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marixa

marixa

Joined July 2016

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The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
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My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
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My Struggle: by Karl Ove Knausgaard, Don Bartlett
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Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
review
marixa
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Pickpick

What a charming book this was! Easy to read and entertaining, this lovely story of a Russian aristocrat sentenced to live out his days in a Moscow hotel exceeded my expectations. Not overly burdened with historical references, this is more of a "pleasant" read than a "studious" read.

Cinfhen Nice review💕 7y
marixa @Cinfhen thanks! 7y
31 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
marixa
Ready Player One | Ernest Cline
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Pickpick

If you enjoy gaming, and 80s pop culture, read this book about three friends who join together to find an epic virtual reality Easter egg. Fast-paced and charming, this book is packed with references to 80s video games, movies and music. Pure reading pleasure.

marixa The Sony radio is the only 80s artifact that I (still) have! 7y
BeththeBookDragon Love this book!! 7y
eanderson Ahhh! I have this on my to read/in box for next months Book of the Month box! 7y
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britt_brooke I used to have the exact same Sony radio! I vividly remember listening to my Vanilla Ice tape on it, haha! I got Ready Player One in my BOTM this month. Planning to read it soon. 7y
marixa @britt_brooke yes! This was my beach radio...Tears for Fears and Simple Minds, with some Rush thrown in 7y
britt_brooke @marixa Love it! 7y
26 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
marixa
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Pickpick

Truly heartbreaking, this story of slavery in America lives up to the hype. Difficult subject matter, yes, and very important. This book raises the question of how could any of us know where we are going until we know where we have been? Lucidly and simply written, this book will stay with you.

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marixa
The Secret History | Donna Tartt
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Pickpick

Something terrible happens when six college students and their charming and eccentric professor sequester themselves from the rest of campus for a deep study of the Classics. This is a long book that slows a bit toward the end, but worth a read for its study of how intelligence and refinement do not protect one from self-delusion or even evil.

Laalaleighh Oh my god I love this book. And that vase!!! 8y
marixa Thanks @Laalaleighh! We won it in a raffle lol. 8y
LitHousewife I have got to read this book! 8y
38 likes5 stack adds3 comments
review
marixa
Behold the Dreamers | Imbolo Mbue
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Pickpick

Jende and Neni emigrate to the US seeking a better life and find that despite the gulf between expectations and reality, some things stay constant: family, honor, kindness. Jende's job as a chauffeur for a Lehmans Brothers exec allows us to witness the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis and its effects on the wealthy and the struggling. Even though these are complicated people, and complicated times, the author's compassion shines through.

MrBook This is my #BOTM pick as well! Great review 😊👍🏻. 8y
37 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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marixa
The Couple Next Door | Shari Lapena
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Mehso-so

I was eager to read something fast-paced and entertaining, and this didn't disappoint. A crime is committed, and over the span of a week or two, we discover that each character is potentially guilty, and they are all hiding secret past lives etc. I wish the writing was a bit more polished, and that the emotional lives of the characters were fleshed out a bit more - it was hard to care about what happened to any of them.

38 likes1 stack add
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marixa
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Pickpick

Sam and Joe are cousins who meet as young adults when Joe comes to NYC from Prague, fleeing the Nazi regime. They form a partnership creating comic strips when the superhero genre was at its peak. Sam wrestles with accepting himself as Joe struggles with survivor's guilt and rage in the aftermath of WWII. Evocative descriptions of NYC in the 30s-50s. Heartbreaking and surprising, there's a love story to boot. At 636 pages, a long, slow read.

