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Half-Blood Blues
Half-Blood Blues: A Novel | Esi Edugyan
Winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize Man Booker Prize Finalist 2011 An Oprah Magazine Best Book of the Year Shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction Berlin, 1939. The Hot Time Swingers, a popular jazz band, has been forbidden to play by the Nazis. Their young trumpet-player Hieronymus Falk, declared a musical genius by none other than Louis Armstrong, is arrested in a Paris caf. He is never heard from again. He was twenty years old, a German citizen. And he was black. Berlin, 1952. Falk is a jazz legend. Hot Time Swingers band members Sid Griffiths and Chip Jones, both African Americans from Baltimore, have appeared in a documentary about Falk. When they are invited to attend the film's premier, Sid's role in Falk's fate will be questioned and the two old musicians set off on a surprising and strange journey. From the smoky bars of pre-war Berlin to the salons of Paris, Sid leads the reader through a fascinating, little-known world as he describes the friendships, love affairs and treacheries that led to Falk's incarceration in Sachsenhausen. Half-Blood Blues is a story about music and race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art.
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review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

It took some time getting into this book but when I did it turned out to be a very emotional read. It's the start of WWII and a group of promising musicians escapes Germany and moves to France. Before long the Germans invade Paris and all their hopes shatter. It is a time of betrayal and fear. Years later the friends have to come to terms with each other and with what happened in those dark days.

#booker #pop22 #AnisfieldWolfAwardWinner

squirrelbrain Great review! And I love the pic - looks a bit wild though judging by the little figure trying to hang onto their umbrella! 1y
Cinfhen Ohhhh!! You persevered and you were rewarded!!! I‘m still not sure I want to try again but props to you!!! 1y
Cinfhen Hahaha @squirrelbrain I didn‘t even notice that person in the background 😂 1y
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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Cinfhen 😂Yes It was raining and stormy at that moment (which is a few days ago since it took some time to read the book.. 😉) 1y
vivastory I just read a review of the new Iain Reid & I thought of you. I know you're a big fan! There are so many fantastic new releases out right now. It's a good problem to have. 1y
BarbaraBB @vivastory Thanks, it‘s always so long before news of American releases reach me. But I am off now to check that new Reid! What other releases should I chase?? 1y
vivastory I'm not sure which of these would be of interest to you, but I'm really looking forward to the two new Cormac McCarthy books, George Saunders short story collection, new Orhan Pamuk novel, & Alan Moore story collection. 1y
BarbaraBB @vivastory Thanks so much, the McCarthy‘s and Pamuk do sound ao appealing! I‘ll find out more about them! Thanks again!! 🤍 1y
Megabooks It sounds quite emotional. I didn‘t realize Reid had a new one @vivastory . I‘m in line for the McCarthy at the library. 1y
CarolynM I‘ve had this on my shelf for years but never got around to it. One day… 1y
BarbaraBB @CarolynM I know what you mean! 1y
Centique I really enjoyed this one too! 1y
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Centique
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Pickpick

I brought 5 books away for our summer holiday up north & this one captured my interest first. A group of jazz musicians are stranded first in Berlin & then in Paris as WW 2 breaks out. They are a mix of Germans & Americans, black, white and Jewish. Ultimately its about passion and jealousy, love and friendship playing out in a most dangerous time. A great read if you love a slow unravelling of character and motivation. Or if you love jazz 😍

Centique A great first book of the year, 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 2y
GingerAntics This sounds AMAZING!!! I‘m going to have to check this out. 2y
LeahBergen Ah, a Canadian author! I haven‘t read it yet. 2y
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Centique @GingerAntics oh good! I really hope you like it 💕 2y
Centique @LeahBergen ah I should have figured that out! 🙂🙃 There was a reference to the Giller prize somewhere. I really liked Washington Black too but this is much shorter and sharper. 2y
GingerAntics I do love jazz, so it sounds right up my alley. 2y
Ruthiella I liked this better than Washington Black also! 2y
Centique @GingerAntics I love jazz too, without knowing much about it though! I only know the old artists that I love like Billie and Ella and Louis and Duke Ellington 😍 2y
Centique @Ruthiella 👯‍♀️ there we go again, liking the same books! 2y
GingerAntics @Centique same, honestly 2y
GingerAntics @Centique it‘s why I wanted to play trumpet SO BAD when I was a kid. 🎺 I‘ve kind of gotten into trombone recently, too. 2y
GingerAntics @Centique well, trumpet was jazz, All You Need is Love, and Jungle Boogie… and Christmas music. 2y
Centique @GingerAntics wow, I don‘t play any instruments. Love trumpets and trombones 😍 The bass has always had a special place in my heart, my dad used to play it. 2y
GingerAntics @Centique I played clarinet, piano, and drum set as a kid. I added more in my late teens and college years. I added in a trumpet and violin/mandolin, but I never got to try a trombone. 2y
BarbaraBB I have had this on my shelves for years. Bumping it up my tbr thanks to your review 🤍 2y
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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#3books written by a POC

I did a quick skim of the posts and picked a few authors I didn't see already listed. Coincidentally, all 3 of these books are high up on my TBR list.

@OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

OriginalCyn620 Nice! 👌🏻 4y
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Emilymdxn
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Got my first book for #summerfun bingo without intending to which is lucky! Just finished Half Blood Blues today, and I normally avoid historical fiction set in World War Two as much as I can. Nice to have a box ticked off ok the first day!

@4thhouseontheleft @StayCurious

StayCurious That‘s awesome! 4y
alisiakae Woohoo! 4y
50 likes2 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

This was right on the line between a pick and a so-so for me. If any book could make me like World War Two historical fiction it would be this, the writing and characters were excellent but I just don‘t like novels about World War Two (I‘ve had enough for one lifetime now). I can‘t fault the writing and I recommend it wholeheartedly if you like that genre. I would have loved more set in the 90s wirh the older men looking back on their lives

charl08 Have you read - might hit the spot for those seniors reflecting on their lives. 4y
Emilymdxn @charl08 I havent but I‘d love to read more by bernadine evaristo, it looks amazing! 4y
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ShyBookOwl
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I picked this one up because I had been reading a lot of classics and historical fic, which had no #blackvoices in them. I wanted to go back in time with a PoC and this book DID NOT disappoint. Set at the outset of ww2, it follows a mostly black jazz band living and playing in Germany. As the war nears, they make the daring decision to cross into France, hoping to cut their breakout record. But things go awry.

I tag anyone who is into it 😊

Sace This sounds really good. Thanks for sharing it. 4y
ShyBookOwl @Sace my pleasure! Great for historical fic fans, music fans, and ppl who want to know more about the war from a perspective we rarely get. 4y
BooksAndTea97 It sounds so good. Wow I'm so sad I did not know about it sooner. 4y
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ShyBookOwl @BooksAndTea97 we definitely need more PoC historical fic. Black ppl especially have been erased from so many of these narratives 😞 4y
Vansa Sounds fascinating. 4y
ShyBookOwl @Vansa it is. And so unique 4y
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Citra182
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I‘m not sure how to feel about this book. I kind of impulse bought the book after seeing it on the shelf so many times. I frequent book stores a little bit more than I care to admit. I enjoyed the story, but I think it was the ending that just fell for me. There were some really beautiful moments and crafting of the story, don‘t get me wrong. But, it missed the mark just a bit for me.

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ShyBookOwl
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Pickpick

Finished this while laid up in bed with a kidney infection (thanks again to everyone who sent me well wishes yesterday during my 12-hour ER visit). The story did drag a little in the middle, but overall, I loved reading about the experience of black people in Nazi Germany (and other parts of Europe at that time). I'm not a big reader of historical fiction, but I'll recommend this to friends of mine who are.

Crazeedi Glad you're feeling better! 4y
ShyBookOwl @Crazeedi kind of starting to. Still laid up in bed though 4y
Crazeedi @ShyBookOwl rest and take care of yourself, those infections are nasty!! Hugs!💕 4y
ShyBookOwl @Crazeedi they are! Thank you 💜 4y
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ShyBookOwl
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Stuck in the ER for pain 😞 I guess it's a reading day.

Butterfinger Oh no. Hope you feel better. 4y
DaveGreen7777 😢 Hope the pain goes away very soon! 4y
LiteraryinLawrence Thinking of you! 💜 4y
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JessClark78 Hope you feel better soon! 4y
Librarybelle Hope you feel better! 4y
Lreads I hope you have some relief soon and feel better! 💕 4y
Redwritinghood I hope you feel better soon. 4y
Megabooks Get well soon! 💙💙 4y
Bookwomble I hope you're feeling more comfortable soon, Shyla 💗 4y
Branwen Oh no! I hope you feel better soon! 💕 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Hoping you get some relief soon! 4y
NeedsMoreBooks Get well soon! 4y
63 likes14 comments
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ShyBookOwl
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It definitely has me flipping pages! (Well... tapping the screen, technically)

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ShyBookOwl
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A cat, a book about a couple of jazz musicians during (and after) WWII, and jazz music in the background. I'm all set for snowstorm hibernation 😌

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ShyBookOwl
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Starting Half Blood Blues today 🎷🎸🎺 I tried Washington Black on audio, but couldn't get into the narrator. Figured I'd start here instead. The music theme is more interesting to me at the moment, anyways.

