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AbstractMonica

AbstractMonica

Joined April 2016

"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."
blurb
AbstractMonica
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Happy Holidays to everyone out there in Litsy World. Hope you all get to spend quality time with the people you love the most. I just had dinner with my family, ate a slice of cake, and am settling down on the couch with a book! Hope you all have a lovely night.

IuliaC Happy Holidays! ✨️ 11h
dabbe Happiest of holidays. 💙❄️💙 29m
4 likes2 comments
review
AbstractMonica
Daughter of Fair Verona | Christina Dodd
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Pickpick

Okay, I LOVED this book. I initially bought it because it‘s an interesting concept. Romeo and Juliet aren‘t really dead?!?! Whaaa?!? It had all the elements I love in a story. Sarcasm, badass female protagonist, mystery, and a teeny tiny bit of gore. I found myself reading it slowly because I never wanted it to end. I can‘t wait for the follow up novel (it won‘t come out til June 😭). It was a fun read!

14 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
The Complete Persepolis | Marjane Satrapi
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Pickpick

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

13 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
The Fire Next Time | James Baldwin
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Pickpick

Another great read. Heavy on Civil Rights and the resilience of black people through everything they‘ve been forced to endure. Also major on Christianity and the affect it‘s had on society and it‘s racial bias- along with heavily rethinking the way America was built.

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AbstractMonica
Illegal | Eoin Colfer
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Pickpick

Great graphic novel about a young boy named Ebo, looking for his older brother Kwame, as he makes the treacherous journey from Ghana to Italy.

11 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
No Name in the Street | James Baldwin
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Pickpick

James Baldwin writes about his early childhood, involvement and work during the civil rights movement, his time in Paris, relationships with MLK, Malcom X, Huey Newton (and several others), the inequality in the social justice system, AND SO MUCH MORE. Definitely a must read for anyone and everyone. He wrote this over 50 years ago, and not much has changed.

13 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

This was a nice but odd little read... Nothing was in chronological order, and a lot of characters were introduced for such a short novel, but it was still very pleasant. A tiny close knit community in a small Armenian mountain village go through ups and downs and lean on each other for the good and bad. I feel like I can‘t explain much more without giving too much 🥲😂

14 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
Louder Than Hunger | John Schu
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Pickpick

A story of a thirteen year old boy that gets bullied at school and develops an eating disorder. It becomes so severe he gets sent to an inpatient facility . He struggles with opening up to his doctors & peers, trying different foods ,and dealing with his beloved but sick grandmother.

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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

Such a great book! A story that follows 5 survivors of Indian residential schools. I was tearing up so much as their individual stories unraveled. Such a dark part of history.

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AbstractMonica
Out (Special Edition) | Natsuo Kirino
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Pickpick

Really LOVED this novel more than expected. Although it was absolutely gruesome, it was crafted so beautifully it was easy to read. Usually with crime/mystery/horror genres, it often feels like the author adds so many twists and turns that it‘s almost overwhelming and takes away from the writing. This novel was so fluid and well thought out, but still managed to keep me on my toes. I have to say, i think it‘s my favorite Japanese novel 😱

BarbaraBB Yes! So good! 1mo
AbstractMonica @BarbaraBB absolutely! Wasn‘t expecting how it all played out (edited) 1mo
Yuki_Onna I need to reread that one asap. Also - That cover! #coverlove 1mo
AbstractMonica @Yuki_Onna yes, love the vintage cover 😍 1mo
11 likes4 comments
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AbstractMonica
Where They Last Saw Her | Marcie R Rendon
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Pickpick

Beautiful yet devastating story of solidarity within a reservation in northern Minnesota. Quill is a courageous wife, mother, friend, and woman. As she‘s out one day on her daily run, she hears a bone chilling scream from a nearby woman. This is a heavy story that focuses on missing and murdered indigenous women. Quill is tired of her community constantly being under attack of heinous crimes, and will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

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AbstractMonica
Giovanni's Room | James Baldwin
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Pickpick

This was my first James Baldwin book, and I haven‘t been able to stop thinking about it. It was complex and poignant. I hung on to every word.

