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erzascarletbookgasm

erzascarletbookgasm

Joined May 2016

Slow slow read 👌😊✌️ 🇲🇾
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Love Letters: Vita and Virginia by Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West
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Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami
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erzascarletbookgasm
Two New Years | Richard Ho
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The author draws inspiration from his personal experience to show the similarities between Judaism and Chinese culture by highlighting the Rosh Hashanah and Lunar New Year traditions. Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards 2024, it‘s a great picture book with vibrant illustrations to share with young readers, to learn about different cultures and reflect on customs that intertwine so beautifully. The back matter is very informative and helpful.

51 likes1 stack add
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erzascarletbookgasm
Heidi | Johanna Spyri
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My second time reading Heidi as an adult and I still enjoy it. I like the descriptions of the beautiful landscapes, the idyllic life on the Alps, and the themes of family, friendship, and kindness. A gentle and comfort read.
#childrensclassicread2024
I read from Gutenberg but found this pretty edition on Pinterest.

batsy I've never read it, except for an abridged version when I was young 😅 Hoping to make time for it this month! 2w
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2w
tpixie Puffin & Penguin have the prettiest covers! 2w
56 likes3 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
Loner | Teddy Wayne
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A disturbing (and sad) read about a freshman‘s year at Harvard. David is academic smart, pathetic, a loner, and is obsessed with a fellow student. His obsession and stalking take a dark turn. The novel is gripping; thought-provoking in exploring obsession, privilege; David‘s interior monologue is at times witty and mostly struck as unhinged; the vocabulary used is good, clever. I‘ll like to read more of Teddy Wayne‘s works.

Amiable Sounds interesting! Stacking 2w
BarbaraBB Such a disturbing read indeed. 2w
Ruthiella Very disturbing but well done. 2w
53 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
Dandelion Cottage | Carroll Watson Rankin
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If not because of #TBRtarot I would not have chanced upon this book or author. A well-written, delightful story of four girls who turned a run-down cottage into their summer play house. I enjoyed the nice humour, and the way the girls are portrayed..reminds us of the simple joys of growing up. Published in 1904, it‘s old fashioned but sweet.

erzascarletbookgasm Have you read this @LeahBergen ? I think you‘ll enjoy it 😊 3w
LeahBergen Thank you! This has been on my “to find” list for several years! It sounds so good. 3w
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen It‘s available on Gutenberg but it‘ll be lovely to own a vintage edition, look at that cover! 3w
See All 6 Comments
batsy This sounds lovely! 3w
CBee Looks great 😊 3w
LeahBergen You know me well! 😆 3w
59 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Thief | Fuminori Nakamura
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The Thief follows a skilful and complicated pickpocket who got mixed up in the criminal world. It lets you glimpse at the dark, underbelly of criminal world, how it can control the politics of a city/country. I was fascinated with the analysis of pickpocketing, and the book comes across as a bit philosophical, and perhaps it‘s an allegory, as I didn‘t understand the appearance of the ‘tower‘. Not a thriller or crime novel, more of a Japanese..⬇️

erzascarletbookgasm ..noir? And the ending.. I wished it was different. I don‘t know if it‘s been adapted to screen yet, I feel it‘ll work better on screen. 4w
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle
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I enjoyed this more than the first book. The mystery wasn‘t too difficult to guess, but it was fun to see Holmes‘ deductions. A couple of things surprised me - the quick romance and the casual depiction of use of cocaine by you-know-who! And Toby made me smile.

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

dabbe An almost-love-at-first-sight romance, I'd say! I liked this one better, too! 🤩 1mo
Cuilin Agreed this was a more enjoyable read. 1mo
64 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

I was curious after @Reggie ‘s review…
Whoa! This was one crazy, chaotic story. The pacing was fast, lots of twists, and I felt things could go in so many directions,.. kept me turning the pages. Some parts a bit unrealistic, so if you‘re willing to suspend disbelief, need a quick popcorn thriller, just dive in for the wild, fun ride. 😆

batsy Great review! I liked it, too, thought I felt the author held back a little at times 😆 1mo
Reggie Yay, glad you liked it! Roza Vallo was a lot crazy. Lol 1mo
Cathythoughts Sounds good !! 👍🏻 1mo
62 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
erzascarletbookgasm
The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Received my #NoPlaceLikeHolmes Sherlock merch! 🤩🔎
Thank you for all the hard work @dabbe @Cuilin
Will be starting the tagged book for our monthly read 👌.

