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Jadams89

Joined June 2017

Reader. Dog and cat mom. Drinker of tea and coffee.

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Christy by Catherine Marshall

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Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier

blurb

Gender Queer: a Memoir | Maia Kobabe

How is it already June?? Our book this month is Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.
#WithTheBanned #buddyread

tagged users icon

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 11h

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 11h

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 11h

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 11h

Amiable Oh, I read this one last year! It‘s an incredibly open and honest account of life and sexuality. Definitely recommend. 👍🏼 10h

22 likes5 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

JenlovesJT47 It‘s definitely a cautionary tale imo. For the first half of the book I really thought she was talking about cocaine and not meth. Totally changed my perspective once I figured that out 😆 3d

5feet.of.fury Honestly I didn‘t feel like it had any message. Like, oh no if you take drugs some bad stuff will happen to you that also happens to other people and there will be no repercussions from getting involved with the Mexican mob, you‘ll raise a baby with lots of family support and a supportive boyfriend. Like??? I know she‘s still on drugs at the end, but she doesn‘t lose friends, family or custody? It seemed like not enough of a reckoning 3d

Read4life I don‘t know that it went deep enough into the repercussions. It is cautionary but I don‘t know that book one will open enough eyes. Perhaps the next two books provide the reckoning. 3d

lil1inblue I think it serves as a cautionary tale. The drug use leads to some pretty horrific experiences. Based on the reviews I read, it resonated with a lot of people. I personally felt it was a little too much like an after-school special for my taste, but I am not the target audience, and that doesn't mean that others can't benefit from it. 2d

Karisa @Read4life I kept thinking, when is the floor going to fall out beneath her feet? She‘s lucky to have such a support system. I‘m not sure that‘s realistic for many. As @lil1inblue mentioned, pretty after school everything works out. Maybe in the later books though as you mentioned 🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 2d

20 likes5 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

JenlovesJT47 Anybody who has ever dealt with addiction could tell you that referring to it as “the monster” is an extremely accurate description. Like a monkey you can‘t get off your back. Very sad to watch the downward spiral. That‘s why I think it‘s important to tell stories like this and they shouldn‘t be censored. ❤️ 3d

lil1inblue @JenlovesJT47 I couldn't have said it better myself. ❤ 2d

19 likes2 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

JenlovesJT47 Her father infuriated me and a lot of it can be traced back to him. If he showed the slightest bit of interest in what she was doing what a difference that would make. Her mom and stepdad…not perfect but at least they‘re trying. 3d

5feet.of.fury @JenlovesJT47 agree. The author did a good job with the POV because it‘s so teenage that Kristina is as mad at her mom and stepfather (for working or being somewhat distant, for wanting her to do good in school) as she is with her dad (who pretended she didn‘t exist & lead her directly to drugs) 3d

JenlovesJT47 @5feet.of.fury yes exactly! When you‘re a teenager you‘re always mad at your parents but I don‘t think her mom and stepdad were that bad. They were just doing normal parenting things wanting her to get good grades and stuff. 3d

See All 7 Comments

lil1inblue Obviously her father is a terrible influence, and not much of a parent. I wonder if her propensity towards addiction may be inherited, too. I agree with @5feet.of.fury & @jenlovesJT47 about the Mom and Step-Dad. I wonder if they thought her changes were just hormonal teenaged behavior in the beginning. 2d

JenlovesJT47 @lil1inblue we hide so much from our parents at that age. Her mom and stepdad could obviously tell something was wrong but I doubt they thought it was as bad as it really was. 2d

Karisa @5feet.of.fury @JenlovesJT47 It‘s so much safer to be mad at the ones that love us unconditionally. 2d

JenlovesJT47 @Karisa that is so true! 2d

17 likes7 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

JenlovesJT47 I don‘t know what the main reasons are for it being so banned but I grew up in a religious environment and went to a Christian school from K-5 through college. And I can tell you they would have hated this book because of the drugs, promiscuity and especially the teen pregnancy. They would consider it immoral and ban it from school. And here I sit still deconditioning 20 years later. 😒 3d

Melismatic I‘d think the frank discussions about drugs (including the father‘s drug issues), sex, and abortion would make it pretty taboo but all the more reason why the story is important to tell. 3d

CatLass007 I agree with @Melismatic. Adults are too afraid to let young people learn the truth that might help them avoid such behaviors but such ignorance can have the opposite effect. 3d

See All 6 Comments

JenlovesJT47 Yes it just sets kids up for failure if you act like the world is all sunshine and rainbows. What happens when your kid turns 18 and is wholly unprepared for the real world. 3d

lil1inblue There's a lot of topics in this book that many consider “taboo“ - drugs, promiscuity, sexual assault, teen pregnancy. I think that these topics could also be triggering for some people. However, the book is really meant to be a warning against these things, not an endorsement, so I don't understand why people would ban it. Like @jenlovesjt47 said, kids need to be prepared for the world's realities. 2d

Karisa @lil1inblue I agree, meant to warn. However, I can see many of my sixth grade students taking the main character‘s pov for complete reality. She keeps justifying how it‘s all not so bad, had more boys being interested in her, and the high being worth it. As adults, we can be horrified by her blindness and the risks she takes. Definitely more appropriate for high schooolers and up with better critical thinking skills 2d

15 likes6 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

Sorry I‘m running late with these again. I‘ll tag everyone in the first post, 5 questions total.