Thekelburrows My fave 8y
Laalaleighh I loved this book! Read it when it won the Pulitzer! It was my first Pulitzer novel!! 8y
Laalaleighh (Well maybe I few years after it won the Pulitzer, but that's why I read it) 8y
29 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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marixa
The Crying of Lot 49 | Thomas Pynchon
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Here are some numbered books...I seriously need to re-organize my bookshelves. I have little towers all over the house! #septphotochallenge

Hobbinol Great stack of numbers that add up to infinite joy! I am totally crazy about Salinger's Nine, especially the stories about the Glass family. Who could not be haunted by these siblings with HUGE IQs and rare sensitivity? #stackenvy 8y
marixa @Hobbinol I want to flop on the sofa and earnestly discuss life with my sibs, too! 8y
33 likes3 comments
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marixa
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...when you bring a book to your kid's Ortho appt and forget your reading glasses. Argh! Even my phone screen is a blur (forgive typos)!

bookloversnevergotobedalone Don't you hate that. That's why I switched to progressives now I have my reading glasses on me all the time 🤓 8y
LauraBeth Dldjsbiennddjihn. Kjiwndinsjsjdbdn. Skdjdjid. I mean - that's the worst 😀 8y
MeganAnn @LauraBeth 😂😂😂 8y
marixa @LauraBeth exactly! I see that I commented "husterical"'on someone else's post. Nice. 8y
marixa @bookloversnevergotobedalone I am almost to that point. That, or I'm gonna get me one of those chains to go around my neck. My midlife transformation will be complete! 8y
22 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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marixa
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I picked Shrill as my favorite read because it's stayed with me, and opened up my thinking about being a woman in this world. Some things she wrote about I could definitely relate to, and others not so much, but I appreciated her frank and unapologetic point of view. On to September!

Eyelit 👏📚💚 8y
Yournewfriendsams Impressive month! 🙌🏽 8y
britt_brooke Nice!! 8y
See All 6 Comments
megt Awesome! 8y
LauraBeth Great month 😺🎉 8y
MrBook 😎👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻 8y
27 likes6 comments
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marixa
The Infinity of Lists | Umberto Eco
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Total #impulsebuy...this gorgeous book is filled with artwork and famous lists, lists of saints, soldiers, landscapes, treasures, all compiled from works of literature and accompanied by lush works of art. Just stunning...Eco uses the lists to reflect on how each catalogue reflects the spirit of its time. As a compulsive list-maker, I couldn't resist! #augustphotochallenge

27 likes3 stack adds
review
marixa
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Pickpick

If you liked A Little Life, read this story of a lost Micronesian tribe discovered and exploited by an American scientist. Ms. Yanagihara is truly gifted at creating immersive reads - and evoking strong emotions. The main character is unsympathetic, but as you get into his mind you are required to confront some dark stuff: the costs of ambition, scientific advancement, cultural exploitation...and the human ability to justify terrible acts.

OSChamberlain Wow. Wonderful review. Gotta check this out! 8y
Readingismyescape Love this pic! 8y
See All 7 Comments
BooksForEmpathy @marixa This makes my heart burst with happiness that you enjoyed the read!!!!!! 8y
BooksForEmpathy Yay!!! 8y
marixa @BooksForEmpathy yes, really thoughtful book - glad I read it 😘😘 8y
39 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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marixa
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White spines...

These are just a sampling...I seem to have a lot of these. Also, I notice that spiritual-type books tend to have white spines. Interesting. #augustphotochallenge

Yournewfriendsams 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 love this look 8y
26 likes1 comment
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marixa
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Kindle + Blue Bell Cookie Two Step ice cream. (This is not the recommended serving size btw.)

Eyelit Looks like the approved recommended serving size to me 😃 8y
Well-ReadNeck Of course it's not the recommended serving, you're eating out of a bowl, not the carton! 😜 8y
[DELETED] 2232195534 Blue Bell!! So, so good!! 8y
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BooksForEmpathy Hahahaha! Looks amazing! I am having ice cream for dessert too - yay! 8y
BooksForEmpathy Also - that book is 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻. 8y
Smrloomis Yay Blue Bell! I've just started this book and so far, so good. 8y
33 likes6 comments
review
marixa
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Pickpick

Wasn't sure about this one going in, but it was completely charming, fun and very readable. I thought the author did a great job of updating the classic (which I now want to re-read), and I esp enjoyed the character of Elizabeth (Liz) Bennett. Definitely pick this one up when you need a quick, happy read.

