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julesG

julesG

Joined September 2016

LibraryThing member JulesGDSide

https://www.goodreads.com/JulesG313 Book hoarder, avid reader of nearly any genre. 🇩🇪
review
julesG
All By My Elf | Olivia Dade, Andi Arndt
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Mehso-so

Bit hit and miss. I liked the one by Olivia Dade, "All by my Elf," best.

All in all five?️? #audiobook snacks perfect for some #audioknitting.

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julesG
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Weird day. No idea why. Couldn't concentrate on one book.

Better luck tomorrow. 😉

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julesG
Bullet Train | Kotaro Isaka
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1) when travelling, organising my week, food and grocery shopping, yes. Only tentative plans for most other things.

2) Nanao is the "unluckiest assassin in the world" - the plan was to get on the train and snatch one particular suitcase

TheSpineView The book sounds interesting. Thanks for playing 4d
julesG @TheSpineView The second book featuring Nanao is being published this month. It's book 4 of the overall series. In Nanao's sequel he has to deliver a painting to a person in a hotel room. Seems straightforward, but doesn't go according to plan either. 3d
AlaMich I really liked this. I read the print and listened to the audio, which was quite good. I will no doubt get around to the sequels at some point, but I worry they won‘t be able to live up to this one. 3d
julesG @AlaMich currently reading Hotel Lucky Seven (ARC). Haven't read book 1 or 3 yet. I'm sticking to Nanao's books only. 3d
41 likes4 comments
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julesG
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"... I have a briefing with the president in exactly half an hour, and because we all know he doesn't bother to read the daily intelligence briefing, it will fall to me to explain what the hell is going on. So explain it to me. Use small words on me so I can use smaller words on him...."

Mr Scalzi, you scare me. This book is supposed to be published next spring. Means you wrote it last year(?).

sarahbarnes 😳 6d
Suet624 Ugh 5d
DogMomIrene I love him so much. I‘ve seen him 3x, maybe 4. Not recently, but those engagements were probably within 3-4 years of one another. What impressed me the most was how he told completely different stories at each event. No stump speeches for him, which I so appreciate. 5d
55 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
julesG
Hotel Lucky Seven | Kotaro Isaka
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#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

eARC - Hotel Lucky Seven
🎧 - Gogmagog

review
julesG
The Night Guest | Hildur Knutsdottir
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Pickpick

I see this book reviewed here and noticed that either I didn't review it here or my review never "aired" back in September.

Anyway, I absolutely loved it. The translation and narration by Mary Robinette-Kowal are excellent.

It's creepy and atmospheric and I still wonder what the end was about.

Megabooks I agree. This was v good! 6d
68 likes1 comment
blurb
julesG
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Opened my #NetGalley account to check the pub day of a different #ARC and finding this new addition to #MountARC ???

"One day, suddenly and without explanation, the moon turns into a ball of cheese.
For some, it‘s an opportunity. For others, it‘s time to question their life choices. How can the world stay the same in the face of such absurdity and uncertainty?"

Pub Day for UK is 27 March 2025

Bookwomble 🌕🎯👁️🍕👉❤️ 😁 7d
julesG @Bookwomble I had/have the earworm too 7d
DogMomIrene I was just thinking of Scalzi and how he must have another book close to publication. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7d
57 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
julesG
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Another book I have to thank/blame @RaeLovesToRead for introducing me to.
Rae, you mentioned it one evening over mead and bramble whisky. You mentioned another book, but that one I can't remember. We were talking about heist books similar to Locke Lamora.

Found the #audiobook and have just picked up this #audioknitting project out of my UFO basket. It'll either be leg warmers or socks when done. #LitsyCrafters

