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The Storyteller | Jodi Picoult
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Excellent, timely message from author Jodi Picoult on the dangers of #bookbans and history repeating itself and what we can do to take action.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7gnJ41/

Sparklemn Great message. Thanks for sharing! 4d
43 likes1 comment
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megnews
On the Banks of Plum Creek | Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Pickpick

OG #MiddleGradeMarch. I really enjoyed this one as much as I did as a kid. Thanks for hosting @Ann_Reads

Bookwormjillk I like this one a lot too. I think I‘ll probably finish today. 5d
Ann_Reads Happy to help host. 🙂 5d
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megnews
Listening for Lucca | Suzanne Lafleur
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Pickpick

This was an interesting twist on time travel. #MiddleGradeMarch

sblbooks I need to read this since I like time travel so much. 6d
megnews @sblbooks I didn‘t realize it was time travel til I was into it and I thought of you immediately. 😊 6d
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megnews
The Comfort Book | Matt Haig
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For anyone who needs to hear this today.

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Pickpick

Great and timely story about censorship based off an event in the author‘s life as a child. Should be on every middle grade classroom bookshelf including those in Florida. #MiddleGradeMarch

Reggie I loved the grandpa in here. 6d
megnews @reggie I loved him too! So glad Mac had him. 6d
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megnews
By the Shores of Silver Lake | Laura Ingalls Wilder
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#LittleHouse chapter a day

TheAromaofBooks This is probably the book I remember the least about. I'm so interested to reread it! 6d
BethM I‘d love to jump in on thsi! 13h
Vansa I would want to be tagged! I love this read along so much 12h
melissajayne Not my favourite book, but I‘ll join in; don‘t have my copy with me, but I‘ll start reading when I get home. 5h
34 likes4 comments
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megnews
Drive Me Crazy | Terra Elan McVoy
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Pickpick

If I‘m honest this #MiddleGradeMarch pick is between a pick and a soso. Only because one of the main characters was so self absorbed and selfish and in my opinion didn‘t really deserve the friendship of the other.

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megnews
Untitled | Untitled
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Stolen from Instagram

LibrarianRyan have you seen the back lash about this. And I don't mean back lash from readers, not from book banners. There are people that are upset that he said this because he didn't take time to think about book deserts, lack of money to buy books, or lack of id to get a library card, etc. It was just oddd. 1w
KathyWheeler Okay then. I understand that those things can be issues, but do they seriously mean he should say nothing at all because he can‘t address all these problems? 1w
vivastory @LibrarianRyan I hadn't heard about that but I'm not surprised. Bad faith presumptions are rampant on Twitter. One of the reasons I left. 1w
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LibrarianRyan @KathyWheeler Yeah. That is exactly what they say. It was crazy. I didn't see it on twitter, but I can believe it. I saw it on Tik tok. It was crazy. (edited) 1w
KathyWheeler @LibrarianRyan That is just nuts. 1w
megnews @LibrarianRyan I hadn‘t seen that. I‘ll be honest that when he said bookstore first I felt a little funny about it. But I have worked with low income families in Head Start and public housing my whole life so I am always thinking about lack of access people take for granted. I think I would have just said library if I was him. Most kids depend on an adult to buy them things so kids may not be able to. 1w
DogEaredBooks There was an open letter on BookRiot talking about why this tweet is problematic and mostly missing the point about what the danger of all these book bans are https://bookriot.com/dear-stephen-king-book-censorship-news-january-27-2023/ 1w
LibrarianRyan @DogEaredBooks I read that article when it came out. It made valid points. It helped clear thing up that I was seeing on social media. 1w
DogEaredBooks @LibrarianRyan yeah I think it makes some good points and explains it all really well! 1w
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megnews
Drive Me Crazy | Terra Elan McVoy
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Living outside of Cleveland, I‘m curious where this decent lunch was. Decent seems a little like an insult. 😂 #MiddleGradeMarch #Roadtrip

marleed That‘s funny! 1w
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megnews
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Pickpick

I had to check this one off my list this #MiddleGradeMarch. It seems impossible I never read it as a kid. It was enjoyable but I might have enjoyed it more reading than audio.

