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Tamra

Tamra

Joined October 2016

I love literary fiction!
blurb
Tamra
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Win some, lose some. These “cupcakes” had fabulous flavor, but the texture was chewy & doughy. My fault surely for using whole wheat & white flour. I will try again with oat flour. Also, I have no intention of making the tofu frosting. (Too much fuss for me.) Just a light lime glaze will be enough. To be fair, Jane does disclose these aren‘t the light & fluffy cupcakes people have come to expect. They‘re more akin to dense muffins.

#mtcookbook

review
Tamra
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

Page turning literary thriller. I enjoyed it @Cathythoughts!

I‘m not sure what to make of “the observer” though. 🤔 Interesting it turns out the women are the “better” characters.

Cathythoughts Yes , literary thriller. The Observer is watching it all , I‘m not sure either. A witness of some kind. I‘m reading another one of his now , Subdivision, and there‘s another observer, only it‘s a crow this time. I like this writer though 👍🏻♥️ (edited) 4d
Tamra @Cathythoughts the narrator‘s whine for the daughter was super annoying. Apropos for 12 year old whining. 😜 I will look out for your review of Subdivision. Definitely an entertaining writer and wasn‘t a gimmicky thriller like some. 4d
Cathythoughts Thank god ! Not a gimmicky thriller… I‘m so over them. I had a terrible dislike for the 12 year olds father. Interestingly I have strong feelings ( of compassion) for a character in Subdivision. This writer is making me feel strong feelings. 4d
See All 8 Comments
Tamra @Cathythoughts oh he was just plain disgusting! 🤢 4d
jlhammar I think I need this one - sounds good! 4d
Tamra @jlhammar I thought it was entertaining - hope you do too! 3d
BarbaraBB He is such a good writer. One of my current favorites! 3d
Tamra @BarbaraBB I‘m going to have to check out more. 😁 3d
49 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
Tamra
We Are Light | Gerda Blees
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The premise of this is so intriguing and the first chapter has left me wanting more! I‘d rather be reading than working. 🥲

Cathythoughts This looks good. Stacked 2d
45 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Tamra
Secrets of Salsa: A Bilingual Cookbook | Mexican Women of Anderson Valley
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10/10 Korean Tacos with Fresh Cabbage Salsa

No question we‘ll be making these again! #Mtcookbook

KathyWheeler That looks delicious! 6d
Deblovestoread Yes, I did take a screenshot of your recipe. Looks sooo good! 6d
58 likes4 comments
review
Tamra
Clear: A Novel | Carys Davies
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Pickpick

Achingly beautiful writing. Superb! 💙

Davies sets this novella in Scotland 1843 during the Great Disruption (church rebellion) and the Clearances (mass removal of poor rural tenants). John Ferguson is hired to remove Ivar, the sole tenant of an Orkney island and the only home he has ever known, to be replaced by sheep. Things happen…….I can‘t share more.

I thought I knew where the story was going, but at each turn I was surprised!

squirrelbrain Great review! Now, can I squeeze it in, in between all of the Women‘s Prize books? 🤔 7d
Tamra @squirrelbrain 😅😅 It will be here waiting! Like all of Davies‘ work, it‘s short and you can read it in one sitting, but I wanted to savor it. 7d
Cathythoughts Stacked already. Great review 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️ 5d
61 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Tamra
The Fixer: A Novel | Bernard Malamud
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“There are no wrong books. What‘s wrong is the fear of them.”

Just watched the 60 Minutes segment on the effort to ban books, nationwide and in Beaufort, SC. I loved the fact community members volunteered to read the books in question!

Proof is in the pudding about motives. Has nothing to do with liberty and everything about control. The school district already has a form parents can submit to restrict access for THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

KathyWheeler It‘s beyond me why people think they have the right to restrict access to books for anyone but themselves and their own children. 1w
elkeOriginal This sh*t ENRAGES me. Ban fascists, not books! 1w
batsy @elkeOriginal This! What an upside down world, it's nuts. 1w
54 likes3 comments
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Tamra
Funnybones | Allan Ahlberg
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Bahahaha a YouTuber I watch says she has to stop buying books because she has a huge unread pile - 8. 8 is a pile. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

