsibility for the choice she made—recognizing her bitterness and resentment and dealing with it rather than burying herself in the constant social whirl. Which is another kind of avoidance, I guess! 2mo
CSeydel @BarbaraJean Yes, I found myself getting very frustrated with Dame Laura! Even Ann was getting frustrated with her refusal to get involved! I agreed with her general principle about not giving advice - people don‘t want to hear it, even if they think they do - but I wish she had been a little less cryptic with Ann and Sarah when she was sharing her thoughts. Or a lot less. 2mo
CSeydel @BarbaraJean And yes, this time around, I felt much more annoyed with Richard for his lack of patience and perspicacity. 2mo
31 likes14 comments
blurb
CSeydel
A Daughter's a Daughter | Mary Westmacott
post image

#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead

Hey #westmakittens I have unfortunately been under the weather this week and I don‘t have questions prepared. But I wanted to go ahead and make a post for people to share their thoughts about the book. I found this one a very hard read. What did you think of Ann and Sarah‘s relationship?

Ruthiella Sorry you have been feeling unwell. ❤️ I‘m only 1/4 of the way in, but I‘m afraid for Ann. 😬 (edited) 2mo
CSeydel @Ruthiella you are not wrong to feel afraid. I‘m looking forward to your review when you finish! 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon! I‘m still reading this and will hopefully post my thoughts this weekend! 2mo
quietjenn Sorry you aren't feeling well! Hope you improve soon. I've finished and for sure have Thoughts, but will save since others are still reading. 2mo
willaful I have a feeling this book has lurked in my subconscious for decades, because I have a disabled adult child, which has a large impact on my life, but I try to never let myself to get to the point of resenting her for my choices.

2mo
rubyslippersreads I just finished this, and it struck me that, although Christie is synonymous with murder, some of her Westmacott characters can be as cruel as murderers. 2mo
34 likes2 stack adds7 comments
quote
CSeydel
post image

I‘ve never related to anything so hard in my life 😆

LiteraryinLawrence Yessssss 3mo
Ruthiella 😂😂😂 3mo
DHill 🤣🤣🤣 3mo
See All 6 Comments
dabbe 😂 3mo
Leftcoastzen 👏😂 3mo
julesG 🤣🤣🤣 3mo
61 likes6 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

Can you tell I‘m procrastinating? Here‘s my #bookspin wrap-up for 2023. I read 20 out of 24; bailed on one book, and carried three others over to this year. Not too bad 💅🏻

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic year!!! 3mo
43 likes1 comment
review
CSeydel
A Novel Bookstore | Laurence Cosse
post image
Mehso-so

I found this pretty dull, unfortunately. It began well, with a series of mysterious, menacing acts. The bulk of the story concerns the events leading up to the attacks: the birth of the bookstore and a tepid love triangle.

I didn‘t mind the slow build, but it frustrated me that the book never grapples directly with its central question: why are popular books not necessarily quality books? Can there be an objective definition of “a good novel”?

AnnR That's a great question but unfortunately, I'm not sure how to answer it, especially when it comes to historical fiction. It's like The Nightingale vs Wolf Hall. I've probably just offended some readers and I apologize, but arguably one is a better quality historical book overall. Not that there is anything wrong with liking K. Hannah historical fiction. Read what you love. Reading diversity is what it's all about here on Litsy. 3mo
CSeydel Found this line in a review and it definitely reflects how I felt reading this: “Though A Novel Bookstore is charming and compelling and very readable, it has neither the depth nor the beauty of the great books that it dedicates itself to. It makes one wonder if the time might not be better spent reading the greats themselves, rather than this tribute.” 3mo
CSeydel @AnnR I don‘t know how to answer it either. I think the “soil” of my mental & emotional state and my life situation deeply affects how I receive any given book. For instance, I am certain I got a lot more out of The Thursday Murder Club because I happened to read it right after Being Mortal. I was emotionally primed to connect with the elderly characters on a deeper level. A Novel Bookstore treats books as finite objects rather than ideas. 3mo
AnnR @CSeydel I understand what you are saying and very much agree. My emotional, physical state and even age, definitely influences my reaction to a story. I suspect that's true of most readers. 3mo
55 likes5 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

I couldn‘t decide which #AuldLangSpine selection to read first, so I ranked them by their average rating on GR (yes, yes; an imperfect system, but 🤷🏻‍♀️).

