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The Map of Salt and Stars
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Zeyn Joukhadar
This powerful and lyrical debut novel is to Syria what The Kite Runner was to Afghanistan; the story of two girls living eight hundred years aparta modern-day Syrian refugee seeking safety and an adventurous mapmakers apprenticeperfectly aligns with the cultural moment (The Providence Journal) and shows how interconnected two supposedly opposing worlds can be (The New York Times Book Review). This beguiling (Seattle Times) and stunning novel begins in the summer of 2011. Nour has just lost her father to cancer, and her mother moves Nour and her sisters from New York City back to Syria to be closer to their family. In order to keep her fathers spirit alive as she adjusts to her new home, Nour tells herself their favorite storythe tale of Rawiya, a twelfth-century girl who disguised herself as a boy in order to apprentice herself to a famous mapmaker. But the Syria Nours parents knew is changing, and it isnt long before the war reaches their quiet Homs neighborhood. When a shell destroys Nours house and almost takes her life, she and her family are forced to choose: stay and risk more violence or flee across seven countries of the Middle East and North Africa in search of safetyalong the very route Rawiya and her mapmaker took eight hundred years before in their quest to chart the world. As Nours family decides to take the risk, their journey becomes more and more dangerous, until they face a choice that could mean the family will be separated forever. Following alternating timelines and a pair of unforgettable heroines coming of age in perilous times, The Map of Salt and Stars is the magical and heart-wrenching (Christian Science Monitor) story of one girl telling herself the legend of another and learning that, if you listen to your own voice, some things can never be lost.
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lil1inblue
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“The most important places on a map are the places we haven't been yet.”

#ittakesallkinds #withmap

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yes!! 🙌🏻 🗺️ 2w
Eggs Perfect 👍🏼 2w
18 likes2 comments
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xicanti
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And now, a tiny bookstore for my little Greek street; which, I‘ve realized, has all its signage in either Turkish or English, so maybe it‘s not Greek at all? Or maybe it‘s on an island that caters mostly to Turkish- or English-speaking tourists?

Anyways, I‘m still here for the tagged book‘s stories and still all *DRAMATIC SIGH* over the huge number of similes and metaphors. #audiocrafting

willaful oooooo! 1mo
UwannaPublishme 😍📚🙌🏻 1mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Bookwormjillk 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
Texreader Love this!!! 1mo
tpixie Love the plaster and brick wall & plates! 1mo
47 likes6 comments
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xicanti
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I loved Zeyn Joukhadar‘s second novel very much, but their first is trying my patience with its purple prose. It‘s a good example of what I mean by performative purpleness; something that‘s less “how can I convey my characters‘ emotional reality?” and more “look at my ability to cram similes and metaphors into every nook and cranny.”

I‘ll stick with it because I do want the story. The historical bits are much less florid, too. #audiocrafting

Deblovestoread That is adorable! 💜 1mo
xicanti @Deblovestoread thanks! It‘s the first half of a little Greek street. Tomorrow, I start the other side. 1mo
CoffeeAndABook Great review!! And that little Greek street is delightful 👏🏼👏🏼 it makes me so happy to just look at it ☀️ is it a set? If so, where can it find it?? 1mo
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xicanti @CoffeeAndABook yes, it‘s a kit I found on Amazon! There are a whole bunch of them along the same lines, but with different themes. I‘ve already done the little French canal, and I hope to do the firefly forest and the undersea trolley someday. Litsy won‘t let me post the link, but if you search for “Spilay sea breeze book nook” it should come up. 1mo
BookmarkTavern That looks so cute! Looks like it‘s right off of Santorini! 💙 1mo
xicanti @BookmarkTavern I fell in love with that Santorini vibe the moment I saw it. 1mo
CoffeeAndABook @xicanti Thank you so much! I found it 😊😊😊 1mo
42 likes7 comments
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GinaKButler
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Starting next…our November book club pick. The cover is so pretty!

