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Kris10H

Kris10H

Joined January 2021

"I live in two worlds. One is a world of books." -Rory Gilmore ? Dravet Mother, Wife, Learning Center teacher, WOTEling, ? ?
review
Kris10H
The Younger Wife | Sally Hepworth
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This one kept my interest the whole way through. Hepworth's style is similar to Lianne Moriarty, and Lisa Jewell, switching back and forth between characters throughout. The different perspectives keep you guessing about the reality of what is happening.

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Meh.
It was a bit difficult to empathize with the protagonist, as her poor decision-making skills played a big part in all of her problems. It's an okay read, but I wouldn't rush out to pick it up. Now I have to check out the show, because I do feel the storyline has potential.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I had to stop watching the show after 2 episodes for the same reason. She was giving me anxiety with all her bad decisions. Lol. 1mo
Kris10H Maybe I'll just skip the show. Lol 1mo
9 likes2 comments
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Kris10H
The Villa: A Novel | Rachel Hawkins
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Book #73
4/5
Another good read by Hawkins, though I was a bit disappointed by the lack of actual horror as mentioned in the synopsis - maybe I'm just too desensitized by watching true crime documentaries and reading thrillers, but the murders in the "murder house" didn't really seem all that horrific or murder-y. Otherwise, still an anjoyable read.

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Kris10H
Pageboy: A Memoir | Elliot Page
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Mehso-so

Book #72
3/5
Page's memoir deals almost exclusively with sexual/gender related experiences and identity. There are also a lot of references to Halifax, NS, which this Bluenoser personally found enjoyable to listen to. I always recommend the audiobook when reading an autobiography. And as always, this one I borrowed from the Halifax library.

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Kris10H
Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli
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Book #71
5/5
I love this so much! I don't know how I've managed to make it to this ripe age without ever hearing of this book, but reading it was like uncovering a bit of magic and innocence. Bonus nostalgia points: the audiobook is read by John Ritter.

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Book #70
3.5/5
If I'm being honest... I borrowed this audiobook from the library thinking it was an autobiography by Dame Maggie Smith. Disappointment aside, this memoir about a poet's journey through the end of her marriage is insightful and, well, poetic. It's a bit wordy (as I would expect from a poet), but it is relatable.

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Kris10H
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Book #69
4/5
This was a delightful change of pace from my usual reads. I love Me Before You, and the sequels, so I thought I'd give another of Moyes' novels a try. I was a tiny bit thrown by a change of pace just past the halfway mark, but it all evened out and made for an enjoyable read.

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Kris10H
The Good Sister: A Novel | Sally Hepworth
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Book #68
4.5/5
This is a really unique read. It's part neurodivergent love story, part psychological thriller. It is told mostly from the POV of neurodivergent Fern, and alternately, in part, through the journal of her neurotypical twin sister, Rose. I found Fern endearing.

5feet.of.fury Oooh I just picked this one up! Glad to see your review. Maybe it will jump the line 3mo
Cathythoughts This sounds good ! Stacked. 3mo
9 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Kris10H
Beneath the Stairs: A Novel | Jennifer Fawcett
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Book #67
4/5
A few loose ends in this one, but in this case, it's okay to leave some things open to interpretation. Part mystery, part supernatural (maybe?), it kept me hooked the whole time.

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Kris10H
The Plot | Jean Hanff Korelitz
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Book #66
4/5
Unique storyline? ✔️ Surprises along the way? ✔️
I almost gave up on this one - the beginning was a bit slow - but I'm glad I stuck it out.

Cathythoughts I enjoyed this one too 👍🏻❤️ 3mo
9 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
Upgrade: A Novel | Blake Crouch
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Book #65
4.5/5
I don't read much Sci-fi, but Crouch's novels really grip me, with his ideas of multiverses, genetic tampering, and morality. This one did not disappoint.

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Kris10H
Love, Pamela | Pamela Anderson
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Mehso-so

Book #64
3.5/5
If you have watched the documentary about Pam on Netflix, there really isn't much need to read this book; there really isn't anything additional except for Pam's philosophical ideas. If you haven't seen the doc, and you're curious about who Pamela really is, this is worth reading.

