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

monalyisha

Joined January 2017

Head in the clouds, book in my hand, coffee in an I.V. ☁️📖☕️ (R.I. 🌊)
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

I needed a palate cleanser after reading an absolute gut-punch of a book (Juno Loves Legs). This was the exact right choice. I stayed up late reading two nights in a row. I was tired at work yesterday & I‘m sure I‘ll be tired again today (after I finally go to sleep & wake up again). The lack of sleep means I‘ll likely be irritable with my coworkers…but that feels right somehow. 😅 A silly premise but messy in the best way. Funny & romantic, too!

monalyisha *Note: I don‘t mean to imply that there aren‘t heavier topics included here, or that the book doesn‘t come with trigger warnings of its own! There‘s death, grief, trauma, alcoholism, loneliness, abuse, and neglect. But there‘s forward momentum, growth, catharsis, acceptance, and plenty of levity, as well. 💓 1d
58 likes1 comment
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

A two-sentence review said, “It‘s gorgeously written. I wish I hadn‘t read it.” I don‘t know if I can improve upon that! Except, I don‘t really wish I‘d skipped it.

The story is devastatingly predictable. I don‘t mean that the book is disappointing, just that the repeated patterns in our past & in our present are. The story is not unique. The characters are alive — until they‘re not (& too soon). I can‘t believe it didn‘t end in the springtime.

BkClubCare Oh dear, I am already crying. Do I need to read this for a time I need a good cry?!😭 2d
willaful I've written pretty much that same review a time or two... 2d
monalyisha @BkClubCare Ohh, no. It didn‘t feel like a cleansing cry. Do the opposite: read it when you‘re feeling strong! 2d
AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 2d
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2d
62 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Taking full advantage of this Monday holiday.

AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 2d
dabbe #sosweet! 🖤🐾🖤 2d
Suet624 💕💕💕 2d
63 likes3 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Fiction: Juno Loves Legs (book club)
Nonfiction: Cunning Folk (just started)
Audio: Of Time and Turtles (nearly done)

I just cracked open the middle book this morning & I‘m already slightly obsessed (despite the fact that it has endnotes, which make me want to rip my hair out; fortunately, it seems like they‘re mostly just crediting source material & I can ignore them without missing anything). Also, how gorgeous is that cover?! 🤩

#weekendreads

rachelsbrittain Oo that one sounds super interesting! I'm going to have to check it out 👀 5d
monalyisha @rachelsbrittain YES! I think what‘s been most fascinating to me so far is the close overlap of priests and “cunning folk”, religion and “service magic.”

I was under the impression that anything smacking of magic would‘ve been condemned as witchcraft & grounds for getting a person (usually a woman) hanged during the trials. But it seems like “cunning folk” were largely safe and well-regarded (even the women!).
4d
monalyisha @rachelsbrittain And priests could/did employ and sometimes even WERE “cunning folk.” Practices included finding lost things or people, healing, etc. And the exact rituals are hugely fascinating!

I know my understanding is different because my witch trials history is US-based (I actually lived in Salem, MA for a spell) while the author‘s from the UK & digging into the history there. But still!
4d
rachelsbrittain That's fascinating! 3d
66 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
monalyisha
Bright Shining | Julia Baird
post image
Mehso-so

Everything I‘ve ever read by Baird has taken me forever to finish. I‘ve only read this and Victoria: The Queen, which are very different books in content & length (256 pages vs. 752) — but the fact remains. Baird‘s writing is sprawling, which makes it difficult to read in one go. Nevermind that I kept stopping to cry!

I don‘t know if I found enough of what I wanted (homely, undramatic, everyday grace) but the examples provided knocked me out.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: I especially appreciated the real-life stories of nurses working during the pandemic, interviews with record-breaking blood donors, and the well-chosen quotes from poets, authors, and philosophers. 5d
monalyisha 2/2: Other reviewers have called Baird‘s prose “uneven” and have questioned the strength of her organizing principles. I think those judgments may be too harsh but I also *do* see what they mean. There‘s something scattered about her style…but light scatters, too, shining brightly as it does so.

TW (among many, many others): It should be noted that cancer-content lurks around the page corners.
5d
Chelsea.Poole I can imagine this is a difficult one—I read another from her and it was a hard read (edited) 5d
monalyisha @Chelsea.Poole For a minute, after learning of that one, I was wishing I‘d read it instead! But then I heard tell that they‘re *incredibly* similar. 5d
63 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

My husband & I are getting pedicures. The women at the salon love him because he always chooses outrageous colors. Today, he joked the lime green hue he‘d chosen was called, “S‘not nice.” This made me research if there‘s a line of nail polish with punk rock names. While I didn‘t answer my original question, I did learn about a color named after dial-up Internet called “eeeeeee urrrrrrrrrr deedle deedle screeeelllllllll ee ee ee blurrrrrrblurblur.”

AlaMich 😂 6d
AmyG Ha! 6d
AnnCrystal 🤩💅💝. 6d
See All 6 Comments
ChaoticMissAdventures 😂😂😂 6d
Bookzombie 😂😂 6d
dabbe Your hubby rocks! 🤩 6d
74 likes6 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

I (re)read this book for my kids‘ fantasy book club at the library. For some, it was their first experience with an epistolary novel! It‘s a format I adore, so I was honored to introduce them to it. I love that the tale is utterly wacky (invisible, levitating, shape-shifting, bossy chickens!) while also being a gentle exploration of grief (for Sophie‘s abuela, with whom she shared a special closeness, and for her uncle, whom she‘d never met).👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: It‘s also a story about a whole family finding their way in a new place, wrestling with race and class struggles in an age-appropriate way. These systemic problems are not the focus of the story…and yet, they do not go unmentioned. Sophie deals with grown-up things (like sometimes kids are made to) on her level; the grown-ups deal with grown-up things in the background and have their own hints of story. Expert-level nuance here!  1w
monalyisha 2/4: The villain‘s character falls a little short. Her motivation is explained but it‘s a bit shallow and unmined, especially considering the drastic actions she takes. Sophie‘s dad is still finding his way at the end of the book. I‘d love to have seen the seeds of a clearer and more unique path laid out for him. 1w
monalyisha 3/4: The writing in the section about the cockatrice chicken could have been sharper. It‘s the darkest chunk, in terms of mood, and the writing is murky to match. I‘m not convinced all of the details were necessary, especially given that the writing seems to prove a subconscious desire to obscure them. 1w
monalyisha 4/4: There‘s a second book, which I‘ve never read. Were I the intended audience for the book, I‘d dive right in! Given that I‘m an adult with my own reading needs, I may never get there…but that has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with me! A gem, sparkling brightly with funky chicken charm and practical facts. 1w
56 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

When I bought tickets to watch this documentary film with a longtime friend at our childhood stomping grounds in Worcester (MA), I wondered if the (human) stars of my current audiobook would be there.

They were! 🐢

I drove past the house I grew up in, too, for the first time in about a decade. There are solar panels on the roof now and the front yard looked lovely. There were even a couple of young flowering trees. It made me happy to see.

