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Amiable

Amiable

Joined May 2016

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." --C.S. Lewis / A reader and tea lover in Connecticut
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Telephone by Percival Everett
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Fire by John Boyne
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Earth by John Boyne
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Water by John Boyne
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Amiable
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AmyG Ha! I would think monkey‘s are too smart to write that. 37m
TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 13m
18 likes2 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

Fun and quick read about the guys who made watching arguments entertaining. 👍🏼 I always enjoyed “Siskel & Ebert” — they were smart, sharp and opinionated. In this bio Siskel comes across as a jerk, though. 👎🏼 The “pranks” he played on Ebert behind the scenes weren‘t very funny — it sounds more like bullying to me. 😖 Thanks to @JoeMo and #AuldLangSpine for putting this one on my radar!

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Amiable
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Bailedbailed

Tried to read this for #BookedinTime, but I have to throw in the towel. The narrative is plodding and pedantic and the dialogue comes across as lectures by the characters. Life is too short —moving on.

Cuilin #HailTheBail I completely get it!!! I seem to be doing this a lot lately, myself. Here‘s hoping your next read is five stars. 3d
Amiable @Cuilin I was listening to a podcast and someone made a comment that we are only here for a finite time and can only read so many books, so why waste that time on a book you aren‘t enjoying? It was like she was speaking directly to me and telling me to ditch this book. 😀 2d
51 likes3 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

This book was funny and weird and provocative and brilliant and completely bonkers. And I couldn‘t put it down. Percival Everett is an absolute gift to literature. #AuthorAMonth
 @Soubhiville

BarbaraBB I still haven‘t read this one but you make it sound like I should! 4d
Amiable @BarbaraBB If you like Everett, you‘ll enjoy this one! 4d
sarahbarnes I love his writing and haven‘t read this one - stacking! 3d
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BarbaraBB I do so I will absolutely read it! 3d
Amiable @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB Have you read this one—it‘s next on my list to pick up by Everett: 3d
sarahbarnes Yes! I loved that one. Apparently there are two alternate endings depending on your version. 3d
BarbaraBB Even three, I think! It‘s a great book! 2d
63 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Amiable
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It used to be “War & Peace” or “Les Miserables” (I don‘t remember which one is longer!) — until the #Clarissa Crew took down this monster (all 1,781 pages/ 943,000 words of it). It‘s considered the longest novel ever written in English. I will never not brag — and complain — about finishing this one. 😄

#sundayfunday
@BookmarkTavern

MemoirsForMe Wow! 😳 Way to go! 🎉 7d
BarbaraJean Yessssss. Congrats, again and always, to a fellow Learned Slattern. 7d
TheBookHippie OMG I still can‘t believe we did it!! 7d
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TheBookHippie @MemoirsForMe it was 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 7d
TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean I still want a trophy .. 7d
BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie This has me again wanting to print us all “Learned Slattern” t-shirts. 7d
TheBookHippie @BarbaraJean 🎉🤣👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7d
Amiable @BarbaraJean @TheBookHippie I‘d be on board with the t-shirts! It would be a nice companion to my “Nasty Woman” shirt. 😀 7d
LeahBergen I‘m still recovering 😂😂😂 7d
BookmarkTavern I had never even heard of this book! That is truly impressive! Thanks for sharing! 7d
Amiable @BookmarkTavern I think there are a number of us who wish we‘d never heard of it, too! 😄 7d
CoverToCoverGirl I stumbled on this one😬 I admire those persevered and made it through. 6d
43 likes12 comments
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Amiable
Rebecca | Daphne Du Maurier
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Pickpick

I‘ve known for years that I should read this classic but the description of it as “romantic suspense” left me feeling lukewarm about picking it up. But I needed a paperback for our trip, so I packed this one and figured that would finally force me to read it. I‘m glad I did. I wouldn‘t classify it as “romance” at all—just delightfully creepy Gothic suspense. Check this one off the list. ✔️

Scochrane26 I was surprised that I loved Rebecca so much. Think I went into it without knowing anything about it. I read Jamaica Inn earlier this year & also loved it. A really good Gothic story 1w
Amiable @Scochrane26 I‘m honestly surprised that I got to this point in my life and had no idea what happened in the book. After nearly 90 years, it‘s difficult to keep spoilers a secret! 😀 But I really did go into it blind. 1w
sarahbarnes I‘ve felt the same way about this one. Maybe I‘ll give it a try. 7d
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Amiable @sarahbarnes It starts a bit slow but then speeds up as you get further into it, FYI. 7d
Ruthiella Agree. There is little romance here. For me, this is a book, like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, that hits differently when one is a bit older and more experienced. 7d
CoverToCoverGirl This is still on my list but I just knocked off Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn off the list.. progress. 6d
Amiable @CoverToCoverGirl Making steady progress—same! 👍🏼 I‘ve knocked off “Rebecca” and “Anna Karenina” so far this year, so I‘m pleased. 6d
67 likes7 comments
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Amiable
Mark Twain | Ron Chernow
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So excited to arrive home from vacation to find this in the pile of bills and junk mail!