LeahBergen Eight??? Oh, that‘s precious. 😂😂 1w
squirrelbrain Oh, bless her - she hasn‘t got a clue. 😳 1w
Bookwormjillk That‘s not even a stack 🤣 1w
See All 23 Comments
5feet.of.fury I take “buying breaks” a couple times a year because I don‘t like to have too much of a backlog …but 8 is a really low number. There‘s always more than 8. 1w
shortsarahrose I have eight books currently being read in a stack on my end table 😆 1w
TheLudicReader 🤣 seriously. Times that by about 80 and you'd have my tbr and I still keep buying. Lol 1w
LiteraryinLawrence 8? Mere child‘s play! 1w
Aimeesue 😂😂😂 1w
MaureenMc Bless her heart. 😂 1w
rockpools 😂😂😂 1w
Ruthiella 🤣🤣🤣 EIGHT! 1w
CSeydel 🙃 1w
xicanti I once had a Twitter chat with someone who felt bad about her 7 unread books and was SHOCKED when I told her I‘d fought my TBR down to 75. (These days I‘ve got 12, which is more than I‘d like but still nowhere near a lot.) 1w
Hooked_on_books Eight! Oh dear. She must be rather young. Though even when I was young, I had more than 8 TBR books. 1w
Captivatedbybooks I have books on my TBR from like 2000 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 1w
Leftcoastzen I make no attempts to count books on my TBR 😂 1w
CarolynM She‘s just not trying, is she? I‘ve added twice that number to my collection in the last week alone😆 1w
Deblovestoread Maybe when I was 8? 😂 1w
Bklover 🙄🙄🙄 wow. 8?!?! (edited) 1w
quietlycuriouskate Wow! It's a whole other world, isn't it? 1w
janeycanuck You can‘t even stub your toe on 8 books! 😂😂😂 1w
TheLudicReader @CarolynM right? And she calls herself a booktuber. Pffft. 7d
77 likes23 comments
blurb
Tamra
Clear: A Novel | Carys Davies
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All other reading is coming to a screeching halt today! 👏🏾

Davies became an auto buy author years ago after reading Redemption of Galen Pike. Every single story in it was 10 for me. Since then I‘ve read all her other writing and I sound like a fan girl. 😂

Cathythoughts Stacked 👍🏻♥️ 1w
TheKidUpstairs This one sounds so good. It releases here in April, I've got my pre-order in! 1w
Tamra @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts I couldn‘t wait and ordered it from Blackwells! 🤭 1w
See All 8 Comments
AmyG I have been seeing this everywhere. Stacked! 1w
batsy Nothing better than an author to fangirl over 😁 1w
squirrelbrain I requested this on NG, and got it, but the Women‘s Prize lists have taken over! 1w
jlhammar Can't wait to hear what you think! I loved West. 1w
Chelsea.Poole Love it when a beloved author has a new book! 1w
56 likes3 stack adds8 comments
blurb
Tamra
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Heads-up! $1.99 on Kindle in the US. 😁

Based on the blurb and reviews, looks to be a compelling read.

squirrelbrain It‘s a great book! 1w
Tamra @squirrelbrain I saw you liked it. 😄 1w
MicheleinPhilly I loved this one too! 1w
See All 12 Comments
Tamra @squirrelbrain @MicheleinPhilly did you see she has a new novel out? I think that is why this one is on sale. (edited) 1w
Aimeesue Sounds excellent! Just picked it up! 1w
Cathythoughts Oh I really enjoyed this one. Great deal for you 👍🏻❤️ 1w
Cathythoughts A new novel out ? I must investigate immediately ❤️ 1w
Tamra @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @MicheleinPhilly my mistake! So sorry to get your hopes up, I misread the date! 😏 1w
Cathythoughts Sounds just like something I‘d do 😁 1w
Tamra @Cathythoughts 😅 I‘m so glad I‘m not alone! I didn‘t see you had already read this one. That‘s funny because I thought you might like it when I read the blurb. 😆 1w
Tamra @Aimeesue 👏🏾👏🏾 1w
Cathythoughts I didn‘t put up a review at the time… I have a few reviews I must catch up on 🙈 but you thought right , I liked it 😘 1w
56 likes12 comments
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Tamra
Naptime | Elizabeth Verdick
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Just because I‘m procrastinating……sharing nap time pic.

squirrelbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 2w
Gissy 🐶❤️😻❤️ 2w
LeahBergen I want to squeeze in there for a nap with them. 😆 2w
See All 9 Comments
dabbe 🖤🐾🐾🖤 2w
batsy So cute! 1w
jlhammar Aw, love that. So sweet. 1w
Tamra @squirrelbrain @Gissy @LeahBergen @dabbe @batsy @jlhammar these two are a riot together! The cat “plays” for the $, while the dog leaps around and fake jumps him. It‘s like watching Big Time Wrestling. 😂 I‘m tempted to get the dog a kitten bc there would be no end to the crazy house. 1w
dabbe @Tamra They are too adorable for words. 🖤🐾🐾🖤 1w
mabell 🥰🥰 1w
56 likes9 comments
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Tamra
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Laugh out loud moment when Renkl mistakes a vacuum cleaner clog for a long sought after owl pellet.

A “Hoover pellet.” 🤣🤣

jlhammar That part cracked me up 😆 Really enjoying reading a section/essay each week. 1w
Tamra @jlhammar I‘m going to read it the same way - perfect! I have had some catching up to do though. (edited) 1w
45 likes2 comments
review
Tamra
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Mehso-so

Read for IRL book club. It is a David v. Goliath memoir: organic farm vs. the weather, residential development, and a Koch Industries pipeline.

