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Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative | Florence Williams
102 posts | 63 read | 5 reading | 147 to read
For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath; Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Florence Williams sets out to uncover the science behind nature s positive effects on the brain.From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to groves of eucalyptus in California, Williams investigates the science at the confluence of environment, mood, health, and creativity. Delving into completely new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and ultimately strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas and the answers they yield are more urgent than ever. A beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable exposition of a major principle of human life now supported by evidence in biology, psychology, and medicine. Edward O. Wilson"
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Honestly, if all this book accomplished was getting me outside for a walk, it did its job. The author presents a range of research and experiments, introducing various benefits of various 'doses' of nature, while being careful to be skeptical of "emerging evidence". 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? What few science/sociology/psychology based non-fiction books I've read lead me to reserve judgement as there's just as much chance that further research will complicate with nuance, debunk or hopefully verify what is set out in works like this, as the years pass (this one is from 2017). 3w
Robotswithpersonality 3/? I enjoyed the conversational tone, though at times it did make it feel like a series of magazine article interviews rather than a book (pro or con?). As with most non-fiction I read, I'm glad it exists for the ideas it suggests and the possible plans for the future it lays out in its conclusion. 3w
Robotswithpersonality 5/5 My rural childhood had me convinced long ago of the benefits of nature, but in a hectic work period, when I forget to go out and enjoy my now slightly less urban neighborhood, this was an excellent reminder.
⚠️Mention of SA, language can be just slightly behind the times: 'obesity epidemic' and 'risk of autism'
3w
9 likes3 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Good ad copy. No doubt more tests should be done before accepting such a glib statement, but it was zany enough to highlight.

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Robotswithpersonality
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"Going on my stupid mental health walk..."??‍♂️ ☺️

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Robotswithpersonality
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You know those passages that you objectively know border on the clichéd, but they just hit home in a personal way that makes them profound? 🥹

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Jen2
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Pickpick

I learned o much from this book. Best listened to while on a hike!!!

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CuriousG
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30 book recommendations in 30 days...

Day 3: This book reinforced so much of what I have instinctively felt to be true for me, in regards to how much better I think and feel when in nature, with actual scientific data (and throw in some additional anecdotal support for good measure.) I think as humans with bodies, it should be required reading to help us make informed choices about where we want to live, work, play, etc. #30recsin30days

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🌱 9mo
25 likes1 comment
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Kempfme
Pickpick

#roll100 @PuddleJumper this read really encouraged me to take my walks more often.

PuddleJumper Awesome! 10mo
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Blueberry
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Eggs Perfect 👍🏼 🤩 2y
45 likes1 comment
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MaleficentBookDragon
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More #audioknitting
This is June‘s gnome for my #yearofgnomes knit along.
#knittersoflitsy
#litsycrafters

Sparklemn Cute! 2y
BarkingMadRead I‘m crocheting a gnome right now, what a fun challenge! 2y
Gissy Looking good already! 😍 2y
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rockpools These are such fun! 2y
Avanders It‘s so cool that you‘re doing this 🤩🤩 2y
Catsandbooks Great color! 2y
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

4.25⭐. The message and the personal narrative was great. Sometimes the science parts were dense. Inspiring.

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Blueberry
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1. Taking time for myself and trying to stay away from triggering people and situations, reading the tagged book.
2. Went to lunch and thrift store shopping with a friend.

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🌸☺️📖 2y
38 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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About 5ish. 4 on tablet and 1 physical for low battery backup. Having my tablet with me I can always download more.

Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView.
I tag @NataliePatalie.

#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView You're welcome! Thanks for playing! 2y
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TiminCalifornia
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Pickpick

For most people time in nature, even small doses in tiny city parks, improves quality of life emotionally, mentally, physically. The more the better for the most part.

Enjoyed this #audiobook. A great example of science writing for the layperson. Very engaging.

Upper left is from Palace of Fine Arts park in San Francisco, 2022
Lower left is moon setting over the Pacific. California 2022
Lower right is my childhood gang of friends in the ‘70s.

TheNeverendingTBR Sounds interesting! 🙂 2y
johncadams Great pics! 2y
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NatalieR
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Pickpick

Not the tagged book, but the same author and concept. Florence Williams is a journalist seeking scientific evidence that spending 3 days in nature can promote mental wellness. She participates in 4 nature adventures; one with a group of military veterans, next a group of women trying to heal from addiction and sex trafficking, then with a writer friend who has opposite opinions on this issue, and lastly a solo journey. 🌳🦦 #MountTBR

Blueberry What is the title if not the tagged. It sounds interesting. 2y
BookBabe @Blueberry I read it off the phone screen in the photo: “The 3-Day Effect”. It‘s free if you have an Audible membership. 2y
BookBabe Sounds neat! I‘m downloading it now! 👌🏻 2y
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NatalieR @Blueberry I apologize for not including the proper title. I meant to add it in a comment and got distracted. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Thanks @BookBabe for figuring it out. 🙏🏻 2y
Kimzey @BookBabe Thanks for info on the title on Audible. 2y
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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

Good info that makes you want to chuck yours and your kids' devices in the bin and head to the hills. I'm in the transition generation where I grew up free range roaming the woods while also experiencing the joys of technology, but I can say the loss of quiet wilderness is having a deeper impact the older I get. I'm glad I drug my own kids out while they were growing up.