#WithTheBanned

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 3d

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 3d

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 3d

See All 12 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 3d

JenlovesJT47 I know it‘s not for everyone but I loved the format and already downloaded the next two books. Never seen an entire story written out like that in poetry form. I think it would be a very therapeutic way to journal. 3d

5feet.of.fury No issue with the format, it made it really sound like a teenager‘s rambling journal. The prose, the references, the random moodswings was all effectively very teenage pretension 3d

Melismatic I felt like the format really felt like a personal headspace especially of a teenager. It felt more organic and believable - less stilted or forced. 3d

CatLass007 The format was interesting. I guess I‘m just over teenage angst and drug abuse. 3d

Read4life I think the format added to the story and (like @Melismatic said) made it feel like it was her mental gymnastics. 3d

AllDebooks I couldn't get hold of a copy, unfortunately. 3d

lil1inblue I loved the format of the book - it was probably my favorite aspect. It made the book more personal. And the structure of the poetry was phenomenal. I loved the concrete poems. 2d

Karisa I thought it connected well to the character and what she was going through. To me, poetry is very good at capturing emotion and not necessarily complete thoughts—worked perfectly here. (edited) 2d

22 likes12 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

Hey #WithTheBanned readers. @CatLass007 let me know that our May read is available for free on Audible.

Jadams89
@JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 1mo

Jadams89
@JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 1mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 1mo

See All 11 Comments

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 1mo

CatLass007 I appreciate you sharing this with everyone! 1mo

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 1mo

Jadams89 @CatLass007 Thank you for letting me know! I forget to check things like this ☺️ 1mo

TheBookHippie Oh this is a good one. Enjoy. 1mo

Read4life Awesome!! Looking forward to this one. 1mo

CatLass007 I‘m an audiobook girl so I will always let you know. 1mo

Kenyazero Interesting! I wonder how the audio experience with a book like this will differ! I read Dear Mothman by audio recently and only realized much later that it was a book in verse 🤭 1mo

32 likes11 comments

blurb

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

Jadams89 I think this book would have hit much differently for me in college. A good read, but not something that speaks to me at this point in life. 1mo

5feet.of.fury It was my first reading! May have been more impactful if I read it in high school since there‘s so many coming of age elements. 1mo

CatLass007 I wonder if we would have been allowed to read it in high school? I was never one of the popular kids growing up. I definitely remember what it was like to feel like an outsider. 1mo

See All 6 Comments

Karisa It was a re-read for me and I think I appreciated it more this time. Something about the current climate of book bans and attacking vulnerable groups makes it more poignant and important now. There‘s a lot of honesty and sincerity in this slim book that centers around found family and kindness. 1mo

Read4life It was a reread for me. It did hit a bit differently this time. Ultimately, I‘m thankful I read it when I did both times. I got so much out of it both times in different ways. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement This is a first read for me. I think reading it now is as good a time as ever. 1mo

15 likes6 comments

blurb

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

5feet.of.fury I didn‘t see it coming at all! All he remembered before was his love for her. So heartbreaking. 1mo

CatLass007 Aunt Helen‘s role in his dissociation and the reason he was an observer and not a participant in the world around him was a complete shock! 1mo

Karisa @CatLass007 That was a horrible shock to me too. @5feet.of.fury Heartbreaking is right! I‘d read the book awhile back and had totally forgotten that twist 😢 1mo

Read4life Me, too @Karisa . There was a niggling in my mind and an unease but I had forgotten that twist so when it happened I felt shocked all over again. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement Yes, definitely surprised because it is so uncommon for women to abuse in this way. I was concerned that the teacher, Bill, was going to be a villain. Was relieved Charlie had a good support system when the memory hit him. 1mo

13 likes5 comments

blurb

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

5feet.of.fury I identified with Charlie feeling like an observer more than an active participant in his life. I‘d definitely felt that way at times, kind of just adrift, along for the ride. 1mo

CatLass007 I could tell that Charlie suffered from mental illness but not what kind or why until the end. I‘ve had anxiety and depression for decades so I‘m sort of on the same page. But what happened to him as a child was so traumatic. I grieved for his lost innocence. 1mo

Karisa I‘m not sure that I identified with anyone exactly. Maybe Charlie at some points feeling more comfortable around older friends in high school and his sister irritated by the younger sibling at others. Definitely never cool enough to be Sam 😂 1mo

Read4life Not one particular character but events, moments, thoughts & feelings throughout. 1mo

13 likes4 comments

blurb

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

#WithTheBanned Once again, I am only tagging everyone in the first question. We‘ll have 4 questions total.