It is well written, but memoir isn‘t my genre unless the life and events are way outside the scope of my world.

review
Tamra
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Pickpick

I was so sure this was based on a literary short story or novella! I guess not, it fooled me. 🙃 It‘s a love story, but not one you‘d expect.

Still it has all the vibes of great story telling. It‘s beautifully filmed and the acting is terrific.

@Cathythoughts gorgeous scenery off the west coast of Ireland - I thought of you. ☘️

Cathythoughts Thankyou 😘💚 2w
Jess I love this movie so much. If it is on, I can‘t turn it off. So good. 2w
jlhammar Good movie! 2w
See All 8 Comments
Andrea313 Written and directed by a playwright, though, and definitely has a very literary quality about it! 2w
Tamra @Andrea313 no wonder! That explains it. 2w
sarahbarnes This was a great film! 2w
batsy Gosh, I've been meaning to see this (my to-watch list getting as long as my TBR 😅) 2w
Tamra @batsy I can‘t really read on the treadmill, so my treat is to watch videos. 😁 2w
54 likes8 comments
blurb
Tamra
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Berries & Biscuits served with ice cream. It definitely needs cream of some sort as the berries are tart. 😚😚 Thumbs up for this and the teriyaki salmon because both recipes were easy & teen approved. 👍🏾

#Mtcookbook

Cathythoughts Yum yum yum 😋 2w
Ddzmini Looks good 😊🙌🏽 2w
mabell This looks delicious! 1w
51 likes3 comments
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Tamra
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Eeeewwwwwww 🥴

Leftcoastzen Exactly! A great read 2w
Tamra @Leftcoastzen I‘m loving it already. 2w
Cathythoughts Stop ! Help 😳. I must read it. 2w
See All 8 Comments
LeahBergen This book is SO GOOD. A real favourite of mine. @Cathythoughts , you must read it! 2w
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I might have seen the movie , or I‘m mixing it up with something else. Either way , I‘m ordering it @Tamra ❤️❤️ 2w
Tamra @Cathythoughts yay!! I only just started it, but I think given the reviews it‘s going to be great! 2w
BarbaraBB So good❤️❤️ 2w
jlhammar Such a good book! 2w
36 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
Tamra
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Pickpick

As always, snorts & chuckles out loud to accompany Smith‘s astute observations about humanity. Reading the principle characters is like returning home to a warm hug, even with their sometimes annoying quirks.

Wit & wisdom, that‘s an apt description.

Not every book in the series has a 5 star plot, but devotees don‘t care. 😄

review
Tamra
Orbital | Samantha Harvey
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Pickpick

I‘d like to get this one in print because the prose is akin to an elegy, a plea really, to awaken us to the beauty & fragility of our planet. 🌍

And this cover!!

Cathythoughts Lovely review ❤️ 2w
Tamra @Cathythoughts 😘 I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised. 2w
Tamra I had to continually remind myself this is a piece of fiction, though apparently well researched. Very realistically written. (edited) 2w
See All 10 Comments
batsy Sounds good! 2w
squirrelbrain I have this on loan from the library, in case it makes the Women‘s Prize long list, but I think I‘ll read it anyway…. 2w
Tamra @squirrelbrain it‘s definitely worth it! 2w
Tamra @batsy poetic, really beautiful. 💙 2w
BarbaraBB Just starting this one. Happy you loved it! 2w
Reggie Stacked. 2w
Tamra @Reggie I hope you like it. It‘s a quiet meditation. 2w
48 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Tamra
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Not at all book related, but I finally got to watch this on Hulu. 😭😭

I could learn a few things from Fred.

Then I fell into a rabbit hole watching interviews with Hanks about making the movie.

BarkingMadRead This was so well done! My mom and I went and see it in the theater when it first came out. So good! 2w
jlhammar Great movie! 2w
Tamra @BarkingMadRead agreed! I wasn‘t expecting it to have much a plot. @jlhammar 2w
Cathythoughts I must look out for it. I love Tom Hanks ❤️ 2w
59 likes4 comments
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Tamra
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I love how Smith has created the idiosyncratic characters of this beloved series.

“Sniff” 😂

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Tamra
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#Mtcookbook on a roll! Enchiladas for dinner last night. The sauce could use more heat for husband and I, but that‘s adjustable by adding a hotter chile powder.

We fell in love with the food in NM - couldn‘t find a bad meal if we tried. 😋 The best is anything “Christmas”, with both red & green chile sauces.

LeahBergen I fell in love with the food there, too! And yes to anything served “Christmas” style as I could never decide if I wanted the red or the green sauce. 😆 2w
willaful My husband described being in China that way, that they hadn't learned how to make bad food yet. 2w
Cheshirecat913 Love NM food. I prefer green in general, but red for certain things. But for sure, smoother it all in chile. 😄 2w
mabell I haven‘t made enchiladas in years - this sounds so good! 2w
45 likes4 comments
review
Tamra
The Postcard | Anne Berest
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Pickpick

A story about the importance of identity and memory, especially of loved ones.

