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BookMaven9

BookMaven9

Joined May 2016

Loved puppers, books, film buff, super heros and the 10th Doctor
review
BookMaven9
Of Monsters and Mainframes | Barbara Truelove
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️it wasn‘t awful, but it wasn‘t great either. Enjoyed while I was reading, but once I put it down, never felt compelled to pick it back up. It‘s a charming mashup of Dracula, Frankenstein, the mummy and AI run spaceship. However I needed more character development and some questions answered. I felt unfulfilled. Overall it‘s cute.

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BookMaven9
Don't Let Him in | Lisa Jewell
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️Not one of my favorites of hers. If you like being made to feel angry and frustrated maybe. I mean how can women of today not see that 🚩everywhere with this horrible man. Too many characters and timelines. Writing is fine just didn‘t like the way it made women seem so stupid!

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BookMaven9
Dark Horses: A Novel | Susan Mihalic
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️because of the ending, I can‘t rate this higher. TRIGGER WARNING! This deals with incest and sexual abuse. A very dark read I wanted to look away from. Graphic and disturbing and a necessary book on pulling back the curtain on SA. However I didn‘t find the satisfying.

11 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Zero Saints | Gabino Iglesias
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ This was more of a novella and I think that was one of the problems for me. I think the world the author is building is a good one but much too short and not enough details on the lore that he trying to use. I think Santeria Is interesting and mixing it up with the drug cartel is an awesome idea.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

***** Meh, I wasn‘t thrilled in this one, It was readable, had some exciting moments once it got there, but overall I found it lackluster at best.

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BookMaven9
Atmosphere: A Love Story | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Never ever does TJR disappoint!!! This one was just as wonderful as all her other books! I was very invested in these characters, from the loser sister to the lovely blossoming of Joan and how she finds who she is what it means to love.

14 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Everything burns”

Another quick paced, character driven story with a a lightening quick page turner. Whenever you think his stories go dark, they go darker!

A family who runs a crematory business runs into some hang issues, and what unfolds is a chess match between getting this family out of trouble, outwitting the gangs all the while the family secrets, dysfunction, and dream slowly unfold.

A gut puncher for sure!

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BookMaven9
My Friends | Fredrik Backman
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you get old, gravity pulls the corners of your mouth down, the road to a smile grows longer.

The most dangerous place on earth is inside us.

Grown men don‘t have enough things they‘re afraid of on this planet to become good at running.

14 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Isola: A Novel | Allegra Goodman
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️oh to be a woman in the 1500‘s😞.
Harrowing true story of Margarite de la Rocque who was stranded on a deserted island for years alongside her nursemaid and lover! From noble woman to warrior! Hands down one of the best reads this year!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4w
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love my adventures with Carl and Donut! These books keep me sane during insane times which is wild cause these books are bonkers 😂

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TOXIC LESBIAN VAMPIRES they say!!!! Why sure, why not lol!

Well I loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaLure so this didn‘t take much to grab this one up. It‘s not just the storylines that interesting or the fascinating characters she creates. It‘s the absolute magical use of words that make each sentence sing like pure poetry! Her writing styles makes me never want her books to end!

Loved sinking teeth into this one!

Lesliereadsalot In line for this one. Sounds great! 1mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
BookMaven9 @Lesliereadsalot so gooooood! 1mo
14 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️1/2 The writing was beautiful and yet felt out of place in this environment for some reason. I couldn‘t connect@to the characters and wasn‘t sure what this was all@supposed to be about. I appreciate the effort shining a light on how parts of our society is left behind. But this sadly wasn‘t it.

Lesliereadsalot I actually bailed on this one but forgot to post. Thanks for your review…sounds like I didn‘t miss anything. 1mo
BookMaven9 Except for the beautiful words you really didn‘t. There are better stories about the immigrant/middle America novels 1mo
14 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m finally halfway through to catching up on the Dept. Q series. This was a twisty one that went many places at once and was a fun read. However a bit disappointed that I‘m 5 books in and still don‘t have a clue about Assad‘s background. This didn‘t push the storyline forward a bit.

Other than that, a pretty good thriller.

Lesliereadsalot Is Dept Q the same one as the Netflix series? Really liked that series! 1mo
BookMaven9 Yes it is. I read the first one about 10 years ago ago which was the show. I read until there were no more. Now there‘s 10! I‘m working on catching up 1mo
15 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Purity of Vengeance | Jussi Adler-Olsen
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It‘s been a minute since I‘ve read a Department Q novel!

These books don‘t disappoint! Great characters along with very intricate storylines that weave and tie end nicely throughout. This one explores the oldies in Denmark when the right wing nationalists wanted to keep Denmark “Danish” and explored the lengths some crazies will go to keep in that way.

The relationships between Carl, Assad and rose gold deeper.