TheBookHippie I like the colors. 1w
quietlycuriouskate Ooh, your yarn thingummy: what sort of size can it hold? I'm looking to put something like this on my Christmas list 🙂. (I mostly use 100g balls of DK weight.) 1w
AnnCrystal 🤩👍💝. 1w
See All 16 Comments
julesG @quietlycuriouskate That would definitely fit. The base is 12cm wide and the "thorn" is 18cm high. I've managed to get a 1500m 4-ply yarn cake onto it which might have had 20cm in diametre. 1w
julesG @quietlycuriouskate also, no idea what the thingummy is called. Literal translation from German would be "yarn unwinder" but it sounds weird 1w
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 1w
RaeLovesToRead THANK! The word is thank! 😘 1w
kspenmoll Your yarn is beautiful! 1w
GingerAntics I seriously love that yarn! I feel like that would be me if I were yarn. 1w
bookishbitch Beautiful knitting! 1w
quietlycuriouskate Thank you: I've found one on Amazon. 🙂 7d
julesG @quietlycuriouskate 🎉 hope you like it. 6d
Suet624 Beautiful!! 5d
70 likes1 stack add16 comments
review
julesG
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Pickpick

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

Bristol Keats is the ordinary middle child. Her parents used to travel all over the country with her and her two sisters. The family only settled down recently and then tragedy struck, first her mother died, then her father. To keep her family afloat, Bristol strikes a bargain with one of the fae kings. She follows the fae into their realm and becomes one of only a few new recruits training for one specific purpose,

julesG closing a magical portal, but she seems to be the one recruit with the least chances of making the cut.

The two main characters both have trust issues. Bristol who hasn't been able to form roots, whose family history is a web of lies and secrets, who doesn't trust easily; and Tyghan, who is equally reluctant to trust, he was betrayed by his best friend and forced to ascend to the throne because his brother was abducted. By day the two of them
1w
julesG can't stand each other, by night things look different. There's attraction, but they have trust issues. Their animosity by day turns into long talks and exchanging of views on life at night. And we know where it is headed.

For an avid reader of SFF this book didn't have many new ideas. I liked the world-building and tolerated the epic aspect of the story (I'm allergic to epic fantasy, so not a fault of the author), I didn't like that
1w
julesG the book ends in the middle of a scene. I liked the relationship the three sisters had with each other. 1w
See All 11 Comments
kspenmoll What a gorgeous book! 1w
Sace It‘s a gorgeous edition though! 1w
MidnightBookGirl Love this edition! 1w
ShelleyBooksie Beautiful book! I would not like that it ends in the middle of a scene! 1w
julesG @ShelleyBooksie it's annoying 1w
PaperbackPirate That‘s one of my pet peeves @ShelleyBooksie & @julesG ! A book should be complete in itself. I stopped reading a series I really liked because every book would build up to a big event but would end right before it happened. But your book sure is pretty! 😍 1w
julesG @PaperbackPirate I knew it was the first book in a duology but didn't expect a cliffhanger ending. Books in a series used to have a satisfying ending and hinted at more to come, now I often feel cheated when I get to the end and then have to wait for the second half of the story fir ages. 1w
julesG @kspenmoll @Sace @MidnightBookGirl @ShelleyBooksie - it's the UK special edition. Not signed, but lovely sprayed edges. 1w
75 likes11 comments
review
julesG
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Pickpick

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

Pub Day was 05 November

Tao travels the country in a mule-drawn wagon and tells fortunes. She is a teller of small fortunes, larger fortunes come with consequences and so she sticks to the small ones. On her journey she makes friends with a former mercenary and a reformed thief, who are looking for a lost child, as well as an apprentice baker and her slightly magical cat.

The story is like being on a low stakes ⬇️

julesG D&D campaign. Four heroes travelling together on the quest to find the small girl that was lost. On the way they are telling each other their stories, they talk about the small and big things in life (love, culture, roots,...) and try to be better every day.

I truly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who wants to escape into a low stakes cosy fantasy world where life is good when you're making tea, baking and ⬇️
1w
julesG try being better every day. 1w
60 likes5 stack adds2 comments
blurb
julesG
When the Wind Blows (UK) | Raymond Briggs
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#BookMail from yesterday

This story had been on my mind for quite a while, but I never knew what the title was until @Bookwomble posted about it.

Bookwomble I'd say, "enjoy," but it's not that kind of book, so I'll say, "I hope you appreciate it." ? 7d
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
julesG
Untitled | Untitled
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The last three days were busy. I found damp behind my daughter's bookshelf on Monday. Took out all the books and knick knacks and sorted through what had to go because of mould and what was just damp.
Yesterday I moved the shelf and removed the wallpaper.