dabbe Wow! That took a while! Glad you like your goodies and can't wait to discuss our book this Saturday! 🤩 1mo
54 likes1 comment
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

This is the 4th in the Detective Kaga series translated to English. I‘ve read Malice & A Death in Tokyo, somehow missed Newcomer. It‘s good if you read them in order, so you‘ll get a little backstory of Detective Kaga, but no matter if you don‘t. You may get confused in the beginning because of the characters‘ names (luckily there‘s a character list) but soon you‘ll be familiar with them. Reading Japanese police procedural..⬇️

#serieslove2024

erzascarletbookgasm .. fiction is so different from others, partly because of the cultural aspect. The Final Curtain shows us the painstaking police work, touches on mental health, family sacrifice, moral complexity and even health risks of workers of nuclear power plants. An intricate plot, a satisfying read. Is this really the last we see of Detective Kaga? I‘ll be so sad. 1mo
TheSpineView Fantastic!👍🤩📖 1mo
batsy I've been meaning to start on this series. Great review! And a very happy new year to you, Jessie! 🐉🏮 1mo
See All 7 Comments
kspenmoll Great review! 1mo
kspenmoll Great review! I love this author. I am now reading a Detective Galileo novel. 1mo
erzascarletbookgasm Thanks Suba! Hope you‘re enjoying the long weekend break 😊 @batsy 1mo
erzascarletbookgasm @kspenmoll I like the Detective Galileo series too. My favourite of the author is Journey Under the Midnight Sun, a standalone 😊 1mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
Murder While You Work | Susan Scarlett
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Carolyn, these arrived today. Thank you so much, for your kindness, and for thinking of me, truly appreciate! ❤️ I hope things are going well with you. 😘
#bookmail
#litsylove

batsy How lovely 😍 1mo
CarolynM 😘 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🩷🩷🩷 1mo
LeahBergen Lovely! 🥰🥰 1mo
61 likes4 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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A lovely, special tale about how people cope with life in a coastal town after the 2011 tsunami disaster in Japan. It centres around a girl, a young woman, and an elderly woman who met at a shelter. An engaging read, filled with folklore, and written with warmth and understanding. Thanks @batsy putting this on my radar. For an excellent review, look up @batsy ‘s thoughts on this book.

LeahBergen Lovely review! 1mo
batsy Great review! It was so lovely and mystical/fantastical in the best way. I must check out Temple Alley Summer next. 1mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Rescuers | Margery Sharp
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This fun tale follows three courageous mice on a mission to rescue a prisoner (though I never understood why that particular prisoner poet needed to be rescued). I liked all three of them especially Miss Bianca. The illustrations are great and I enjoyed the sly sense of humour. Never read the book, never watched the Disney adaptation, I‘m glad I‘ve read it for #ChildrensClassicRead2024

TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
tpixie 😂 I wondered about the prisoner as well! Had to just shake that off and enjoy the ride! What fun characters those mice were! 🐭 🐭🐭 1mo
59 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Five main characters, who have reached a crossroad in their lives, or kind of lost their way in life, met a mysterious librarian who has a capability of recommending the right book which helps them. I liked that all the characters are connected to the library, though unknown to each of them. This is a heartwarming book which matches the cute cover. It‘s uplifting, and celebrates the power of books/literature & human connection.

sarahbarnes I liked this one too. 2mo
JanuarieTimewalker13 Enjoying this right now!! 4w
erzascarletbookgasm @JanuarieTimewalker13 It‘s a light and nice read 😊 4w
JanuarieTimewalker13 It really is!! 4w
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

These collection of stories are about Black womanhood, touching on various topics like sexuality, lust, abortion, porn, rape, race, and many others. They‘re insightful however I‘m somewhat disappointed. A handful of them stood out for me - Nineteen Fifty-Five, The Lover, The Abortion, and Laurel; the others weren‘t so impressive.
#TBRtarot

CBee Off the TBR 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
Novelist as a Vocation | Haruki Murakami
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Sundays are for pancakes 🥞! Listening to Murakami reflects on his career.

