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marleed

marleed

Joined April 2019

To this Litten community: I can‘t imagine moving through a pandemic without you!
review
marleed
Happily Never After | Lynn Painter
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Pickpick

Sophie and Max have become friends and side-gig business partners in the most unexpected of ways. Both have people with expectations that each couples-up with someone. They don‘t need to go as far as fake-dating, fake we‘re-just-friends should suffice. … The story driving the romance is a hoot, and I do wish more of the story was given to that layer rather than Sophie and Max spending so much time in their own heads contemplating the other.

56 likes2 stack adds
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marleed
Foster | Claire Keegan
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I‘m sure I‘ve never read a story as masterfully told inside of 88 pages as this. My recommendation: Treat yourself to a master class in writing!

….Last month I unexpectedly hosted my IRL bookclub discussion on Small Things Like These. To prepare I watched several 30-90 minute YouTube videos about the book. Often, as much as the speaker liked STLT, they liked Foster even more and I thought, No Way. Then I read it.
…Updated thought, Way!!!

Tamra Pretty pic! 2d
jlhammar Yes! I absolutely loved Small Things Like These, but Foster is my favorite Keegan. The film adaptation, A Quiet Girl, is also wonderful. 2d
marleed @Tamra Thank you! 1d
See All 11 Comments
marleed @jlhammar I have to watch it. And it‘s okay that I‘ll have to rent it from a streaming service! 1d
Gissy Pretty picture 😍 🫖 📚 1d
bthegood Yes Way!! I felt that this was a perfectly written story - the images, emotional impact, sense of the characters and place - all in a tiny package - so well done!! 18h
marleed @bthegood Even pieces that aren‘t fully explained is so deliberate - she allows the reader to fill in blanks for themselves. It‘s almost like staring at a famous painting in a museum and drawing your own conclusions. Art doesn‘t need to be explained. 14h
marleed @Gissy Thank you! For many years my gift-giving sister was the owner/operator of the Celtic store in my hometown. It‘s always an honor to display her goods in a pic! 13h
Gissy @marleed A Celtic store 😱🤩👌♥️♥️♥️ 12h
marleed @Gissy That store was her life and where everyone came to see who was back home for a visit. She battled cancer for years and it was getting up and opening those doors that kept her determined to keep going. When she passed in 2021 the news was broadcast across Montana because of her impact of all things Irish. She truly had no clue that she mattered so much to so many. I hope she knows now ❤️ 4h
Gissy @marleed ♥️♥️♥️ 4h
74 likes3 stack adds11 comments
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marleed
This Could Be Us | Kennedy Ryan
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I find that I‘m very judgey on romances so I‘m always excited for those rare grids where a romance wins the grid!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

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marleed
Wilder Girls | Rory Power
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Mehso-so

I‘m not sure if it will ever not be weird for me to read a pandemic ‘tox‘ story published before 2020. This is an Us against Them YA story with a particular angle on the origins of a toxin infecting the population. It had nothing to do with American politicians playing to their base, facts be damned - unfortunately that‘s where my head gets stuck these days when I attempt to read dystopian novels.

March #DoubleSpin Category: Pub 2016-2019.

ChaoticMissAdventures I am always shocked at the lack of TP and water runs people don't make in pandemic books before 2020. Girl, you are going to need to stick up!! 😂 3d
marleed @ChaoticMissAdventures 🤪🤪 It‘s just impossible for me to read without my 2020/2021 experience. Also, historical fiction set in 1917-1921 gives barely a nod to the devastation of the Spanish flu. Those same stories written now will address it, but I‘ll always wonder if they are retrofitting 2020 into 1918. 3d
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3d
70 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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marleed
The Fury | Alex Michaelides
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Pickpick

I really enjoy Alex‘s unconventional twisty storytelling. He writes interesting characters and the bad ones are just fun to dislike.

70 likes1 stack add
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marleed
This Could Be Us | Kennedy Ryan
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This book - what a great reading experience! Soledad is married to the wrong guy and we are rid of that loser in short order. Soledad soldiers on with a dreamy cast of supporting characters - 2 bffs (Yasmen, the MC of book1) 2 sisters, 3 daughters, a love-interest who happens to be a wonderful dad to his 2 autistic sons and model behavior for ex-husbands. Y‘all know I‘m steam-shy and I‘m all like c‘mon guys get naked already!