#bookspinbingo

emz711 I dnf, let me know if you like it! 5mo
GinaKButler @emz711 Ughhh…I‘m 120+ pages in, and would totally DNF if it wasn‘t for book club. 🫣 5mo
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

One of my IRL book buddies found this. It's quite a good story. A young girl and her fam flee Syria after their house is bombed. The counter story is a young mapmaker posing as male and having an epic adventure. Definitely recommend.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 7mo
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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Map of Salt and Stars | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

I had a lot of issues with the writing but I still recommend it. My favourite parts were the ancient storyline based on real-life characters, Al-Idrisi and King Roger and the map and "planisphere" that Al-Idrisi created for the king. I learned a lot: I had never known that Ceuta existed - a tiny piece of Spain in Morocco! I got really tired of the characters saying profound things to each other all the time but the story as a whole is lovely.

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Map of Salt and Stars | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar

Oh I'm a critical old thing but though I'm enjoying it, there's too much happening in this book. A narrator with synaesthesia AND a love for stones/gems AND the map theme (which by the way hasn't been explained yet at all - how does someone make a living in 2011 by making maps by hand? What are they maps of?). I just think the flowery elements could have been reduced.

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
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I decided I couldn't go one more day without getting my car washed but the time wasted in the queue - I just want to cry! I should be at home, working 😢 A book and a coffee while I wait though.

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Gissy
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Mehso-so

Read in May- another dual timeline- the main story is about Nour and her family when her mother decided to go back from NY to Syria. So interesting in terms how Nour needs to adapt to this country unknown to her in which she doesn‘t know the language. So well described the places and the culture. Then, there is an old story about a legend that will describe the changes that Nour us experiencing. I didn‘t enjoy much these parts, sometimes boring⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) so it was a story that I didn‘t like much but I couldn‘t put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen in that journey🤷🏽‍♀️☺️3⭐️
#AsianReadathon YouTuber @WithCindy prompt-is not an aventure but it was about a journey. It was also about self-discovery (Syria)
#Foodandlit (late reading-for the month of March) Syria @CatsandBooks @Texreader

3⭐️
(edited) 10mo
Gissy Late reading for #OriliumMagicalReadathon YouTuber @BookRoast #SpringEquinox
Career Star Whisperer class-lore prompt-The Legend of Día=read a book with a map. The map is part of the end pages.
May 2023 @BookSpinBingo (#4) @TheAromaOfBooks
10mo
Cuilin Love your picture. 10mo
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Gissy @Cuilin Thank you🤗 10mo
Catsandbooks Great review! 👏🏼 10mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
48 likes6 comments
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Catsandbooks
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Pickpick

3.75/5 ⭐️ #FoodandLit Syria
I enjoyed the dual storylines, especially the fantastical elements.

I'm super behind on reviews, so expect a bunch of posts

Gissy Me too! 🙋🏽‍♀️I‘m very behind of all these buddy reads/or challenges but I‘m enjoying to read them. I didn‘t like much this one, I need to post my review, but at the same time I needed to finish it. I wanted to know what was going to happen with this family. Don‘t like it much, couldn‘t put it down😳🤷🏽‍♀️☺️ 10mo
Catsandbooks @Gissy yeah definitely a soft pick for me. I didn't love it but I had to know how it ended 10mo
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Texreader
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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I have several options for March #foodandlit‘s country #Syria. I‘m thinking I‘ll go with the tagged book, but we‘ll see the mood I‘m in when I‘m ready to start my next book. @Catsandbooks

Catsandbooks Lots of options! Excited to see your review! 13mo
55 likes1 comment
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Jolynne
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Pickpick

All anyone really wants is “home”

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Munawar S.
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Mehso-so

The book is about the main Character Noor escaping Syria because of an ongoing conflict and protest. She had to travel across The Mediterranean and North Africa to get to New York City. Her father passed away from cancer and She need to go back to Syria and needed to find a map to get there.

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Bookwormjillk
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Mehso-so

This was a mixed bag for me. I liked the modern day story of Nour and her family, but was bored by the ancient timeline. I did learn about the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta which I had never heard of before.

