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jen_the_scribe

jen_the_scribe

Joined June 2019

INFP-T. Ravenclaw. Mom. Wife. Writer. Artist. There's a time for everything. By everything, I mean books.
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jen_the_scribe
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As much as I loved the last book I read, there were a lot of sad moments. I‘m in need of a palate cleanser and since “The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear” did that for me, I‘m finally going to read book 2 in the Zamonia series. I read that you don‘t have to read these books in order, but it‘s ideal because there are surprises that are more enjoyable when you‘ve read the previous books 😁

review
jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg
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Pickpick

This one was structured differently than the books I usually read, but I found it refreshing. It doesn‘t have a linear storyline but follows the lives of several unnamed characters in a family: grandparents, parents, and their two sons. It goes back and forth in time, sometimes the characters are younger, sometimes they are grown (even the sons). We see them through some very tough times, but in between the tragedies… ⬇️

jen_the_scribe …there are funny moments and plenty of love. There‘s some dark, sometimes vulgar, humor. The grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust. At the root of it, this book is about all the things we inherit from our families (including the trauma). For some things, we are just like our parents and for others we take what we are given and make something new out of it. I loved this book and it‘s a fairly short read. 3d
9 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg

“Remember, people behave like people when you treat them like people, he kept saying. He lived according to his own maxim; he left a trail of goodness behind him.”

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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg
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Midnight keeping me company while I read on this lovely Saturday 🥰 #CatsOfLitsy

Leftcoastzen 👏😻 3d
dabbe #magnificentmidnight 🖤🐾🖤 3d
14 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg

“His anxiousness did them no good. So he bet on a life between the tragedies that he knew would regularly arrive.”

12 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg

“He learned to enjoy moments weighted with the risk of loss.”

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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg

“Pull your head out of the cacophony of the past. It‘s where you‘re from, but nobody‘s left there except you. Look around and throw out the things your children won‘t want to inherit. Do the same in your mind, even though that‘s much harder.”

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jen_the_scribe
Confidential: A Novel | Miko?aj Grynberg
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The last of my current library haul is up next. I hope another book doesn‘t entice me when I go to the library later this week (my son has his tutoring sessions there while I work on my own projects). I have way too many books to read in my own TBR pile as it is… #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime

18 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
The Haunting of Maddy Clare | Simone St. James
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Pickpick

I started this one yesterday and already finished it. I should‘ve known that would happen. I‘ve read several books by St. James, and it‘s always the same, I just can‘t put these books down. The mystery was intriguing, and once it was solved, utterly tragic. The romance was enticing, and I loved the friendship that formed with the MC and another character. Descriptive and well-written, as usual, with likable but realistically-flawed characters.

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jen_the_scribe
The Haunting of Maddy Clare | Simone St. James
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Up next is my next library book. Simone St. James hasn‘t steered me wrong yet…

TheBookHippie One of my favs of hers. 1w
Andrew65 I really enjoyed this one. 1w
25 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
History of the Big House | Charif Majdalani
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Bailedbailed

As much as I respected the unique writing style and loved the descriptions of Mount Lebanon and the surrounding areas, the way the narrator is written just kept pulling me out of the story. Also, there‘s a lot of details about the orange groves that I just found dull. If this wasn‘t a library book that I have to return soon, I‘d probably try to keep going, but I have other library books to read as well.

22 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
Untitled | Untitled
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My daughter got me a Harry Potter themed book cover for my Kindle for Mother‘s Day. I love it so much. I‘m reading my physical library books right now, but I‘m craving an e-book right about now lol.

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jen_the_scribe
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi | Shannon Chakraborty
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Amina is a strong woman and a wonderful mother who sacrifices so much for her daughter.

Happy Mother‘s Day to all the mothers here in the U.S. (and because I don‘t know all the dates for Mother‘s Day around the world, I wish ALL the mothers a wonderful day).

