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Summertime
Summertime: Scenes from Provincial Life | J. M. Coetzee
90 posts | 6 read | 5 to read
A young English biographer is working on a book about the late writer, John Coetzee. He plans to focus on the years from 1972-1977 when Coetzee, in his thirties, is sharing a run-down cottage in the suburbs of Cape Town with his widowed father. This, the biographer senses, is the period when he was 'finding his feet as a writer'. Never having met Coetzee, he embarks on a series of interviews with people who were important to him - a married woman with whom he had an affair, his favourite cousin Margot, a Brazilian dancer whose daughter had English lessons with him, former friends and colleagues. From their testimony emerges a portrait of the young Coetzee as an awkward, bookish individual with little talent for opening himself to others. Within the family he is regarded as an outsider, someone who tried to flee the tribe and has now returned, chastened. His insistence on doing manual work, his long hair and beard, rumours that he writes poetry evoke nothing but suspicion in the South Africa of the time. Sometimes heartbreaking, often very funny,Summertimeshows us a great writer as he limbers up for his task. It completes the majestic trilogy of fictionalised memoir begun withBoyhoodandYouth.
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BkClubCare
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Karisa
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#50kcelebration#giveaway50k @Crazeedi

Wow! 50K is amazing, @Crazeedi!

My favorite childhood memories center around water (probably because summers reach the 100s frequently here)... Swimming and floating on rafts in grandma's pool, followed up by cool aloe vera slices pressed to sunburns cut straight off the plant. Also, camping by creeks and the ocean. Family, outdoors, and relaxation are the best summer memories for me.

Crazeedi 100's are rare where I live, can't imagine, youd have to have a pool or live near water! Great times, but sorry you had sunburns! 5y
43 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
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Annual photo of first day of reading on the deck! #summerreading

Cathythoughts What a great day ... enjoy the season of reading on the deck 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Reviewsbylola Heaven! 5y
LeahBergen Lovely! 5y
LeslieO @Cathythoughts Thank you! It‘s a short season but I plan to make the most of it! 5y
LeslieO @Reviewsbylola @LeahBergen My own reading paradise! 5y
40 likes5 comments
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Alfrazier21
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My #SummerSantaGoesPostal package is on the way! I‘m sorry I mailed it a day late.....unfortunately, life got in the way (we‘re moving 😫). But it should be to you early next week!! #HappyReading

JoScho Yay!!! And you didn‘t mail it late-the deadline is tomorrow. I am so excited that you are my match 🤗 Thanks in advance! 5y
hermyknee ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
23 likes2 comments
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writerlibrarian
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#summersantagoespostal
1️⃣ Tea, black tea (indian)
2️⃣ Salty
3️⃣ Cats
4️⃣ Beach
#summerthisorthat

Hestapleton Thanks for playing! ☀️ 6y
25 likes1 comment
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Alfrazier21
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I signed up for @BookishMarginalia ‘s #SummerSantaGoesPostal #litsyswap ☀️ 🏖 🎁

Sign Up: Now through 04/07
Mail Date: by 05/30
Open Date: 06/21

Can‘t wait for this #SummerSolsticeBookExchange 😎

JoScho Yay! It will be fun! 6y
15 likes1 comment
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Mitch
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Found a quiet cafe this afternoon to read and catch the last rays of warm sun (behind glass!). There‘s no denying Fall is here! Any good fall releases I should know about?!

Cathythoughts I love the autumn time 💫💫💫 6y
Mitch @Cathythoughts me too! Thinking about new soup recipes to try! 🍴 6y
JennyM Such a pretty pic 6y
readordierachel Beautiful flowers! 6y
87 likes4 comments
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EH2018
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GripLitGrl
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The perfect summer to do list by!🌞📖🍉🍦
I've already checked of 12 how about you?

JoScho 💖🤗💖 6y
GripLitGrl @JoScho 😀💕 6y
49 likes2 comments
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EadieB
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1. Picture taken in Washington Crossing PA while my grandchildren are attempting to cross the diving board.
2. War and Peace by Tolstoy - 60 hour audiobook
3. Heredity, Mission Impossible and Oceans 8
4. 👍🇱🇷💋❤️📚
5. 🍩🍓🍰🇬🇧📖 @Andrew65 @LibraryCin @Blueberry

