An enslaved boy, Wash, is brought on as an assistant to the plantation owner‘s brother, who is building a rudimentary hot air balloon. The novel is both deftly plotted & intensely introspective, both travelogue and fable. It‘s not a novel I loved intensely, but it did make me think, especially the ending, which defied my expectations. I‘m going to sit with it & wonder if my feeling of dissatisfaction/ambiguity is part of the novel‘s project.

So excited to make my #spooktober #tbr today! Looking forward to at least a few minutes of reading one of these (I don‘t expect to get through them all this month obv) after work ends tonight. I think I‘ll start with Rebecca because it‘s been on my list for literally years. 🙌🏻

Here‘s my August reading wrap up in my #bulletjournal! I can‘t believe I read 20 books this month. #25infive really helped me hit a personal reading record. (The book I hated, I‘m sorry to say, was The Mere Wife, which I was so excited about I bought it on its pub day. Probably the worst read of the year for me.)
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If you can‘t tell by my color scheme, I am so ready for fall. 🍁
#augustwrapup

If you liked Hidden Figures. . .
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Karen Piper grew up at China Lake, a rocket testing facility where both her father and her mother worked on the sidewinder missiles.
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This book wasn‘t my favorite— it delves into Piper‘s adult life, which I found less interesting than her descriptions of China Lake. However, it did deepen my understanding of female “computers.”
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Here‘s an excerpt published today on Nautilus: https://tinyurl.com/ybfrng69

Remember zines? Did you know that Kelly Link edits one?
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Lady Churchill‘s Rosebud Wristlet is published by Small Beer Press, who publishes Ursula K Le Guin, Kelly Link, and Sofia Samatar. I subscribed as soon as I realized it existed! $5 per issue— less than the chai in the photo. 😅

When you love a quotation this much, you put it in your #bulletjournal. I‘ve had so much fun on the launch team for this collection of essays on “the delights & dilemmas of the reading life.” She even has one on You‘ve Got Mail!
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If you preorder a copy, you can get all the preorder bonuses (a copy of the audiobook, a class on “7 Ways to Get More Out Of Your Reading Life,” & more!). Just for today, it‘s half off at Books A Million— less than $8!

I started A Little Life a couple of years ago but put it down when it started getting too dark. I‘m in a different place now, so I‘m going to try again! I hear the language & characters are worth the heartbreak.
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Usually, I don‘t pick up long books this close to the end of the month because I know I won‘t be able to count them in my monthly total. 😅 I know that‘s ridiculous, but it‘s true.
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Also, shout out to the best pens ever: Pilot Juice!

“Human nature is universally imbued with a desire for liberty, and a hatred for servitude.” — Caesar, Gallic Wars
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I‘m savoring my way through Tom Holland‘s Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic. It‘ll probably be a few more days before I can give a final review since I‘m taking notes and summarizing as I go, which makes the reading process take about 3 times longer than usual. But for really good non-fiction, I think it‘s worth it.

If you‘re not sure about novellas, try the Wayward Children series! McGuire‘s stories follow children who, like Alice in Wonderland, fell out of our world and into a very different one. The doors opened because they needed them to, and they took the children to places that suited them much better than Earth did. But then, for many different reasons, they were forced to return to this world, and all they want is to find their doors again.

It finally feels a little like fall! I went for a run this morning for the first time in a long time (let‘s be honest: a run/walk), and now I‘ve opened up all the windows and doors and am sitting down to enjoy some creepy Seanan McGuire.
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“The Moors exist in eternal twilight, in the pause between the lightning strike and the resurrection. They are a place of endless scientific experimentation, of monstrous beauty, and of terrible consequences.”