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 1mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 1mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 1mo

See All 10 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 1mo

Jadams89 I like epistolary novels when they‘re done well. I think the format worked well for this book. 1mo

5feet.of.fury @Jadams89 honestly at first I found it really annoying ..but it worked for the type of story (with the added benefit that the reader ends up essentially being the “friend” he‘s writing to 1mo

CatLass007 I think the format worked well for this story. I don‘t know if I‘d write and mail something so personal to someone I don‘t know, so I have to give the character a round of applause for being so brave. 1mo

Karisa @5feet.of.fury Oooh, I like this interpretation. Just always thought of the recipient as unknown or writing to self. Just read diaries of Edna St. Vincent Millay and she made up people to write to when young. 🙃😅 1mo

Read4life This format worked. I was all in from the very beginning. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement @Read4life Agreed, I was all in from the start. @5feet.of.fury I liked being the trustworthy, good person who would be chosen to receive such letters. 1mo

19 likes10 comments

blurb

Crank | Ellen Hopkins

Happy almost-May, readers! Our selection for the month is Crank by Ellen Hopkins. Hopkins‘ books were banned more frequently than any other author‘s in recent years.

Also, watch for discussion questions for our April read, The Perks of Being a Wallflower coming soon.

#WithTheBanned #buddyread

tagged users icon

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 1mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 1mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 1mo

See All 8 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 1mo

Read4life I‘m ready to go. This will be my first time reading this one. 1mo

Kenyazero I read this one for a young adult literature course in college. Looking forward to reading again! 1mo

lil1inblue I haven't read this one yet, so I'll be back on challenge this month! I'm super intrigued by this one. 1mo

CatLass007 Just FYI, Crank is free on Audible. 1mo

29 likes2 stack adds8 comments

blurb

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

Happy April, #WithTheBanned readers! Our book this month will hopefully be a change of pace. I‘ll post some discussion questions the last week of the month

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 2mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 2mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 2mo

See All 11 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 2mo

CatLass007 I just bought my copy and I‘ll be starting it in the next couple of days. 2mo

Bookbuyingaddict Good morning this is a great little book 📕 has this been banned ? And why ??? Confused 🫤 much love ❤️ x x. X x 2mo

Read4life This one is on my shelf. It will be a reread for me. 🤓 2mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2mo

Kenyazero This is a good one! 2mo

CogsOfEncouragement Starting this today. ✌🏻♥️📚 2mo

Andrea313 Hopping in on this one! This book was so important to me as a teenager. ❤️ 2mo

41 likes11 comments

review

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Pick

pick

This book was scary. I hate that it‘s still so relevant. I hate that it could happen here. #WithTheBanned

Karisa True horror, now more than ever. The Hulu adaptation is haunting too… 😢 2mo

49 likes1 comment

review

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord | Celeste Connally

Bailed

bailed

I kept trying to get into this, but 40% in, I was so bored. Moving on.

tpixie Too bad. Great title 2mo

33 likes1 comment

blurb

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Karisa Just watching the news these days shows how prophetic Atwood was (unfortunately). We can‘t take any rights for granted when some in power do not value them and have fear of losing their “rightful” place 🤢 2mo

5feet.of.fury Unfortunately it‘s quickly become more relevant with the current US political climate in general, tradwives, states limiting reproductive care, conservatives creating panic over “declining birth rates” and “family values” 2mo

Melismatic Atwood‘s story idea clearly didn‘t come from thin air. TV show‘s success aside, how frequently people reference this book in regards to today‘s US politics shows you the impact. An even passing reference often earns defensive commentary in return. 2mo

29 likes3 comments

blurb

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Karisa This is another aspect that leaves me feeling frustrated and afraid for them when I read it. Even the smallest exchanges can bring swift, harsh punishment on them. It‘s horrible. 2mo

Bookwormjillk It makes me feel super tense. Taking away communication is such an effective way to incapacitate people and their ability to fight back. 2mo

23 likes2 comments

blurb

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Karisa I love this book and have re-read it twice. The bonnets are like horse blinders. Further control of the women and how they perceive the world. I did wish to see more of the bigger picture of the world. It makes sense though since we are left frustrated like Offred. 😢 2mo

5feet.of.fury The chapter that notated “this is a reconstruction” highlighted that her recollection and it may not be 100% complete and unreliable to an extent. She remembers her family in short snippets and pushes them aside so she can keep moving in her new reality. While lacking the full explanation of events, being just in her head added to the panic and claustrophobia and imparts on the reader how trapped Offred felt in Gilead 2mo

24 likes2 comments

blurb

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Hey fellow banned book readers! Here‘s the first discussion question for our March book.