I almost bailed in the first third because the inhumanity of war is so very much in the present. I couldn‘t take much more, but then I was swept up in the mystery of the postcard.

tpixie @tamra yes the war part is so tragic and real. It was hard. I‘ve got another 1.5 hours to listen/ read. (edited) 2w
Tamra @tpixie especially the parts involving the children. 😩 2w
See All 7 Comments
tpixie @Tamra yes!!! 🥺😩 2w
jlhammar Just getting started. Based on what you and others have written, I‘m ready for an emotional read. 2w
BarbaraBB Yes, the first part was very hard (and hit me hard, as ever). The other parts felt so different and yet it all works so well together. I really loved it. 2w
Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to it ❤️ 2w
67 likes7 comments
review
Tamra
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Mehso-so

I expected this to be as delightful as the cover, sadly it was not.

Honestly, it was me and not the quality of the collection. My impression is winter in the UK is generally more akin to early spring in the upper Midwest of the US, so it was difficult for me to relate to as a seasonal nature read.

Caveat, 23/24 “winter” will go down as the winter that wasn‘t.

quietlycuriouskate I'm not sure we actually get Winter here anymore. I'm on the northern edge of the West Country and what passes for Winter is more like several months of November: rain, some wind, lots of leaden-grey nothing-doing. 3w
Tamra @quietlycuriouskate 😕 It definitely appears weather patterns are changing for all of us. 2w
51 likes2 comments
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Tamra
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Gochujang for the win last night! (I used rice & added various veggies - not at all photogenic.)

This cookbook has the types of recipes I like, bold flavors & relatively easy.

#Mtcookbook 🏔️

LeahBergen Yum! 3w
mabell That looks like winter comfort food! 3w
47 likes2 comments
review
Tamra
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Pickpick

🌟I loved every minute I spent with this love letter to a piece of land, a forest. It ticked off all the boxes for me: historical fiction, nature writing, short stories, and a bit of the gothic.

I will not be surprised if it wins the Pulitzer.

Now I‘m off onto the interwebs to find A Registry of My Passage Upon Earth.

Tamra I already feel a book hangover coming on…..😳 3w
AmyG Sounds about right! 3w
jlhammar Yay! I‘m so looking forward to this. Strongly suspect I‘ll feel the same. I enjoyed his story collection. I also have this one waiting on my shelves 3w
See All 12 Comments
Tamra @jlhammar I think you will like it! 3w
batsy I wasn't sure if this was for me but your review has convinced me 🙂 3w
Reggie So much to live in here. Glad you liked it! 3w
Tamra @batsy this might be a cilantro book. 😜 I happen to love cilantro! I definitely recommend the print because it has photos & drawings. 3w
Tamra @Reggie 💙 yes! I was pleasantly surprised by the nature writing and I loved the ending! That‘s a difficult task. 3w
daena I absolutely loved, it really is something special. 3w
Tamra @daena 😊 3w
Cathythoughts Lovely review. I‘m nearly finished and agree wholeheartedly ❤️ 3w
Tamra @Cathythoughts thank you. 😘 It‘s one to be savored slowly, but Saturday morning I gobbled up the final few chapters. Let me know how you liked the ending - I thought it was fitting! (edited) 3w
65 likes3 stack adds12 comments
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Tamra
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This was an amazing adult Mac & Cheese! Served it with asparagus last night. 😋

#Mtcookbook

*Confession, this is a new acquisition from Target. We did not specify for the challenge we couldn‘t acquire & use new cookbooks. 🤣 It‘s just use the cookbooks on our shelves, and well, it‘s on my shelf now! How do you like my justification??

TrishB Justification sounds perfect to me. 3w
Tamra @TrishB 😉 3w
mabell This sounds so good! I love goat cheese 3w
51 likes3 comments
blurb
Tamra
The Handmaid's Tale | MARGARET. ATWOOD
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I just rewatched season 1 of the screen adaption of The Handmaid‘s Tale and I have to say, there is some serious sh*t going on in the US today that uncomfortably resembles Atwood‘s dystopia. On multiple fronts. 🥹

Leftcoastzen It seemed so dystopian when I read it upon publication, after the show & a reread recently, it‘s far too close to what‘s currently going on. 4w
Tamra @Leftcoastzen eerily so. I keep thinking about how Atwood was relating about all the precursor events and nobody paid attention or said anything. It‘s the frog in the pot. (edited) 4w
Leftcoastzen Indeed . Every time a story came on TV or radio that leans this direction, a little thing in my brain goes click! 4w
See All 7 Comments
Suet624 It‘s frightening. 4w
Texreader 😫 4w
batsy It was a mistake for me not to have read The Handmaid's Tale sooner; now I'm scared to because of how relatable it might feel. Like I just read this recently and it's harrowing and all too real 😓 4w
Tamra @batsy it‘s still worth reading or watching! I need to get my hands on Parable. 4w
53 likes7 comments
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Tamra
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#Mtcookbook Citrus sauce for fish. I‘m glad I doubled it for another meal tonight as it will make a good dressing or marinade. It has an ever so slightly bitter edge from grapefruit juice, but is balanced out by the soy sauce, ginger & garlic paste.