Today I filled the shelves.

Bottom right is the wall without wallpaper, just the insulation I put up ten years ago. Daughter is happy with her discoball wall.

All powered by audiobooks. 😜

Prairiegirl_reading That does not look like fun. Thank goodness for audiobooks! 1w
Tamra Yay for audiobooks! 1w
Librarybelle Oh my! 1w
See All 13 Comments
thegirlwiththelibrarybag What a grim discovery. Did you lose many? 1w
julesG @thegirlwiththelibrarybag Fortunately only a few second/third hand copies. Most were books translated into German where the English copies are on my shelves. She reads mainly in English now anyways. We used the opportunity to cull some chapter books she won't be re-reading again; which are now in boxes that I'll donate. So all in all we had to throw out maybe a dozen books. I've already set a reminder in my calendar to check the remaining books 1w
julesG again in two weeks. Which will be fun, because I get to re-arrange the shelves. 😁 1w
AnnCrystal Yikes, good thing you discovered before it became worse 🙏📚💝. 1w
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @julesG, lucky you spotted it when you did. Hopefully no further casualties 🤞🏼 1w
willaful what a pain! Glad you found it before it got worse. 1w
MemoirsForMe Whew! Glad you saved your books from future damage. 1w
DogMomIrene Good eye finding the problem so quickly! 1w
AnishaInkspill phew, that was lucky 1w
Suet624 Nice work. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5d
64 likes13 comments
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julesG
Untitled | Untitled
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It's that time of the year.

CoverToCoverGirl Voted! 💙 1w
Laughterhp I never read enough new books to effectively vote, but I voted for the books/genres I‘ve actually read. 1w
julesG @Laughterhp Same here. 1w
58 likes3 comments
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julesG
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1) stripes - love stripes

2) no, finished the last library book (audiobook) while preparing lunch today; tagged

TheSpineView 🩵📖🩵 Thanks for playing 2w
36 likes1 comment
review
julesG
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Pickpick

@RaeLovesToRead mentioned the second book in the series some time ago and I thought I should check out the first.

I liked it, but it took me a long time to get into it and finish it. I had the impression that it took until past the halfway mark to introduce the many different characters, their backgrounds, and building this slightly alternate Victorian world.

I'll pick up the second book, somewhen 😉

#SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

TheSpineView Great job! Like you, I've got one book I can't seem to get into. 2w
RaeLovesToRead I'm in agreement! 2w
64 likes2 comments
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julesG
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Hello #OokBOokClub-ers,

Here's the #BuddyRead reading plan for next year. We'll be reading the Moist von Lipwig subseries followed by the Watch novels and short stories.

If anyone wants to be tagged/untagged for future posts please let me know! Happy to oblige!

Pictures from the tagged book.

#Discworld #SirTerryPratchett #TerryPratchett #PratchettPosse #ReadAlong #EpicBuddyRead

TheAromaofBooks Thank you!! I'm “behind“ (I know, I can read them at any pace and in any order 😂) but actually started Unseen Academicals today. Still have hopes of catching up!! 2w
julesG @TheAromaofBooks You've nearly caught up. ? Don't worry being "behind", it happens. 2w
See All 6 Comments
TheSpineView Looks like 2025 will be awesome! 2w
BookmarkTavern Yes! I‘m so excited! 2w
willaful I love the Moist books! 2w
43 likes6 comments
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julesG
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#TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

I tend to re-read cosy, funny books during the darker months.

Top left: The Chronicles of St Mary's (🎄) short story collections and, of course, I've pre-ordered the next 🎄short story already
Bottom left: Spin-off from the Shopping for a Billionaire series, can be read without having read the whole series. Laugh out loud #RomCom ⬇️⬇️⬇️

julesG The eBook is currently for free: https://substack.com/redirect/c353c743-a998-4958-b585-b0ee45dfbea6?j=eyJ1IjoicG9...