CampbellTaraL Audiobook Note: I set this aside originally last year, gave it another go this year and actually finished the audio version, but still did not like the narrator. I'm sure she's fun to listen to with children's fiction, that style of overly acted perky just didn't do it for me with this topic. I recommend the print edition though, for sure. 2y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Tera66
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#ThoughtfulThursday
Thank you @MoonWitch94 🧙‍♀️
1. Tuck Everlasting is my favorite book of all time and I sit and read it in one sitting every few years. And I have read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein a gazillion times.
2. Absolutely! I'm a suckered for a beautiful cover.
3. This book is on my TBR.

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CuriousG
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#thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94
Have several beloved novels I've read more than twice:
East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
Song of Solomon (Toni Morrison)
The Sparrow (Mary Doria Russell)
Children of God (Mary Doria Russell)

Occasionally cover art makes a difference, but usually read based on recommendations.

The Nature Fix (tagged) is my go-to book to remind myself of how necessary nature really is.

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StaceGhost
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Pickpick

🧚🏻Lovely day today foraging flowers and making delicious springtime treats 🦋

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SW-T
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Pickpick

I found this oddly soothing. Uneven in places, but overall I liked it and found it interesting. Held my attention.

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jmofo
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Mehso-so

#bookspinbonanza
welp, I thought this was book. It was more of a miniseries that followed up (?) on the tagged book, which I think I might read. Interesting but quick to draw sweeping conclusions for an audience who likely does not need convincing, I got this free from Audible and it‘s short so I guess I can‘t be mad about it. 🤷🏻‍♂️
It‘s fine and it‘s also finished. Continued leap-frogging bookspin for the audio/paper combo I usually maintain

TheAromaofBooks I do like the brain-shaped tree, though! 4y
SkeletonKey Just checking up on you. Hope all is well, I know grocery store life must still be stressful. Hugs. 4y
jmofo Hey @SkeletonKey thanks for checking in. I am doing okayly. I haven‘t been super active here for a month, as I haven‘t been reading much. I‘d like to hear how you are, you okay with me sending you an email? 4y
SkeletonKey @jmofo - of course! 4y
24 likes4 comments
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ladygrey
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Depression sucks. This book is helping ☀️

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Marmie7
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Audible has a nonfiction 2for1 sale going on until July 4th. Nature fix was actually on my wishlist! #nonfiction #audiblesale #bookhaul

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Llanphear
Mehso-so

It was definitely an interesting listen, but not my favorite. 💫💫💫

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Buchbeeg
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Not sure this counts but this is my audiobook for the 2 hour drive to a graduation. Hope its calming:)

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Jschultzems
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Mehso-so

Disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook. This book takes a good look at the lack of adventures in nature in current society and what consequences come with that, listing facts and research and some new efforts to reintroduce humans to nature on a more frequent basis. Very informative, if not dry at times. The audiobook lacks sound level control, the narrator often speaking low enough that I was unable to hear what was being said.

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ashsbookmarks
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As promised, my review of The Nature Fix is up on my blog. (www.ashsscript.com) I loved this book and I love the outdoors. Get up and read this book. You won‘t regret it!
#review #bookreview #allthebooks #bookblogger #books #book #bookternet #bookstagram #bookish #booktopia #happyreading #behappy #read #reader #bookworm #ashsscript #thenaturefix

Jenken1998 Loved this one.. it was my hiking book! 5y
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hike.read.repeat
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this book even though literally nothing about it was surprising. We evolved in nature so we do better the more nature immersion we get. Nature deprivation is bad.

The author cited this pyramid which is like a food pyramid. Pretty cool.

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kstadt929
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Mehso-so

There were some aspects of this book I enjoyed - things I did not know about or were interesting to read about - but some of it was boring. I think part of that is due to the fact that I‘m not generally into non-fiction, but part of the book had too many facts/dates/info thrown at you. I found myself skimming parts and it took me many months to get through this one. That said, if you enjoy non-fiction, you may enjoy this one more than I did!

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Deborah42
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Mehso-so

The author explores the ways in which wild spaces affect our health and happiness. The key takeaway? Put your phone down for a little while and go outside!