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AbstractMonica
Crosshairs: A Novel | Catherine Hernandez
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Pickpick

From my goodreads!

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AbstractMonica
Just for the Summer | Abby Jimenez
Mehso-so

This book was entertaining, I‘ll give it that. I‘m not really into romance, but I just felt the urge to read something out of my norm. Anyway, the story was extremely predictable, but it still had me laughing here and there. The further the story went on the more I disliked Emma, but still hoped she would grow on me. I‘m not really sure what to expect from this genre, but it just seemed overly cheesy for my taste.

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AbstractMonica
Stitches | Junji Ito,Ichiro Nakayama,Hirokatsu Kihara
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Bailedbailed

Was duped by Junji Ito‘s artwork! I was drawn to the graphics immediately, but read 3 stories and had to bail. They all kind of ended the same… “and then she was alright.” Or “ The girl never appeared again.” There was no explanation or substance to the few stories I read. The blurb said these were based off true stories, but they lacked any details. It felt like something I would make up on the spot to scare a group of kids around a bonfire 😭

12 likes1 comment
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AbstractMonica
Pickpick

This book was almost 900 pages, but quite frankly I couldn‘t put it down. The story is that of 3 generations and the hardships, secrets, and love they share. There was a morbid touch to the novel (with it‘s medical aspects), but that part of it really had me hooked. Loved all the women and their tenacious personalities.

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AbstractMonica
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I‘ve been actively walking during my lunch breaks, when I get home, and on the weekends. I do about 6-7 miles a day. I find this paragraph to be very true .. I‘m a native Californian and moved to Minnesota 6 years ago. When I walk in the winter I feel more invigorated than any other time of the year! I also feel I do better at work (focused more), and can accomplish more. I‘m almost 40 and feel like this is the most energized I‘ve ever been.

LiteraryinPA That‘s really interesting! 4mo
dabbe This might explain why my glucose is shot-to-hell as I live in Phoenix and am not-so-patiently waiting to rise from the ashes. #28daysuntilautumn 🩶🧡🩶 4mo
13 likes2 comments
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AbstractMonica
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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

First book I‘ve read that takes place in Nigeria (I think 🤔). Great storytelling, and loved the historical facts sprinkled throughout the novel. Adunni is a 14 year old girl from the village of Ikati. Her mother unexpectedly passes, and her life starts to spiral in the darkest of ways. This story is about this girl‘s love for her mother, her education, and hope for her future.

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AbstractMonica
What Feasts at Night | T Kingfisher
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Bailedbailed

This book has 147 pages. I read 50 and bailed because I couldn‘t imagine it getting better, and I could not get into it whatsoever. I loved the novel that came before, so I was excited to continue where the story left off.. but it ended up being a dud for me.

dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 4mo
11 likes1 comment
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AbstractMonica
Sea of Tranquility: A Novel | Emily St. John Mandel
Pickpick

This book has so many interesting themes and ideas. For the most part it was pretty easy to follow considering all the different centuries, countries, and colonies. Thoroughly was engaged with all the characters, and curious to reread it as I know how it ends, and would love to analyze the subtle hints for first time readers.

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AbstractMonica
Eynhallow | Tim McGregor
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Pickpick

This short novel is a different take on Frankenstein. Agnes Tulloch is a housewife with four children living on a small island off Scotland. Not much happens on this reclusive island until a foreigner comes and rents a croft for his scientific work. This book made me laugh and tear up. I was literally giggling the first quarter and getting glassy eyed by the end.. was very much repulsed as well (which you would expect from this classic horror).

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AbstractMonica
The Devil and Mrs. Davenport | Paulette Kennedy
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Pickpick

Okay, I really enjoyed this novel! Loretta, a 50‘s housewife who pretty much has little freedom due to a religious and overbearing husband starts to experience paranormal gifts. Her husband suspects she‘s been possessed by the Devil. The story itself was pretty predictable, but I didn‘t mind because I enjoyed several of the characters and the writing was great! There are very graphic themes, but is also very empowering and kept me hooked 😁

18 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
Heads of the Colored People: Stories | Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Pickpick

Great collection of short stories. One of my favorite books read this year.

