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HettyG

HettyG

Joined July 2021

review
HettyG
The Names: A Novel | Florence Knapp
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Pickpick

The narrative structure of this novel is really done well, and serves to keep the reader's interest in the story, but I agree with another review about the ending being a bit of a thud. But overall I did enjoy the book and I'm glad to have read it, the audio performance is excellent, although this is a novel where you must pay close attention to the chapter names.

22 likes1 stack add
blurb
HettyG
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October reading! My favorite is tagged, lots of meh novels this month! But four of five books this month were print format, and one of my goals for the year was more print so that's good.

review
HettyG
My Friends | Fredrik Backman
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Pickpick

I know I say this all the time, but the book was too long. It was a good story, with a flat ending and the middle part just dragged a bit. A low pick.

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HettyG
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"In the end, Harold had come down with a cold, and Maureen had moved into the spare room. Somehow or other neither of them had mentioned it, and somehow or other she had never moved back."

? This book is wounding me.

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HettyG
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"For all his talk about free love, he has never truly wanted her to be with another man. He offered her freedom because he never believed her capable of taking it."

Oh. Hell. Yeah.

Really enjoying this!

33 likes1 stack add
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HettyG
Creation Lake: A Novel | Rachel Kushner
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I just had to bail on this one, I gave it a hundred pages and I just am not interested.

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HettyG
Creation Lake: A Novel | Rachel Kushner
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Book roll came up with this next!

Suet624 Harold Fry is a must read 4w
HettyG Maybe I'll make that my next one! I can't even recall where that book came from or who recommended it 🤣 4w
32 likes2 comments
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HettyG
Go as a River: A novel | Shelley Read
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Pickpick

This was a sweet novel, although the second half felt truncated. She says in the beginning how much she would come to know her son's father's ways, but she never does.

Suet624 This book was disappointing to me 4w
32 likes1 comment
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HettyG
Go as a River: A novel | Shelley Read
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"Beyond that, I knew nothing, especially not of love's beginnings, of that inexplicable draw to another, why some boys could pass you by without notice but the next has a pull on you as undeniable as gravity, and from that moment forward, longing is all you know."

Awwww, this made me rather weepy.

TheLudicReader I loved this book. 1mo
32 likes1 comment
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HettyG
Go as a River: A novel | Shelley Read
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Couldn't decide what to read! I don't actually know how the book spins or bingo things that people do on here work, so I just put out six books from my TBR shelf and rolled a dice 😊🎲

Bookish_Thoughts Good plan! 1mo
BookBr Love that!! 1mo
DeeLew Let us know how Creation Lake is. I‘m really interested in that one! 1mo
JuniperWilde I‘m not sure how it works either but your creative version is pretty effective 1mo
Enchanted_Bibliophile Here is the original post on how BookSpin works, if you're interested. It's really helpful for clearing TBR. https://thearomaofbooks.wordpress.com/bookspin-bookspinbingo-litsy-challenge/ 1mo
35 likes5 comments
blurb
HettyG
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I'm nearly three quarters into this one and only just now feeling truly invested. The MC is really cold and unfeeling, and I understand why she's written that way, I guess, but it makes it hard to give a sh*t about her.

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HettyG
Magpie Lord | KJ Charles
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Pickpick

This novel was such a delight! An erotic and magical tale, wrapped in the beginnings of a beautiful love story, it made a dreadful and long flight bearable and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

CarolynM I love KJ Charles ❤️ 1mo
28 likes1 comment
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HettyG
Book of Accidents | Chuck Wendig
Mehso-so

This book was too long and I found the last third of it really tedious.

Reggie The only thing I remember from this books is the paragraph about guns. The book really was meh. 1mo
18 likes1 comment
review
HettyG
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Pickpick

This is probably my fourth time reading this novel and it tore my heart to pieces as relentlessly as it did the first time. A beautiful story, every time I read it I am reminded that real growth as a human being always involves looking yourself in the eye, confronting your shortcomings and asking for forgiveness, and how incredibly difficult that is.

38 likes1 stack add
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HettyG
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I'm several hours in and still questioning how reliable the narrator of this story is.... I'm really enjoying it, quite suspenseful, although I can also see how criticisms of the length and at times meandering opining by the main character could be valid.

