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Readerann

Readerann

Joined October 2016

review
Readerann
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Pickpick

Bill Bryson may be the only author whose complete works I own. While this one isn‘t as “laugh out loud funny” as some of his others, it‘s still highly entertaining and informative. I‘m sad he has retired. 😢

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Readerann
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Pickpick

A National Book Award winner that has been on my TBR for years. Set in 1970‘s New York, it‘s depressing and gritty but you find yourself rooting for the characters despite their flaws.

BarbaraBB I read it not long ago and really like it too. 7d
17 likes1 comment
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Readerann
The Book Censor's Library | Bothayna Al-Essa
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Pickpick

I found this entertaining, but also unsettling as more and more book banning occurs around me. I‘m not sure how I feel about the ending.

sarahbarnes I wasn‘t sure about the ending either. 1w
13 likes1 comment
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Readerann
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Pickpick

Beautiful nature writing and storytelling. It‘s books like this that literally keep me “grounded”.

Suet624 I love this book. 1w
sarahbarnes This was so good. 1w
Readerann @suet624 @sarahbarnes I know writing is hard work, but somehow I imagine the sentences just magically flowing out of this author! 1w
Suet624 So true. 1w
14 likes4 comments
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Readerann
Five Decembers | James Kestrel
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Pickpick

Decent crime fiction. This was a random library pick because it‘s an Edgar winner, has a 4.42 on GR, and Dennis Lehane recommended it. I was curious about the Hard Case Crime covers, and they all seem to be like this! (There‘s almost no sex in this one. 😙)

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Readerann
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Pickpick

I‘m not very religious but I feel the author offers some very practical advice here, much of it based on humbling experiences from her own life. It‘s still hard to believe the scathing remarks she was subjected to simply because she called for compassion.

11 likes1 stack add
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Readerann
Erasure: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Not to say I didn‘t like the book (and Everett is one of my favorite authors), but this is one of those rare cases where I may have liked the movie more. 😱 (“American Fiction”)

Tamra That‘s funny, I had the opposite experience! 😄 1mo
Readerann @Tamra I can appreciate that. I did like both! 1mo
14 likes2 comments
blurb
Readerann
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I‘m late making my #DeweysReadathon post (it started 9 hours ago), but I thought I‘d post my stack of next-up reads while taking a little break. I also have The Wedding People and Martyr! on Kindle. The tagged book is Banned in my state (along with 16 others!) so that one is a priority. 😠
#Deweys #readbannedbooks

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Readerann
Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros
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Mehso-so

I wanted to see what all the fuss was about after my local indie had a big launch event for the latest in this series. I get how a fan of “new adult” fantasy would love this. It was entertaining enough, but I won‘t be continuing the series.

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Readerann
Orbital | Samantha Harvey
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Pickpick

I‘m solidly in the “loved it” camp here. I know some found it boring and to be fair, I may have ventured in that direction if it had been longer. I read it over a month ago, but keep thinking about it - which makes me love it more!
#booker

Tamra Me too! (edited) 2mo
19 likes1 comment
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I will read anything James McBride writes, but I didn‘t love this one as much as The Good Lord Bird or Deacon King Kong. It didn‘t seem to flow as well.

Ruthiella Agree! 👍 2mo
15 likes1 comment
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Readerann
Nicholas Nickelby | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

Another chunkster from the #1001books list. ✅. Whenever I read Dickens, it seems my opinion of whoever else I‘m reading at the same time (I never have just ONE book going 😱) is immediately lowered. Also, my command of the English language is dismal. 😕

Texreader A Great Book!! And I agree!! 3mo
sarahbarnes Good work! 3mo
Readerann @Texreader I see you watched the show and like the book better! Good to know. I think long novels often don‘t translate to the screen very well. 3mo
Readerann @sarahbarnes Thanks! It‘s always exciting to turn page 700-something and be done at last! 😁 3mo
15 likes4 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I loved this deceptively complex novel, even though I got frustrated with many of Jane‘s decisions. 😣 ToB novels are a win for me this year (so far)!
#ToB25

sarahbarnes My hold on this at the library just came in! 3mo
BarbaraBB Glad you‘re enjoying the shortlist! 3mo
20 likes2 comments
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Readerann
Wandering Stars | Tommy Orange
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Pickpick

I agree with others that maybe this wasn‘t quite as good as There There, but I still loved it. As far as character development and just plain beautiful writing on a tough subject, few can rival Tommy Orange for me.
#ToB25longlist

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Readerann
Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel
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Pickpick

I‘m 4 for 4 so far in the #ToB25! I‘d probably put this one last of the 4, but I surprised myself by enjoying this tale of girl boxers and their bouts in one tournament. Definitely outside my wheelhouse, which is what I love about the ToB.