I realized I haven‘t posted about this book in 6 years! 😅 I love the format; it‘s a casual, inspirational approach to cooking. Very flexible.

mabell That sounds bright and fresh! What fish did you use? 3w
Tamra @mabell it was cod - but the sauce would be good with any fish, including shellfish. 2w
52 likes2 comments
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Tamra
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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I do not want to put this down. I‘m racing through it! 😭

Suet624 Oh, I felt the same way. So good. 1mo
daena Such a fantastic book, enjoy! 1mo
Hooked_on_books I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Reggie Awww yayyyy! 4w
Cathythoughts I‘m reading it now too .. I really didn‘t know what to expect, But I love it ❤️ 4w
Tamra @Suet624 @daena @Hooked_on_books @Reggie @Cathythoughts I‘m forcing myself to stop after a chapter or two. 😅 (edited) 4w
69 likes2 stack adds6 comments
review
Tamra
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Bailedbailed

I expected to love this novel because at the outset the humor seemed delightfully cheeky! (Pun intended) 😢 Sadly, there was something about the writing that felt disjointed and I couldn‘t find the flow. I got almost 3/4 of the way thru and skipped to the last chapter to see if I could tell where the MC ends up. Seems a rather morally dubious ending. @Jess_Read_This

Ruthiella You gave it a fair chance. 1mo
Tamra @Ruthiella could have been wrong time. Just never know! 1mo
dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen Well, I‘m unstacking it now! 😆 1mo
Cathythoughts Oh dear !! Still, when you‘ve got to bail you‘ve got to bail 👍🏻❤️ 1mo
Jess_Read_This Oh yes. The ending was not good! 1w
55 likes6 comments
review
Tamra
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Pickpick

On a roll with #MtCookbook! These brownies are ridiculously easy - essentially Nutella, flour, eggs, butter. Voila! No added sugar, because of course Nutella is a sugar bomb.

I will say this challenge is definitely helping me to explore my cookbooks before hopping on Pinterest & Google. 👍🏾

mabell That sounds so good and easy! Does the hazelnut flavor come through? 1mo
Tamra @mabell no, not that I can tell. It‘s just the convenience factor that is so appealing. I think some strong coffee would be good flavoring too. 1mo
mabell I‘m all for convenience 🤣 Coffee sounds like a great addition! 4w
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Tamra
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This orange sauce was just okay, even with chili crisp. Moving on up! #Mtcookbook

Tamra I‘m putting this book in the donate pile. (Yes, I have a pile.) 😆 After thumbing through it, the recipes in general are rather bland. 1mo
mabell I‘m up to several donate piles 😂 1mo
Tamra @mabell 😜 Eventually we get around to actually getting them out of the house. 1mo
mabell Isn‘t that the truth!! 🤣 1mo
54 likes4 comments
review
Tamra
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Pickpick

This is a qualified pick. I listened to the audio and while the diversions were maddening because it slowed down the pace of the “mystery” plot, I give it a thumbs up for having an intriguing character who is nonverbal. That aspect of the novel was interesting and so was the author‘s afterward.

I recall DNFing Miracle Creek.

Cathythoughts I really enjoyed this one. But I think I preferred Miracle Creek. 1mo
Tamra @Cathythoughts I can‘t recall what I wasn‘t enjoying about Miracle Creek. Maybe it was the vibe. 🤷🏾‍♀️ 1mo
63 likes2 comments
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Tamra
Valentines | Ted Kooser
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Here is an example of the line drawings by Robert Hanna, a Great Plains artist, that are included in Valentines. Kooser is from Nebraska.

I love the prairie landscape and to see how nature reclaims homesteads. ❤️

dabbe One of my fave poets. ❤️💜🩷 1mo
Tamra @dabbe he‘s wonderful! 1mo
56 likes2 comments
quote
Tamra
Valentines | Ted Kooser
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Ted Kooser is a wonderful poet! He writes a lot about the natural world and the simplicity of his writing makes his work accessible. Here is a poem from his little Valentine volume.

review
Tamra
Mrs. Bridge | Evan Connell
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Pickpick

Mrs. Bridge encapsulates the ennui of a 1930‘s-40‘s upper middle class housewife in Kansas City. There are some really laugh out loud moments, like when she finds a nude magazine in her son‘s dresser drawer and thinks it can‘t be because those have been legislated against. 😂

Mrs. Bridge‘s primary concern in life is what other people will think or say. Tip: Don‘t leave home without a purse!