HettyG An annoying thing about this book is how often the MC talks about the carbs she is eating or not eating, it's really stupid and makes her more unlikeable than she should be. 3mo
38 likes1 comment
review
HettyG
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Pickpick

I cried through several of the letters that make up this book, but I have truly loved listening to it. I love each and every character and every time Sybil and her best friend Rosalie would close one of their letters with what they are reading and asking what the other is reading my heart got all squishy. Highly recommend this sweet novel.

HettyG Another thing I loved about this book was how it seemed that writing letters invited so much more intimacy and confidences from others, and it made me think about the role writing to each other plays in relationships. 3mo
BarbaraBB Loved this so much!! 3mo
45 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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HettyG
The Sparrow: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

Fascinating novel that has been occupying my thoughts for a week now after I finished it, which in my rating system means it's a 4 star book. One thing I wish I could discuss with others is the choice the author made to center Emilio's rape as the apex of his shame, rather than his decision to eat the flesh of beings he had come to believe were ensouled, rather than starve/die as Marc did. I wish this was a book club book!

ChaoticMissAdventures I loved this book and need to read it again. But I think it is the idea of masculinity and religion. He was not religious (if I remember correctly) but was raised around religious people where sex was more taboo, mixed with the feelings of out of control. As opposed to doing something (cannibalism) that was for survival - eating. This felt very real to me based off how I hear the men on the Internet speak. 4mo
HettyG That is so insightful, thank you! and also fits in with the other thing that puzzled me which was the focus on his forced prostitution, assuming he consented rather than assume he was taken prisoner, it's a powerful critique of patriarchal religion, to your point. 4mo
9 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
HettyG
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Pickpick

I put off reviewing this book after I finished it, hoping that upon further reflection I would like it better, but I have to reluctantly give it only three stars. It was okay. It was good writing and a compelling story. But the thing that makes Wally Lamb's great books great is the arc of redemption in his characters. He is a master at this, and for whatever reason, it doesn't show up in this novel. Still a pick, but low.

Suet624 Bummer! 4mo
JacqMac When he‘s good, he‘s really good, but sometimes he isn‘t so good. I was worried about this one. I‘m going to read it anyway. But I‘ll keep my expectations low. 4mo
41 likes2 comments
review
HettyG
Poor Deer: A Novel | Claire Oshetsky
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Pickpick

I did not expect this book... I didn't know anything about it before listening and it is like a punch in the face. It grabs your attention and does not let go. Absolutely could not stop listening, compelling and fascinating right up until the last word, amazing. And A+ narration performance on the audio!!

44 likes1 stack add
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HettyG
The Death of Shame | Ambrose Parry
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Always thrilled when a new book in this series comes out!! And these books are pitch perfect Summer reading, interesting, thoughtful and well written while still managing to be on the lighter side of novels, I just adore the entire series.

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HettyG
Nora Goes Off Script | Annabel Monaghan
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"I distinctly remember hearing Ben use the word 'shed' when we walked into it, and I ignored him. The way you do when you're trying to stay married." ?

AileenRR I love Nora ❤️ 4mo
28 likes1 comment
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HettyG
West with Giraffes | Lynda Rutledge
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June was a big reading month for me, with eight books finished and several really good four star novels, my favorite is tagged but What Kind of Paradise is a very close second!

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HettyG
The Sparrow: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell
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"After all, Ignatius of Loyola, a soldier who had killed and whored and made a thorough mess of his soul, said you could judge prayer worthwhile simply if you could act more decently, think more clearly afterward."

I love this.

CatMS This book was on so many literary blogs as a must read when it was published. I found it for $0.99 for Kindle but haven't brought myself to read yet. 4mo
25 likes1 comment
blurb
HettyG
The Sparrow: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell
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Next up in my Year of the Great Reread!! This book is copyrighted 1996, and I believe I read it in 1999 (when my first born was just a baby!), with a library book group. I'm not usually one for science fiction but I recall very much enjoying it, I'm looking forward to reading it again after so many years!

ChaoticMissAdventures I read this a couple of years ago and think about it often. A bit slow but so masterfully done the imagery is still so vivid in my brain! I hope you still enjoy it this time around. 5mo
rebcamuse I don't reread...but if I ever decide to do so --- this is on the top of the list. One of my favorite books. 3mo
35 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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HettyG
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"Babe, the arrangement was situational." He calls her "babe" one more time and I swear to god I'm throwing this book across the room. I understand the term antihero from reading books by Wally Lamb, better than any high school English teacher explaining it.