Bottom right: Beth O'Leary's book is set in a run-down hotel around the holiday time. Story starts in November 2022.
2w
dabbe THANK YOU! I'm making a list, and checking it twice. Thank you for sharing and making the end of this week nice. 🩵❄️🩵 2w
julesG @dabbe I knew it, Santa had to be a woman. 2w
dabbe @julesG YES!!! 🎄🧑🏻‍🎄🎄 2w
59 likes4 comments
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julesG
Vipers | Katy Hays
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#ARC #MountARC #NetGalley

Requested solely based on the cover and was approved 🤩🤩

UK pub day is in March 2025

Lindy That cover most certainly is eye-catching! 2w
DGRachel I read an arc of the US version. Your cover is much cooler. 2w
julesG @DGRachel Looks like a different book. 2w
Captivatedbybooks This cover is beautiful 2w
53 likes4 comments
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julesG
Monstrous Regiment | Terry Pratchett
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#OokBOokClub

Just a friendly reminder that we'll be reading #MonstrousRegiment next! Dig out your books, put in your library holds, or place your orders! The next Discworld adventure continues on December 8th! Woohoo!

If anyone wants to be tagged/untagged for future posts please let me know! Happy to oblige!

38 likes3 comments
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julesG
The Truth | Terry Pratchett
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#OokBOokClub-ers, our Discworld adventure continues TODAY with #TheTruth!

Looking forward to our discussion next month!

#Discworld #SirTerryPratchett #TerryPratchett #PratchettPosse #ReadAlong #BuddyRead #EpicBuddyRead

Happy reading!

36 likes2 comments
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julesG
Moving Pictures (Revised) | Terry Pratchett
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#OokBOokClub

Hello friends! Open discussion is in the FOLLOWING POST marked as spoiler. Find the Moving Pictures post & tap "show me" on the spoiler tag to join in the discussion. Join in whenever you can! Today. Tomorrow. Next month! The post will always be up so just tag each other & we'll jump in to discuss with you. Feel free to chat about anything!

#Discworld #SirTerryPratchett #TerryPratchett #PratchettPosse #ReadAlong #BuddyRead

35 likes1 comment
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julesG
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Welcome to the #OokBOokClub open discussion for #MovingPictures feel free to discuss anything! Don't forget to tag each other in the comments so your friends can see your reply. Have fun!

#Discworld #SirTerryPratchett #TerryPratchett #PratchettPosse #ReadAlong #BuddyRead #EpicBuddyRead

BookmarkTavern This was such a fun read! I really loved the satire of Hollywood and making movies, how Dibbler kept going grander and grander with his plans. Also, the troll romance was unexpectedly delightful. And I can‘t believe it took me until the last hour or so for the book that I got the uncle Oswald reference was the Oscar statues. 😅😅😅 (edited) 2w
julesG @BookmarkTavern 😁 It took me some time to get the uncle Oswald reference, too. 2w
See All 11 Comments
julesG Did I mention that the new recording of the audiobook is narrated by Jason Isaacs? If not, mea culpa. 2w
BarbaraJean I loved all the little references--especially Blown Away 😂 It was a lot of fun deciphering those references, and I'm sure I missed a lot of them. I also really liked the deeper themes about dreams, and Victor's comments on being the biggest version of yourself. I'd have liked more of that, but felt like it got eclipsed by all the clever references. @BookmarkTavern Yes! The troll romance! I think the trolls were my favorite characters in this one. 1w
willaful @BarbaraJean I also liked the troll romance, which reminded me of my marriage. 🤣 I really had to hit him with a brick!

I enjoyed all the jokes, but also feel the deeper themes weren't explored as much as I would've liked. It's interesting to see the beginnings of the Wizard changeover, and Ponder Stibbons.
1w
julesG @willaful You married a troll? 😜 Reading Unseen Academicals and then jumping right into Moving Pictures I was actually confused for a moment that Ponder was a student. 7d
willaful Well, he is very tall. 😂

Yes, the chronology was a bit confusing. I wonder what Rincewind was up to while all this was happening. Probably running away, somewhere.
7d
julesG @willaful chased by who-knows-what and Luggage 7d
willaful @julesG I'm still unclear about what happened to the Luggage's domestic life... 7d
julesG @willaful They lived happily ever after? And CMOT Dibbler sold the little ones off to the highest bidders. Or is that slavery? 6d
11 likes11 comments
review
julesG
A Kilt for Christmas | Tricia O'Malley
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Mehso-so

#audiobook contemporary #Romance with a generous dash of magical realism: Ghost Coos, Brownies, Kelpies,...