@BookmarkTavern #sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Oh yes! An excellent choice! Thanks for sharing! 1w
14 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
History of the Big House | Charif Majdalani
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While I‘m loving this story for the most part, it‘s comments like this from the narrator that keep pulling me out of it. The narrator keeps saying certain details from his family‘s past must be made up because they don‘t know the whole truth of it. This is supposed to be fiction, not sure if the writer is trying to make it seem more real with this method or what.

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When an Isabel Allende novel comes out, I don‘t even need to read the synopsis, I‘m ordering it immediately.

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1. I just ordered the latest from my favorite author today (tagged).
2. I do enjoy reviewing books. I use Litsy mostly, occasionally I post reviews on IG, and I‘ll post reviews for career-related books on LinkedIn. I also write reviews (among other things) in a reading journal, but those are just for me.

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs I use a journal as well for ⭐️ ratings and # of pages read. Thx for playing 🤗 2w
22 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
History of the Big House | Charif Majdalani
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1. I prefer to read sitting, ideally reclined and surrounded by by cushions lol
2. Current read is tagged. The writing style is unlike anything I‘ve ever read before, and there are lots of long sentences with tons of commas which I found off-putting at first. But I ended up finding it endearing as I went on. So far, I‘m glad I gave it a chance cause the story is intriguing.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView I like being comfortable too. Thanks for playing 2w
17 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
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Let‘s see if this audiobook can keep my interest…

BookmarkTavern I‘ve got this one on my TBR! I look forward to your thoughts! 2w
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
House of Bane and Blood | Alexis L. Menard
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Bailedbailed

Just not holding my attention enough…

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jen_the_scribe
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Pickpick

This is a very soft pick. The plot was intriguing, and I did want to know how it ended so that kept me going. But there were some slow parts and scenes I found so unnecessary, to the point where I even contemplated bailing at times. There were also some plot holes and typos I found. Some resolutions seemed way too easy, certain ill-behaved characters just suddenly changing their ways after a good talking to. Continued ⬇️

jen_the_scribe However, I really liked the characters and the story grew more interesting and exciting toward the end. I had been wanting to read something from this author for a while, so I went with his debut novel. But you can clearly tell this was his first. I‘ll still give his other works a try eventually because it was a good story in the end. 2w
16 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
The Haunting of Maddy Clare | Simone St. James
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Library haul from yesterday 😍

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1. Yes, I guess you could call it a small library in the way of multiple shelves throughout the house plus stacks here and there lol. There‘s about 370 in my own collection, not including magazines and my kids collections in their rooms.
2. I believe this one was my favorite from April ☺️

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView A sign of a true bookworm is books in every room. Thanks for playing 3w
16 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
Book Nook | Pearl Markovics
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Here‘s how it looks on my shelf ☺️

Meshell1313 Stunning! 😍 3w
BookmarkTavern Wow! 🤩🤩🤩 3w
16 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
Book Nook | Pearl Markovics
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Picture doesn‘t do it justice but I had so much fun assembling this book nook my husband got me. My whole family is in awe of it and so am I, even though I‘m the one that put every tiny piece together lol.

Texreader Love it!!! 3w
wanderinglynn 😍 Ooh, I‘m so tempted to do one of these. How difficult was it? (edited) 3w
BookmarkTavern Oh that is gorgeous! 🤩🤩🤩 3w
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jen_the_scribe @wanderinglynn I think it would‘ve been better if I had worked on it little by little, but I‘m impatient for the final result and it took me the better part of my Saturday to finish it. And some of the pieces are rather delicate, so there were some frustrating moments lol. But I think it‘s worth it, I see them as 3D puzzles and I enjoy it for the most part. 3w
wanderinglynn 👍🏻 good to know! I think I‘m going to get one & try to put it together 3w
dabbe I need to do one of these! 🤩😍🤩 3w
18 likes6 comments
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Assembling a DIY book nook and the mini books fill me with delight ☺️

Leftcoastzen Love minis! 3w
17 likes1 comment
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This one has been on my shelf for a while after someone posted about it on Substack. Excited to finally get to it ☺️

21 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
Fridays | Andrew Johns
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Nothing major happened this week but it‘s still nice to practice gratitude, it‘s the simple things that matter anyway

1. My fur babies (my dog Luna too, but I didn‘t get any photos of her this week)
2. A brand new journal
3. Stickers for said journal
4. Going for walks
5. Missed quite a bit of CrossFit last week and early this week but was able to jump back in yesterday

Consider yourself tagged if you see this 😉
@DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday

dabbe 💙💚💙 4w
TheBookHippie Journal!!! 😍 4w
15 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
History of the Big House | Charif Majdalani
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“He fell quiet again and slumped back into his armchair with a lost, faraway look in his eyes, muttering in protest that he would never ever talk about it, that it was a story from a bygone age, that nothing was worth waking the dead.”

