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12-29-25: My 80th finished book of 2025! Randy Rainbow, his real name, is hilarious. If you haven‘t watched his parodies online you are missing out. This memoir was wonderful and really showcased his humor but also his love for his mother, grandmother and musical theater which endeared me to him even more. For someone who created his own niche of comedy, I marvel at how quick witted and on the nose he is! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣8️⃣0️⃣

Leftcoastzen He‘s a favorite! I saw him live this year ! 1w

GidgetsTreasures75 @Leftcoastzen That‘s awesome! I bet it was a great show. 1w

14 likes2 comments

Lcsmcat

Then and Now: A Memoir | Tom Santopietro, Barbara Cook

Watching the Christmas Eve Carol service from Westminster Cathedral while reading this memoir of an amazing singer.

29 likes

lynneamch

Unprotected: A Memoir | Billy Porter

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As @jploves2read says, "This book was EVERYTHING." Billy Porter shares personal challenges, struggles with society's expectations, importance of #music & arts in public education, and ultimately the enduring message: #lovewins. A #memoir everyone needs to hear for all the feels. #audio #audiobook #Broadway

23 likes2 stack adds

Leftcoastzen

Playing with Myself | Randy Rainbow

How I spent Saturday night ! A night of laughter though I found walking through the casino like being on the inside of a pinball machine! He was awesome!

dabbe OMG! How did I not know about this? 😭😭😭 3mo

Leftcoastzen @dabbe I think I was notified because I was on a Ticketmaster list . I bet you would have loved it ! 3mo

Amiable I saw Randy in New Haven, CT, about a year or so ago. He‘s the best! 3mo

TieDyeDude Very cool. He's a blast in his YouTube videos! 3mo

44 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 7 questions posted as spoilers; you can find these on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

I think this is my favorite of Davis‘s I‘ve read so far. Hope you enjoyed it too!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

TheBookHippie I enjoyed this read very much -

This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland

6mo

TheBookHippie This one as well

The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey Into Greenland's Buried Past and Our Perilous Future

6mo

TheBookHippie Greenland is the world's largest island, not a continent, and is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While part of North America geographically, it has strong cultural and historical ties to Europe, particularly Norway and Denmark. 6mo

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TheBookHippie Nuuk, Greenland's capital, is a small city on the country's southwest coast. Its large fjord system is known for waterfalls, humpback whales and icebergs. The waterfront is dotted with brightly colored houses against the backdrop of Sermitsiaq mountain. Greenland National Museum has mummies and Inuit skin boats, while the Nuuk Art Museum displays local works. The Katuaq cultural center offers films, concerts and art.
6mo

TheBookHippie Greenland's education system includes primary, secondary, and higher education levels, with a 10-year compulsory primary education for children aged 6-16. While education is free, including university, and students may receive a monthly grant, challenges remain in quality and completion rates, particularly at the secondary and higher education levels. 6mo

Jerdencon I really enjoyed this one! But I love all her books! 6mo

PurpleyPumpkin I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me of The Briar Club, but went in a different direction. A definite pick for me!👍🏽 6mo

Sargar114 Good pick, thank you for hosting! 6mo

Sargar114 @PurpleyPumpkin agree there are similarities to the Briar Club, especially with it being the same time period. Still working my way through that one but I like the artsy feel of this one. 6mo

julieclair So, I was 2/3 through and loving it. Then the library wouldn‘t let me renew. 😭 So I‘m back on the waitlist and will finish whenever. 😕 6mo

PurpleyPumpkin @Sargar114 Yes, definitely enjoyed the artsy side of this one!🙌🏽 6mo

Karisa @PurpleyPumpkin Agreed! Definitely has some parallels with Briar Club (house, women MCs, red scare). I liked both 😊 6mo

40 likes1 stack add12 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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5. How do Hazel and Maxine subvert or conform to 1950s expectations and gender roles? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Sargar114 I found it interesting that Maxine was able to be a spy by conforming. She was able to get inside and serve the needs of the party. Hazel fought so hard (rightfully so) but it‘s ultimately what led her to be an outcast. 6mo

