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mjdowens

mjdowens

Joined April 2016

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Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold Holdt
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Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
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Old Man's War by John Scalzi
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Antarctic Navigation by Elizabeth Arthur
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A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
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Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
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Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger
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City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
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Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand
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Smoke by Dan Vyleta
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11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King
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1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
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Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
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Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
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A Book of Night Women by Marlon James
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mjdowens
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Book one of the year is now complete 👏👏👏👏 #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

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mjdowens
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Got my first book yesterday. So excited to read it and discuss. Not sure why I was sent the large print version though 🤣🤣. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this author ✍️ 4mo
17 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
Assistant to the Villain | Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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It has been a long time since a book not only made me laugh out loud, but read with a constant smile on my face. I would so love to have a real life friend like Evie, the MC. The author has nailed this character with not just wit, sarcasm and snark, but also genuinely likable with a good heart.

20 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
Yellowface | R F Kuang
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#RushAThon - I have got to start finishing things and reading ones I have been excited for

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mjdowens
What Moves the Dead | T. Kingfisher
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I am still still stuck on the he/she, ka/kan explanation. Why was this necessary to the story? I get that this is how their language works, but I don‘t see why it was needed for the context of the actual story.

16 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
When Women Were Dragons | Kelly Barnhill
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Pickpick

I don‘t even have the words to describe the feelings this book brings out. The tears I shed, not because I was sad, but because this author was able to exactly express what it is like to be “other” or a woman. This one will be read over and over and over ❤️

21 likes2 stack adds
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mjdowens
When Women Were Dragons | Kelly Barnhill
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“I was four years old when I first saw a dragon. I was four years old when I first learned to be silent about dragons. Perhaps this is how we learn silence -an absence of words, an absence of context, a hole in the universe where the truth should be.”

This is only page 9 😲

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mjdowens
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“Languages aren‘t just made of words. They are modes of looking at the world. They‘re the keys to civilization. And that‘s knowledge worth killing for”.

R.F. Kuang has found the way to put into words, ideas and concepts I have never been able to express and I am just speechless.

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mjdowens
The Measure | Nikki Erlick
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I just got my book today. Just read to page 20 and realizing how stressed and terrified I am already 🤣

22 likes2 stack adds
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mjdowens
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Get out of your comfort zone I was told. FINE FINE FINE! Here is cheesy romance I am reading happy? See? I am 10 pages in….ok 25 pages…. Well shit. I will NOT get the second one (as I whisper more lies to myself). What have I done 🤦

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mjdowens
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Pickpick

While I do have some issues with this book, I still really enjoyed it. Some topics were over-blown, but maybe that was intentional? The message of misogyny, sexism and women‘s rights are so prevalent right now. I think the MC felt like she was on the spectrum and felt very “wooden” in character, but her brutal honesty was a spotlight.

Eringogreen Agree about the MC! I wondered if anyone else thought the same thing. Very no-nonsense and doesn‘t always register social cues. 2y
19 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
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Arthur goes to the dark side LOL

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mjdowens

I let myself get sucked into a hobby other than books. Let‘s just say that I got snowed by the company of said potential new hobby and have been let down. I have to apologize to my books and my wonderful book community for letting myself get sucked into something else other than our beloved books. NEVER AGAIN. I am here to stay. Missed you all 😢

AmyG We are always here. 2y
mjdowens This community has never let me down in all the years I have been on here. I lurk 👀 more than anything, but it is always my comfort place ❤️ 2y
10 likes2 comments
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mjdowens
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“When you read these words on a page, what happens to them, when they become you?” 😳🤯😳🤯

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mjdowens
New Year Resolutions | Kath Beattie
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#roll100 - not posting an entire 100 list. Each time a roll is announced, just going to do a count and pick those corresponding books. Books are in transition due to some remodeling so the stacks change once in a while. Keeps the selecting interesting though 🤣

PuddleJumper Sounds like a good idea, it adds even more chaos into the mix! 2y
13 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
Bingo! | Rosemary Wells
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My very first #BookSpin/ #DoubleSpin! So excited to see how well I can follow through. February will be free spots for my reading of the BookTube awards judging.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! Glad to have you along!!! 2y
20 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
Godblind | Anna Stephens
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Whhaaaaa??? Great grimdark. Page 120 just made me choke on my popcorn. I need someone to talk with about this one. 😳🤯🤬🤭

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mjdowens
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“Just vacuum your curtains, it will make you feel better” 🤣🤣🤣

12 likes3 stack adds
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GUYS! A signed first edition. WHAAATTT 😲. What a great unexpected surprise. Going to be some late night reading happening 👏👏👏

20 likes2 stack adds
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mjdowens
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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This book so far has left me just speechless. This is one of those stories to read again and again in order to get a new feeling and meaning each time. Currently reading the ebook, but purchasing my own copy very soon.

AmyG I love when people love the books I LOVE. ❤️ 3y
mjdowens The weird thing is that I hate the cold and I am not a bird person. BUT...this book is just doing something for me that I cannot even describe 3y
Chelsea.Poole I think about this book all the time. I read it last year. So impactful. 3y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB I just finished it and am blown away and broken hearted @mjdowens @Chelsea.Poole 3y
Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB I didn‘t realize how incredibly tragic this was going to turn out to be. It wrecked me for a whole day. 😭 3y
BarbaraBB Me too. The whole book is so sad. And it didn‘t read like a dystopian at all, it feels so near-future. 💔 @Chelsea.Poole (edited) 3y
31 likes1 stack add6 comments
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mjdowens
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So far at 27% of this audiobook and VERY little about the actual disease. It keeps branching off about so many other subjects. I understand some background is needed, but this is a huge bore so far.

KCofKaysville Some of it gets better, but it is a difficult read sometimes.
3y
24 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
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Pickpick

So heartfelt ❤️

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mjdowens
The End of October: A novel | Lawrence Wright
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Ok, so maybe going in blind sometimes can bite you in the butt . I have to pick the one book about a global pandemic. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket too then 🤣

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mjdowens
Terror | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

At 955 pages, this was a biggie to read. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the journey. I suffered and cried with these sailors and overall enjoyed it. A lot of boat and sailing terms I will never understand though. The very ending took a very weird turn, but it was creative. It possibly could have been trimmed by about 200 pages.

21 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
The Devil All the Time | Donald Ray Pollock
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Oh wow. 64 pages in and all I can say is, oh wow. Deeply disturbing and violent. However, it is also so weirdly compelling it is hard to stop reading it. For shits sake, don‘t let Donald Ray Pollock collaborate with Stephen King. No one would ever sleep again 😳

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mjdowens
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Pickpick

Want a quick sci-fi about nuns in space? Here is one that will give you excitement, anxiety and a little faith. Beautifully written and a little haunting. Love and redemption all in a small package that feels so much bigger. Going to look for more of this writers work.

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mjdowens
Best Served Cold | Joe Abercrombie
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Just binge read the first three books. Best series I have read in a long time. There are truly no actual “good” guys, but I love them all anyway. Triggers for pretty extreme violence, but my cold and evil heart loved it 👿

23 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
Washington Black | Esi Edugyan
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Pickpick

I love what this story is really saying. I had a bit of a hard time with some of the fantastical adventures though.

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mjdowens
Cult X | Fuminori Nakamura
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Whhaaatttt?? Just made it to 100 pages in and still trying to figure this one out. Religion, brain washing, physics. It makes you curious enough to keep reading though.

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mjdowens
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Pickpick

Margaret George does it again. She has a way of bringing to life these historical figures. They speak to you of the events we know of and gives explanations of the hows and whys of it. I read. 900+ page book in less than a week and feel like I lost a friend.