Like last time, I‘ll just tag everyone in the first post. I‘ll be posting 4 questions total.

#WithTheBanned #buddyread

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 2mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 2mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 2mo

See All 20 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 2mo

Bookwormjillk I think the lesson for me is that the unthinkable can happen. 2mo

Jadams89 The scariest thing for me is how easily the government was taken over. Some of the things that happened are just too close to things currently happening in the US. This book shook me. 2mo

CatLass007 This is how it starts. https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-bill-success-sequence-of-life-pa... 2mo

CoverToCoverGirl Well said @Bookwormjillk @Jadams89 scary times. Chaos overload every single day. 2mo

Jadams89 @CatLass007 I hadn‘t seen that before! That‘s definitely how it starts. This world gets scarier every day. 2mo

CatLass007 I live in Tennessee so I pay more attention to state news. 2mo

Jadams89 @CatLass007 I‘m in Kentucky - watching the supermajority trying to undermine every bit of progress that had been made. 2mo

CatLass007 It‘s horrifying. 2mo

Karisa @CatLass007 Success Sequence 🤢Never even heard of that! as if there is only one way to find success in life and only one definition… 😵‍💫 2mo

Karisa @Jadams89 So true. We can‘t take any progress for granted. 😢 2mo

5feet.of.fury I agree with the other comments. It would have seemed so impossible if I read this 10-15 years ago, but now I see how easy it would be for society to change like this, and the complicity of more privileged women who would help enforce it to keep themselves a couple rings above. 2mo

Melismatic @5feet.of.fury well said 2mo

Riveted_Reader_Melissa The first time I read this book it seemed so much dark twisted fantasy, I read it after watching the movie (old move now), and thinking how odd & bizarre. Every time I have revisited it…this is my third time I think….its much more understandable how we could get there, more realistic to me, and much timely & prescient …and makes me think of an interview with Atwood where they asked basically how she thought up all this stuff, and she replied ⤵️ (edited) 2mo

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ that she did not. Everything in there was from somewhere and sometime and someplace in our human history. 😬 2mo

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Not the original… but a good one where she talks about it: 2mo

Riveted_Reader_Melissa https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testa... 2mo

28 likes20 comments

blurb

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Our #WithTheBanned March read is The Handmaid‘s Tale. I‘ve had this on my TBR for a long time and look forward to everyone‘s thoughts! #buddyread

Let me know if you‘d like to be added to the tag list!

tagged users icon

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 3mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 3mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 3mo

See All 18 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 3mo

CatLass007 I won‘t be participating this month. I would like to be kept on the tag list because I‘d very much like to know what everyone else thinks. I bailed on this book years ago and have been hesitant to pick up anything else by Margaret Atwood. I know that my opinion is in the minority and that many people believe it‘s a great work of literature. Enjoy or at least be challenged. Welcome to Litsy where it‘s OK to have different opinions. (edited) 3mo

Jadams89 @CatLass007 no problem! I‘m not planning to remove anyone from the tag list anytime soon (unless they request it, of course). Every book/author isn‘t for everyone - and that‘s ok! 3mo

CatLass007 Yes! 3mo

CatLass007 I was looking at my TBR for March and I discovered I‘d written myself a note to give a try to another Atwood book and I already had chosen Hag-Seed. So I‘m sort of participating.

[tagged book]

(edited) 3mo

Scochrane26 I love this book! I discovered it in grad school & have read several times. 3mo

Melismatic Like Parable, I‘ve already read this so I‘m aiming to read its sequel that‘s been sitting on my shelf since it came out. 💖 3mo

peanutnine I read this one a couple times in college and I don't think I'm in the headspace to reread right now due to the state of the world, but I'll check out the discussion at the end of the month 🙂 3mo

Julsmarshall I w read it but is has been awhile. I may do a reread, or possibly check out the sequel. 3mo

Read4life I‘m ready to read this one. 3mo

Kenyazero Looking forward to seeing everyone‘s discussion on this. I‘m going to pass on reading this one right now. This is not a good time for me to read it. 3mo

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Just picked it up at BN with a stack of other banned books. Let‘s do this! 💪 3mo

Karisa Please add me for next month. What are you planning to read for April? 2mo