“What I was seeking by writing first in English and then “translating” into Japanese was no less than the creation of an unadorned “neutral” style that would allow me freer movement…Writing in my new style felt more like performing music than composing literature, a feeling that stays with me today.”

Interesting how Murakami developed his own writing style.

tpixie Gorgeous pancakes & berries, & such the perfect beautiful plate for them! 2mo
LeahBergen Yum! That looks lovely! 2mo
TheBookHippie Yum. 2mo
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BarbaraBB That looks delicious! 2mo
batsy That looks yummy! 🥞 2mo
mabell Those look perfect! Yum! 2mo
TrishB Look great 😁 2mo
Reggie Sooo delicious looking! 2mo
Cathythoughts How gorgeous to look at ! And to eat ❤️ 2mo
85 likes9 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
A Study in Scarlet | Arthur Conan Doyle
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A reread for #NoPlaceLikeHolmes .
This first novel recounts the initial meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, which I liked. Just as in the first reading, I enjoyed it, although I think the backstory need not be so in-depth. I read from an illustrated copy, artwork by George Hutchinson.

Cuilin Love the illustration 2mo
dabbe Very Sidney-Paget like! 💜🤍💜 2mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Christmas Guest | Peter Swanson
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My library hold just came in 😆. This will be perfect for a cozy festive read.. from the English country house, village pub to Christmas meals, it‘s a great holiday read, with a murder (or more) thrown in! It‘s a quick, engrossing and fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ruthiella I‘m hanging on to this for next year. Hoping to do #CloakandDaggerChristmas again! 2mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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These are powerful stories, masterfully written with subtle messages on themes of misogyny, examining women-men relationships, and showing how women are looked down upon. 1st story was very good, 2nd stories was even better, and the last one was chilling. Highly recommend!

TrishB Sounds great 👍🏻 2mo
batsy Intriguing! Adding to the ever growing TBR 2mo
sarahbarnes On my TBR! 2mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton
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I found the first part slow, bogged down by the characters‘ backgrounds, motivations and philosophical ideals, which I later understood were essential to the story. It required much concentration; such long sentences, and I was out of air by the end of most paragraphs. I almost bailed out, but I was determined not to, on my first read of the year. Chapter 2 onwards it shifted full gear..it was tense and I was at the edge of my seat…⬇️

erzascarletbookgasm It turned out to be quite a ride, I imagine it played out as an action thriller. And the startling conclusion! It also reminds me a bit of Bel Canto. I enjoyed this! 2mo
Cathythoughts Great review 🩷 I loved this book too. 2mo
AmyG I also loved this one. Great ending! 2mo
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes Great review! Agreed. 2mo
Ruthiella Yes, this does take a while to get going but then WHOOSH! 👍 2mo
BarbaraBB Agreeing with all of you! Such a great read. I am glad you did think so too Jessie! 2mo
squirrelbrain Great review! I agree, the first chapter was a slog but I‘m glad I persevered as the rest of the book was fabulous. 2mo
youneverarrived Great review 🩵 agree with it all! 2mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

I didn‘t like this as much as The Hours Before Dawn but it was entertaining. Imogen‘s thoughts & perceptive observations are often wryly humourous. There‘s an atmosphere of unease cleverly weaved in throughout. And when the mystery is explained, it‘s so simple yet one couldn‘t possibly have guessed. Brilliant how Fremlin has a flair to “put a plot that is exciting or terrifying against a background that is domestic, very ordinary, humdrum."

batsy Yes, I love that quote... She can really turn the most ordinary thing into something menacing. 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

A great collection of 12 short stories with appearances by Miss Marple, Poirot, Tommy & Tuppence, and Mr. Parker Pyne. These were previously published before, now compiled in a beautiful hardback. I enjoyed some of the stories more than the others, but overall these are entertaining stories to read if you prefer something light and cozy.