S3V3N I loved her book “Before I let go”. I‘m going to have to read this one now. (edited) 6d
Jas16 Great review. I‘ve loved mostl of what I‘ve read by Kennedy Ryan. 6d
marleed @S3V3N @Jas16 It was just so well written. I‘d love to be embraced by her characters! Also, I went back Ty the first book after finishing this and only then realized Yasmen was the MC of Book1. I think I‘m going to flip through and reread parts where Soledad had a mention. I can only imagine that Hendrix will be the star of Book3! 5d
Reggie I loved book 1, so stacked! 3d
marleed @Reggie I can‘t wait to hear your thoughts about it. For a while,I think it‘s going to be tough for another author‘s romance to live up to this one for me. She‘s just so good at flushing out an actual story along with a compelling romance. 3d
64 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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marleed
Whitethorn Woods | Maeve Binchy
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Pickpick

I‘m slowly making my way through my collection of Maeve Binchy books. They‘re cozy, fun to read and I‘ve become accustomed to her large cast of characters (helps to have a physical copy). All characters across chapters had a tie back to St Ann‘s well -scheduled for destruction. Most chapters introduced characters that had a connection to previous chapters - so page flipping involved!

March #BookSpin Cat: Love That Cover 👇🏿

marleed I think part of why I still have unread MB books is that I know I won‘t read and donate - her books stay on my shelves because endsheets! They are beautiful and each one extends the cover art. 7d
Ruthiella She was a consummate storyteller. I‘ve read a few of her books and enjoyed them all. 7d
AvidReader25 I‘ve read all her books and they are such comfort reads for me. 6d
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6d
marleed @Ruthiella @AvidReader25 Maybe knowing there are no more comfort stories coming from her also keeps me reading only one book each March. I need to make my firsts with her last a bit longer! 6d
69 likes5 comments
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marleed
Diva: A Novel | Daisy Goodwin
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I‘m fascinated by mid 19th century socialites (Babe Paley being my fav and she gets a shout-out here.) To my chagrin I did not know of Maria Callas and her impact on opera. I didn‘t feel like this book succeeded in making these IRL characters compelling. But I have to at least give it a slow pick because it led me to over 5 fascinating hours of subsequent YouTube and googled interviews and documentaries.

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marleed
Good Material | Dolly Alderton
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This is best read when in the mood for a 35 yo struggling comic suffering the breakup from the love of his life - I didn‘t think I was in that mood, but since I purchased a physical copy I stuck with it, and darn if Andy didn‘t grow on me. I especially liked how the last chapter 31Jan2020 pulled it altogether. Also, Andy‘s mom provides some great insight for anyone grieving the end of a relationship.

75 likes1 stack add
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marleed
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
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The Book of Unknown Americans is among my favorite fictional immigrant stories so I couldn‘t wait for this one. I liked it but did myself a disservice sans my own physical copy. This is a character driven story with each character representing a different facet of the personalities living in and coming to Panama during the building of the canal. It was just really hard to keep track of everyone so I focused on Omar and Ada.

73 likes1 stack add
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marleed
Bride | Ali Hazelwood
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It‘s always fun to read Were and Vampire rules implemented for new generations existing in a world of prolific-breeding humans. These were fun characters with a romance that did not lean into the miscommunication trope - kudos for this because with all that interspecies steam it would have been easy to fall victim to it. The steam comes in at the halfway mark so Ali gave us a chance to know Misery and Lowe first - I appreciate that.

64 likes1 stack add
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marleed
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Pickpick

It is such a privilege to grow gracefully old with the person you love. Would that every couple could approach their 60th wedding anniversary with the feelings Jenny and Bernard share for each other. This book was as sweet as a baked goods story should be. I wasn‘t expecting the mother-baby home storyline - it‘s just heartbreaking. I‘d like to think we‘d never disrespect unwed pregnant women so callously again, but I‘m worried about that.