BarbaraBB Glad you enjoyed it! 5mo
BkClubCare It had style, yes? 5mo
22 likes2 comments
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Readerann
Beautyland: A Novel | Marie-Helene Bertino
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Pickpick

I think I would have enjoyed this as a decent coming-of-age story, even without the alien “twist”. It did make me feel quite sad at times.
#ToB25

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Readerann
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Pickpick

Just loved this, especially with the unique way the stories are interconnected. The audiobook is fantastic, with different readers for each story.
#ToB25

sarahbarnes Glad you loved it too! 5mo
BarbaraBB Yes, happy you loved it too! 5mo
Suet624 I‘m really happy this is getting such love. 4mo
Readerann @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB @Suet624 Kudos to the #ToB for selecting this gem! 4mo
22 likes4 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I really felt my age reading this (ha 👵), but enjoyed it nonetheless. Soft pick.
#ToB25

BkClubCare With my mother‘s book club 😳 I kept thinking “oh my, my mom is reading this…” 5mo
Readerann @BkClubCare I‘ll bet they had an “interesting” discussion. 🤣 5mo
17 likes2 comments
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Readerann
The Third Gilmore Girl | Kelly Bishop
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Pickpick

My daughters and I love The Gilmore Girls and I loved this book. Only about 1/4 is actually about that show, but Bishop has had an interesting life in the entertainment business. Her accolades include a Tony award as an original cast member of “Chorus Line” on Broadway. I mostly listened to the audio and it‘s great. (Emily‘s voice! 🥰)

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Readerann
Love Medicine (Revised) | Louise Erdrich
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Pickpick

A gem I picked up at my library‘s used book sale. I find Erdrich‘s writing beautiful and heartbreaking. I feel a real connection to Native American culture and Erdrich is one of my favorite authors.

AshleyHoss820 I loved this one too! Broke me into pieces. 6mo
Suet624 Oh boy. This was the first Erdrich I read years and years ago. A stunner. 6mo
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Readerann
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I was nervous this would be one of those “I don‘t get all the hype” books for me (it‘s happened several times). It wasn‘t! I loved it! Yay! 😀👍👏
Also, the audio was fantastic.

Tamra Almost finished and I‘m afraid to know the end. 😬 7mo
sarahbarnes Agreed! 😃 7mo
Read4life Agree. I loved the audiobook. So well done. 6mo
Suet624 So good. I‘m glad you liked it. 6mo
30 likes4 comments
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Readerann
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Mehso-so

I loved Hyperbole and a Half, but didn‘t connect with this one.

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Readerann
Trespasses | Louise Kennedy
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Pickpick

I was drawn into this story of a young schoolteacher in Ireland during The Troubles. Cushla is trying to get by despite her alcoholic mother and love of the wrong man. It all felt very authentic.

Suet624 I‘m always so happy when I see someone else has read this and enjoyed it. 6mo
BkClubCare @Suet624 - was going to say the same! I do think I have a fondness for Irish lit. 6mo
Suet624 @BkClubCare I definitely do. 😂 6mo
20 likes4 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

A lovely little escape read for today. I don‘t think I had ever read Through the Looking Glass. A reread of Alice has been on my radar since learning Paul McCartney and John Lennon were huge Lewis Carroll fans. The wordplay is great fun.

