Started out slow but then I couldn‘t put it down. Enjoyed the characters and learned a bit about the skills required and politics involved to be part of the astronaut corps. The romance was well portrayed and added to the emotional punch of the story.

I took a chance and tried a contemporary bright covered romance. I had heard this was a little meatier than the usual. Nah. Also, it was in desperate need of editing. Could have removed at least 20% of the interactions of the MC with the love interest and with the subject of the book. I‘m probably being a bit harsh. It‘s just not my genre. Sweet ending though.

📷 Beachy island in Georgia. Not my pic. Reminds me of the setting of the story.

Nothing surprising here. The author should have got out as soon as she saw how soul-less management was. She thought if she stayed, she could change things as an insider. Nope!

Fun read! Creepy as it gets going. I looked up from reading yesterday and realized my internet was out and my phone dead. I was cut off just like the town in the book. Just as scary as the Sasquatch!

Cute comics. Full confession - I‘ve had this sitting on my shelf for years and only picked it up now for a quick hit toward my 2025 reading goal. 🤷🏼‍♀️🙂

Fun cozy mystery that takes place over Thanksgiving weekend. Lots of delicious food. The mystery aspect was fine, but what I really loved were the characters and setting. I‘ll definitely continue with the series. 🦃🍄‍🟫🐱🍁

This is a soft pick only because the first 40% was rather boring. I bailed at that point but picked it up again. Glad I did. Loved the narrators in the audio book. I‘ll add the sequel to my wish list.

📷 Pic (not mine)is a Game of Thrones-themed pub in Scotland. This is how I imagined the village pub in the novel.

Maybe I'd have enjoyed this more if I hadn't gone into it thinking it was the book version of Austenland (which I haven't seen). I kept wondering which character Keri Russell played. Oops!! 😳 😜 Regardless, I never warmed to the characters in this book even after I realized my mistake. I have no desire to see the movie version of Book Club, but Austenland is still on my list!

This is a soft pick for me. I enjoyed the author's writing but agree with other reviewers that it could have been covered in a long essay. In a nutshell -- do fewer things, work at your own pace, and focus on quality.

📸 I liked the section about Jewel passing on a million dollar contract to focus on her growth as a performer first. Hence the picture of her. That dress is bananas! 😂

This was a quiet short story told from the viewpoint of a snail. Admittedly, I read it to bump up my “books read“ count for the year. But I enjoyed it. And it makes me to want to pick up another of hers. I've been contemplating a re-read of Mrs. Dalloway. Perhaps now is the time.

📸 I've never been to Kew Gardens but it looks inviting.

I was having trouble engaging with the story to start. Then I realized the fairies weren‘t all going to be sweet and sassy Tinkerbells. Too dark for me. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyone else participating in one of the Hands Off rallies tomorrow?

Looking to my Litsy friends for thoughts on the League of Women Voters. I‘m considering getting involved. Is anyone a member? Any opinions or experiences you would be willing to share ?

I saw others refer to Amy Levy as a Jewish Jane Austen. I think this is a fair comparison of the content - sitting rooms, dances, afternoon tea, manners & propriety, etc. However, the characters in the novel aren‘t as fleshed out as in an Austen novel. The writing was sparse and simple.

The P&P quote doesn‘t have anything to do with Rueben Sachs. But I didn‘t willfully misunderstand the book. 🙃

Saw Hadestown this afternoon. Loved it! Does anyone have any recommendations for novels with Hades, Persephone, Orpheus or Eurydice?

So not the brightest thief… 🙄🙃

https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-man-charged-in-connection-with-theft-of-f-sc...

This was my first foray into the world of zines. This particular zine included essays, short fiction, and pie recipes. It was a speedy and enjoyable read. Anyone have any zine recommendations?

I can‘t remember ever rooting so hard AGAINST the main character. She is dreadful. That being said, I‘m enjoying the book (about 70% complete) and looking forward to seeing how the story ends. Did anyone else feel this way about her?

“Always they carried mechanically on without pause to the next job at hand. What would life be like, he wondered, if they were given time to think and reflect over things? Might their lives be different or much the same - or would they just lose the run of themselves?”

A little darker than a typical cozy mystery. Not a huge fan of the main character. Probably won‘t continue with the series.

“The door whispers shut behind us. Above us, the moon drives its sickle through the encumbrances of cloud. Beneath us, veils of mist blossom from the pavement, weave through the ochre day-fog, and bind it tight. The world is falling away.”