AnnCrystal 💝💝💝. 1w
Amiable The Ecotarium!! My kids used to love that place when they were little and we lived near there. 4d
monalyisha @Amiable It was my favorite place when I was a kid (though it was called The Science Center then)! I loved riding the little train around with my grandpa, saying hi to all of their animals, learning about rocks and crystals, crawling through tunnels, and staring up at the “stars” in the Planetarium. We were so lucky to have it nearby! 4d
See All 8 Comments
Amiable @monalyisha Did you also go to the Higgins Armory Museum? My boys LOVED it. My oldest son had his 5th-birthday party there —the highlight was when they helped him cut his cake with a medieval sword. 😄 4d
monalyisha @Amiable YES! I took my husband there on one of our first dates, in fact! I wish we could‘ve been married there. Then, I could‘ve cut my wedding cake with a sword — like your son (& Alice Roosevelt, which I always thought was a totally bad-ass move)! Sadly, it closed (maintenance costs for the building were too high) & the collection was divvied up (mostly to the Worc. Art Museum) by the time we got married. Should‘ve picked up the pace, hubby! 😜 4d
monalyisha @Amiable I took him to the Ecotarium, too, actually, which he referred to as “the fake zoo.” He‘s lucky I didn‘t dump him. 😅 4d
Amiable @monalyisha 🙊🙉🙈🤺 (that‘s the best I can do for an offended zoo animal wielding a sword 🗡️ ) 😄 4d
monalyisha @Amiable 😂 A valiant attempt. I‘m honored that it was made. 4d
57 likes8 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

#tuesdaytunes
Current obsession:

“Born as a data mine for targeted marketing
And no one will listen up until you become a hashtag or a meme…
They want you to be a ghost
When they rob you of your hope
But you've got power when they're not expecting anything…
I rush to my phone
Because I don't wanna feel alone
They forced us to grow
Into a world without a soul.”

https://open.spotify.com/track/46xgkYwLw0qoExTRgNu9v9?si=TuNOCzgNS1Sj7iivwfFy3Q

monalyisha Song: “To Be a Ghost” by Jeff Rosenstock (2016) 1w
42 likes1 comment
review
monalyisha
Cat's People: A Novel | Tanya Guerrero
post image
Pickpick

Would you believe I‘m not a cat person?* 😅🤷‍♀️

Guerrero‘s book may be overly sentimental and unbelievably awkward (e.g. “All this for a cat to pee and poop in?”) but it‘s so nice to read about people genuinely connecting that I *almost* didn‘t care.

The story falls prey to the “summarizing the whole book at the end” trap. Still, the characters are all incredibly sweet (especially Omar & Bong); you can‘t help but cheer for them.

A low pick.

monalyisha *About not being a cat person: I was super allergic for most of my life. Although, recent tests show that my sensitivity has decreased and I‘m actually MORE allergic to dogs and rabbits now. Go figure! 🙈 I ignore the recent set of results soundly (and I seem to be doing just fine. Flonase is my pal). Still, it‘s hard to get over decades of avoidant behavior. So, while I like cats plenty, we are uneasy friends. 2w
monalyisha I‘m a little upset that Omar didn‘t use the money from Mrs. Lewis to open up a cat cafe with his new pals. It really seemed like that was where the story was headed, based on the group‘s mutual love, directionlessness, & complementary skill sets (Nuria‘s Master Barista skills, Omar‘s homemade pet treats, his partner‘s interior design prowess, etc) — not to mention the influence of Lily & Nuria‘s late father! What a dangled carrot (or tuna treat?)! 2w
59 likes2 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Cat's People: A Novel | Tanya Guerrero
post image

The pup is *rather* offended that I‘ve chosen to read about cats.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag The betrayal!! 2w
Read-n-Bloom 😂 2w
TheBookHippie Rude!!! 2w
See All 6 Comments
AnnCrystal 👏🏼😹💕🐕💝. 2w
kspenmoll Haha the pup‘s look!!!‘ 2w
dabbe 🤣🐾🖤 2w
69 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
monalyisha
Idle Grounds | Krystelle Bamford
post image
Pickpick

The best (adult) novel I‘ve read all year (no way to measure it against Moominland; they are different soft, round, or zig-zaggy beasts). A child goes missing. Her gaggle of cousins goes looking for her in the thick, viscous, fecund wood.

One might complain that there are too many similes and metaphors but that one would also be forced to admit that 95% of them are so creative and fantastic that the complaint isn‘t really a complaint at all. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: Besides, something being LIKE something else, but not *actually* something, represents that disquieting resistance to being pinned down that horror has. You can‘t quite look at it directly. Or you don‘t want to. You can‘t grasp it or understand it or reason with it. It eludes you, and that‘s uncomfortable. Figurative language is the best we‘ve got. 2w
monalyisha 2/2: Owen with his precious eggs is my favorite part. Such a clear symbol for how everything is so delicate and vulnerable, and how the outside world is implicitly threatening and dangerous. And, what‘s worse (in the case of Beezy, especially) is that sometimes your interior world is no better. This is a book about generational trauma. It perfectly captures humanity‘s capacity to be there for one another, and — crushingly — not. 2w
monalyisha AND I DIDN‘T EVEN MENTION THAT IT‘S FUNNY! 🤩🤯 2w
lauraisntwilder I just bought this on Sunday on a whim and hadn't heard anything about it. Love your review! 2w
monalyisha @lauraisntwilder I hope it strikes you the same way it did me! 2w
57 likes4 stack adds5 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Idle Grounds | Krystelle Bamford
post image

Me, in the face of this book‘s 3.30 ⭐️ Goodreads rating.

ChaoticMissAdventures I have loved so many 3⭐ reads from GR. I always feel like people have zero clue what they are reading, they don't know how to pick books for themselves and then get mad that it isn't perfectly tailored to them. 2w
CatLass007 I generally don‘t pay a ton of attention to ratings and reviews. I read the description of the book and if it sounds good I‘ll borrow or buy it. 2w
monalyisha @ChaoticMissAdventures I just said the EXACT same thing to my husband! One of the Storygraph reviews said, “These kids were literally walking around for ages and I just don‘t love novels centered on kids.” 😂💀 2w
See All 8 Comments
monalyisha @CatLass I tend to read them afterwards to see how other readers‘ impressions compare to my own. 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures @monalyisha honestly this might help me 😂 I too don't normally enjoy books centered on children. But I think you have to read the synopsis, understand what you are going in for and then (IMO) rate the book on the writing and how effective the storytelling is. So many people have so many different ideas in what goes into their ⭐ rating. 2w
monalyisha @ChaoticMissAdventures Ha! I mean, we all get it wrong sometimes. But that‘s when you‘ve got to reflect and say, “This wasn‘t for me.” I love meandering narratives (and coming of age stories). 2w
5feet.of.fury @monalyisha lmaooo I finished a book recently, liked it a lot and then headed to the reviews and 1/2 of the 3 star or less reviews were “I don‘t like YA” 😩 …like??? This was so avoidable. 2w
monalyisha @5feet.of.fury Right? Do your research! 😜 Granted, sometimes my hand is forced (book clubs, etc). 2w
44 likes8 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

I wasn‘t confident about my choices, so I never posted it…but here‘s my April #ReadingBracket2025.

I‘m thinking about it now because I‘m musing about May‘s selection. I‘ve been reading Idle Grounds & just loving it. I‘m only a few pages from the end — really dragging my feet on the conclusion. What if I‘m somehow disappointed?

Anyway, my choice for April is John Green‘s The Anthropocene Reviewed. Eminently listenable! 🎧

Mantel is still ahead.

Berry.Villain Where can I get the blank copy? 2w
monalyisha @Berry.Villain It‘s from @CSeydel — you may need to scroll through her posts quite a bit. I think she likely posted it towards the beginning of the year. 2w
CSeydel @berry.villain I tagged you in the post but then I remembered I could post a direct link to it! Here it is in case anyone else is looking: https://litsy.com/p/TXdoWG1rQWx3 2w
CSeydel If I could wish for one upgrade to Litsy it would be the ability to search a hashtag on a specific user profile 2w
50 likes4 comments
quote
monalyisha
Idle Grounds | Krystelle Bamford
post image

“He was wearing a polo shirt with fat, colored stripes and a white collar which made him look like a formal caterpillar.”

