Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#BigBuddyread
blurb
BarbaraBB
post image

Dear Friends,
We‘ve loved hosting the  #BigBuddyRead(s) and sharing our photos & musical tastes with each of you. It‘s been a wonderful way to bond & get a sneak peek into your lives. However we‘ve reached a point where these events are becoming too overwhelming in our overly scheduled days.  
But don‘t fear…we still want to stay connected!!! 

Beginning May 1 we‘re introducing a new laidback challenge #TitlesAndTunes ??

⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB On the first of each month we‘ll share a prompt and we ask all Littens to read a book for the prompt (open to your own interpretation) & post what you read & name a favorite song that fits the prompt. At the end of each month we‘ll combine all the songs to create a monthly Litsy Spotify playlist. You can dip in & out of the challenge if some months are too hectic or you‘re not feeling inspired.  14mo
BarbaraBB This is meant to be fun and low key and we‘re really hoping you‘ll join us ???Please let us know in the comments when you want to be tagged!

Love, Barbara & Cindy
14mo
See All 76 Comments
EclecticBookLover This sounds like so much fun! I‘d love to be added to the tag list. 14mo
squirrelbrain Ooh exciting - count me in please! Thanks for being wonderful hosts for the #buddyreads. 😘😘 14mo
jenniferw88 Count me in please! 14mo
Librarybelle Count me in! Sounds like a lot of fun! 14mo
TheBookHippie Oh how fun !!! Count me in!!! Thanks for all your hard work. ♥️♥️♥️♥️🎶🎶🎶 14mo
TheKidUpstairs Sounds fun! Please keep me on the tag list! 14mo
BarbaraBB @EclecticBookLover Good to have you! We will add you! 14mo
CBee Sounds great!! Thanks to both of you 💚 Would love to stay on the tag list for sure! 14mo
Soubhiville Tag me please! 14mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @jenniferw88 @Librarybelle @TheBookHippie @TheKidUpstairs Thank you all for continuing our music & books fun stuff!! 💃🕺💃💃 14mo
BarbaraBB @CBee @Soubhiville Perfect! Consider it done 🤍 14mo
IndoorDame What a great challenge! I‘d love to be tagged! 14mo
vlwelser So fun. Count me in! 🤗😘 14mo
TrishB Oh sounds like fun, I‘m in. Sorry didn‘t finish this times book or contribute to discussion- I got too distracted by footie tonight!! Thanks to both of you for all your hard work and fun.❤️❤️ @Cinfhen 14mo
BookBosomed1 Love it. 14mo
Deblovestoread Love this idea! Please tag me and thank you both for all you do 💜 14mo
BarbaraBB @IndoorDame @vlwelser @BookBosomed1 @Deblovestoread Welcome! So happy you‘ll be joining us 💃💃 14mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB You are celebrating I guess. I watched the match. Incredible! 7- 0, poor Man U 🤦🏻‍♀️ 14mo
Cinfhen @Chrissyreadit thought this might interest you xxx 14mo
vonnie862 Thank you ladies for all you do! This sounds like fun and would love to be tagged. 14mo
BarbaraBB @vonnie862 We will tag you, with very much pleasure! 14mo
ImperfectCJ What a cool idea! Please add me to the tag list! 14mo
DebinHawaii I love the idea. Thank you & please keep me tagged in. Sorry that I have not joined in this weekend so far. I have had a tough time focusing in general. I am only about 1/3 through the book & had a seminar all day Friday & Saturday. Will see if I can catch up today. 14mo
Chrissyreadit Sounds like a lot of fun!!!! Yes I would love this @Cinfhen 🎉 14mo
EclecticBookLover Thank you! 😊 14mo
Cinfhen Im sorry you‘re having a difficult time @DebinHawaii 😔we‘d love to have you join us for #TitlesAndTunes Yay @Chrissyreadit I know how much you like a good playlist and this challenge is sure to produce some awesomeness @ImperfectCJ @vonnie862 🎸🤘 14mo
rockpools Love it! 😊 Please can you tag me, as well? 14mo