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Kris10H
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Book #63
4/5
There are a few genuine surprises throughout this one. Also notable is the theme of survival: when given the choice, who do you save? The storyline may be a teensy bit contrived, but it's worth it for the entertainment factor.

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Kris10H
The Do-Over | Lynn Painter
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Book #62
4.5/5
This is my 3rd Lynn Painter read, and it did not disappoint. If you like YA fiction, romance, Gilmore Girls, Taylor Swift lyrics, and Groundhog Day, you will appreciate this book.

8 likes1 stack add
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Kris10H
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Book #61
4/5
This was a pretty unique storyline, well executed.

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Kris10H
The Soulmate: A Novel | Sally Hepworth
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Mehso-so

Book #60
I don't know if I can give this an accurate rating, because even though I finished it only about a week ago... I honestly cannot remember how it ended. Lol. I think I enjoyed reading it?

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Kris10H
Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo
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Book #59
4.5/5
Not my typical read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Bardugo's supernatural world, based on the history of Yale/Newhaven, is complex, as is the storyline she built from it. Great read for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy/thriller/mystery/supernatural fiction.

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Kris10H
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Book #58
4/5
This novel is kind of how Bridget Jones Diary would be if you added in some Murders and detective work. Good read. 😊

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Kris10H
Mr. Wrong Number | Lynn Painter
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Book #57
4.5/5
I may have a newfound appreciation for romance novels. 🤔😳
I may even read this one again.

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Kris10H
The Arc | Tory Henwood Hoen
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Book #56
4/5
This is a pretty good rom-com, with a bit of extra depth - it had me questioning the complex nature of relationships, and just how much an individual's past experiences in relationships affects the outcome of new ones.

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Kris10H
Blood Sugar | Sascha Rothchild
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Book #55
3.5/5
This was a pretty good novel - unique storyline, good storytelling, held my interest. It did make me question my own moral compass a bit, because though the main character is guilty of 3 Murders (it's right there on the cover, so not a spoiler), I really found myself hoping that she wouldn't go to jail. 🤔

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Kris10H
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Book #54
4.5/5
An oldie, but a goodie, as the saying goes. Strangers... was the inspiration for a 1951 movie of the same name by Hitchcock, and it definitely has that Hitchcock feel to it. Part Hitchcock, part Poe's The Telltale Heart, Highsmith's debut novel speaks to the theme of morality, and is a busy ride from beginning to end. 👍 👍

Cathythoughts Such a great book ❤️ 3mo
8 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
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Book #53
4/5
VERY loosely (from whar I can tell) inspired by Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, this one has a few surprises which, honestly, would have been more *surprising* if I hadn't read both of the aforementioned books. Still, there were a few things that I had not expected, and I would call it a worthwhile read. 😊

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Book #52
3.5/4
Hendrix doesn't really fit into a genre - I've read all of his novels to date (my favourites being My Best Friend 's Exorcism and Horrorstör), and I'd have to say that the recipe for a Hendrix book is equal parts horror, creepiness, humor, and nostalgia.

Kris10H If you have a phobia of dolls and puppets, you might want to sit this one out.
How to... is on par with We Sold Our Souls, and The Final Girls Support Group, and The Southern Book Club..., but not quite as excellent as ...Exorcism and Horrorstör.
3mo
7 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
The Therapist | B A Paris
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Book #51
4/5
This one actually had me kind of stumped, and that doesn't happen a lot with thrillers or mysteries anymore. It had many elements of the many popular books of its genre, but with a bit more originality.

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Kris10H
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Books 45 - 50
5/5
Yes, I read Locke and Key again ❤️🗝
(And I'll likely read it a 3rd time before the year's done).
*pic from Google*

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Kris10H
Heart-Shaped Box | Joe Hill
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Book #44
4/5
Though not necessarily my cup of tea, this book is unique, quick paced, and well-written. I know I shouldn't compare his writing to his father's (Stephen King), but I can't help it - their writing has the same dark, richly detailed, otherworldly quality. Heart-Shaped Box is, at times, like an insane fever dream.

