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Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders | Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
The #1 True Crime Bestseller of All Time7 Million Copies Sold In the summer of 1969, in Los Angeles, a series of brutal, seemingly random murders captured headlines across America. A famous actress (and her unborn child), an heiress to a coffee fortune, a supermarket owner and his wife were among the seven victims. A thin trail of circumstances eventually tied the Tate-LeBianca murders to Charles Manson, a would-be pop singer of small talent living in the desert with his "family" of devoted young women and men. What was his hold over them? And what was the motivation behind such savagery? In the public imagination, over time, the case assumed the proportions of myth. The murders marked the end of the sixties and became an immediate symbol of the dark underside of that era. Vincent Bugliosi was the prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial, and this book is his enthralling account of how he built his case from what a defense attorney dismissed as only "two fingerprints and Vince Bugliosi." The meticulous detective work with which the story begins, the prosecutor's view of a complex murder trial, the reconstruction of the philosophy Manson inculcated in his fervent followers... these elements make for a true crime classic. ?Helter Skelter ?is not merely a spellbinding murder case and courtroom drama but also, in the words of ?The New Republic?, a "social document of rare importance." Some images in this ebook are not displayed due to permissions issues.
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Coffeymuse
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This book is gruesome, terrifying, and nightmare inducing.

#wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Eggs I just can‘t 😳😳😳 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😱😱😱 3mo
29 likes2 comments
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DieAReader
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Pickpick

#Wardens2024 #ReadAway2024 #BookSpinBingo

😵‍💫😳Wow! A very inclusive and compelling book. Great narration🎧

ChaoticMissAdventures I always think about Angela Lansbury when CM comes up. What an amazing mom she was. 7mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 7mo
CoverToCoverGirl SO happy you read this one! It was definitely a WOW read for me too. The police had no idea what they were dealing with, a lot of it was just plain dumb luck. Although in their defence the crimes committed were so heinous that they weren‘t equipped to handle what was unfolding. 7mo
See All 6 Comments
DieAReader @TheAromaofBooks ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 7mo
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl Agreed💯% Unbelievable on all fronts really😳🤯 7mo
46 likes6 comments
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dabbe
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#ItTakesAllKinds
#TrueCrime
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This one still scares the hell out of me.

Prairiegirl_reading I couldn‘t finish this one. So disturbing! 10mo
lil1inblue I haven't read any books about the Manson murders, but I did listen to a really good podcast about them. It was tough listening! Haunting stuff. 10mo
AmyG My most favorite true crime book. I rarely read a book twice but I read this one twice. I will date myself and say I remember reading about this as a kid in the New York Times. I was fascinated. (edited) 10mo
See All 14 Comments
dabbe @Prairiegirl_reading I know! He's dead now, and it's still disturbing! 😱 10mo
dabbe @lil1inblue Yes! 😱 10mo
dabbe @AmyG I've read it twice, too! He's long dead, and I'm still terrified! 😱 10mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s on my shelf and I‘m scared!! 10mo
MonicaLoves2Read Yes! It's a scary book! 10mo
Eggs Great choice! But I just can‘t go there😱😳 10mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I haven't read a horror book that scares me yet. Maybe I should add this to my list. 10mo
dabbe @Monica5 🤩😱😍 10mo
dabbe @Eggs 🤩😱😍 10mo
dabbe @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'd love to read what you think about it if you do read it! 🤩😱😍 10mo
55 likes3 stack adds14 comments
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Kshakal
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😱🖤😱 10mo
Eggs Well done 😳👏🏻😱 10mo
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Pickpick

So, I learned that before his cult days, Manson was arrested not far from where I‘m from. (Wow). Anyway this was such a great, informative read!

#YearEnd
#20in4
#OutWithTheOldInWithTheNew
@Andrew65

AkashaVampie I recently found out that Manson was in prison with Danny Trejo. That is so weird to me. 12mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎄🎄🎄 12mo
ElizaMarie @AkashaVampie oh wow! Yeah that is interesting! 12mo
26 likes3 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Lobster doesn‘t think it‘s reading time. #HousePanther 🦞❤️🦞

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 12mo
ElizaMarie @RaeLovesToRead I love this # 12mo
Leftcoastzen 😂😸🎄 12mo
29 likes4 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Spending my night reading while the hubby plays video games (he moved it into the bedroom so he can keep me company)

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StellaDz
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Pickpick

Oof this is a tough read. It‘s beyond worth it, but for the most part, I did the audiobook (which actually has an afterword my copy does not). This is probably one of the most detailed true crime novels, I‘ve ever read. Bugliosi, being involved as his role of prosecutor, is able to provide those nitty gritty details. Despite that, though reasons are provided for the Manson murders, it‘s hard to make sense of them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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MonicaLoves2Read
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Pickpick

This True Crime book has been on my TBR list, forever. The book showed me what I already figured out: Mason was crazy as shit! He had already been in jail a ton of times before he became an adult.