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AbstractMonica
Mehso-so

Another book club pick I wasn‘t too keen on. I liked the idea of it, but really wasn‘t pulled into it.

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AbstractMonica
Berry Pickers | Amanda Peters
Pickpick

Enjoyed this book even though there was heartbreak throughout.

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AbstractMonica
Mehso-so

Favorite story was Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption… Apt Pupil was gross and sorta felt Pro Nazi 🙃 Couldn‘t get into The Body, and didn‘t read the last one because I needed a break from Stephen King. This was a book club pick for me, so it wasn‘t my usual go to.

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AbstractMonica
Laughter | Sonora Jha
Mehso-so

Mixed feelings about this one. I very much disliked Oliver Harding. He is the professor narrating the story, and giving insight on his obsessions over his colleague, Ruhaba. Loved Ruhaba and her nephew and would very much have preferred their perspectives.

10 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
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8 years on Litsy!!

dabbe HL! 💙🩵💙 8mo
Chrissyreadit Happy Litsyversary! 8mo
IuliaC Happy Litsyversary!! 🎉 8mo
Yuki_Onna Happy Litsyversary!!! 🥳🩷 8mo
Ddzmini Happy Litsyversary 🎉🥳🎊📚 8mo
11 likes5 comments
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AbstractMonica
Mehso-so

Read this for book club… important read, but felt like it wasn‘t interesting enough for such heavy topics.

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AbstractMonica
The Premonition | Banana Yoshimoto
Panpan

This book started off interesting enough, but once they got into the relationship aspects it got a little taboo and weird, I think. Also, I‘m not sure if it was the translation of the book, but the way the story was told seemed very choppy.

dabbe fanofthepan! #betterbooksahead 🤩🤩🤩 8mo
9 likes1 comment
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AbstractMonica
Color Purple | Alice Walker
Pickpick

Surprised I haven‘t read until now. Celie and Shug kept me laughing when their personalities came out. Important read

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AbstractMonica
Poor Deer: A Novel | Claire Oshetsky
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Pickpick

This story was unique, but all I will say is that Margaret Murphy deserved more from the adults in her life.

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AbstractMonica
Pickpick

So much to say about this novel, but I‘ll keep it short. A devastating insight to a Palestinian woman‘s life from her teens to older age. Taking place in Kuwait and Jordan where her family has to survive as refugees. Finally, she visits Palestine to visit family and tie up loose ends. She eventually joins the resistance against the Israeli occupation. Heartbreaking story. I was rooting for Nahar. Loved the reference to James Baldwin in this novel.

10 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
Bright Young Women | Jessica (Author) Knoll
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Pickpick

Really loved this book. I enjoyed getting to know all the female characters for who they were. The author did a great job NOT glorifying Bundy, which I truly appreciated.

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AbstractMonica
Pickpick

This was such a beautiful and devastating story. Set during the Syrian revolution, a young pharmacist student loses everything. What used to be her family and home are just a painful memories now. She‘s surviving with the help of her best friend, and by fighting to help unfortunate civilians stay alive at the local hospital. This was such a sad story, but so important to read.

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AbstractMonica
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Panpan

I found it mediocre. There were SO many distractions that I genuinely did not enjoy it. Most of the book was speculation, and the true events of the murders weren‘t revealed until the very end. I felt like I read two books. The first being the author‘s attempt to fool the reader (it was overwhelming) the second was the novel I actually wanted to read. The book got good reviews, so I‘ll chalk up my dislike to not connecting with the writing style.

dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 10mo
13 likes1 comment
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AbstractMonica
River Sing Me Home | Eleanor Shearer
Pickpick

Solid 3 stars. Such an interesting novel. About halfway and beyond it teetered from slow to rushed. Still enjoyed most of it.

