So close to the end of the year and I have to squeeze this one in my top ten. Did not realize I had all these misleading misconceptions about Taiwan. I thought it had always been free because the Nationalists escaped from China. Anti-Communist equals human rights, right? I was so wrong. The Nationalists were just as oppressive. I need more info about Taiwan. Any suggestions?

Beautiful writing - very depressing subject matter. "We go from euphoria to despair several times a day." This quote struck a chord because I felt that as I was reading. At one point I was not going to use it for my markup postal group, but I decided I wanted to hear what their thoughts were. @megnews @Laughterhp @Chrissyreadit I wrote in blue.

I didn't know there was a movie till I overheard some of my fifth graders, who are doing a research project on Harriet Tubman, talking about it. I was so excited that I googled the trailer. And the actress is petite. Yes! Hollywood usually shows Ms. Tubman as a tall woman with a deep voice. I cannot wait. Has anyone seen it?

A new favorite author. This is her memoir on her Puerto Rican childhood. I know children are resilient, but it amazes me what they do to survive. Esmeralda's mother was at times abusive, but she tried her best to give the children their best shot in life. I loved the end. Esmeralda showed she had a bit of her mom's backbone to the principal who wanted to hold her back a year to learn English.

A masterpiece. An epic read about a Ugandan family who descended from Kintu and his twin wives in the 1700s. Most of the book is set in 2004, but with each descendent's own personal, hard childhood in the 60s and 70s. The book took me places I've not been such as Amin's butchery and the bush wars. An unforgettable read.

I fell in love with Raymond. Everyone should have a Raymond. Eleanor's life was so sad, but she made me giggle with her thoughts on people. A completely awesome book.

#Myidealbookclub would center around different countries and cultures. I would love to plan a meal from the country. These are the last 12 books I need to read to finish the #AroundtheWorld2019 challenge. Thanks for tagging me @megnews

Eww! Gross! #imanoldprude
Gratuitous sex and violence. Just not a fan of these types of books. I'm glad it is done. #nwc I might have to watch the series on mute. It made me read outside of my comfort zone, but I would blush and hope no one was reading over my shoulder. I need to take a shower. 😳😖😜🙅 On a positive note, the narrator loved literature so many classic works were referred by him.

Another awesome book to read in October. It had the running theme of Lazarus and returning from the dead.

Brilliant. Extremely creepy short stories from the Queen of Gothic Literature.

Brilliant. Kadish uses classic literature to describe the ups and downs of new love, politics of an academic department, and the relationship between a mentor and her advisee all while the mentor plans for her tenure promotion. Loved the quotes. Loved the literary elements used to push the story. Just a fascinating author.

I really enjoyed the banter between all the friends. A great mystery - plenty of betrayal. The action kept my attention. It was published in the 90s so communication was through pay phones. Would it still be considered realistic fiction?

What a day. I found out I won Dracula from @Librarybelle - thank you so much. And then I traveled to Greensboro with a wonderful friend from my book club to meet Ruta Sepetys. She was such a wonderful and inspiring person and she understood that empathy should be taught through history.

Enjoyed reading about the different messages that a flower has and how flowers can repair broken hearts. I cared for each member of the unconventional family and was thrilled with the ending.

What are you doing this weekend Tammy? Duh!!

This is a refugee story from the 90s while Soviet Union was falling apart. It begins in Georgia (Caucasus Mtns), and while one ends in France, the other refugee sacrifices her liberty to ensure success. A truly inspiring story. Because of the Around the World Challenge, I've read several books on refugees. I'm thinking of purchasing some of these books for the narrow-minded for Christmas. Would they read it? Would they start having more empathy?

#200KGiveaway Congratulations @Librarybelle Stoker's Dracula is on my the list.

You know it is definitely a pick when you are halfway finished and you are dying to know the end. I'm trying so hard not to glance at the last page.

When I saw the heft, I thought it would be her whole life. Was I wrong? It started when she was 55!!! It was sad as one by one, of those few whom she trusted, were dying. Elizabeth had such a turbulent beginning and that beginning affected how she lived during the last fifteen years of her life and reign. She didn't want to be seen as an impulsive tyrant as her father, but you better not underestimate her either. So glad I read this.

@megnews @Laughterhp @Chrissyreadit I have changed my mind. I didn't want to have anything in the 20th century and this is set in the 19th. Has anyone read it?

As spooky as I can handle. My mother was deathly afraid of birds because she was attacked by blue jays once and because she watched the movie when she was young. I couldn't help to call Mom just now and tell her that I bought a book for her. She was not enthusiastic about the gift.

#SeptemberReads2019
#ReadHarder2019 Piecing Me Together (diversity middle grade), Handmade Marketplace (business) Still Alice (self published) 24/24 DONE 😆
#AroundtheWorld2019 Dona Barbara (Venezuela), the Shark god (Vanuatu), Enrique's Journey (Honduras), A Tale of Love and Darkness (Israel), The Door (Hungary), We Need New Names (Zimbabwe) 25/52
#Booked2019 Enrique's Journey (Addiction) and Akata Witch (PoC - MC paranormal) 24/24 Done

I enjoy reading about complicated familial relationships and I believe Akata Witch had one. Sunny thinks her father hates her, but actually doesn't trust her because she is a girl. Sunny has powers that she inherited from her mysterious grandmother, but no one will tell her anything because no one in her family knows; they just don't want her to end up like the grandmother who was killed by a student.

Brilliant. Genoa can make a reader empathize with the people who suffer from TBI. I'd never heard of this condition till I read this book. She brings the brutality, the stubbornness, the overwhelming frustration, the ultimate humility, and even humor to the forefront. This book is just as well written as Still Alice.

If I can remember its tongue in cheek presence, I like it and can recommend it.

Zimbabwe #ownvoices - What do you do when your country is in the middle of a civil war, your father is dying of AIDS, and you and your friends steal guavas so you can eat? Should you leave to live with your aunt in America? Darling leaves and is eaten up with guilt, homesickness, and bitterness (the family and friends left behind need money). This was a realistic view of an emigrant from an African nation.

Oh my, what a beautiful memoir. Oz's childhood was surrounded by memories of Jews, who escaped WWII, and their memories of those who didn't. He was raised by scholastic, erudite parents who wanted their son to be Someone. Oz and his father survive the birth of a new nation only to mourn and crawl out of the ashes that came after his beloved mother's death. So sweet and haunting. Oz clearly wrote to purge himself of bitterness and hate. 5 stars

There were no pictures, plants, or ornaments. Only books, more books, and silence filled the room, and a wonderful rich smell of leather bindings, yellowing paper, mold, a strange scent of seaweed and old glue, of wisdom, secrets, and dust.

Meh

I can't tell what I read. It seemed to be written in code and I didn't have the key to decipher. I was told to read each line carefully or I would miss something. How true. In a long paragraph of everyday dialogue, you would see the words, "did you hear about the attack on Clinmore?" and nothing else. It was set during the Irish Rebellion which is important, but it wasn't clear when the author wrote about it. I want my missed time back.

A fun read. #nwc #novelwatchingcrew The grammatical errors drove me crazy. Now, to watch the movie and sing with my daughters.

By the time I neared the end, I came to the realization that You Can't Go Home Again was written to show how Wolfe's worldview had evolved through his life's experiences. I resented his apparent passivity to racism. I scorned his descriptions of the rich. I was appalled at the mistreatment of his fellow train passenger. He understood his innocence will never return. He saw and lived inhumanity and knew it to be ugly. #wolferead Thank you @Lcsmcat

P 465 #wolferead @Lcsmcat almost your own words. LOL!!

This book would make a great horror movie. Emerence lives to make others dependent on her and when they disappoint, the revenge is twisted and cruel. Emerence is very contradictory - she loves animals, but beats them and imprisons them. A hard read, but I couldn't put it down till I found out what was hidden behind Emerence's last door. Shudder.

Another tear-jerker. Makes one pray that they are never told that they have early onset Alzheimer's. Especially a hard-working academic who loves reading to learn.

I cried. So many tears. A boy's tenacity, desperation, and love for his family is written so Americans can sense what these young refugees endure. The hardships are unbelievable - being killed or damaged from trains, exploited by gangs all through Mexico, rapes, separated from mothers who work in America so the children can LIVE, getting caught and not giving up. I'm so glad I read this book. Pulitzer Prize Winner

#7days7covers. Thank you @arubabookwoman and @Lcsmcat for tagging me.

"...fights break out between municipal and state police officers over who gets to rob a group of migrants." Heartbreaking

#nwc #novelwatchingcrew I enjoy a good frenemy story. Reading how the four held hands to keep from sliding down mud touched my Maleficent cold heart.

For the life of me I can't understand Wolfe's purpose in writing a man's death as he gruesomely did in ch 29. The history of America was weaved through the fabrication of his death. It was very disturbing. #wolferead

Up to ch 31 #wolferead. Reading the part how Libya Hill was affected by the Depression really shook me. I don't know why. I've always known NC was affected too. I think this week I am going to research Asheville during the Depression. It also reminded me of Its a Wonderful Life - except the Building Trust is run by unscrupulous men and the blind judge (Mr. Potter) may be who saves the town through evil, cruel ways.

1. Set in Cade's Cove, Tennessee ♥️
2. Thunderstorms need to leave because it is almost time for our Bigfoot Festival. 50,000 people are expected in our little town.
3. Didn't have one. I had a blind date who took me to the library. On our second, he took me to Barnes and Noble. Been married for 19 years.
4. 2 daughters, 2 cats, 3 dogs, 2 geckos, and a guinea pig.
5. Thank you @AkashaVampie for the tag.

Thank you so much @CBee. What a lovely surprise in my email. 💜

I enjoyed the parts that portrayed how Vanuatu Islanders entwined their belief system with Christianity. Very interesting. I disliked how Montgomery insisted that the beliefs were fictitious. He was insistent that the Islanders prove their black magic worked.

I feel like I have gotten a go-ahead. First goal - knit like a fury for Christmas. If successful, I'll really start in earnest.

"For a moment they saw a talking dog...then it switched to a pair of twins who were nothing alike (one was boyish and athletic and the other was sort of a diva, and they both sort of looked like Mal, except with yellow hair..."

I about died. This must mean Disney had already put Dove Cameron in the role before Isle of the Lost was written.