This book is a chunkster. It was interesting but very hard to read. I had to take a lot of breaks while reading it. It just showed how evil some people are.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#truecrime #bookspinbingo #chunkster

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StellaDz
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Around this time, I do my best to also clear up the books that I‘ve started but not finished in the year (because I usually have a few that got set aside). I‘m not sure how I‘ll do with that goal because I have two hefty reads (Hyperion and this one).

With my true crime, I tend to do both audio and tangible. Audio at least gets me started, but I‘ve been working on this one for 7 months. Let‘s see if I can get a chunk done at least.

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dabbe
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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#BookBinge
#TrueCrime
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This is not my copy, but it is the exact cover of the one I read when it first came out. It scared the bejesus out of me.

AmyG My most favorite true crime book. I remember reading about this as a kid-in the NY Times. I was absolutely fascinated. 1y
Amiable I was fascinated by this one and “In Cold Blood“ when I was in my 20s and going through a true-crime phase. 1y
Eggs Great choice! 1y
See All 20 Comments
willaful I used to get freaked out just seeing this in the library. 1y
dabbe @AmyG Me, too! It was my first Vincent Bugliosi read, too. I loved his OJ books as well. 🤗 1y
dabbe @Amiable I'm ashamed to admit I've never read IN COLD BLOOD (though I have read quite a few of Capote's short stories). Added to the TBR! 🤗 1y
dabbe @Eggs 🤩🤗😍 1y
dabbe @willaful 🤣🤣🤣 1y
TheBookgeekFrau That's the same copy I read 🤩😊 1y
dabbe @TheBookgeekFrau #greatminds 🤩🤩🤩 Or, at that time it was the only copy available! 🤣🤣🤣 1y
AmyG @dabbe In Cold Blood is excellent! 1y
Amiable @dabbe I'm with @AmyG -- “In Cold Blood“ is really good! I'd venture to say it's even better than “Helter Skelter,“ if we are debating the merits of the writing. Capote was a better writer than Bugliosi, IMO. 1y
dabbe @AmyG You've convinced me! On the #TBR! 🤩🤣🤗 1y
dabbe @Amiable Bugliosi has been hit and miss for me, but never Capote. “A Christmas Memory“ and “The Thanksgiving Visitor“ are two of my all-time favorite holiday stories! 🤩🤣🤗 1y
AmyG While Capote is a brilliant writer, Helter Skelter is one batshit, crazy true story…written well. 1y
dabbe @AmyG 🦇+💩+🤪 = #batshiticrazyindeed 🤣🤣🤣
Bugliosi's OUTRAGED book about the OJ Simpson trial was excellent, too. It made me so irate, though, at all the evidence that got missed and all of the blunders. Oy!
(edited) 1y
TheBookgeekFrau @dabbe I'm going with great minds 🤪😂 1y
dabbe @TheBookgeekFrau Absolutely! 🤩🤣🤩 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @dabbe I was pregnant with my oldest and watched everyday the craziness of that trial! 1y
dabbe @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It was wilder than OJ's even! 🙀 1y
52 likes1 stack add20 comments
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LiseWorks
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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August 17 #ArtfulAugust True Crimes. I recently watched a mini series on Charles Manson and I really like it, it was not based on this book but I kind of like true crime books. @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤📚🧡 2y
18 likes1 comment
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HeathHof
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@Maggie4483 Helter Skelter arrived today. Thank you so much for the sweet bookmark!
🖤♥️🖤
#lmpbc

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Lizpixie
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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#AlphabetGame #letterH

My choice for todays letter is the book that got me addicted to True Crime. I first read this at 13yrs old when I “borrowed” it from my Aunty Noelene(who passed away last week😢)Written by the prosecutor on the case, it‘s the story of the Manson murders & the subsequent trial. Horrifying & nightmare inducing for a young girl.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤📚🖤 2y
35 likes1 comment
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athorne
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That‘s a bit overkill.