Bookzombie What a great idea! Please tag me. Thank you both @BarbaraBB and @Cinfhen for putting this together. I really enjoy it. 14mo
Bookwormjillk Sounds fun. Tag me please! 14mo
Cinfhen Yay @rockpools @Bookzombie @Bookwormjillk Can‘t wait to share the prompts and see what #TitlesAndTunes you choose 😁🪄🎶 14mo
Bookwomble Tag me in, please 🙂 14mo
merelybookish You guys are awesome! 😎 Please add me to the list! 14mo
BookwormAHN Sounds like fun 😺 14mo
Billypar Looking forward to it already!🙂 14mo
LaraReads How fun! And so interesting! I‘d love to be a part of it! 14mo
Amiable I‘d love to see what everyone posts! I can‘t promise to participate regularly—I don‘t listen to music all that often. I‘m more of a podcast gal. 😬 14mo
dabbe Would love to participate! 😊 14mo
gossamerchild This sounds like so much fun. I'd love to be tagged! 14mo
Suet624 What a fun idea. Can‘t wait to hear the end of the month playlist. 14mo
batsy A fantastic idea. I look forward to joining in when I can! Thank you both 💕 14mo
CarolynM What a great idea! I‘m up for the challenge. Can‘t wait to see what prompts you come up with. Thanks Barbara and Cindy 😘😘 @Cinfhen 14mo
julieclair What a fun and creative idea! Please count me in! 😃 14mo
Read4life I‘d like to be tagged please 🤓 14mo
LeahBergen This sounds fantastic, you two! Count me in. 😘😘 14mo
DGRachel Sounds like fun! Please keep me on the list. I‘m sorry I couldn‘t play in real time this go-round. 14mo
Vansa This sounds fun. I would like to be tagged! 14mo
Bklover Love this idea! Please leave me on the list! 13mo
KarenUK Sounds like so much fun…. Love this idea! @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 13mo
Cinfhen Love to have you both @KarenUK @Bklover 🤩 13mo
AnneCecilie I would love to join in 13mo
BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie That is so nice! We‘ll tag you from now on. I just posted the prompts! 13mo
peaKnit This sounds fantastic! Please count me in! 13mo
Centique Yay! I‘ll have a go at this for sure 😁 13mo
AnneCecilie I saw and I have already started thinking 😊 13mo
Cinfhen Woohoo @Centique 🫶🏼 13mo
AudiobookingWithLeah I would love to join! Can you please add me to the list? I often think of songs that will go perfectly with the books I'm listening to. 13mo
BarbaraBB @AudiobookingWithLeah We will add you! Happy you‘re in! (edited) 13mo
Rissreads The music part of this sounds fabulous! I‘d love to be included. Sorry I didn‘t join in properly for the last buddy read but life is a bit hard at the moment. 13mo
BarbaraBB @Rissreads We‘ll tag you. We‘re always happy to have you. Take care ❤️ 13mo
CarolynM Loving this idea! I can‘t remember if I‘ve told you I‘m in, so apologies if I‘m doubling up🥴 13mo
BarbaraBB @CarolynM We‘ll tag you twice 😀😘 13mo
Rissreads @MrsMalaprop have you seen this? It‘s fun. Thought you might like to join in x 11mo
MrsMalaprop @Rissreads no I haven‘t. Not sure I fully understand the concept, but would be happy to be tagged to see if I can work it out 🤪🙏 11mo
BarbaraBB @MrsMalaprop it‘s easy! We have a prompt each month and ask participants to think of a book and a song fitting that prompt. Share your ideas with @Cinfhen and me and we create a theme based playlist! June‘s theme is #GuiltyPleasure! We‘ll tag you in upcoming posts and would love it if you‘ll join us of course! Thanks for the tag @Rissreads ❤️ 11mo
Cinfhen Join us @MrsMalaprop May was #IslandVibes if you check the hashtag you‘ll get an idea of what people choose and how it works 😄Thanks for sharing @Rissreads 💜 11mo
75 likes76 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
post image

Welcome to our #IndependentWomen #bigbuddyread discussion!

We came up with 5 questions which I will post on this page. I‘m tagging everyone now, please return to this page for the other 4 questions!

Afterwards Cindy and I will get back to you!

See All 32 Comments
Deblovestoread What a contradiction her mother turned out to be. And no, I don‘t agree with her choices. Just disappearing without a word, especially at Jo‘s early teenage years, and in the world they were living. I get needing to not get lost in the roles of wife and mother but her decision was beyond reprehensible in my book. 14mo
Bookwormjillk I don‘t agree with it, but I guess I can understand it. What I didn‘t agree with or understand was her expectation that she could take over as mom again 10+ years later. 14mo
Cinfhen That‘s a great adjective for Jo‘s mom @Deblovestoread contradiction - she was all for asserting independence but still wanted / expected Jo to follow in her footsteps - I thought she was pretty selfish in both “worlds” 14mo
squirrelbrain I agree @Cinfhen - was just about to post that I found her very selfish. If she had been compelled to a different life that may have been more understandable but it seemed to be a choice that she had freely undertaken. 14mo
jenniferw88 I can understand it, and I think I agree with her choice. BUT maybe she could have left a letter for Tiana to open when she became an adult, explaining what she'd done and how to get to the island if she wanted to go/felt able to go. 14mo
Soubhiville I don‘t agree with it either. While I understand being unhappy in that political climate, disappearing without a trace and abandoning her family seems selfish to me. Then returning, even more so. 14mo
BarbaraBB I‘m with most of you. It is so selfish and to me, it didn‘t make sense why and how she could get to the island. Did she have connections? I didn‘t get it. 14mo
TheBookHippie I don‘t but 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think she was a narcissist 👀😵‍💫😅 14mo
Deblovestoread Mom was raising her to conform to the laws of the state and encouraging her to ignore any possible “witch” traits. Was that to appease the dad? And then in order for Jo to get to the island she needed a doll that she randomly found among a bunch of boxes? 14mo
Cinfhen Yeah, I thought there were too many unexplained variables in the story that didn‘t make sense or weren‘t properly explained @deblovestoread the mom was 💯 a narcissist @thebookhippie 14mo
Reggie I love how she left the whole mother daughter thing open and unresolved because I don‘t think there is a good answer for any of it. But I can see why she would feel she had to do it. What if she gets so unhappy she starts self harming or turning that on Jo and the husband and makes them miserable. Idk. I loved and was horrified by all the after details. The Unsolved Mysteries episode. And how every time she mentions high school, there is a 👇🏼 14mo
Reggie new way in which the kids made her miserable, like when the kid steps on her toe and says”Don‘t curse me, bro.” (edited) 14mo
TheBookHippie @Cinfhen Such a hot mess 🤣 14mo
Deblovestoread Her mom did seem pretty cold in the flashbacks of her younger years…maybe on purpose for the eventual leaving? But I can‘t get on board with abandonment regardless of the reasons. 14mo
Cinfhen I was also disturbed by the dad who just gave up on Jo - that was pretty disheartening @Deblovestoread @Soubhiville @Bookwormjillk 14mo
Deblovestoread @Cinfhen agreed. Both of her parents let her down. 14mo
Bookwormjillk @Cinfhen yes he was just as guilty for letting her down 14mo
vlwelser The mom was a hot mess. She disappears, makes a mess of things on the island, basically drags her daughter there without an explanation, then gets mad when the daughter doesn't do everything her way. Gross. 14mo
TheBookHippie @vlwelser 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼narcissist … 14mo
Cinfhen @vlwelser I agree, I found her ( the mom‘s) actions in the past & present unforgivable 14mo
Bookzombie I had a hard time with the mom. I understand she wasn‘t happy to be married and living in that world, but leaving her daughter with no word was selfish and abusive. Her decision to leave impacted Jo in so many ways, even when you take away how it marked her as “other” even more. Then when Jo goes to the island and her mom just expects her to stay and won‘t ever really discuss her leaving, it‘s selfish all over again. 14mo
Bookzombie Also, she left a will with the instructions about the island, did she think they wouldn‘t wait as long as they did to declare her dead? Legally, I think you to wait a number of years anyway, so it wasn‘t like Jo would have been able to come to the island soon. 14mo
jenniferw88 @Bookzombie 100% agree with this, and, as a child, Tiana probably wouldn't have been able to leave on her own anyway. And it's not like her Dad would have been able to take her and I don't think any of her female relatives would have. I don't think Angie's Mum would have taken her either, as she wants a normal life(?!) for Angie and doesn't approve (or know of) of her sexuality. 14mo
vonnie862 I have to agree with many of you. I understand why Jo's mom did what she did, but I don't agree with it. I think she should have taken the time to say goodbye to Jo and her husband, or at least left a letter. Her disappearance was a huge impact on them and other people (i.e. Unsolved Mysteries). 14mo
Chelsea.Poole I agree—I always try to put myself in the character‘s shoes and I don‘t believe I would have made the same choices. She seemed callous. 14mo
DGRachel I‘m super late to the party but I agree with what‘s already been said. I do not agree with what her mom did at all. It was cruel and then to expect Jo to be “oh, yay! Awesome island, I totally get why you left. Let‘s be besties”…No. 14mo
Cinfhen The whole character of Tiana didn‘t add up @DGRachel @Chelsea.Poole @vonnie862 I wonder if the author had some personal issues with her mom she was working through ??? 13mo
34 likes32 comments
review
Rissreads
post image
Pickpick