Tamra Don‘t expect a plot in this novel, it‘s really a series of vignettes. It is also surprising Connell does not grow the character much - Mrs. Bridge is who she is, which is a product of her time & place. (edited) 1mo
BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one a lot! Did you know that there‘s also a 1mo
Tamra @BarbaraBB yes! I am going to look to see if my library has the audio. Did you read it? 1mo
See All 8 Comments
Ruthiella “What will other people think” is also definitely a concept that I was raised with. 1mo
Tamra @Ruthiella it can be a difficult attitude to overcome. It gets easier with age! 1mo
BarbaraBB Yes I did and it‘s as good! 1mo
LeahBergen Great review! I‘ve had a copy of this (and Mr) on my shelves for ages. 1mo
jlhammar I‘ve been meaning to try this for years. Sounds like a fun one! 1mo
48 likes8 comments
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Tamra
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Can I spell “glutton?” Took advantage of a sale at Target. 🤭 After previewing them both, I think I prefer the tagged book.

#Mtcookbook Just adding to the possibilities, not adding to the climb. 😆

vlwelser I follow her on insta. She's lovely. 1mo
Tamra @vlwelser I have used her website. ❤️ 1mo
Bookwormjillk Love her recipes 1mo
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yourfavouritemixtape I also feel like ever since I started with #MtCookbook, it just got higher 😊 1mo
Tamra @Bookwormjillk yay! Good to know - makes be feel better. 😉 1mo
Tamra @yourfavouritemixtape 😂 It‘s a good “problem” to have. 1mo
mabell I only have the first one, and still haven‘t made anything from it 😆 She has great recipes and ideas, so I really should! 1mo
55 likes7 comments
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Tamra
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Husband went early for a gig in Decorah, IA yesterday and had time to spare. He discovered it has 2 bookstores, lucky for me! ❤️ That is the benefit of having a small lib arts college in a town.

Tamra After leafing through it, I am glad I didn‘t opt for borrowing the audio book. There are photos, illustrations, poems, etc. (edited) 1mo
mcctrish Oooo ❤️❤️ 1mo
BarbaraBB Lucky you! 1mo
Ruthiella Nice! 👍 1mo
Suet624 Enjoy! I loved this one. 1mo
70 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Tamra
Vaster Wilds | Lauren Groff
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Mehso-so

Hmmmmmmm 🤔

Plot was propulsive enough in the beginning, but eventually became repetitive. Also, there are some wonderful nature descriptions, but there were times when the prose felt forced, like Groff was trying too hard to be literary.

I always silently scoff at myself when I write a critique, like I could do any better. 😜 That‘s why I am a reader, not a writer.

Suet624 I gave it a so-so too for the same reason. 1mo
sarahbarnes I‘m curious about this one but I‘ve definitely seen mixed reviews. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I absolutely loved Matrix and this one was a little disappointing to me as a follow up. 1mo
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Tamra @sarahbarnes it wasn‘t terrible otherwise I would have DNF it. Definitely try it! 1mo
Tamra @Suet624 I saw that! 😏 1mo
Tamra @Hooked_on_books I think this is my first Groff. 🤨 1mo
69 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Tamra
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Taco(ish)Tuesday! Yuumm…yum..yum…yummmmmmmm.

I made it a rice bowl because long story short, I didn‘t have lettuce leaves for a wrap. This book has a lot of tasty looking Tuesday inspiration! #Mtcookbook

TheBookHippie Yay!! 👩🏻‍🍳 1mo
mabell Ooo that sounds so good with the sauce! 1mo
Tamra @mabell and easy too. 👍🏾 1mo
64 likes3 comments
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Tamra
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#Mtcookbook Roast beef sandwiches & yellow split pea soup on the menu!

Soup is bubbling on the stove, the onion marmalade ready, dutch oven bread cooling, hubby out tracking down roast beef & cheese.

This book has lots of inspiration for sandwiches and sides. It is mouthwatering.

Tamra My sandwich will have crumbled goat cheese. Blue cheese is 🤢, but hubby likes it. 1mo
DHill Yum! 1mo
AlaMich I agree about the blue cheese! 1mo
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Jeg These posts of yours always make me feel sooooo hungry. 1mo
Tamra Note: I added horseradish as a counterpoint to the onion marmalade. Works really well, as horseradish always does with beef. 1mo
mabell Your bread looks delicious! What a perfect cozy Sunday meal! Onion marmalade sounds delicious for a grilled cheese 1mo
Tamra @DHill looking forward to leftovers! 1mo
Tamra @AlaMich 🙌🏾 1mo
Tamra @Jeg it‘s hard to beat a grilled cheese! 1mo
Tamra @mabell the marmalade is pretty sweet despite the vinegar, so a little goes a long way! Needs a good strong flavor to balance. 1mo
70 likes10 comments
review
Tamra
Secret Book of Flora Lea | Patti Callahan Henry
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Mehso-so

Sometimes book club selections fall flat.