Aims42 Love that description 😂 A++ 2w
Bookwormjillk 🤣😂🤣😂 2w
57 likes2 comments
review
monalyisha
The Third Gilmore Girl | Kelly Bishop
post image
Pickpick

I think Kelly Bishop might be the ultimate chaotic good. She‘s sassy, opinionated, stubborn, motivated by justice, honest about her own faults & failures, optimistic yet realistic, grateful & *never* bitter. What a mindset & what a talent! Her big mouth combined with her dance background made me miss my grandma (a jitterbug champion rather than a classically-trained ballerina) fiercely. It was a pleasure to get to know Emily Gilmore better. 🩰💗🎬

monalyisha Oh! I have to share a tiny detail that made me splutter out a surprised laugh: at one point, she quotes Garth Brooks! 😂 I definitely didn‘t have that on my bingo card! 2w
Sharpeipup I truly enjoyed this story and loved hearing how she landed some of her roles especially Dirty Dancing. 2w
monalyisha @Sharpeipup I don‘t even want to admit this but while I was watching GG, it didn‘t even occur to me that she was in DD! 🙈 And I loved both! 🍉 2w
See All 7 Comments
JamieArc I listened to this recently and was pleasantly surprised. I knew nothing about her life previous to DD and it was really interesting. It took me down some rabbit holes and now I think there‘s a new show with her about ballet that I‘m curious about. 2w
monalyisha @JamieArc I just learned about the new show, too, and am eager to watch! I pretty much only watch TV with my husband and he definitely won‘t be interested. But it seems worth it to find the time! 2w
TheBookHippie I love her. 2w
70 likes3 stack adds7 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

Reread Unraveling for a traveling book club at my library. I hosted today‘s meeting at the NRT (Natural Resources Trust) Sheep Pasture. It was just as good as when I read it the first time — & the book club attendees agreed! How can you not love a book which begins, “Sheep don‘t look like they‘d be slippery.” It explores the process of making a sweater — from shearing the sheep, to spinning & carding the wool, to dyeing and (finally) knitting.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: It also explores the author‘s personal grief (her mother‘s recent death, her father‘s fast decline due to dementia, and her daughter‘s imminent departure for college), and her global grief during the pandemic as she yearns for community and climate justice. A+ research and writing. I especially enjoyed the section about natural dyes. Just fab. 🐑 2w
monalyisha *Note: Book Club participants were treated to a live demo and a chance to get their hands on the tools of the trade: carding, spinning, and knitting (or crocheting). Here I am, working on my crone skills so I can fulfill my calling to live in an overgrown cottage on the edge of the forest. 🍃 2w
Ruthiella I loved learning that the word “distaff” meaning “female” comes from this craft. 2w
See All 7 Comments
Soubhiville Sounds like a really cool and informative day! 2w
ravenlee I‘ve always wanted to try spinning. I have a spindle but it‘s not something I‘ve been able figure out on my own, and it doesn‘t have the same draw as a spinning wheel in my imagination. 2w
monalyisha @ravenlee I found the drop spindle pretty challenging! 2w
julesG The drop spindle is challenging. 2w
57 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

A 35-year-old writer moves in with an 85-year-old spitfire, recently widowed, right before the pandemic. He keeps a journal of their experience.

The relationship between Ben & Winnie forms s.l.o.w.l.y. — which makes the end result all the more satisfying. From my lived experience, it reminded me of having a rabbit…that slow build of trust from a creature who is markedly independent & willful in spite of *or because of* her vulnerability.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: Winnie also reminded me of my own grandmother, who was a bit of a divisive figure. She kept exactly none of her opinions to herself and was quick to judge. Fortunately, she judged me worthy and we had a close relationship. Winnie, however, is British — and feels like it! — whereas my gram hails from New England with stints in California. I loved puttering about the garden with Winnie (& Ben)…👇🏻 3w
monalyisha 2/2: and reading his good-natured response to her biting yet somehow increasingly warm critiques (of his cooking, his hair, his humor, you name it). The ending isn‘t what I wanted but I suppose that‘s aging. Hey-ho. I do feel greatly in need of an update 3 years hence. 3w
Suet624 I love this post 💕 your grandmother sounds like someone I can relate to. 3w
66 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Even Monsters Need Haircuts | Matthew McElligott
post image

Continuing the trend of occasionally posting non-sequitors so I don‘t get pulled back into other social media (Instagram, Facebook). Thanks for being here!

The non-book-related item of the moment is: I got bangs…which I already regret! 😅 I worried they might not look good, or that I might not be able to style them properly (which remains to be seen). It didn‘t occur to me that they might be plain annoying!

It‘s been raining, raining. 🌧️🌸🍃

MittenGirlPeach The bangs look terrific! 3w
AmyG You look great. Maybe you need time to adjust to having bangs? 3w
BarbaraJean Well, if it's any consolation, the bangs LOOK adorable. 😊 3w
See All 22 Comments
thegirlwiththelibrarybag You look great! Hopefully the regret period is short lived (because the growing out stage is long 😬) 3w
julesG You look great!! 3w
Mollyanna I like the bangs. They look great. 3w
TheKidUpstairs They look great! Bangs are always an adjustment period 😁 3w
Aims42 You look great with bangs!!! I 100% agree with @TheKidUpstairs - there is a definite adjustment period 🙃 You‘ll figure out how to style them, give yourself some time and grace 💕 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures I have had bangs for about a decade, I have found the key is a fantastic hair person who you can text and they can squeeze you in between clients to trim them when you start to think you might cut them yourself 😂 3w
BarbaraBB You look great with them! Really!! 3w
dabbe They look fabulous on you! It‘ll just take time to get used to them. 💚🩵💚 3w
LeahBergen Love them!! 3w
AnnCrystal You look fantastic with bangs 🤩👍🏼. 3w
willaful They look very cute! 3w
Blh87 They look great, and you can always pin them back if they get annoying. 3w
tpixie You look adorable and your bangs are great. They are tricky. If they get long and touch my eyebrows or face, I go crazy! 🤪 3w
TheLudicReader I love your bangs. 3w
lauraisntwilder Totally suits you! 3w
Suet624 Who cares about the bangs when you have such a delightful smile. 3w
marleed Love the bangs! 3w
Lesliereadsalot You look adorable! 3w
Chelsea.Poole Those bangs are bangin. I know what you mean though…I‘ve tried a few times over the years and they tickle the eyebrows! 3w
79 likes22 comments
review
monalyisha
Blob: A Love Story | Maggie Su
post image
Pickpick

A 20-something Taiwanese-American suffering from depression finds a sentient blob in an alleyway. Though she‘s experiencing a profound disconnectedness from herself & others, she tries to forge a connection. I liked this book from the get-go. The dark, cynical humor made me laugh. I wanted *more,* though. More character evolution & more character depth from just about everyone. It‘s certainly a book where everyone‘s uncomfortably in the middle.

monalyisha Perhaps the lack of definitive evolution is meant to show just how much of an achievement it is to even *start* giving your life shape again when you‘ve felt so flat for so long. It‘s not satisfying progress, narratively, but it *is* realistic. This may also explain why the author conceded to advice she received early on in her writing process, to “go gentler on Vi.” 3w
monalyisha Still, I think the idea eclipses the execution. It doesn‘t feel overly optimistic, however, to believe that Su, who‘s still young, could be growing towards an amazing talent. It *does* feel overly optimistic to hope that she might drop the phrase “jacking off” from her vocabulary. But that‘s a me problem and I digress… 3w
Chelsea.Poole Great review. I started this (I‘m talking like 4 pages read) and was so intrigued but didn‘t continue because life. But I should get this on audio. 3w
vivastory I have this one checked out. Looking forward to it! 3w
66 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
monalyisha
Nettle & Bone | T. Kingfisher
post image
Pickpick