It me! This is from the essay “Bookworm Problems.”
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Somehow @annebogel (Modern Mrs. Darcy) is seeing into my soul with this collection of essays on the reading life.
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Out Sept. 4. #idratherbereading

Thanks for the tag, @CindyMyLifeIsLit !!
👧🏼 The Hobbit! My dad read it to me when I was little and I‘ve loved it ever since.
📽 What About Bob? with Bill Murray! Or The Silence of the Lambs. Very different films. . . Or are they? 😬
🎤 Cher‘s entire Believe album. I can sing every song thanks to the road trips my mom and I took.
⏰ It‘s almost too late! If you‘re reading this & you‘re interested & it isn‘t midnight yet...tag! #tuesdaytidbits

Tryin‘ to take fancy book pics & of course Otter decides he wants to model.
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I just finished my 2nd Jesmyn Ward novel this weekend, & I can‘t imagine a future where she doesn‘t become a classic voice of the South. Her novels are violent, physical, surreal, & sometimes terrifying, but above all, they feel true.
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Sing is my book club pick for this month— we‘re meeting tonight, & I hope everyone made it through! It‘s an intense reading experience.

Alright, enough adulting for the day. Time to read!
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I‘m LOVING this crazy horrifying (sub)urban fantasy. A group of kids is “adopted” by a mysterious, cruel being they call Father who teaches each of them in their own catalogs— war, healing, communing with the dead, seeing all possible futures... you know, the things we all learned. When we meet them, though, Father has disappeared, the Library is off-limits, & no one knows what‘s happened.

Does anyone know of a fun #readathon in #September? I fell in love after completing #25infive and I want to do more! I know there‘s the #Screamathon in October, but...I don‘t know if I can wait a whole month!
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The photo is of French Mallow up at Monticello (we went on a tour this weekend with my in-laws). I know the big draw for Monticello is supposed to be the house, but I love the grounds. ❤️

Who knew that the Bakweri and I had so much in common? 😜
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This is my first book finished for the #25infive readathon, and I am so glad I read it. The author‘s depiction of what American injustices can do to hopeful, hardworking immigrants like Jende and his wife Neni was so heartbreaking. I‘m sure this novel was powerful in 2016 when it first came out, but reading it in 2018, the year of “detention centers,” gave it a special resonance for me.

Hour 2 of #25infive was an #audiowalk along my favorite trail by the Rivanna River. Even though it‘s morning, it‘s so hot and humid already the photos look misty. Still, it felt good to get out and get moving!
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I‘m not sure this book is the best one to listen to while walking alone down by the river. 😦 I‘m glad that people are always very friendly on this path— everyone always says hi when they pass each other. It‘s strange but sweet.

Settling in with my first cup of coffee and Behold the Dreamers for #hourone of the #25infive #readathon. I‘m so excited to be able to finally do this readathon this year!!

Anyone who‘s tried to turn a rectangular image into a Litsy-friendly one can feel my pain at trying to turn this guy into a square. 🙄
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I saw this on IG, and I wanted to share it with you guys! Which ones are you? I‘m definitely the moody reader, the never-interrupt-my-reading, and the fiction lover. ❤️ #readingtypes

A modern retelling of Beowulf from Grendel‘s mom‘s perspective where Heorot is suburbia? Uh, yes. So much yes. I‘ve always felt like Grendel‘s mom was the most interesting underrepresented character in the epic.

In case you‘re wondering what line my page flag is marking: “Earth‘s a thieved place. Everything living needs somewhere to be.”

You GUYS I posted my photo from Litsy on IG about buying The Incendiaries and R.O. Kwon commented hearts!!! 😍 I‘m so excited.

These are my best reads so far of #2018! (I‘ll post close ups soon. If only we had an option for multiple photo posts!)
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Best Fiction: Free Food for Millionaires, by Min Jin Lee
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Best Nonfiction: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
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Best YA: Piecing Me Together, by Renee Watson
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Best Science Fiction/Fantasy: The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (I listened to this on #audiobook, and it was amazing!!)
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Have you read these? Did you like them? ☺️

In the past 24 hrs, I‘ve been to the library twice & the bookstore once; here‘s the resulting stack. ❤️ I had to buy the Incendiaries after reading the NPR review this morning. I‘d expected to see a big, sprawling novel, but it‘s surprisingly small! As for the library, my hold on the tagged book came in today, and I couldn‘t let it languish. (Am I the only one who personifies the books on the hold shelf as adopted pets waiting to go home?)

