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The Home for Unwanted Girls
The Home for Unwanted Girls | Joanna Goodman
Philomena meets The Orphan Train in this suspenseful, provocative novel filled with love, secrets, and deceitthe story of a young unwed mother who is forcibly separated from her daughter at birth and the lengths to which they go to find each other. In 1950s Quebec, French and English tolerate each other with precarious civilitymuch like Maggie Hughes parents. Maggies English-speaking father has ambitions for his daughter that dont include marriage to the poor French boy on the next farm over. But Maggies heart is captured by Gabriel Phnix. When she becomes pregnant at fifteen, her parents force her to give baby Elodie up for adoption and get her life back on track. Elodie is raised in Quebecs impoverished orphanage system. Its a precarious enough existence that takes a tragic turn when Elodie, along with thousands of other orphans in Quebec, is declared mentally ill as the result of a new law that provides more funding to psychiatric hospitals than to orphanages. Bright and determined, Elodie withstands abysmal treatment at the nuns hands, finally earning her freedom at seventeen, when she is thrust into an alien, often unnerving world. Maggie, married to a businessman eager to start a family, cannot forget the daughter she was forced to abandon, and a chance reconnection with Gabriel spurs a wrenching choice. As time passes, the stories of Maggie and Elodie intertwine but never touch, until Maggie realizes she must take what she wants from life and go in search of her long-lost daughter, finally reclaiming the truth that has been denied them both.
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Kshakal
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Pickpick

This book gave me all of the feels! A heartbreaking and gut wrenching story based on the Duplesiss orphans. This one will stick with me for some time to come!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks This has been on my shelf forever! 7mo
Kshakal @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks read it… so good!!! 7mo
36 likes2 comments
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bookaholic1
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Pickpick

#18
So good, so sad..

29 likes1 stack add
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Roxanareads
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Pickpick

A heartbreaking story of a young orphan, Elodie's life living in Quebec during a time when orphanages were converted to mental institutions and her mother's quest to reunite with her after being forced to put her up for adoption.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#Home
#BeginsWith

📚❤️

Eggs Why are shoes so heartbreakingly powerful😢👞❤️‍🩹👠 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs they represent miles and places someone has been, the stories they could tell 💔 2y
74 likes2 comments
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tara_ashley
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I am trying to read more so I downloaded this app to post the books I am reading. I am extremely forgetful and tend to pick up a book, get about 1 chapter in then realize I have already read the book. I am here so I can document what I have read and don't make this mistake as often.

I just finished this book today and couldn't put it down.

megnews Welcome to Litsy! Check out @LitsyEvents to see all the buddy reads and fun going on. Some fun people to follow are @sblbooks @Chrissyreadit @Butterfinger @BarbaraJean @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie @Librarybelle 2y
megnews I‘m glad to hear you liked this book. I‘ve had it in my tbr for awhile. 2y
Chrissyreadit Welcome to Litsy! 2y
See All 7 Comments
LitsyEvents Welcome to Litsy. 2y
sblbooks Welcome! I loved this book too! 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Welcome to Litsy! I use this App and Goodreads to keep all my books straight! 2y
Librarybelle Welcome to Litsy, @tara_ashley ! And thanks for the tag, @megnews ! 2y
5 likes7 comments
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janeycanuck
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Mehso-so

Some parts of this are tough because of what is going on in the story and some parts of this are tough because this was a bit longer than it should have been.

37 likes1 stack add
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mirnas
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Pickpick

The novel is based on a true story. 1950s in Québec, 15 year old Maggie is forced by her parents to give her newborn daughter to adoption. She spends next 20 years looking for her... Didn't know about Duplessis orphans before reading this. Great book, I've read it in a day!