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marleed
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
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I love building these grids because it‘s not until I build one that I consider the entire reading experience. The tagged is epic!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Bookpearl Neighbors is high on my TBR after hearing a review from one of my silent reading sisters. 2w
marleed @Bookpearl It‘s such a good book - I highly recommend. I can only imagine the work we may have read from this author had she lived a longer life. Also so interesting to read today almost like it‘s historical fiction when it‘s truly contemporary fiction. 2w
Bookpearl @marleed I just learned about her death this past weekend and I agree…I‘m certain that her work would have been amazing. 2w
Chelsea.Poole Oh no. I was interested in The Other Valley. Doesn‘t look like it was a winner for you. 2w
marleed @Chelsea.Poole oh dang. It‘s because the beginning YA vibes had me comparing it to the tagged so I was expecting some big moral dilemma that didn‘t come. But that was just me. I hope you like it. I‘m anxious to read glowing Litten reviews! 2w
66 likes5 comments
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marleed
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I think the cover art here is misleading. Although a Midwest 19th circus is the origin story of a 4-generation Minnesota family, this is much more about the potential discoveries to be found when submitting your DNA sample to an ancestory company. I find that fascinating because 👇

marleed A close friend‘s (in her 60s) dad is an octogenarian who always knew he was adopted but was never inclined to find out more. Well, my friend leaves nothing to mystery. Through ancestory.com she‘s connected her dad to half siblings and she continues to communicate with newfound cousins 3 states away. 👇 2w
marleed And if that wasn‘t enough, she knew a deceased maternal aunt gave up a child many years ago. She found that child and found 3 additional half-siblings- all 1/2 to each other. She contacted all 4 and invited them (and some of their adult children) to her beautiful home where they all travelled to meet for the first time. The siblings met again last weekend and another trip is already planned for the summer. 2w
Aimeesue Wow! What a great story. Curiousity leads to amazing things! 2w
marleed @Aimeesue It‘s crazy to find such close relations on one side of a family, but that she got 1/2 siblings together on both her maternal and paternal sides is just unbelievable! I could listen to her for hours because those connections make her so incredibly happy. 2w
56 likes4 comments
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marleed
After Annie: A Novel | Anna Quindlen
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Pickpick

Depending on where the reader is on their own journey with grief, this is a meaningful story. Annie has died at the onset of the book devastating her husband and their 4 kids - the oldest only 13. She also left behind her lifelong BFF, who never thought she would survive Annie. It details how each person who loves this one woman so much has their own unique journey with grief.

BarbaraBB It sounds so tough but I used to love Anna Quindlen so am tempted to purchase this one. 2w
Reggie Idk, I read Black and Blue 25 years ago and I still have a bruise on my heart from that book.Mmmmm…maybe 2w
68 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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marleed
The Other Valley: A Novel | Scott Alexander Howard
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Mehso-so

Perhaps because Part 1 of this book read as YA, it gave me The Giver vibes. I liked the premise with adjoining valleys living the same lives separated by 20 years from the valleys east and west. Part 2 jumps twenty years which was intriguing my issue was the story didn‘t didn‘t have the tension needed to make the premise unforgettable.

jlhammar I added this to my #BOTM box. I‘ll have to lower my expectations a bit. 2w
marleed @jlhammar oh I hope you like it. I think my problem was likening it to The Giver and expecting some sort of epic moral dilemma. 2w
61 likes2 comments
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marleed
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Last summer I decided romantisies might not be my jam as I sped read through steam to return to world building. But I gave this a try and I‘m glad I did. The romance (not too steamy) was integral to the witchy world being built, and I look forward to Book2. This new series‘ use of blood is a little cringey, but I‘m very blood shy🩸

ShelleyBooksie Beautiful cover 3w
marleed @ShelleyBooksie The cover is what drew in me in! 2w
59 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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marleed
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It‘s a wrap on February 2024 and most of these books were pulled from my physical shelves.

….My read & unread books are mixed together on my shelves with a translucent paragraph tab on the spine of unread books. It feels good to finally pull more tabs than I add in a given month. If I plan to donate the book, I'll turn the spine out on my shelves.

#MonthlyWrapUp #IndexCard

jlhammar Wow, another amazing month! Love how your Covenant of Water card turned out. I‘m just finishing up Neighbors, been reading a story or two each day - really good. 3w
Cuilin 😍😍😍 3w
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 3w
BookmarkTavern Oh the Covenant of Water looks gorgeous! 3w
marleed @jlhammar @Cuilin @dabbe @BookmarkTavern Oh thank you! I have as much fun submitting this post as I do making the cards. Honestly I may have given up the effort if it weren‘t for the wonderful Litten comments! 3w
56 likes5 comments
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marleed
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
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What did I just read! I finished sections of this book and spoke out loud to the universe and author as though I could somehow effect change or come to terms with my nooooo‘s. My IRL bookclub does not discuss this book until June so I just want to reread these 715 pages over and over again.