Ruthiella Nice! 👍 1w
kspenmoll We are going to hear the author speak at Mark Twain House this June! 1w
Amiable @kspenmoll Yay! That will be awesome! What‘s the date? I didn‘t see any announcements about it—I would have gotten tickets! 1w
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kspenmoll Tickets may still be available. 1w
kspenmoll Another virtual event. 1w
Amiable @kspenmoll Thank you! 7d
CoverToCoverGirl Stacking! Knew nothing about this until your post! 6d
Amiable @CoverToCoverGirl It‘s another chunkster, too! 6d
65 likes3 stack adds10 comments
review
Amiable
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Mehso-so

The only word that comes to mind to describe this book is “interminable.” It was probably a good thing I was stuck on an 8-hour flight or I may not have finished it.

mcctrish I laughed out loud at your review - it‘s crazy how some books resonate with some people and not others ( I have this in my towering TBR pile ) 1w
Amiable @mcctrish That‘s along the lines of what I say when people ask why I‘d never retire to Florida and I tell them I prefer the weather in New England! Thankfully there are 50 states—so there is at least one that works for everyone‘s personal tastes. 😀 1w
mcctrish @Amiable there are a few reasons not to retire to Florida 😉 imo ( as a 🇨🇦) 1w
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Amiable @mcctrish ❤️ There are MANY reasons why you‘ll never find me further south than the Mason-Dixon line! I‘m perfectly happy in New England—in fact, we‘re all hoping Canada will annex us! 1w
mcctrish We welcome you 🤗 1w
BkClubCare Oh good. Thank you. I do not want to read this. 😂 7d
CoverToCoverGirl I really enjoyed this one. That‘s one of the things I find so fascinating about books—how they are received and reviewed by readers in vastly different ways. This Canadian says we welcome you. 🇨🇦💙 6d
Amiable @CoverToCoverGirl I was meh about his first book too, so I think I am not a fan of Whittaker‘s writing style. And if you guys could adopt us right about now, it would be great! 😬 6d
59 likes8 comments
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Amiable
Untitled | Anonymous
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When I was a junior in high school, my English teacher told us about her escape from Budapest during the 1956 revolution, and how she swam to freedom across the Danube River with a backpack that contained only a change of clothes and a copy of “Hamlet.” (You try explaining that you don‘t care for Shakespeare after that story…) She was brilliant and terrifying and she scared the crap out of me. And she pushed me to become a better writer … ⬇️

Amiable …which led to a successful career as an editor and journalist. Today in Budapest I stopped at the Müvész Cafe, a coffeehouse near the Hungarian State Opera House that‘s long been a meeting place for writers, artists and theater goers. And I had a pot of tea and Hungarian cake in her honor. Here‘s to you, Mrs. Györgyey! Thanks for the impact you had on my life as a reader and a writer. It‘s been 40 years — and I still remember. (edited) 1w
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 1w
jdiehr Love this! 1w
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Aims42 Awww 🥹 This is such a sweet post!! 1w
lil1inblue 🥰🥰🥰 1w
Deblovestoread ❤️❤️❤️ 1w
BarbaraBB Great story, she should have know what an impact she has made! 1w
LeahBergen Wow!! ❤️❤️ 1w
AnnCrystal 🥲 an amazing post. Thank you for sharing such a powerful encounter 💝📚💝📚💝. 1w
CarolynM That‘s wonderful🥰 I‘m sure she would be proud. 1w
marleed This🍎❤️🍎 1w
squirrelbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 1w
Gissy You look spectacular ❤️👌 1w
DogMomIrene What a beautiful homage❤️👩‍🏫 1w
BkClubCare Aw, lovely 💖 7d
67 likes15 comments
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Amiable
Abigail | Magda Szabo
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My husband and I have made it to Budapest on our trek through Eastern Europe. I‘ve tried to pick up a book in each country (but I missed out in Bulgaria and Croatia—not enough time to track down bookstores in the towns where we were that sell English editions). Anyway, I couldn‘t decide between a nonfiction and a fiction for Hungary —so I got them both. 😀 My carry-on is bursting at the seams now. Good thing we‘re heading home this weekend! 😬

BarbaraBB Wow, I haven‘t heard of that Magda Szabo! 2w
sarahbarnes What @BarbaraBB said! Sounds like it‘s been an amazing trip! 1w
54 likes2 comments
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Amiable
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This is the book I picked up from the Serbia leg of our trip through Eastern Europe.