The top three are:
The House in the Cerulean Sea
After That Night (Will Trent #11)
DUNE

A nice mix! Can‘t wait to get reading! (Yes I spent too long making this graphic 😂)

monalyisha Bold of you to read Dune; it‘s so long! I‘m full of admiration. 3mo
CSeydel @monalyisha I definitely won‘t finish it in January, but I‘ve been meaning to read it for years, so this is the perfect opportunity. Everyone says it‘s so good! 3mo
45 likes2 comments
review
CSeydel
Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
post image
Pickpick

Agatha Christie meets Carl Hiaasen in this fun little mystery which manages to be extremely British and extremely cozy while also populated by a zany cast, including crooked developers, mysterious priests, ex-prize fighters, and drug dealers gone straight (unless…?) I avoided this for a long time, but the mystery felt well plotted and the interactions among the various characters tapped into honest emotion that exceeded my expectations. Very fun.

BarbaraBB Great photo 🥰 3mo
Smarkies This also took me by surprise. I am now reading the rest of the series. 3mo
Ruthiella These books just get better and better. 3mo
66 likes2 stack adds3 comments
quote
CSeydel
post image

“Our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer.”

45 likes1 stack add
blurb
CSeydel
post image

#Top23of23

It was so tough to choose. Every time I do this, it comes out different!

BarbaraBB Great list! I notice a few favorites of mine and will screenshot the rest! 3mo
46 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
A Daughter's a Daughter | Mary Westmacott
post image

Happy new year, #westmakittens! Great discussion last month about the Rose and the Yew Tree. I appreciated reading everyone‘s responses even though I didn‘t always acknowledge them when I did not have anything more to add. Our book for January is A Daughter‘s a Daughter. I‘ll try to post some prompts for discussion on Jan 20!

Librarybelle Yay!! 3mo
BarbaraJean Looking forward to it! 3mo
See All 9 Comments
Ruthiella I‘m on it. I read somewhere that Christie‘s daughter was uncomfortable with this one because she felt it was about her (and maybe not flattering…we‘ll find out!) 3mo
CSeydel @Ruthiella oh no! I hope it isn‘t too close to the truth - it is definitely NOT flattering. The first time I read it, I was emotionally wrecked. I‘m kind of not looking forward to revisiting it, but I‘m also curious what will come across different this time. 3mo
willaful @Cseydel I also remember it as an upsetting read. And I didn't even have a daughter then. 👀 3mo
quietjenn @CSeydel @Ruthiella @willaful interesting! I shipped last month because December was busy and I'd read that one before, but looking forward to diving into this one, with all is unflattering bits 3mo
CSeydel @quietjenn Yay! There will certainly be a lot to discuss. 3mo
35 likes9 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
post image

Turns out I‘m pretty sparing with the 5-⭐️ ratings.

A Christmas Carol
Demon Copperhead
So Many Steves
Giant‘s Bread
Absent in the Spring

Here‘s to a great 2024 of books!

willaful I had 8, of which 3 were rereads of old favs, so basically the same. 3mo
40 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
Untitled | Unknown
post image

For 2024, I made myself a bracket with spaces for one bonus book each quarter. This serves not only to even up the matches by starting with 16 contenders instead of 12, but it also provides for months with more than one 4-5 star book. I decided to post it just in case anyone else feels the same way - help yourself! #readingbracket2024

hes7 ooh, good idea! 3mo
dabbe OMG; I love it and stole it! Thanks! 🤩😍😘 3mo
Meshell1313 Love! Thanks for sharing!! 3mo
See All 26 Comments
AnnR Wow! Thanks for sharing. 3mo
DieAReader Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing❤️‍🔥 @TheSpineView I came across this & thought you might be interested😉 3mo
TheSpineView @DieAReader Yes! Thank you! 3mo
DieAReader @TheSpineView 😏❤️‍🔥 3mo
DieAReader @CSeydel Absolutely!🤓📚 3mo
CoffeeNBooks Thank you so much for doing this! 3mo
Soubhiville Thank you, I love the idea of bonus books! @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm would you be interested in using this? 3mo
Deblovestoread Fantastic! Thank you! 3mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Soubhiville This is PERFECT! Thank you for remembering! 🥰 3mo
rachelsbrittain I love this!! Definitely gonna use it for a bracket this year 3mo
peanutnine Oooh love the idea of bonus books! Thanks for sharing! ☺️ 3mo
Amiable Yay! So glad to see this! Thank you! So the bonus books are like wild card slots? (edited) 2mo
CSeydel @Amiable haha, you are correct, I should have kept in the tournament theme! Wild card slots is exactly what they are. Any month that it feels too difficult to pick a clear winner, you can use the bonus book/wild card slot to include an extra title. 2mo
CSeydel @Catsandbooks I like how you arranged the months on your bracket - so Jan doesn‘t compete with Feb, etc. I thought about doing that, but by the time I had all the boxes where I wanted them, I forgot to change the month labels 🙃 2mo
Catsandbooks @CSeydel thanks! I totally didn't even see your bracket until I had posted mine or I probably wouldn't have even made one cause yours is great! I like all the bonus books! 2mo
CSeydel @Catsandbooks Aw thanks! Can‘t have too many bracket templates - it‘s nice to have options ☺️ 2mo
Catsandbooks @CSeydel Absolutely! 📚🩷 2mo
BookwormAHN Thank you 🩷 2mo
monalyisha Just adding my voice to the chorus of those who appreciate the option of adding bonus books! 🙌🏻 2mo
CSeydel @monalyisha Thanks! Glad you like it! 2mo
52 likes26 comments
blurb
CSeydel
post image