Amiable Gorgeous photo to match the gorgeous prose of this fabulous book. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3w
HOTPock3tt This book was its own whole UNIVERSE!!! 3w
marleed @Amiable @HOTPock3tt Thank you! I may never get over this book. Now I want to travel to S India and visit Kerala! 3w
Cathythoughts Beautiful book. I loved it ❤️ 3w
85 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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marleed
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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For March 2024 #BookSpin I‘ll just quote my grand twins‘ departing salutation to family, friends, and strangers alike…
Make Good Choices!

@TheAromaofBooks #BookSpinBingo

CBee Great advice 👏🏻👏🏻😂😂 3w
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 3w
Leftcoastzen Great idea for the list! 3w
See All 10 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3w
marleed @CBee @dabbe It‘s hilarious to watch/listen to reactions to their salutation. The best might have been last summer as 2 yr olds. Twice in one week they were out with just me. We left eateries - okay, maybe ice cream 🤫 - and they gave their salutation to 30+ yr old dads. Both times the guys looked at me, laughed, and asked, Did a 2 yr old just advise me to make good choices!? Yep 😂 😂 3w
marleed @Leftcoastzen It‘s my second year at playing with categories and I‘m having a blast! Listing actual book puts my OCD in overdrive because I must complete a list. But with this method I‘ve freed myself to just the BS and DS draws and then I get to shop my TBR (typically a book languishing on my physical bookshelves). It‘s funny how I can‘t wait to shop my TBR! 3w
marleed @TheAromaofBooks As always, you are the best for hosting this! 3w
dabbe @marleed That is completely adorable. 🤩😍😂 3w
TheAromaofBooks Thank you!!! It's so fun to watch everyone make this challenge work for them!! 3w
bthegood adorable and good advice 🙂 3w
51 likes10 comments
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marleed
End of Story | A. J. Finn
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Mehso-so

I just did not connect to these characters and had little interest in the resolution for 3/4 of this book. I thought this was going to be my first pan of 2024, but I liked the last quarter of this story, so yeah, a meh. 👇

marleed I was a fan of the tagged and put a hold on this new book early enough that I received it the day it was released. Apparently, there is something sketchy about the author, but I decided to go ahead and read my hold before checking out why i may have no interest in supporting this guy. …Off I go down the internet rabbit hole 🤪 3w
Tiffiney @marleed ohhhh...do tell? What's the scoop on this writer? 3w
marleed @Tiffiney I googled the controversy. A. J. Finn is a pseudonym and he‘s kind of the George Santos of authors. Hmmm, I may not have borrowed this book had I read the author‘s story first. 3w
See All 6 Comments
Tiffiney @marleed yeah…I just googled him too…I don‘t feel so bad for hating this book now 🤣 3w
marleed @Tiffiney I‘m glad I didn‘t purchase the book! 3w
Cathythoughts Oh interesting! I was looking forward to this one. Not so sure now … ❤️ 3w
62 likes6 comments
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marleed
The Women: A Novel | Kristin Hannah
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I‘m was humbled reading this realizing how little I know of the women serving in Vietnam. I‘m self-taught about this conflict because I‘m of the age where Vietnam was neither history nor current events in my schooling. Part 1 is fast-paced and I couldn‘t stop reading. Part 2 is a testament to the resources we owe troops who‘ve been under fire. 👇

marleed Although I enjoyed the love stories for Frankie, I do wish it had been edited down to a single love story. Vietnam was grueling, and her interactions with fellow nurses and wounded was compelling without need for two love stories. That‘s a small complaint on a very good book. (edited) 4w
Crazeedi Have this on hold 4w
marleed @Crazeedi oh I hope like it! She is an auto read author for me. Thanks to Litsy my list of auto read authors keeps growing and growing! 4w
Crazeedi @marleed same with me! 4w
89 likes1 stack add4 comments
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marleed
The Phoenix Crown: A Novel | Kate Quinn, Janie Chang
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I was intrigued by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire setting, and I liked the background stories of each of the women. This is a pick with a but - where I'm the problem… This historical setting is necessary for the story of these fictional characters. I guess I wanted was more the opposite where characters are created to tell the fascinating history of the 1900 SF aughts. Does that make sense - more H, less F?