LeahBergen I enjoyed this collection. 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Faces | Tove Ditlevsen
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Visited a book sale during Christmas Eve. Very quiet, no crowd at all, unlike the previous years. Believe it or not, I only managed to get ONE book. Well, there were more children‘s books than adults, so 🤷🏻‍♀️.
Anyway, I want to wish everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas - a Christmas filled with love, peace, and joy. 🎄

LeahBergen Sounds delightful! Happy Holidays to you! 😘😘 3mo
quietjenn Merry Christmas!🎄 3mo
batsy Nice! I was thinking of going but thought it might be too crowded. That Tove Ditlesen is a great find 😍 3mo
See All 6 Comments
quietlycuriouskate Merry Christmas! 3mo
CarolynM Merry Christmas Jessie🎄💕 3mo
Bookzombie Merry Christmas!🎄 3mo
44 likes6 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
Tokyo Express | Seicho Matsumoto
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Awesome! 😍 Thank you very much Suba, for my #Jolabokaflodswap package. @batsy I love them all!
I‘m also pleased to know an independent bookstore is being supported. 😊 Merry Christmas! 🎄

Thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for organising. Happy Jolabokaflod!

batsy You're most welcome and I hope you enjoy the book! Merry Christmas 🎄❤️ 3mo
BarbaraBB Lovely gifts. I loved the book! 3mo
LeahBergen This book sounds good! 3mo
See All 8 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm @batsy Thank you and I hope you‘re having a lovely holiday! 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB They‘re great choices 😊. I look forward to reading it. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family, Barbara ❤️🎄 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen I love an old fashioned crime/mystery book 🙂. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family, Leah ❤️🎄 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm Btw Suba, the Cadbury chocolate is heavenly! 😍😋 The Lindt is currently unopened (not for long). Thank you! @batsy 3mo
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm I'm so glad! Hide the Lindt bar 😁 3mo
52 likes8 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

Isn‘t that a lovely cover? Book has a good premise..a young woman works at her uncle‘s bookshop for room & board after her breakup with her boyfriend & left her job. I like the message of rediscovering oneself, falling in love with reading, the importance of family. But I did not feel connected with the main character or moved by the overall story. 1st part about the second hand bookshop town, ⬇️

erzascarletbookgasm .. descriptions of her uncle‘s bookshop, & the customers was charming. 2nd half felt disconnected. I think I like weird Japanese better. 3mo
LeahBergen Too bad. I was wondering what this one was like! 3mo
TrishB I felt the same! Wondered what all the fuss was about. 3mo
See All 7 Comments
batsy Think I'll stick to just admiring the cover, in that case 😁 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen @batsy Many found this to be a sweet tale, and have given good reviews. So, maybe it‘s me. 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @TrishB Ha! I‘m not alone to think that! 3mo
kspenmoll I had a similar reaction to the book and actually did not finish it. Pretty cover though. 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
Untitled | Anonymous
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I‘ve sent off my #Jolabokaflodswap parcel. 🚚
Should reach you tomorrow @Smarkies 😊

erzascarletbookgasm @smarkies Tracking shows parcel has been delivered. Do tell me you‘ve safely received it. 🙏 3mo
Smarkies Got it Jessie! Thank You! Looking forward to opening it :) 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @Smarkies Awesome! Happy holidays! 3mo
39 likes3 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

I‘m pleased to know Richard Osman said this won‘t be the last we hear of the Thursday Murder Club, though he will let the beloved gang rest for a while and move on to write a new series (which I look forward to). This fourth instalment is probably my favourite. There‘s gentle humour, and sadness. Nicely executed.