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aperfectmjk
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Pickpick

Consider this one crushed! I spent the day putting up my Christmas decorations while flying through this one. What a beautifully written touching story. I'm so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this one. Definitely a 5 star read for me. #bookspinbingo #CrushTheRush

@TheAromaofBooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick That's fantastic! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 3y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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aperfectmjk
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I started this one last night. This has been on my TBR for a while. I recently won the follow-up to this in a Goodreads Giveaway so this became a 2020 Must Read for me. This will be my first for the #CrushTheRush readathon.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Glad you're joining us! You're going to crush it. 3y
31 likes2 comments
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TamTracy
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Pickpick

Such an amazing story. I loved the different perspectives and loved all the characters. So beautifully written to convey the situation as well as the emotions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

64 likes1 stack add
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Tove_Reads Is it just me or does the cover look like 4y
LiteraryinLawrence @Tove_Reads Oooh, it totally does! 4y
Eggs 💞Friends💞 4y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Tove_Reads it does!! I don‘t like when authors do that!! @LiteraryinLititz 😫 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs always!! ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👠 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs I love you ❤️😘 4y
75 likes8 comments
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GypsyKat
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Today‘s #AudibleDailyDeal looked too good to pass up.

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Carolyn11215
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Pickpick

A heartwrenching piece of historical fiction. I am horrified and enraged about what happened to the Duplessis orphans. And outraged that the Catholic Church has not been forced to make amends for their complicity. For those who want to learn a little more ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplessis_Orphans

Bklover That‘s AWFUL!! Thanks for sharing the article. 4y
Carolyn11215 @Bklover I was shocked that I had never heard about this. It hit awfully close to home for me. Really shook me up! 4y
24 likes2 comments
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lealakuhl

Very good book

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My.heart.is.lit
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I had all the feels throughout this incredible book. A well written story about the unbroken bond between a mother and child. Time is of no significance in the end as love prevails. In addition, a sad lesson in history - this story is loosely tied to the true story of the Duplessis Orphans, who were falsely certified as mentally ill in the 1950s in Quebec. Highly recommend, especially if you are a mother.

Nute Nice review! 4y
My.heart.is.lit @Nute thank you!! 4y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookDee
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Pickpick

Sad moments ... but still a good book.

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CoffeeNBooks
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OriginalCyn620 🙌🏻📚💔 5y
85 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#Orphanage
#LetsTravelAugust

Tbr !! I‘ve heard that it‘s really good 💔💔

OriginalCyn620 Great cover! 5y
Soubhiville Yay! I liked it 💜 5y
88 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Soulthirsty63
Pickpick

This book broke me. 5/5

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

The story of a young mother forced to put her daughter into an orphanage, and the searching, each for the other, that results.

I loved the Canadian setting, resulting in some French dialog. I enjoyed the family seed store business. The combination of farming life and small town culture felt familiar to me, very similar to my upbringing in Northern New England.

Thanks Misty! Another good book!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m glad you enjoyed it!! ❤️❤️ 5y
68 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Yesmynameistable

“No one can love you like I do.”
“Or hurt me as much.” Page 185

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aloslibrary
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Officially baptizing these unclaimed babies ❤️📖 #welcomehome #iloveyouall

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks You‘ve got some awesome ones!!! 5y
aloslibrary @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thank you! ☺️🌻 5y
31 likes2 comments
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Jmitchtamu
Pickpick

Great book!

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Soubhiville
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Thank you @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks for the birthday goodies! (I couldn‘t resist opening them early.) 🎂😁. I don‘t have this book and I have been wanting to read it! I love the bookmarks too! Thanks for everything. #LitsyLove

IamIamIam I almost took this out on audio today. It looks fantastic so I'm excited to see what you think. 😁 Happy birthday!!! 5y
Soubhiville @IamIamIam thank you! It‘s actually Saturday, but the packages were taunting me, and I couldn‘t resist! 5y
IamIamIam @Soubhiville Let's settle for birthday week and that gives you a few days on either side. 😉 Haha, enjoy!!! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks You‘re very welcome!!! I hope you have an awesome birthday 🎂🎊🎉❤️ 5y
CoffeeNBooks Great book! 5y
65 likes5 comments
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EveMichele
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Don‘t let her grumpy face fool you; this book is off to a good start!

CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Great book. Welcome to Litsy 💖📖💖 5y
rretzler Welcome to Litsy! 📖 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗👏🏻 5y
7 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Samplergal
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I have a feeling this one will wreck me. #audiobook

JacqMac It will. But it‘s worth it. 5y
BrieT2016 It‘s a good book! (edited) 5y
79 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Deblovestoread
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I listened to this on my commute which is only 20 to 30 minutes each way. Such a sad story. It was a good one to listen to in small chunks at a time.

