The end of January was crazy for me. I feel like this past weekend was a chance for me to refocus my reading. I even had a little downtime for folding tessellations. These three are from Advent of Tess taught by Gathering Folds on YouTube. I‘m obviously late for Advent, but time is relative. My goal is to finish at least three of these books this week.
#litsycrafters @Catsandbooks

This was a mixed bag. Many of the poems were about or in praise of films I am not familiar with. This hindered my reading experience a bit. The standouts tended to deal with film more generally. I have sought out collections by two poets, Sonia Greenfield and Gregory Djanikian, so I‘ll count that as a win. Definitely recommend it for someone who‘s more of a film buff than I am.
#poetry #film #movies

This was a fun, engaging read. It‘s easy to write about puzzles and make them sound boring. Jacobs, with his light tone, does a good job of capturing what makes puzzles thrilling. A breezy read, with some not always so breezy puzzles included.
#catsoflitsy

#weirdwords spotted in the tagged book. This was in the section about anagrams. I had never heard of this word but I love its specificity. It hints at conflict and drama in the world of literary scholarship. Imagine the fights that occurred which made this word necessary!

Chorizont: A person who believes the The Odyssey and The Iliad were written by two different people. More generally, someone who challenges the authorship of a work.
@CBee

I enjoyed this graphic memoir of the author‘s experience growing up in the UK (I thought it was Boston at first) and his journey of self-discovery as a trans boy. The story was handled with honesty. It doesn‘t shy away from depicting the difficult moments of self-doubt or criticism, or the times people aren‘t accepting, but it has an overall tone of finding joy and being true to yourself above all else. ⬇️

#lgbtq #transjoy #translit

A delightful, illuminating read. A love letter to the perseverance of books, language, and ideas which doesn‘t ignore their destruction and destructive power. It speaks to the importance of being a reader, a book lover, a story teller. Vallejo‘s writing was like the weaving of a tapestry connecting the ancient with the modern, and the reader is a thread. Warm and poetic at times, I just adored this. ⬇️

#catsoflitsy

Canard: this was either in my reading or a puzzle this week and I needed to double check the meaning. The -ard reminds me of mallard so I keep seeing ducks when I hear this word. Interesting that there is also an airplane related meaning…
#weirdwords @CBee

Gwyn is pretending to be a boy to play basketball. Azami falls in love but doesn‘t realize Gwyn is a girl. Identity confusion and relationship drama ensues. I don‘t have strong feelings about this one. For me, it was a light, quick read. Not really my cup of tea, but the art made me smile a few times. It‘s a pick because I realize I might not be the right audience for it and it was not bad. Not sure what else to say really.

#shoujo #manga #lgbtq

I am left rattled by this novel. The plot twists were rather jarring. I felt my expectations being toyed with. There was a travel sequence in the middle that had language which delighted me, and some of the dialogue was really sharp. However, the plot did not resolve in a satisfying way for me. I‘m doing a read-along of all of Forster this year and I‘m looking forward to see how his writing developed. There is brilliance here, but in a small dose.

I recently joined a newly formed LGBTQ+ book club in South Carolina and today we found out this is the first book we‘re reading. It‘s my first ever in-person book club and I am hopeful that it will be a good experience.

#bookclub #lgbtq #southcarolina

Just finished the next #lmpbc book. Thank you @Marmie7 for this pick! It was really interesting and depicted queer survival in a unique way. The religious cult element was well done. @Reggie it‘s on its way to you.

This book grew on me as I read. I look at it as a book of images, each poem using as little space as possible to plant one picture in my brain. As a result, some were more successful than others. In the end, not my favorite of Collins‘s collections. Nonetheless, a few of the poems were a delight to discover.

This picture book does a good job of depicting the Greenwood area of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with all its promise, and contrasting it with the sudden and violent destruction that the town faced at the hands of a white mob. It‘s done delicately enough for kids but doesn‘t mince words. I appreciated the author‘s and illustrator‘s notes in the back which gave more details and showed their personal connections to Tulsa and this moment in history.

I came to this book for Carmen, which was the first story here, and I wasn‘t too impressed by it. Beyond its use of unreliable narrators, I didn‘t take away much else. I read two more stories and they felt cold/boring to me. Merimée‘s writing is just not that interesting. I‘m glad I read the original Carmen but I just don‘t care enough to read further. For once, Finn agrees with my assessment.
#catsoflitsy

This was not bad. If anything, it just went over my head. I wasn‘t connecting with any of the poems, perhaps because of lack of context. They were very literary and lofty in parts and I just wasn‘t on the same level. They‘re meaning eluded me and made me feel distant and in a haze at parts. I‘m not going to unhaul it though. I‘ll save it to revisit when I‘m older and wiser, in the hopes that the fog will lift.
#poetry

Last lines: “so we duck into seedy bars while tourists/mug with our tread-upon stars inlaid/along Hollywood Boulevard”

This poem jumped out at me today and I needed to share it. Incidentally, it fits into #weirdwords Wednesday for the word “mug.” Not particularly because of how it sounds but more the multiple meanings- a cup, a face, making a face, the criminal act- so many ways to mug! Honorable mentions for sextinas…
#poetry @CBee

I have been doing origami for a few years now. It‘s one of the few things I do that calms my mind. Tessellations are new for me, and I‘m finding the learning of new tactile sequences to be just the thing I need lately. The tagged has been a great book to get into tessellating, but I don‘t think it would be the best for those who have no origami experience.

#origami #artbooks #tessellations

“We spend our lives making lists, reading them, memorizing them, tearing them up, throwing them into the trash, crossing off the things we‘ve done, loving and loathing them. The best lists are those that recognize their items‘ importance and try to give them meaning. Those that embrace the details and the uniqueness of the world, preventing us from losing sight of what matters.”

Leaving aside the pesky use of he/him pronouns which I would guess stems from the translation from Spanish, this description of reading a scroll really got my imagination going. The imagery in this book is so effective, and I feel like I‘m connecting to the history more fully. I can also tell how much Vallejo as the author loves her subject.

I‘ve been interested in the Carmen story for a few months now since I had a class on musical theater history in which we briefly studied Carmen Jones, Hammerstein‘s adaptation of the opera. I just finished reading the original story. The main narrator is naive, and full of romantic notions. I found the contrast between his POV and don Jose‘s narrative, which is full of passion, jealousy, and loathing, to be a study in unreliable narration. ⬇️

A cute, heartfelt batch of interconnected short stories based on the animation of the same name. The POV alternates between people and the cats in their lives, which I was wary of. However, it was never too saccharine or cliche for me. In the end, it had a nice message about the ways we are connected as humans without always knowing it.

#catsoflitsy #catliterature

This is a valuable addition to the growing canon of asexual literature. Young uses data from AVEN as well as 39 in-depth interviews to explore the diverse lived experiences of asexual people. It‘s qualitative research results presented in a well organized, interesting way, with detailed citations and a great list of resources to boot. Well worth the read and earns a place as a future reference that I will revisit often.

#asexuality #aspec #aroace

This dystopian novel is scary in its depiction of a not-so-distant, almost completely believable future. Butler really is a master at observing human behaviors and motivations. I strongly disliked the questionable relationship between Lauren (19) and a man her father‘s age or older. I just couldn‘t see the value of this plot development. But overall this was a great read, and I‘ll read the sequel soon. Finn found it less interesting. #catsoflitsy

A continuation of the outstanding Cash Blackbear series, this book is more thriller than mystery, with a plot twist I did not see coming. The ending was not 100 percent satisfying, but it rings true to life where things aren‘t always tied up in bows. Cash Blackbear is a wonderful character and Rendon‘s writing continues to be honest and evocative. I think this is my new favorite crime series.

This was an affecting graphic memoir. It deals with the author‘s mom‘s dying from an aggressive form of cancer and the family coping with the situation. The author manages to depict their own coming out as genderqueer and not muddle the two subjects. The story is told chronologically, with short flashbacks in between. It highlights the humor and love shared among the family members, and their deep sadness at the situation. Subtle and remarkable!⬇️

I‘m only recently getting back into reading bits of poetry here and there. I picked this up and I‘m finding that I really need to take my time with Milosz‘s writing. I‘m finding it extremely melancholy and weighty, pondering meaning in life and nature. It‘s a lot. Has anyone read this collection or his other writing? I‘m curious what others take from his work. Thoughts?

#poetry #poets #nobelprizewinners

I have a stack of books on the go, but this, the second in the Cash Blackbear series, has been calling to me. And it is a page turner to be sure.

I came into this wanting to read a book about books but I got more a book about real estate, commerce, and privilege. It had some charming moments but I just stopped caring about three quarters in when Collins decided to ask for an application to become a lord.

I‘m struggling to review this precisely. It reads like a stream of consciousness diatribe to the point I had trouble finding cohesion sometimes as I read. Nonetheless, it has a lot to say about how overwhelming and multi-sided corruption can be and the difficulties of untangling it. It dealt also with the problems of tourism and outside influence on a small nation. I can‘t say I enjoyed reading it, but it‘s a pick for the emotional force it has.

This neo-noir graphic novel follows Britten and his sidekick Brülightly, a teabag, as they investigate a suicide at the behest of a doubtful widow. It uses cinematic-style art, hand lettering, and washed out colors to capture the world weary investigator as he discovers that some information is best left unknown. Witty but extremely sad at times, this is probably not for everyone. For me, I so wish it wasn‘t a standalone.

#noir #catsolitsy

This graphic novel has been on my mind recently, one of those books that just pesters you, calling out to be reread. I was glad to see it available at the library recently and I‘m scratching the itch today. It‘s a noir detective story which follows Fernandez Britten, private “researcher,” and his partner Stewart Brülightly, who just happens to be a teabag. So far, it‘s living up to my memories of it.

This is a slim volume, but it packs a lot of valuable information into a small space. Based on Vaid-Menon‘s experiences as a non-binary artist and performer, we get an exploration of gender as expression, but there are also comments on power structures, shame, found family, and art. ⬇️

Capote has a way of subtly drawing situations of sadness and loneliness that makes his characters so human. I loved the title story and “A Christmas Memory” most. I got chills several times while reading these. I would just knock half star off for the dated racial language, which made me cringe. Nonetheless, this was just a beautiful collection of Capote‘s shorter works.

These are my two nonfiction goals for December. I‘m about 1/3 of the way through Body Language and I‘m enjoying it so far. Ace Voices is a new release- I‘m sure I‘ll be comparing it to Angela Chen‘s book. It seems like it‘s going to focus on intersectionality and Ace joy. I tried to capture the vibrant colors of the covers, but this is the best lighting I have right now…

#asexual #asexuality #aromantic #aroace

This is an important document, a collection of perspectives of resistance. It centers a diverse set of views and voices, all set to art by Syan Rose. The lettering is difficult to read at times, but this was only an occasional stumbling block for me. I would say the documentation of various people‘s work is the focus here, not extensive biographies or analysis of the work and its effectiveness. ⬇️

This short book is a mix of Texas history and memoir. As she writes in the “Coda,” Gordon-Reed tried to strike a balance between her love for Texas and its complicated and often controversial history. I think she succeeds and is equal parts critical and curious about the story of her home state as well as her family‘s connections in Eastern Texas. I‘m glad I picked this up.

This graphic novel anthology brings to light the stories of Canadian Indigenous Peoples and their history of colonial resistance. As someone not as familiar with Canadian history, I appreciated the introductions and timelines before each story. These were all compellingly told with varied art styles represented. Overall, a vibrant, informative, and powerful collection.

#skoden #skodenreadathon #indigenouslit

“So, this is how the channel was formed. It‘s…very beautiful.
We have a story for everything. In the end, they all mean one thing.
Life.”

#skoden #skodenreadathon #indigenouslit

Several of Midge‘s pieces, particularly the longer more reflective essays, were spectacular. There were even a few shorter satire pieces that made me thing about privilege in new ways, particularly related to language. Sadly, this suffered from bad packaging. ⬇️

#skoden #skodenreadathon #indigenouslit #catsoflitsy

I went into this book not knowing exactly what to expect. I‘m at the halfway point and I have to say Midge‘s voice is powerful. Almost all of the pieces in here have made me think about privilege, but I must say this one has given me pause. I‘m reflecting on how the reclamation of words isn‘t meaningful to all people in the same way and what I think about that. I have never quite thought about this before in the same way.

#skoden #skodenreadathon

I was not expecting this to be what it is, more a history of the literary scene on the island than a comprehensive history of the place. In that sense, it‘s not a great introduction. Nonetheless, it outlines a timeline of the authors and artists that have visited or lived on the island and their interactions with the gay and queer community there. I‘m leaving this with a sense of how fragile and varied the idea of a “paradise” can be. ⬇️

Stintzi‘s poetry is a beautiful expression of the many ways that identity is not static. The way we define ourselves is a process, always shifting. I connected with the metaphors of origami and paper used throughout. Stintzi credits Wallace Stevens and Allen Ginsberg as inspiration and quotes some of their poems throughout the collection. I loved everything about this book and I know I will revisit it.

#poetry #nonbinary #gender

This was stellar. Cash‘s character was extremely dynamic and her relationship with Wheaton pulled at my heartstrings. The last 20 pages were so suspenseful, and the ending left room for the sequels without being disappointing on its own. I have already put a hold on the next installment at the library.

#skoden #skodenreadathon #indigenouslit

This paragraph sums up Cash‘s character so well! Don‘t get me wrong. There‘s more to Cash- but I think this describes who she is at the core before she begins to be more invested in the murder. It‘s very good writing. Even if you view it as a little bit cliched, it‘s not because it‘s lazy, but because Cash‘s experience is sadly drawing on historically common occurrences among indigenous communities.
#skoden #skodenreadathon

In 2016, at the age of 14, Brianna Jonnie sent a letter to Winnipeg Police Service imploring them to do a better job investigating missing persons cases of Indigenous people, particularly women and girls. This book takes words from her letter and adds art depicting the images evoked by Jonnie‘s letter. ⬇️
#skoden #skodenreadathon #indigenous

I finished my Litsy Markup Postal Book Club read for November a little early. I‘m going to hold off on a review I think until the rest of the group reads it. However, I will say it was a page turner. #lmpbc #groupl

Vacation memories are often evanescent and sepia-toned, and Fire Island‘s archive can feel similarly fragile, a record of a seasonal community historically designed to evade detection. Its stories vanished, perhaps, in the moment of their utterance, consigned to the ocean breeze or the grave, along with the raconteurs, flamboyant and well-connected, who first told them.
#frankohara

This was cute, but nothing earth shattering for me. I liked the art quite a bit. Ari‘s family are wonderful- accepting and encouraging even though Ari doesn‘t know what he wants. Hector is also a wonderful character. The baking elements reminded me a bit of Check Please.
#catsoflitsy

For a debut novel, this has a lot going for it. Told from several points of view, this is a story of discovery. The main character Marion wakes up what seems to be the spirit of a dog which leads him to the grave of Kayden Kelliher who was murdered at the age of 17. ⬇️

#skoden #skodenreadathon

Momaday frames the history and legends of the Kiowa people through the lens of his own pilgrimage, in honor of his grandmother, from Yellowstone to Rainy Mountain in Oklahoma. It‘s a moving book which examines the power of language and spoken word, deals with grief and loss, and ultimately is a preservation of story.
#skoden #skodenreadathon