Blueberry 😀 Thanks for the shoutout. 6y
EadieB @Blueberry your welcome! 6y
63 likes2 comments
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Billypar
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I like novels with #blurredlines between the author's background and that of an author-character of the same name. J. M. Coetzee doesn't actually appear in Summertime because he's already dead: a biographer interviews people who knew him. The premise sounds indulgent but it doesn't read that way. It made me wonder- if you swapped out the name of the dead author would that make a difference? And if so, why? #HeatofJuly @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

merelybookish You should check out. 6y
merelybookish Also have you read Knaussgard? Sounds like My Struggle is up your alley. 🙂 6y
Billypar @merelybookish Thanks for the reccs! End of Eddy sounds pretty interesting. I feel like I need to read My Struggle just because of the huge positive response and attention it's received. If you can get that response when writing several lengthy memoirs about mundane events in obsessive detail, I figure you have to be doing something right 😁 6y
Cinfhen Well played 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
BarbaraBB Great thoughts! 6y
39 likes5 comments
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Mitch
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Yeah for Litsy Mail...... it‘s the most wonderful thing. Love you all!

@Soubhiville Only 4 days from your house to mine! #speedyairmail

Soubhiville Wow, that really surprises me! It takes that long sometimes to get something to my Mom in Colorado (about 3/4 of the way across the country). 6y
Mitch I know! @Soubhiville seemed super quick! The post office must be on high alert for anything marked #jb! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 6y
80 likes2 comments
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MissAimz_55
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#tellmetuesday @Ke633
1. Hmmmm I guesss cherry? It's been a while since I've had one
2. Both but I'll probably be more likely to be swimming. I'm going to get a waterproof blue tooth speaker so I can listen to audio books.
3. Sunny. Not as hot as it usually gets but I'm the high 80s
4. Iced tea!
5. Beach trips! Pool time with cousins . Also I'm a summer baby so my bday

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tammysue
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1. Rainbow 🌈
2. A mix of both
3. Humid 96, with a heavy thunderstorm alert in effect
4. Ice cold sweet tea
5. Grandma‘s creek 🐸😊

#TellMeTuesday
@Ke633

Ke633 Loved rainbow sno-cones when I was little!! Thanks for sharing!! 6y
48 likes1 comment
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robinb
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1. Strawberry 🍓 or any fruit flavor
2. Reading Anywhere 😊
3. Currently 88 degrees (F), 54% humidity 🔥🔥😓
4. Lemonade 🍋
5. Chasing lightning bugs in our yard. 😊

#TellMeTuesday
@Ke633

Ke633 Aww!! I loved chasing lightening bugs!! Thanks for participating!! 6y
48 likes1 comment
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thereadingowlvina
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🌼 I'm not into sno cone 😁

🌼 A little of both and I usually read something easy as I get easily distracted.

🌼 Hot hot hot! 21°C / 69°F

🌼 Iced water/coffee/tea

🌼 I grew up in Malaysia with tropical weather all year long. We don't have summer holidays but we have the long school holidays from Nov-Dec and we spent those time with our grandparents 😁

Thanks @Ke633 for #tellmetuesday! 🌷💕

Ke633 Thank you for participating! I‘ve always want to visit Malaysia! 6y
thereadingowlvina @Ke633 Do visit if you can! Everything is very different - from food to culture. When I moved to Canada 6 years ago, it was a huge adjustment for me! 😁 6y
31 likes2 comments
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RealLifeReading
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A summery this or that by @Arcana
I‘m not a tent or RV person... I‘d rather have a hotel room or a nice vacation rental 😂

Jeg Me too. Give me a hotel room every time. 😊 6y
Arcana I‘ve done a lot of hotel camping😁 6y
76 likes2 comments
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RealLifeReading
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CSeydel How can an author be “diverse”? Unless it‘s a group of authors. But I think they must mean “minority author”? 6y
Ashley_Nicoletto I want to play along! 6y
benchley1 Yes please! 6y
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Bklover I love “thriller without girl or woman in the title”!😂😂 6y
Burghbookaddict @CSeydel Yeah I think thats what they actually mean they just used the wrong word 6y
CSeydel @laurenashley Yeah I can‘t help myself, it‘s one of my pet peeves 😉 I saw someone post once about reading “so many diverse authors” that month but the books were all by Black women. Which is great, I am in favor ... but it‘s not actually diverse. 6y
Burghbookaddict @CSeydel Lol! Me too, dont worry. 6y
mdemanatee Hey I wrote this challenge! Sorry there is so much contention over the diverse author part. I left it a little vague because people are at different parts of their reading journeys and different things may be diverse for different people. I know I will be fulfilling with a minority author. Penned with the best of intentions. 6y
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bnp
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1. Homemade ice cream with friends yesterday!
2. Pool is most likely, but I'm headed to the beach with friends later this summer.
3. Blueberries!
4. Yes.
5. Yes