Ruthiella Oh, I am glad to know that it isn‘t the last one! 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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It has arrived! So excited! #jolabokaflodswap
@batsy Thank you 😘

batsy Yay! 😃 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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BATTENBERG CAKE. The antique dealer‘s husband in the book makes a terrific Battenberg. I didn‘t know what it is, had to look it up 😂. Looks so pretty. Now I want to taste it! 😋

Julsmarshall I‘m reading this now too and was thinking the same thing! 3mo
BarbaraBB That looks wonderful! I think I saw it on Masterchef Australia! 3mo
AnneCecilie I‘m also reading this now. Thanks for sharing a picture of the cake. I also wondered what it looked like. 3mo
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain Takes me right back to my childhood! The outside ‘icing‘ is marzipan, Jessie, so it all depends on if you like that or not…. 😃 @Julsmarshall @BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie 3mo
quietlycuriouskate I've bought/baked many a Battenburg in my time: my daughter's favourite cake! 3mo
julesG @squirrelbrain My colleague always makes it without the marzipan 🤔 Now I wonder what she uses instead. 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @squirrelbrain It sounds delicious, Helen! 😋 I saw a store that sells imported goods here has Battenberg! Mr Kipling mini Battenberg cakes (from US🤔). Hope to try it one day 😊 @BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie @Julsmarshall @quietlycuriouskate @julesG 3mo
squirrelbrain Ah yes, we have Mr Kipling cakes here in the UK too. 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Tremor of Forgery | Patricia Highsmith
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In the intro Graham Greene called this her "finest novel". One will either agree, or find it rather dry. Because nothing much ‘happens‘ most of the time, no plot twist, no actual murder..but always, there is a feeling of something not quite right. The protagonist deals with his conscience, and isolation in the heat of Tunisia. We hear his thoughts mostly, and a good insight of world politics of the 1960s through all the characters‘ views. ⬇️

erzascarletbookgasm .. I like the detailed descriptions of the place, I could picture the beautiful beaches, the desert, and the locals..and the complex, sympathetic portrayal of the protagonist. 3mo
LeahBergen Great review! I haven‘t read this and you know I‘m a Highsmith fan. 😄 3mo
batsy Nice review! It's not one of her novels that I've heard a lot about, either. Definitely adding to the list. 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen @batsy Thanks. I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts whenever you get to it. 😊 3mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Remains of the Day | Kazuo Ishiguro
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I‘m glad I finally got round to reading this little gem, thanks to #AuthorAMonth . A quiet, subtle piece of work, I love the way Ishiguro unfolds the story little by little. It has many layers, and so much of what is left unsaid is just as important as what is said. Beautiful, skilful writing. As in Never Let Me Go, it leaves me thinking long after I finished it.

dabbe I loved it, too! 🩵❄️🩵 4mo
BarbaraBB Me too! 4mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
Home After Dark | David Small
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Set in the 1950s California, this graphic novel touches on the main themes of homophobia, violent bullying, bigotry, abandonment, & isolation. The story is very bleak.The protagonist is going through adolescence phase, & trying to make sense of the world around him, but there‘re times I was frustrated with him for being a coward. The simple black & white artwork is effective in conveying the story..disturbing. TW: animal cruelty, nudity, suicide.

jlhammar Great review! Love David Small. Have you tried his graphic memoir yet? Really good. 4mo
erzascarletbookgasm @jlhammar No I haven‘t, this is my first book by him. Thanks for the recommendation! 4mo
61 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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“Michiko Aoyama‘s “What You are Looking For Is in the Library” centers on a local library where five Tokyoites are gently guided through personal issues by a kindly librarian”.

This book sounds like a celebration of libraries, the power of books..light hearted and heartwarming, just the kind of book I need now. But it‘s ‘several months‘ waiting time! 😂🤣

ChasingOm It‘s so good and sweet!! 4mo
erzascarletbookgasm @ChasingOm Good to know! Look forward to it. 4mo
BiblioLitten I just placed it on hold too! 3mo
48 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

I appreciate the author sharing her emotional experiences as a queer immigrant living in the US, and her strained relationship with her parents, in this comic book, which is a collection from the LGBTQ+ online magazine called Autostraddle (which I just discovered). However, my reading experience was not enjoyable as I was confused in places..it felt disjointed, without a sequence of narrative. It‘s like a diary of random feelings and experiences.

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erzascarletbookgasm
Lost Among the Living | Simone St. James
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This historical novel about family secrets, war, and its trauma, is the fourth Simone St. James‘ book I‘ve read. The author can tell an engrossing gothic tale with paranormal elements, suspense, and romance. I didn‘t expect how the mystery and family issues played out, but overall it was an enjoyable read. This was supposed to be for last month‘s #AuthorAMonth but my timing is bad.