IndoorDame I‘m rereading this right now ❤️ 2w
mcctrish I read this as a grown up and loved it, I‘m still sad I didn‘t come across it as a kid 2w
Daisey I loved this one and read it a few times with classes. I should reread it again sometime. 2w
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MallenNC I loved this as a kid. I still like to imagine what it would be like to live in a museum! 2w
ImperfectCJ I loved it as a child and later read it to my kids and they enjoyed it (but didn't love it). When we visited the Library of Congress, they were upset that they were too young to go into the reading room, so they comforted themselves by imagining an overnight-at-the-library scenario inspired by this book. 2w
tpixie @ImperfectCJ fun! It sounds like the book meant something to them after all!! 6d
tpixie @Daisey I‘m re- reading it now. It‘s a favorite of mine. I saw @IndoorDame ‘s post , so I had to read it. It‘s still delightful! 6d
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megnews
The Comfort Book | Matt Haig
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megnews
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What a lucky kid to have a childhood like this. I always tried to make sure my kids‘ reading was full of banned books too. #MiddleGradeMarch

Julsmarshall Love this! 2w
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megnews
The Comfort Book | Matt Haig
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megnews
Bayou Magic | Jewell Parker Rhodes
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Pickpick

1. I love Jewell Parker Rhodes.
2. How has Disney not picked this up for animated movie? I can see live action and animated in my head perfectly and it‘s beautiful and engaging.
3. This is the standard by which I judge all middle grade fiction. The setting is phenomenal and I felt in it as I read. It was a book that pulled you into the pages. I love the characters. The message about being good stewards of nature is timely.
#MiddleGradeMarch

mrp27 Lover her work too. This one looks good. 2w
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megnews
The Comfort Book | Matt Haig
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megnews
The Comfort Book | Matt Haig
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Ann_Reads That's a lovely quote. I think some of our teacups have multiple chips. ☕ 2w
BethM Ooooh I love this ❤️ 2w
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megnews
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Pickpick

Based on the subject matter, type of writing (novel in verse), & true story, I‘d hoped to enjoy this more. It‘s possible it was the audiobook as I enjoy novels in verse more when read myself, but I enjoyed the into & epilogue a lot but found the meat of the book to feel a bit disjointed & distant. Had the author used first person as a letter from grandma as explained in the into i think I would have enjoyed this more. Still an important topic.

megnews Thus this #MiddleGradeMarch read is between a pick and so so 2w
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megnews
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Pickpick

Very short read with some interesting words from around the world. The beautiful illustrations are what make this book.

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megnews
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Pickpick

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach takes the reader through the preparations, storm, and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
#MiddleGradeMarch

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megnews
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Pickpick

I‘m a little behind on #MiddleGradeMarch but have multiple going and will catch up soon. This was a family vacation at Big Bend National Park in Texas with themes of parental loss and dealing with a parent dating. The MC is very funny, which brings levity to these tough topics.

sblbooks This is been on my TBR since last year. It sounds good, maybe I'll get to it this summer. 3w
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megnews
Untitled | Unknown
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February

kspenmoll Congrats! 🎉 3w
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megnews
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Pickpick

Enjoyable journey

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megnews
Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This post contains spoilers
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Panpan

I read this book for a library discussion. It was going to be months before I got it at the library so I paid for it and regret it. I cannot believe how wildly popular this book was and still is. I checked out goodreads 1 star ratings and the above sum up my feelings. But I disliked this book so much I felt I‘d share in my own words. I was about 10 pages in when I thought this seems more like a play than a novel. Then I saw the author is a 👇🏻