#manicmonday @JoScho

Addison1 1:ice cream!!!!! 2:beach 3:strawberries 4:travel 5:print/ebooks. :D 6y
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Laughterhp
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1. Ice cream
2. Beach, but we typically don‘t go, because it‘s always too crowded!
3. Watermelon 🍉
4. This time of year we stay around New England, will travel for camping and such, but we only get so much nice weather here, that we don‘t leave it in the Summer!
5. More print usually, but this summer might be audiobooks!

#ManicMonday

monalyisha @laughterhp I like Fogland Beach in Tiverton for just that reason! The crowd is usually pretty sparse. ✌🏻🌊 6y
Laughterhp @monalyisha Hmm I‘ve never heard of that beach. We‘ll have to check it out! 😊 6y
JoScho 😊❤️ 6y
monalyisha @laughterhp Gray‘s Ice Cream is nearby, too, so you can get your fix. 😉🍦 And Electric Moon Peony Farm! They‘re having an open house June 9th & 10th. 🌸 6y
Laughterhp @monalyisha Hmm I may just know what I‘m doing this weekend if the weather is nice! 😊 thanks for the ideas!! 6y
35 likes5 comments
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Kpiper
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Let the summer reading frenzy begin.

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Foragingfantasy
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Fun list for the kiddos! To me, a kid reading in the tub means, throw a bunch of pillows and blankets in there and hand them a book and a flashlight! Unfortunately for my boys, we only have a shower, maybe I‘ll stick them in the horse trough instead! 🤣
https://www.weareteachers.com/coloring-summer-reading-challenge/

Tamra Great challenge! 6y
CocoReads I don‘t have littles any more but that looks like a fun activity for summer. I‘ll send the link to my sister, maybe her school can use it. 6y
Ddzmini What a great idea 6y
jfalkens When I was little my mom used to read to us while we were taking a bath and show us the pictures. 6y
41 likes4 comments
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AmberWB
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BookaholicNatty Yay yay @AmberWB sooooo exciting!!!! We are on the countdown!! 4 days!! (edited) 7y
BookaholicNatty @AmberWB I know you sent it out already and I have you marked off! When you get a minute can you add to Elfster that you sent it pretty please! 😘😘 Www.elfster.com 7y
AmberWB @BookaholicNatty Just did it! Sorry it took so long- first free moment all day!! 😊 7y
BookaholicNatty @AmberWB thank you! 😘I totally understand it‘s been a crazy Monday here too! 7y
19 likes4 comments
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Aloisi_tribe
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1. Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. Not really set at the beach but it‘s set at the Citadel inCharleston, SC which is right on the ocean. Besides, any of Conroy‘s books are great beach reads.
2. Sea turtles 🐢
3. Maka‘i Beach (Police Beach) on Oahu. It‘s a great place for spotting sea lions and sea turtles and it‘s the beach that was the survivors‘ camp on Lost.

#manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho I actually live in Charleston, SC 7y
AmyG Great book....question #1 (edited) 7y
Aloisi_tribe @JoScho I lived in Columbia for almost five years and visited Charleston every chance I got. It‘s one of my favorite places on earth. 7y
JoScho How cool! Where do you live now? 7y
Aloisi_tribe @JoScho I live in San Antonio, TX now. My husband is in the Army so we‘ve lived all over. South Carolina is one of my favorite places we lived. 7y
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Nessavamusic
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BookaholicNatty Yay!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️you rock 🌞 7y
22 likes1 comment
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ReadingEnvy
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Conversation is underway about Reading Envy Summer Reading. If you miss summer reading from childhood, this might be an option. Some have weighed in already; I'll be making final decisions May 1! Think the spirit of summer reading - not so much a readalong but fun reads, activities, challenges and more. In the Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/19305466-2018-summer-reading-discussion

JoScho Fun idea 7y
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neilj
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TheHeartlandBookFairy
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#twentybooksofsummer I finished! I started more than 3 weeks late and, I cheated on my 20 books by adding another 10 in throughout July and August. But it was a good challenge and a lot of fun 😊📖📚📚📚📚📚📚📖
Included were fiction and nonfiction, an audio book and an ebook, a young adult book, a cookbook, a memoir, and an old children's book!