I read this for my work book club but it would also work for #FoodandLit Egypt and #ReadingAfrica2022

Librarybelle This is on my to read list! 2y
Jas16 I felt the exact same way. 2y
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shellleigh33
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Thank you so much @Endowarrior21 for my wonderful #JolabokaflodSwap gifts. I love the reindeer you made me. It is so could and I have wanted to read this book for so long. Maybe we can do a Buddy read when it comes time since you got a copy also 😉. Lastly, I can not wait to eat my chocolate 😋. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Hope you a wonderful one!!!

Endowarrior21 Your welcome 2y
31 likes1 comment
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Jas16
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Mehso-so

I went into this book with with high expectations but ended up only caring about one of the storylines, the modern day journey of young Nour who left America, where she was born, for Syria, where her family is from, only to be forced to flee violence and travel as refugee. The story of Rawiya, hundreds of years earlier, did not have the same resonance with me, despite the lovely writing.
#booked2021 #setinacountrywhereunpeacekeepersare

BiblioLitten I bailed on this. It seemed very ambitious yet half-hearted as the same time. 2y
Jas16 @BiblioLitten I can absolutely see why you felt that way. 2y
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Texreader
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Ebook on sale today. A family flees the war in #Syria traveling across the Middle East and North Africa. Works for #readingasia2021 and #readingafrica2022. I‘ve got it lined up for January 2022 #foodandlit for #Egypt.

Bookwormjillk Thanks! I just happened to have $2 in kindle credits! 2y
Librarybelle Thanks for sharing! 2y
Butterfinger Wow!!! Awesome. 2y
BarbaraBB Great choice! I have my Egypt choice ready too! 2y
TheBookHippie It‘s good. 2y
57 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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Rachiiebookdragon
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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EmmaMarie
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar

"That doesn't make sense," I say. Mama rubs my shoulder and nudges me along, her burlap bag swinging at her side. "You'll understand one day," she said. "When you are older." I frown. All the way back to the hospital, I remember what Huda [her older sister] would have said: Not when I'm older. Just when it's time. -- pg 104

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Dalaine
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Pickpick

If you are looking for a book to straight up ruin you while also somehow inspiring you to be the best you, this is it. This book read like a poem and the actual poems in it are beautiful. I cried and hurt and sat on the edge of my proverbial chair while reading this. It's terrible how relevant this book still is. How many families still have to do this. How many have had to. Read this. Sit with this. It's brilliant.

sarahlandis Adding it to my list!!! Just can‘t read rn I have too many lol 3y
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LikelyLibrarian
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This one has been on my shelf for a while. I‘m only about a chapter in, but the writing is beautiful.

#booked2021
#unpeacekeepers

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BiblioLitten
Map of Salt and Stars | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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I‘d consider it an achievement if I can manage to read 10 pages these days. I couldn‘t resist picking this book set in #Syria. Such a beautiful cover too! I love the Arabic text shadowing the title. 💙

#currentlyreading #bluecover

Ruthiella That is an eye catching cover! 😍 3y
44 likes1 comment
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tricours
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
Mehso-so

I never really got the point of that cryptic map 🤷‍♀️

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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

I love both storylines separately, but I especially love how they were woven together. The modern part of the story is full of grief and sadness but also hope and love, and it is beautifully written.

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derr.liz
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"Stories are powerful, but gather too many of the words of others in your heart, and they will drown out your own. Remember that."

15 likes1 stack add
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NeedsMoreBooks
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Evidence of my 2021 bookish resolutions 📚

Donated 8 books to the neighborhood Little Library and borrowed Thoughts from a Blue Bike and What Do You Say When

Bought books by a trans author: Map of Salt and Stars (recommended by @rsteve388 ) & by a WOC: Patsy with Powell‘s store credit after selling a box of books.

I had planned to donate/sell books that I won‘t re-read and buy books by P/WOC/trans authors.