megnews Playwright and it was a play before it was a book. I had concerns it was the translation to English and also tried to consider the culture difference but I don‘t think that accounts for all of it. Spoiler examples of things that bugged me. Long explanation of what Alzheimer‘s is on p98. Who doesn‘t know this? It was explained as if to a child. P 142 someone crying would make them dehydrated? Possible translation issue but where was the editor? (edited) 3w
megnews P156 the strange explanation of the steps that could have been different but wouldn‘t have changed the outcome. It was just weird. The third story switches suddenly the character is from the future as opposed to the first two where they were from the present visiting the past. With no explanation. The long uninteresting coffee explanation on p 160 that did nothing to move the narrative forward. The part about the coffee picking it‘s customers 3w
megnews Was the only part I liked and had it been written like that it would have been lovely. P 162 random men constantly offering apartments and cars but she won‘t take them? If we‘re going to get this strange I‘ll take a Mercedes thanks. The top of page 171 is just weird according to my notes. And page 200. Of course your sisters has hopes & dreams like you. Who the heck doesn‘t? I didn‘t finish the last story. I usually won‘t do a negative review (edited) 3w
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megnews If I don‘t finish a book but I feel justified. Based on the blurb I expected something moving like For One More Day by Mitch Albom. Based on the setting (a cafe) I should have loved this. Based on the reviews I expected something profound. This is the worst book I‘ve ever read and far surpasses whatever the next worst was. I can‘t imagine anything ever knocking it out of this place. I‘m so sorry for this review to all those who loved this book. (edited) 3w
Ann_Reads A fair review with some good insights, Meg. That's even more disappointing, after purchasing the book. The negative reviews for this book have scared me off from reading it. I'm fairly certain I won't like it, as is the case with some other popular, overly hyped books that I have tried reading in the past. 3w
BethM I did t love this either. I was glad that my copy came from here when someone passed theirs on 3w
megnews @Ann_Reads I generally skip over hyped books and only finally picked this up since my mom and I recently started attending library book discussions and this was the book. I don‘t think my mom will make it far. Btw you‘re doing a great job on Little House and it came at an amazing time as I have some things I‘ll have to help my mom take care of now. Thank you!! 3w
Ann_Reads That's so kind of you to say, Meg. I'm so glad I could be helpful to you in some small way during this stressful time. 3w
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megnews
Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Committee on Pain Management and Regulatory Strategies to Address Prescription Opioid Abuse
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My dad as a child, a Marine, with my oldest, my youngest, & me.
Today my dad lost his battle with opioid addiction. He had a health issue that caused pain. He got hooked and I tried to say something years ago, before he started getting it off the street, but he refused to listen. Despite my mom‘s experience as the adult child of an alcoholic and as a nurse, she refused to admit it. I had a tumultuous relationship with my dad and didn‘t 👇🏻