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Crazycatlady1
Pickpick

Holy crap… if you‘re interested in Charles Manson and the things he did you need to read this book. It‘s pretty dark and a few times I had to put it down and take a break. But it‘s an excellent read that will have you sleeping with the lights on.

10 likes1 stack add
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wisherwishinguponastar
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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Pickpick

Since I didn‘t finish this title during my month with it I decided to get my own copy and… it. Is. Done. Whoo! That was crazy, but if you are in to true crime and haven‘t read it already, it is consider a classic of the genre for a reason! #lmpbc #groupt #round14

Maggie4483 It is definitely dense. I spent an entire day reading it and felt like I barely made a dent. 2y
Patchshank Lol. I didn't get around to finishing it either. Things have been insane here 2y
wisherwishinguponastar @Patchshank I was going to donate my copy since I was done. Do you want it? 2y
13 likes3 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#BookMoods

Books #SetIn1960s certainly include ones about the Manson Family & their crimes in the summer of 1969. The top three books I have read & the bottom two are in my Kindle #TBR

Eggs Well played 3y
LeahBergen Hunting Charles Manson is waiting on my shelves, too. 👍 3y
46 likes2 comments
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wisherwishinguponastar
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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This may be one of my favorite ways to end a week. #burritoandabook #truecrime #lmpbc

Pogue That was such a good book. 3y
wisherwishinguponastar @Pogue Initially I was up in the air about it, but once you hit Bugliosi‘s personal involvement with the case it all takes off! 3y
9 likes2 comments
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Patchshank
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Got it! Going to start reading it over the weekend.
#LMPBC @booksellerofyourdiscontent @Mynameisacolour @Maggie4483

wisherwishinguponastar I am so behind! The book got to you before I thought to send an email. 3y
Pogue This is so good. I listened to it as an audiobook, and this got me back into audiobooks. 3y
47 likes2 comments
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DarkMina
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22 likes1 stack add
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Leftcoastzen
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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#fortheloveofbookmarks #truecrimebonus since I really don‘t read seasonally I did want to contribute a little creepy element for October .From great Etsy store , not for everyone. 😁 https://www.etsy.com/shop/depressiveghoul

DivineDiana Oh my! 😳 3y
AmyG Awesome! 3y
Ruthiella @Sleepswithbooks I think you need these in your collection. 🔪😱 3y
EvieBee Why is Bundy scarier looking than Manson?! Lol! (edited) 3y
51 likes5 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Although this book didn't offer anything new I didn't already know about the Manson murders, I still found it to be a captivating read.

Sadly, our world is full of people like Manson who manipulate those around them to do unspeakable things. I always find stories like that much more horrific than anything a horror author can dream up.

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
41 likes1 comment
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Addison_Reads
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#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I love all things horror related and I always love participating in the readathons on Litsy in October. With limited reading time now, I decided to just participate in #screamathon @4thhouseontheleft 🎃👻💀

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
29 likes1 comment
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GinaKButler
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Pickpick

Finished! I used this book for the 1960s prompt in the Decades Reading Challenge.

I was born in 1975 and really knew little about Charles Manson...despite its length, this book is very readable and definitely interesting. Excellent true crime book, and I‘m looking forward to reading And, The Sea Will Tell by the same author!

@CoverToCoverGirl
#bookspinbingo

Prairiegirl_reading It‘s so well done that I had to stop because I got freaked out. I‘m such a 🐔 💩 3y
CoverToCoverGirl Yay! Glad you finished it. Definitely a worthy read. 3y
16 likes2 comments
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Kelly326
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A little true crime reading at the beach this weekend.

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GinaKButler
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Baseball and Books.

I feel like this is a “mini” #chunksterchallenge2021 coming in with 670 pages. What say you, @Amiable ? I‘m using this one for the 1960s in the Decades Reading Challenge.

Looking forward to buddy reading with @Kelly326 and @CoverToCoverGirl 📚

#bookspinbingo

Amiable It is so engrossing—it reads like a shorter book because you‘ll race through it ! But yes, nearly 700 pages is a “mini” chunkster! 😀 4y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kelly326
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My June #bookspinbingo list! I have 22 books on it this month because I couldn‘t cut anymore. There are just so many books I want to read! Thank goodness for long summer days, road trips to travel ball tournaments, and audiobooks. Two days of school left! So excited to see what numbers are drawn for #bookspin and #doublespin.