I loved the descriptions of Bridie‘s quaint & cozy cottage during the war. (Bridie takes in two sister evacuees, who are the main characters of the novel.) What I want is novel about Bridie‘s life! There are tantalizing tidbits offered and never developed.

The rest just wasn‘t for me. “Twee” is an apt description.

TheBookHippie I DNF 😅👀 1mo
Crazeedi Oh no, I just borrowed the audiibook🙄 1mo
Tamra @Crazeedi it‘s “fine” and might be engaging enough on audio as light entertainment. It‘s like a show you can put on when you‘re tired and not have to think too much. 😉 1mo
Tamra @TheBookHippie yes, if it weren‘t a book club pick I would have too. 😏 1mo
TheBookHippie @Tamra 😵‍💫😬 I get that. 1mo
61 likes5 comments
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Tamra
The Painted Veil | William Somerset Maugham
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Pickpick

“The dog it was that died.” I had to Google the line as I‘d never read Goldsmith‘s satiric elegy. OUCH!

Very fitting summation of the novel. Both Kitty and her husband Walter are difficult characters to like and empathize with, but are most definitely human in being their own worst enemies.

The reference to Chinese staff as “boy(s)” was grating each time I heard it, but is apropos to the era.

KathyWheeler I really liked the movie of this as well. 1mo
Cathythoughts That‘s a great cover too. Stacked. 1mo
Tamra @KathyWheeler I will look for it! 1mo
Tamra @Cathythoughts I think you‘ll like it. 😄 1mo
KathyWheeler @Tamra I hope you like it. 1mo
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Tamra
Still Missing | Beth Gutcheon
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Pickpick

Flew through this one - it was gripping! The mother‘s attempt to quell the panic when her son is late coming home from school is so well written. Spot on!

🤫 Mum‘s the word until fellow #Persephoneclub friends have read it.

Tamra Definitely unlike any other Persephone I‘ve read yet - it‘s a modern thriller. 1mo
daena I‘m really enjoying it so far. The pacing is impressive 1mo
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jlhammar Wow, finished already! 1mo
Tamra @jlhammar it‘s because of the pacing like @daena says - it sucks you in and you‘ve got to know! 1mo
CarolynM Looking forward to getting started on this one🙂 1mo
batsy A modern thriller Persephone! That sounds super intriguing. 1mo
Cathythoughts I‘m only seeing this now. But , yes I flew through it too, I‘d love to read more of her. 1mo
Tamra @CarolynM once you start you won‘t want to put it down! 1mo
Tamra @batsy it‘s definitely out of the norm. 1mo
Tamra @Cathythoughts yes and funny I‘d never seen her name before. I‘m curious as well. 1mo
Caryl It is definitely a page-turner. So much so that I felt like my turning of the pages would help solve the case! 1mo
83 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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Tamra
Still Missing | Beth Gutcheon
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Gasp! 😳 I just read the opening chapter.

I didn‘t read the blurb in advance.

BarbaraBB Yes, it‘s not your typical Persephone! 1mo
Tamra @BarbaraBB yes, riveting! 1mo
Tamra She knows how to drop bombshells at the ends of chapters. 1mo
jlhammar Yes! I stayed up too late starting this last night. Didn‘t want to stop. Eager to get back to it today. 1mo
LeahBergen I‘m excited to get started! 👏👏 1mo
70 likes5 comments
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Tamra
Dr. No | Percival Everett
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Book mail! 👏🏾 I‘m really looking forward to both. No idea when I‘m going to get to all the treasures. 😅

BarbaraBB I haven‘t heard of the Vermette. Will look her up! 1mo
Tamra @BarbaraBB it‘s the second in a trilogy, not sure how closely connected. The is the first and is really good. 1mo
Ruthiella I bought Dr No some time ago now and still haven‘t read it! 🙈 1mo
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Tamra @Ruthiella his plots are just so creative! Dr of Nothing?! 😆 1mo
jlhammar Loved The Break! Look forward to your thoughts on The Strangers. 1mo
BarbaraBB I ordered The Break immediately 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
Tamra @BarbaraBB yay! Happy to contribute to your shelves! 😄 1mo
68 likes7 comments
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Tamra
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Happy Birthday to Me! 🎉

Asian Mall to stock up on pantry supplies. Bombay Pizza Kitchen for a tasty lunch. Magers & Quinn to stock up on books! Woot! 😄