Hmmmm. I‘m a bit conflicted about this book. I feel like it didn‘t quiet hit its mark. It was definitely an interesting story, a world where men control women‘s lives. What‘s sad is we kinda already live in that world! I also struggle with books where mothers abandon their children. But still there was a lot to like in it.
@BarbaraBB
@Cinfhen
#bigbuddyread
#independantwomen

BarbaraBB Glad it‘s a pick for you and that you finished it right in time! 14mo
Cinfhen you articulated all the reasons why this was just a so-so for me 13mo
44 likes2 comments
blurb
ImperfectCJ
post image

I was seeing posts for this #BigBuddyRead and thinking, "hmm, might be one to pick up," and what do you think one of my (surprise) Book Riot Tailored Book Recommendations that arrived today was? The other two look pretty cool, too!

I won't finish it in time for the discussion, but I'm glad that I have it. #IndependentWomen #gettbr #bookmail @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Oh wow!!! That‘s the universe sending you a sign!!! Pop over to @BarbaraBB page whenever you can to join the discussion / even if it‘s weeks from now 😁 14mo
BarbaraBB I am so curious what you‘ll think of it!! 14mo
44 likes2 comments
blurb
IndoorDame
post image
BarbaraBB Great list! We share some and I love that you thought of Sinead and Florence ❤️ 14mo
Suet624 What a great collection of songs/artists. 14mo
Chrissyreadit Ohhhhh yes! Great playlist! Just saved and playing now! 14mo
See All 11 Comments
Chrissyreadit I can‘t state enough how much I love this playlist! 14mo
IndoorDame @Chrissyreadit @Suet624 Thanks! It was super fun to make! 14mo
Chrissyreadit Is there a way to share? It doesn‘t have a copy link and I want to share with my daughter and her girlfriend 14mo
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 14mo
IndoorDame @Chrissyreadit usually the copy link is under the 3 dots next to the playlist so name, if not try copying the link from this post 14mo
Chrissyreadit Dar Williams! ❤️🙌❤️ 14mo
Chrissyreadit I don‘t think I‘ve heard The Magdalene Laundries since the 90‘s! 14mo
IndoorDame @Chrissyreadit last year I read and started listening to so many of her old songs again. That‘s one they talk about in the interviews. 14mo
58 likes11 comments
blurb
vonnie862
An Independent Woman | Anna Jacobs
post image

#IndependentWomen
Here are just some of the women I admire.
Starting top left: Frida Kahlo, Michelle Obama, my best friend and my mentor, Simone Biles, Malala, my momma, and Megan Rapinoe.

#BigBuddyRead
@Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Texreader I‘m a huge Rapinoe fan and I loved Malala‘s book and life story. Great choices. 14mo
Cinfhen Love the photo of you & your mom 🥰Great choices 14mo
BarbaraBB Great women to admire ❤️ 14mo
See All 6 Comments
Chelsea.Poole I can‘t believe I left Megan Rapinoe off my list. All great women! 14mo
Chelsea.Poole Also, little you is adorable!! 14mo
vonnie862 @Chelsea.Poole aww, thank you! 14mo
33 likes6 comments
blurb
TrishB
post image

#bigbuddyread
#internationalwomensday
I could do this many times over. But today:
Michelle- her attitude
Sylvia Plath- her writing
Malala- what‘s not to admire- risk your life for your education
Sylvia Pankhurst- all round social justice Queen
Professor Tara Shears- first female professor of Physics at University of Liverpool- took 108 years. I did a women in leadership programme with her before she was a professor 👇🏻