PrincessLibrarian I just finished this, and I feel the same way! I can't decide if Lady Jane would adore it or deplore it, but it was definitely fun. 8y
Reviewsbylola I was super impressed by this one as well. 8y
marixa @PrincessLibrarian @Reviewsbylola for me, the paragraphs that have the rhythm of cadence of Jane Austen were the weak point. But the dialogue was great and they story was clever and moved along nicely. 8y
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marixa *rhythm and cadence and style 8y
megt I thought this one was so much fun! 8y
MrBook Great review and pic! 😊👍🏻 8y
31 likes1 stack add6 comments
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marixa
Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing | Reader's Digest Association
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Here's one of my cozy reading spots, corner of my bedroom.

If you are a beg/inter. seamstress, this book (vintage edition 1974) is a treasure. It covers *everything* (plus you don't have to watch a video to learn a technique. How-to videos are a pet peeve. I like to *read* instructions, dammit.)

Yournewfriendsams Super cute nook! 8y
Eyelit Nice! 8y
sherri *swoon* 8y
MrBook *Love* it!!!!! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
34 likes4 comments
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marixa
Snow Crash | Neal Stephenson
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Some peachy books #augustphotochallenge.

Mayread Those top 3 books. 🙌🏽 8y
MrBook What☝🏻️said! #NiceStack! 8y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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marixa
Going Postal | Terry Pratchett
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Here's the non-spoiler version of my @LitsyGoesPostal package that I received tonight. Great bundle of goodies, great book, my night is complete. Thank you @BooksForEmpathy !

Yournewfriendsams Cute cute cute 😍 8y
Eyelit Adorable! 8y
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BooksForEmpathy So happy you received it!!!! Yay!! Enjoy 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️. 8y
LitHousewife What a package!!! 8y
jessberk13 I'm so sad I didn't get it on this!! It looks like so much fun! 8y
Blair_Reads Oh how cool!!! 8y
MrBook Wow! That is awesome! 😁👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻 8y
MrBook @jessica 😔. There may be other postal book clubs forming. If you want to form one, I'll be more than happy to help you out 😊👍🏻. 8y
32 likes10 comments
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marixa
Going Postal | Terry Pratchett
This post contains spoilers
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So excited to get my LGPBC package tonight! What a wonderful bundle of goodness and all set to begin reading the book Gianna chose ☺️ also serendipity, Gianna, we just got back from Alamo Draft house! Small world. Thank you! So happy to be in this group!

MrBook That is so great! 😁👍🏻👌🏻 8y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings I went to school for Anthropology before I met My Husband and moved. It always fascinates me! 8y
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BooksForEmpathy Ahhhh! I can't wait for everyone to read this!!!!! See you in 3.5 years favorite book! 8y
BooksForEmpathy How serendipitous indeed! What did you see? So happy to be part of this group too! #litsygoespostal 8y
LitHousewife ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 8y
marixa @BooksForEmpathy We saw Star Trek 😀 8y
Laalaleighh Oooh I've heard such interesting things about this one! Can't wait!! 8y
21 likes8 comments
review
marixa
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Pickpick

Unapologetic and well-argued. The parts about her "fat activism" were esp poignant. Definitely worth a read...she says No to anyone who wants to silence, control or shame her. Her cause is to build a better world, issue by issue, victory by victory.

21 likes1 stack add
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marixa
Dark Matter | Blake Crouch
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Pickpick

I'm going to pick this, although I was disappointed that there wasn't more science in it, and I thought the love story was a little overdone. The author does a great job of evoking the charms of family life, and living the life you have, not the one you might have had. Fast-paced, fun read.

DiruVamp This just became available to me at the library and I've heard so many things about it on Litsy I am very eager to start! 8y
22 likes1 comment
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marixa
The Tao of Pooh | Benjamin Hoff, Ernest Howard Shepard
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I adore this book, and have given it away to friends multiple times. Winnie the Pooh from a Taoist point of view. Read when you're very stressed...it will make you smile and put things in perspective. #augustphotochallenge

TheSpinecrackersBookClub I need this. 8y
29 likes9 stack adds1 comment
review
marixa
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Pickpick

If you can get over the idea of a therapist who tramples patient confidentiality to solve crimes, this book is for you. Set in London, with complicated characters, the narrative moves quickly. A gasp-worthy plot twist, too. I want to find out more about the characters, so next is "Tuesday's Gone."