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AbstractMonica
Panpan

The introduction to the night Alex‘s family was murdered was interesting. After that I kept waiting for the story to pick up again. Instead there were a lot of side stories and new characters that were not likable and felt foreign to the storyline. I thought about abandoning this book so many times, but it was a fast read so I continued reading hoping it would get better 🙃

dabbe #hailthebail! 🩷💜❤️ 11mo
6 likes1 comment
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AbstractMonica
The Beauty of Your Face | Sahar Mustafah
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Pickpick

Afaf is the principal of an all girls Muslim school. One day, a shooter makes his way into the school undetected and everyone‘s world changes in the blink of an eye. The story is a series of tragic events after another, to help us understand the present moment in the novel. Having read A Woman in no Man prior to this, it helped me understand the dynamics of Afaf‘s immediate family a little bit better.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

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AbstractMonica
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Mehso-so

Loved Rex Ogle‘s first novel Free Lunch, but this one fell really short for me. I enjoy the relationship he has shared with his grandmother, but ultimately I wasn‘t enveloped in this specific book which read more like narrative poetry.

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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

Graphic novel of an adopted Korean girl that grew up in a small town in Maryland. Sarah, was adopted as an infant.. she knew nothing of her birth parents or her Korean culture. She attended schools where everyone else was white, and ridiculed her for being different. As she got older and started facing more racist & aggressive encounters- there was nowhere to turn to as even the adults in her world were just as ignorant as her bullies.

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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

This book tore me to pieces. It‘s such an important read about history, culture, generational trauma and SO much more. Etaf Rum is an amazing storyteller🥺

20 likes1 stack add
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AbstractMonica
The Reformatory | Tananarive Due
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Pickpick

Whoa, this book made so sad and angry! It was such a great read (although it was incredibly hard to stomach). It was so well written, and I absolute loved Gloria and Robert. This story was loosely based off Florida‘s Dozier School for Boys- and horrific stories of death, abuse, and other maltreatments that eventually came out from adolescents that were victims of the reform school.

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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

Based on authors experiences.. really loved the entirety of this novel! I was absolutely gripped from Tove‘s childhood all the way to her many marriages and later life.

16 likes1 stack add
blurb
AbstractMonica
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Has anyone read this? I‘m only 5 chapters in, and I‘m already loving it.

Dilara I haven't but it's in my wishlist. Looking forward to your review. (I have read The Faces by the same author, but can't remember anything about it 😳) 12mo
merelybookish Yes, it's excellent! 12mo
AbstractMonica @Dilara would love to read The Faces, too! This one is pretty great so far 12mo
AbstractMonica @merelybookish so glad to hear… I love the writing so far. 12mo
15 likes4 comments
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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

Had no idea this was based off a play until after I bought it. Some reviews said they didn‘t really like the writing style, but it didn‘t bother me too much. Some parts were a tiny bit repetitive, but I really did love the last two chapters… Sisters and Mother and Child. Loved the ending.

Garabrandtreviews Are you going to read the other three books? They are all amazing 12mo
AbstractMonica @Garabrandtreviews yes, I added them to my tbr pile so I‘m hoping to get to them soon 12mo
14 likes2 comments
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AbstractMonica
The Stationery Shop | Marjan Kamali
Pickpick

Didn‘t really know what to expect from this, but oh my-I absolutely loved it! Roya is focused on her studies, when one day she goes into her favorite stationary shop after school and suddenly sees Bahman. They‘re both drawn to one another, but it seems like everything around them is an obstacle. There‘s political unrest in their city of Tehran, jealousy aimed towards the couple, class difference and more. This story took me for a ride!

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AbstractMonica
Pickpick

If you have a strong stomach, and like strange and unusual stories.. this is a good one. I like how blunt Mariana Enriquez is with her writing. There were a handful of stories I loved more. I think my favorite was The Dirty Kid. Also, Adela‘s House is based off Our Share of Night which was a nice little surprise.

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AbstractMonica
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Pickpick

Just finished this 600 page book! The story was rich with imagery, and revolved around Mevlut. A boza seller that moved from his village to Istanbul as a child. You see the growth of the city throughout Mevlut‘s life, as he stays loyal to his city and the people he loves. This is a book that needs to be savored!