TrishB And she told me that was her aim- I was so pleased for her when it was announced. Very inspiring woman does important stuff I don‘t understand at CERN. (edited) 14mo
TrishB Greta - a young woman much maligned. Keep going!! (edited) 14mo
TrishB Siouxsie - goth queen ♥️ 14mo
See All 17 Comments
IndoorDame ✊🏼❤️ 14mo
squirrelbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 14mo
Chrissyreadit ❤️🙌 14mo
BarbaraBB Brilliant choices 🫶🏽 14mo
Tiffiney Siouxsie ♥️ 14mo
Cinfhen Queen T!! Excellent choices!! 14mo
TheBookHippie ♥️✊🏼♥️✊🏼♥️ 14mo
Oryx Amazing 14mo
sarahbarnes ♥️ 🔥 14mo
LaraReads Love this! 14mo
Aimeesue ❤️❤️❤️ 14mo
Deblovestoread 💜💜💜 14mo
Cathythoughts ❤️❤️❤️ 14mo
76 likes17 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#IndependentWomen #BigBuddyRead
Excited to kickoff our weekend celebrating women all over the world who inspire and empower 💪🏼Too many to choose from but here‘s a few I admire 🤩

rockpools That‘s an awesome graphic, Cindy. I really need to read Malala‘s biog. What a powerful quote. 14mo
Cinfhen Right @rockpools ?! She‘s a rock star!, 14mo
Bookwormjillk I love this! 14mo
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Bookwormjillk 😘 14mo
Deblovestoread I love your collage and your choices! 14mo
TrishB Brilliant choices 😁♥️ 14mo
BarbaraBB Love that collage ❤️❤️ 14mo
Bookzombie I love that you included quotes! 14mo
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Bookzombie @BarbaraBB @TrishB @Deblovestoread There are SO MANY amazing women to celebrate today mm 14mo
Centique Brilliant choices 🙌 14mo
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Centique I got your email🫶🏼I love hearing from you 🥰I‘ll write back soon 😘 14mo
71 likes11 comments
blurb
Soubhiville
post image

Went to Book People this evening for a little #bookhaul, including the tagged book for #IndependentWomen #BigBuddyRead with @Cinfhen and @BarbaraBB . I‘ll be using The Echo Wife for #Booked2023 for a book you could describe using the word “twist”, as I saw a review that called it precisely that 🙂📚.

I went to see an author speak, but unfortunately he got covid and had to cancel the last week of his tour 😞. (Travis Baldree- Legends & Lattes)

Soubhiville @CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian I was excited to see your review for this, as I hadn‘t heard of it but read the first couple sentences of the blurb and it sounds fun 1y
Soubhiville And I‘ve already read the first 2 chapters of Macallister‘s book in the cafe- saw her at #TexasBookFestival and wanted to get the book there, but they had sold out 1y
Bookishlie Ooooo you‘re local! You should also try lark and owl in Georgetown and fabled in Waco! 1y
See All 7 Comments
Soubhiville @Bookishlie I‘ve been to Lark and Owl, never to Waco though. My “home” bookstore is Black Pearl Books on Burnett. I‘m also a big fan of Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio 🙂📚💕 1y
Cinfhen Fantastic purchases!!! I really enjoyed Echo Wife!!! Perfect choice for #twist and the other two books looks really good 😊 1y
BarbaraBB Such a great haul!! 1y
AmyG The Echo Wife was good…and yes, it has a twist! Also Small Game was good….a very interesting plot. Emjoy! 1y
68 likes7 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#BookMail Just in for the #IndependentWomen #BigBuddyRead taking place March 3-5🥳
I‘m already getting good vibes from the cover….and I 💗the byline. “Magic is real. Embrace your power”
Still plenty of time to join @BarbaraBB & I for a weekend full of music, memories and book talk!! If you want to be added to the party list tag us below 💜💜💜

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread Yay! Happy you‘re joining us! 1y
Cinfhen Wonderful @Deblovestoread 🧡🥳 1y
See All 9 Comments
Amandajoy I really enjoyed her first book. I‘m in! @BarbaraBB 1y
BarbaraBB @Amandajoy That is so good! Welcome! 1y
Cinfhen Excellent @Amandajoy so glad to have you join us!!! Thanks for tagging @BarbaraBB #KeeperOfTheList 🙌🏻♥️ 1y
CBee Want to be sure I‘m tagged! Just got this on Kindle for free (had a credit 🙌🏻)! @BarbaraBB 1y
BarbaraBB Of course you‘ll be tagged! ❤️❤️ 1y
CBee @BarbaraBB hooray, thank you ♥️ 1y
64 likes9 comments