18 likes1 stack add
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marixa
Franny and Zooey | J.D. Salinger
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This is minimalist, right? One of my very favorite books. #augustphotochallenge

tpixie 🎉But kinda weird if I remember right 8y
marixa @tpixie yes...weird and philosophical and very readable. It has stayed with me a long time... 8y
tpixie ❤️ 8y
23 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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marixa
Going Postal | Terry Pratchett
This post contains spoilers
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I chose a book of poetry called "Risking Everything" - I hope you all enjoy. My second choice was a novel but then I chickened out because the narrator is such a piece of work that I feared everyone would hate him. Really looking forward to our book chain!

Sue Beautiful!! 8y
Twocougs Poetry is a great choice- excited! 8y
MeganAnn So excited! I don't usually read much poetry so this will be a wonderful change of pace!! 8y
See All 12 Comments
LitHousewife Lovely! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal A unique selection for a unique book club! Incredible, as always 😎👍🏻. 8y
MrBook Wonderful! Well done! 😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
sprainedbrain Beautiful. 😍 8y
Blair_Reads I haven't read poetry in forever so I love your choice! 8y
Laalaleighh What novel was it? Can't wait to read this seeing how @BooksTeasAndBookishThings just gave it such a glowing review!! 8y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings It was wonderful! @Laalaleighh some poems were just beautiful, they really made you feel alive 😊 8y
marixa @Laalaleighh The novel I almost chose is The Debt to Pleasure, a foodie kinda murder mystery from the 90s. Glad y'all are excited about the poetry...its 8y
marixa *it's a nice compilation 8y
19 likes12 comments
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marixa
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Starting this one and the back cover says "The first in a remarkable new series, Blue Monday draws readers into a troubled world in which the terrors of the mind spill over into real life." Yikes. Sounds perfect for the weekend lol.

15 likes2 stack adds
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marixa
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Pickpick

Wonderful story about a bookish young boy who becomes entangled in the vast, mysterious world that exists right beside his familiar world. It's a book about being a child in a world of adults, and also about love and sacrifice and holding fast to your beliefs in a world that seems crazy. A short book, but totally immersive...I wished it was longer.

PrincessLibrarian I agree with everything you said. I've given it away to students who love Neil Gaiman, though, and they are less enamored. 8y
marixa @PrincessLibrarian I wonder why? I've only read "Neverwhere" besides this one. Is it because it's so simple, almost like a fairytale? 8y
17 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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marixa
Citrus County | John Brandon
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All green, no pink.

brendanmleonard Oh man, that the Firm brings back memories! 8y
marixa @brendanmleonard It was the book that started it all lol, or at least the contemporary lawyer/thriller story. Or at least for me! 8y
TheSpinecrackersBookClub Digging the only green books. 8y
11 likes3 comments
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marixa
Sleeping Giants | Sylvain Neuvel
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Pickpick

Quick, easy read. Clever, but doesn't require too much thought. I loved the bad-ass female protagonist. Sci-fi thriller mixed in with a light love story. Original. Finished by the pool with a Corona.

BooksForEmpathy Have you read The Regional Office is Under Attack? Another great female lead! It's also just a lot of fun if it's your thing and finishes quickly! 8y
marixa @BooksForEmpathy I'll check it out! 8y
15 likes3 comments
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marixa
Sleeping Giants | Sylvain Neuvel
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Book stack in my bedroom. The ones on the floor are my TBR for August, plus my #BOTM choices.