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xicanti
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Day 6 of #7Days7Covers. My own copy‘s got a bunch of award stickers on it, so I dug through my archives in search of the relevant #murchieplusbooks photo, taken with the library copy I originally read.

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merelybookish
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This novel charts the fate of of a group of African-American jazz musicians in Nazi Germany. I recall liking it when I read it.
#musicalnewyear #musicofthenight
@cinfhen @vivastory

Cinfhen I just bought from BookOutlet but the low Litsy rating scares me😱😣 5y
merelybookish @Cinfhen I read it with a book club a few years back and I don't remember anyone disliking it. I do thinks it's a book where what you think the book will be about and how the story that actually unfolds is quite different. 5y
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Shemac77
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Pickpick

Whoa. What a beautifully written book. Going between 1939 and present day. Beautiful.

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Shemac77
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Coffee collagen smoothie and reading post workout. Looking like I won‘t make my Goodreads challenge for the first time ever but whatevs. I‘m still reading and still loving reading.

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Ruthiella
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Mehso-so

The link to Billie Holiday aka the #angelofharlem is tenuous at best! Though there is a character in the book who may be slightly inspired by her. But it is a book about Jazz as well as historical fiction and a story of friendship and betrayal. This title won the Giller Prize as did Edugyan‘s more recent work Washington Black.
#WinterWonderland

TrishB Any link accepted 👍🏻 good pick. 5y
Ruthiella @TrishB Thanks 🙏 5y
Cinfhen I‘d like to read this book although it has a poor Litsy rating 😳 5y
Ruthiella @Cinfhen I have goodreads friends who really loved it. I definitely think it‘s worth reading! 5y
25 likes4 comments
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Shemac77
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Reading between calls.
Haven‘t been able to read as much as I‘d like lately but hoping this night shift is uneventful so I can get some reading in.

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Shemac77
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Books and booze!

Cathythoughts Great combination 👍🏻 5y
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GripLitGrl
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Cinfhen This sounds so good stacked 6y
Kalalalatja This is the second time I see this book today, it must be a sign! 6y
ephemeralwaltz Oh!! I just found about this book today with her newest being on the Booker shortlist. Must be a sign! 6y
40 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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I loved this book both times I read it, and I'm excited that Edugyan has a new book out (and appearing on a couple awards long and short lists!). Anyone read Washington Black yet?

#FromParistoBerlin
(Well, it's really #FromBerlintoParis, but close enough!)
#SeptemberDanes @Cinfhen @Kalalalatja

Lola I loved Washington Black and was really happy to see it on the MB Shortlist this morning! I added this to the TBR after reading WB. 6y
Cinfhen I was just gonna say @Lola loved 6y
candority I heard Edugyan read a couple weeks ago, and Washington Black sounds fascinating and fantastic! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Kalalalatja I have Washington Black from the library, but haven‘t started it yet. I‘m excited though! 6y
Redwritinghood I‘m reading right now and am really liking it. 6y
TheKidUpstairs @Lola @Redwritinghood So glad to see the positive reviews! 6y
TheKidUpstairs @candority I would love to see her speak! So talented, and her writing is so thoughtful I imagine she would make an interesting speaker. 6y
TheKidUpstairs @Kalalalatja I had it recently from the library, but there was someone waiting for it, and I couldn't get to it before it was due 😣 Back on the waiting list I go! 6y
82 likes8 comments
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xicanti
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I went to an author event with Esi Edugyan tonight, and she signed my copy of HALF-BLOOD BLUES!

She also told us this wild story about its road to publication. I'm glad it all worked out in the end and we got this awesome book.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻🙌🏻 6y
46 likes1 comment
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Augustdana
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Went to school today to set up my classroom and as a reward for dragging my ass on the last possible day I went to the book outlet! I paid 15 Canadian dollars for these beauties! Happy labour day weekend I suppose.

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xicanti
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1. I love a bunch, but I'm gonna push HALF-BLOOD BLUES today.
2. Led Zeppelin, Billy Talent, RHCP, Loreena McKennitt, Tori Amos, Goo Goo Dolls, The Offspring
3. RHCP. Soon as they came on, everyone in the crowd stood up and we spent the whole concert dancing and singing along and being in the moment. We drowned them out on "Scar Tissue!" The light show was awesome, too.
4. "Cold War" by Janelle Monáe, among many others
#manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho I saw RHCP twice last year and they were amazing! ❤️ 6y
TK421 Zep!! 6y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk The Goo Goo Dolls was my favorite band in high school and their music still slams me with nostalgia. 6y
Shemac77 Zeppelin! 5y
39 likes4 comments
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xicanti
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Sometimes I had to trick Murchie into posing with a book. Little dude thought he was hanging out on the couch, totally unmolested, while I was down at the other end snapping a picture. #murchieplusbooks

TricksyTails Murchie! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 6y
39 likes1 comment
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xicanti
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A small selection of diverse books by non-American authors. Geographic diversity is also important, y'all. #diversity #anditsaugust

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RealLifeReading
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#junebookbugs day 21: #multiethnic
I've been meaning to read these two books - ok I probably say that with most posts I put up. And since Half-Blood Blues was a 2011 finalist it means I've been wanting to read it for 6 years now....

Dragon I've had this one on my tbr for awhile as she used to live here. 7y
Ciska Loved Half-Blood Blues! 7y
118 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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TheCanuckReader
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Soooo much fun in my #cupidgoespostal package from @Shawna We need to do this every month 😂 Two great books by award winning Canadian authors, a beautful bookish/owl print (is there a better combo??), a sweet pen and READING SOCKS! Thanks so much @Shawna, I love everything and the socks are on as I type 😁
@BookishMarginalia

MrBook Wow! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Shawna Yay I'm so glad you like it! 7y
BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
See All 7 Comments
TheCanuckReader I saw those reading socks in Chapters and almost bought them...so cozy! I'm gonna frame that print...so great. Annnd the books fill several slots in my multiple reading challenges! 7y
LeahBergen Ooo, I LOVE my reading socks! 😍 7y
Eyelit That owl print is awesome! 7y
107 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Auntynanny
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Pickpick

This was an amazing, heartbreaking story. I loved it.

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xicanti
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This season's book market haul. I'm especially thrilled I found my own copy of HALF-BLOOD BLUES and a paperback of THE SUMMER QUEEN. I've been searching for a cheap copy of BELLWEATHER for aaaaages, so this $1 copy was also a real happy-maker. I want to read more from Luis Alberto Urrea, Ted Chiang, and Eva Ibbotson, too, and I'm glad I'll have a chance to try WINDROSE. The Camilla Läckberg is for my father, but I'll borrow it when he's done.

BethFishReads Yes, be sure to read Ice Princess. 8y
13 likes1 comment
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Spiderfelt
Mehso-so

This book offered a novel lens through which to view an aspect of WWII I had not previously read. I tried to imagine the lives of these characters, but ultimately, there was not enough to sustain me. The story did not provide the details sufficient to paint that picture, and I failed to be captivated by the characters. Perhaps if I knew more about jazz from that era, it would have been more engaging.

CherylDeFranceschi I'm so sad to hear this. I've heard so many rave reviews of this. I was looking forward to reading it. 8y
BookishFeminist @CherylDeFranceschi Don't let it turn you off! It may not connect with everyone but I loved it 4/5⭐️! 8y
Spiderfelt Absolutely! I couldn't agree more @BookishFeminist @CherylDeFranceschi. My dad gave it 5/5. I had a difficult time putting my gut feelings into words, unsure exactly why I didn't love it. There is some great dialogue. The banter between the characters was fantastic, even more because the author is a woman and the insults flying were definitely the sort of back talk I hear guys hurling. 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @Spiderfelt @BookishFeminist I'll keep it on the TBR. But you know how that goes. I have an endless amount to read! 8y
9 likes1 stack add4 comments
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LindaGrace812

Excellent, excellent book. History, music, characters who are oh, so human, and forgiveness all in one book.

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LindaGrace812

Excellent, excellent book. History, music, characters who are oh, so human, and forgiveness all in one book.

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nyashajunior
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Bailedbailed

I tried. Had to bail. The language just didn't ring true for me.

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Kitta
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My pick for 'book & music' for #Augustofpages, the FANTASTIC Half-blood Blues by Esi Edugyan. Jazz and the struggle to survive in Paris in 1940. So good.
#Augustphotochallenge

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BookishFeminist
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Fun Photo Friday, Pt. 2: More amazing Canadian authors! Including POC bc they're under-represented in Canadian literature: Alice Munro, Emily St. John Mandel, Lawrence Hill, Esi Edugyan (Ghanaian heritage), Tracey Lindberg (Cree), & Nalo Hopkinson (Jamaican)--I LOVE HER. More coming! 🇨🇦

brendanmleonard Awesome titles! 8y
Spiderfelt Doh! I can't believe I forgot Emily StJohn Mandel in my list. She is fantastic. 8y
BookishFeminist @Spiderfelt She is! It's easy to forget since Station Eleven is set in the US I think. Have you read her other stuff? 8y
Spiderfelt No I haven't @BookishFeminist. I heard her speak on book tour this year. She was great. 8y
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Dragon
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My stack some TBR in there as well. Happy Canada Day @Liberty

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Kitta
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Reading location for today, Central Park. Hello NYC sunshine! 😃☀️

5 likes1 stack add