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Purrfectpages
Mehso-so

I suppose this book was well written enough, but my judgment is probably clouded by how much anxiety it caused me while reading it during an already anxiety ridden portion of my life. I didn‘t even know the story was based on true events until after reading. That only made me sadder. Adoption is never easy, but I can‘t even imagine what it must be like to assume you‘re giving your child its best chance at a good life only to find out otherwise.

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SuburbiaInterrupted
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“In spite of everything, Maggie has managed to turn out all right. She is a mother of three children- all of them here tonight in the house she loves so much; she is a wife, a lover of seeds and language, a French woman with English blood, an English woman with French blood. She is neither fully one thing nor another, as she‘s always wanted to be. She is arrogant and humble, audacious and timid, alive. She is still growing and always will be.”

4 likes1 stack add
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Purrfectpages
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Next up for May‘s book club pick!

baes I loved this. 5y
48 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Exterminate1977
Pickpick

5/5. This book was heart wrenching.

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JacqMac
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Pickpick

Being Acadian, I have always been aware of the tensions between the English and the French in Canada. The attempts at ethnic cleansing and the extreme prejudices that existed. Not to mention the issues with religion. But I have never heard of the Duplessis Orphans until now. This book is beautifully written. It brings you on an emotional ride from start to finish. Read it with tissues. You will love it and you will learn things. 5⭐️

Slajaunie I find it interesting that you are Acadian. I live in the middle of “Cajun” culture here in Louisiana. My husband is Cajun. 5y
JacqMac @Slajaunie I was born and raised in Nova Scotia. I don‘t live there anymore, but it‘s still “home” to me. My husband visited Louisiana and he said I would love it there. He thinks I‘d fit right in. Lol 5y
Slajaunie You probably would! 😁 5y
RadicalReader What‘s Acadian? 5y
66 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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GlitterGirl
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Some liquid courage (all the way from Belgium😍😎) to continue reading this horribly sad and heart breaking book. The atrocities people do to each other!!!😳😥😳😥😳😥

SW-T Delirium Tremens is tasty 😋 (edited) 5y
79 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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GlitterGirl
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1. Beautiful and sunny South Africa ??☀️
2. Probably somewhere warm and sunny.
3. Quebec
4. Braaivleis (meat prepared over and open fire) / braaibroodjies (also toasted over the same fire as the meat) potjiekos (also open fire food) / mieliepap and biltong & droëwors
5. All the love the all the South Africans here and abroad!

@SailorMoon #frideas

(And thank you, no I want to braai?)

SailorMoon Thanks for playing!!! 💕🤟🏻🌙 really interesting to hear about your local food! They sound like Dutch names, though... I mean, do you speak a German-like language in South Africa? I really have no idea, sorry for my ignorance!!! 5y
BooknerdsLife Hello there 👋 📚🙌🏼💕and those food looks delicious! 😋 5y
mrsmarch One of my best girlfriends is from ZA! She lives in London now. 😂 5y
See All 6 Comments
CouronneDhiver Love to you too! In Canada, but from a South African family 5y
Crazeedi Our exchange student Margot was from SA. She was the best! 5y
GlitterGirl @SailorMoon the official language of these terms are Arikaans, a very dutch language. Afrikaans is a very young language and consists of words from across the globe. We have an interesting history. And Afrikaans is a unique language...one of 11 official languages spoken in South Africa...and we have weird terms that will make no sense to others. 😎😍😂 (edited) 5y
61 likes6 comments
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GlitterGirl
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Delicious fresh fruit, yoghurt and icy water and a book! Happiness!!!😊😊😊

80 likes2 stack adds
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TheBookKeepers
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Pickpick

An excellent historical fiction read. I loved everything about this book! I enjoyed learning about the French/English social climate of Quebec during this time period. The characters were all very complex and felt real.

kellyann28 I LOVED this one! I'm glad you liked it too! 5y
TheBookKeepers Yes!! I soooo wanted them to reunite sooner tho 😭. Great book @kellyann28 5y
94 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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paigecon
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. Joanna Goodman did a great job in drawing the reader in early, a huge deal for me when it comes to reading. I have been reading a lot of historical fiction recently based during WW2 so this was a nice break from that! I never knew about this point in history in Quebec and the divide between the English and the French Canadians. Must read!