Jadams89 @Karisa April is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I‘ll add you to the tag list and tag you in the year‘s schedule as well. 2mo

Karisa @Jadams89 Thank you! 2mo

37 likes1 stack add18 comments

blurb

Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

Bookwormjillk Both because social norms are starting to erode, but also at a certain point what do you have to lose. Thanks for these thoughtful questions! 3mo

5feet.of.fury Difficult, too many people are already getting into a “survival of the fittest” mentality 3mo

Bookbuyingaddict @Jadams89 hi could you if you don‘t mind please send to me a list of books which have been banned in the USA please ? 🙏 we have none in the uk 🇬🇧 thank goodness 😅 but was talking to my bookclub friends about it last night and no one knew this was happening , thank you ☺️ x x x. Xx 😘 3mo

Jadams89 @bookbuyingaddict here‘s a link to PEN America - they track challenges to books. We aren‘t at the point that books are banned from being sold, more they are removed from school and public libraries. https://pen.org/banned-books-list-2025/ (edited) 3mo

Jadams89 @Bookbuyingaddict None of these are nationwide, but it‘s feeling scarily close to such things happening 3mo

27 likes5 comments

blurb

Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

Bookwormjillk It‘s almost too depressing to answer this question. The parallels were almost scary. 3mo

Amiable @Bookwormjillk 💯 3mo

5feet.of.fury Too many. Voter apathy, climate change, a huge one that stands out for me is labor protections/workers rights being stripped. 3mo

See All 6 Comments

Kristin_Reads So many parallels! It‘s very unsettling the similarities that Butler foresaw back in 1993. 3mo

Melismatic @Bookwormjillk truth!!! 3mo

Kenyazero Very many. It‘s unsettling. That‘s what happens when a writer channels their fears into their books. 🙃 3mo

21 likes6 comments

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Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

Bookwormjillk I do a lot of work in climate change, so yes. I see a lot of that. 3mo

5feet.of.fury People are apathetic to what‘s happening because they think it won‘t negatively impact them, it will just hurt some “undesirable” group of people so we watch rights get taken away and many don‘t realize the reach/impact until it‘s too late. 3mo

Melismatic I think currently there‘s so much fear/overstimulation largely due to so much information being readily available at your fingertips. Bc it‘s so accessible, people have become less discerning to seek out facts. If it fits their narrative, that‘s good enough. Our culture is suffering because of it. 3mo

Kenyazero Everyone hit the nail on the head here. 3mo

18 likes4 comments

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Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

5feet.of.fury Honestly, I thought it would have a bigger emphasis and impact but it seemed forgotten or inconsistent at times. 3mo

Kenyazero I forgot about her hyper empathy! (Since I read this a while ago). I think it played a big role in her determination to move forward in the ways she does, and build community in the ways she does. It probably also shapes her worldview quite a bit throughout. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement Empathy is important for a healthy society. Self-centeredness becoming the norm has horrible results. 1mo

17 likes3 comments

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Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler

Hey #WithTheBanned readers! Sorry I‘ve fallen behind this month - work has been very busy.

I‘ll be posting 5 discussions questions total. I don‘t want to overwhelm y‘all with notifications, so I‘ll just tag everyone in the first post.

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 3mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 3mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 3mo

See All 13 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 3mo

CatLass007 I haven‘t even started the book yet. I‘ll be back when I do. 3mo

Bookwormjillk So much to think about with this book, but maybe a lesson is anyone can be a leader. Looking forward to what everyone else says. 3mo

Melismatic Community is everything and trust is imperative…but needs to be earned. 3mo

Catsandbooks I had to dnf because it was just too much for me right now 3mo

JenlovesJT47 I am so behind on everything this month 😭 3mo

Julsmarshall I haven‘t started either but I hope to tackle in March :) 3mo

Kristin_Reads I‘m jumping in here because I just finished this one a few weeks ago. Your questions are great! I agree with @Melismatic … a big takeaway for me was the found/chosen family and community formed with (earned) trust. 3mo

Kenyazero @Catsandbooks I read this a few years ago and almost dnf‘d for the same reason. I don‘t think I could read it right now 😱😵‍💫 3mo

Kenyazero Other than lessons about societal breakdown in times of disaster, I think the biggest lesson I took away from this was that when your found community needs you to be the leader you might not be ready to be that leader and may need to figure it out as you go. 3mo

23 likes13 comments

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The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison

#WithTheBanned Discussion Question 3

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 4mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4mo

See All 11 Comments

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4mo

5feet.of.fury In my opinion, the statement means that they felt empathy/sympathy but didn‘t do anything to change the sad reality & circumstances. Whether it was the racism, classism or child abuse 4mo