West takes a break from his teaching job in sunny California and visits a small Scottish town at Christmas time. He soon falls for bookish and competitive Maisie, who might be up for a fling, because nothing longterm can happen between them.

Some 🌶️, lots of magic, the usual small town🎄tropes (snow, gingerbread houses, 🎄sweaters,...)

review
julesG
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Mehso-so

Set mainly in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, this alternate history murder mystery fantasy novel packs a lot into it's nearly 400 pages.

Working for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena Samantha Harker (yes, the daughter of Dracula's killer) and Dr Helena Moriarty (yes, her father is the Moriarty) are teamed up to solve why werewolf-like beasts attack men in Paris, France. ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

julesG Shadowed by Van Helsing (the younger, a childhood friend of Sam's) the two soon find a promising lead that involves chasing through the Paris catacombs, placating ghosts and not getting murdered, or incarcerated themselves.

I would love to give this debut novel more than 3 stars, but there were a few too many things that I struggled with. While the main characters are fleshed out with warts and all, most of the secondary characters ⬇️
3w
julesG lacked depth, which made it easy to determine which characters mattered for the murder mystery and which didn't; so, not enough red herrings. I was fairly certain I knew who was behind the murders early on, which might be the reason why I thought the plot was a bit convoluted.

All in all, a good start to a new series. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
3w
62 likes2 comments
review
julesG
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Panpan

Not sure how to review this book. I was annoyed by the historical inaccuracies and anachronistic dialogue. I didn't care for the over-the-top brutality of some plot elements and absolutely didn't understand why some of the culprits weren't held accountable for their actions. Why add it to the plot in the first place? Shock-value? What really brought this novel down to just one star was the show-down and its aftermath at the end of the book. ⬇️

julesG Why, after all that has happened to the protagonists is having a sex scene more important than properly processing what brutal event had just happened? They could have had sex afterwards. 3w
55 likes2 comments
review
julesG
Spitting Gold: A Novel | Carmella Lowkis
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Panpan

Paris, 1866, two sisters, mediums, work together to do one more job to raise enough money for their father's medical bills. Sylvie, meanwhile married to a baron, cannot ask her husband for financial aid, since he doesn't know about her family. Charlotte begrudges her sister getting out of the family business and out of the circumstances they lived in, and is happy to rope her sister into this new con.
⬇️
#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

julesG This was a very long book. Not based on the page-count, but all of the events of the book are told first from Sylvie's POV and then again from Charlotte's. Especially Charlotte's POV could have been whittled down to fill the gaps and/or give the reader the backstage view on what happened. I was bored and quite frankly annoyed with Charlotte's destructive pettiness when the story finally picked up speed during the last fifth of the book.
⬇️
3w
julesG Not only the pacing of the novel is off, the characterisation is off too. Charlotte is full of hatred for her sister's success in life, she gaslights her sister while 'on the job' and lets Sylvie take the fall for her own actions. Sylvie, who managed to get herself out of the life of con-artists and who I expected to have some backbone, is supposed to be this doormat who doesn't stand up for herself at all. This all felt very off. 3w
49 likes2 comments
review
julesG
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Pickpick

Kembral is a new mother who takes a tiny break from motherhood to join and hopefully enjoy an end of the year party. She used to work as retrieval agent, but has been on maternity leave. When the party turns into a "Groundhog Day" scenario Kembral seems to be the only one who recognises that the party/the mansion is slowly sinking into the echoes (parallel worlds that are similar, but not the same as the "prime" world).

⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC

julesG I liked Kembral as the main character. She seems fully fleshed out. She knows her strengths, but also her weaknesses, especially after having had a baby only two months before the party. She doesn't shy away from confrontations and has a deep desire to help - or to paraphrase the story: She's the one to get the dog and bring it home when no one else dares to.

⬇️
3w
julesG The story could have become repetitive, but each repetition of the party has higher stakes. Kembral needs to find allies, who help her puzzle out how to get all of the people attending the party back to their world without any of them dying, but who will believe her and who can she trust?