Thank you @CBee for The Almost Moon

CBee It made it! I‘m so glad 👏🏻 Enjoy! 3y
NeedsMoreBooks @CBee thank you for sending ❤️❤️ 3y
CBee @NeedsMoreBooks you‘re very welcome! 3y
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Deblovestoread I really liked The Map of Salt and Stars. 3y
NeedsMoreBooks @Kdgordon88 I am excited to read it 😍🤩 3y
BookNAround I read Continental Divide by Alex Myers, also a trans author, last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a bonus, it‘s a university press title in case you‘re interested in small and university presses. (edited) 3y
NeedsMoreBooks @BookNAround thank you for the recommendation! Looks interesting and added to my TBR 💖 3y
58 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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marleed
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Pickpick

Mostly I liked this because I was genuinely interested in a story set in Syria. But for me to love a book with dual timelines I need to be equally invested invested in both storylines. Here, I was much more interested in Nour‘s current day setting than the story of Rawiya set 800 years earlier.

BiblioLitten I‘d love to read this(because it is set in Syria) 3y
marleed @BiblioLitten That‘s why I chose it. Also, I‘ve never given thought to modern-day map making so I‘m intrigued by that. Perhaps it‘s why I read a bit too quickly through the older timeline and just wanted to settle in to the modern story. 3y
81 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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WriterAtHeart
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@shellleigh33 - Thank you so much for the generous #jolabokaflodswap gift. It was such a treat to have this waiting for me once I got home today. 🥰🥰🥰

shellleigh33 So glad it finally made it there 🙌🏻🙌🏻 3y
40 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Sharpeipup
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“The most important places on a map are the places you have not been yet.” #quotes #coverlove

28 likes1 stack add
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Honeybeebooks
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

Lushly descriptive with intertwined storylines that introduce the reader to memorable characters in each timeline. The two young protagonists demonstrate determination and teach us about faith in ourselves and something more. A beautiful novel and definitely a new favorite.

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Honeybeebooks
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“If you don‘t know the tale of where you come from the words of others can overwhelm and drown out your own. So, you see, you must keep careful track of the borders of your stories, where your voice ends and another‘s begins.” “Then stories nap the soul in the guise of words. “ p. 133

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Honeybeebooks
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“Music pattered to the ground, sweet as rose water.”
There are a number of lovely, lyrical turn of phrases in this novel including this one!

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mermaid12159
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

After a slow start, this book turned into a wonderful story. Both beautiful, and at times heartbreaking, it's one I will highly recommend.

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TPT
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Pickpick

Just finished, and I must say I really enjoyed this one! Very powerful story.

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Kelican17
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

I appreciated the parallel storylines and the happy endings for both. 💚💚While it felt like I couldn‘t put this book down it took me forever to get through it!!🤷🏻‍♀️

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tricours
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Not sure why, but I can‘t really get involved in this book...? There‘s just something missing 😐

Prairiegirl_reading I can‘t get into anything lately! 🙁 4y
BarbaraBB Echoing @Prairiegirl_reading 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y
32 likes2 comments
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HoneyBeeLee
Map of Salt and Stars | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

Was finally able to finish this one and man was it good. If you are a fan of The Kite Runner than you will enjoy this one as well. It is an emotional rollercoaster but worth the read.

27 likes4 stack adds
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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

Beautiful mythical take intertwined with a refugee story. Beautiful poetry is also interspersed through out. Well worth a read!

26 likes1 stack add
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KT1432
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Just getting around to posting my #JolabokaflodSwap package and I am in love!! 😍 Thank you so much @mcbeth528!! I have been wanting this book for a while now; I've heard such good things about it and I think it will be the perfect Christmas Eve read for tonight!! And the local VA chocolate...I tried both already and the flavors are AMAZING!! Thank you for sharing. I'm always on the lookout for great artisanal chocolate! Merry Christmas!! 🎄☃️