Wife Maybe I should try this one again. 🤔 3y
mjdowens It took me three tries to get into N.K. Jemison The Broken Kingdom, but ended up loving it. Sometimes it is just the timing I guess. Hope you try it again though 😊 3y
22 likes2 comments
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mjdowens
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Pickpick

I love how Margaret George gave a voice to Nero. All we have ever heard of are the insane things he had done. He was a real person and Emperor or not, also a human who made mistakes but also was trying to live his dream and rule an almost ungovernable empire.

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mjdowens

I keep seeing posts for #bookspin, but I have never been able to find any instructions about it. It looks fun.

Sace So fun and low stress. I'm sure the hostess will be here soon to explain. It's as easy as writing a numbered list and waiting for @TheAromaofBooks to announce the numbers on the 2nd of every month! 4y
mjdowens Thank you for the info. I was trying to figure it out by all the posts😂 4y
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TheAromaofBooks Hello!! Yes as @Lovesbooks87 & @Sace said I host #BookSpin & it's super simple - you just make a list of 20 books you've been meaning to read & tag me when you post it. Then on the 2nd I draw out 2 numbers (#BookSpin & #DoubleSpin) & throughout the month everyone tries to read those 2 books. So everyone is reading the same numbers but different books, if that makes sense!! 4y
TheAromaofBooks You are welcome to play this month if you want - just make a list & then check my profile - I just posted the numbers earlier today!!! 4y
mjdowens Aha! That makes perfect sense! I will@probably wait until next month, but that will give me chance to think about what books I would like to read. This sounds so fun. Thank you everyone who helped out with info 🤗 4y
15 likes6 comments
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mjdowens
Catherine House: A Novel | Elisabeth Thomas
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What the frig? Is this some type of stream of consciousness, a new way to tell about trauma, some type of school to help kids with problems??? I read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi and I am just stumped as to what is going on with this story. Will keep going for now, but not sure if this one is for me

BookishTrish I bailed - let me know if I made a mistake! 4y
mjdowens Geez, that makes me feel better. I thought maybe I was just dumb 😂😂 4y
sherryvdh I'm half way through, and I'm wondering the same. It's definitely not what I thought it was going to be. 4y
mjdowens I finally bailed on this one. Did not quite make it to the halfway mark. Just blah 4y
Charityann It is weird! I couldn‘t finish it. I have too many other good books to read!😊 4y
21 likes1 stack add5 comments
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mjdowens
The Fifth Season | N. K. Jemisin
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I have tried and dnf‘d this book 3 times in the past 2 years I have owned it. Something compelled me to keep the book and keep trying. Started it again last night and am now over 100 pages in. Slightly confused, but really intrigued now. I have a feeling I will be purchasing the rest of the series. Maybe I just wasn‘t ready for it before.

Lauredhel Once it sinks its teeth into you, it won't let go. 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I really enjoyed it, it takes awhile until all the threads start coming together, but it‘s worth it. I hope the 3rd Times the charm for you. 5y
mjdowens Finished it last night. SO STINKING GOOD!! So glad I have the box set coming today so I can binge the rest. 5y
38 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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mjdowens
The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang
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Soooo..... this is the copy of The Poppy War I received from ThriftBooks today. I immediately got on chat with them and told them I received a book marked “very good condition” with no notation about not having a jacket on it. No issues or problems, issued me a refund and said I could keep it. No others in stock however, so back to square one. For as long as I have been ordering from them this is the first time I have ever had this issue

SW-T That‘s weird.😳 Sounds like good customer service on the follow up at least. Too bad they didn‘t have a better copy to send. 5y
JazzFeathers Happened to me on Amazon (back when l still bought books from them). A couple of times. 5y
28 likes2 comments
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mjdowens
Hollow Kingdom | Kira Jane Buxton
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This book is just too hilarious:
“Geese are a crass bunch of douche McGoos.”
This coming from an “enlightened” crow, the MC of the story. Page 18 and I have not stopped giggling yet.

