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BookMaven9

BookMaven9

Joined May 2016

Loved puppers, books, film buff, super heros and the 10th Doctor
review
BookMaven9
House of Bone and Rain | Gabino Iglesias
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A beautifully written yet gritty and violent story of reverence and justice. The well developed characters enriches this horror story on the island of Puerto Rico after a hurricane 5 rips through bringing the demons within and the darkness needed for vengeance. A well blended book of culture, sea creatures, friendship and violence when they all crash together. Recommend

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BookMaven9
In the Company of Ogres | A. Lee Martinez
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed Gil‘s All Fright Diner and this one didn‘t live up to that one. It was somewhat funny, dragged in the middle going nowhere, and I means nowhere forever. If you like ogres, orcs, goblins, sirens, demons, Amazonian and gods, well this has them all.

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BookMaven9
Natural Beauty: A Novel | Ling Ling Huang
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️a horrifying read exploring the dark sides of wellness and beauty industry, especially when you have many billionaires out there doing whatever the fuck they want. Body horror, gore, graphic and sad! Commentary on race, beauty standards, immigration, misogyny and capitalism rolled into one compelling speculative fiction. A MUST READ!

16 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Evil in Me | Brom
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🎃🎃🎃 demons, serial killers, possession, cursed objects, good characters, 1980s and Punk rock !!! Oh my!!
Lots of stuff going on, felt a little YA in parts, not all. I enjoy Broms artwork and storytelling . This wasn‘t his strongest book but just reading about Beel is worth it♥️

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BookMaven9
William | Mason Coile
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Mehso-so

🎃🎃1/2 This was a big just ok book for me. The ending made it all worth it, however the journey getting there was unremarkable. Very little character development, lots of bumbling around waiting time. Started out strong, good premise, poorly executed. Overall it‘s fine because it‘s thankfully short.

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BookMaven9
Diavola | Jennifer Thorne
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Panpan

🎃 No atmosphere, no vibes, definitely not gothic. I was rooting for the ghost to wipe all the terrible out in this book. One half terrible,
Privileged rich family with no redeeming qualities. The second half a non interesting spirit. Hot mess@of a book!

14 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Burning | Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman
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Panpan

⭐️blech not good writing or story or characters

bookaholic1 I like Johnathan Kellerman books, but didn't like the writing when he writes with his son either. 2mo
BookMaven9 👍🏼 2mo
12 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

🎃🎃🎃 This probably isn‘t fair to Mr. King, but I‘m not a huge fan of short stories so take my review lightly. There are some standout short stories I r read in the past they actually stick, like King‘s The Jaunt. Unforgettable!!! His son, Joe Hill gave me a couple I‘ll never forget. And one of my all time favorite books is the Martian chronicle. But there are far and few between.

These were just ok, no standouts for me.

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BookMaven9
The September House | Carissa Orlando
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🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 this book weaves horror, gore, family trauma and humor effortlessly. Hats of to a well crafted story that is both shocking and delightfully entertaining. A wonderful protagonist that will win your heart.

16 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
The Seething | Ben Monroe
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⭐️⭐️⭐️I had some nitpicky stuff about this one but overall a pretty good read from@an indie author. If you like Lovecraftian horror, this one is a good choice. Weak ending, some repetitive dialogue and words but overall a fun time.

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BookMaven9
We Used to Live Here | Marcus Kliewer
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I don‘t get unsettled too easily but this one definitely did it! I can‘t remember a book giving me such existential dread as much as this one did. Not since lovecraft anyway! Perfect book for the spooky season! Highly recommend

Jen2 That skull is fabulous! 2mo
BookMaven9 💀thank you! 2mo
19 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Will of the Many | James Islington
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would give this more stars if I could! This has everything you could ever want in high fantasy!