MemoirsForMe Learned something new about The Beatles. Cool! 7mo
19 likes1 comment
blurb
Readerann
Readathon: Occasional List : Geleentheidslys | Gauteng (South Africa). Education Media Service
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Dewey‘s readathon is tomorrow! I can‘t wait to unplug for 24 hours, as I seem to be anxiety-ridden these days. I wonder why. 😳🤯😰🫣
#deweysreadathon

Caterina Great stack! I didn't realize the readathon was tomorrow. Where are they posting about it these days? The Litsy account seems inactive and so does their blog. 7mo
Readerann @Caterina @charl08 I participate on Goodreads (there is a Dewey‘s Readathon group). It‘s also on Discord, Instagram, and maybe Facebook. There isn‘t a sign-up on the blog any more. 7mo
17 likes3 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this enough to overlook the parts that bothered me. I‘m hard on books, though, so it‘s rare I love anything from start to finish. 😁🙄

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Readerann
Lone Women: A Novel | Victor LaValle
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Panpan

Another I‘m in the minority on. This felt like a bunch of puzzle pieces that didn‘t quite fit together. I‘d love to read a good book about lone women homesteaders in Montana. For me, this wasn‘t it.

Suet624 Unstacked. 😊 7mo
Readerann @suet624 If you‘re a big horror fan, you might want to give it a try. I just don‘t “get” all the kudos for it. 7mo
BarbaraBB I was disappointed too after read this 7mo
14 likes3 comments
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Readerann
Mrs Dalloway | Virginia Woolf
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Pickpick

A soft pick. I found sections of it to be brilliant, but got bogged down in others. I‘m sure the style was deemed quite daring for 1925.
#1001books

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Readerann
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Pickpick

I‘ve read some great nonfiction this year, but this was the best of the bunch.

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Readerann
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Pickpick

Perhaps the plot was a little loose, but I loved the characters and learning about the Sami reindeer herders.

BkClubCare This was just intense and bleak. 6mo
Readerann @BkClubCare I agree it‘s not a “happy” read, but I also found it beautiful. 6mo
BkClubCare @Readerann - I gave it 5 stars for the excellent writing, but I didn‘t recommend it often. 6mo
16 likes3 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I hadn‘t heard of this author, but I can see why she is considered one of Denmark‘s best twentieth-century writers. Really compelling reading. I was drawn in by her brutal honesty in describing her life.

sarahbarnes I have a copy of this on my shelf from @merelybookish and want to get to it someday soon! 8mo
Readerann @sarahbarnes I wasn‘t expecting it to be a page-turner! 7mo
15 likes2 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I don‘t read a lot of poetry, but this volume has made me want to scour the earth for everything Billy Collins has ever written. LOVED it!! 😍

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Readerann
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Pickpick

Not a “comfort” read, but SO important. Should be required reading for anyone who won‘t remain young nor live forever (yes, every one of us).

451Degrees Loved this one so much. A reread will soon be in order myself! 8mo
Readerann @451Degrees Yes, it‘s one I definitely will be revisiting as well. 8mo
18 likes2 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

I enjoyed slowly working my way through this book, listening to each song as I read about it. For nearly 70 years, this guy has been writing songs! This book features 161 of them. I counted 69 co-written with John Lennon (out of the about 300 they wrote together). Really interesting snippets about his writing process, inspiration for the songs, and the other Beatles.

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Readerann
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Pickpick

Well, that was loads of fun! And just the break I needed from heavier fare…

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Readerann
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Mehso-so

I know this is based on true events, but I was never more than casually interested in how the story would unfold. I had the feeling some of the translation was a little awkward. I‘m also sure I would have enjoyed it more if I were a foodie. 😊

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Readerann
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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Pickpick

Phillips‘ writing is mesmerizing. I feel a little guilty for disliking Sam, given that she had been through so much. I thought the ending foreshadowed a dismal future for her. Both she and Elena were interesting characters, though. 3.5*

Ruthiella Sam was so frustrating! 8mo
Readerann @Ruthiella No kidding! And I‘m not sure it was believable that Ben and Danny were SO nice to her. 8mo
9 likes2 comments
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Readerann
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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Mehso-so

I‘m ready for a book I can really sink my teeth into and LOVE. It‘s been a while. I couldn‘t connect with these characters. I tried to listen to the audiobook, but would get lost in the conversations. Having said that, I don‘t regret reading it. I may be thinking about it for a bit (or maybe not, considering the ending irritated me 😆).