TheDaysGoBy They felt sympathetic but they didn‘t do anything. Whether it was taking actual action to make change or even just telling everyone they know about the book/having a conversation about it 4mo

lil1inblue @5feet.of.fury I agree. The story could still be written today. 4mo

Read4life I agree with the previous comments. I think a lot of people probably read this, felt sympathy/empathy but shied away from engaging others in conversation about these difficult issues. 4mo

dabbe To add to everyone's excellent thoughts, I think readers were touched by Pecola's plight, but they didn't transcend that sympathy to others going through similar situations outside the novel and in the real world. Being touched is more of a surface-level feeling--to feel empathy while reading the novel but then to move one. Perhaps readers at that time weren't ready to engage with these difficult topics at a deeper level like they might be today. 4mo

Melismatic I took this to mean as readers we felt empathy, but not moved because this felt almost too familiar, sadly. 4mo

Deblovestoread Like so many issues today it seems to big to tackle. We can feel those emotions but do not know how to create change. 4mo

30 likes11 comments

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The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison

#WithTheBanned Discussion Question 2

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4mo

See All 9 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 4mo

TheDaysGoBy Being a white woman I‘m not going to presume to know about being black today and how it may have changed since this book was published. That said, our society does like to force impossible image standards on people and presumes a lot about a person because of it. Like with diet culture. We‘re made to believe being thin is the only way to be. Body sizes might be more inclusive now but there‘s still always that pressure to be thin 4mo

Melismatic Rape culture and how as women we often shrink ourselves as perceived protection. 4mo

dabbe Like @TheDaysGoBy, I can't presume to know what issues affect people of color today. However, like Pecola, many individuals today, particularly young people, still struggle with issues of low self-esteem and a lack of identity, facing pressure to live up to unattainable standards of beauty, success, and worth. Regarding community and how it ostracized Pecola, society still often turns a blind eye toward those who are vulnerable and marginalized. 4mo

lil1inblue I'm also reading Hood Feminism right now. It actually is a good pairing, though it was purely by accident. Pecola is the embodiment of the women Mikki Kendall argues (rightfully) that feminists have left out. I think Kendall's book also shows that many of the issues that Black folks face in The Bluest Eye are still very much relevant today, and are still ignored by society at large. 4mo

Deblovestoread Like @Melismatic Rape culture and victim blaming. 4mo

26 likes9 comments

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The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison

#WithTheBanned discussion question 1.

The Bluest Eye was not assigned reading for me. In fact, this book only came on my radar in the last few years.

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4mo

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4mo

See All 17 Comments

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4mo

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 4mo

Melismatic Not for me! I didn‘t discover Toni Morrison‘s writing til college when I took a Women‘s Studies class and some of her work was suggested reading. This novel wasn‘t on the list. In high school (early 00s), we read a sum total of two books that were by either a woman (The Outsiders) or a POC (Monster). The rest that I recall were all written by white men. (edited) 4mo

5feet.of.fury As require reading I only read

[tagged book]

4mo

Bookwormjillk Not me. When I graduated in 96 our curriculum was still firmly classics on repeat. 4mo

CatLass007 Toni Morrison was never assigned reading. I don‘t think I heard of her until the late eighties when a coworker was reading Beloved. 4mo

TheDaysGoBy Not for me. I‘d never read Toni Morrison before this and I hadn‘t really heard about this one 4mo

Kenyazero I did not. I probably would have hated it though. I hated almost all of the assigned books in high school (and English was my favorite class!). 4mo

lil1inblue This was assigned reading for me in college. I can't recall what class. It was the early 2000s. I believe it was also on the list of independent study books we could choose from in AP Humanities in high school (1997/98). I knew of Toni Morrison from my mom before that, but I didn't read anything of hers until college. 4mo

Read4life I didn‘t read this until I started working in a bookstore and several customers recommended Morrison to me. 4mo

dabbe No, I did not. She wasn't big on the radar in the 80s that I remember. None of her books were on our district book list in high school either (too controversial), but this book has appeared on the AP Literature exam quite a few times. 4mo

CogsOfEncouragement No, this was never assigned to me, and this was my first time reading it. 4mo

willaful I remember reading an excerpt from it in Junior High. That would have been in the late 70s. 4mo

Deblovestoread Sorry I am late. I did not have this as assigned reading and this is my first Morrison. It won‘t be my last. 4mo

30 likes17 comments

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BookSpinBingo | Untitled

My #Bookspin list for February. Mostly rollover from January‘s list.

tagged users icon

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo

27 likes1 comment

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Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

Reminder that our #WithTheBanned read for February is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I‘ll post our discussion questions for January‘s book in the next few days.

#BuddyRead

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4mo

See All 9 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 4mo

Bookwormjillk Looking forward to this one 4mo

TheBookHippie Enjoy it‘s sooo good!!!! 4mo

Melismatic I love this novel & its sequel (and considering current political/climate events, it‘s almost too familiar). Looking forward to the discussion. 4mo

Kenyazero This is an excellent book, but so stressful. There's a graphic novel adaptation too, and it looks amazing! 4mo

Bookbuyingaddict Looking forward to it thanks 🙏 for included me x x 4mo

46 likes1 stack add9 comments

review

Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again! | Pat G'Orge-Walker

Pick

pick

After the heavy reads I started the month with, I needed something light. Sister Betty and the members of the Ain‘t Nobody Right But Us — All Others Goin‘ To Hell Church were just the ticket. There were wigs on fire, Roman candles at the Christmas pageant, and little bit of prayer. Good stuff!

review

Ruby | V.C. Andrews

Meh

so-so

This was something. Between the almost incest, attempted SA, extortion, and just plain entitlement of some the characters, I was not feeling it. This was my first V.C. Andrews. I‘m not saying it will be the last, but I‘m not coming back soon. #Bookspin

Updated: I was a little curious about what happened next, so I looked up a summary. It‘s a no for me.

tagged users icon

TheAromaofBooks

Soubhiville I don‘t know if this is one of the author‘s books I read as a teen, but that sounds right on track for her. I‘d say if this didn‘t appeal to you, you‘d be safe to just skip all her others. 5mo

Jadams89 @Soubhiville Thanks for the tip! I‘m not sure if I just wasn‘t in the right mood for it - I have one more on my shelf, so I may try again later this year. 5mo

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes a book just isn't a good match. 5mo

TheUrbanReader I completely agree! I felt as though this book was throwing out anything to keep the reader going. At every turn there is something new without much development, detail or room for growth. Whilst the way the book was wrote allowed me to finish the book, I genuinely found it very surface level and random 5mo

28 likes4 comments

review

Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany | Norman Ohler

Meh

so-so

This was just ok. Though the topic was intriguing, it was just meh for me. At least that‘s one Audible book off my TBR. #DoubleSpin

tagged users icon

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 5mo

34 likes1 comment

review

The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison

Pick

pick

I can‘t say I enjoyed this book. It is not enjoyable. It is an uncomfortable read. But it feels very relevant in today‘s climate.

I look forward to the discussion at the end of the month.

#WithTheBanned

KadaGul Toni Morrison's books aren't your usual page-turners. They're profound and dive into a lot of sensitive topics.#Hello2025 🍀💜🌅💙🎆 5mo

37 likes1 stack add1 comment

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Secret Santa | Andrew Shaffer

Thank you for the Little Christmas Swap, @Soubhiville !! This book has been on my wishlist for a while. I love it all. Also, I enjoy how you wrapped the Reese‘s to fit in the box - I never would have thought of that 😂. Happy Reading!! #littlechristmasswap #LCS

tagged users icon

bookish_wookish

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 5mo

Soubhiville You‘re welcome! I hope you love the book! Sounds creepy 😱🎅🏽 5mo

KadaGul Adorable Card and I ALSO LOVE REESES 😍#Hello2025 🍀💜🌅💙🎆 5mo

46 likes3 comments

review

Strangers on a Train: A Virago Modern Classic | Patricia Highsmith

Pick

pick

I finished this a few weeks ago, but forgot to post my review. This was a thrilling read, and I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen to our MCs. #Hitchtoscreen

tagged users icon

JenlovesJT47 Yay! ❤️❤️❤️ 5mo

31 likes1 comment

review

The Outsider | Stephen King

Pick

pick

Well, that‘s one way to start the year. From the very first page, King‘s ability to hook me and also give me nightmares was apparent. A good read overall and I want to read on in the Holly series. #Roll100 #96

tagged users icon

5feet.of.fury I loved this one! So creepy! 5mo

PuddleJumper 🖤🖤 5mo

29 likes2 comments

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The Outsider | Stephen King

January is shaping up to be an interesting month of reading. New challenges, new (to me) authors, and a chance to knock several books off my TBR. Let‘s go!