AmyG 😬 5mo
Reggie lol 5mo
Amiable Wally Lamb used to be a high school English teacher… so that might help explain it ! 😀 4mo
33 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
HettyG
West with Giraffes | Lynda Rutledge
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Pickpick

I read this for book club, and honestly I was a bit reluctant about it, thinking it might be rather boring, but what a wonderful novel!! I am so glad I read it, this is why I love book groups, bringing novels into my life that I otherwise wouldn't pick up. 4.5 stars, this book made me laugh and cry and I loved it. 💜

BkClubCare I cried, too! 🥲 1mo
30 likes1 comment
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HettyG
West with Giraffes | Lynda Rutledge
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"The land you grow up in is a forever thing, remembered when all else is forgotten, whether it did you right or did you wrong."

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HettyG
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She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True both occupy space on my Very Important Books bookshelf, so I am just beside myself with happiness for a new book by this author. 💜💜💜💜

AmyG Me, too! Let us know how it is! 5mo
lynneamch Love Wally Lamb! Did you know all his titles are songs? I had to look this one up. It's by John Fogery. The river is waiting, come riser
A new day is dawning, come riser
We be sailing at first light, come gather
Set our course for the crossing together
5mo
HettyG I did not know that!!!!! I mean I knew She's Come Undone and I love that song.... I didn't know all of them were like that 5mo
36 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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HettyG
West with Giraffes | Lynda Rutledge
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"Hitler had seized Austria and was now wanting a chunk of Czechoslovakia, promising peace if he could have it. The spooked Allies handed it right over, believing in fairy tales told by a madman."

26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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HettyG
What Kind of Paradise | Janelle Brown
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I'm only a short way into this but it is so good already, I feel so much for this young girl in isolation with her dad, who is so so familiar to me, I keep being all "this guy...???" and I don't know if that's because of my own rural upbringing or if all of us will recognize this guy?

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HettyG
Mexican Gothic | Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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Pickpick

Super creepy book, a great weekend audiobook. It may be a tad too long but the main female character was well drawn and I enjoyed her.

Reggie I liked Noemi too! 5mo
JenniferEgnor LOVE this book. 🍄🍄‍🟫 5mo
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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HettyG
Mexican Gothic | Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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Spending Saturday afternoon listening to this book lying under this generous tree 🌳 📖

Suet624 I think you and I have the exact same bike. And almost the exact same tree. 5mo
Bookish_Thoughts I have this one on my TBR stack. It was one of my birthday book haul buys. Probably going to start it next. 5mo
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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HettyG
Mrs. Everything | Jennifer Weiner
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I wanted to post a sunny pic by the pool with my first book of the summer, but it's been raining in Denver all weekend so I've just been holed up inside like it's midwinter and feeling pretty cranky about it!

LeafingThroughLife I was feeling the same way about the weather here in Pennsylvania all last week. Today it‘s finally taken a turn for the better. Hope there‘s some sun in your near future! 5mo
ChaoticMissAdventures We are grey and cloudy still in Portland Oregon. My weather app says we might see summer starting Wednesday, but we usually don't fully get our summer groove on until the 4th of July. 5mo
TheBookgeekFrau I'm in The Springs. It's been a crappy two days here too 🥶🌧️ 5mo
Bookpearl The weather here is central Va is cold and rainy like it‘s winter!! I need mother nature to pick a side!! 5mo
34 likes4 comments
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HettyG
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"She'd met a man on the Boston & Maine Railroad: that was all she'd say." John Wheelwright on his mother, who had a weekly appointment out of town to carry on her hot affair and never felt the need to say a word to anyone about it. Icon.

AmyG The most wonderful book. In my top 3. 6mo
Suet624 Soooo good. 6mo
31 likes2 comments
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HettyG
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One of my favorite books in all of life, this copy fell into my hands at the Goodwill and I am giving myself the Mother's Day gift of unplugging and rereading it all day. 💜

kspenmoll This has been my long time favorite!!!!!❤️ 6mo
AmyG @kspenmoll Mine too! 6mo
Reggie Enjoy! 6mo
34 likes3 comments
review
HettyG
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Pickpick

I cried all the way from Denver to Albuquerque listening to this incredibly sad book. You've been warned.