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Amiable
Cutting for Stone: A Novel | Abraham Verghese
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Today‘s find in Belgrade: the Serbian edition of “Cutting for Stone.”

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Amiable
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It‘s been slow going with this book so far —I‘m trying to read but I keep getting distracted by the gorgeous views of the Danube. (This is just after sailing through the Iron Gates, with Romania on one bank and Serbia on the other.)

JenniferEgnor What an amazing distraction though😍 2w
ShelleyBooksie What a stunning view 2w
AmyG Wow! What a place to read. 2w
AnnCrystal 🤩💝 a beautiful distraction 😍💝. 2w
60 likes4 comments
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Amiable
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On a bus tour into the mountains of Bulgaria and the woman next to me pulls out a paperback while her friend takes care of the photos. I feel like she‘s one of us. 😀
(It‘s a Lee Child thriller. I peeked at the cover.)

CarolynM Definitely one of us😆 Hope you‘re enjoying your tour. 2w
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Lol, I‘m always torn on road trips between the guilt of not enjoying the view and the guilt of leaving my book alone and unread. 😅❤️ 2w
BarbaraBB I always peek at the cover too! And I can relate to that @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm ! 2w
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sarahbarnes I always try to see what other people are reading! And I‘m always glad to see a fellow reader in the world. 😁 2w
TheBookHippie ♥️ 2w
Amiable @CarolynM It‘s been fabulous so far! The weather has been glorious. 2w
AnnCrystal She's one of us for sure 😉👍🏼📚💝. Epic travels! 🤩💝. 2w
Ruthiella A reader in the wild! 2w
LeahBergen Aww! 🥰 2w
65 likes9 comments
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Amiable
A Life in Parts | Bryan Cranston
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That moment when you‘re reading a book that randomly mentions a country — and you just happen to BE in that exact country! 🤯😀

Ruthiella It was meant to be! 🤯😂 2w
Amiable @Ruthiella 195 countries in the world and he just happened to pick the one I‘m sailing through! 😳😄 (edited) 2w
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 2w
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BarbaraBB Very cool. How do you like Bulgaria? 2w
Amiable @BarbaraBB We‘ve been only in the northern part, within an hour or so of the Danube — Veliko Tarnivo, Abanasi, Vidin and Belogradchik. The fortress at Belogradchik was amazing. The Bulgarian landscape in the Balkan Mountains is stunning. The villages and towns so far —okay. A couple on our tour spent time in Sofia and Plovdiv before joining us. They said Sofia was underwhelming and Plovdiv was so great they want to come back there. 2w
Amiable @BarbaraBB Honestly, I‘d say Romania was my favorite so far, particularly Braşov. Although the food there is heavier (lots of pork and sausage) so I‘m enjoying the Bulgarian cuisine better —I don‘t feel like I need to take a nap after every meal! 2w
BarbaraBB Thank you for sharing! I am very intrigued by Romania, I‘ve never been there. And in Bulgaria only a few days in Sofia which I liked but I envy you for traveling there 🤍 2w
53 likes7 comments
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Amiable
Dracula | Bram Stoker
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Stumbled onto this gorgeous bookstore in Bucharest‘s Old Town today. It‘s located in a former nobility palace. What did I buy? After a tour of Transylvania, it had to be a copy of “Dracula” — of course!

Bookwormjillk How fun!!! 3w
youneverarrived 😍😍 3w
DogMomIrene Looks dangerous! Like you might miss the boat because you‘re so caught up with browsing in such a stunning shop. 3w
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lil1inblue 😍 Wowza! 😍 3w
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 3w
Bette Incredible! 😀 3w
AnnCrystal 🤩📚🤩📚🤩🥀🦇📚💝. 3w
Amiable @DogMomIrene It was funny —when I got back to the meeting spot, a group of older ladies in our tour group swarmed me and wanted to know where I‘d gotten the book —it‘s a gorgeous leather-bound edition. So I hand sold 4 more copies! The bookstore really should hire me to make the rounds when tourists come through. 😄 2w
BookmarkTavern What a gorgeous edition! 🤩🤩 2w
DogMomIrene @Amiable 😂😂😂 Book Ambassador! 2w
64 likes10 comments
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Amiable
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My husband and I are traveling in Romania right now. I love looking at books—even in languages that I can‘t read!