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erzascarletbookgasm
The Fledgeling | Frances Faviel
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Hi #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub folks. Here are my picks ⬆️. Please cast your votes for November 2024 read. ❤️

I hope I got everyone in the list. Please add if I left out anyone Leah. @LeahBergen

batsy I liked Thalia and this one sounds similar wrt personal family dynamics and angst, so I'm all for it 😁 4mo
Jess_Read_This Both sound terrific and I‘ll be happy to read either! My vote due to smiling when I read the blurb goes to 4mo
CarolynM I‘m voting for 4mo
See All 18 Comments
kwmg40 Both sound good but I‘ll vote for 4mo
jlhammar Lovely graphic. Not feeling very decisive this morning, both sound so good. Hmmm, I look forward to reading more Faviell, but I haven't tried Sharp yet so I'll vote for 4mo
Kimzey My vote goes to…. 4mo
Tamra I‘ll go with 🙂 4mo
elkeOriginal I vote Harlequin because I own it! 4mo
quietjenn Just checked the first paragraph of both and will vote for the one that made me laugh 😅 4mo
rubyslippersreads Like @elkeOriginal I‘ll vote for the one I own: 4mo
elkeOriginal @quietjenn I like that method! 4mo
catebutler Both sound so fun! But I will vote for 4mo
quietjenn @elkeOriginal I like to use it in circumstances like this, when I'm keen on both options! 4mo
Ruthiella I‘m going to let my favorite cover decide. I vote for 4mo
LeahBergen Like @elkeOriginal and @rubyslippersreads , I‘ll vote for the one that I own: 4mo
willaful @Jhammar oh my goodness, you are in for such a treat. She has so many fantastic books. I'm “the library still had a bunch of them“ years old. 😂 4mo
julieclair @quietjenn ‘s comment above was a tie breaker for me. I‘ll go with 4mo
40 likes18 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

This was a fun trip down memory lane. As a young reader, I remember loving Nancy Drew for her independence and the spirited girl she was. On rereading as an adult, I find the story too predictable but still admire her independence and determination. The fast paced story kept me turning the pages.
Read this for #ChildrensClassicRead2023 and #TBRtarot
Coincidentally it ties nicely with #NancyDrewBR this month. 😊

Librarybelle Totally agree! 4mo
TheBookHippie So agree! It‘s a lovely read! 4mo
CBee Perfect! Love Nancy ❤️ 4mo
Ruthiella I love how second hand furniture was a criminal racket in the‘30s. 😂 4mo
tpixie @Ruthiella lol 😂 4mo
61 likes5 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

This historical novel raises the debate about criminality and ‘nature vs nurture‘. Richly woven with details of the Victorian life and times, it discusses themes like mental illness, motherhood, and class. I found this to be an engaging read with interesting twists. A clever debut and worth the read.

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erzascarletbookgasm
Zero Days | Ruth Ware
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Mehso-so

A woman finds herself the prime suspect in her husband‘s murder, and she turns fugitive, on the run from the law, wanting to find out the truth herself. The story started off strong, fast paced, but later the thrill died off and I found it to be repetitive. Also, I need to suspend disbelief on quite a number of occasions. The reveal was no surprise; overall it was meh for me. It‘s probably just me because many others have loved this tech thriller.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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The recent release of Wes Anderson‘s new short films based on Dahl‘s short stories had me reading up the stories before watching. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher, and Poison. Henry Sugar has a melancholy effect, the others are peculiar, dark and unsettling. They‘re all fantastic with brilliant performances. Recommended to watch. 👍
#bookstomovie

