Happy Sunday!

I thought I‘d get some predictions in for the #InternationalBookerPrize2023. And then put them on a ridiculously cheerful springlike not-remotely-dark backdrop - because obviously that‘s what IBP books call for.

The longlist lands on Tuesday, when we‘ll discover
1. I‘m wildly wrong about everything
2. I‘ve read none
3. The list is way grimmer than mine
4. And has least 3 chunksters!

Anyone else attempting the longlist this year?

I mean…

Title β˜‘οΈ
Cover β˜‘οΈ
Author β˜‘οΈ

I really need to write some reviews! In the meantime, here‘s my beautifully coordinated #bookreport for this week.

I finished 3 whole books πŸŽ‰
If the River is Hidden: gorgeous nonfiction/poetry/travel/stuff, along Northern Ireland‘s River Bann
A Three Dog Problem: Yeah. Meh.
Whale: I really hope this makes the International Booker Prize longlist, simply because I want someone else‘s views on it. In the words of StoryGraph, It‘s

Hmm, I‘m not too sure.

On one hand, the Queen discretely solving murders, with the help of her young assistant private secretary, is still a lot of fun. The author loves (some of) her royals! And who doesn‘t like a bit of art crime?

On the other πŸ˜•lots of things. The plot got more than a little convoluted. A whole host of heavy themes were in here, not all of them managed well. And it needed more dogs!

I *may* or may not read the next one!

Gorgeous morning here. Worth the trip to the other side of the river for a GP appointment. Yes, that is the ferry I got home.

Then started The River is Hidden (not in database), which was in my Republic of Consciousness Prize sub - a poetry-prose walk along the length of the River Bann, Northern Ireland, written by two authors with complicated relationships with English/Irish/Northern Irish identities.

I wonder if I could walk *this* river πŸ€”

In this week‘s #bookreport:
I finished
πŸ§™β€β™€οΈ A sweet witchy children‘s story, about a little witch who doesn‘t speak
🐰 Based on the author‘s story, a young Jewish girl leaves Germany just in time. So well done.
Still going with:
🐺Hobb. Going to have to switch to print now, but it‘s Fab.
πŸ‘‘ And enjoying being back at the palace with her majesty and her sleuthing. An entertaining read.

As for the #weeklyforecast

In my ongoing hunt for pre-school appropriate books about #selectivemutism, I stumbled across this at work. An accepting story about a little witch whose words get stuck, making friends & saying what‘s important when she really needs to. A dragon is involved.

Things to note:
1. Written by a Speech & Language Therapist
2. Pictures are gorgeous
3. Wanda‘s β€˜condition‘ is never named, so could cover many things
4. Nosy Crow are awesome publishers.

Libby ate my book. And I have to wait a whole month to get it back. I‘m feeling quite bereft. πŸ™

Morning, Litsy. #BookReport

I wasn‘t crazy-keen on the books I was reading this week, so I switched things up a little with a jumble of children‘s lit and translated wotnots. MUCH better.

🎢 Tenement Kid. Bit of an effort tbh.
πŸ“š Librarian. Fine, but not fab.
🐳 Whale. If I get through this I‘ll have lots to say. It could‘ve been brilliant. But instead, uck. Enough now.

I‘ve spent LOADS of time this week being told how funny Captain Underpants is, by enthusiastic young readers. Or ordering in different titles for children who have read everything Underpants we have. Or just hunting for Dav Pilkey books, cos they refuse to stay on the shelf.

So this evening I decided to actually read one… Turns out they are quite fun. And I did like the Flip-E-Rama section. I might even be up for reading more.

Tra-La-Laaa!

Another excellent read from @Mitch β€˜s #AuldLangSpine list.

Morland finds a copy of Berger‘s A Fortunate Man, the life of a rural doctor and his patients - and discovers it‘s set in the valley in which she lives. She approaches the current GP, to see if she‘d be interested in working with her on a modern-day version… and here it is.

NOT what I was expecting. And all the better for it.

The author is 59. Her youngest daughter is leaving home, her banana tree is part of the family, & the chances of her acquiring the grand house she‘s always planned are receding. So what Real Estate does she have? Or Un-Real Estate, come to that?

A surprisingly funny, wise, relatable, comfort-ready memoir-of-a-year in-essays type-thing. I will read her novels.

Audio read by Julia StevensonπŸ‘

It‘s my day off. The books I‘m reading are not necessarily the books I want to be reading right now.

Obvious solution (I really wish this wasn‘t the obvious solution!) - start something else. This is the preface. Ok!