Marra, who is not-quite-a-nun & barely a princess, learns that her eldest sister was killed by her husband, the prince. Her middle sister is now married to the same man, crowned king; she stays pregnant to keep him from beating her — or at least hold him back a bit. Marra vows to save her sister, loosening the political noose around her neck, by killing the monster. She assembles a band of not-so-merry, magical misfits to aid her in her quest.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/3: This was my first T. Kingfisher. It won‘t be my last. Two words: “tooth. dancer.” That fantastically discomfiting imagery won‘t soon be forgotten. Amara Jasper‘s audiobook narration is pretty fab, too (with the exception of the way she pronounces, “Eh?”). 4w
monalyisha 2/3: At first, I griped about repetition & Marra‘s immaturity but any complaints were soon quelched (though I could‘ve done without the “cursed child” character; evil puppets have never really done it for me). Soon enough, I yielded to total immersion in the story. 4w
monalyisha 3/3: While not shying away from darkness, the tale somehow maintains a cozy vibe. And, as an added perk, the words Kingfisher chooses to end with are perfect. She leaves the story open to the possibility of further development while still providing a satisfying resolution. 4w
shanaqui I really don't know how Kingfisher manages to put darkness and cosiness together so well. It's a consistent *thing* through all her books I've read: somehow it's cosy reading even when it's also dark and awful. 4w
PlutoReads I will read anything by Kingfisher. 3w
58 likes5 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Raising Hare: A Memoir | Chloe Dalton
post image

The variety encapsulated by my reading month makes me happy. It‘s a pretty accurate snapshot of my literary life as a whole.

StoryGraph tells me I‘m 14 books ahead of my reading goal. It‘s possible I set the bar too low but it still gives me a flush of pleasure!

monalyisha Don‘t mind my personal reading tracker: #AWreads2025 4w
vivastory I'm curious: what format did you you read the John Green in? 4w
monalyisha @vivastory Audiobook, which I wouldn‘t change! 4w
ravenlee I started setting my StoryGraph goals ridiculously low because it was giving me anxiety. 🤣 Now I can feel confident all year because I hit my goals in January. 4w
willaful I also enjoyed the audiobook of The Anthropocene Reviewed. 4w
65 likes5 comments
quote
monalyisha
post image

“I would like to touch the world
and not harm it. I would like to be touched and not
harmed.”

dabbe 💙🩵💙 1mo
TheBookHippie ♥️ 1mo
JenReadsAlot Oh that just made me smile 😊 4w
54 likes3 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

Joy Sullivan strikes me as a poet aiming to be a younger, more sexual Mary Oliver (cf: “Tomatoes” to “Roses” [Felicity]). But Mary was already perfect; fully incarnate yet not inelegantly carnal. I don‘t begrudge Sullivan having had an orgasm or writing about it. I do have reservations about her — metaphorically — beating off a dead horse (an offense which feels particularly egregious coming from a horse girl). 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/3: I think she may be kicking back too hard and too obviously against her religious upbringing. It‘s enough to eat the apple and savor it; you don‘t have to tie cherry stems with your tongue. 1mo
monalyisha 2/3: Still, some poems are stunners and some of her particular phrasing will stick with me, e.g. “the soft chapel of your chest.” 1mo
monalyisha 3/3: Or, “Don‘t just write the sad, you say. We are not a sad museum. Remember the good: the cabin at Rainier. The hike up Shasta Mountain. *The night we ate mushrooms and got slaphappy, then slapsad and wept at the sight of wild pears.*” Even if I hadn‘t mostly enjoyed the collection, it would‘ve all been worth it for “slapsad.” 1mo
monalyisha Stand-outs: “Cost”, These Days People Are Really Selling Me on California”, “What Eve Knew”, “As Women Do”, “Pushing the Belly”, “Instinct.” A low pick. 1mo
52 likes4 comments
review
monalyisha
A Council of Dolls: A Novel | Mona Susan Power
post image
Pickpick

Filled with examples of truly beautiful prose (e.g. “If I was allowed, I‘d run my finger across Mama‘s face the way I do with Christmas bulbs to feel their shine”), this novel describes hideously traumatic experiences. There‘s so much needless death, the fact of which the Dakhóta children in each section (set in the 1960s, 1930s, & 1900s) are all too aware.

It‘s heartbreaking, intimate, and historically accurate pain. ??

monalyisha 1/3: In the Author‘s Note, Mona Susan Power informs her readers, “Writing this book was a healing endeavor. May it support the healing of others.” It does, eventually, come around to healing. The final chapter provides some much needed lightness, in the form of “a codependent cockatoo” named after His Royal Badness (aka Prince). 💜 1mo
monalyisha 2/3: Unfortunately, I also found the final chapter to be the weakest part (despite the gorgeous bit about the supermoon). And it seems, after combing through other reviews, that I‘m not alone. The writing in this section isn‘t subtle enough. Powers‘ dialog is warm but it feels stilted and formal — written rather than spoken (which I‘m realizing is perhaps a horribly insensitive criticism of a writer who comes from an oral storytelling tradition). 1mo
monalyisha 3/3: Though therapy is an important and valuable part of healing, it doesn‘t heighten the poetry of the reading experience to be buried in therapy-speak. Still, I was moved by the story/stories, overall, and impressed with the telling. The hook of writing through the dolls‘ perspective could have been “corny” (reference intended) — but it wasn‘t. It was tenderly executed. A solid 4 stars. 1mo
55 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

April‘s selection for my kids‘ fantasy book club at the library. It was my favorite when I was little, so I was eager to see how it would be received by today‘s generation, 30 years later. It dawned a gorgeous, sunny day (after a month full of rain), so I had only one attendee. Lucky for me, Maeve is my (secret) favorite! She LOVED the book, which was validating. If I‘m being honest, much of my taste today can be traced back exactly this far.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: A portal fantasy featuring a young girl who has a close relationship with her grandmother, and who seeks refuge inside a moody old church? It‘s *basically* my literary origin story. 😅 1mo
CSeydel That‘s so cool! I remember my son reading this one, years ago. 1mo
BethM I loved this series as a kid and still own my copies. There‘s 5 in the series I believe. I was always so sad he didn‘t give it the attention he gave his other books. 1mo
monalyisha @BethM I‘m jealous that you still have your copies! I saw that he recently reissued them as a 7-book boxed set. https://www.brucecoville.com/library/unicorn-chronicles/ 1mo
59 likes4 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Fireworks | Katie Cotugno
post image

Did I go back and find the post I made about this dedication 8 years ago? You bet I did! Good thing this wasn‘t that popular of a book (though sad for Katie Cotugno, who is delightful)!

I wasn‘t even that big of a Hanson fan but my childhood bff was — and this made me laugh. Funnily enough, I just saw her today for brunch!

Wild to think I‘ve been on Litsy for over 8 years.

#SundayFunday

BookmarkTavern I love that! Thanks for posting! 1mo
50 likes1 comment
blurb
monalyisha
The Colony | Annika Norlin
post image

WELL.

That was a joyful chore! 😅 I‘ve placed my votes for #CampLitsy25. I chose the titles I thought would lead to the most productive discussions — or, in the case of Sky Daddy, the one(s) I didn‘t want to be alone with. 😜

Thanks for hosting, @BarbaraBB @Megabooks & @squirrelbrain !