LeahBergen I‘m looking forward to watching these! 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen Enjoy! My favourite is The Swan 😊 5mo
CarolynM I was just reading a newspaper article about these films about an hour ago! They sound great. I don‘t know that I‘m a Wes Anderson fan, but I really liked The Grand Budapest Hotel. 5mo
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julesG I watched Henry Sugar and didn't know there are three more gems waiting for me. Yeah! Thanks! 5mo
batsy I haven't read the stories but I agree, the short films are wonderful. My favourite is The Swan, too, and The Rat Catcher is up there for unexpected yikes! So memorable. 5mo
rabbitprincess I am definitely watching Henry Sugar! And I agree @CarolynM The Grand Budapest Hotel was great! 5mo
sarahbarnes I need to watch these - I love Wes Anderson! His new film Asteroid City is great. 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM I‘ll be interested to watch Grand Budapest Hotel. My son likes it too. In fact he‘s the one that introduced me to Wes Anderson, I didn‘t know about him before 😆 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @julesG If you like Henry Sugar and Anderson works, you‘re in for a treat! 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @batsy I wouldn‘t have read the short stories if not for these adaptations. I‘ve only read Dahl‘s children stories, the popular ones. The Rat Catcher is definitely yikes! 🤮 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @rabbitprincess I‘m definitely watching The Grand Budapest Hotel then! I hope you‘ll enjoy Henry Sugar. 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm @sarahbarnes Ah, you‘re a fan! I‘m just discovering his works, so quirky and creative. Not sure I‘m a fan yet. 😊 5mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
All Done by Kindness: A Novel | Doris Langley Moore
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I absolutely agree with all the others‘ reviews on this book - such a delight! Entertaining, great characterisations, fun plot, and humorous. Two thumbs up!
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

jlhammar Yay! I loved that Dr. Sandilands was calling their little dinner party at the end “the conspirators‘ dinner.” 😆 6mo
quietjenn So glad this was a hit for us all 😃 6mo
Cathythoughts That‘s great Jessie 👍🏻❤️ 6mo
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Ruthiella Yes, it was a delight! I‘m curious now about the other two novels we‘ve not read yet from her which are also published by DSP. 🤔 (edited) 6mo
LeahBergen We all seemed to like this one! 👏👏 6mo
erzascarletbookgasm @Ruthiella More books to be stacked on our tbr 😁 6mo
erzascarletbookgasm @LeahBergen yes, we all enjoyed it 👍. I‘m so glad my last #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read for the year was a Pick. I won‘t be able to join in on the Nov read, as I do not have a copy..with BD being closed, it‘s difficult (and costly) to get some books over here. 6mo
LeahBergen Oh, that‘s too bad. Have you tried Blackwell‘s? They ship to Canada for free and they may ship to you for free, as well. 6mo
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ll look them up. Thanks! @LeahBergen 6mo
CarolynM It was humorous, wasn‘t it? I‘m definitely going to read her other FMB titles @Ruthiella Hope you‘ll be able to join in the November read, Jessie😘 5mo
Ruthiella Per the website, Blackwell‘s does ship worldwide for “free” (ie included in the price of the book). I hope this is an option for you and @batsy now that BD is no more. 🤞 5mo
batsy @Ruthiella @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you, yes Blackwells seem to ship for free but the price mark-up is also considerable. I guess BD was kind of "subsiding" books to our part of the world, in a way, and it might have come at a considerable cost elsewhere. It's all a bit broken isn't it, the system. But thankfully FM is available on Kindle and that's been a lifesaver ? 5mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Lock-Up | John Banville
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Pickpick

1950s Dublin. Pathologist Dr. Quirke and DI Strafford (first appeared in Snow) despite their strained relationship, worked to solve a murder. There‘re glimpses of Irish class tension, the Church domination, feelings of antisemitism, and a little of world politics in this character-driven, slow-burn mystery. The plot was pretty good, I enjoyed the polished prose, and I didn‘t anticipate the twist in the epilogue.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

An intriguing read told through a pregnancy diary, about a woman who fakes her pregnancy. Once she told the lie, people begin to treat her differently. She plans to follow through the lie, and in the process, she learns to live the life she wants. It‘s a quirky-turned-surreal read, exploring the roles of women in society and workplace, and of loneliness.