#BookReport #WeeklyForecast

Afternoon all! This is what my reading‘s looking like at the moment. I‘ll be honest - it‘s a slightly odd combination, and it really is all about the audio at the moment. I‘m being a bit grinchy, and a bit lurgy (AGAIN) so take everything I say with a large pinch of salt. Unless it relates to Robin Hobb. And I am SO far behind with reviews, this might just turn into an extended essay πŸ™

On the hunt for a #QuietYA book for #Booked2023, I thought I‘d give this a go. Korean-American Frank falls for a white girl. His parents have already disowned his sister, for falling for a black guy. So he needs a plan…

Itβ€˜a titled as a predictable romance, but this isn‘t where it goes. It‘s much more about feeling you fall between worlds, working out your identity, friendships & getting to know your parents. Sad & funny. Narrator was excellent.

I loved loved loved this book.

A series of essays stemming from the North Sea coast of Denmark, where the author explores the environment, home, history, belonging, the city, art, the sea, the seafarers, and all sorts, with a dry humour.

With gorgeous illustrations by her friend Signe Parkins, this was a quite lovely read, and it may be time to renew my passport and get exploring again.

A complete surprise, combining a memoir of the author and his father, whose β€˜together‘ activity was eel fishing, with a natural/social history of the eel, and what we don‘t know about them. I went in (honestly?) indifferent to eels, and came out with respect and fascination for these stubborn, elusive creatures. Great stuff!

Thanks for prompting this read #naturalitsy! #NonFiction2023 #RollingInTheDeep #NaturalitsyBingo #Water

Happy Weekend, Litsy!

So this week I finished my first Robin Hobb, and was very tempted to dive straight into the next book. But at 29 hours, I‘d best go for a break in between times!

Lots of nonfiction, thanks to #AuldLangSpine and #NaturalLitsy. And why have I not read Dorthe Nors‘s fiction yet?

And started Frankly in Love as an attempt at QuietYA for #Booked2023. I had no idea about David and Nicola Yoon‘s story.

It took me while to settle in, but once I had I rattled thro‘ - simply loved being in this world with Fitz.

It felt disturbingly current in places - Chivalry stepping away from his princely role, the powers that be appearing to do nothing in the face of threats to their people. And the misting felt very close to home!

The world she built is quite wonderful - even as a not-a-great-fantasy-reader, I can see myself coming back v soon for part 2!

I‘m enjoying each chapter of this a little more. Essays set on the Danish North Sea coast - rather than a travelogue, they go wherever - memories, customs, geography, environment, belonging.

And a dry humour. Somehow I‘d never fancied reading Nors‘s fiction, despite being aware of her since the dawn of Litsy. Partly that may be down to her other book covers (how shallow! She‘s making up for it

It really doesn‘t feel like a Saturday today! Anyhow…

I finished two whole books for #Readaroundtheworld. (Yes, one was from last October; yes, that was a challenge I was going to sit out this year. Ho hum!)

I‘m carrying on with Assassins Apprentice on audio, & I‘m quite surprised how much I‘m enjoying it. It doesn‘t feel *that* long (yet)!

Loving Line in the World - exploring the Danish North Sea coast.

And I need to catch up with Eels!

Going in to my next #AuldLangSpine read - I‘ll be hanging out (reading-wise) on the west coast of Denmark for the next couple of weeks. I don‘t often go for print copies, even less hardcovers, but this is a BEAUTIFUL object!

I‘ve visited Esbjerg, Fanø and Ribe (about half-way up the map), so I have a small picture of the landscape she‘s describing.

Thanks @Mitch - I‘m really looking forward to this. Have you ever read her fiction?

Cutting back on challenges this year is going great! We‘re 8 days in: rather than stepping away from #readaroundtheworld #Mexico altogether, maybe I‘ll just cheat & use children‘s books.

This was great - a picture-book/biog of Luz Jimenez, a Nahua girl who survived the Mexican Revolution & went on to become a model (for Diego Rivera & others) & educator. I confess to not having heard of Luz before- this was a fascinating introduction to her life.

The first of my #AuldLangSpine books from @Mitch finished, and it was a good one!

A young post-war school-leaver sets out from Durham to spend the summer exploring, before heading back down the pit. But his meeting and friendship with Dulcie Piper changes everything- for both of them - as he starts to see there‘s more to the world than his village, and she faces past tragedies.

Beautiful and evocative - I‘d gladly read more by Benjamin Myers.

It may have taken me 3 months to read my #readaroundtheworld #armenia book, but I enjoyed it! It very much was β€˜scenes‘, vignettes, short stories, published in Armenian in 1930. It reminded me of Laurie Lee or Dylan Thomas - gentle & poetic, with a sense of fun (the camel that sits down in the snow and refuses to budge, his brothers love of raisins etc).