Nonfiction bracket. My only nonfiction of the month, and my final read of 2023. Incredible book. Anyone with aging parents or who plans to get old themselves should read this. Equal parts medicine, psychology, history, and philosophy. It was so hard to choose an overall winner here.

Lindy Loved this. I‘ve read it twice so far. 3mo
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
CSeydel
Starter Villain | John Scalzi
post image

I only read 4 books in December. It‘s been busy here between work, and fixing up the house for holiday company, and then actually having the company here. I was looking forward to this week between Christmas and New Year‘s as prime reading time, but I‘ve been listless. I‘m still struggling through A Novel Bookstore (#europacollective) and I haven‘t even started More Than Human (#ClassicLSFBC). Starter Villain was a quick and fun read, though.

45 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
post image

January #bookspin roster, selected from my 24in2024 list. I typically make a short list for bookspin and assign each book 2 numbers. (I don‘t know if I‘ll get to *any* of these in January, though, because I‘ll be reading my AuldLangSpine list, plus 2 in-person book clubs 😆)

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
28 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
Untitled | Unknown
post image

Here‘s my #24in2024 challenge list. It will also serve as my #bookspin list for the year! Many of these titles have previously appeared on my Roll100, bookspin, 14weeks, and MountTBR challenges - but several are 2023 acquisitions. Perhaps this is the year I‘ll get through my whole list!

Jas16 There are some books I really loved on your list! 3mo
CSeydel @Jas16 Woohoo 3mo
dabbe I loved AKATA WITCH! 💙🖤💙 3mo
See All 6 Comments
CSeydel @dabbe I am eager to read it! 3mo
Ruthiella You can do it! 👍 3mo
CSeydel @Ruthiella this is the year! (edited) 3mo
41 likes6 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Terraformers | Annalee Newitz
post image

Here is my #AuldLangSpine list from @Lizpixie

Several of these are part of series, so I‘m wondering whether I can just jump in and read them or start with book 1? For the Shelley Burr, I already checked out book 1 (WAKE) because RIPPER isn‘t available at any of my libraries. Also, I‘ve been trying to read The Terraformers for #LitsySciFiBookClub on and off for weeks, so maybe I‘ll finally get into in January. 🤷🏻‍♀️

CSeydel Pictures are the books I was able to download onto my kindle already. I own a physical copy of Dune, and several others I have holds on physical copies from the library. I know I won‘t read all of them in January but I can at least collect them 😂 3mo
41 likes1 comment
blurb
CSeydel
Coronation Year: A Novel | Jennifer Robson
post image

#jolabokaflod23

Merry Christmas! Sorry for the delay - we had a party Christmas Eve, and I didn‘t open my package until this morning. I love it! The chocolates are delightful and I can‘t wait to read both of these books! And that turtle bookmark is adorable - I‘ve never seen one like it before. Thank you, Julie!

Julsmarshall I‘m so glad you enjoyed everything, @CSeydel ! Have the merriest of holidays! 3mo
CSeydel @Julsmarshall same to you! 3mo
49 likes2 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Rose and the Yew Tree | Mary Westmacott
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

What does this mean? Do you think Teresa is right about Isabella “knowing her own design” for life, as opposed to the design Hugh wants to fit her into?

Ruthiella I do think Teresa is right here. She followed her passion instead of taking the expected course. 3mo
6 likes2 comments