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Prompt: GREEN

From 1852 to 2004....from one artist to another....from a farm in Virginia to the hustle and bustle of New York City.

THE HOUSE GIRL flawlessly switches between these two time periods telling of the life of Josephine, a slave girl, Lina, a New York City attorney, and Lina's father, Oscar, an artist.

https://tinyurl.com/cw5pe8ka

HISTORICAL FICTION

From 1852 to 2004....from one artist to another....from a farm in Virginia to the hustle and bustle of New York City.

THE HOUSE GIRL flawlessly switches between these two time periods telling of the life of Josephine, a slave girl, Lina, a New York City attorney, and Lina‘s father, Oscar, an artist. 5/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/cw5pe8ka

@taraconklinauthor
#taraconklin

This year I‘m working on getting the the books I‘ve had on my TBR the longest. I really wanted to read this in 2014 but 2022 me says it‘s just okay. The story was up and down and there were way too many coincidences.

Another one down for #bookspinbingo! I quite enjoyed this one, and found the dual timelines to be engaging. Not unputdownable, but a great read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well all of my #24in48 reads couldn‘t be winners and this one just didn‘t really work for me. The story of Josephine, the house girl, could have been interesting but was buried beneath two timelines and too many subplots, most of them pretty ridiculous. It is sad because the plot sounded so promising.

I listened to the audio, but I‘m not going to fault the narrator for my loss of focus. I have listened to this narrator before and rated those books 4 and 5 stars (for the 5 star book, she as one of a few narrators). So, unfortunately, I did lose focus many times in this book, so I never really cared about the characters and I wasn‘t all that interested in the story

⭐️⭐️/5 I would skip this one. It‘s pretty problematic by today‘s standards (white woman writing from the perspective of an enslaved Black woman + white saviorism).

What a lovely book!

I love the premise of this book. I love the writing and the characters. I was engaged and hungry for more from beginning to end.

However, that's also the downfall for me. I wanted more from the characters and their stories and in the end, I just didn't get it.

I would have rather seen two novels with more character depth than the one that only scraped their surfaces.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Loved it and loved Tara Conklin. I'll read whatever she writes!

I loved this book. So completely different from 'the Last Romantics'. I loved the mix of time periods and how the art and art world were described

I haven't posted in 4 months! 😳 I haven't stopped reading though. Currently reading: The House Girl. It's good so far. Can't wait to see how their stories intersect.

Can't say I will be recommending this book.

Please read my full review here:
https://thereadingmermaidsreviews.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-house-girl-by-tara...

This slow burning debut novel takes readers into US slavery in the 1850s and the corporate lawyer world of 2004. It‘s good. The storytelling is so rich that there were times I burned through 30 pages without realizing it. Thanks @WilliamMorrowBooks for the copy!

I can finally (!) say I completed a prompt for #Booked2019 , #NewToYouAuthor . This is also book 4 for #14Books14Weeks and probably the last for that challenge before tomorrow.

“Let your heart lead you, do not be afraid, for there will be much to regret if reason and sense and fear are your only markers.”

I ran home for lunch to find an early birthday surprise from my sweetest friend, Misty @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ♥️. Thank you so much! I can‘t wait to read this book, I‘ve been dying to get my hands on it since I read The Last Romantics. Litsy friends are the best friends! Love it and you, Misty! 😘

Picked this up today for $2 because I won Tara Conklins new book released in February from Goodreads yesterday and also because I just read Where‘d You Go Bernadette and loved it so I respect the author,Maria Semples opinion! (if you look at the top of the book you will see what Maria Semple said about this book)

My book haul for saturday!!!

This book took me so long to read 😞 There were times when I would really get into it, then it would switch and be boring for a while. It ended okay, not as satisfying as I would have liked. ⭐️⭐️1/2

Having a heck of a time getting through this...anybody else read it?
#toughread

Having a heck of a time getting through this...anybody else read it?

This paragraph pretty much says it all 💙
#slavery

This arrived in the mail the other day and I've enjoyed it so far. I made a cozy spot in the house with a lamp and a cozy blanket. In a houseful of family, you've got to carve out a space for yourself.

This has been the best week for surprise #bookmail. Thank you so much @WilliamMorrowBooks for starting my weekend on such a high note!

TFW you get a book in the mail you weren‘t expecting! Thanks, @HarperCollins !

Came home to find this waiting for me; what a perfect way to start off November! Thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks for this awesome surprise!

#bookmail Thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks for this surprise!!!

Weird....I didn‘t order this book (came from Harper Collins) and there is no note saying I won a copy or anything lol...and it‘s not an ARC because it was published in 2013 🤷‍♀️
#mysterybook

Thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks for this fantastic book mail!! I've been feeling pretty bad today with a migraine and fibromyalgia flare-up, and getting this gorgeous book in the mail totally made my day! I can't wait to read it! ❤️ #bookmail

Even my reading snuggle friends were excited about this surprise! Thank you, I never win anything!

#book mail today! Thank you @HarperCollins for this wonderful surprise!

The best #bookmail is surprise bookmail. Thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks ! I can‘t wait to dive into this one!

#BookMail today! Thank you to @WilliamMorrowBooks 💖💖💖

Thanks for this lovely book @WilliamMorrowBooks The cover is so pretty! Can‘t wait to read it.

I am really looking forward to reading this...thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks !

I must have won this on GoodReads and never got an email cause this just showed on my front porch today! I‘m not complaining!

We are giving away 25 copies. Enter here - 24 hour window. Closes Tuesday 10/23 at 9am ET. https://goo.gl/forms/L8aY7amhP2matVv72

Thanks William Morrow Books for sending me #TheHouseGirl ! It sounds really good.

Blurb: This “ #historicalfiction debut by #TaraConklin, is an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia... Featuring two remarkable, unforgettable heroines, Tara Conklin's The House Girl is riveting and powerful, literary fiction at its very best...” #tbr #giveaway #giveawaywinner #bookmail

Thank you @WilliamMorrowBooks for my copy of The House Girl. I'm looking forward to reading this one. #bookmail 📮

GIVEAWAY! Tag a friend for a chance to win 1 of 6 copies of THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin, (1 for you, 1 for your tagged friend). Tara has a new novel coming in February, so it‘s a great time to try her books out.

Almost caught up.
📚The House Girl by Tara Conklin
📝hmmm...
📺How to Get Away with Murder (season 1 before it go too unbelievable)
Ham
#manicmonday #letterh

This book took an interesting look at risks two young women take in two different time periods. It‘s framed by concepts of slavery, freedom, & reparations. Overall, a nice read. The ending felt a bit disappointing, but in truth, it was more realistic than any other outcome.

A book from several years ago.

"It is silver, a pure shining silver that glows heavenly in the moonlightand she does not question it, she knows it is silver she sees, for she is an artistwith the untethered eye of an artist and everywhere beauty lies down at her feet."

I'm on a bit of an exploration of the Underground Railroad. Combine that with an art mystery and I was flipping pages fervently!

This view of the Appalachians from my yard inspired me to write a blog post this morning - the first in a long, long time! - but all I can think of now is the yearning for freedom in Josephine's heart as she looks towards this mountain range.

Ibwanted to love this book because the summary screamed potential. I found it good but not great. There was alot to unpack in this story with all the complex storylines but felt like none of them got the full attention they deserved.

I loved this book so much! If you enjoy historical fiction or contemporary fiction, I highly recommend "The House Girl". ❤

Halfway through and 4 days left on the loan. I've already stayed up too late reading this tonight, but also I don't want to stop yet. The ultimate reader's delimma.