BeeCurious Yes, that totally makes sense. 🙂🙂🙂 One of my big issues with some HF books - not enough H. More like a lot of F in a historical setting. 🙁 4w
Angeles I agree, sometimes you feel the author started with an idea plot that wouldn‘t work in the present and just find a time in the past where it might work but the history portion of the book is just an afterthought, or even totally inaccurate 4w
marleed @BeeCurious @Angeles Oh you understand! It‘s interesting. I don‘t go into anHF thinking about this nor do I always finish thinking about it. But when it happens, I catch get away from it. In this one the MCs leave SF following the earthquake, and I realized I wanted to stay there and read them in its aftermath. 4w
71 likes3 comments
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marleed
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Author Diane Oliver died at 22 in a 1966 motorcycle accident. She had 4 published short stories then 3 more posthumously. Now 14 of her stories are published together and provide her contemporary look at racism playing out in the 1960s, a raw and intimate look of the everyday moments of disparate African American families. I can only imagine the works Diane would‘ve completed, and bravo to those who decided to publish her collection in 2024.

78 likes5 stack adds
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marleed
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This is my 2nd grid celebrating Black authors, and SA Crosby gets the 5⭐️ tag, yet again, because I am obsessed with his storytelling!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Suet624 Cosby is just the best. 1mo
Cathythoughts I must try tagged book. 5 Stars from you , and so many others loving this author 👍🏻❤️ 1mo
marleed @Suet624 Oh my goodness, I just fall into his books! @Cathythoughts I believe you wouldn‘t regret giving him a try. I read piles of books back to back and the majority just happen to be by female authors to a female audience. For me it‘s really meaningful to deliberately include male authors writing gritty stories into my collection of books. 1mo
SomedayAlmost He is so talented and modest and kind in person! 3w
marleed @SomedayAlmost I‘d love to go to book signing of his! 3w
63 likes1 stack add5 comments
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marleed
Skye Falling: A Novel | Mia McKenzie
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Skye is just unapologetically herself and I couldn‘t help but enjoy falling into her world. I‘ve read books/seen movies when the random sperm donor meets the person(s) he helped create so I thought this was an interesting take on a child of an egg donor searching for their biological maternal connection.

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marleed
A Raisin in the Sun | Lorraine Hansberry
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Pickpick

I read a lot of historical fiction but what impacts me even more is reading contemporary fiction (in this case, a play) 50+ years after publishing. It makes me consider about how much we have and have not learned.

67 likes1 stack add
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marleed
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This gritty book has characters so well-written that I didn‘t want this story to end. Tracy Chapman‘s Fast Car played in my head or through Alexa the whole time. Gosh, I love this author, and I‘m desperate for a 6-months later afterward for Beauregard and his family!

89 likes2 stack adds
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marleed
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Pickpick

I assumed this book detailed a larger political picture of South African apartheid but instead read about the humanity of two fathers. One is a Black Zulu parson searching for and coming to terms with the actions of his son, and the other is the White father of the missionary killed by the parson‘s son. The way the two come together is a beautiful story.

69 likes4 stack adds
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marleed
We Are Not Like Them | Christine Pride
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Mehso-so

I gravitate toward fictional telling of current issues because I can allow myself to know the characters without my hard-held emotions of an actual event. Here, a clearly innocent Black teenager was shot/killed by police. However, I went in expecting to feel emotionally opened and raw by book‘s end, but I didn‘t. When the story could/should have delved deeper, and the ending was just too tidy for the subject matter.

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marleed
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Pickpick

Seriously, a romance that does not fall victim to typical romance tropes is just so entertaining. And this Harlem flower shop owner convinces me I need to reconsider my perennials 😘

TheBookHippie I loved this. 1mo
marleed @TheBookHippie It was great, and I especially love it when the location is very nearly a character in the story! 1mo
TheBookHippie @marleed Me too. This is my second book by her. I‘m still thinking about a plant from the first book 😂😵‍💫😅 1mo
70 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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marleed
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I grew up in a mining town steeped in history of the ethnic groups carving their own corners of the town, and although quite different from this setting, it peeked my interest in these characters. James McBride is such a great writer in his ability to spin a heartbreaking yarn with quirky characters. 👇 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks - Thank you for gifting me this book!