*If you‘re interested in viewing the longlist, voting, or in the event itself, visit any of their pages or check out the hashtag!

monalyisha I didn‘t nominate any titles myself this year and it was a blast to vote without any skin in the game, tbh! I‘ll tag the only one I *did* consider adding to the mix, since it didn‘t show up otherwise. 1mo
BarbaraJean Oooh, Bibliophobia sounds so good! (And I need to do my homework and investigate the longlist, i.e. blow up my TBR…) 1mo
monalyisha @BarbaraJean Oh, it‘s so blown-up. 😆 Some I put immediately on hold (Liquid, Blob, Kate & Frida, Cat‘s People, Idle Grounds, The Incandescent). Others, like Memorial Days, which I saw you‘d nominated, I think I‘d just prefer to read on my own. And some, I want to listen to (Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, Model Home, Heartwood), & I prefer to discuss what I‘ve read in print. Such happy sorting! 1mo
See All 9 Comments
BarbaraBB I love this post! Your choices and how I can relate to the process! Thanks! 1mo
monalyisha Thanks, @BarbaraBB ! I saved a couple to read with my IRL book club, too (Gabriele & The Tokyo Suite). We also have an elaborate nomination & voting process. 2025‘s list is already done but it‘s never too early to add things into our 2026 spreadsheet. 😅 1mo
squirrelbrain I love elaboration (and spreadsheets too of course!) 🤣 1mo
Meshell1313 Nice choices! I can‘t wait to see what wins! 1mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain is the queen of spreadsheets and totally the reason tallying votes works so well! So glad you weighed in and glad you found more to enjoy on the longlist! 1mo
squirrelbrain @Megabooks ❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣 1mo
59 likes9 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Jets (Seedlings) | Kate Riggs
post image

Jett got to pick out a tomato plant. He‘s very proud. Can‘t wait to pee on it, tbh.

dabbe Good boy, #joyousjett! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Jett ♡♡♡ 1mo
63 likes2 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Bright Shining | Julia Baird
post image

Despite acing AP US History, taught by a very liberal teacher in the heart of Massachusetts — in a former factory town! — I‘m just now learning about the suffragette slogan “Bread for all, & Roses too!” which is inextricably linked to the Lowell Textile Mill Strike.

My soul is consumed; I need the words framed immediately.

Read the linked poem, then the context in the comments below:

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/bread-and-roses-song/

monalyisha It meant “that women were fighting for not just physical needs but also music, education, nature, art, leisure, and books…for pleasures as well as necessities, and the time to pursue them, the time to have an inner life and freedom to roam the outer world.” 1mo
monalyisha In a 2022 interview with The Nation about her tagged book (referenced in my current read), Solnit said, “We all know what ‘bread‘ is: food, clothing, shelter; the bodily necessities, which can be more or less homogenized and administered from above. But ‘roses‘ was this radical cry, in a way, for individualism, for private life, for freedom of choice — because my roses and your roses won‘t be the same roses, you know?” 1mo
monalyisha “Bread for All, and Roses too!” recognizes that “people are subtle, complex, subjective creatures who need culture, need nature, need beauty, need leisure.” 1mo
See All 7 Comments
TheKidUpstairs I love this. It reminds me of the quote from the depths of the AIDS crisis “We buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night.“ A reminder that so many social justice movements strive for more than just the basic needs of the body, but the necessities of the soul 💗 because what is life without joy? 1mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs YES! Did you read the tagged? There‘s a powerful essay about queer joy, clubs, dancing, tragedy, & community. I think it might be the one “about” yeti crabs. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha I have not read it, but I do have it stacked (probably from your review!) I'll have to bump it up the TBR! 1mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs I feel confident that you‘ll love it. If you don‘t, IOU. I don‘t know what. But something. 😅 1mo
61 likes7 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Another treasure discovered via Katherine May‘s newsletter. Musicians have submitted a petition to have Los Cedros Cloud Forest (which already has legally established personhood) recognized as a co-creator of their song. It features “frogs, birds, the slowed down echolocating frequencies of bats & vibrations from the mycorrhizal networks of a newly discovered fungus.”

https://open.spotify.com/track/3H182DGezvqGcpcUwIALNW?si=-exWOuJtS9-EUGZf55o_Ng

quote
monalyisha
A Council of Dolls: A Novel | Mona Susan Power
post image

“I want my parents to be in love in both ways, not Dad by himself. So I fall in love for them, over and over again.”

50 likes1 stack add
blurb
monalyisha
post image

#BibliologistBio

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GENRES?
Literary fiction, speculative fiction, nature writing, memoirs, essays, & romance.

WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR DESERT-ISLAND READS?
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, and Devotions by Mary Oliver.

WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO READING SNACK?
Coffee and frosted animal crackers or beer and wasabi peas.

Cont‘d 👇🏻

monalyisha WEIRDEST OR MOST INTERESTING PLACE YOU'VE READ A BOOK?
At an amateur pro-wrestling match, while my partner‘s band played intro music and sound effects for the wrestlers.
1mo
monalyisha WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT READING?
I work as a Children‘s Librarian; moonlight as a wedding officiant, creating custom rituals and ceremonies; and go for nature walks with my dog. Sometimes, I tap dance.
1mo
Prairiegirl_reading Oh wow!! Just curious, what inspired you to become a wedding officiant? 1mo
See All 14 Comments
Donna1980 Beer and wasabi peas! Top tier choices 😊 1mo
monalyisha @Prairiegirl_reading Looking for an officiant for my own wedding! We hired a woman who was a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant. She created rituals for us using coffee, wood rounds cut from different types of trees on her property, & all sorts of other fun details. I thought, “I could do that!” I have degrees in English Lit & Religious Studies, which seemed like a pretty tailor-made background. My husband is a wedding photographer, so it made sense! (edited) 1mo
Prairiegirl_reading @monalyisha that‘s awesome! 1mo
monalyisha @Prairiegirl_reading Thanks! I LOVE writing the ceremonies. Readers are naturally inclined to tell stories and imbue mundane objects with meaning and symbolism; it‘s fun and it comes easily. Standing before hundreds of their closest friends & family and delivering the finished product is a different thing altogether — and something I still find very nerve-wracking. In an ideal world, I‘d hand that part off to someone else. 😅 1mo
BkClubCare ❤️ your desert island reads! 1mo
Gissy Great photo😍 🌊 💙💙💙 1mo
dabbe #lovelovelove!!! 💙🩵💙 1mo
quietlycuriouskate Gorgeous photo! 1mo
Suet624 I love all of this. 1mo
LeahBergen Beautiful pic! 1mo
58 likes14 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

I reactivated MyTBR account & have been daydreaming about being a bibliologist ever since. What would your profile look like if you worked for them? I‘ll share mine in a separate post!

QUESTIONS:

•What are your favorite genres?
•What are a few of your desert island reads?
•What‘s your go-to reading snack?
•Weirdest or most interesting place you‘ve read a book?
•What do you do when you‘re not reading?