Jee_HookedOnBookz Great book choice!! 💕 Merry Christmas, Kaleah!!🎄💕 4y
KT1432 @Jee_HookedOnBookz Merry Christmas to you too Jee!! 🥰 4y
Jee_HookedOnBookz @lele1432 tq!! 💕💕 4y
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mcbeth528 So glad it arrived safe and that you love it and the chocolate!! What a fun swap and I‘m thankful to you for sharing this book title because now I want to read it too! Happy Jolabokaflod!! 4y
KT1432 @mcbeth528 awww I hope you get to read it soon! This was such a fun swap! Happy Jolabokaflod! 📚🎄 4y
MaleficentBookDragon 🎅 🤶🎁🎄🍫 📚 Happy #Jolakabodflod 4y
KT1432 @MaleficentBookDragon happy Jolabokaflod to you too! Thank you for hosting and Merry Christmas!! 🎄☃️ 4y
33 likes7 comments
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mcbeth528
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Happy #JolabokaflodSwap eve! This package goes to the post office tomorrow to find a happy home for Christmas Eve. Thanks @MALEFICENTBOOKDRAGON for all your hard work to make my first Jolabokaflod happen!

KT1432 Yayyy I'm so excited!! Thank you so much! 4y
mcbeth528 @lele1432 I‘m so glad you received it! I had to add this to my TBR list because it sounded amazing. 4y
KT1432 Doesn't it?? I've heard so many good things about it! 4y
8 likes3 comments
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jouleian
Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is a bit of a slow burn and rather backhandedly political. Outside of that with a little patience it really is a good read. #WouldRecommend

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Smrloomis
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Qatar Foundation International has funding to provide sets of Middle East Outreach Council awarded books for classroom use. Open to K-12 public or public charter school teachers - US only, sorry. Full details here: https://www.qfi.org/opportunities/meoc-educator-book-awards/ #Teachers #TeachersofLitsy

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LacklustreRogue
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I tend to read a lot of fantasy, but my reading gets more diverse when I'm working in a library, and here we have one about Syrian refugees travelling to safety. This book really struck me in places, though at times the alternate timelines annoyed me as I wanted to rush through the present timeline

Itchyfeetreader I agree - whilst the modern day story was incredibly sad it was the older one that captivated me 4y
LacklustreRogue I mean, I wanted to rush through to find out what happens present day- I was more interested in the present day than the past. I think I would appreciate it more on a second read through 4y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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rsteve388
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

What a beautiful story that was mesmerizing and inspiring to read. The story of a familys struggle as they travel from their home and make their way throughout the middle east. To see the struggles this family faces and how they depend on one another to overcome it. Beautiful.

Beautiful, amazing, magnificent inspiring just wonderful.

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rsteve388
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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#7Covers7Days #Day2 The beautiful story The Map of Salt and Stars has such a beautiful cover, the multiple blues and the detailed archway adorning the cover. Beautiful.

Just started this book today, this will be my last non scary book before #Scareathon2019

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erzascarletbookgasm
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Not read but found this fitting for #ayupaugust #star and #LetsTravelAugust

The novel tells the story of a family on their journey from their home in #Syria to safety in another country, through the eyes of Nour, the youngest daughter. The story moves between two narratives - an account of a Syrian refugee and a medieval tale of a mapmaker‘s assistant.

Cinfhen #DoubleDip 🍦🍦 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🇸🇾📚🙌🏻 5y
LazyDays I. Love. This. Cover!😍 5y
OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚🇸🇾 5y
squirrelbrain What @Bookishthoughts said! And well done on the double dip! 😁 5y
71 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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BethR91
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
Pickpick

What a beautiful story – two stories, actually! The imagery it provokes made me feel like I was right there with them. It also opened my eyes as I had to keep reminding myself that one half of this book was set in 2011, you could easily fool yourself into thinking this stuff was happening 20–30 years ago. The sad thing is it still happens today, but books like this keep the beauty of those places alive.

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The_Forgotten_Storyteller
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Everyone needs to listen to this book. Seriously not only is it amazing, with a phenomenal narrator, but the story is so important and relevant to the world right now.

3 likes1 stack add
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literarymermaid
The Map of Salt and Stars: A Novel | Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
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Pickpick

I loved this story. There is so much going on. A legend of a girl centuries ago, a modern refugee story, the trials of travel and trust while female. Above all, the magic of family and our histories.

This is a great option for #readharder2019 task 18 too.