marleed @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much!. I was awaiting a library hold for the audiobook but for me with this vast cast of characters, the print was the experience I needed. And also the bookmarks owns goodies - squee!🥰 1mo
marleed Don‘t you love when a line in a book seems like it was written specifically for your eyes!? Here, Lionel Hampton stepped in to take over a gig when Louis Armstrong was forced to cancel. …Well, in the early 80s I was headed to my first jazz concert - Count Basie playing with the Kansas City Symphony. Wouldn‘t you know it, Basie fell ill and guess who stepped in!? Lionel Hampton!🎷🎼🎺 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @marleed yay!! I‘m happy you enjoyed it! ❤️❤️ 1mo
61 likes3 comments
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marleed
The Boyfriend Project | Farrah Rochon
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I‘m all about a book with an Austin, TX setting - such a fun city. I‘ve been reading some heavy books of late and this one was just fun. You know you‘re in for laughs when in the opening scene the MC is flagrantly cheated on by a cad and her immediate revenge is to befriend not just one but two of said cad‘s other lovers.

ChasingOm I really liked this series! 1mo
marleed @ChasingOm oh I didn‘t realize this was part of a series! 1mo
Suet624 Funny enough, I‘ve done the same thing. My cad had good taste in women 😀 and I‘ve become good friends with several of them. 1mo
marleed @Suet624 oh you are my kind of woman! That‘s the best revenge! 1mo
64 likes4 comments
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marleed
The Prophets | Robert Jones, Jr.
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Pickpick

What a beautifully written, heart-wrenching book. Many characters are given and the reason for that all comes together as the story resolves. Love and how it gets suppressed. Hate and how it‘s given power. I just can‘t imagine waking up everyday when those are both personal realities in the everyday of a lifetime.

75 likes1 stack add
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marleed
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I looked so forward to celebrating Feb with books by Black authors that I started this grid in Jan. How can I hand out so many 5⭐️, you ask? Because they are that good!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I just finished All The Sinners Bleed, it was so good. 1mo
Megabooks Wow great week!! 1mo
marleed @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @Megabooks It was almost an embarrassment of riches. It is proof of my mood reading enjoyment as I‘d been looking forward to prioritizing anything on my TBR by a Black author for Feb. SA Crosby has become a favorite auto read author for me! 1mo
64 likes3 comments
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marleed
Take My Hand | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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I was so emotionally invested in this story. Although the characters are fictional, the government sponsored sterilization of poor, black, and sometimes mentally-challenged young girls is a disturbing piece of not-so-distant American history that should be documented and understood.

January #BookSpin Category: Historical Fiction @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1mo
CBee I LOVED this book so much. 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf 📚 1mo
See All 9 Comments
marleed @TheAromaofBooks I can‘t believe I finished both my BookSpin and DoubleSpin in less than a week. And fun tidbit - both these physical books were LFL finds from 2023! 1mo
marleed @CBee Oh for me too! It was a different story than I was expecting expecting. I think the gorgeous cover had me thinking the time period was much earlier than it was. …@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks - I think you are going to love this! Do you have a physical copy? If not, I‘ll send you mine. 1mo
marleed @Alwaybeenaloverofbooks Hey Misty, I don‘t think my tag for you worked in the previous comment! 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Nice!!! It's always extra fun to get LFL gems!! 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @marleed I do!! Thank you so much though! Did the package I sent make it to you? ❤️❤️ 1mo
marleed @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks yes, it arrived early Friday just minutes after I finished a book so I started it immediately. I‘m almost to the epilogue. If I finish it, I‘ll post tomorrow. You are beyond wonderful! 1mo
71 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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marleed
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Pickpick

There‘s something about fictional political/legal thrillers by authors whose day jobs deal in political/legal reality that I just can‘t quit. Some are written like a car chase and others a chess match. This was the latter, and even though a few of the moves (genetic bioengineering) were complicated, I liked Stacy‘s players and the game. …And just before this post I realized book 2 in the series is available.

BookmarkTavern Great review! And great photo! 💙 1mo
5feet.of.fury Oooh this is on my TBR for this month too 1mo
Becker Love your photo 👏 1mo
marleed @BookmarkTavern @Becker Thanks. Every once in a great while I think of a creative photo for my current book! 1mo
marleed @5feet.of.fury I hope you like it. Now I want to fit in Book2 to this month‘s reading! 1mo
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Punching the Air | Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
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Pickpick

This book came into my possession a few months (love LFLs!) ago and I‘m honored to prioritize it during Black History month. It is a moving novel in verse made even more powerful with inspiration from Yusef Saleem (of the Exonerated Five) to help create this masterpiece.