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HettyG
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"Nostalgia and melancholia are fraternal twins." - Ms. Della

Reading this novel for book club, so far it is adorable. ?

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HettyG
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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March reading! My top pick was James, but I have to give serious honorable mentions to both nonfiction books I read this month, The Barn and I'm Glad My Mom Died, both outstanding. Project Hail Mary would come in last if I was mean like that, but honestly it reminded me why science fiction just generally isn't for me.

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HettyG
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I listened to Huck Finn before reading this, just to be able to enjoy the context and draw contrasts and such. But honest to god y'all I almost wish I hadn't. I mean, it's fine read Twain or don't read Twain, this book stands alone. Absolutely engrossing and the story so compelling that I almost immediately forgot that this book had anything to do with Twain. Inspired by Twain, not Twain retelling, I loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jas16 Great review 7mo
31 likes1 comment
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HettyG
I'm Glad My Mom Died | Jennette McCurdy
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Pickpick

I watched I Carly with my kids and recall the author's character and performance quite well. She is clearly a remarkable young woman, I was genuinely impressed with her bravery in telling her story so unflinchingly.

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HettyG
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Mehso-so

I'm glad to have a classic to add to my completed list this year, but I can't say I enjoyed this much at all. If I read it in high school or college I feel sure I must have bailed on it. I do think it will add to the experience of reading James, but I did the audio for Huck Finn and I really only half listened to the second half.

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HettyG
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"And just as we was leavin' I found a tolerable good curry comb, and Jim he found a ratty old fiddle bow and a wooden leg. The straps was broke off it but barrin' that, it was a good enough leg."

I'm listening to this before reading James, and this has me ?

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HettyG
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Pickpick

I read this book many years ago, and felt compelled to re-read it. I'm happy to say I loved it just as much as I did back then. A beautiful and enduring story, worthy of reading over and over. 💜

32 likes1 stack add
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HettyG
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Pickpick

A thoughtful and valiant reckoning, writing it was clearly a labor of love by the author.

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HettyG
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"Because Wheeler survived. Because he and Emmett rode their bikes on this street. Because the gun still fires, because the barn is a barn, because time is thin and fragile. Because the dirt Jeff Andrews and I were taught to love is very different from the dirt Wheeler Parker was taught to fear."

This book is just bringing me to my knees.

27 likes2 stack adds
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HettyG
The Binding | Bridget Collins
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book quite a lot, but the criticisms of it being too long are valid 💯, it really should have been shorter. Highly recommend the audio.

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HettyG
Thistlefoot | GennaRose Nethercott
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Pickpick

I had a hard time settling into this story, but it was well worth it to stick with it. I especially loved how authentic and natural all of the love stories felt. Wonderful characters and story telling, I'm so glad I finally got to this one! 💜

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HettyG
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

I never considered bailing on the book, so I have to give it three stars, but the ending has made it a super low pick for me. There were parts of the narrative never resolved, I couldn't stand the Jutya storyline (why are women cops always written so poorly?) and while the pacing was good and the dueling timelines ratcheted up tension, the ending fell so flat as to nearly ruin the good parts of the book.

Larkken I just bailed on this one 😆 I'm not mad that I looked up the end. It was just getting to where I hated John Paul too much (and maybe Peter, too?) to go on with. 9mo
HettyG @Larkken it was such a well reviewed book! I was surprised to find how little I liked it by the end. 9mo
TiredLibrarian I agree with you about the ending. I'm kind of surprised by all the praise for this book. 9mo
43 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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HettyG
Thistlefoot | GennaRose Nethercott
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"It could have been any mother and daughters. It could have been any house, any birds. In all likeliness, I'm lying to you still."

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HettyG
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Pickpick

You probably already feel a certain way about Chris Hayes. You either find him boyishly charming, cute as a button and nerdily sexy or.... wait what was I talking about? Audio read by the author A+, an excellent analysis of an issue we all know deep down is at the heart of what ails us.

AmyG I‘d be curious as to how many people here even know who he is. 🤣 9mo
Suet624 You forgot earnest. He‘s very earnest. 9mo
Christine 🤣 Great review. 9mo
31 likes3 comments