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kstadt929
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This is my current “in progress” book stack...minus a few! I don‘t know if I‘ve ever had this many going at one time 🤣

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MEGR
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I love visiting bookstores when I travel. This bookstore in CDMX was built around a tree! So I got to read AND get my nature fix 🌲📚👍🏽😎

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CuriousG
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Not totally book related, but getting my nature fix this week. And after anchoring the boat by this island and swimming ashore to explore, I did spend several hours lounging in the sun reading, while everyone else fished #heaven #naturefix #naturetherapy 🌳🌲🏕

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CuriousG
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When there is a severe heat warning, the best thing to do is fight fire (heat) with fire. #firesidereading #questionablelogic

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty!!! 6y
8 likes1 comment
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CuriousG
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I wish I could say I was reading for pleasure and/or doing #riotgrams, but the sad fact is I have more Ministry of Ed year end reports than is reasonable...but at least this is a heck of a place to read through my drafts. Reading is reading. 🌳🔥🌲 #natureiskeepingmesane #kindof #notreally 😂

Linsy 💚 6y
9 likes1 comment
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Kmatti
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Day 7 #riotgrams Ice Cream/Sweet Treats with my summer favorite, strawberries over angel food cake, and a summer read.

CuriousG Absolutely LOVED that book! It is the perfect pairing for some summer sweets like strawberries. 😊 6y
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llwheeler
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Pickpick

The conclusions are intuitive (get off your phone and out in nature more, at least 5 hrs/mon, 30mins/day better) but the science behind it is so interesting and well explained. How is the brain processing visual/aural stimuli that makes being in nature restful? What happens to the brain when we lack this? How can we help ourselves & others with this info? Examples & studies not only American (also South Korea, Japan, Finland, Canada, Singapore...)

llwheeler Ironically I got so sucked into this book that i spent a lot more time than usual on my phone the past couple of days... oops. Book set outdoors/about the environment for #booked2018 6y
2BR02B I've seen this as a kindle deal multiple times and have always been curious. Thanks for your review! 6y
llwheeler @2BR02B Np! ☺ 6y
Cinfhen Ha!! Irony 6y
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llwheeler
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Very fitting book for my #audiowalk today. I'm about halfway through and so far it is super interesting.

And turns out the tree that I thought for sure was dead is only mostly dead. And mostly dead is still a little bit alive. About a third of it started to bud, a good month or more after everything else.

Lcsmcat Love the Princess Bride reference! 6y
30 likes2 comments
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CheshireMellos
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Read a few chapters and I already love it. The science part is explained effectively without dumbing anything down.

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LWagoner
Pickpick

Definite motivation to get outside!
P.194. But if Muir and Emerson and, before them, eighteenth-century Irish philosopher Edmund Burke had it right, feelings of spirituality don‘t just spring from religion: they also spring from transcendent experiences in nature.
P.203 Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life. —JOHN MUIR

P.254 Go outside, often, sometimes in wild places. Bring friends or not. Breathe.

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xicanti
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Finally, a #friyayintro without any questions that stump me!

1. Spend as much time outdoors as possible. Read out there. Write out there. Eat out there.

2. YAY NATURE YAY!

3. Auckland, NZ is the city of my heart. Victoria, BC is a close second.

4. Sloth. They're more compact and their food probably costs less.

5. 31. YAY HEAT YAY!

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kstadt929
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Haha 🤣

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Climb_mountains
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Nope, this book is not influencing me in any way shape or form.

In all seriousness though, I‘m really enjoying learning about why I love being outdoors so much and this book just makes me crave more nature.

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kstadt929
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I feel like I should be reading this book outside.

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AmyAgentBor
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Pickpick

Just spent a week in southern Utah practicing the tenants of this book. Great information. Makes you want to get out there and enjoy the outdoors.

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EricaReads
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Pickpick

This made me want to keep my son out of school as long as possible (he‘s 2.5 and most kids here start preschool between 2-3). He loves to play outside all day and I wish there was a school here that catered to that. Most horrifying quote: “More than 10,000 American preschoolers are being medicated for ADHD.” 😱 Will be spending more weekends at the park and beach for sure! #readharder2018 #bookaboutnature

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kstadt929
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Not the type of book I usually choose, but it grabbed my attention so I had to check it out!! Love this quote right away on page 3...

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Valeka
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Took a walk to clear my mind. Fresh air can do miracles!

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Valeka
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Sounds accurate to me!

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ReadingGlasses
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Pickpick

I loved it!
- @BreaGrant

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Booksnchill
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Pickpick

Loved this book from an Outside Magazine contributing editor about the science behind the beneficial effects of nature. She sums up what she learned at the end: “Go outside, often, sometimes in wild places. Bring friends or not. Breathe.” An excellent reminder that there are ways to heal that are not always in exclusively pill form. Off to put this into practice on this lovely, temperate day!

8little_paws This was pretty good on audio too 6y
Booksnchill @8little_paws good to know! 6y
BookishMe Sounds like what I'd enjoy ;D will add to my NF list for the year. Not the same genre but similar theme. have you read? 6y
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Booksnchill @BookishMe I read it early last year and I loved it! 6y
BookishMe @Booksnchill 👍🏽👍🏽 so did I. Hope to reread for one of the reading prompts ;D 6y
Linsy I‘ve had this waiting for me on my Audible queue. Sounds like it‘s time to bump it up! 6y
78 likes1 stack add6 comments