megnews see him much these last several years. The last time a month ago and he couldn‘t keep his eyes focused the same direction. It was so hard to sit at the table and pretend with my mom. I‘m angry he left his grandkids this way at only 67. I‘m angry he didn‘t admit the problem and get help. I don‘t really have anything else to say. I‘ve said it to a few close friends. But you are the people I feel I can say this to without judgment and without 👇🏻 4w
megnews having to say anything else. I‘m sorry to bring sadness to this realm. Thanks for listening. 4w
Tamra I am so very sorry, it is heartbreaking. 💔 4w
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Chrissyreadit I‘m so very sorry. I know there is grief and conflict. And addiction is awful. I hope you find comfort and am wishing that you find a place where you can just reflect on the love you also feel for your dad. 4w
Susanita I‘m sorry for your loss. No matter what your relationship is with your parents, it‘s hard when they‘re gone. 😢💔 4w
MallenNC I am so sorry. I also feel like Litsy is a place of friends and support. I‘m glad you shared. 4w
Bookishlie I‘m so sorry. You never have to apologize for sharing here. That‘s what we are here for. To support each other. 4w
quietjenn That's really rough all around. I'm sorry. 4w
Soubhiville I‘m sorry. Holding space for you and your family. 4w
Roary47 I‘m so sorry for your loss. I lost my father because I was overruled by my mother too so while it was a different situation I understand the anger of his decisions and others that could have brought him to a place he could have received help and still been with you. I‘m glad you shared so you could be supported by such a loving community. I‘ll keep you in my thoughts and sending you positive vibes. 💛 4w
JenReadsAlot I'm very sorry for your loss. 4w
LeeRHarry So sorry for your loss. (edited) 4w
julieclair My heart goes out to you in your loss. Addiction‘s ugly tentacles wrap their way around so many beautiful hearts… not only the addicts, but also those who love them. Praying you are able to feel supported and understood as you grieve, and that eventually and when you feel ready, you can settle into a place of peace. 💙 4w
TheBookgeekFrau I'm so sorry for your loss 🙏🏼 4w
Clwojick So sorry for your loss. Addiction is such a tough topic, but I‘m glad you see Litsy as a safe space for you. You‘ll be in my thoughts. Sending love, and healing vibes. 💞 4w
Bookwormjillk I‘m so sorry for your loss. 4w
Eggs ❤️💔🙏🏻 4w
mrp27 I‘m glad as a community we can be here for you to just listen and be supportive through a very difficult time. My condolences to you and your family. 4w
Blueberry I am sorry for your pain. ❤️ 4w
TrishB Sorry for your loss and pain 💔 4w
Cupcake12 I‘m so sorry for your loss xx 4w
squirrelbrain I‘m so sorry for your loss. I hope it helps to talk about it here; we will keep listening and hold you and your family in our hearts. 4w
CarolynM I‘m so sorry for your loss. I‘m glad you know everyone here will offer you support and acceptance. Sending love 💕 4w
batsy I am so sorry for your loss. I hope talking here provides solace and you get all the support you need. Lots of ❤️ 4w
IndoorDame 💔❤️🙏🕯️ 4w
Librarybelle I am sorry for your loss. Litsy is truly a safe space to share. Take care of yourself. ❤️ 4w
Anna40 May his memory be a blessing. My heartfelt condolences. ❤️ 4w
MaureenMc I‘m so sorry. 💗💗 4w
AmyK1 I‘m so sorry 😞 4w
jlhammar My condolences. So very sorry for your loss. 4w
TracyReadsBooks So sorry for your loss. 4w
Deblovestoread Sending hugs! A loss is never easy and when there are conflicted emotions even harder. Sending you peace and comfort. 4w
SamAnne Wonderful photos of him. Condolences. Addiction runs in my family, esp. with a brother. Losing a parent to it is perhaps hardest of all, save for maybe losing a child to it. I don't know. And as family, there is only so much one can do to help. Hoping you can mourn without feeling any blame. And yes, the anger. I've felt that too. 💔 4w
marleed I hope you can feel my virtual arms wrapped around you. I feel your loss and I am so sorry. I hope with time the anger and hopelessness floats away and you are left with some sweet memories that give you peace. I believe (because I have to believe this of my lost loved ones) he is dancing unencumbered through eternity. 4w
LeahBergen I‘m so terribly sorry for your loss. Sending hugs. ❤️❤️❤️ 4w
AnneCecilie I‘m so sorry for your loss 💔 4w
Chelsea.Poole I‘m so sorry. 💔 4w
kspenmoll I am so so sorry for the loss of your Dad esp without any chance of reconciliation. My brother is an alcoholic- at 60 he has been sober 8 years which is amazing. All those decades were beyond difficult for his family & friends. Love your photos. Hugs. 💕💕 4w
Reggie I‘m so sorry. ❤️ 4w
DaveGreen7777 I‘m so sorry for your loss! 😔 4w
Ann_Reads Sending condolences and wishing you healing. 3w
megnews Thank you all for your kind words. I‘ve tried multiple times to tag everyone so they‘ll see this but it won‘t let me and I‘m sorry we‘re still muddling through this so I can‘t keep trying. I hope you all see this and know how appreciated you all are 3w
DivineDiana Sending love to you. ❤️ 3w
BoleyBooks So sorry for your pain and loss 😔 Big hugs. 3w
sblbooks I'm so sorry Megan. You are in my thoughts and prayers! ❤🙏 3w
43 likes45 comments
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megnews
From Here to Eternity | Caitlin Doughty
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Pickpick

Oops I finished my #LMPBC book before I was supposed to start it.
This is not a travel memoir in the truest sense but I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. I‘d love to see a part two with additional cultural death practices. Very interesting. I learned a lot.

Thanks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm for the recommendation.

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yay! Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️❤️ 4w
megnews @Bookwormjillk @TheBookHippie @Bookishlie am I mailing to Jill and each of us mailing to the person after us on the list @suvata sent? 2w
Bookwormjillk I think so. Mail to the person below you on the list and if you‘re last mail to the first person. I haven‘t started yet! 2w
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TheBookHippie @Bookwormjillk Me either it is a weekend to do list item. 2w
TheBookHippie You mail to the person below you if your bottom you mail to top person the entire time so it goes in a loop. :) I sometimes throw in a tea bag or cocoa or a little note. 2w
Bookishlie Sounds like a plan! I‘m about 2/3rds of the way through mine. 2w
Bookishlie @megnews Help! I don‘t have your address! Send it to me please rochelleus@yahoo.com. Thanks:) 2d
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megnews
Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Toshikazu Kawaguchi
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This is the next library book discussion mom and I are doing in March. This book was published in 2020! I‘m shocked that I can‘t get a digital copy in major Ohio libraries for months. Paper copies at Clevnet also very limited.

BarbaraJean My book group was wanting to read this in February, and we decided to postpone the pick till later in the year because there was such a long wait at our various libraries (Los Angeles and Orange County)! I‘m taking that as a good sign for once we do finally read it! (edited) 4w
marleed I love this series - I‘m 3 books into the translated stories and hear a 4th is coming! I think they‘d make for a great IRL discussion. 4w
megnews @marleed glad to hear it‘s so good! 4w
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megnews @BarbaraJean wow! I decided to just go ahead and purchase a copy for us to share. 4w
Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraJean this book and audiobook is available on hoopla, if your library has that. 4w
BarbaraJean @Chelsea.Poole Aha! It was not available on Hoopla a month ago, but I see it now! I got a copy for Christmas but lots of others were having library difficulty—I will spread the word and maybe we won‘t have to wait until the summer to read it 😆 4w
39 likes6 comments
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megnews
Untitled | Unknown
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sblbooks Road trip: middle grade style! 4w
megnews @sblbooks yes I love road trip books, real or fictional! 4w
mrp27 Great stack! 4w
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megnews
Untitled | Unknown
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It‘s that time again. One of my favorite reading months of the year. Join @sblbooks and I for #MiddleGradeMarch.

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CuriousG This is one of my favourite quotations. I am a teacher, so it speaks to me in general, but I use it with students when doing assignments that involve them seeking wisdom and knowledge from family and community members. It is such a nice way to reinforce connectedness in a population that often feels very disconnected from their community. ❤️ 1mo
megnews @CuriousG I think it is becoming part of the human condition to feel alone in the world. I love anything that reminds us we are not. Others have gone or are going through the same thing. Talking with others authentically will show us this and help us find our way. (edited) 4w
CuriousG @megnews Agreed - the world does seems more disconnected now that we can essentially get what we want without ever even leaving our homes/interacting with other people. It is so important we do what we can to remind others of how much we benefit from both social contact and the wisdom of other humans. I'm guilty myself of wanting to retreat in tough times, but the reality is the connections with others are what get me through those times. 4w
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megnews
From Here to Eternity | Caitlin Doughty
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My book arrived for #LMPBC and I can‘t wait til March 1 to start so here I go! I hope you don‘t mind me using purple pen.

Bookwormjillk Purple sounds good to me! 1mo
Bookishlie Fine with me too! I need to find a good pen:) 1mo
TheBookHippie Totally fine by me! 1mo
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megnews
Liar's Bench | Kim Michele Richardson
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Panpan

Difficult to rate this one. I usually love Southern fiction and enjoyed Richardson‘s Book Woman but that seems to be a case to show how much her writing grew since this book. It‘s hard to believe it was published in 2015. It didn‘t help that I listened to this on audio and the n word was thrown around quite a bit. But my biggest issue was the unrealistic attitude about the interracial relationship the MC enters into in 1972. There is no 👇🏻

megnews attempt to hide it from local racists for his safety. There‘s no loss of friendships. There‘s no discussion with her father about it. She seems insensitive to the impact of racism on her BF. There was just too much that was unrealistic to me in this one. 1mo
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TheBookHippie Any look good!!! 1mo
Bookwormjillk These all look good to me! Do you have a favorite? 1mo
megnews @Bookwormjillk I‘m between From Here to Eternity and Walking to Listen 1mo
Bookishlie From here to Eternity is on my TBR but they all look interesting! 1mo
TheBookHippie @megnews Sounds good! 1mo
Bookwormjillk Cool! That‘s one I would have never found on my own. 1mo
Bookishlie Awesome!! 1mo
33 likes11 comments
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megnews
Untitled | Unknown
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It‘s been a while since I participated in #LMPBC but I have several travel memoirs on my TBR so I‘m excited for this group!

TheBookHippie Yay!!!! 1mo
Bookwormjillk Yay!!! So glad this group filled up. I‘ll post some choices tomorrow. 1mo
Bookishlie Yay!! 1mo
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This is a good category, happy reading. 1mo
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megnews
The Four Winds | Kristin Hannah
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Pickpick

Mom and I both enjoyed The Four Winds. Looking forward to library discussion Wednesday.

AmyG I cried at the end, too. 1mo
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megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Tomorrow we begin On the Banks of Plum Creek!