#BibliologistBio

review
monalyisha
Raising Hare: A Memoir | Chloe Dalton
post image
Pickpick

Dalton, a political adviser forced into a rare period of inactivity by the pandemic, finds an injured leveret on the path behind her country home and nurses it back to health. Though she never closes the door to the fields & meadows beyond her threshold, the hare chooses to spend pieces of each day with her. Dalton‘s cottage is viewed as a safe haven — so safe that the hare eventually opts to give birth to her wild babies in the author‘s bedroom.

monalyisha 1/2: Of course, I found this nature memoir touching and timely. We desperately need to slow down, quiet the chaos inside our brains and in our days, rewild our lands and our selves, and reevaluate our priorities. My own identity as a bun-mom for 12 years obviously heightened my connection to the text (putting Dalton‘s staunch insistence upon marking the differences between rabbits & hares aside). 1mo
monalyisha 2/2: Though the conclusion isn‘t objectively devastating, reading the author‘s anticipatory reflections about their time together ending still totally undid me. The writing is solid but I‘d expect something tighter from a Women‘s Prize for Nonfiction winner (which this isn‘t…yet). Adjectives are almost *too* plentiful & Dalton‘s sentences trend long. It made me miss my own little cottontail fiercely. My gratitude for her gifts is renewed daily. 1mo
LeeRHarry The conclusion definitely had me teary. 1mo
AnnCrystal 🐇💝. 1mo
65 likes1 stack add4 comments
quote
monalyisha
Raising Hare: A Memoir | Chloe Dalton
post image

“The atmosphere of calm suffused by her throughout the house lingers even when she is gone. I hope always to be able to summon it at will, along with the memory of the light and trusting touch of her paws in the palm of my hand, and her steady…gaze. And when one day I can no longer see her, I will watch the hares in the field knowing that her being is woven into theirs, and I only have to look up at night to see her symbol etched in the stars.”

AmyG 💔🩶 1mo
58 likes1 comment
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Happy milestone, @dabbe !

My #moodboardcontest vibe is, “Everything‘s a mess but at least the tender buds are blooming.” Easter has always been my favorite but my family is going through a rocky patch right now…as is our country, as is the world. I‘m taking comfort in soft breezes, soft petals, & soft puppies whenever I can. I‘ve also been conducting scientific research re: how long the average 39-year-old woman can stay submerged under coffee.

monalyisha Thanks for hosting your #moodboardcontest #mbc! I‘m happy to be sharing space with you. @dabbe 1mo
Yenya1954 It‘s a really rough world. We should take comfort when and wherever it‘s available. 1mo
dabbe Same here, m'dear! And thanks not only for sharing yourself but reminding me to find and be grateful for the littlest of things. We are alive on this crazy, rocky planet hurling around the sun. That's worth everything. 💙🩵💙 1mo
See All 6 Comments
monalyisha @dabbe started using her own hashtag for my dog and I'd be lying if I said I didn't adore it. #joyousjett (edited) 1mo
dabbe @monalyisha Well, Jett clearly has the best family ever! He's livin' his best life! #joyousjett 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
55 likes6 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

If I wanted to review this book properly (and follow the author‘s lead), I‘d give each essay a rating out of 5 stars and then calculate the average. My actual method was far less scientific, which is how I roll. I basically just went with my gut.

This was my first John Green book. I say that as a librarian who works in Youth Services, by which I mean I‘m saying it very quietly so as not to be publicly shamed. The good news is that I loved it.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: I don‘t know if it will lead me to other books by him (except for, perhaps, Turtles All the Way Down, given my strong suspicion that I have undiagnosed [magical thinking] OCD). I‘d definitely watch his videos if that were a way I enjoyed digesting content. Sadly, it‘s not. 1mo
monalyisha 2/5: I‘m typically not a podcast gal, either, but I‘ll be adding “Dear Hank & John” to the queue for those rare moments when I‘m between audiobooks and don‘t feel like listening to music. 1mo
monalyisha 3/5: Anyway, many of these essays are lovely: hopeful, earnest, honest, and well-composed. Personal favorites include: Lascaux Cave Paintings, Scratch ‘n‘ Sniff Stickers, The Nathan‘s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, Harvey, Auld Lang Syne, & Sycamore Trees. 1mo
See All 8 Comments
monalyisha 4/5: I‘m going to buy the book for my husband for his birthday. He *is* a video guy and typically doesn‘t sit down and read (aside from George Saunders‘ short stories, which he loves). I‘m hoping the bite-sized nature of the essays will prove enticing. He & John (& Hank!) seem to have a lot in common. 1mo
monalyisha 5/5: John makes it a point to mention how new 5-star ratings systems are. I think what he‘s trying to say is that the point is not the ratings; the point is the essays (and paying and directing attention). I think part of his goal is to (playfully) show how ridiculous ratings are — especially the 5-star system. Regardless (and in that same spirit of serious play), I give The Anthropocene Reviewed 4.25 stars. 1mo
BooksandCoffee4Me My adult sons love the Green brothers podcast. Personally, I think my sons should do a podcast. 😊 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I adore the Green Brothers they are insanely intelligent and empathetic, while also being charming and somehow down to earth. I have read a few of his YA which I thought mostly "fine" (Turtles is probably my favorite) I love that John is getting into NF I am much more interested in that area from him. He tends to skew too Manic Pixie Dream Girl in his YA for my taste. 1mo
monalyisha @ChaoticMissAdventures That‘s exactly how I imagine I‘d feel about it! 1mo
61 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

Wow, I cried so much at the resolution. 😅 Get ready for a post-book, post-cry headache (in the best way).

This was an absolute pleasure — one of the best romances I‘ve read in a while — with two small caveats:

1. Reading about anything you have intimate knowledge of is always tricky; it leads to hyper-criticism. After raising a house rabbit for 12 years, I have intimate knowledge of what it takes to be a bun-mom. And Lane had a pet bunny.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: Most importantly, rabbits absolutely should not be caged. I‘m disappointed that the author perpetuates this myth. They‘re incredibly social creatures, they‘re built for speed, and they‘re prey animals; keeping them in a state where they have a limited range of motion *and* they know they can‘t escape is cruel. 1mo
monalyisha 2/4: I don‘t care how big Simone‘s condo was; it‘s ridiculously easy to litterbox train a rabbit. There‘s no excuse for ignorance. They‘re not just a quirky accessory for an MC with tattoos, anxiety, & a Skoolie. Give the woman a cat if you‘re not going to do the research! Make it a Sphynx cat, if you have to (which are adorable). (edited) 1mo
monalyisha 3/4: And 2. The HEA was a little dragged out. But every detail was so well-considered, thoughtful, and touching, that I won‘t complain too loudly. 1mo
monalyisha 4/4: All relationships — romantic, platonic, and familial — are complex and tender; the sexy bits are (mostly) *very* sexy; and the dialogue is snappy. A real delight (and one that‘s not shy about capturing healing moments and catharsis). 1mo
65 likes4 comments
quote
monalyisha
Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley
post image

“That‘s what I wanted, more than anything: a low pressure way to say hey, we‘re cool, how are you. No need to be weird anymore; we‘re too old, and the world is too fragile.”

TheBookHippie Picture is ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ 1mo
TheSpineView Cool photo! 🩶🩶🩶 1mo
lil1inblue 😍 😍 😍 1mo
See All 8 Comments
monalyisha 📸 Cred: Stock Cake (free) 1mo
AnnCrystal 🌳🪞💦😍💝💝💝. 1mo
TieDyeDude “we‘re too old, and the world is too fragile.“ 💔 🌈 1mo
Blueberry Your photo reminds me of MC Escher's work. 1mo
mobill76 I was thinking Jerry Uelsmann. 1mo
69 likes8 comments
review
monalyisha
Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley
post image
Pickpick

“Pour Some Sugar On (Past, Present, & Future) Me”