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BookMaven9
Jude the Obscure | Thomas Hardy
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️all the bloody stars!!!! This book is a masterpiece for its writing and its subject matter. So much to unpack. Unconventional people living in Victorian times and getting slammed from all directions. All Jude wants is an education, all Sur wants is to love without the constraints of marriage. Why is that so tragic? Heartbreaking read! A top 5 favorite

8 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️an amazing piece of Korean history along with learning about the Haenyo women of Jeju island as seen through the eyes of two friends and the catalyst that destroys their friendship during the April 3, 1948 uprising. I cannot recommend this wonderful and heartbreaking story.

Lesliereadsalot Such a good book. My son actually visited this island. 2mo
annahenke I keep meaning to pick this up. Need to move it up the list! 2mo
BookMaven9 I wish I visited it when I was in s Korea. What a fascinating history 2mo
13 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow!!! These books keep getting funnier and sillier and just plain wild and crazy! I‘m in love with my characters so much. This level has been explosive! The crazy train from Hell and the tangle has been the most fun yet.

I can‘t wait to see where Carl and Donut end up next and what havoc they reap.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the 22nd book in the incredible Charlie Parker series. Although this one started out slow, it picks up well. Wr are getting closer to why he is haunted by the ghost of his child. I need more Louis and Angel than I got here so hoping we see more of them in the next book.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
13 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
The Virgin Suicides | Jeffrey Eugenides
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Panpan

⭐️I‘m not sure I could hate a book more!

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️interesting take on the lore of staircases in the woods. Dealing with friendships, trauma while giving a unique look at haunted houses. The story stopped and stalled too much for me. Characters felt undeveloped. Needed more exploration. It was just ok.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I‘m certainly glad I read this book! Freedom versus tyranny and a battle of wills you won‘t forget.
Triggers: racism and misogyny throughout

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BookMaven9
Carl's Doomsday Scenario | Matt Dinniman
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Carl and Princess Donuts adventures continue to bring laughs and endless entertainment.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my 3rd Nat Cassidy read, he seems to get better and better at his storytelling. I found this to be a page turner since the action starts right away and never really lets up.

His characters are sympathetic and likable you find yourself sort of rooting for everyone in one way or the other.

Imagine a 5 year old boy who can make his very fears come to life? If you want to know, give this a read.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
BookMaven9 🖤 4mo
17 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
Cold Eternity | S.A. Barnes
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️this is ok@between heavier books. Entertaining enough however no depth to characters, creature lore or science fiction. It‘s just a generic space horror that somewhat engaging. Not bad, but not great by any means. Took awhile to get going.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Haunting, intense, loneliness, love, survival, self reflection.

What does it mean to be human. Powerful read! I wish more people were aware of this book.

Lesliereadsalot Got this one coming up! So glad you liked it. 4mo
BookMaven9 You definitely won‘t forget it. 4mo
16 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️omg this was a blast listening to!!! I am looking forward to getting back into the world of Princess Donut and Carl! Although it‘s way silly, the character building has captured me.

Addison_Reads Agree! I just finished this one today. 4mo
BookMaven9 I‘m into book 2. So much fun !🤩 4mo
10 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
You Killed Me First | John Marrs
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 3.5 stars

While I enjoyed the book loads, I know what he can do and he can certainly do better. It‘s still a fun read and a page turner, but compared to what he‘s done before, this came in just under expectations.

These 3 women are a hot mess, in an entertaining way. And I enjoyed the backstabbing, twisty little ways they were at each other.

So definitely not one of his best but I‘m still happy I read it.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
12 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
Small Favors | Erin A. Craig
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This author can do no wrong. What a deliciously wonderful creepfest. I love strange forest books and am always imagining what lurks within the trees in the darkness. This gives a good spin on that genre if you love spooky forest stories.

This one is a slow burn that you have to be patient with but it does payoff. The atmosphere alone is worth the read.

I loved her other books!

ICantImReading I‘ve been on a kick with reading all of her books this year after loving “The Thirteenth Child” - I hope to get to this one soon! 🙂 4mo
BookMaven9 Loved the thirteenth child!!! And her salt and sorrow books 4mo
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookMaven9
Naked in Death | Nora Roberts, J. D. Robb
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Panpan

⭐️

This was an absolutely cringe worthy novel! Dialogue was awful! I don‘t like romance books and this acts like a murder mystery/ scifi when in reality those things were thrown in as a side to the romance. Blech

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️The cover is better than the actual book. I figured it out early on. It‘s an interesting concept but it didn‘t work for me. Forest vibes are one of my faves, I wish we spent more time there rather than in the MC‘s head repeating things over and over again rather than move the story forward. Pacing was off. But the cover is stunning.

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BookMaven9
Ohio | Stephen Markley
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️a decent go at looking at small town America during some tough times. I think there is a greatness in there somewhere, but couldn‘t connect to characters and felt it was overwritten in places.