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Kris10H
Better Than the Movies | Lynn Painter
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Book #43
4.5/5
I did not realize this was a YA novel until I was already getting into it. This book was an adorably predictable rom-com, and totally swoon-worthy if you're into that sort of thing 😉

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Kris10H
Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Book #42
5/5
My 3rd time through, and still one of my favourite novels. I haven't watched the show, and I'm afraid to, because I don't want it to ruin what I picture in my head when I read the book.

TheLudicReader The series is awesome. 3mo
14 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
The Listeners | Jordan Tannahill
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Book #41
4/5
Unique concept, well written. Parts of it may have gone a bit...unhinged...but that fits the theme nicely. A few people start hearing a hum that most of the population can't hear. They find one another and form a group to try to determine the origin of the hum.

Kris10H Things become increasingly out of hand, as those who can't hear the hum start to suspect the group of cult-like behaviours.
Definitely a good read for anyone looking for something different than all the common story tropes.
3mo
3 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
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Book #40
4.5/5
This YA read is surprisingly insightful and wrll-written. It is written from the POV of a young girl who lives with her 3 younger siblings, her mom, and her youngest sibling's dad. There are themes of domestic abuse, poverty, and parentification (if you don't know, Google it - it's a thing).

Kris10H My only complaint is that I think it could have gone even farther with the characters and storyline - but then I guess it might not be suitable for the YA audience. 3mo
4 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
Greenwich Park | Katherine Faulkner
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Book #39
4/5
Like The Paris Apartment, the most recent novel I read, Greenwich Park has several twists and turns, making it a hard book to pull yourself away from. How the story begins, and where it ends, are almost like two different stories, because of all the information revealed in between.

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Kris10H
The Paris Apartment | Lucy Foley
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Book #38
4/5
This one has more twists than a Twizzler, a saying I recently made up to describe the Murdaugh Murders docuseries. Like MM, The Paris Apartment features complicated relationships, illicit affairs, money, and power. In ny opinion, this is, by far, the best of Foley's four books to date.

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Kris10H
Reckless Girls: A Novel | Rachel Hawkins
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Book #37
4/5
I would describe this one overall as a clever, somewhat suspenseful, Summer read.

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Book #36
3/5
It really bothers me when the synopsis on the back of the book is misleading. This one led me to believe that it's about a dead man trying to decide how to spend his last week on earth before crossing over. In reality, it's more than halfway through the book when he is given that time line. There are good parts, but overall I found the story underwhelming.

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Kris10H
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Book #35
4/5
As a bluenoser, this one's close to home, literally. They could never make a movie based on the NS massacres of April 2020, because the sheer volume of people involved, and the complexity of the situation, complete with unbelievable lies and cover-ups. Palango's comprehensive research and writing on the subject are both very informative and eye-opening.

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Kris10H
The Maidens: A Novel | Alex Michaelides
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Mehso-so

Book #34
3/5
I was really disappointed by this one. Michaelides' novel, The Silent Patient, was one of my favourites a few years back. The resolution to this one was just too contrived for my liking. Too many questions left unanswered.

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Kris10H
An American Marriage | Tayari Jones
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Mehso-so

Book #33
3.5/5
Decent book - offers a different perspective on relationships, in the context of African-American characters in the US. My complaint would be the pacing of the storyline. There were a lot of places that felt very slow, and it didn't have a very good flow.

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Kris10H
Carrie Soto Is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Mehso-so

Book #32
3.5
Well written, as always by TJR, but this one missed the mark for me - likely due to my total indifference to tennis (and sports in general). The characters were well developed, but I struggled to make any personal connections with their life goal and purpose of becoming better than everyone else at something. My goal is just to be the best me I can be - competition has never really interested me much.

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Kris10H
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Book #31
🥰

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Kris10H
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Book #30
I love Sarah's Scribbles.

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Kris10H
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Book #29
4.5/5
If comics could be spirit animals, Sarah's Scribbles would be mine.

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Kris10H
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Book #28
4.5/5
I've read all of Flynn's books to date, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Gone Girl was SO much better than the movie made it seem, and I actually found her other books better than Gone Girl. The Grownup is a short story. Flynn's writing is so good at drawing the reader in, and I loved it. My only criticism is that it should not have been a short story!