February #DoubleSpin Category: Paperback Shelves @TheAromaofBooks

TheBookHippie It‘s amazing right?! I‘m so fortunate to have a signed copy on the day it came out in the pandemic 😅 in a tiny used bookstore. 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1mo
marleed @TheBookHippie what a treasure you have. It‘s so beautifully written and the formatting on the page is fascinating. The book was old enough that the audio was readily available so it was fascinating to listen and read-along watching for any tweaks in prose. I feel honor-bound to return this to an LFL for the next person to experience, but I anticipate owning my own copy soon! 1mo
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marleed @TheBookHippie Aargh, how does anyone reward this man by voting for him as POTUS !? 1mo
TheBookHippie @marleed continues to blow my mind. 1mo
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The Color Purple | Alice Walker
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Pickpick

This is my first time reading this book. I‘ve never seen the musical and I hadn‘t seen the movie since the 80s. Because so many celebrities speak to this book I guess I felt like I knew the story, but there is so much to absorb here! This is so good, and if it was written in 2024 vs 1982 I don‘t think a single line would change.

IuliaC This photo is so beautiful! 1mo
rubyslippersreads Gorgeous photo! 1mo
Suet624 Sadly, you‘re probably right. 1mo
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marleed @IuliaC @rubyslippersreads Thank you! I walked by my scarves while this book sat at my nightstand and wondered if the scarf print was inspired by the book cover! 1mo
marleed @Suet624 Thanks to public library (and some overspending on my part), I read a pile of books hot off the press. Sometimes I pull an older book from my TBR to read for the first time and discover I love it. There‘s something special when words written 40+ years ago still resonate. 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Can you email me your address? I should have it, but I can‘t find it 😫 loverofbooks75@gmail. Com 🩷 1mo
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Come and Get It | Kiley Reid
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Pickpick

Slow pick - less as a novel but as an outline for a potential limited series with a renewal option. I was drawn to the University of Arkansas setting - unusual location for my armchair travels. There were two interestingly drawn MC‘s (Agatha and Millie). Thing is, they were fighting for word count because there were many supporting characters that with just a tweak here or there could have bumped either MC out of their star billing.

Melismatic I loved her other book - this is def on the list for me! 1mo
marleed @Melismatic I really liked her first book, as well. This one didn‘t hit the same way, but it really helped when I decided to just enjoy the characters. 1mo
AardvarkBookClub 💚💚💚💚💚 1mo
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Let Us Descend | Jesmyn Ward
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Pickpick

Poetic, tragic, inhumane…. My heart aches for fictional Annis and all she represents. Although this story didn‘t provide new historical fact from my own past readings, that‘s okay. We cannot allow this uncomfortable history to be whitewashed away.

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My first stack for the 2024 #indexcard collection is complete! Nice that I have this representation because many were a result of shuffling Libby holds. I wanted to work down that virtual stack since much of Feb will be looking at my physical shelves. #MonthlyWrapUp January 2024

Cuilin These are fabulous!! 😍 2mo
jlhammar Wow, great month! 2mo
SamAnne You read all of those? You have super powers!! 2mo
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dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
Ruthiella Gorgeous as usual! 😍 2mo
marleed @SamAnne Even though I had a December head start with Demon and Jan lasted 529 days in my neck of the woods, my books consist of physical, ebook, and audio. I live on my own these days and watch little TV, so if my eyes aren‘t landing on words, I‘m likely listening to an audiobook. I often do both, simultaneously! 2mo
marleed @Cuilin @jlhammar @dabbe @Ruthiella Thank you - you make my day!💕 2mo
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The Unsettled: A novel | Ayana Mathis
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Pickpick

I was making my way through this until Cass stepped back into Ava‘s life, and my mama bear claws came out. I wanted to reach in and take Toussaint out of the Ark, the Philly streets, and get him to his grandma in Bonaparte. Also, that we would deny education from a fear/excuse of indoctrination is antithetical to all I believe to be necessary to a thriving society. …Toussaint would be nearly 50 today. I‘d love to read his current day story.