#WithTheBanned2025 #RiseUpReads #Roll100 #Bookspin #DoubleSpin

tagged users icon

Catsandbooks, TheAromaofBooks, PuddleJumper

Catsandbooks ❤️✊🏼🔥 5mo

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 5mo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 5mo

29 likes3 comments

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Wintergames | Litsy Litsy

A fun event as always! Saving up my word search and Bingo points until the end was definitely worth it! #XmasChaCha #Wintergames

tagged users icon

lil1inblue 🎈 🎉 🌟 🎉 🎈 5mo

Texreader Same!! Those points really helped!! 5mo

22 likes2 comments

blurb

Untitled | Untitled

2024 was a great year of reading! I don‘t even know how to choose a favorite book.

blurb

BookSpinBingo | Untitled

How is it already 2025??? Here‘s to another year of good reading! #Bookspin #BookspinBingo

tagged users icon

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo

21 likes1 comment

blurb

The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison

Hey all! I hope you‘re ready to dig into some banned books! I‘ve created a book club on Fable if you‘d like to join there. #withthebanned2025
https://fable.co/club/with-the-banned-with-jadams89-410943408182?invite=3b31a3e7...

tagged users icon

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 5mo

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 5mo

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 5mo

See All 12 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable 5mo

Melismatic Joined! 5mo

Amiable Are you just doing it over on Fable or will you chat here as well? 5mo

Jadams89 @amiable we‘ll chat here too! Fable‘s just a fun extra - no pressure to join 5mo

Bookwormjillk I‘m not on fable yet but looking forward to the discussion! 5mo

Kenyazero I‘ve just downloaded Fable to see how it works, and joined the challenge there. 5mo

Jadams89 @Kenyazero @Bookwormjillk I‘m new to it as well…just thought I‘d try out the book club feature. 5mo

lil1inblue I joined Fable a while back but haven't played with it much. This will be a good way to get to know the app! 5mo

KT1432 Eeek!! I love fable and I‘m in so many clubs, but I‘m still going to join this one lol! 5mo

35 likes12 comments

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Gender Queer: a Memoir | Maia Kobabe

Thank you so much for the #jolabokaflodswap @LMJenkins !! I‘m glad to add another frequently banned book to my shelf! I love that the colors of the candy wrappers sort of match the book cover ☺️

And thanks @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting this amazing swap once again!

JamieArc Great book! 5mo

LMJenkins Glad you like it! Merry Christmas! 💛⭐️🥂🥰🎁🎅🏼🎄 5mo

MaleficentBookDragon Happy Jólabókaflóð! I love Hammond's chocolate. 5mo

42 likes3 comments

blurb

Fang Fiction: A Novel | Kate Stayman-London

Thank you so much for the #jolabokaflodswap @Branwen ! I love the cat stickers on the card. I‘m excited to read this book and snack on the yummy candy! Happy Jolabokaflod!!

As always, thanks for being a wonderful host @MaleficentBookDragon !

MaleficentBookDragon Happy Jólabókaflóð! Love those stickers. 5mo

Branwen Hooray! 🥳🎉🎉🎉 5mo

43 likes2 comments

review

Sugar and Snow | Irene Davis

Pick

pick

What happens when the Nutcracker returns? But so does the Mouse King? I really enjoyed this continuation of The Nutcracker! #WinterGames #XmasChaCha #SnowedIn

tagged users icon

blurb

Untitled | Untitled

I received my #Jolabokaflodswap24 today! I don‘t see a username to tag, but if you sent it to me, it has arrived safely! Thanks!! #JS24

tagged users icon

MaleficentBookDragon

review

Benjamin Franklin and a Case of Christmas Murder | Robert Lee Hall

Pick

pick

This was an interesting read. Benjamin Franklin (yes, that one) spends his free time in London solving crimes. I enjoyed this enough to read more of the series.
#WinterGames #SnowedIn #XmasChaCha

tagged users icon

blurb

Wintergames | Litsy Litsy

I got 4,045 points in the first two weeks. I‘m saving up my wordsearch and bingo points for the end. #wintergames24 #xmaschacha

tagged users icon

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 6mo

StayCurious way to go! 5mo

25 likes2 comments

blurb

The December Market | RaeAnne Thayne

Thank you so much @TheBookHippie !! I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen salted caramel Swiss Miss before. I‘m going to make a mug and settle in to finish up my current book so I can start this one!

Thanks for hosting and organizing, @Avanders !

Avanders 😍♥️🎄 Mm sounds yummy!! (edited) 6mo

TheBookHippie I was trying to match the stocking to the book 🤣. I hope you love the cocoa and enjoy the book!! 6mo

26 likes2 comments

blurb

Untitled | Untitled

When you‘re trying to set up a cute Victorian Christmas Village, but somehow make a wrong turn into Revolutionary France 😂 #holidaytraditions

Leftcoastzen Ooops! 6mo

TheBookHippie 🤣🫠😵‍💫🫣😬 6mo

Ruthiella Oopsie! 😱😂 6mo

See All 8 Comments

Librarianaut 🤣🤣 6mo

dabbe 😂🤩😂 6mo

MartinaLove Haha 6mo

willaful lol! 6mo

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage It looks like the green guy‘s giving it two thumbs down 😂 6mo

33 likes8 comments