VioletBramble Welcome to Litsy! 5y
the.bookish.valkyrie Welcome to Litsy!🎉📚💕 5y
paigecon Thanks! 5y
See All 17 Comments
HeathHof Hi @paigecon 🖐 welcome to Litsy 😊 5y
BridgetteM Welcome to Litsy! 5y
rather_be_reading welcome to litsy 📚☕📚 5y
BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 5y
DarcysMom Welcome to Litsy! 🤩 5y
CoffeeNBooks Great book! 📚 Welcome to Litsy! @LitsyWelcomeWagon #LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
RaimeyGallant Welcome! 5y
Megabooks Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻📚 5y
PurpleyPumpkin Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a great community and I hope you enjoy it here. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts!😉👍🏽 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💖 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌸🤗 5y
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you are enjoying it here! 5y
54 likes3 stack adds17 comments
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GlitterGirl
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Our March #readingwithfriends book. I love the cover!

53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Soulthisty63
Pickpick

This book was well written and heartbreaking, I highly recommend it.

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Mindyrecycles
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Pickpick

🙂🙂🙂#bookclub

RebL One day I will see you around town & yell, “Hey, Litten!” And we will both laugh & laugh—& then compare our current reads. 5y
Mindyrecycles @RebL fingers crossed! 5y
70 likes2 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I posted the same one! Have you read it? 5y
CoffeeNBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yes! I really liked it! Have you read it? 5y
See All 6 Comments
CoffeeNBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It's really good- once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CoffeeNBooks I loved The Finishing School by this author! Have you read it? 5y
CoffeeNBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks No, I haven't. This is the only book of hers that I've read. I'll have to check it out! 5y
100 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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I haven‘t gotten to this one yet, but I really want to! I may move it up!!

#Unwanted
#ANewChapter

Littlestbookshelf I loved that one! I read it after Before we were yours and wanted more like it. 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Littlestbookshelf I‘ve read that one and loved it!! 5y
Eggs This was recommended to me as well... 5y
sblbooks This was one of my favorites for 2018. I highly recommend it. 5y
140 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Kshakal
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks We used the same one!! 5y
51 likes1 comment
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Mindyrecycles
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Pickpick

My #bookclub will discuss this Wednesday. I liked it but had some quibbles with the characters and the plot, enough that I changed my GR rating to 3 stars from 4 after I thought about it awhile. 😂 Still, I had never heard of this piece of Quebec history and I‘m glad I know it now. I want to read some non fiction about it but I can‘t find any that isn‘t in French.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego An excellent book. 5y
98 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bourriquet76
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Book 3 of 2019, so good!
And fun to read a Canadian author again.

CoffeeNBooks I really liked this book! 5y
MinDea I LOVED this book 5y
34 likes3 comments
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ItsAnotherJen
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Pickpick

This is based on the true history of Quebec orphanages in the 1950s. Orphanages were changed into mental institutions because they received more money for mental patients than for orphans. 😥 Very sad situation for so many young children.

Very riveting book! Kept you wanting to know how it would all turn out.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I couldn't put it down! Very good. 5y
89 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Bourriquet76
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Ski weekend in Vail, so I‘m enjoying the fireplace in our condo.

AmyG Have fun! I live in Vail. Conditions are great for skiing. (edited) 5y
36 likes2 comments
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sblbooks
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My favorite books of the year, did anyone else enjoy these?
#18in18
#favorites

Crazeedi Nightingale, before we were your, both excellent 5y
Judybskt The Lake House 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This made my list too. It was very good 5y
Mindyrecycles Love Teribithia and Wonder and Time Traveler‘s Wife. Home for Unwanted Girls is my book club‘s pick for January but I haven‘t started yet. Glad to see the positive review. 🙂 Happy new year to you. 5y
sblbooks @Mindyrecycles I hope you enjoy it. Happy New Year to you too. 5y
19 likes5 comments