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Readerann
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Pickpick

This book far exceeded my expectations. Bono is a multi-faceted, supremely talented, complicated man. Skillfully blending stories of his music with his activism and his personal life, it‘s a great read (and audiobook).

13 likes2 stack adds
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Readerann
Wellness | Nathan Hill
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Pickpick

Mostly fascinating and entertaining, but there‘s a lot to parse - perhaps a bit too much. Hill‘s research is certainly impressive (just check out the bibliography), as are his intellect and writing skills.

BkClubCare I was overwhelmed and over pressed to read this. Keep thinking I might retry it. Someday 🙄😧 9mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Overwhelming is an appropriate word. It took on SO much. 9mo
16 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Readerann
Wellness | Nathan Hill
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Just a blurb about how much I am loving this book. It‘s unsettling, but I think the writing is just brilliant. I am in awe of writers like Nathan Hill - SO far out of my intelligence wheelhouse. ☺️

Leftcoastzen Love this book! 11mo
Suet624 Shoot. This is still on my bookshelf. I really like Hill‘s writing. 11mo
CatMS Oh how I agree with you #Readerann 4mo
24 likes3 comments
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Readerann
Clear: A Novel | Carys Davies
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Pickpick

I‘m perpetually late to the party, but I was happy this was a quick read for #CampLitsy24. I agree with so many comments here that I don‘t feel I can add anything unique. I enjoyed it quite a lot, but didn‘t find it “amazing”.

Ruthiella You are fashionably late! 🤩 11mo
BarbaraBB Happy you were able to read it. The discussion was great, you can stop by for some interesting insights! 11mo
BkClubCare I have found this to be a “still thinking about” book. 9mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Me, too. I don‘t think I‘ll get to “stunning” or “exquisite” like the description says. 9mo
24 likes4 comments
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Readerann
The Light Pirate | Lily Brooks-Dalton
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Pickpick

Despite it‘s frightening and all too possible premise, this was a lovely book. It was an impulse airport buy, and it kept me riveted on the long flight. (The best thing about being held captive in a metal tube is not having one iota of guilt about reading for hours. 😁🤓📖.)

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Readerann
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Pickpick

This one is hard for me to review. I admire so many things about it, but it was a little too much for me in the violence/grittiness department. 3.5/5*

Tamra I bailed - I wasn‘t in the mood for gritty violence at the time. I‘ve only read one other, same style. Engaging writing though, very cinematic. 13mo
Readerann @Tamra Cinematic writing! Yep, that‘s it. 13mo
16 likes2 comments
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Readerann
Nemesis | Jo Nesbo
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Pickpick

I‘m enamored with this series. I feel it‘s higher-level writing than most novels in the crime genre.

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Readerann
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Pickpick

I liked this a lot, although could have done without the heavy-handed foreshadowing. Too much “Given everything that came later, I wish”… or “I should have…” blah, blah, blah. Fascinating subject matter, though, and I‘ll think about communication in a new way.

16 likes1 stack add
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Readerann
Horse: A Novel | Geraldine Brooks
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Pickpick

Great story, stellar writing, and interesting. characters. Historical fiction at its best. 5*
ETA: the audio was excellent

24 likes2 stack adds
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Readerann
The Redbreast | Jo Nesbø
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Pickpick

Not without its implausible moments and some work to keep the characters and sub-plots straight, but overall an intelligent and satisfying read.

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Readerann
Rouge | Mona Awad
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Mehso-so

I probably should have “Panned” this, but it had me intrigued for a while. I became less and less enamored and felt the ending meandered around, trying to find its way. You warned me, @BarbaraBB !
#LitsyToB24

BarbaraBB Haha, I know what you mean 😀 1y
20 likes1 comment
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Readerann
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Pickpick

This started off slowly, but it became a real page-turner! Rachel herself is a bit of a train wreck, but you can‘t look away. 🤣 #LitsyToB24
Spoiler: the only thing that bugged me was Rachel “running into” Carey as her London physiotherapist. Come on!

BkClubCare I loved this reading experience (audio) and I will support it !!! 😁 1y
Readerann @BkClubCare I wish I‘d had the audio available! 1y
8 likes2 comments