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Malcolm Gladwell: Collected | Malcolm Gladwell
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Pickpick

This is so worth your time. Things like l: Annual college ratings from US News and World report, 2. Had the U.S. begun integration of teachers and administrators at the same time or before students, 3. Endowments and amenities at top-tier universities, 4. Not advancing the potential of under-privileged students in early grade school, 5. Out bombastic election process to decide leaders, 6. Out tortoise vs hare standardized testing process. ↓

marleed The math major in me will always be a numbers girl so I read everything from my favorite number-crunching teacher, Malcolm Gladwell. When my Libby hold dropped, I realized from the Goodreads page count this was a collection of education essays from podcasts rather than an actual print book so Litsy doesn‘t carry the actual title. I‘m not in the habit of perusing podcasts so I‘m incredibly grateful for my Libby audiobook confusion. 2mo
Amiable I love Malcolm Gladwell. I think I‘ve heard several of the podcast episodes that you mentioned but not all of them. I‘m going to go find this one! 1mo
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BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Hoping everyone is enjoying some Hygge on this 783rd day of January 🥶! I plan to practice some calm over the next 30 or so hours in anticipation for the potty mouth I‘ll likely exhibit during the Ravens vs Chiefs game! …The Feb plan is to prioritize books by Black authors on my shelves so come on #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin! @TheAromaofBooks

AmyG I can‘t wait for football Sunday. Go Lions! (edited) 2mo
BethM Absolutely adorable! Also I just say im using my football words 😂 2mo
JenReadsAlot Longest month ever!! 2mo
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I am feeling the opposite way about January and think it's only the 14th day. Apparently, I missed two weeks. 🤣 2mo
IndoorDame Love the little reader absorbing some hygge as he sleeps! 💗 2mo
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
kspenmoll ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo
marleed @AmyG I love the Lions story! It was just a few seasons ago when the Chiefs had a similar story. @BethM Oh I need to adopt your phrasing! 2mo
marleed @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Oh can @JenReadsAlot and I be you today!🤣🤣 2mo
marleed @IndoorDame I typically walk him outside for 5-6 miles a day while he naps (and it‘s the only way he naps!). This month has been so cold and cloudy that I cleaned the wheels on his stroller and stroll and spin him through my house to nap. It‘s one of the few times I regret having severely downsized houses. 🏡 2mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Sure! I haven't read yet today, but I did have to clean the pantry & the bathroom, and now I'm helping my guy put crossbars on his new car. It's fascinating being me! 😉 2mo
dabbe 💜🩶💜 2mo
bthegood adorable 💙 2mo
sherrisilvera Aaaw❣️ 2mo
UwannaPublishme Awww! ❤️ 2mo
marleed @dabbe @bthegood @sherrisilvera @UwannaPublishme Thank you! I had to get him sleeping this month because if he sees my phone everything is a full stop. All Canon then wants is to see pics and videos of himself🤣 and Grandma that I am I can‘t say no then he‘s keeping my phone! 2mo
bthegood 😂 😂 2mo
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Pickpick

This is the second book I‘ve read by this author, and he‘s now an auto-read author for me. The majority of books I read are written by female authors, and reading SA Crosby is a great reset for me. He‘s raw, real, and reminds me how privileged my American experience has been. I hope there is more story for us about Titus Crown.

Suet624 Great review. I feel the same way. 2mo
AmyG Agree! 2mo
marleed @Suet624 @AmyG we read alike! 2mo
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First Lie Wins: A Novel | Ashley Elston
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2024 is shaping up to be very interesting. I typically drop dangling points on the stars of my mystery and thrillers. But two grids in and thrillers are winning my grids!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

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Where You End: A Novel | Abbott Kahler
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Pickpick

I‘m often confused by what constitutes a mystery vs a thriller. Reading this, I‘d call it a mystery since most thrills being past tense. It was a slow yet intriguing unraveling of a concussed twin‘s rediscovery of her life via the bits of information correctly or incorrectly fed to her by her mirror twin. Slow pick, but a pick.

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Pickpick

Gosh it‘s fun when I shop my own shelves for a match to my #BookSpin challenge and end up loving the book. Cleo and her dad, Dave (on the autism spectrum) were so interesting to get to know as were the friendships established as they moved through a tragic event. … I‘m grateful I‘m blissfully unaware of the stats Dave carries in his fascinating brain.

Jan #DoubleSpin Category: New-to-me Author @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
BarbaraBB I discovered this author recently and can‘t wait to read her backlist! 2mo
marleed @BarbaraBB This book had a much different flavor than what I was expecting, and I really enjoyed reading it. 2mo
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Mehso-so

Hmmm, the twists in this were interesting but the single POV of 19 yo Margot was tedious. Including the POV of Lucy would have made this a more interesting read.

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