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BookMaven9
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️two stars for the beautiful writing and making me feel like I was in nature. The stories were lackluster and not interesting to me at all.

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BookMaven9
Hollow Kingdom | Kira Jane Buxton
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ This book started off great!
What started out as a good set up, funny dialogue even if you‘re mostly in ST‘s head, soon becomes tiresome. Many of the encounters along the way become long winded and either rambling conversations. I admit, it lost me several times and quickly ran of steam to be interesting enough for me to care. I‘m so disappointed because I think the author was onto something here.

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BookMaven9
Empire of the Damned | Jay Kristoff
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️proper vicious vampires in a gritty world that is dark and dangerous. Excellent characters that will break your heart! A worthy sequel and I can‘t wait for book 3!

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I‘ve never watched any family YouTubers cause it doesn‘t feel right but I followed this story closely. The oldest child of Ruby Franke is a brave and stronger than she knows you g girl to fight for her siblings and to see the truth of her abusive mother. I hope one day she sees the part the Mormon church played in this tragic story and break free of all her shackles. She is getting good therapy and I have no doubt she will be ok.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️if you need a break from the world for something sweet and charming, this might be for you. A little too in the nose for my taste.

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BookMaven9
Extinction | Douglas Preston
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️I expect so much better from this author. But this was dull, predictable and full of cardboard characters. It was beyond formulaic. I love my fast paced reads that don‘t require a lot of thinking but this wasn‘t it. If you want to just casually pass the time, maybe

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BookMaven9
Betty: A novel | Tiffany McDaniel
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Absolutely literary genius! A devastating coming of age story with so much heart and grit. What a brilliant author! This book will break your heart and make your heart sour with its lyrical prose and beauty alongside its ugly. I cannot recommend enough! Will be one of my favorites!

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Frankenstein is my favorite book ever! This book is one of the best biographies and just stuffed full of so many amazing facts about these kids who got together on a stormy night in Geneva! These young creatives gave us so much and were all tragically taken way too soon.

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BookMaven9
Pieces of Her | Karin Slaughter
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️this book was a hot mess. No one to root for, poor constructed, convoluted! Was surprised because I loved Pretty Girls. Give this a pass!

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BookMaven9
My Cousin Rachel | Daphne Du Maurier
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️While this author can definitely write gothic novels like no other, and this one holds in terms of style, but oof these characters! They took stars away especially the narrator, Phillip! This guy was beyond dumb, to the point of irritating more and not allowing to me to enjoy this this more.

25 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Desert Flowers | Paul Pen
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Panpan

⭐️

🤮blech! That‘s how bad this was! The most annoying people ever with no character development whatsoever. The repetition of dialogue and bad behaviors all around make this a cringey read.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this authors lyrical way of telling a story. It almost feels like a fairytale . There is something ethereal and calming the way she writes no matter how brutal the subject matter. This was an excellent conclusion to this 2 books series with a bittersweet conclusion.

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BookMaven9
The Thirteenth Child | Erin A. Craig
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️honestly this author‘s books get better and better!!! Brilliant retelling of Grimm “godfather death”. World building, richly developed characters and lots of feels.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A beautiful written book about an ugly subject matter. Trigger warning, child abduction and abuse. I loved the way the author wove in fairy tales as a coping mechanism to help deal with horrific circumstances and the power of imagination used to survive.

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BookMaven9
Kindred | Octavia Butler
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️I loved the concept of this book but found myself super frustrated at the characters. The snapshots of being thrown back to the slave era times was an excellent idea. But using time travel as the tool yet not ever addressing it left me underwhelmed.

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BookMaven9
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Panpan

⭐️ hated it! Flat, uninteresting, boring characters and a story that went nowhere. Yes, I get that it‘s supposed to be satire but I didn‘t see it. Interesting concepts poorly executed.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️unpopular opinion coming. I thought this book was poorly written, too many abrupt jumps. I didn‘t care for any of the characters and wanted to feel something g emotional connection but could not. I think I‘d rather read about the true woman this happened to, Eva Panic Nahir.

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BookMaven9
Playground | Richard Powers
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A completely engrossing and thought provoking novel on all levels. I almost gave up in the beginning, so glad I didn‘t. Once it grabs, it grabs hard.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
BookMaven9 My girl and book buddy 7mo
15 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Night Tiger | Yangsze Choo
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ It took me a bit to get into this story and keep my characters straight, but once it got going, I found it very enjoyable.

It‘s wonderful to read books about other cultures and folk lore, superstitions and where those beliefs take them too. This one is set in 30‘s in Malaysia. It‘s part mystery, part magical and romance.

I personally am not a huge fan of magical realism and was somewhat hesitant to read this, but very glad I did.