Dark academy
Political intrigue
Excellent would building
Strong characters
Didn‘t see that coming
Twists and turns!
Disturbing magic system

RamsFan1963 I love the Beetlejuice heads!! ❤❤❤❤❤ 2mo
BookMaven9 Aren‘t those great! The new movie was awesome too💚 2mo
12 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The House Is on Fire | Rachel Beanland
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️an engaging historical fiction using parts of actual people@who were there although took many liberties with their narratives.

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BookMaven9
Angel of Vengeance | Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Rehashing these characters over and over again with the storyline long ago seemingly finished and brought back felt forced. Honestly I‘m tired of Constance back story and her whole ordeal with Leng. I‘m also in the fence about Diogenes. Not sure how he gets a redemption arc here when he was such a diabolical villain. Here he felt watered down and it didn‘t sit well.

I miss the old characters and want more vinnie and Pendergast.

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BookMaven9
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Bailedbailed

Yea I just couldn‘t stay awake long enough for this.

dabbe #allhailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 3mo
Lesliereadsalot I hear you. I read to the end but was disappointed. 3mo
BookMaven9 I struggled so hard and wanted to make it but just couldn‘t. I didn‘t miss anything right? 3mo
12 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
I Kill Killers | S T Ashman, Timeless Papers
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As a huge fan of Dexter, I can get behind this debut crime novel!

A fast paced crime fiction about a female version of Dexter who kills killers riding within the lines of shades of gray. I love Leah! She‘s an intriguing and smart woman. This is a twisty little gem if you like page turners and great summer thrillers.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️once again my go to author doesn‘t disappoint. Weaving social issues into his once again The One universe, this time with families hits all the right page turning spots

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BookMaven9
Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️I love pirates!!! 🏴‍☠️ I needed to learn the fates of these men after devouring Black Sails. The audio was very entertaining although a bit cartoony for me in comparison but overall fun.

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BookMaven9
Shutter Island | Dennis Lehane
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m pretty sure if I read this before the film I would have loved it. But I couldn‘t shake knowing the secret from my brain. I didn‘t feel the same way about Mystic River but this one was solely based on the reveal so it was just an ok for me.

I loved the way Lehane laid everything out and being in Teddys mind was unsettling. It‘s an excellent book if you don‘t know.

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BookMaven9
The Women: A Novel | Kristin Hannah
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️An incredibly intense read! The horrors of Vietnam and how it impacted the men and women who served and the disheartening trip back to heal and be whole again while being unsupported by the country you served. A bright light on the women nurses who sacrifices need to be known!

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BookMaven9
Best Lies | David Ellis
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Woo hoo! Am I happy to have found this author. I loved Look Closer, and now this one!!! If you need a super fun, sometimes snarky, thriller with more plot twists than a pretzel, this one is the one! Completely entertaining with very likable characters and some not so much.

Nothing is worse than being promised a thriller where you can guess so much. At least I know with these books I‘m gonna be surprised and blown away!

16 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Lots of dread, anxious, sad feelings around this one. Writing from an 8 year olds perceptions of the world while being haunted by an entity was a brilliant idea.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
11 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
Death's End | Cixin Liu
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The concept of these books is huge! I loved all three although I had to focus a lot with book 3 lol! Lots of hard sci fi but he writes in such a way that you get it. It‘s a bit bleak however leaves a sliver of hope. I have never been invested or entertained in this genre as I have with these.

This isn‘t for everyone and I certainly wasn‘t sure it was for me, but I love this series.

Jaimelire I loved it too! 4mo
BookMaven9 ♥️ 4mo
12 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Maid | Nita Prose
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️a quirky little who done it to pass the time between tomes. Nothing too serious or heavy. I enjoyed Molly, the maid. But this was riddled with stereotypes making it a little@less interesting in terms of characters. Except Molly.

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BookMaven9
The Chalk Man | C. J. Tudor
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was a pretty good book but overall but underwhelming ending. The twists didn‘t take my breath away. The journey was better than the ending.

