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#bigbuddyread
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BarbaraBB
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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.  2y
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
2y
See All 76 Comments
EclecticBookLover This sounds like so much fun! I‘d love to be added to the tag list. 2y
squirrelbrain Ooh exciting - count me in please! Thanks for being wonderful hosts for the #buddyreads. 😘😘 2y
jenniferw88 Count me in please! 2y
Librarybelle Count me in! Sounds like a lot of fun! 2y
TheBookHippie Oh how fun !!! Count me in!!! Thanks for all your hard work. ♥️♥️♥️♥️🎶🎶🎶 2y
TheKidUpstairs Sounds fun! Please keep me on the tag list! 2y
BarbaraBB @EclecticBookLover Good to have you! We will add you! 2y
CBee Sounds great!! Thanks to both of you 💚 Would love to stay on the tag list for sure! 2y
Soubhiville Tag me please! 2y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @jenniferw88 @Librarybelle @TheBookHippie @TheKidUpstairs Thank you all for continuing our music & books fun stuff!! 💃🕺💃💃 2y
BarbaraBB @CBee @Soubhiville Perfect! Consider it done 🤍 2y
IndoorDame What a great challenge! I‘d love to be tagged! 2y
vlwelser So fun. Count me in! 🤗😘 2y
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 2y
BookBosomed1 Love it. 2y
Deblovestoread Love this idea! Please tag me and thank you both for all you do 💜 2y
BarbaraBB @IndoorDame @vlwelser @BookBosomed1 @Deblovestoread Welcome! So happy you‘ll be joining us 💃💃 2y
BarbaraBB @TrishB You are celebrating I guess. I watched the match. Incredible! 7- 0, poor Man U 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
Cinfhen @Chrissyreadit thought this might interest you xxx 2y
vonnie862 Thank you ladies for all you do! This sounds like fun and would love to be tagged. 2y
BarbaraBB @vonnie862 We will tag you, with very much pleasure! 2y
ImperfectCJ What a cool idea! Please add me to the tag list! 2y
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. 2y
Chrissyreadit Sounds like a lot of fun!!!! Yes I would love this @Cinfhen 🎉 2y
EclecticBookLover Thank you! 😊 2y
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 🎸🤘 2y
rockpools Love it! 😊 Please can you tag me, as well? 2y
Bookzombie What a great idea! Please tag me. Thank you both @BarbaraBB and @Cinfhen for putting this together. I really enjoy it. 2y
Bookwormjillk Sounds fun. Tag me please! 2y
Cinfhen Yay @rockpools @Bookzombie @Bookwormjillk Can‘t wait to share the prompts and see what #TitlesAndTunes you choose 😁🪄🎶 2y
Bookwomble Tag me in, please 🙂 2y
merelybookish You guys are awesome! 😎 Please add me to the list! 2y
BookwormAHN Sounds like fun 😺 2y
Billypar Looking forward to it already!🙂 2y
LaraReads How fun! And so interesting! I‘d love to be a part of it! 2y
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. 😬 2y
dabbe Would love to participate! 😊 2y
gossamerchild This sounds like so much fun. I'd love to be tagged! 2y
Suet624 What a fun idea. Can‘t wait to hear the end of the month playlist. 2y
batsy A fantastic idea. I look forward to joining in when I can! Thank you both 💕 2y
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 2y
julieclair What a fun and creative idea! Please count me in! 😃 2y
Read4life I‘d like to be tagged please 🤓 2y
LeahBergen This sounds fantastic, you two! Count me in. 😘😘 2y
DGRachel Sounds like fun! Please keep me on the list. I‘m sorry I couldn‘t play in real time this go-round. 2y
Vansa This sounds fun. I would like to be tagged! 2y
Bklover Love this idea! Please leave me on the list! 2y
KarenUK Sounds like so much fun…. Love this idea! @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 2y
Cinfhen Love to have you both @KarenUK @Bklover 🤩 2y
AnneCecilie I would love to join in 2y
BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie That is so nice! We‘ll tag you from now on. I just posted the prompts! 2y
peaKnit This sounds fantastic! Please count me in! 2y
Centique Yay! I‘ll have a go at this for sure 😁 2y
AnneCecilie I saw and I have already started thinking 😊 2y
Cinfhen Woohoo @Centique 🫶🏼 2y
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. 2y
BarbaraBB @AudiobookingWithLeah We will add you! Happy you‘re in! (edited) 2y
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. 2y
BarbaraBB @Rissreads We‘ll tag you. We‘re always happy to have you. Take care ❤️ 2y
CarolynM Loving this idea! I can‘t remember if I‘ve told you I‘m in, so apologies if I‘m doubling up🥴 2y
BarbaraBB @CarolynM We‘ll tag you twice 😀😘 2y
Rissreads @MrsMalaprop have you seen this? It‘s fun. Thought you might like to join in x 2y
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 🤪🙏 2y
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 ❤️ 2y
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 💜 2y
75 likes76 comments
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BarbaraBB
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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. 2y
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. 2y
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” 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
TheBookHippie I don‘t but 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think she was a narcissist 👀😵‍💫😅 2y
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? 2y
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 2y
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 👇🏼 2y
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) 2y
TheBookHippie @Cinfhen Such a hot mess 🤣 2y
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. 2y