sarahbarnes So cool! I love doing that too. 3w
tpixie Loved this book!! I love bookstores! Romania! How exciting! How did you choose Romania? 🇷🇴 (edited) 3w
Tamra Have a wonderful trip! And yes, books are books, thrilling in any language! 😄 (edited) 3w
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Amiable @tpixie We are on a tour of eastern Europe that starts in Transylvania! Will be heading through Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and into Hungary (ending in Budapest). We thought it sounded like a fascinating area to visit. 3w
tpixie @Amiable yes! Wow! That sounds amazing! I‘d love your itinerary! Have a wonderful trip! 3w
Amiable @sarahbarnes @Tamra It doesn‘t even matter that the words don‘t make sense —I just have to browse anyway! 😄 3w
Amiable @tpixie It‘s a tour with Viking —the first part is the Transylvania land extension, then we‘re headed to Bucharest to get on a boat for a cruise up the Danube River. I think the itinerary is called “Passage to Eastern Europe” or something like that? (edited) 3w
AnnCrystal 🆒📚💝. 3w
tpixie @Amiable thanks so much! 3w
62 likes9 comments
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Amiable
King: A Life | Jonathan Eig
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Pickpick

Excellent biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. that examines his full life: his beliefs, his actions, his insecurities and his failures. In other words —a portrait of a man who had his flaws like any other human, but who rose to greatness and met the moment when it mattered.
Chunkster Petite category of #ChunksterChallenge2025 ✔️

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Amiable
Statistics | David Noel Burghes
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April stats. Nonfiction is inching back up, so that‘s a good sign that my brain isn‘t as scattered and shattered from the news and events going on in the country and the world and I can concentrate again. Although I still want to stick my head in a hole and escape.

Bookwormjillk Same... 3w
JenReadsAlot I've also been reading very little nonfiction 😔 3w
DogMomIrene You‘re doing great! 3w
Lcsmcat I find I‘ve been reading more nonfiction than usual. And I can‘t tolerate “fluffy” fiction at all right now. Funny how differently we all cope with this uncertainty. 3w
47 likes4 comments
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Amiable
84, Charing Cross Road | Helene Hanff
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Pickpick

What an absolutely lovely little book! I‘m not crying —YOU‘RE crying.

This collection of letters between an American scriptwriter and the staff of a British bookstore in London restores my faith in humanity and confirms my belief that book people are the best people.

Listen to the audiobook —the narrators are delightful.

Ruthiella This book! It‘s just beautiful. ❤️😢 4w
Amiable @Ruthiella Oh my gosh—my heart exploded! 😍 And I went immediately to Hoopla to download the sequel. 4w
LeahBergen One of my absolute favourites! 3w
CarolynM I love Helene Hanff. All her books are wonderful. 3w
47 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Amiable
Dream Count | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Pickpick

I eagerly awaited this, Adichie‘s first fiction outing in 10 years. I adore her writing, and “Americanah” is a favorite read. This one follows 4 women whose lives intersect and interconnect before/during/after the Covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed it, but thought it was uneven in parts. I was drawn to Kadiatou‘s story but Chia‘s musings on past boyfriends left me feeling meh. Still recommend for the beauty of Adichie‘s prose.

54 likes2 stack adds
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Amiable
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Mehso-so

Because I‘ve loved her recent books about the female assassin squad, I thought I‘d give this series a try. I was disappointed. While I liked Veronica Speedwell‘s sassiness, this felt more like a light romance than a mystery —the murder happens in the first few chapters, but it takes 200 pages before Veronica & Stoker begin to investigate it. And there‘s a lot of disbelief that must be suspended. I doubt I‘ll continue with the series.

galueth28 I haven't give up on it yet, but I was also expecting more mystery in the mystery book 🤷‍♀️ 1mo
Amiable @galueth28 Right?? Did you read the next one? 1mo
galueth28 @Amiable not yet, not sure if I want... 1mo
DogMomIrene Good to know! Thanks for taking one for the Litsy team. 1mo
57 likes4 comments
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Amiable
King: A Life | Jonathan Eig
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When it‘s finally Friday evening after a long week and the hubby is working an overnight so you have the house to yourself and you can settle into the couch with a stack of books and a giant mug of camomile tea. 🥰🫠