Another good reading month in the #bulletjournal. I love doing these spreads, although (as you can see) somehow I missed doing a full one for June— I guess I was too busy reading? 😅

Also, in case you love snarky sentient AI but haven‘t picked up Murderbot Diaries yet (the tagged book)— you‘ve gotta grab it. It‘s $4 on Kindle right now, it‘s a novella so you can read it in one delicious sitting, and it‘s absolutely fantastic. ❤️

Bookish P 👏🏻 S 👏🏻 A 👏🏻

Today is the last day to get the tasty preorder bonuses for grabbing Anne Bogel‘s book of essays on the reading life, “I‘d Rather Be Reading.” It comes out on September 4, but if you order today through any online retailer, you‘ll get a free version of the audiobook (with Anne‘s dulcet reading voice), access to a class on getting more out of your reading life, and lovely digital artwork! #idratherbereading

“Oh, my next student is running 15 minutes late?” ::disappears quietly into Asian-inspired military fantasy:: I‘m tearing through this one! I couldn‘t get into Jade City, which was more Yakuza/Mafia inspired, but The Poppy War is definitely more up my alley. Only 70 pages left! I‘ll write a full review when I‘m done. 🔥

Here we gooooo I‘m gonna learn to crochet! Thanks @MommyOfTwo I can‘t imagine how much time and energy went into making these adorable (patterned?! How do you do a pattern?!) dishcloths. Thanks for the heads up about a good YouTube channel— I agree, YouTube videos are way easier than instruction booklets. And thank you for the books! I‘m looking forward to learning this new skill! (Also: your notecards have wax seals?!) #makerswap

We are still in the process of getting rid of our IKEA bookshelf packing materials, but at least one member of the family really, really loves the cardboard the bookshelves came in.

Is anyone else currently in the #mmd “get more out of your library” class? 🤓 I love these little hour-long classes!

I‘m setting up my new bedside reading table in the hopes of incentivizing more books and less YouTube before bed. 🙄 Any suggestions for what to include on the shelves? I know I‘m going to make a mini “reading kit” with a pen, bookmark, highlighter... I‘m going to keep my reading journal there for sure... Not sure what else! I‘m open to suggestions. ☺️ What helps you read consistently before bed?

Is there anything more inspiring than bookshelves waiting to be filled? 😍

Trying to sort out my thoughts about this one in my #readingjournal. I read it in 1 day, a testament to its compelling plot. The last 1/3 of the book started to feel like endless gut punches tho— so many emotional lows piling onto each other. It started to feel like I was being...manipulated. Like Hannah really, really, really wanted to make me cry. 🤷🏼‍♀️ There‘s a time & place for books like that though, which is why it gets a “pick” from me.

You know it‘s true love when your partner looks over, sees you counting on your fingers, and says out of the blue “are you worried about the number of months left in the year to hit your reading goal?” #hivemind #readingmath I‘m coming from behind for life reasons, but I‘m feeling good now that I‘ve got a best-case, worst-case, and middle scenario. 🤓 #27weeksleft #howistheyearhalfoveralready

Mailed my #makerswap (there are two boxes— I may have gone a bit overboard 🙄) today! I forgot to take a photo of the boxes, so instead have a shot of my lunchtime perch yesterday. This cafe has huge windows that open up onto a patio; if you can get a window seat like this one, it‘s the perfect reading spot. Has anyone read this book yet, by the way? It‘s a bit...strange. It‘s part of the #mmd summer reading guide, so I thought I‘d give it a try.

Gosh do I love teaching the classics. (Also, there‘s nothing like a grid background to make you realize what janky angles your photos are usually at...)