Bookwormjillk My favorite scene was Christmas. Wilder writes these like magic. This book is a good example of the complexities of history. Thank you for hosting! (edited) 1mo
julieclair My favorite scene was Christmas, when Mr. Edwards risked his life to show up with gifts from Santa Claus. One scene that will stick with me was when they said goodbye to their family and set off on their journey, perhaps never to see them all again. But overall, what will stick with me from this book is the realization of how very perilous life was for the early pioneers, and also the pervasive prejudice against the Native Americans. 1mo
Ann_Reads @Bookwormjillk and @julieclair already summed up things quite eloquently. The Christmas chapter was an easy choice for my favorite. 1mo
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melissajayne The Christmas chapter was my favourite as well 1mo
sblbooks I agree with everyone else, the Christmas chapter is by far my favorite too. 1mo
staci.reads I loved the chaper at the beginning where Jack returns. I remember as a child being so sad when I thought he drowned and so thrilled when he returned. I also loved everything about them building their home. 1mo
mrp27 I enjoyed so much about this book, the wagon journey, building and making a home, how Laura felt so cozy and of course the Christmas chapter! It‘s been years since I‘ve read Plum Creek and I don‘t remember much I just hope we encounter less racism. 1mo
megnews Like others, my favorite scene is Christmas. 1mo
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megnews
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Pickpick

A modern day retelling of Daddy Long Legs, told through a series of letters.

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megnews
Second Mrs. Hockaday | Susan Rivers
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Pickpick

The story of a Civil War marriage told through letters and a diary. Will they make it through?

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megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Little House on the Prairie closes with the Ingalls family loading up their wagon and leaving their new home behind. Even though the next book is Plum Creek, we know they went back to the cabin in the big woods for a period of time. My immediate family always stayed in place and I often wondered (and still do at times) what it‘s like to strike out for parts unknown. Perhaps subconsciously this was part of my draw to these adventures.

Bookwormjillk I‘m looking forward to Plum Creek. It‘s one of my favorites. It‘s sad they won‘t get fresh vegetables but I did like Pa‘s comment about the happy rabbits. 1mo
julieclair I can only imagine how pleased Ma will be to be back in the big woods near her family. Like @Bookwormjillk , I enjoyed Pa‘s comment about the rabbits. I wonder whatever became of their plow? 1mo
Ann_Reads This is my favorite chapter as they are technically heading back to the big woods and leaving a place they never should have gone to. 1mo
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IamIamIam I know how the other folks feel about the land being taken over by settlers, but I wonder how many small settlements and cabins were left behind. 1mo
keys_on_fire I moved around a bit as a child due to my father‘s job. Sometimes it felt like just as you got used to a place and made friends it was time to leave. There was always a sense of excitement to accompany the sadness though! I‘m glad I had those experiences as I think it‘s made me more adaptable as an adult. My only regret is that I don‘t have those “life-long” friends that some people have who have stayed in one place. Plum creek, here we come! 1mo
megnews @IamIamIam I‘m curious too. I imagine some were used by newcomers when the land was finally open to settlers. 1mo
melissajayne @IamIamIam A lot were. 1mo
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megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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And so the Ingalls finally learn that Washington is not yet going to order the Natives off the land and they will be required to leave. Pa chooses to leave on his own rather than be forced out by soldiers. Ma laments the wasted year. But Pa brushes it off. Would you feel more like Ma or Pa?