Texreader Perfect!! 1mo
Leftcoastzen So good! 1mo
Aims42 Enjoy! That sounds like a relaxing Friday night! 1mo
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kspenmoll 😊❤️ 1mo
AnnCrystal 💝💝💝. 1mo
dabbe 💙🩵💙 1mo
Clare-Dragonfly Perfection! 1mo
64 likes7 comments
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Amiable
Untitled | Untitled
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Congrats on your 200k milestone, @dabbe ! Here‘s my mood board. It‘s not super cheerful —every day since Jan. 20 has been more challenging than the day before it. Trying to maintain my resolve and commitment to making good trouble, but the mountain feels higher and more dangerous every time I can bring myself to look at the news. I worry about my Marine son, I worry about the economy and I worry if we‘ll even have a country next year. Mood: 😵‍💫

RaeLovesToRead 🫂🫂🫂🫂 1mo
dabbe How heartfelt and true. I am feeling exactly what you are, m'dear. We just keep fighting the good fight. Thanks for sharing yourself. 💙🩵💙 1mo
58 likes3 comments
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Amiable
The Stone Diaries | Carol Shields
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Pickpick

From the moment of her unexpected birth in 1905 until her death more than 85 years later, Daisy Stone Goodwill experiences all the ups, downs, humor, melancholy, sadness, grief and joy of childhood, young adulthood, marriage, motherhood, widowhood and old age. In other words—a life, lived. This book gave me all the feels.

Leftcoastzen I‘ve been thinking of reading this one for years! 1mo
TheBookHippie I own this book somewhere in my piles 😵‍💫🙃 1mo
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Amiable @Leftcoastzen @TheBookHippie It had similar vibes to “Stoner” by John Williams, if you loved that one! 1mo
TheBookHippie @Amiable I love that book!!! 1mo
Leftcoastzen I did LOVE that one! 1mo
BarbaraBB I loved this book so much when I read it ages ago. (And Stoner too!) 1mo
53 likes7 comments
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Amiable
Politics and Prose | Washington, DC (Bookstore)
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If you‘re going to attend a protest in DC, of course you also have to make a trek to Politics and Prose!

JenniferEgnor I also recommend Capitol Hill Books! 2mo
LeahBergen Awesome! 2mo
TheBookHippie 🎉🎉🎉✊🏼🎉🎉🎉 2mo
See All 9 Comments
Leftcoastzen Yay! 2mo
AnnCrystal ✊🏼📚💝. 2mo
kspenmoll Wonderful! 💕💪🏻 2mo
sarahbarnes ♥️🔥♥️ 2mo
CoverToCoverGirl Thank you for attending! 2mo
83 likes9 comments
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Amiable
The Resisters | Eric Nylund
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My husband, youngest son and I traveled to DC this weekend to participate in the Hands Off protest there. Current estimates at the moment are that 5 million people attended more than 1,400 protests around the world today. Keep the momentum going! We are the people—and we have the power! #resist

Deblovestoread ✊🏼💪🏼#resist. Great pics! 2mo
Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 2mo
JenReadsAlot Yes!! 2mo
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Aims42 💙💙💙💙💙 2mo
kspenmoll Yay!!! Thank you so much for going! I ended up planning to join in the next event- pouring rain in Hartford held wimpy me back. 💙💙💙 2mo
Areader2 I attended the one near where I live too! 2mo
Amiable @kspenmoll I heard that it was pouring in Hartford — I‘m glad we made plans to travel down here! The weather turned out to be gorgeous, which definitely helped attendance. 2mo
Amiable @Areader2 Yay! 👊🏼👊🏼 2mo
MaGoose Yay! Hurray👍💪 2mo
Catsandbooks ✊🏼🔥❤️ 2mo
dabbe 👊🏻♥️👊🏻 2mo
Darklunarose ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
LeahBergen Yes!!!! 👏👏👏 2mo
TheBookHippie Yaaaay!!!!! It was a good day!!!! We had so many!!! 2mo
peaKnit Thank you!!! 2mo
Ruthiella ✊I went to a local one in Southern California and my sister was at another about 20 miles away. 2mo
Amiable @Ruthiella 💪🏼🇺🇸 2mo
Bette We were out too. It was cold, but so many people showed up in our little town…it was inspiring. 👍 2mo
BarbaraBB Proud of all of you! 2mo
squirrelbrain 💪 2mo
TrishB ❤️❤️👍🏻 2mo
sarahbarnes 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 2mo
youneverarrived 🩷🩷 2mo
AnnCrystal 👏🏼✊🏼🥳💝. 2mo
MemoirsForMe ❤️🙌🏻❤️ 2mo
77 likes25 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

A sobering and unflinching account of the author‘s internment at Auschwitz in 1944-1945. After the camp was liberated by Soviet troops, Debreczeni, a reporter in Hungary before the war, wrote down his experience in this memoir. Because of the Cold War, it wasn‘t published outside of the country until recent years. While it‘s harsh and horrific, it‘s also moving, poetic and beautifully written. Highly recommend.