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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jen_the_scribe
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Pickpick

This one was unlike any art history book I‘ve read before, and in a good way. Maybe I‘m biased because drawing is my preferred medium, but I enjoyed learning about how drawing has evolved over the centuries. I learned about so many artists, some already known to me but many I‘d never heard of before. I enjoyed the arguments in support of drawing as an art form in itself; yes it can be used for mere planning, the working out of ideas and…⬇️

jen_the_scribe compositions. But it is so dynamic and versatile, so accessible, that an artist can create beautiful or thought-provoking pieces through drawing. One thing has stayed the same since the first humans were drawing on the walls of caves: we do it for our need to tell stories. And that idea spoke to me more than anything. I was also inspired to open myself up more with my own drawings, to be more willing to experiment and play. 4w
22 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
History of the Big House | Charif Majdalani
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Found this one at the library today…

MariaW Sounds very interesting! 💪💪💪 4w
18 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
House of Bane and Blood | Alexis L. Menard
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Early morning walk with an audiobook ☺️

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jen_the_scribe
House of Bane and Blood | Alexis L. Menard
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This one caught my eye and the narrators sounded pretty good in the preview… let‘s see if it can keep my attention.

17 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
Shogun, Part 1 | James Clavell
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Bailedbailed

Could not connect with the characters and while the narrator was pretty good, he made even the 36-year-old MC sound like a 70+ year old man. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it kept throwing me off.

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1. Occasionally, but only because I‘m pretty much a third party vendor for my kids with Robux lol (grandma gives them cash now and then)
2. I would say money does affect him as he‘s been put on “house arrest” for being an aristocrat…

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Loved A Gentleman In Moscow. ❤️📖 1mo
jen_the_scribe @TheSpineView Me too! ☺️ 1mo
17 likes2 comments
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jen_the_scribe
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Midnight finds art history absolutely delectable 🤭😍 #CatsOfLitsy #BlackCatsOfLitsy

Leftcoastzen 😻 1mo
18 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe

“…how could one measure oneself against the ancients? Comprehend the passage of time that eventually saw even this once-colossal statue tumbled down and broken up, and come to terms with its implications for one's own mortality? Reach deeply into one's soul and find the courage to create in the face of such magnificence?”

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“He sketched the countryside in the same way he sketched men, women and children: because he was passionately interested in the ordinary and its subtle variations and unexpected moments of beauty…”

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“An oil painting was a significant investment of time, money and resources: it needed careful consideration. Would a patron buy it? Would it be a worthy addition to an artist's body of work? There were many constraints. Drawing, on the other hand, was quick and cheap: it presented the opportunity to record the apparently insignificant and the easily overlooked; to spend time looking at a scene that might at first sight appear unprepossessing.”

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My youngest was home sick today, it was early release for my oldest, and I got a few things done. The last couple of weeks absolutely drained me so I‘m giving myself some grace today and calling it early. You‘ll find me here until dinner time.

Trashcanman Hope they feel better soon. Hope you have a good weekend this coming weekend. 🤗 1mo
TheBookHippie So much going round! Hope all is well soon. 1mo
jen_the_scribe @Trashcanman @TheBookHippie Thank you both! ❤️ 1mo
dabbe Hope your youngest feels better soon! And you deserve some grace today and every day! 🩵💙🩵 1mo
20 likes4 comments
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I‘m loving this book but I wish they would‘ve enlarged some of the images. I actually have very good vision but I wanted to see more of the tiny details, so I had to get a magnifying glass. It works 🤷🏻‍♀️

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jen_the_scribe
Shogun, Part 1 | James Clavell
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This is a long listen, so I‘m hoping it can keep my attention. I love samurai video games so I‘m hoping I‘ll love listening to this story as well.