It was the summer of 1996. My best friend, Dana, and I had decided to start a band. Never mind that neither of us knew how to play an instrument. Never mind that at least one of us (me) couldn‘t carry a tune. Our name was Azalea and we were going to be HUGE. I knew this because I‘d read what was written in Dana‘s composition notebook. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/6: Struck by a flash of inspiration, she‘d hastily scrawled the lyrics to our first song. The words sparkled like sweet crystals on the page. Then, she sang me the tune and my brain exploded. Her song was called “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Ten-year-old me understood, immediately, that it was from the point of view of a piece of fried dough. 1mo
monalyisha 2/6: This is a story about deception and betrayal. Because, of course, Dana didn‘t write that song. Def Leppard did. Only one thing remains true to this day: it‘s definitely about fried dough. I learned then that the only person you can fully trust is yourself. That‘s why I knew to trust myself when I intuited that Deep Cuts would be the exact right book for me. 1mo
monalyisha 3/6: As soon as I read the synopsis, it was all I wanted to read. This morning, I finally cracked open the cover. I ditched all of my other (admittedly tentative) plans for the day and stayed home, reading it in one sitting and humming “King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1” all the while. I was right about it being right for me. Know thyself. (edited) 1mo
See All 12 Comments
monalyisha 4/6: Percy, the elder Milennial and music writer at the heart of Deep Cuts, describes a song by Joanna Newsome as being about “people doing their best” on “This Side of the Blue,” whether it be “the San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean, the sky, [or] the bottomless pit of misfortune hovering just one wrong step away from all of us.” That‘s what Brickley‘s book is about, too. 1mo
monalyisha 5/6: It‘s about friends and lovers doing their best — and often failing — but holding firm to the moments of blissful rightness that occur both in life and in art. It‘s about growing up. And it‘s about why I had to wait for my hold on this book to come in instead of buying it — because (lol) I‘m a Milennial (obviously). I graduated college in 2008 amidst the absolute ruin of the financial crash. 1mo
monalyisha 6/6: As Brickley puts it, “It was September 2008 and the economy was in a free fall, though projections varied; nobody was sure if the entire fantasy of America was grinding to a halt or if it would just be a slow fourth quarter.” Ahem. IT WAS THE FORMER. But hey, at least we have books like Deep Cuts, music, and love as we brake/break. (edited) 1mo
Amor4Libros Great review!!! ☺️ 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I love everything about this review. Anxiously awaiting my hold on this one at the library. 1mo
MeganAnn I‘ve been thinking about this one since I first read the synopsis as well! The only question is do I buy myself a copy or continue to wait on a library hold? 🤔 1mo
monalyisha @MeganAnn For me, it came down to whether or not I had other books I was excited to read in the meantime. If you‘re feeling “eh” about your current stock, GET IT, GIRL. 😜 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Love this review. I wonder if I‘m cool enough for this one… 1mo
monalyisha @Chelsea.Poole You are absolutely cool enough. And you can listen to the Spotify playlist after (or as you go) to fill in the gaps. 😉 1mo
70 likes1 stack add12 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Recently, I asked for book recommendations. I was/am seeking something on the lighter, funnier side. Approximately a bazillion books came in for me (with lots of side-eye and ribbing from my coworkers). I whittled the stack down to those where the first few pages snagged my attention. This is what I ended up with.

Thanks to those who chimed in!
Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

BekaReid Joy Sullivan's Intructions for Traveling West ❤ 2mo
monalyisha @BekaReid That‘s the only one I picked up straightaway! 2mo
62 likes2 comments
review
monalyisha
The Idiot | Elif Batuman
post image
Pickpick

I fell in immediate & unabashed love with this novel. Batuman‘s clever writing & strange sensibilities made me laugh & read sentences aloud every other page. I even went to her website to learn more about the weird & wonderful person writing. When I saw that she‘d used code to make the words “web design” appear in rainbow font (stating that she‘d learned how in the 90‘s), I felt myself swoon. Then, my feelings became more convoluted & complex.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: Since 2020, and with renewed fervor since November, the world has felt unmoored, untethered, and unreal; it‘s hard when a novel amplifies these feelings. Batuman doesn‘t address any of the topics causing the current climate (she was writing in 2017 about the 1990s), but… 2mo
monalyisha 2/4: as Selin, a college freshman studying linguistics at a prestigious Ivy League school, away from home and falling in love (via email) for the first time, becomes increasingly confused about who she is, who her love interest is, how her mind inhabits her body, and how language works, a familiar refrain began running through my head, “What is HAPPENING?!” 2mo
monalyisha 3/4: I have this thought enough in my daily life, as I catch up on current events or try to reconcile my family‘s increasingly erratic behavior with the stable and loving family I once knew. Thinking it, in the same intensity, while reading felt like adding insult to injury. Is this an unfair emotional burden to place on a poor, unsuspecting novel? Maybe! But I‘d wager that Batuman knew exactly what she was doing. Unsuspecting, my left foot. 2mo
See All 7 Comments
monalyisha 4/4: The Idiot was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 and I can see why. I can also understand why it didn‘t win. Though it‘s a text that will massively frustrate its readers (or, at least, it did me), it‘s also incredibly distinct. There‘s a sequel, called Either/Or, published in 2022. You can bet your favorite sheep I‘m going to read it. 2mo
Ruthiella I loved, loved, loved this book . I think you‘ll like Either/Or. I can‘t wait to read the rest. 2mo
sarahbarnes What @Ruthiella said. Loved this book and Either/Or so much. Great review. 2mo
Leftcoastzen I need to get to this one . 2mo
62 likes3 stack adds7 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Whoops! Late to post my (nonfic heavy) #ReadingBracket2025.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil will *always* end up on the board whenever she‘s got a book to enter into the fray.

Titles written below (for those of us who struggle with tiny print):

Jan: The Witching Year by Diana Helmuth
Feb: Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
Mar: Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Wild: Giving Up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel 🏆
Wild: Eight Bears by Gloria Dickie

CSeydel Very nice! 2mo
Amiable Yay for nonfiction! 😀 2mo
51 likes2 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
post image

Anyone read any good, contemporary, offbeat, funny fiction lately?

Everything on my shelf seems to be diametrically opposed: weighty, dark, lyrical, and poignant OR a floofy romance. I‘m looking for something more like the titles pictured. Witty, modern, and not *necessarily* sweet (but it‘s okay if there‘s some sweetness, too).