60 likes4 stack adds
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Amiable
SLOW DANCE. | RAINBOW. ROWELL
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Bailedbailed

I‘d never read a Rainbow Rowell book, so when I saw this on the library shelf I figured I‘d give it a try. Almost 100 pages in and I‘m throwing in the towel. The main character is annoying, the dialogue is trite and stilted… and the worst offense? It‘s just so incredibly boring. 😖 Moving on.

Aims42 Oof, that‘s a lot of very valid reasons to bail 🫠 Onto better books! #Hailthebail 🚀 2mo
Prairiegirl_reading I‘ve only read one Rainbow Rowell and I felt pretty much the same but I finished. 😕 (edited) 2mo
freeatlast1137 I haven‘t read this one, but I can agree on her writing style. I have struggled to finish her books. 2mo
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Amiable @Prairiegirl_reading @freeatlast1137 I tried so hard to push through but got to a point where I thought, “why am I wasting valuable reading time on this?” I was surprised because I‘d heard good things about her books. This did not meet expectations at all. 😖 2mo
Amiable @Aims42 My sentiments exactly! 🚀🌞 2mo
Prairiegirl_reading @Amiable I am typically an unapologetic bailer but sometimes I have times where I think I should be better at finishing so that‘s probably why I finished. My comment was meant to be more of a “bad on me.” Too many good books!! 2mo
Amiable @Prairiegirl_reading oh, I‘m with you! It took me a long time to get to a place where I could bail —I always felt obligated to finish what I‘d started. I still feel kind of guilty when I do. But the older you get the more you realize how little time you have left to read all the really good books out there —so you can‘t waste that time on the bad ones! (edited) 2mo
59 likes7 comments
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Amiable
Statistics | David Noel Burghes
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Reading stats for March rebounded from the lull that was February. However, I‘m still not reading as much nonfiction as I normally do (it‘s usually close to 50/50). Pretty sure my brain is craving an escape from reality these days and just can‘t handle anything more at the moment. 😖😬

AnnCrystal 🫂📚💝. (edited) 2mo
Bookwormjillk My nonfiction reading is down too. 2mo
44 likes2 comments
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Amiable
Kills Well with Others | Deanna Raybourn
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Pickpick

Another assignment for our sexagenarian assassins! This one doesn‘t have quite the same fun and witty banter as the first book, but it‘s still a rollicking romp. And the women are just as badass as ever.

Gissy Great photo☺️ 2mo
DogMomIrene Photo‘s spot on! 2mo
Amiable @Gissy @DogMomIrene I had fun putting this photo together! 😀 1mo
64 likes3 comments
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Amiable
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While I‘m loving the trend of colorful edges, I‘m not sure I can get on board with this one! I‘d be too squeamish to hold it, I think! It‘s very … realistic-looking. 😳😬

AlaMich Yikes!!!! 2mo
dabbe 😱😳😱 2mo
willaful eeeeeeew! 2mo
AnnCrystal 😳🤔😂📚💝. 2mo
BookmarkTavern Wow! That‘s impressive design work! But I‘d be a little creeped out too. 😅 2mo
60 likes5 comments
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Amiable
Dream Count | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Another fabulous book with the gorgeous edges —this one I purchased. Because … Adichie. 😍

MommyWantsToReadHerBook You make me want to go out and buy this so badly! 2mo
AnnCrystal 🤩📚💝. 2mo
59 likes2 comments
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Amiable
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Stopped in to Barnes & Noble for a browse and I‘m captivated by the gorgeous edge papers on some of the new paperbacks. Isn‘t this beautiful? 😍

MallenNC That‘s pretty 2mo
Susanita ♥️🌊🌅 2mo
AnnCrystal 🤩📚💝. 2mo
BarbaraBB That‘s gorgeous! 2mo
66 likes4 comments
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Amiable
Dumpster Fire | Lela Markham
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When it‘s been a really crappy month (year?) and your boss lets your team know with a gift that she understands and sees you. 😀

#notbookrelated

Librarybelle I bought one of those for myself and a friend! 2mo
Tamra Perfect! 🔥 2mo
kspenmoll Oh I just love your gift!!!!! 2mo
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AmyG That is amazing. 2mo
TheBookHippie Love!!! 2mo
Deblovestoread My daughter gave me one in my stocking at Christmas. Best gift ever! 2mo
sherrisilvera Love that! 2mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
CoverToCoverGirl That‘s a great boss! 💙 2mo
73 likes9 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

Loved this sequel to “Count the Ways,” which picks up in 2010 and follows Eleanor and her family through 2024 —with mention of many of the historical events in America. (Trigger warnings if you don‘t want to relive several school shootings, the 2016 election, the pandemic, George Floyd‘s murder or the Jan. 6 insurrection of the Capitol, for example.) These characters feel real to me now and I will miss them.
#transrightsreadathon

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Amiable
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dabbe 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 #resist 2mo
CoverToCoverGirl Elbows up! Canadians are with you! 💙 2mo
61 likes2 comments
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Amiable
King: A Life | Jonathan Eig
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Amen. 🙌🏼

#resist

dabbe 🎯🎯🎯 2mo
TheBookHippie ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼 2mo
54 likes2 comments
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Amiable
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Just downloaded this one from Hoopla —the sequel to “Count the Ways.” I‘d forgotten that Eleanor‘s oldest son is transgender! So I‘m jumping in and participating in #transrightsreadathon. ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

ChaoticMissAdventures Yay! It is such an important time for the readathon! 2mo
BittersweetBooks Enjoy, can‘t wait to hear what you think! I‘ve requested it through the library so just waiting for my hold to come in. 2mo
Deblovestoread Thanks for this post! I wasn't feeling my chosen book but have this one ready to go. YAY!! 2mo
TheBookHippie Adding this to my list! 2mo
58 likes4 comments
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Amiable
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A day late (and a dollar short) for #weirdwordwednesday — but wanted to share anyway! I just finished the tagged book about the Dutch colony that first settled NYC. This section mentioned some of the Dutch words that were mutated into the English language and are still part of our lexicon 400 years later. As a word nerd, this type of stuff fascinates me!
@CBee

Ruthiella I nerd out on that kind of thing too! 😅 2mo
BarbaraBB So funny to scroll and come upon words in my own language! Two very old fashioned and ordinary names in Dutch are Jan and Kees. That‘s what they called the Americans back in those days. Hence the American word Yankees! Just saying 😀 2mo
Amiable @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I love seeing how languages merge and intermingle! 2mo
CBee @BarbaraBB I had NO idea!! How cool is that? 2mo
CBee @Amiable thanks for sharing 😊 2mo
47 likes5 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

Fascinating account of New Netherland, the Dutch colony on the island of Manhattan that predated the Pilgrims. After the English took control of the colony in 1664, the narrative shifted in favor of the “victor” and much of the Dutch history was lost. This book draws on a research project at the New York State Library that included the translation of thousands of original documents from the 17th century.

ferskner Oh wow, I hadn't heard of this book at all! Thanks for the rec. 2mo
Amiable @ferskner This book was published 20 years ago. He just came out with a new one that picks up the history of NYC in 1664 after the English take over the colony: 2mo
ferskner Oooooo adding that one too! 2mo
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Amiable
Sleeping Giants | Rene Denfeld
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Mehso-so

I was surprised by the pedestrian writing in this book. After 20 pages, I looked to see if it‘s tagged YA. Nope. Maybe it's a debut novel? Again, no. I kept going, but my eyeballs continued rolling. Several plot points strained credibility. Was I supposed to believe that a 6-year-old child who had received almost no education could read and understand a book with words like "indigenous" and "captivity"? In the end, this book disappointed me.

BarbaraBB O wow that is disappointing. I loved her other books. 2mo
Amiable @BarbaraBB In another section, two characters are exploring an old hospital. In one paragraph the same sentence is repeated several times: “Larry signaled to Amanda to stop.” They aren‘t trying to be quiet in their search —why not say, “Amanda, stop”? Or why not write, “He motioned/cautioned/waved at her to stop” if you‘re going to include the sentiment multiple times? It was like reading a high-school English essay. 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Oh how interesting. I haven't liked her books that involve children but it has been awhile since I read one, but I absolutely loved her first book The Enchanted. She lives in my area and has had a really interesting life. Sorry to hear this one was a let down 2mo
BarbaraBB @Amiable That sounds annoying indeed. Like @ChaoticMissAdventures I loved 2mo
60 likes4 comments
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Amiable
Transcription | Kate Atkinson
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The fact that I now understand this reference when it randomly appears in books almost makes The Year of Reading #Clarissa totally worth it.