The ending of the book is written in a way that it could work as a standalone. Yet, I am curious to see where the sequel takes Kembral.
3w
Laughterhp Oh glad to hear this book is good! I‘m going to an author event in 2 weeks for this one. 3w
julesG @Laughterhp ooooh, now I'm a bit jealous. 😁 3w
56 likes4 comments
review
julesG
The Book Swap | Tessa Bickers
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Pickpick

Erin leaves notes in the margins of her books and James finds one of her books in a LFL and decides to respond. They haven't met, but they grow closer with every book they share.

Don't let the cute cover fool you. This isn't a cutesy romance. The book focuses on grief, survivor's guilt, mending fences with family and friends, finding yourself,...

ShelleyBooksie Thank you for this review- it totally looked like a cutesy romance based on the cover! 3w
tpixie @ShelleyBooksie @julesG best review. The book sounds very good- & the cover is very deceptive. They‘re gonna get romcom people to read it and miss out on other people who might actually enjoy it better! 3w
julesG @ShelleyBooksie @tpixie - there is a romance, but the book offers so much more than just "will they, won't they" 3w
tpixie @julesG and I like that! Thx 3w
squirrelbrain Sounds good - stacking. And you‘re right - I‘d have been totally put off by the cover. 3w
65 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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julesG
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More #BookMail - gigantic book. My son unpacked it, he said he wanted to keep me in suspense a bit longer.

Thank you @CaroPi! 😘😘😘 Very fitting on so many levels! You've chosen wonderful books for me. 😘😘

#HHS #HauntedHollowSwap @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Awesome! 🧡🎃🖤👻 3w
julesG @CaroPi It arrived on Saturday. Thank you! Guess Litsy didn't let you know that I tagged you. 3w
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
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julesG
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#BookMail - Pub Day is 14th November

Balibee146 Gorgeous edition 3w
Caroline2 Gorgeous ❤️ 🤩 3w
Read4life Beautiful!!! 3w
AnnCrystal 📚😍🗝️💝. 3w
63 likes4 comments
review
julesG
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Panpan

#UnpopularOpinion

This was too long (nearly 500pp). So Grinch adjacent, it was cringe. Why does the narrator have to break the fourth wall? Why the overly grumpy big sister? Why all the weird Christmas competitions? Why this stupid 3rd act break-up? Why not more focus on the romance between the main couple, outside of the 🌶️ scenes? Feels like they went from insta-hate to insta-lust to Insta-love. And that epilogue?

Very un-MeghanQuinn-like. 😐

review
julesG
Three Eight One | Aliya Whiteley
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Mehso-so

I might not be the target audience for this story. I admire the structure of the book, the play with narrating in different tenses and narrator POVs, but I didn't exactly enjoy the reading experience.

The frame narrative is from Rowena's POV, she's a curator who has discovered a nearly three hundred year old manuscript from 2024. The manuscript tells Fairly's story, a girl who left her home to walk the Horned Road to find meaning in her life. ⬇️

julesG Her choices and musings are what make up each of her 381 word long entries in the manuscript. In the frame narrative Rowena builds a connection between her own life and Fairly's story by annotating the manuscript with many(!) footnotes. 3w
julesG Surrealist story telling. This might be one for you, @Leniverse 😉 3w
julieclair I'm probably not the target audience, either, but the premise sounds interesting. 3w
See All 7 Comments
Leniverse Surrealist AND footnotes! That sounds like it has potential. 3w
julesG @Leniverse but you should have read Skyward Inn first, to get a taste of Whiteley's weird 3w
julesG @julieclair That's what drew me in. 3w
Leniverse Skyward Inn is in a stack of books that I fully intend to read before the year is over. The stack is ridiculously big. It's more like three stacks. But the intent is there. 😅 3w
44 likes7 comments
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julesG
The Silence Factory | Bridget Collins
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#WorstRead2024 @CSeydel

The Silence Factory wins. I know this might be an #UnpopularOpinion, but I just found the book boring. I guess Gothic is not my jam.

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julesG
October's End | Horrified Press
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October wrap-up.