Kris10H She did such a good job of setting up the main character and storyline, and the way and how quickly it ended just seemed like I was being cheated out of a complete experience. 3mo
9 likes1 comment
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Kris10H
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Book #27
5/5
I have never watched a single thing McCurdy has acted in - at least that I can remember. I wanted to read her memoir because the title caught my attention, as did the 80s nature of the cover design.
McCurdy is a talented writer - something that she would have no doubt pursued earlier, had her mother not forced her into acting.

Kris10H Her life reads like a work of fiction, in that she had experienced many things that you often hear about child actors - specifically those with overbearing stage moms. I found this book engaging and insightful, and would absolutely recommend. 😊 3mo
5feet.of.fury This was so heartbreaking and somehow also hilarious 3mo
5 likes2 comments
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Kris10H
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Book #26
4.5/5
This graphic novel is a retelling of the classic Snow White, but told by the queen. In it, Snow White is not the innocent and kind girl we know from the original story. Definitely not suitable for children (scenes of erotic nature). The illustration style is very beautiful, and very different than in most comics.

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Book #25
3/5
This gives some background on the two kids who bully Mike and the other kids. It was okay. I'm definitely not the target audience. 🤷‍♀️

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Kris10H
Spare | Prince Harry
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Book #24
4/5
I grew up with a grandmother who was 100% loyal to the British monarchy, as her grandparents were from Great Britain. I remember many decorative plates, teacups, and other memorabilia with photos of the royals. I can remember looking through books and magazines about the royal family.. My grandmother even brought me a book about Diana and Charles' wedding, with pop-ups and tabs....

Kris10H My mother has a beautiful photograph of Princess Diana that she took during a royal tour that included a stop in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. I still remember where I was when I learned of her death, and it almost felt like losing a part of the family.
3mo
Kris10H Other than that, I have never been invested much in the royal family. To put it into perspective... I didn't watch the weddings of William/Kate, or Harry/Meghan - though the media covered and replayed enough of it on news programs and on social media, that I feel as though I did.
3mo
Kris10H I don't know what made me want to read Spare, except for maybe curiosity about a royal who has, seemingly successfully, broken free. Harry comes across as very self-aware and insightful. The death of his mother in 1997 was very clearly a defining moment in his life, and he continued, for many years after, to hold out hope that she might just be in hiding, and that she would someday come back. 3mo
Kris10H It's really quite heartbreaking. Diana is very present in the autobiography, being what ties everything together. It really makes complete sense that he would end up taking the woman he loves, and leaving the UK. I think it was inevitable. The bits about the war were of no interest to me, other than to note that Harry is extremely serious about, and dedicated to, serving his country. 3mo
Kris10H It's worth a read. I would definitely recommend listening to the audiobook (available online from your local library 😉) 3mo
6 likes5 comments
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Kris10H
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Book #23
5/5
This is a short collection (3 stories), one of which was also in L&K : The Golden Age. It's my favourite Locke & Key story, and is called Open the Moon. When I first read it, I almost didn't get far - a young boy with epilepsy, having seizures. I generally avoid epilepsy in books and on television for several reasons - it's just too close to my reality (my son has a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome).

Kris10H But I had already read almost all of L&K, and I decided to soldier through. I'm so glad I did, because this story is now SO close to my heart. It speaks to what it is like as the parents of a child with epilepsy; the worries, the fears, the helplessness you feel in your inability to take it all away and make your child feel better. It speaks to the altered quality of life, and limitations, of a child with severe epilepsy. 3mo
Kris10H It reminds me to be thankful that, though these fears and disadvantages are still a reality, there are now medications that can help extend and improve the quality of life of those with this illness. I won't- and in fact cannot - try to explain the storyline, but suffice it to say that Open the Moon means a lot to me. 3mo
3 likes2 comments
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Kris10H
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Book #22
5/5
Just as good as the original 6 novels. ❤

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Kris10H
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Books # 16 - 21
5/5 🌟

Obsessed. Hyperfixated. In love.

This is how I feel about Locke & Key.