Almost.

😀

TheBookHippie Almost….. 😅 3mo
Amiable @TheBookHippie We have to take our wins from that experience wherever and wherever we can, am I right? 😄 3mo
TheBookHippie @Amiable I have read it in a few books now and I didn‘t keep my brick of a book an English major wanted it and I gladly parted with it. 😂 2mo
60 likes3 comments
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Amiable
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Sounds about right. 😄

Leftcoastzen 🤣😂👏 3mo
AnnCrystal 👏🏼😂...the Good O'Day's! 3mo
Lcsmcat 😂 3mo
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Ruthiella 😂😂😂 3mo
tpixie 😆 3mo
AlaMich Hilarious!! 3mo
kspenmoll Oh this is too funny!!!!!😂 2mo
DogMomIrene When I was listening to a Kay Scarpetta audiobook from the library, there was this green and blue tiny logo on the cover🤔 I zoomed in and it said “book on tape” and I busted out laughing. 2mo
71 likes9 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

I was lukewarm about picking up this book because I thought it would be a typical madcap rom-com about a glitzy wedding in Newport. It was not at all what I expected—and that is a very good thing. It‘s funny and over the top, yes. But it has way more depth than I expected. It‘s more reflective and insightful and introspective than I expected. I couldn‘t put it down, and when I finished I immediately texted a friend: “You need to read this!”

CBee Your review is perfect!! 3mo
AmyG Agree! 3mo
sarahbarnes Yes! Great review. I felt the same. 3mo
Deblovestoread I love when a book surprises you as this one did! 3mo
Hooked_on_books I was pleasantly surprised by this one, too, and only read it because I liked her previous book. Then I immediately told my mom to read it (and she loved it, too). 3mo
79 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Amiable
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When Hubby is working overnight and the wind is howling outside and you have the bed to yourself and you can hunker down with your pile of books. 🥰

Leftcoastzen Seems like a great idea to me ! 3mo
Amiable @Leftcoastzen I love the nights when he‘s working because the TV doesn‘t go on! I just climb into bed and read until I fall asleep. 3mo
AmyG Oh, do I SO get that. When my husband is out of town I am in bed by 7…with my book. 3mo
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Tamra My hubby is a jazz musician so I can relate! ☺️ 3mo
peaKnit The Boyne elements books are so good! 3mo
AnnCrystal A bookcation 📚💝. 3mo
CBee So, you‘re enjoying The Elements series then? I was looking for your reviews for Water and Earth but I figure if you‘re already working on Fire then it‘s a good sign 👍🏻 @Amiable 3mo
Amiable @CBee I want to finish them all and do my reviews at the same time! 😄 3mo
CBee @Amiable ooo I like that idea. Can‘t wait to read your reviews!! 3mo
65 likes9 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

A coming-of-age-with-the-expected-meet-cute-between-girl-and-guy story … and throw in WWE, OnlyFans, TikTok, Hooters, evangelicals, Child Protective Services and non-disclosure agreements. On a surface level it‘s a fun story; underneath it forces you to think about the judgmental attitudes that people and society make everyday in deciding who is A Good Person and who “deserves” to live A Good Life.

marleed Yea, this book really made me think about my own judgements. I loved these characters but wondered who I‘d befriend IRL. It also defines why I love fiction because it gives one a safe space to have those realizations - and then do better. 3mo
AnnCrystal
Fun book staging 💵📚💵.
3mo
sarahbarnes Great review. Agreed! 3mo
kspenmoll Thanks for your review! I have yet to read this. 3mo
CarolynM Great review 3mo
73 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Amiable
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Pickpick

A delightful little collection of essays and columns that were published on a weekly basis over the course of many years in Chris Bohjalian‘s local newspaper in Vermont. The columns are reflections on the unique idiosyncrasies of life in a small town while also recognizing its place in the larger world around it. I thoroughly enjoyed Bohjalian‘s nonfiction voice.

59 likes1 stack add
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Amiable
Statistics | David Noel Burghes
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My reading stats plummeted this past month — literally half of what they were in January. You‘d think I would want an escape from doomscrolling the news, but my focus and concentration are completely shot. 😖

AnnCrystal 🫂📚💝. 3mo
Bklover I hear ya!!🤯😢 3mo
dabbe 🎯🎯🎯! 3mo
CarolynM 🤗 3mo
55 likes4 comments
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Amiable
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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“Moral: The weak can overcome the strong if the weak persist. Persisting isn‘t always safe, but it‘s often necessary.”

#resist
#WiththeBanned