Ann_Reads Initially I'd probably feel more like Ma in this instance. On the other hand, given all the perils the family went through during that year, maybe I'd be eager to find a better place to build a house. 1mo
julieclair I felt the same way as Ma did. All the work they went through, building the house, digging the well, planting the garden… just to walk away from it all and start with nothing again. But in truth, they never should have been poaching on the Native Americans‘ land to begin with. Even though the government said the land would be opening up for settlers, it wasn‘t open yet. They jumped the gun, and are paying the price. 1mo
mrp27 I feel a little bit of what they both felt. That was a lot of hard work and for what, but then life happens and you gotta roll with it. I agree they did jump the gun but settling on land that wasn‘t theirs to begin with. 1mo
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Vansa I find this an interesting way to end a children's book,though,no neat happy ending,but the requirement of a stoic acceptance that they tried an experiment,and it didn't work out,and it ends with them back in the covered wagon.As other commenters have said,they shouldn't have been occupying land that wasn't theirs.Interesting that Laura chooses not to portray a triumphant ending,but a melancholic one. 1mo
TheAromaofBooks While I appreciate Pa's upbeat attitude, I'm definitely with Ma on this one. I feel like she suffered the most - Pa's chores/half of the labor is close to the same as it was in the Big Woods, but hers is so much more difficult, living without any small luxuries. The constant fear of being a woman alone in a cabin with small children while your husband is gone during the day. Setting aside the racial aspect, she had to deal with strange men just ⬇ 1mo
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) showing up, demanding food and other items from her, constantly terrified that they might take more. To just blow off an entire year of constant stress and near-death experiences that were really only justified by the idea that you were building a better life and future for your family would be incredibly tough! 1mo
Bookwormjillk Did anyone else find this kind of sudden? I know it was a different time, but I can‘t imagine if my husband came home one day demanding we move because he decided it with the neighbor. I hope he had discussed it with Ma earlier and this was just Laura‘s perception of what happened. 1mo
Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks yes, very stressful and kind of just tossed away. 1mo
BarbaraJean I‘m with @Ann_Reads and @julieclair—I‘d feel more like Ma. I have such a hard time with wasting anything, and leaving behind that garden they just planted (and all their hard work) actually stresses me out! Except for the fact that they shouldn‘t have settled there in the first place, so…😬 I think I‘d also be relieved to go somewhere I wasn‘t facing daily peril 😆 @Bookwormjillk I found it VERY sudden! 1mo
IamIamIam @Bookwormjillk I feel like this was so sudden just as a means to get the information in and move the story on. 1mo
IamIamIam I would absolutely not have been as gracious as Ma but I suppose she knew what she was getting into when she married Pa! 1mo
Bookwormjillk @IamIamIam haha I guess so!
1mo
megnews @Bookwormjillk very sudden. I wonder if Pa and Ma knew it was coming but through Laura‘s eyes, with no knowledge of that, it would have felt sudden. 1mo
julieclair @Bookwormjillk Yes, not only sudden, but also rash. What if Mr. Scott and Mr. Edwards had been misinformed? I couldn‘t believe Pa didn‘t verify that information before moving his family. 1mo
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blurb
megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Laura finally sees a papoose. She had a lot of big feelings about it.
I‘m curious where the Natives were headed. I‘m imagining changing camps for the season.

Bookwormjillk There were a lot of big feelings in this chapter in general. I wasn‘t sure what Ma and Pa were feeling at the end of the chapter. Both seemed deflated and didn‘t want to eat, but I didn‘t know why. Were they let down? Relieved? I‘m just not sure. 1mo
julieclair @Bookwormjillk I wondered the same thing. Why did Ma, especially, feel deflated? I would have thought she‘d be thrilled to see the Native Americans leaving. And Laura wanting Pa to get the baby for her. Huh? I know she was young, but I doubt she would ever have asked Pa to get her a white baby. It‘s like she thinks the baby was a doll, and not really human. 1mo
mrp27 I agree the part where Laura cries for a papoose made me feel odd and I didn‘t care for it. I too felt a little sad and deflated reading about the Native Americans leaving but I‘m sure not in the way Ma and Pa did. 1mo
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sblbooks Laura wanting the Indian baby kind of made me think about the book I just finished reading, The Attic Child. A boy from the Congo was sold to a British man, to be his companion. It's like they were just a curiosity. 1mo
Vansa This was quite harrowing to read,of all the people from the tribes leaving.Maybe Laura wanted to show that the sight is devastating,even to people like Ma who considered them subhuman?Easier to think of them as monstrous when you're not seeing the extent to which their existence was being uprooted. 1mo
BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk @julieclair I wondered why Pa & Ma reacted that way, too. Maybe it was the after-effects of exhaustion & tension? They‘d been overwrought & anxious for days hearing the “war-cry”—maybe they only had the capacity to feel empty after all those sleepless, anxious nights. With Laura, she does act like the baby is just a doll. But there was also something about the baby looking at her—it‘s interesting she can‘t articulate what she means. 1mo
megnews @BarbaraJean @julieclair @Bookwormjillk @Vansa I‘m behind on responding but after reading the next chapter I‘m wondering if it had anything to do with the direction the Indians were heading. We‘re they not leaving but coming back to the closer spring/summer camp? Did the Ingalls take this to mean they weren‘t going to be run off by the govt and they themselves would have to leave? 1mo
julieclair @megnews I didn‘t get the impression the Native Americans were being forced to move. I just thought they were moving, as you say, to a different camp, as was their habit. But it is a little ambiguous. 1mo
45 likes8 comments
review
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Pickpick

“I wonder what goes missing when the women are nowhere to be found as actors in history. It is but half of the story.”
For those who enjoyed Beheld, this quick read is the Jamestown colony through the eyes of women.