GinaKButler That‘s an awesome list! 😍 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y
8 likes2 comments
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books_and_tea
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These came today! Weren't supposed to get here for like another week. Don't ya just love when that happens! So excited! Hope you all have a great day!!😊📚☺️

SRWCF Love love love!!! 3y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Tattooedteacher
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Day 1 #maycharacters Prompt: Murders

Eggs Perfect 👌🏼 4y
44 likes2 comments
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LibraryCin
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Mehso-so

I listened to the audio; this was an abridged version. As I ask in all my reviews of abridged audios – why? Why not record the entire book? Anyway, I read this when I was in high school and it wasn‘t as creepy as I remember. I can‘t say if the abridged version was the reason for that, but in part, I‘m certain not seeing the photos was part of that. I still want to reread the entire thing. It appeared that the abridgement was done fairly well.

NatalieR I love true crime stories. This one is also worth a read of the unabridged version. I thought it was an excellent book. 4y
13 likes1 comment
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Connster
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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I‘m not getting out of this bath until I‘ve finished listening to this book. 🛀 🛁 🧼 🌈 🏳️‍🌈 🔪

JacqMac That‘s a pretty one. 4y
40 likes1 comment
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Connster
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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My Audible listening time has gone through the roof this month! I‘ve been totally gripped by the tagged book, which I think was around 24 hours, and have almost finished it within the space of this week.

33 likes1 stack add
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Ingrid725
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I should be sleeping but I picked up this bad boy!!! And now I‘m hooked, but I‘m forcing myself to go to sleep now!!! Lol #charlesmanson #helterskelter #truecrime

For some odd reason his story and the stories of his followers fascinate me!!! #bookwormproblems #bookstagram

Connster I feel the same way and also feel weird about it! 4y
Ingrid725 Yes I also feel weird about it also lol 4y
7 likes2 comments
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watermelontaco13
Bailedbailed

Started out interesting but then got soooo tedious during Part 2 that I kept falling asleep. 🅳🅽🅵

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aperfectmjk
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Pickpick

I did it. Wrapped this one up pretty quickly. Like I said, I was pretty familiar with the basic facts here, but it was interesting to get some additional history. #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Megabooks I read this on audio too. Totally agree!! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
40 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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aperfectmjk
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I've got laundry to do today so... I'm listening to this audiobook. Once I get this one completed I'll finally have a bingo for the month for #bookspinbingo. I'm definitely familiar with the story, who isn't? But, this is one of those must reads, so it will feel good to finally check it off.

Bookgoil Quite a fascinating read I‘m sure! ❤️ 4y
35 likes1 comment
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TheRiehlDeal
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Day 14: The Nightmare on Elm Street

#horrorseason
@Klou

Klou Oooh, great pick! 4y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Sace
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🍂 Um, not as much as say... New England.
🍁 Does candy corn count as food? How about Pumpkin pie?
🍂 Tagged

Thanks for the tag @MoonWitch94! #ThoughtfulThursday

Now I'll tag... @kezzlou85 @Megabooks @Smarkies @Nitpickyabouttrains @Nute @Clwojick @Chrissyreadit @Boooooks @JenReadsAlot @AlobelThee @sharread @JessClark78 @Bookworm54 @ravenlee

JessClark78 Thanks for the tag! 🧡 4y
Chrissyreadit Thanks for the tag! 4y
Nute Thanks for the tag!💕 4y
59 likes3 comments
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Wildly_Bookish
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On second thought... my Libby hold just came through.

19 likes1 stack add
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Mistermandolin
Helter Skelter | Vincent Bugliosi
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Pickpick

Was Manson just a two-bit con artist with an eye for the main chance or was there something else? Bugliosi‘s classic makes a compelling case for the ‘something else‘. I don‘t have much truck with folk who deny the existence of ‘evil‘ and this book helps explain why.

fredamans My hubby is a Labianca.... 4y
53 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Djspens
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An interesting bundle of books came today... I never know what kind of book buying mood I‘ll be in..... 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Flitter

Added this to my physical TBR pile today. Not sure if it‘s ‘me‘ but loved Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, against my will...

Lynnsoprano Welcome! It‘s going to be great to get to know you. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!!! 🎊🎉🎊🎉 4y
madams421 Welcome to Litsy! :) 4y
See All 8 Comments
Mrs_B Welcome to Litsy! 4y
Flitter Thank you! It‘s confusing but lovely 😊 4y
rockpools Welcome to Litsy! 😊 4y
Lel2403 Welcome to Litsy 📚💕 4y
MemoirsForMe Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻🎉📚 4y
21 likes8 comments