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This book is not horror (which is a bummer because I‘m doing my own 50-states-50-scares challenge and I had this for Iowa), and it‘s creepy weird and ambiguous, but the writing is really, really good. I loved the unreliable narrator and the sneaky way Darnielle kept me listening. Very impressed with the way he captured the atmosphere and tempo of rural Iowa, and the ending was pretty amazing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Also my #HereHear book for #Booked2021.

vivastory Is your list for the challenge up on your blog? I've been contemplating doing the challenge too... 3y

sprainedbrain @vivastory no, I haven‘t put it anywhere but on my reading log spreadsheet. I keep meaning to blog about it but I‘m so behind all the time. This was only my 4th one, so probably won‘t get it done this year. And now I need a new Iowa book if I want to keep it honest. 😳 3y

vivastory Are you doing it as books set in Iowa but author can live elsewhere? 3y

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sprainedbrain @vivastory just set in Iowa. I used the list from NYT that you shared last year, and also this list: https://www.bustle.com/p/whats-the-scariest-book-set-in-your-state-here-are-all-... and then for the states I‘ve already read both books, I just started googling. 😄 I might try this one for Iowa

The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion

vivastory Also, I know you read it before but if you want to reread it I remember that a portion of Cronin's The Twelve takes place in Iowa. I've heard great things about Lamb Will Slaughter etc 3y

sprainedbrain @vivastory Yes! I forgot about that in The Twelve. Gosh I love that series. 3y

vivastory I think I'm going to reread it next year. Definitely one of my favorites 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @vivastory @sprainedbrain I am intrigued by this challenge idea also!! Although I‘m really ready to be done with challenge prompts right now, this one makes me reconsider … 👻 3y

vivastory @BarbaraTheBibliophage I still haven't completely committed to it. I love horror fic, so it wouldn't be too much of a problem to get through it. It'd prob take me over 2 years though... 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @vivastory That‘s just about how I feel. No reason to rush it! I might just start a spreadsheet and see how I do. (edited) 3y

sprainedbrain @BarbaraTheBibliophage @vivastory I have no timeline for it, I‘m just planning to read one for each state. I might see what I can find for DC and Puerto Rico, too. 😃 3y

82 likes2 stack adds11 comments

rockpools

The Bones of Grace | Tahmima Anam

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Zubaida‘s adoption has only ever been mentioned once. But as she leaves her palaeontology research in the US, and accepts the life/marriage she‘s been brought up into, it becomes more important. And then there‘s Elijah, the American she met briefly at a Shostokovich concert, an obsession or the love of her life?

This is a slow read - the pacing made it feel much longer than it is. The audio, read by Tania Rodrigues, however, was excellent-

rockpools Zubaida‘s long letter to Elijah made it feel like you‘re being told a story, and, despite the numerous tragic events, kept the tone relatively light. Zubaida - and the people around her - are flawed and messy and selfish and human. The story takes us from Cambridge, Mass. to the archaeology of Pakistan and the ship-breaking yards of #Bangladesh. Like Zubaida herself, there‘s lots to love here - but it‘s far from perfect. And the ending? Hmmm. 3y

rockpools I feel like I‘ve earned some challenge points with this. #ReadingAsia #Bangladesh #Booked2021 #HereHear (because audiobook with strong sense of place). @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft #FourFoursin2021 #Discovery (for Diana & the walking whale dig) @Lauredhel 3y

Lauredhel \o/ 3y

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TrishB Great review 👍🏻 3y

Cinfhen Props to you!!! Great review 3y

Librarybelle Woohoo for multiple challenges! 3y

alisiakae Great review! 3y

65 likes7 comments

Cinfhen

Rebel Daughter | Lori Banov Kaufmann

pick

Beautifully blending historical accuracy with an abundance of striking details around an event that occurred during the First Century, Lori Banov Kaufman has written a memorable debut. This book follows Esther, daughter of a Jewish High Priest in the 4 years leading up to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple. Many reallife players are included in this story of hardship, bravery, loyalty,faith and family. 👇🏼

JennyM, LibrarianRyan, LeahBergen, Librariana, Librarybelle, Lmstraubie, Cathythoughts

Cinfhen This is an excellent source of World History appropriate for all ages from middle grade to middle age. If you‘re a school librarian or work in a community library, I think this book would make a wonderful addition. There is plenty of action and readers will find themselves rooting for Esther. While her struggles took place more than 2,000 years ago, it‘s still easy to relate to the pressure Esther felt as a young woman who wants more for herself. 3y

Lmstraubie @Cinfhen Thank you for the recommendation. I look forward to checking it out. 3y

Cinfhen Yay @Lmstraubie I know you read - recommend a lot of middle grade! I thought this was a really interesting time in World History that not many students read about. 3y

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Cinfhen Book publishes February 2021!! Using for #ReadingAsia2021 #Israel #Booked21 #HereHear #Pop21 #ABookWithLessThan1000Reviews @BarbaraBB @BarbaraTheBibliophage @KarenUK @4thhouseontheleft @Kalalalatja 3y

Lmstraubie @Cinfhen Books like these are so important. We need more books from different perspectives. 3y

BarbaraBB Wonderful review 🤍 3y

CocoReads My oldest daughter loves Esther. Her birthday is in may-this may need to be a gift. 3y

Cinfhen Not sure how old your daughter is @CocoReads because there are some situations that are uncomfortable and alluded to but they are not detailed or described. Just an FYI 💜 3y

Cinfhen Thanks @BarbaraBB the author is a local from my community who shared a copy of her book with me. Her attention to detail was really impressive. You can tell she‘s walked down the alleyways and paths that Esther once did as well. 3y

CocoReads @Cinfhen. She‘s 25 so I think we‘re good there. Thanks for the heads up though, it definitely would have been good to know when she was younger. 3y

BarbaraBB That is so cool. You probably recognize a lot in the book that other‘s wouldn‘t! 3y

Cinfhen Yes 😉we‘re totally fine then @CocoReads xxx How is it possible that we have such grown children???!?!! 3y

Cinfhen That‘s one of the things I love about living here @BarbaraBB there is SO MUCH ancient history and it‘s literally all around us. I wish I studied archeology like @TracyReadsBooks 🙌🏻💕 3y

CocoReads @Cinfhen I‘ve been trying to figure that out for a few years now. I certainly don‘t feel old enough to have grown children (mentally anyway) 3y

Cinfhen Exactly...my oldest turns 28 in February 😱 @CocoReads it‘s shocking 3y

Librarybelle This sounds amazing! 3y

JennyM @Cinfhen beautiful review and I‘m excited to stack and read! Xx 3y

Cinfhen I‘m excited you‘re feeling it @Librarybelle @JennyM it was at times a tad YA for me, but I was still engaged throughout the story and once Jerusalem is captured the pace of the story really picks up 3y

LeahBergen Nicely reviewed! 👍🏻 3y

TracyReadsBooks Sounds fantastic! I‘ll have to take a look at it. 3y

LibrarianRyan 😁❤️👍🏻 3y

99 likes8 stack adds21 comments

Cinfhen

Rebel Daughter | Lori Banov Kaufmann

#NewRelease #ARC Available in February 💕This is EXCITING❗️❗️I share a mutual friend with the author, a lovely woman who lives in my neighborhood and she‘s written & published her first novel🙌🏻 Lori was kind enough to gift me a copy, which I‘m super excited to read & review!!! STAY TUNED for more details xx Works for lots of challenge prompts too😊 #JewishAuthor #NewIn2021 #Israel #HereHear #HiddenGem

Cathythoughts Exciting ✨ 3y

LeahBergen Oh, fun!! 👍🏻 3y

JennyM Oooo...can‘t wait to hear your review 👍 3y

Cinfhen I plan on picking up the book this weekend @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @JennyM ❣️I‘ll keep u all posted 😁 3y

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Megabooks

Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last | Wright Thompson

pan

Ugghhh! There are two things that ruined this #audiobook:

1. The lack of any real chronology. If you‘re not familiar with the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon story, you have to work hard to sort it out, FYI. Some parts were overhashed, though.

2. The author felt the need to insert his own feeling about his own uncle, daughter, and friends into what should‘ve been a story about bourbon. Pure vanity run amok.

2🥃/5🥃

Tags ⬇️

Megabooks #booked2021 #herehear (an audiobook about Kentucky!) @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft #bookspinbingo sq 19 (edited) 3y

SkeletonKey I have tried this whiskey and it is pretty darn good. Sad the audiobook wasn‘t though! 3y

TheBookHippie 🤣 3y

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Megabooks @SkeletonKey it just wasn‘t to my taste! 😉😂 3y

Megabooks @TheBookHippie lol. There is a lot of sipping in the book!! (edited) 3y

Soubhiville That‘s too bad, it sounds interesting. That price though... holy *#%! 3y

Megabooks @Soubhiville it was a frustrating read for me because I find (what should have been) the subject very interesting. I wanted Ken Burns and I got two guys rambling about bourbon. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y

Megabooks @Soubhiville and yeah...those prices! Basically, before bourbon was cool, the family had to sell the distillery to a conglomerate due to debt. Since then, they‘ve been acquiring what they can of the old stock at auction by the barrel and bottling it. Then they sell it for fairly high prices then those people REALLY mark it up!! 3y

Cinfhen Thanks for the honest feedback!! I almost bought this the other day😅 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen you‘re welcome! I know @britt_brooke was more a fan, but it was too disorganized for my liking. And bringing in personal elements was also a reason I felt mediocre about this

Into the Wild

Cinfhen I have so many other books right now so this one is definitely going on the #BackBurner 👩‍🍳 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I get that. 👍🏻 3y

britt_brooke Yeah, I wish the author had left out his personal stuff. That was my main complaint. 3y

Megabooks @britt_brooke I can‘t believe he thought his life paralleled Julian‘s because I couldn‘t draw that many. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y

britt_brooke @Megabooks Agree! 3y

NatalieR I started listening to the audiobook today and am already disappointed. The author is all over the place! Eloquent writing style, but very pompous. 3y

Megabooks @NatalieR yes, unfortunately this was a disappointment. 3y

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