AnnCrystal 📚🥳👍💝. 3w
47 likes1 comment
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julesG
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I just got an Amazon delivery that said "liquids" on the package, which made me wonder whether Amazon can read minds (I wanted to order some alcohol for Christmas presents, but haven't yet).

Dear @CaroPi Thank you for the #HHS #HauntedHollowSwap package! The book sounds intriguing and I'm honestly amazed that it has rounded corners. The chocolate is perfect, especially since I've just made tea and was looking for biscuits. ?

julesG @wanderinglynn Thank you for organising the swap. 😘😘 3w
wanderinglynn Awesome! 🧡🎃🖤👻 3w
CaroPi Sorry that I didn't send the proper package but glad that it arrived for Halloween. You didn't get a second book? I sent two of them 3w
See All 7 Comments
CaroPi Also since you read so much I wanted to play safe 😉that is why I decided the encyclopaedia 3w
julesG @CaroPi No worries, it had that paper thingy inside. Just for a second I was uncertain whether I had ordered the alcohol already and plain forgot about it. The second one might appear in the next days. Or it came with a different delivery provider and is in my postbox - Amazon is weird like that. Will venture downstairs and investigate. The encyclopedia is a wonderful idea. I didn't even know this particular book existed, which is the beauty of 3w
julesG Swaps. You get books you didn't have on your radar, but would have got for yourself. 3w
CaroPi @julesG hello! according to Amazon you got the second book in Saturday. Can you let me know if is there? Worry about it 3w
46 likes7 comments
review
julesG
An Instruction in Shadow | Benedict Jacka
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Mehso-so

Second book in #UrbanFantasy series. It ends with a cliffhanger.

I'm not quite sure what happened in this book. I mean, things happened, but it all feels like it was world-building and preparation for the big finish.

#MiddleBookSyndrome

#SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

TheSpineView Great job! 3w
49 likes1 comment
review
julesG
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Mehso-so

It's a Will Watt narration week, it seems.

There's a fairy market in London where you can barter anything, even your destiny. In this alternate Victorian Britain, one of the royals sells their destiny to an indentured servant who would like to gain his freedom. Meanwhile, the children in a workhouse want better conditions and hope their connection to the fairy world will help them.

The story suffered from too many POV,... ⬇️

julesG ..., too much emphasis on "slavery is bad - but we're talking white orphaned children being exploited and indentured for years", and insta-love.

I liked the idea of the 'Untermarkt' and some elements of the story, but I only stuck it out because of the narration
3w
51 likes1 comment
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julesG
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Re-reading the #audiobook version again. 😬

I said I wouldn't dress up for Halloween/Samhain. I'm not, I wear the shirt and skirt all year round, but I rarely wear them together.

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🦇

And yes, @BarbaraBB, I'm wearing the grey dress underneath the shirt and skirt. 😉

BarbaraBB Lol I was wondering of course! You‘re still going strong, 🤩 wow! 3w
BarbaraBB Sorry unfollowed you incidentally, though corrected that immediately 😀 3w
julesG @BarbaraBB I have my eye on a long sleeved shirt-dress and the 100€ discount would be nice. Nearly thought you unfollowed me because of the dress and my Scrooge-ness 3w
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BarbaraBB 🤣🤣🤣 I never would! 3w
Gissy 😍👌 3w
Suet624 Love that shirt! 3w
Susanita Hooray for the grey dress! 3w
julesG @Susanita I have to say, it's actually nice to know which part of my wardrobe is sorted before I even get out of bed. 3w
46 likes9 comments
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julesG
The Name of the Rose | Umberto Eco, William Weaver, David Lodge
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Happy Halloween!

#TLT#ThreeListThursday #TLT @dabbe

I have read 9 from the list, and probably hundreds of other mystery/thrillers that didn't make the list. And there are so many on the list I'm not the least bit interested in. 🤷🏻‍♀️

One of my favourites (and among the first I've read) is tagged.

dabbe Some look pretty old and archaic, don't they? 😂 Thanks for playing and sharing! 🖤🎃🖤 3w
35 likes1 stack add1 comment
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julesG
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Pickpick

Not sure what I was expecting, but it was far better than I thought.