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jen_the_scribe
Two Twisted Crowns | Rachel Gillig
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Pickpick

Listening to book two of this duology was such a treat, I felt even more so than the first book. I was transported every time I listened, and I was so invested in these characters that I found myself anxious for them. I didn‘t want it to end but also wanted to know how it turned out. I liked how this one focused more on the whole cast of characters, and I loved the romance between two different characters this time around… ⬇️

jen_the_scribe The world building between both books was awe-inducing, and the characters extremely likable. The narrator did such a fantastic job which is crucial for me when it comes to audiobooks. I‘m sad it‘s over! 1mo
13 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe

“Leonardo (da Vinci) drew to plan compositions, to record the natural forms that fascinated him, to map the landscape, to devise weapons and flying machines and to understand the mysteries of the human body. Drawing took him to places no one had dreamed of.”

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Next up for nonfiction 😁

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jen_the_scribe
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Pickpick

This is a soft pick. Taking emotion out of it; this is a well-researched, well-written, and unbiased biography. But emotionally speaking, my feelings for its subject were ambivalent. At times I admired and respected her, but there were certain things I could not get past, like her privileged branch of feminism which ignored the intersectional necessity of Black feminism as well as equal rights all across the board (for people of color and LGBTQ)⬇️

jen_the_scribe “We can admire how this woman, born at a precise moment in history when opportunities for women were expanding, made full and abundant use of her freedom to work and raise a family, while also acknowledging how her curiosity stayed circumscribed within her privilege.” The author realized this as well and mentions her lack of grit when it came time to edit Black writers, how she continued to reject their work. Or the fact that she only brought up⬇️ 1mo
jen_the_scribe …one other female editor, who was also just as easily forgotten in the history of the magazine. The majority of female writers who were published in The New Yorker wrote about being a homemaker, and Katharine herself tended to state that this should be a woman‘s priority. However, she was still a force for the magazine and paved the way for other women to come in later in the magazine‘s history. I enjoyed learning about this era of literary…⬇️ 1mo
jen_the_scribe …history. I found her second husband, E.B. White extremely likable, as well as her oldest son, Roger Angell (who also became editor of The New Yorker). Overall, I was fascinated by Katharine‘s life and work, and the historical aspect of this time period. I read it slowly and lost count how many journal entries I wrote about it (as you can see, I have a lot to say about it). As a writer and a reader, it definitely appealed to my literary senses. 1mo
14 likes3 comments
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Litsy wasn‘t letting me post last night. But what a nice night it was. My introverted self has had to be way too extroverted these past couple of weeks as the days led up to my BIL‘s wedding. The in laws were in town, some staying with us. Everyone has gone home or is leaving tomorrow. I love them, but I‘m so happy to have my home and my routine back to normal, and ecstatic to have a calm weekend for plenty of reading. Sunny approves too lol 😻

dabbe #sweetestsunny Enjoy! Signed, another introvert! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo
19 likes1 comment
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This one caught my eye at the library yesterday…

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1. Ordered the tagged book, excited about it.
2. Less social media lately, have miraculously found more time for sunset walks.
3. Been making progress on my certification.
4. Fell in love with this pup I found wandering on our street (pic doesn‘t do her justice). Found her owners. I miss her but glad I met her (and that she‘s safe).
5. Had lots of one on one time with my kiddos 🥰

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

TheBookHippie ♥️ 2mo
17 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe

“…All things must progress, and progression is not always a steady incline. Sometimes we must fall, sometimes we will rise—some must be hurt while others have fortune, for that is the only way we can learn to rely on one another. As one is blessed, it is his privilege to help those whose lives are not as easy. Unity comes from strife, child.”

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Thanks for the tag! @Trashcanman

“Prince Raoden of Arelon awoke early that morning, completely unaware that he had been damned for all eternity.”

If you wanna play, consider yourself tagged!
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl