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CBee
Black Woods, Blue Sky | Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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@Jas16 you are just the best! I feel like you just sent me a book a couple of weeks ago, so imagine my surprise when I got this today! Thank you so much ♥️♥️♥️

Jas16 My pleasure. Hope you enjoy it. 2d
60 likes1 comment
review
TorieStorieS
The Antidote | Karen Russell
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Pickpick

Historical fiction steeped in magical realism unfolds here in a pre-technicolor Oz of Uz, NE. Beautifully written with multiple perspectives, the story comes from the titular Antidote, a Prairie Witch practiced in banking memories away from their experiencer, Asphodel, a fearless orphan obsessed with basketball & new love , her uncle, a farmer who finds sudden fortune after Black Sunday, Cleo, a New Deal photographer, a scarecrow & a cat!

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kwmg40
Someone Like Us | Dinaw Mengestu
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Mehso-so

I liked learning more about the Ethiopian immigration experience but otherwise the sprawling, disconnected narrative and bland main character put this near the bottom of my #ToB25 list.

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BarbaraBB
Beautyland: A Novel | Marie-Helene Bertino
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This is interesting. In today‘s bracket Martyr! beats Beautyland in the #ToB25 while in the #LitsyToB25 Beautyland advances. The book is this year's favorite for five of us, while Martyr! is just two people's favorite: Sue and Anne Cecilie‘s Zombies are approaching quickly so we'll soon know if Martyr! wil be able to return from the grave!

See All 14 Comments
Suet624 Yeah, I actually didn‘t imagine Martyr would advance on our litsyTOB. I liked both books and I just always like to give props to Martyr whenever I can. 😊 3d
Bookwormjillk I haven't read Martyr yet, but I loved Beautyland so much it would be hard to top. At least when one advances in our bracket and one advances in the TOB everyone can be happy. 3d
Deblovestoread I fully intend to read Martyr one day and always feel a bit guilty voting for a book when I haven‘t read the other. I did love Beautyland. 3d
BkClubCare Happy happy! 👏 3d
Hooked_on_books I am baffled by the TOB judge today. So much time spent on explaining her criteria (that needed some serious editing), only to discount the book I found far more surprising! I don‘t get it. Martyr‘s MC is a classic addict and therefore highly predictable and the whole premise of Beautyland is wholly unique. I‘m just boggled. I think we made the better choice. 3d
squirrelbrain I did like Martyr!, but it wasn‘t an ‘enjoyable‘ read, so I voted for Beautyland. I‘m glad Martyr! made it through as well though. 2d
ImperfectCJ @Hooked_on_books The decision today was definitely confusing. There was very little about why the judge actually picked Martyr over Beautyland, and while I agree that the scene she describes is excellent, it comes at the very beginning of the novel and we don't get many more of those moments. I like Martyr and find the writing beautiful, but I agree that Beautyland was the more surprising book and the one that got to me more. 2d
Jas16 It was an interesting judgement today. I think I love Beautyland so much in part of how surprising it was to me. So glad it is moving on in our tournament and hoping it returns as a zombie in the other tournament. 2d
cariashley I was really scratching my head about the whole “surprising” angle. Genuinely wasn‘t sure which one she thought was vs wasn‘t and it was weird that she was so binary about it. Made me think I was missing something with both books. I liked Martyr! more, for what it‘s worth! (edited) 2d
Lesliereadsalot Beautyland was so imaginative and well written and kept me wondering where it was going. I love those things in a book! 2d
BarbaraBB @cariashley I totally agree, in fact I was underwhelmed by Beautyland. 2d
58 likes14 comments
review
Jen2
Black Woods, Blue Sky | Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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Pickpick

Fabulous!

56 likes1 stack add
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marleed
Black Woods, Blue Sky | Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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Pickpick

Ohh, this was so good and atmospheric. Nine times out of ten if I‘m going call a book atmospheric it‘s going to be set in the PNW and you can‘t get more north than Alaska. I loved how this one ended. Werebears anyone 🐻

SconsinBookyBadger Since Litsy doesn‘t have DM available. Just stopping by here to follow up with you on Nick Bantock‘s Alexandria. Have you been able to find it? 4d
marleed @SconsinBookyBadger Haha, no. My hunt continues! 3d
SconsinBookyBadger @marleed I have links in the comments under my Nick Bantock post if that‘ll help. 3d
marleed @SconsinBookyBadger oh I just checked your post. Thank you, those links are great! 3d
69 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
melissajayne
Go as a River: A novel | Shelley Read
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Pickpick

4.75⭐️ I think I first heard about the book through either Sarah‘s Bookshelves Live or Currently Reading, but whichever podcast I heard about the book from, I knew that I would have never heard about it if not for them. I flew through the book and it took me less than 24 hours from starting it to finishing it. I really liked the way the author told the story. Probably one of my favourites for #2025. #bookreview #historicalfiction #fiction

22 likes2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

In 90's Edmonton, Molly MacGregor dreams of a life worthy of her adored Penguin Classics and of writing The Great Canadian/Edmontonian Novel. But summers selling shoes at West Edmonton Mall and semesters with pretentious English Lit profs don't seem to be cutting it. But this year, she just might find truth and beauty in the place she finds herself.

Charming, witty, and thoroughly delightful. I loved spending time with Molly. Highly recommend!

56 likes4 stack adds
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JenReadsAlot
Black Woods, Blue Sky | Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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Pickpick

Love her books!

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TheKidUpstairs
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"Last night, I found myself perusing the shelves in our family library the way one might gaze reflectively into the refrigerator looking for that perfect bedtime snack."