Blair_Reads I really liked the ocean at the end of the lane! The audiobook of that one is good too 8y
MrBook Nice! 8y
Reading_E I really enjoyed Eligible, and I'm a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice! Such a fun read. Really looking forward to reading more by Curtis Sittenfield - I heard her other books are also great! 8y
See All 10 Comments
DiruVamp I spy Murakami! My personal favorite by him too! 8y
marixa @diruvamp The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles? I think my favorite is 8y
marixa But that was more about the time of my life that I read it. I really liked The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, too. I just discovered Murakami so I am happy to have a few left to read 8y
DiruVamp @marixa no Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki but mainly because it was my first Murakami. 1Q84 is my second fav. An absolute brilliant book!! 8y
Reviewsbylola Loved Eligible and I love all the books you have in your bedroom! 8y
Reading_E @marixa yes! That's going on my TBR list! 8y
22 likes10 comments
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marixa
Black Widow | Daniel Silva
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Didn't get too much reading done in July, but August starts tomorrow!

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marixa
The Portable Veblen: A Novel | Elizabeth Mckenzie
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Pickpick

The author tackles some serious subjects (corruption, mental illness, family dysfunction) with a light touch...it's a delightful read. Something of a relief to read a book set on the West Coast - swear everything else I've read lately is New York.

Sydsavvy I feel that way, too! Heavens you'd think all of America is in New York! 8y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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marixa
Black Widow | Daniel Silva
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Pickpick

An Israeli woman is recruited to penetrate the ISIS network in order to stop a terrorist attack. Smart, timely, thrilling and easy to read...author has important things to say about the rise of extremism. The latest in the Gabriel Allon spy thrillers...give it a go, esp if you like this genre.

Well-ReadNeck Looking forward to the latest installment of this series! (Not so) patiently awaiting my library hold! 8y
marixa @Well-ReadNeck I really enjoyed it! Super quick read. 8y
Well-ReadNeck 🎉🎉 8y
8 likes3 comments
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marixa
The Casual Vacancy | J.K. Rowling
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Mehso-so

Yikes. I have to say this book is chock-full of miserable people, and dark thoughts and actions, small and large. An English village deals with death, politics, bigotry, elitism, drugs, poverty...with nary a hopeful voice. The last three pages notwithstanding, too cynical for me. #24in48

MrBook I concur regarding the grumpiness and depression. Rowling went quite a bit to the negative side with this one. 8y
5 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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marixa
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review
marixa
Prairie School | Lois Lenski
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Pickpick

#funphotofriday Prairie School is an awesome kids' book about a "little school on the prairie [that] becomes the center of an adventure for the children when a great blizzard sweeps down and traps them inside." Another awesome book about resourceful stranded children is Baby Island.

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marixa
Black Widow | Daniel Silva
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Next up: JK Rowling + some of my favorite spy authors!

Mayread Oh casual vacancy. That one os actually an example of people preferring the movie over the book. I always look forward to new opinions. 8y
marixa @Skiles we'll see! I had no clue there was a movie, but I might have to compare now... 8y
MrBook Just finished Vacancy not too long ago. Hope you enjoy it, I did! 😊👍🏻 8y
8 likes1 stack add3 comments
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marixa
The City of Mirrors | Justin Cronin
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Pickpick

The third book in the trilogy that began with The Twelve, this is the story of the final reckoning with the zombies (called "virals"), and the fate of humankind. Excellent: the chapters that tell the story of Zero, the very first viral - worth a read to get the backstory.

8 likes1 stack add
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marixa
Modern Lovers | Emma Straub
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Pickpick

Great summer read about two families in Brooklyn...modern, yes, and funny. Well-drawn characters, just enough of a plot to keep you wondering. Short chapters, suitable for poolside.

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marixa
The City of Mirrors | Justin Cronin
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All right. I'm going in. See you on the other side.

MrBook "Break on through to the other side." 8y
marixa @mrbook it was a little rough going at the end 😊 8y
3 likes2 comments
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marixa
A Little Life: A Novel | Hanya Yanagihara
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Pickpick

The lives of four college roommates play out against the backdrop of New York City. Jude is Tormented, Willem is Good, JB is Temperamental and Malcolm is...vague. Gorgeous writing...above all, a love story. *Almost* a bail, because the last third of the book was so sad, and a bit draggy.

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marixa
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Pickpick

Dreamy and disturbing. Well-written. Left me a bit unfulfilled.