But then there‘s a huge amount of violence, murders,

Not expecting much reading time this week, but lots of nonfiction in the #WeeklyForecast.
It‘d be good to finish Armenian Childhood. It‘s really good - even if it‘s under 200 pages & I‘ve been reading it for a full 3 months!
Planning to get back to the Sackler dynasty. 😱after😱. Gripping.
Robin Hobb on audio - might take me a little while πŸ˜†. For #Booked2023 trilogy prompt.
And the next section of Eels for #Naturalitsy.

Have a good week, all πŸ€—

#BookReport

Well look at that! I am actually reading stuff. And aren‘t they pretty? Happy 2023!

This week -
πŸ„ Finished Ghost Music. Very strange, but loved it.
🐟 Started Eels for #NaturaLitsy. Who knew eels were so mysterious and interesting?! (Everyone, probably- but I didn‘t!)
🌾 Getting back to the Offing for #AuldLangSpine Beautiful, atmospheric, but a slow

So. Many. Questions!

First book of 2023- strange, touching & quite lovely, but also Eh? Following the death of her father-in-law, piano-teacher Song Yan & her husband move to a new flat, with space for her MIL. Then mystery mushroom deliveries start arriving. And Song Yan discovers how little she knows of her husband‘s past

This would be a fab book club discussion - no-one would agree what it‘s actually about!!

Did I mention talking mushrooms?

Welcome to Litsy @Knitmaths ! I hope you enjoy it here - you might even find a few book recommendations πŸ˜‰

Heather‘s a read-y, crafty friend from work who has Litten written all over her (but doesn‘t know it yet!). Please drop by and say hi!

And Heather - a couple of hashtags you might want a look at #litsycrafters #naturalitsy #booked2023

Have fun! 😊

Finishing up #12booksof2022 with 3 from the end of the year. Obviously my record-keeping was a bit flakey, but these more-or-less match up with the months.

Wild-built β€οΈπŸ€–πŸ«– Glad I finally got to Becky Chambers

Cities πŸŒƒ Strange but I loved it

Open Water ❀️ A story of a relationship, of life as a black man in London, of art and music… Amazing debut!

Thanks for organising @Andrew65 - I‘ve loved looking back and seeing everyone‘s picks!

Starting the year in a weird and wonderful way. It begins with a talking mushroom, so… Plus piano music. What more do you want in a novel?!

In the summer my record-keeping went to pot! So here are 3 books I read around then that were EXCELLENT (even if they don‘t directly correspond to a month!)

Oxygen Mask (US: Ain‘t Burned All the Bright) - stunning graphic novel poem/artwork.
Darkness - fascinating non-fiction around light pollution and it‘s effects
Telegraph Club: Lovely historical coming of age story, set in San Francisco‘s Chinatown.

All highly recommended! #12booksin2022

#12booksof2022

Yes, we‘re on June. No, seasonal reading isn‘t my thing. Yes, now you mention it, this was my #firstlast book last January. And yes, I do enjoy taking my time over books.

This is a gorgeous collection of snowy essays from round the world. And we might even (not) discuss it at bookclub next month! I probably won‘t have read it again before then…

In May I read (drumroll please) ONE book. And I wasn‘t that fussed. It was fine πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ.

But I know lots of folks thought this was WONDERFUL, so… Happy to be wrong on this one. (But still, meh!)

#12booksof2022

One of these days, I‘ll decide whether to give lacemaking another try, or to admit that my eyesight/patience aren‘t up to it and give the pillow and bobbins away. Tomorrow maybe.

Meanwhile, this is an enjoyable cosy series, set in a Minnesota needlework shop. When a streetcar ferry is lifted from the lakebed, a skeleton is found inside. As one of Betsy‘s friends is a key suspect in the 50-year-old murder, Betsy has her arm twisted to investigate.

Wow. A beautiful, beautiful novella, the story of a relationship between a young Black artist and his best friend/girlfriend. And the experience of growing up in a place where you are not safe, not seen, where home is people, music, familiarity- but never a place.

Quite stunning.

My April pick was the winner of the International Booker- a JOY to read. The language/translation is so playful, the story covers, well, everything, & it‘s all told with a big smile on its face.

Shutting down after the death of her husband, Ma‘s family rally round. But she needs time to readjust, then head out on her new adventure into her past, her friends & events of partition.

Beautiful out-there touching. Plus talking crows.

#12booksof2022

Trying to finish a book or 2 before New Year, while still isolating. Anyhow…

This is very much a marmite book. I get why you might not like it, but I‘m just blown away by it. It‘s an intimate story of a deep, complicated friendship/relationship between two young Black London-based artists. Highly poetic, nothing happens, but it‘s stunning.

March. March is International Booker month. Along with some brilliant books, I read some serious πŸ΄πŸ’©. Including some questionableπŸ¦žπŸ† choices

The standout, though, was Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft - not my favourite book, but easily my reading experience of the year. Epic, unexpected & brilliant. Did I mention it was 900 PAGES?

Polish first ed pictured, cos Fitzcarraldo don‘t make graphics easy!

#12booksof2022

Never quite manage daily posts these days, but as long as no-one minds every other day, I‘m going to attempt @Andrew65 β€˜s #12booksof2022

Back in January, Assembly was a short powerful look at racism in the UK.
In February, Short Sentences made me laugh! A new mum moves to a rural community, as the β€˜trailing spouse‘ of her boyfriend, and takes up a job as an agony aunt. Subtle and ridiculous.

Hello Litsy. Today‘s request- any recommendations for books on selective mutism for pre-schoolers and their concerned big people? TIA.

I‘m going to own up. I‘m starting this early as well @Mitch . It‘s the one on my #AuldLangSpine list that I was least likely to pick up, and the one that got most reaction when I posted the list.

I was needing some heftier nonfiction this morning (not in the mindset for gentle/relaxing!) and oh my goodness - it‘s SUCH a good read. Proper page-turnery rage-inducing nf.

And I‘m going to have to check out his Wind of Change podcast too. Cos WHAT?

Happy Saturday! And happy holidays if you‘re celebrating.

So this week,
πŸ•΅οΈβ€β™€οΈ I listened to the new Osman - my favourite so far.
πŸͺ‘ Started the next Monica Ferris stitch work cosy - I need fluff right now.
🌾Started The Offing. Beautiful writing- interested to see where this goes.
🌳 And returned the Lost Rainforests to the Libby (like I had a choice) which I‘m a bit gutted about, because I was LOVING it. Think I‘ll try and acquire a print copy.

OK, I‘m going in! Making an early start on my #AuldLangSpine list from @Mitch - this sounds fabulous.

Christmas plans have been derailed by the plague (ugh. Is that still a thing?) so I‘m isolating for at least a few days, hoping i haven‘t passed this to the rest of my house,. ExCEEEDINGly rubbish, but v grateful to dive into some fabulous books.

Thought I‘d catch up on this season‘s Between the Covers, and the first one raved about Myers, so…

As others have said, this is my favourite of the series so far. Much more of the characters, with later-life friendships/relationships to the fore, and less the slightly icky bits I got from the first two books. The mystery really is secondary to the widening gang of pensioner detectives, but there‘s plenty in there to keep you guessing.

Fab narration. And I was lucky to get this before 2025 - still 133 reservations on the print copy πŸ“š πŸ“š πŸ“š

So. This book is AMAZING. Well the first half is. I‘ll let you know about the second half when I reach the front of the queue again - I‘m currently number 28 ☹️.
In the meantime I‘ll gush. I‘ve learnt a heap about my local area that I never knew, plus a bunch of history, biology, ecology, mythology - it‘s FASCINATING. He has a β€˜holistic‘ style along the lines of Rob Macfarlane (but less annoying. Sorry Rob). And I want to get out and EXPLORE.

My #AuldLangSpine shortlist is starting to come through! I‘ll decide what exactly I‘m going to read in January, but this is my first batch of library holds.

Empire - I‘ve heard only good about!
Sympathy- sounds tough, looks good.
Offing - an author I‘ve wanted to read. Beyond that, I know nothing!

I don‘t think I‘d have got as far as picking any of these up without your list, so thank you @Mitch @monalyisha

Thank you Helen! My card arrived yesterday (post‘s taking a while down here!). The little calendar is just gorgeous- thank you 😊

And hope you‘re getting a proper Christmas break soon 😘

This has been on my tbr forever - Alice Oswald‘s poem of Devon‘s River Dart from source to sea, told through the eyes of those who live, work and enjoy the river. It‘s refreshingly non-flowery/romantic - we hear the voices of poachers & sewage workers alongside chambermaids, wild swimmers & mythical characters. Audio, read by the author, was great.

I seem to be loving books that are super-local-to-me at the mo.

ukroadtrip #devon #192025 #2002

Oh well!

My #bookreport for the week is a little… sparse.

Maybe I‘ll get back to it next week. It‘s sad, because I think EVERY book on there is excellent. Just slightly wondering when I ever found time to read, because it‘s really not happening at the moment!

Hope you‘ve all had a lovely week, and are warm and dry ❄️