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erzascarletbookgasm
Seven Empty Houses | Samanta Schweblin
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My first by the Argentine author and I didn‘t know what to expect, reading these collection of short stories, even the blurb did not prepare me for it. They revolve around daily settings in houses where the characters live..though these houses are not ‘empty‘ in literal sense, there‘s an emptiness or something missing in each..awkward relationships, grief, dysfunction family,etc. The stories are a bit strange, dream like, mostly disquieting, ⬇️

erzascarletbookgasm …and some sad. Each story leaves me wanting for more. I like some better than others, but they‘re all brilliant with implied eeriness. 7mo
Cinfhen Sounds good…have you read this @Megabooks ?!? 7mo
batsy Oh, nice! I'm so keen to check this out. I loved this one 7mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen yes! And I agree with Jessie‘s view. Eerie and unsettling and quite good. 7mo
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

In this little gem of a story, a young woman is rushed by her parents into a train bound for a mysterious destination. There‘s lots of imagery and a sense of foreboding during the train journey. The story is thought provoking, symbolic, with many questions unanswered and are left to the interpretation of the reader. A must read for Plath‘s fans.

Read this for July‘s #TBRtarot

erzascarletbookgasm @CBee Cydney, I just realised this could work for August‘s #TBRtarot as well 😂. I have my book picked for August already. 👌 8mo
batsy This sounds good! 8mo
CBee @erzascarletbookgasm you can totally use it for both! 8mo
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vivastory I recently picked up the following in the Harper Perennial editions and am really looking forward to it 8mo
erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory I will look it up, sounds good 👍 8mo
Cathythoughts Lovely review 👍🏻♥️ 8mo
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The Hole | Hiroko Oyamada
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A weird, unsettling novella about a housewife who moved to the countryside when her husband got a job transfer there. Her encounter with a strange creature and her interactions with some odd persons lead her to a sequence of unusual events where she begins to wonder what is real and what is imagined. A surreal story that takes a look at women‘s role in Japan in terms of societal expectations and conformity. If you like uncanny stories,go for this.

Suet624 Fascinating review. 7mo
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Foster | Claire Keegan
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Claire Keegan‘s beautiful prose says so much in less than 100 pages..about the power of love and kindness. Lovely story.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

If you‘ve enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing, you‘ll want to read this sort-of sequel. It doesn‘t matter if you haven‘t read the first book, however you‘ll get a better context if you did. But because this was published 8 years after the first book, I couldn‘t remember the details of the first book, which I think affected my enjoyment of this. There‘s no major plot twist, and the middle part was rather boring. The limericks were witty though.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the crime, and seeing how Dr Bickleigh goes about his evil plans, and the desperate measures he has to take. A satisfying read, and what a splendid ending.
#goldenagecrimeclub

Ruthiella Love the ending! 8mo
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Catwings | Ursula K. Le Guin, Ursula Leguin
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I didn‘t know Ursula Le Guin wrote childrens books. My Libby hold on Earthsea still have not arrived and since this was available, I quickly borrowed it for #AuthorAMonth . It‘s an easy and fun read for early readers with cute and detailed illustrations, about four unusual kittens who were born with wings; and their adventures in the rural areas. Nice read aloud story.

TheSpineView I just bought this book for my granddaughter. Hope she likes it. 9mo
kspenmoll I have hung on to this series because my son loved them so much! 9mo
tpixie Thanks!! Sounds cute! 9mo
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CarolynM I‘ve been a bit absent here the last month or so, but just realised I haven‘t seen any posts from you lately. Hope all is well with you. Sending love💕 8mo
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve been busy ..with many things, except reading 😂. I‘ve finished a couple of books the last 2 weeks or so, but was lazy to review 🙈. All is good, hope you‘re keeping well too. Thanks for thinking of me. ❤️ @CarolynM 8mo
CarolynM 👍❤️ 8mo
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Our Castle by the Sea | Lucy Strange
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A great historical fiction novel set in the beginning of WW2, exploring the effect of war on individuals and families. It highlights the feelings of prejudice and xenophobia, children evacuation, and internment camps. It‘s also part adventure and mystery, as the 12 year old protagonist discovers traitorous spies among the villagers. Well written and captivating.
#TBRtarot #bookbeginswithaprologue
#titlesandtunes #guiltypleasure #middlegrade

Cinfhen Gorgeous cover art and book sounds wonderful 9mo
batsy This sounds lovely! 9mo
CBee Looks great!! 9mo
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