*It should probably be noted that I‘m not a fan of massively unlikeable characters.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved Margo 💜 2mo
fredthemoose I recently read and enjoyed Fundamentally. It might be in that realm for you. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs Very interested in seeing what recs you get. I loved all three pictured, and these days they're definitely the feeling I'm needing from my books, too. One I really liked recently (it's from a Canadian indie publisher, so apologies if it's not easily available): 2mo
See All 24 Comments
squirrelbrain Have you read The Wedding People yet? I really liked the 3 you pictured, and this one as well. It feels like a dark theme, but it‘s not and it‘s also not as floofy as the cover would suggest. (edited) 2mo
AmyG My favorites lately- Beautyland and The Wedding People 2mo
monalyisha @squirrelbrain Sadly, I‘m not allowed to read that one yet. 🙈 My book club is reading it together this summer. 2mo
monalyisha @AmyG Beautyland might work! I‘ll put it on hold. 💜 I remember really liking 2AM at the Cat‘s Pajamas (and thinking the ending was really strange). Feels like I read that about a million years ago! 2mo
JamieArc I was going to suggest this book even though I haven‘t read it but have read his others except it doesn‘t come out until May 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo
squirrelbrain Gah - I think that would have been perfect! 2mo
AmyG I didn‘t know she wrote Cat‘s Pajamas. Beautyland is just such a beautiful book. I hope you enjoy it when you get it. 2mo
Bookwormjillk I second Beautyland. I also just started Back After This. I think it‘s technically romance but the parts that appeal to me are about how podcasts are made and the career parts. 2mo
monalyisha @JamieArc There are actually a couple of his I haven‘t read, so I can backtrack to the titles I missed. Thanks! 2mo
monalyisha Thanks, @Bookwormjillk! I like Linda Holmes (Flying Solo is my favorite of hers) but I think I decided I want to do that one on audio (since it‘s a podcast-related story). So, it will come sometime this year…but not now. Appreciate your suggestions! 2mo
Bookwormjillk @monalyisha oh, good idea! 2mo
ErikasMindfulShelf I‘d suggest anything by Kevin Wilson 2mo
Chelsea.Poole This really makes me want to read Patricia as I love both the other books mentioned. Would The Husbands fit with this category? I adore J Ryan Stradal but his latest (Lakeside) would classify as too heavy, so maybe one of his others. Have you read any others from Rufi Thorpe? I loved (but again some heaviness) 2mo
monalyisha Thanks, @Chelsea.Poole! I could try Knockout Queen. I‘ll put it on hold. I loved Kitchens of the Great Midwest and thought Lakeside was only okay. I suggested my library‘s traveling book club read Lager Queens when they met at the local brewery…but I didn‘t join them. 😅🙈 The Husbands may fit. Something about that one makes me keep not choosing it. Patricia is a bit different from the other two I featured but, clearly, I loved it. 2mo
monalyisha @quietjenn I put it on hold! Thanks. 2mo
monalyisha @ErikasMindfulShelf I put a whole handful of Kevin Wilson‘s books on hold for myself (per @JamieArc, too). When all of these come in, I‘ll sit down, read the first few pages of them all, and see how they hit me. Thanks, everyone! 2mo
Suet624 @monalyisha I forgot about 2AM at the Cat‘s Pajamas! I really liked that one. I didn‘t realize it was the same author! I liked Beautyland too. 2mo
CarolynM If you find anything as good as Greta & Valdin let me know. I loved that book so much! Thanks for reminding me about Molly of the Mall @TheKidUpstairs I got it when @Lindy reviewed it years ago, but never got around to reading it. This might be the right time🙂 2mo
Lindy @CarolynM let me know what you think of Molly and the Mall if you read it. It pairs well with 2mo
Lindy @monalyisha @squirrelbrain @AmyG @JamieArc @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 I add my recommendation to Beautyland. More are in a separate post: Lindy's post on Litsy https://litsy.com/p/TWx6UkJVRXBm 2mo
55 likes24 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Check out my (very red & angry) new tattoo!

It‘s a memorial tribute to Moxie (my pet house rabbit), taken from Brian Wildsmith‘s picture book “The Princess and the Moon.”

My artist (who just happens to be a descendent of Owen Chase, first mate onboard the Essex — the shipwreck that inspired Moby Dick! 🐋) used a process called “bloodlining” to get the color bleed right. Pretty bad-ass, tbh.

She said I sat like a champ. 🏆

Trashcanman I love it ❤️ 2mo
TheBookHippie Love!!!!!! 2mo
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 2mo
See All 13 Comments
julesG 😍😍 Not only a great tattoo, also a great tattoo story. 2mo
Kristy_K Love it!! 2mo
AnnCrystal Sweet🐇👏🏼😍👍🏼💖💖💖. 2mo
Chelsea.Poole Everything about this is perfect. 2mo
Lesliereadsalot So beautiful! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs Love it! 2mo
Librarybelle Lovely! 2mo
AmyG Awww it‘s beautiful. 2mo
CaliforniaCay Looks amazing! 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
Bookzombie That‘s beautiful! 2mo
75 likes1 stack add13 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

On my love/hate relationship with StoryGraph stats:

I almost never categorize the books I read as lighthearted. Yet, it‘s one of the biggest pieces of my moody pie! How? Eg: Unreliable Narrator is tagged as lighthearted. Written by a comedian, it‘s mostly about living with depression. Kind-of the opposite of lighthearted! The point is “things feel so heavy”; then, “how do we go on, anyway?” Finding the light is not the same as BEING lighthearted.

ChaoticMissAdventures It's always interesting how this works, I think they use AI and it probably doesn't know what the word means... 2mo
monalyisha @ChaoticMissAdventures Yes! I do remember reading about their AI usage. It‘s why I don‘t use their Recommendations feature. Speaking of, I do sometimes miss MyTBR & their *human* bibliologists. Such a fun service! I kind of wish I could work for them, tbh. 😉 2mo
Soubhiville Oh yeah @monalyisha wouldn‘t that be the most perfect job?! 2mo
65 likes3 comments
review
monalyisha
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
post image
Pickpick

Are there sentences I wish Choi had never penned (or at least had edited out)? Yes. Chief among them, “It reorganized her thoughts with such an intensity that she had the sudden urge to pee.” Still, this book is *compulsively* readable. I loved the sci-fi story-within-a-story that Penny crafts for her Creative Writing course. And I‘m a sucker for both misfits *and* an epistolary component (be it letters, emails, or texts)…👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1:…as well as difficult mother-daughter (or mother-child) relationships. Imperfect and sometimes a little immature but still full of promise and wholly devourable. 2mo
60 likes3 stack adds1 comment
quote
monalyisha
post image

“By the time I was ten or eleven, everyone had moved on from sticker collecting—everyone, that is, except for me…I particularly loved the fruits…

God, I loved scratch and sniff bananas. They didn‘t smell like bananas; they smelled like the Platonic Ideal of bananas. If real bananas were a note played on a home piano, scratch and sniff bananas were that same note played on a church‘s pipe organ.”

dabbe I remember these! 🤩🤣🤩 2mo
ncsufoxes I can recall how each of these smelled by looking at them. It‘s amazing that many years later how vividly I can remember what each sticker smelled like. 2mo
CSeydel Oh man I remember those! Like @ncsufoxes said - I can smell this photo! 2mo
See All 10 Comments
CSeydel My favorite isn‘t there, though - the root beer mug 🍺 2mo
monalyisha @Cseydel Yes! That‘s the one I most vividly remember, too. 🤎 Also…I need to share this ridiculous fact. When I was a tween, there was a plaza down the street from my house that I was allowed to walk to. It had a discount clothing store called Dots. One day, I bought a pair of *supremely* inappropriate underwear for an 11-year-old, a fact which went unclocked by me. I just thought they were cool: neon blue with a scratch & sniff strawberry. 🍓🙈 2mo
Sparklemn I was partial to grape. 🍇 (edited) 2mo
CSeydel @monalyisha 🤣🤣 2mo
Bookwormjillk I can smell those through the screen. 2mo
Bookwormjillk @monalyisha 😂😂😂😂😂 2mo
Meshell1313 They say you can‘t smell a picture but you totally can! 🙌🤣 2mo
55 likes10 comments
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

I used to try to read aloud to my pet house rabbit and, though she was my little soul-twin in many ways, she was decidedly uninterested; she preferred a cozy silence.

Bite by Bite will go down in personal memory as the first book I read aloud to my pup. He *loved* it. We started with Nezhukumatathil‘s essay on potatoes. Jett is now my “best spud.” 🥔 He also loved the chapter on maple syrup. As such, I‘m unable to rate this book objectively.

Soubhiville I love this review so much. ❤️🐶 2mo
monalyisha Truly, though, I love Aimee‘s writing. My favorite essays were: Mango, Lumpia, Jackfruit, Strawberry, Potato (even putting my puppy‘s opinion aside), Vanilla, & Watermelon. I‘m left with the desperate need to try mangosteens, paw paws, & apple bananas. I also need to do more research about “waffle-frolicks” (is this the type of celebration I need for my 40th birthday?). And I needed the tagged book, co-written with Ross Gay, so badly I bought it. 2mo
JamieArc ABSOLUTELY DO THAT FOR YOUR 40th! This book is sitting on my shelf (along with the author‘s previous book). It feels like a perfect spring choice to me. 2mo
65 likes1 stack add3 comments