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BookMaven9
Interview with the Devil | Michael Harbron
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I chose this book to read while traveling because horror is easy, fast paced, not a lot of thought needs to happen. Well, I chose the wrong book 😂.

I‘m not sure how to describe this book and don‘t want to spoil it. It‘s actually book 1 in a trilogy which I was not aware of either. Can‘t say it‘s horror quite yet although there are some moments that were unsettling. Were they unsettling because of the evil or because of the mind?

dabbe What a cover! 😱 5mo
BookMaven9 Honestly the cover is very deceiving. I‘m not sure it‘s horror. It‘s interesting and thought provoking in parts. I‘m loving it 5mo
10 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Dark Forest | Cixin Liu
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was every bit as epic and amazing as the first book,. Ive often been intimidated by hard science science fiction reads, but these books are making that fear unjustified. It‘s absolutely brilliant.

The concepts and ideas are so big and bold and the journey so engrossing, it‘s hard to put the book down. However I do need to move slowly and savor and process these books. Take your time and enjoy the ride if you dare.

Lesliereadsalot So amazing! 5mo
BookMaven9 ♥️it truly is 5mo
15 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
Guncle Abroad | Steven Rowley
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🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈just having these wonderful people@back in my life was soothing to my soul. My heart is filled and hope is in my heart. I love love love love all things GUP! Can we have another sequel pretty please!

15 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

Woah! Now this is a thriller that keeps you moving right along dying to find out what is going on! I listened to the audiobook which was extremely well produced and entertaining all the way through.

There are so many twists and turns that flow like water. This author can write a page turner. I loved every second of it except one little thing, which brought it down to a 4 star instead of 5. The ending.

Other than that a solid thriller!

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BookMaven9
The Furies | John Connolly
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⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 it‘s not a five star read like usual but it‘s a@worthy installment to the Charlie Parker series. It‘s 2 novellas in one book so not as much intensity. But always enjoy being back with the gang.

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BookMaven9
The Personal Librarian | Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️an engrossing book about the life of little known Bell decosta Green the personal librarian of JP Morgan. A ruthless negotiator, a force to be reckoned with and a woman who secured a place in history along with JP Morgan along with holding onto the secret of her race which was a black woman navigating a white world by passing. Riveting story

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️what a lovely way to end this series. A handful of aliens from@different worlds get stranded on at a rest station and just sit and learn about each other. What a warm and lovely place to be stuck in for few days. I‘m sad it‘s the last book.

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BookMaven9
Nightwatching: A Novel | Tracy Sierra
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Panpan

⭐️blech! Frustrating, unlikeable characters, unbelievable nonsense! I hated that no one had names and that not one single person believed her. One of the most frustrating characters I ever read in a long time. I expected some cool twist which much would save this book for me. Nope! Lots love it. Good for them. Not for me.

BookMaven9 Most definitely 👍🏼 6mo
13 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Ritual | Adam Nevill
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️having always been afraid of being lost in the woods, this scary, claustrophobic book is intense and will make you think twice about hiking lol. The first half is definitely better than the last half but still a page turner.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
BookMaven9 ♥️🐾 7mo
14 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
From Below | Darcy Coates
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⭐️⭐️⭐️not a high pick for me due to the slowness that dragged the book in areas but solid premise. Ghost ships and underwater terror was well played out. Story needed to be tighter to stay effective.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I can‘t give this enough stars! Flew through this hard hitting science fiction story. The concepts alone are mind blowing. Don‘t be afraid of the hard science behind it, don‘t let it intimidate you. You definitely don‘t want to miss out on this one. Bring on book 2!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
Lesliereadsalot Half way through book 2! Did you watch the Netflix series? 7mo
BookMaven9 I haven‘t yet. We are going to watch it now that I read the book. Very excited 7mo
14 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BookMaven9
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | Jean-Dominique Bauby
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️it‘s amazing what we are capable of achieving and what we are capable@of tolerating. Bauby was struck down in the prime of his jet setting life by a rare type if stroke and could only move one eye. He learned to communicate and write this book about his experience and his thoughts on life. Didn‘t like the guy but appreciated his honesty. Better than sugar coating it all.