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NovelGirl82
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@tjramsey75 OMG you completely spoiled me!!! I have been wanting to read all of these!! I always need page flags and notepads, and those sloths!!! You're the best!!!

tjramsey75 So glad you don't have them!!! Enjoy! 7y
25 likes1 comment
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NovelGirl82

I'm getting excited seeing everyone's unboxing!!! I'll be doing mine later today. Our realtor will be here any minute, and we've been running around since 7:00 this morning. I wanted to have time to really enjoy!!

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mrp27
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#sizzlingsummerbooks #backyard

This is a recycled pic of my first Litsy post. This is my aunts backyard, one of my favorite places. I love summertime backyard reading.

LauraBeth This is lovely! 7y
LeahBergen Lovely! 7y
mrp27 @LauraBeth @LeahBergen Thank you! I'll tell my aunt. 😉 7y
34 likes3 comments
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LittleWonder
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A two hour kayak ride and forgot to take my book along. 😥 I probably could have read a chapter or two. Hope everyone is having a fabulous day - at work or play! ☺️

Jess7 I went canoeing with friends this past weekend. One friend that didn't have a partner to canoe kayaked. It was a lot of fun. About 10 of us tied our five canoes together for the eight mile adventure. My husband and I got in the Middle so we didn't have to do too much work. We just relaxed, listened to music and drank our brews lol Our friends called it Kabrewing. I highly recommend it 🤣 7y
LittleWonder @Jess7 That's awesome! ????Kayaking is big where I live. There's a local outfitter doing a "cruise and brew" - this weekend - paddle up to a brewery and do some tasting flights. ?? 7y
22 likes2 comments
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NovelGirl82
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#beachinbookswap package is on its way @PennyPistol 😊

PennyPistol You rock! I'm so excited! July 15 cannot come soon enough. 😝 7y
NovelGirl82 @PennyPistol I hope you like it!! 7y
PennyPistol I'm sure I will like it just from looking at your posts. (edited) 7y
19 likes3 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
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I am not amused. It wouldn't be bad if Portland and surrounding areas believed in central air.

It never gets hot they say. 🙄

#ihatesummer

JoeStalksBeck Whoa! 7y
MinDea It is 91 here in Seattle! I agree...why no a/c anywhere?!?! 7y
Marmie7 96 here in Vader😱 Glad I filled the pool yesterday! 7y
16 likes3 comments
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Alfoster
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My favorite new summer reading spot! The weather here is hot😳😳😳!

brilliantglow That chair looks sooo comfy 7y
Alfoster @brilliantglow It is! It's a hanging chaise so it swings in the breeze. Took hubby forever to put it together though😂! 7y
JoeStalksBeck Oh s@$t‼️ that is amazing ‼️‼️‼️ 7y
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Alfoster @JoeStalksBeck You can have one too! I got it online at Jet. 7y
brilliantglow Oh wow! Worth it though Lol! When I was in high school living with my parents we had a nice big pool (and a wide rushing creek) in our backyard and the back deck was always my favourite place to read. By the pool and listening to the creek. Alas I'm super pale so I never got to sit out for too long because I burn too easy. I never had as comfy a chair as that though. 7y
JoeStalksBeck Now just to find a place next to a pool 😉 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty!!! 7y
kspenmoll Heavenly! Live water in any form❤️ 7y
Ms_T Divine! 7y
CoverToCoverGirl Oh the suffering you'll have to endure! 😜☺️ 7y
Alfoster @CoverToCoverGirl Haha! I was just thinking today how lucky I am😀. Come over any time if you are in my area😀! 7y
CoverToCoverGirl @Alfoster thank you for the invite.. If I'm ever in your area I'll make sure to arrive with at least one book at hand! 🤓 7y
Izai.Amorim Nice! 🏊‍♀️ 7y
111 likes13 comments
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AprilMae
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I love it all!!! Thank you so much for the thoughtful gifts @CrowCAH !!! And big shout out THANKS!!! to @BookishMarginalia for putting this exchange together!!
#summersantagoespostal
#summersolsticebookexchange

CrowCAH You're welcome! 😊 I tried finding something in your genres, so hopefully one of them will be well worth the read! 7y
34 likes1 comment
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AprilMae
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Here is the awesome wrapped gifts from @CrowCAH !!! Can't wait to open them!!! #summersantagoespostal #summersolsticebookexchange

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LaurenMagoo
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OMG my heart is so full right now. My Summer Santa went above and beyond and sent me the most heartfelt and amazing package! Not only did a get some coveted picks from my TBR but other amazing picks, amazing Bookish goodies and horse pictures and more! Thank you so much Jess, I am at a loss for words on how thankful I am.