I knew about the break-in and the tapes but had no idea of the extent of crimes and unethical behavior coming out of Nixon‘s White House. It‘s amazing they got away with it as long as they did. I had a little trouble keeping track of the names. Virtually all the players were men which shouldn‘t surprise me given the time period. I watched the movie before reading the book. Might watch it again. 🐘😡😖

The back and forth between the main character and the podcast works really well as an audiobook. Kept me guessing until (almost) the end!

My favorite book of 2024! The audiobook was perfect. Great narrator. Great story. Lives up to the hype. 🩷🤍🩷

Wow, the main character is full of herself! I preferred her friends. Will I read the next in the series? Maybe. 😐

My second favorite of 2024! Only lost to Wedding People by a speck. Highly recommend the audiobook.

I wanted to love this book. I really did. I kept putting it down and picking it up. Maybe it was better suited for one long reading session.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! Definitely my cup of tea. 😉

Oh Stanley, why can‘t we be friends?? 💚🤍❤️

This was a cozy afternoon read. Sweet stories and memorable characters.

This is a tale about a church committee in southern California looking for a new pastor. As often happens in real life, when the loudest voices win, everyone loses. 🙃

Wintering was life changing. I‘ve listened to it multiple times. Enchantment? Not so much. But her writing is beautiful. Maybe I wasn‘t in the right frame of mind. May give it another listen as background entertainment when doing chores around the house.

📸 of the stones she mentions in one of her essays

This wasn‘t an entirely flattering portrayal of Hillary, but I feel like I know her better. And respect her for what she has accomplished and where she fell short. I think the author feels the same. Made a great audiobook narrated by Amy!

Another lovely essay collection from Ross Gay. Makes the perfect audiobook with Ross narrating. 🌻 🌿

I‘m pretty chill most of the time but I love Sarah‘s irreverence. 😏

Here is Ann in her very own bookstore. Love that! I really enjoyed these essays. The story of her friend with cancer will stay with me. Sharing that journey created a deep intimacy between Ann and her friend. It was inspiring and heartbreaking. 💕

Great fun to hear how Ruth took on different looks and personalities to dine undercover as a NY Times food critic. Personally, I‘d find it exhausting! Looking forward to trying another of her books.

I enjoyed this 3rd installment of the series. It has some dark plot points. Definitely not a cozy mystery.

I can‘t believe I waited so long to start this series! I love curmudgeonly detectives. 🙂

Pic is how I imagine Three Pines in the winter. ❄️

Hard to describe, but I guess I‘d categorize as magical realism. Really enjoyed getting to know the family. It had a satisfying ending.

Love casual Amy! Highly recommend the audiobook. Sometime when I'm sitting around being lazy as hell, I think of Leslie embroidering pillows of her friends' faces in what seems like an evening. It should be inspiring, but usually it just makes me want to re-watch Parks & Rec. 😉 🌺

Too soon for Halloween but wanted to post my very tardy review. I'll give this a soft pick. I think it was worth reading to fill in what we've all learned about Dracula through pop culture. The middle section of the book really dragged for me, however. Made a great audiobook narrated by Mark Gatiss who I know as BBC Sherlock's brother Mycroft. 💀

This sentence made me LOL. I'm listening to the audiobook, and her delivery is spot on. Really enjoying this one!

Not a fan. I'm about 20% in and have lost interest. The villain is a tiresome mustache twirler. This seems like a pale copy of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons which I loved. On to something else! It's an obnoxiously cold day in Minnesota. Perfect for coffee and books!

I loved this strange and funny book about a twenty-something woman who comes home and finds her family on the edge. Her father is hallucinating animals and it's causing problems for them all. The book name is perfect!

📷 from Bored Panda

I had a few days worth of Litsy to catch up on and ended up adding 13 books to my TBR list (including the tagged)! So many books, so little time. Happy New Year, all! 🍻 📚 💙 🎉

Great book! Can't wait to continue with the series and maybe catch the TV show. The author kept you guessing.

📸 from NorthLink Ferries

Definite pick! Stayed up until 4:00 AM finishing it. Think “Friday Night Lights“ with hockey. But way darker. Looking forward to watching the HBO series soon.

Wonderful translation! It follows the life of a cemetery keeper with a little mystery thrown in.

I really liked this book but agree with other posters that there were repetitive sections that could have been chopped. One recommendation if you do read it -- pay attention to the fables and fairy tales that are interspersed with the main story line as they do have meaning later on in the book!