6 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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4. What did you think of Charlie and his desire to join the FBI? How do you think his relationship with his father shaped his ambitions? Were you rooting for him and Hazel? Why or why not? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish Charles totally bought into the idea that communism was wrong and his country was true and righteous and wanted to fight on the side of good. Then he learned countries are ruled by men and they are not always promoting good. I rooted for them so hard 6mo

Deblovestoread I wanted them to work it out. Hazel lost everything. 6mo

Sargar114 I don‘t know if I was rooting for them. I wasn‘t terribly fond of Hazel and she seemed to sabotage as well. While I don‘t know how Charlie really felt about the FBI, it‘s seemed pretty bold of her to ask him not to plow what he thought was his dream. 6mo

Karisa I was rooting for them too. We need sensible, honorable people like Charlie in those powerful positions. People who can think for themselves and see nuances 6mo

7 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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3. When Maxine flubs her lines on opening night, her career doesn‘t suffer, but Hazel‘s does. Why do you think that is? How would you have reacted in Hazel‘s situation? Do you think she has a right to be bitter about the success of Wartime Sonata‘s revival, or should she be grateful? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish What a double edged sword this was - I would totally have been so upset with Maxine and so bitter but the bitterness did really impact Hazel‘s life and that just made it feel a waste 6mo

Jerdencon I feel like Maxine doing that set the trajectory of Hazels life… it wasn‘t just a quick fix it had long term repercussions. 6mo

Deblovestoread I love Broadway musicals but don‘t know enough about what decides a closing. Up until Maxine‘s purposeful errors the buzz was positive, it seemed extreme that the actress erroring would shut it down. 6mo

Sargar114 I mean, Hazel was an outsider who was on the cusp of being blacklisted due to the communist scare it makes sense that the powers that be find a reason to shut it down. It completely upended her career and because of her status couldn‘t overcome. Maxine was already somewhat established so she could overcome a speed bump. 6mo

Karisa Ugh, I agree with @mcctrish I would‘ve been so sad and mad at the waste of it all too. Hazel‘s career, Floyd, Charlie…and who comes out on top still? Maxine and Tangerine girl 🥴 6mo

6 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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2. If Maxine had not made the tragic choice she did, do you think she and Hazel would have renewed their friendship? If you were in Hazel‘s shoes, would you forgive Maxine? Why or why not? ~ from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon Im not sure they would have ever gone back to the way they were. Hazel was very head strong and not sure she would have completely forgiven Maxine. 6mo

Deblovestoread Maxine‘s choice changed Hazel‘s life trajectory. It would be hard to forgive it. 6mo

Sargar114 It‘s tough because Hazel wouldn‘t have gotten the opportunity she got if it weren‘t for Maxine, but then to ultimately bomb the play to save her destroyed her life. Like @Deblovestoread said, completely changed the trajectory. We can see the why but Hazel will always wonder what could have been… 6mo

Karisa I feel like Hazel didn‘t know Maxine really. She had so many sides—who was the real one? I felt disconnected from that character and wondered if her story arc was just a little too much 6mo

7 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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1. I enjoy Davis's works because she focuses each story on a landmark in New York City. For this novel, we visit the Hotel Chelsea.

Have you visited the Hotel Chelsea? Do you want to visit after reading this book?

Links in comments to an interview in which Davis details her reasons to feature the Hotel Chelsea, as well as the history of the hotel from the hotel's website. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Librarybelle Davis interview: https://www.fionadavisbooks.com/the-chelsea-girlsqanda

Hotel Chelsea history: https://hotelchelsea.com/history 6mo

mcctrish I totally want to visit it someday 6mo

Jerdencon I actually have been in the lobby of the hotel (I live in NYC). It‘s been redone and is very artsy and cool. I need to go back now that I‘ve read the book. I have eaten at El. Quiojte several times - they have the best sangria! 6mo

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Deblovestoread Would love to visit some day. I, too, like the setting of Davis‘s novels and getting an intimate look at historical buildings. 6mo

Sargar114 Never been, but would love to. I actually wish this story had more of it. It felt like it started strong but then got away from the hotel itself. 6mo

Karisa So many cool people through those doors! I‘d like to see it too, especially since @Jerdencon mentions it‘s been redone in an artsy way. The ending of the book made it sound so drab and sad. (And yum, sangria! 😊) 6mo

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