JoeStalksBeck Love‼️‼️‼️ 7y
Jess Yay! I'm glad you liked everything. Here's to a wonderful summer. 7y
26 likes2 comments
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jlondon1963
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#summersantagoespostal #summersolsticebookexchange @BookishMarginalia @MrsAHintz I love all my bookish goodies and the Irish Whiskey 🥃 Fudge. The time you took to do the write ups for each of the books was perfect. Will enjoy reading each of these books. Just have to decide which one I want to read first, I am thinking Rattle by Fiona Cummings.

BookishMarginalia 👍🏼 7y
MrsAHintz Yay!! So glad you liked everything!! Hopefully the Irish whiskey fudge is good! It came all the way from Ireland! :) 7y
drokka Ooooh paw iclips! Very cool 7y
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jlondon1963 @MrsAHintz it will go well with my Goldbely Tipsy Scoop Vanilla Bourbon Icecream😋 7y
Hollie Irish whiskey fudge sounds so yummy! 7y
MrsAHintz @jlondon1963 That sounds amazing!! 🤤🤤🤤 7y
jlondon1963 They also make a Tipsy Mint Chocolate Chip and A Raspberry Lemon Cello and some other seasonal flavors you can find them on Goldbely.com 7y
34 likes7 comments
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Blaire
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Thank you for the thoughtful gifts! The zipper pouch from the strand literally had me tearing up (I ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ that bookstore). I ate four of the cookies for breakfast (yum!). The books also look wonderful (I read and loved, but don't own aj fikry -great to have a copy), Not heard of the other two but excited to read them! And the adorable notecards! Thank you! Ooh and the washi tape - my kids and I use it all the time. #summersantagoespostal

MelissaS Yay!!! So glad it made you smile! This was so fun to put together 😀📚 7y
BookishMarginalia The Thirteenth Tale is great! 7y
58 likes2 comments
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Reecaspieces
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About to open!!! Love the wrapping paper!! Cannot wait!!

eanderson Love that wrapping paper! 7y
DivineDiana Yes, the wrapping paper is fantastic! 7y
Cinfhen Soooo awesome 😍😍😍 7y
113 likes3 comments
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tysephine
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AHHHH I'm so excited! Thank you @snacksinthestacks for the books and goodies!! And thanks to @BookishMarginalia for putting this whole thing together! #summersantagoespostal #summersolsticebookexchange

Itchyfeetreader Awesome selection ! 7y
Reviewsbylola I've been anxious to read The Sellout. Great gift. 7y
snacksinthestacks Glad they made it! Enjoy 😊 7y
52 likes3 comments
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LaurenMagoo
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It's here!!! I can't wait to open this bad boy! #summersantagoespostal #litsybookexchange #summersolstice

31 likes1 comment
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Emiller
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JoeStalksBeck 😂😂😂 7y
Laura317 That's one of my favorites so far!! 7y
63 likes3 comments
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Rachel.Rencher
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I'm currently in the summer one. I convinced my husband to take a blanket and go to the river so we could tan and be outside, and we both crisped and got eaten by mosquitoes. He's really against it now! 😂

andreadmw 🙌 7y
Lucas.Rencher This is sooo us 7y
114 likes1 stack add3 comments
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peaKnit
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Summer Reading program!?❤️?? I was the 17th to sign up 30 minutes in, I like to imagine there were people camped out to get in? #riotgrams. This sums all of my "summer" reads.

CrowCAH Mine doesn't start till the 19th. 7y
13 likes1 comment
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pocketmermaid
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Everything is wrapped and ready to go out! I've been slow on this (sorry!) - so if you haven't gotten your box yet, it MIGHT be from me. #summersolsticebookexchange #summersantagoespostal @BookishMarginalia

erinreads Is that Little Mermaid paper I see? ADORABLE. 😍 Your recipient is very lucky! 7y
pocketmermaid @erinreads It is! 🐳 7y
Louise Haven't sent mine off yet, either! Spent the afternoon wrapping, though! 🤓 7y
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Read4life Awesome! 7y
QuothTheRavenclawNevermore I absolutely love the paper! Huge Disney fan here 😊 7y
Evelien :O i love your wrapping paper it looks so cute 7y
peaKnit Exciting! 7y
tpixie Come to Kansas!! 7y
55 likes8 comments