An unplanned pregnancy forces the 19 y/o Margo to earn money in an unusual way.

Really liked the way the author plays with the POV throughout the novel.

LeeRHarry I put this on hold at my library after alll the Gladstone‘s talk about it, good to know you liked it too. 😊 3w
sarahbarnes Looking forward to this one! 3w
squirrelbrain Glad you enjoyed it too! 3w
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BarbaraBB Same as @LeeRHarry still need to read it. Your review is encouraging! 3w
julesG @LeeRHarry @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I'm sure you will like it. 3w
Suet624 I purchased this one recently. Again I need to stop going to the library and instead read my own books! 3w
julesG @Suet624 But where's the fun in that? 3w
Suet624 Ahhhh, you totally get me!!! 3w
62 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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julesG
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#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Tricky, no Halloween like in the US over here. 😉

Tag, you're it. 🎃

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julesG
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Thanks for the tag @Eggs

? Not really. I might put my "Resting Witch Face" shirt on though.

? Classic horror: The Woman in Black - I didn't really enjoy-enjoy it, but it wasn't a pan.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Good idea! I might just wear my Halloween sweatshirt. Thanks for playing! 4w
43 likes1 comment
review
julesG
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Pickpick

It's 31st October, Nick's birthday. The plan was to spend quality time with him in bed. But the events at the end of the 3rd novel, plus Riley's ex suddenly appearing derail all plans.

Now Santiago Investigations is protecting the ego-maniac ex from whoever wants to kill him, and boy it's a long list of suspects, understandably. For the first time in his career Nick would love to do a piss-poor job.

#SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

AnnCrystal 💝💝💝. 4w
TheSpineView Fantastic! 4w
56 likes2 comments
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julesG
The Flatshare: A Novel | Beth O'Leary
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#BookMail

Spreading some love by getting shelf-trophies. 😁

I think I need to get new shelves next. 😬

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes Love, love, love the Emily Wilde series. 4w
LiteraryinPA I love Beth O‘Leary‘s books! 4w
Suet624 Nice! 4w
58 likes3 comments
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julesG
Swapsies | Fiona Roberton
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#HauntedHollowSwap @wanderinglynn #HHS #HHS24

Evening stroll to the petrol station to drop off my parcel. It's on its way.

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃🧡 4w
54 likes1 comment
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julesG
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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I guess, with this update now, I have a bingo?

Finished one book, started four new ones. Only one of the four I started was on my tentative #TBR. ??

Also, what exactly counts as a spooky treat? My European mind can't think of something other than "must mean disgusting".

#DeweysReadathon
#readathon

bthegood For me spooky treat would mean candy or something I get while trick or treating?? maybe not the intentions but that is what comes to my mind 😄 4w
42 likes1 comment
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julesG
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@DeweysReadathon

#DewesReadathon tentative #TBR - a few #ARCs and, of course, the #Discworld book.

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julesG
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#BookMail from @jenniferw88 - in lieu of the Blind Date Book, which I'd already read, I got a surprise book from Jenny.

Thank you!

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julesG
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#BookMail

Preordered months ago, it came as a surprise - especially since the Pub Day is 7th November. 😁

Also, thanks DHL, ramming it into my postbox didn't hurt the book at all. 🙄🤬😡

52 likes5 comments
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julesG
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Anyone else doing #DewesReadathon this weekend?

Clocks go back to Winter Time in Europe tonight, which makes the #readathon 25 hours long. 😁

Picture is from Dewey's Readathon Instagram.

Sace I‘m participating! Sort of. I won‘t really be posting anything on the socials. Just reading. 4w
julesG @Sace I'm thinking of using it as an excuse to post on the socials (as in on Litsy and maybe Instagram) 4w
In_the_stacks I‘m participating! I don‘t usually post very much when I do participate, but I am going to try to post on litsy this weekend. I love your bingo card! 4w
Daisey I‘m participating to some extent. I‘m home for the day so I plan to fit in more reading time than I‘ve had recently and lots of audio as I work around the house. I‘ll probably only post here. 4w
dabbe I'm planning on reading today, so why not? 🤩 Love the bingo card, too! 🖤🧡🖤 4w
41 likes5 comments