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✨Devastation Lit✨

@devastationlit

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Bookseller at an indie bookshop. Voracious reader of litfic, queer lit, and anything that makes me weep. Birder. Wannabe star baker.
2026: 📚 115

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My monthly reading wrap-up is a little different this time. It's been a very difficult time for me. I got Scoops as a kitten when I was in my mid 20s. He died at home after a brief but aggressive fight with kidney disease. As he got older I became more and more aware that our time together may be coming to an end, but honestly nothing could have prepared me for this loss. His death has absolutely devastated me. 17 and a half years wasn't enough, no amount of time would have been. I've struggled to find joy in my normal ways. He kept me company while I read, often putting himself quite literally between me and my book, and I loved that - he was so bossy, and had zero problems demanding the affection he deserved. I miss him every second. I picked up and put back down several books this month before finally rereading some ridiculous (but actually amazing) zompoc books as a comfort read.

📚 What are some books you've read while experiencing loss? My mother died just over 3 years ago, and a few books that felt right for me at that time were Project Hail Mary, Remarkably Bright Creatures, and 10 Things That Never Happened.

💔 I would love to know what books have helped you through your most difficult times.

😼 And please, tell me your cat's names, and kiss their foreheads for me.

#ReadingWrapUp #PetLoss #Grief #DevastationLit #Bookstagram by @devastationlit

Who else wants to weep when they read a book? I'm talking full on ugly crying in public, thinking about the characters long after you've finished the book, wishing you could read it again for the first time?
What book made you feel this way?
📖
#Book #Bookstagram #DevastationLit #BooksOfInstagram by @devastationlit

Happy Pub Day to Luna, Phoenix, Queen by @jorringer!
This is honestly one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I know I say that a lot. Readers so seldom get the entire scope of a story, from the perspectives of everyone involved, but we get that with this book. Sometimes when reading multiple POV stories I feel anxious to get back to a specific narrator, but not with this one - I loved every single thread of this story. This book is shorter than I want it to be - I'd read 500+ pages of this story, but I don't feel unfulfilled at all - it's just that good.
@jorringer

#LitFic #DevastationLit #BookReview #BooksOfInstagram #BookRecs

Barbara Kingsolver hits once again with Partita, out now! This is a beautiful novel about music, life and loss and love, hopes and dreams, barriers of class, and ambition. This has some autobiographical elements as well. I loved it!
#LitFic #DevastationLit #BookReview #BooksOfInstagram #BookRecs by @devastationlit

Loonies!! I was gifted a finished copy of I'll Believe in Anything from @hachetteus and I absolutely cannot wait to dive in. I love the show so much - not only for itself, but for the remarkable changes it is helping to create in this world. I've lost count of how many times I've reheated, and I will never skip a reaction video to episode 5.
🏒 🏒 I'll Believe in Anything by @jacob.tierney with a forward by Rachel Reid comes out this Tuesday, published by @hachetteus
Thank you so much for the gifted copy!
#HeatedRivalry #Hollanov #JacobTierney #HudsonWilliams #ConnorStorrie by @devastationlit

A few nights ago, I took myself to Boston to see Douglas Stuart speak. What an incredible evening!! He is so eloquent and lovely. To hear him reading from JoJ was such a beautiful experience.

He was interviewed by Charlie Tyson, with whom I am not familiar outside of this context, but he did a great job - asked smart questions, had clearly read Stuart's books, and kept the conversation flowing perfectly.

I got to meet Douglas at the end, shake his hand, and thank him for writing these books. I did get a little weepy because of who I am as a person. I have two signed copies of JoJ already (pre-orders that were not signed in person) so I asked him to sign my galley - he wrote the kindest message. I love all three of his published novels and I don't think I could choose a favorite. Can you?

Tapadh leat, Dùghlas. Did you know that in Scottish Gaelic, Douglas means dark stream?

📚

#DouglasStuart #JohnOfJohn #DevastationLit #Author #Favorite by @devastationlit

Hello saddies! I was recently gifted this stunning box set 10 year anniversary edition of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I already own this edition (as well as a few others), so it's time for a giveaway!

To me, A Little Life is among the ultimate examples of DevastationLit. It's beautifully written, it's gut-wrenching, and most importantly, it holds up to a re-read. I've read this book four times so far, and I'll read it again.

To win this edition, you must be following me, and tag a friend in the comments! Unlimited tags, but one tag per comment please! Share this post to your story and tag me for an extra entry. Repost for an extra entry as well.

This giveaway is open until 12am Saturday Oct 3, and I will reach out to the winner on Saturday via DM to get a mailing address. I will cover the cost of shipping, and the winner must have a mailing address within the United States.

#Giveaway #DevastationLit #LitFic #ALittleLife #Bookstagram

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Instagram, Hanya Yanagihara, or Vintage / Penguin Random House. by @devastationlit

I'm not sure I've ever read a book that made me feel so completely seen as a reader. Clara & Christina by Andrew Cunning is about writing and writers, readers and reading. There are entire passages I wish I could copy and paste here, because they so perfectly captures why I read what I read. I sometimes forgot I was reading a novel - the conversations between these two women feel so very real.
Christina is an elderly author, and Clara is a fan of her work. Clara is writing a monograph on Christina, and they meet over the course of multiple Sundays to talk about writing. As their conversations continue, they form a really lovely relationship based on mutual admiration of the written word.
I felt like I was sitting there with them. What I wouldn't give to read any of Christina's novels. This book is original and intelligent.
Clara & Christina is not currently available in the US. I ordered a copy from Blackwell's. Hopefully it becomes more widely available soon!
Thank you so much @tellmebry for recommending this book to me - you were absolutely right, I loved it.
Thank you @andrewcunningwriting for writing this story. It feels like a love letter to readers.
Published by @johnmurrays an imprint of @hachetteuk

#DevastationLit #IrishLit #LitFic #BookRecs #BooksOfInstagram by @devastationlit

The Living Realm by Jordan Tannahill... Ugh what a beautiful, sad, lovely, eulogic little novel. Clocking in at under 200 pages, this packs such a powerful punch. At its heart, The Living Realm is about queer love and loss, friendship, and maybe also cruising on hot summer days. It takes place mostly around a lake on the outskirts of Berlin, where our 60something main character has spent so much of his time. He begins to see ghosts of lovers past (this is a little bit of a ghost story? Is it?), and reflects on their time together. This is bittersweet and frankly perfect. Get it on your TBR!!
Out now, written by @jordan.tannahill and published by @fsgbooks
#QueerLit #DevastationLit #LitFic #BooksOfInstagram #JordanTannahill by @devastationlit

I picked this off the galley shelf at work based solely on the cover, and it ended up being one of my very favorite reads of the year so far. This is for readers who love a strong (if somewhat unconventional for the time) heroine, litfic, historical fiction, and feminist fiction. We get to follow Mae through decades of her life, which I always love - give me the full story! There are strong themes of motherhood, what it takes to be secure in a time when women don't have equal rights, obligations to family and society, and a rich, complex inner life.
I started this book via audio, but wanted to read it more quickly than audio generally allows me. The narrator is terrific, so I can happily recommend both the audio and print formats.
Out December 1 - if you're into pre-ordering, I recommend adding this to your cart, and checking with your local Bookstores to see if they'll have it.
#DevastationLit #LitFic #BookRecs #Bookstagram #AnnaHogeland

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Key words:
Literary fiction, historical fiction, family life, personal fulfillment, queer lit, motherhood, marriage, depression, world war 2.

Thank you @bloomsburypublishing for the galley and thank you @hogiewrites for writing this beautiful novel. by @devastationlit

For readers of Claire Keegan, Niall Williams, Irish lit, historical fiction, and literary fiction!!
This is a dual timeline novel, though most of the story takes place in 1950s Ireland. We follow Margaret as she is forced, through familial and religious obligations, to join the Sisters of Mercy as a nun - regardless of her own wishes and plans for her life. We follow her for several decades as she becomes a midwife of sorts, again with no care for her wishes or the safety of the "fallen" women sent to the Magdeline laundries.
This is a beautifully devastating novel and you will feel angry many times throughout. If that doesn't entice you idk what will 😂

On the Staff Pick table @bearpondbooks now!
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#DevastationLit #IrishLit #HistoricalFiction #Ireland #BookRecs by @devastationlit

Happy happy pub day to The Pirate Queen by @ariel.lawhon!!
I've already done a review post for this, but to save you the scroll, I'll paste it here:
Sometimes I resent every single obligation that keeps me from reading a book. I read this in 3 days and had I been unemployed and unattached I probably would have read it straight through. I loved every single page of this, from the first sentence to the last. The format is very unique - switching between three phases of Grainne Ni Mhaille's life as maiden, mother, and matriarch. The author's note explains why, and though I agree, I had already planned to reread this book in chronological order (@ariel.lawhon you doubt anyone would read this book twice?! I'll read this book many times, I'm sure). There is so much history and knowledge and research in these pages, and the book is also so completely and deeply human. What a gorgeous novel.

The Pirate Queen went straight to the Staff Pick table @bearpondbooks, and we have a limited quantity of signed editions on hand.

I love this book as much today as the moment I finished it, and can't wait to read it again. 5/5.

#DevastationLit #HistoricalFiction #IrishLit #ArielLawhon #ThePirateQueen by @devastationlit

This comes up occasionally here, but I'm a pretty avid birder - birding and reading make up the bulk of my personality. I'm a bookseller and a birding guide, and when I'm not reading I'm birding. My book bestie @ejcrowe42 knows me well and sent me this absolutely gorgeous finished copy of Birds Color by Color by Geoffrey E Hill, published by @rizzolibooks, an imprint of @penguinrandomhouse.
I really like this book - separated into color sections, we learn about feathers, eyes, pigment mutations, connections between diet and color, and more! This is a great book for any birder's collection.
Out Sept 22! You'll find it on the Staff Pick table @bearpondbooks 😊
#Birder #Birding #BirdBook #BirdersOfInstagram #Rainbow by @devastationlit