Soubhiville Happy Birthday! 2mo
julesG Happy Birthday! 🎉🎂 2mo
Gissy Happy Birthday @Tamra birthday 🥳🎂🎉You already are having a fun time....with books📚👏 2mo
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Deblovestoread Happy birthday! 🎂🎈📚 2mo
AmyG Happy Birthday 🎂🎈🎁 2mo
JenReadsAlot Happy birthday! 1mo
Jas16 Happy Birthday! Sounds like the perfect day! 1mo
MaureenMc Happy birthday! 1mo
maich Happy birthday🥰🎂 1mo
jlhammar Happy Birthday!! I really enjoyed both of those NYRBs. The Renkl is great so far. Haven‘t read that Everett yet, but definitely want to. 1mo
LeahBergen Happy Birthday, my friend! ❤️❤️ Both of the NYRBs are really good! 1mo
JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 1mo
dabbe HB! 🩶🖤🩶 1mo
Bookzombie Happy Birthday! 📚🧁🥳 1mo
Aimeesue Happy happy birthday! 1mo
Mimi28 Sounds like a fun day! Happy birthday 🎁🎂🎉🎈🎊 Sooooo you‘re an Aquarius!! I knew there was something about you that made me feel comfy 😊 one of my best friends is an Aquarius but we drifted apart 😞 my dad and my brother are aqua‘s also and though there is not much contact I bonded with them well. I‘m a Pisces 2/28/76. I went to hs with a girl born on February 29th. Sorry to babble and I know this totally goes against all the religious stuff- 1mo
Mimi28 But I am very sensitive and free. I am open to a lot of stuff. Did your daughter get the books I suggested? 1mo
Leftcoastzen Happy Birthday!🎂 yay Judith! 1mo
BarbaraBB Happy birthday 🎈 I don‘t know the tagged one but the other three are all good! 1mo
Reggie Happy Birthday! 1mo
batsy Happy Birthday! ❤️🎂 That's a fantastic stack... Love the first two and also want to get my hands on Telephone. 1mo
mabell Happy Birthday! 🎉🎂 1mo
quietlycuriouskate Happy birthday! 📚🎂 1mo
youneverarrived Sounds lovely! Happy Birthday 💜 1mo
Megabooks Happy birthday!! 1mo
73 likes27 comments
review
Tamra
Content Bookstore | Northfield, MN (Bookstore)
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Pickpick

This is a super cute Indie bookshop in Northfield, MN. I am so impressed with the fact I placed an order this morning and within a couple of hours it was processed & shipped. 👏🏾

Clearance sale!

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Tamra
The Little Stranger | Sarah Waters
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🤪 I borrowed this audio only to realize I had already listened to it once before. Oh well, it was still fun since it had been a while.

I recommend it for the spooky fall season! 👻

Aimeesue Simon Vance can read to me any time! 2mo
Tamra @Aimeesue oh my gosh, isn‘t that the truth?! He‘s fantastic. 2mo
batsy It's a good one! 2mo
LeahBergen I liked this one, too! 2mo
52 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Tamra
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#Mtcookbook Meatballs & BBQ sauce compliments of Tipton- Martin. 😋

I don‘t generally like commercial sauce because it sooooo sweet. The beauty of homemade is I can tone the sugar down.

I wouldn‘t be surprised if this cookbook turns out to be my favorite this year. I have several pages tabbed.

mabell Favorite of the year? That‘s high praise! 2mo
48 likes2 comments
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Tamra
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I‘m tired of buying duplicates and also not being able to easily determine whether I have a physical TBR book. I‘m alphabetizing!

TBR doesn‘t look so daunting spread out on the bed. 😉

Bookzombie That‘s a lovely quilt! I alphabetize too. 2mo
RebL I‘m in this process too! I‘m using the Library Thing app. So far I‘ve only found three dupes. Would love to hear about your end result. 2mo
Tamra @RebL I didn‘t find any duplicates this time around, but periodically I buy something forgetting I already have it! I did it recently for a buddy read and now I‘ve forgotten what it was…….I think it was a Persephone. I did end up with a small donation pile, but I could have been more ruthless in that task. Good luck on your quest! 😄 (edited) 2mo
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RebL @Tamra I did have a resell pile, which got me $10 bookstore credit. I definitely could be a better weeder. 2mo
Velvetfur That's a great photo, it's all of our rooms at some point isn't it 😂 2mo
SilversReviews 😊 It does look less daunting. Love the photo. 2mo
Hooked_on_books I had these same issues and so a few years ago I made a database online so I can check it before I buy anything or to see what I have. It‘s helped a lot! 2mo
Jeg Seeing your books doesn‘t make me feel alone! 2mo
Cathythoughts Great photo .. lots of work for you to do 🥰 2mo
Tamra @Bookzombie thank you! My MIL makes quilts and we‘ve been fortunate she‘s given us a number of them. 2mo
Tamra @Velvetfur @SilversReviews @Hooked_on_books @Jeg @Cathythoughts it actually didn‘t take very long to sort! 😅 If I were more organized I‘d keep a digital list. 2mo
LeahBergen This looks fun! I love organizing my library. 😆 2mo
Tamra @LeahBergen it is fun and makes me more excited to read what I have on my shelves. 😁 2mo
SilversReviews @Tamra 😀😀 2mo
76 likes14 comments