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review
megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Pickpick

Finished early. Classic children‘s literature that, despite its flaws, can still be used today to teach children history. #LittleHouse

review
megnews
Rosetown | Cynthia Rylant
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Pickpick

Middle grade books about a girl who loves books, her favorite bookstore, and the library.

blurb
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Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams

What were your thoughts on today‘s chapter?

Ann_Reads I thought it was wise Pa explained to Mary and Laura about the 'talks' going on between the tribes. Still, the girls were so young, I could understand why Laura woke up screaming. That must have been frightening to experience. 1mo
BarbaraJean I had a hard time with this one. I agree with @Ann_Reads that it was nice to see the explanation from Pa. And I can imagine how frightening the experience would be for the whole family! But the descriptions were so dehumanizing and one-sided that it was really difficult to read. 1mo
Ann_Reads I agree with @BarbaraJean. It feels like this whole book has been difficult reading, with a few exceptions. 1mo
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julieclair I totally understand their fear, especially since we later learned that their lives really were in danger. Thank heaven for the cool head of the respected Osage chief warrior. But I did have difficulty with the language, particularly with the use of the word "savage". 1mo
Vansa As the other commenters have mentioned,this book was very difficult to read.I think it's very important for this to be annotated,and the real history explained,in the editions of the book,instead of leaving that to people to Google for themselves,which hasn't even been an option for most of the book's long publication history!It's important to see how opinions and perceptions were created through works like this(1/n) 1mo
Vansa (2/n)We tell ourselves stories to live,and so do nations-and this was one of the stories told in America,by people who could write history,and so is deeply simplistic.I wish the book would come with a fact-checking afterword or footnote,because as the paper I shared earlier mentioned,this was not how events panned out at all. 1mo
mrp27 Scary chapter for many reasons but was a hurtful chapter too. This whole book has been sad and heavy, not at all like I remembered. 1mo
megnews @Vansa I really like this suggestion and it makes me wonder if there are any editions that are annotated. I‘m going to see if I can find any. 1mo
25 likes8 comments
review
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Amina's Song | Hena Khan
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Pickpick

Amina visits Pakistan and comes home to share the truth about it. A great middle grade novel that should be on all classroom shelves including those in Florida.

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megnews
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams
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Me, looking around to see if the Ingalls have survived their latest catastrophe. Nature is amazing, how all the animals ran to the water. I appreciated Pa speaking up for the Indians after Mr Scott‘s harsh words.

Bookwormjillk And then they just say “All‘s well that ends well.” Not me. I‘d be freaking out and moving to Independence at once. 2mo
megnews @Bookwormjillk absolutely! Way too many very close scrapes with death if you ask me. How dangerous to take your young family there. (edited) 2mo
sblbooks In Farmer Boy, every chapter had food. In Little House on the Prairie, every chapter is surviving a disaster. @Bookwormjillk me too! @megnews I'm with you, I'm glad Pa stood up against Mr Scott. 2mo
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mrp27 Glad Pa spoke up and I too was fascinated by all the animals heading for water, even the snakes! I remember this episode of the tv show too but it was worse on tv. It‘s definitely been a year of calamities for the Ingall‘s. 2mo
julieclair This chapter was petrifying, and also fascinating. I, too, was pleased that Pa spoke up to Mr. Scott. I‘m wondering how/why Pa knew about the annual buffalo hunt, while his neighbors did not. Also, how did he know how to defend against the prairie fire? He must have done quite a bit of studying before they moved to the prairie. I found it interesting that Pa was remarking how good the burned land would be for their future crops.⬇️ 2mo
julieclair He must truly believe the government will make the Native Americans move west. 2mo
IamIamIam @julieclair I thought about how Pa knew about the hunt but he seems to be more willing to try and communicate with the Native Americans far more than the others. Clearly the Scotts are completely against them, but Edwards seems like he could come around. 1mo
38 likes7 comments
review
megnews
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Panpan

Spoiled little rich girl can't handle her rich world without the numbing effects of alcohol and cocaine. Wealth is wasted on the wealthy. Why do mistresses feel the need to write exposes for their lover's wives and children to be humiliated before the world? Go to confession rather than writing a book. I harbor no sympathy for homewreckers, no matter how young and naive they are. If I'd read this first I never would have made it to Inheritance.