Lesliereadsalot Saw the movie..it was terrific! 7mo
BookMaven9 Yes I saw the film years ago and loved it to 7mo
14 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️the most un thrilling thriller. Flat characters, awful narrator full of well@worn tropes with unnecessary romance thrown in for spice.

11 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I can‘t myself giving less than 5 stars because of how these books make me feel. This one is no exception. I literally feel comforted by the Wayfarer series. It‘s true, this book has no action or actual plot, just a glimpse of the world humans have created in space amongst many different alien species through the eyes of 6 different characters. These books show humans evolving into something better💙

Highly recommend!

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BookMaven9
Promise Not to Tell | Jennifer McMahon
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Panpan

⭐️ I have read this author before and enjoyed the books I read. I didn‘t realize this was her first book when I chose it. All I can say is I‘m sure glad this wasn‘t my first book of hers cause it was plain awful!

dabbe @fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 7mo
12 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
The Time Machine | H.G. Wells
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️Wells is way better than Verne in terms of storytelling. Been a favorite story of mine since childhood. I was pretty entertained and ideas were WOW! Definitely imaginative for the times. My complaint was the lack of warmth or relationships of any kind. But overall enjoyed. And yes, this is a photo of my very own Time Machine commissioned by an artist i met at a convention.

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BookMaven9
Mystic River | Dennis Lehane
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️even though I know how this story plays out from the film, I wasn‘t expecting unputdownable ‼️‼️ excellent read looking forward to more Lehane✅

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
14 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
First Lie Wins: A Novel | Ashley Elston
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⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a fun, twisty little cat and mouse thriller. Sometimes you just need to do one of these to lighten the mood.

There are twists and turns and alot of likeable characters in this thst you root for. Although it‘s a bit far watched in places, doesn‘t make it any less fun.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fully immersive and emotional time travel story about love and family with a hint of murder mystery.

However the timelines felt a bit wonky and over my head at times lol.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
BookMaven9 💙 8mo
16 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Wind Knows My Name | Isabel Allende
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Panpan

⭐️there has to be better books out there about the immigration experience. This was one choppy mess! Felt not a thing about these cardboard characters

dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 8mo
BookMaven9 🤣 8mo
12 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️a great start, almost a 5 star read. Loved all the Shakespeare weaving in and out of dialogue, the isolated world of acting, etc. a bit of a Secret History knock off, but was unputdownable. However the ending blew it all for me. No shock or good twist. You can see it all coming.

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BookMaven9
The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have had this book on my shelf for years and finally picked it up. However I ended up listening to it when I find out Toni Morrison was the narrator. Listening to her lovely, melodious voice unspool Pecola‘s story using language that is beyond beautiful but speaking about such horrors is at times unsettling and uncomfortable as it should be when speaking about harsh realities.

Stunning in its terrible way.

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BookMaven9
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I‘m so in love with these books! Book 2 although has no one from@book one was just as enjoyable as the first. My go to feel good books.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
14 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
Johnny Got His Gun | Dalton Trumbo
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️it is the definition of anti-war for sure! Joe is kept alive with his mind intact but has no arms, legs, hearing, eyes or mouth. About as horrible as it can get. But something was lacking at the heart of Joe. I kept hearing Trumbo using Joe to rant about war which I am no supporter of. I wanted more Joe less Trumbo.

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BookMaven9
Small Mercies | Dennis Lehane
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️this was a tough read about tough people living in a tough area, Southie of Boston during bussing of kids to desegregate in the 70s. It was a difficult read living inside of people with such hatred and racism but FACTS! This is how it was. Although I was heartbroken for Mary Pat and her daughter, I despised their ugly nature. Lots of different feels!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
BookMaven9 🐾 9mo
18 likes2 comments