Cinfhen I was also disturbed by the dad who just gave up on Jo - that was pretty disheartening @Deblovestoread @Soubhiville @Bookwormjillk 2y
Deblovestoread @Cinfhen agreed. Both of her parents let her down. 2y
Bookwormjillk @Cinfhen yes he was just as guilty for letting her down 2y
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. 2y
TheBookHippie @vlwelser 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼narcissist … 2y
Cinfhen @vlwelser I agree, I found her ( the mom‘s) actions in the past & present unforgivable 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
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). 2y
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. 2y
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. 2y
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 ??? 2y
34 likes32 comments
review
Rissreads
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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! 2y
Cinfhen you articulated all the reasons why this was just a so-so for me 2y
44 likes2 comments
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ImperfectCJ
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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 😁 2y
BarbaraBB I am so curious what you‘ll think of it!! 2y
44 likes2 comments
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IndoorDame
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BarbaraBB Great list! We share some and I love that you thought of Sinead and Florence ❤️ 2y
Suet624 What a great collection of songs/artists. 2y
Chrissyreadit Ohhhhh yes! Great playlist! Just saved and playing now! 2y
See All 11 Comments
Chrissyreadit I can‘t state enough how much I love this playlist! 2y
IndoorDame @Chrissyreadit @Suet624 Thanks! It was super fun to make! 2y
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 2y
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2y
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 2y
Chrissyreadit Dar Williams! ❤️🙌❤️ 2y
Chrissyreadit I don‘t think I‘ve heard The Magdalene Laundries since the 90‘s! 2y
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. 2y
58 likes11 comments
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vonnie862
An Independent Woman | Anna Jacobs
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#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. 2y
Cinfhen Love the photo of you & your mom 🥰Great choices 2y
BarbaraBB Great women to admire ❤️ 2y
See All 6 Comments
Chelsea.Poole I can‘t believe I left Megan Rapinoe off my list. All great women! 2y
Chelsea.Poole Also, little you is adorable!! 2y
vonnie862 @Chelsea.Poole aww, thank you! 2y
33 likes6 comments
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TrishB
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#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) 2y
TrishB Greta - a young woman much maligned. Keep going!! (edited) 2y
TrishB Siouxsie - goth queen ♥️ 2y
See All 17 Comments
IndoorDame ✊🏼❤️ 2y
squirrelbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Chrissyreadit ❤️🙌 2y
BarbaraBB Brilliant choices 🫶🏽 2y
Tiffiney Siouxsie ♥️ 2y
Cinfhen Queen T!! Excellent choices!! 2y
TheBookHippie ♥️✊🏼♥️✊🏼♥️ 2y
Oryx Amazing 2y
sarahbarnes ♥️ 🔥 2y
LaraReads Love this! 2y
Aimeesue ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Deblovestoread 💜💜💜 2y
Cathythoughts ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
76 likes17 comments
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Cinfhen
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#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. 2y
Cinfhen Right @rockpools ?! She‘s a rock star!, 2y
Bookwormjillk I love this! 2y
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Bookwormjillk 😘 2y
Deblovestoread I love your collage and your choices! 2y
TrishB Brilliant choices 😁♥️ 2y
BarbaraBB Love that collage ❤️❤️ 2y
Bookzombie I love that you included quotes! 2y
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Bookzombie @BarbaraBB @TrishB @Deblovestoread There are SO MANY amazing women to celebrate today mm 2y
Centique Brilliant choices 🙌 2y
Cinfhen Thanks so much @Centique I got your email🫶🏼I love hearing from you 🥰I‘ll write back soon 😘 2y
71 likes11 comments
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Soubhiville
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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 2y
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 2y
Bookishlie Ooooo you‘re local! You should also try lark and owl in Georgetown and fabled in Waco! 2y
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 🙂📚💕 2y
Cinfhen Fantastic purchases!!! I really enjoyed Echo Wife!!! Perfect choice for #twist and the other two books looks really good 😊 2y
BarbaraBB Such a great haul!! 2y
AmyG The Echo Wife was good…and yes, it has a twist! Also Small Game was good….a very interesting plot. Emjoy! 2y
68 likes7 comments
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Cinfhen
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#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! 2y
Cinfhen Wonderful @Deblovestoread 🧡🥳 2y
See All 9 Comments
Amandajoy I really enjoyed her first book. I‘m in! @BarbaraBB 2y
BarbaraBB @Amandajoy That is so good! Welcome! 2y
Cinfhen Excellent @Amandajoy so glad to have you join us!!! Thanks for tagging @BarbaraBB #KeeperOfTheList 🙌🏻♥️ 2y
CBee Want to be sure I‘m tagged! Just got this on Kindle for free (had a credit 🙌🏻)! @BarbaraBB 2y
BarbaraBB Of course you‘ll be tagged! ❤️❤️ 2y
CBee @BarbaraBB hooray, thank you ♥️ 2y
64 likes9 comments