Page flags don‘t lie: this was one of the most mind-boggling non-fiction books I‘ve ever read. ALL THE STARS!

Read it three years ago and found it forgettable. Had to reread for a new book club that has its first meeting tomorrow night— still forgettable. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Cool premise, love the world building— but for some reason, this just doesn‘t click for me. Maybe shallow characters? Watching the movie with my husband because he says “there‘s no way he can make it through 600 pages.” 😅 I‘ll cover for him.

Real #booknerds go to the pool...and sit under the umbrella to write up their monthly reading stats. (Photo not taken today, sadly.) I‘m actually pretty happy with 7 books, in a month when I had to grade more than 100 papers and get married! But this month is already on track to be much more impressive. Hooray for #summerreading!

My #makerswap box came! 🎉 It is now hidden in the closet to prevent an attack of grabby hands.

I was so into the tagged book that I didn‘t see Otter getting real real friendly with the bedside lamp. We‘re staying at my fiancé‘s parents‘ house this week (we get married in their backyard on Saturday!!)— fingers crossed this wasn‘t somebody‘s childhood bedroom lamp...

I find that my happiness increases in direct proportion to the quantity of ink on my hands. #makerswap #audiobook (this novel is perfect on audio if you like dystopian YA btw— and it‘s on #hoopla!)

Okay friends, I have to ask...does this get better? I‘m just under 100 pages in, and I‘m feeling a little overwhelmed by all the political nuances that the characters keep having long conversations about. I‘m here because the main character sounded like a 13th century Sherlock, but am I just going to spend the next 500 pages reading about which pope hates which religious order?

For those of us who care more about the “why” of a murder mystery than the “how,” I can def. recommend The Devotion of Suspect X. I haven‘t read a lot of novels set in Japan and written by Japanese authors, so the new perspective is an excellent bonus. Starting the next one in the series right now! 🙌🏻

@Emiller my very sleepy boy Otter is sending you snuggles on this rough day. I know how hard days like this can be. Just do you and take care of yourself as best you can. 💙

Die, reading slump, die. ☠️ Will this be the book that finally kills it?

🌸 My student who cited Breitbart as a reputable source in his final academic research paper 🙄
🌸 cute stationery supplies! They have those adorable binder clips I never buy. Maybe I could use them as bookmarks...?
🌸 I‘m in a reading slump. 😅 That‘s part of why I‘ve been so absent on Litsy— nothing to post about!
🌸 Homemade meyer lemon-key lime bars. 🤤
🌸@maleficentbookdragon
Thx for the tag, @CindyMyLifeIsLit ☺️ @jesshowbooks #friyayintro

I‘m so sorry for missing out on so many fun Litsy things lately— especially sorry to @River_Voice my #freakyfriday buddy. But Cassie & I are reaching the end of our time together, and I haven‘t read much of anything lately. This past month has been filled with vet visits, new medications & subcutaneous fluids, but I think it‘s time to wave the white flag. She is so tired & uncomfortable. We have a vet visit scheduled for tomorrow morning. So sad.

Just finished Red Rising after letting it languish on my Kindle for months. It‘s been EXACTLY what I need right now: all plot and pacing and more than a little gore. It‘s been strangely enlightening to read it next to this biography of Julius Caesar, especially given all the novel‘s references to the classical era.

@emmanoble you wonderful human! I got your first box a few days ago and wrote you a thank you that went in the mail on Monday, not realizing that you in Australia won‘t get it for approximately a thousand years. I hope this was a processing error, and you didn‘t think that I didn‘t get my first box! Let me know if I need to talk to amazon and get you a refund, or if we just stumbled on an infinite books hack! 😜

🎉🎉🎉 this is such an awesome idea! I signed up last night.

Link here: https://goo.gl/forms/IvlPckdawq9uO0Iu2

Props to @LibrarianRyan for coming up with such a great idea. #makerswap