34 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
Wilder Girls | Rory Power
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Mehso-so

Eh. It wasn‘t terrible, but.... some body horror if you are the squeamish sort, but not the worst I have ever read about. The ending pissed me off though.

Lovesbooks87 Me too! I wonder if there is going to be another book. 5y
mjdowens That ending makes me think so. 5y
tpixie great cover art, though... 5y
mjdowens For sure. The real think is gorgeous and has different textures 5y
34 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mjdowens
Gene Mapper | Taiyo Fujii
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Pickpick

Lots of futuristic science and technology to grasp in the book. I loved all of it so much I read the entire book today. Good message on how we view new science and the affects it can have on our planet and humanity.

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mjdowens
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Netgalley did not forget about me!! I have been denied so many these past few weeks. This was one of the ones I wanted the most. So stinking happy 🤗

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mjdowens
Myopic Books | Chicago, IL (Bookstore)
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One of my first “out of state” book stops. Myopic Books in Chicago

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mjdowens
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This game is played so much in this book I swear I could almost play it by now. Let‘s get to war! 🐉

25 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
Middlegame | Seanan McGuire
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I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out why this book seems so familiar to me. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. The weird back and forth time line thing and contacting yourself from the past and future. Definitely not the same story, but the time thing keeps messing with me just like in Dark Matter. Just 130 pages left and still enjoying it👍

26 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
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Pickpick

Wow. So this book completely took me by surprise. I have never tabbed a book for quotes, but this one is tabbed everywhere. I loved it. So sad and sweet at the same time. My only issue is that I felt some things that were said were pretty out of character for most teenagers. However, the story line is so good you can overlook some

22 likes1 stack add
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mjdowens
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Page 24 and I already want to cry. This book is going to make me cry isn‘t it?? One big sobbing, blubbery mess of a cry right?.....Damn. Why do I do this to myself?🙄

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 😂 now I wanna read it too 5y
18 likes1 comment
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mjdowens
Pivot | L.C. Barlow
Pickpick

How do you train the perfect assassin? From childhood of course. I love love love the undertones of this story. Cyrus is the devil thinking he can make Jack the perfect conduit to train to take over when he ascends and becomes something “more”. However, Jack knows what she is becoming and refuses to let her entire humanity go. She is brutal and honest, but also loves and refuses to let the world be taken over by evil. Jack is the best.

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mjdowens
Florida | Lauren Groff
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I should be reading but.......

Samplergal What part of Florida is that? I‘m in Fort Lauderdale area. 5y
mjdowens We are at Indian Rocks. Stayed here for the first time last year and love it! (edited) 5y
Mdargusch That looks heavenly! 💙 5y
ReadingSusan Gorgeous! 5y
27 likes4 comments
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mjdowens
It | Stephen King
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2019 has been selected for my goal for the year of big books. I am also reading The Games of Thrones series. However, once you reach this page count and there is still almost 200 pages left, no other book seems to be “a big book”😂

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mjdowens
The Ruin of Kings | Jenn Lyons
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I have not been so obsessed and absorbed in a book in such a long time! I cannot quite pinpoint what it is about this story that is so intriguing to me, but I don‘t want to put it down. This is a library copy, but I will be getting my own copy soon. This one will be reread more than once.

Owlizabeth Yes! I loved this book and I‘m so excited book two is out in October so I don‘t have to wait forever for the next installment. 5y
mjdowens Holy crap, really? Thank you for that info. I had no idea. Wonder how early I can preorder?😂 5y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mjdowens
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Pickpick

This book. You will not only learn about octopus, but also the contemplation of life, the soul and complete acceptance of other living forms of life. I laughed and cried like a baby. I devoured this book today and was sad when it ended. This will definitely be a reread.

53 likes3 stack adds
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mjdowens
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Got home from vacation at about 12:30 this morning and this beauty had come in the mail. I can officially stop saying “I never win anything from Goodreads”😂😂😂

wanderinglynn Congrats! It always fun to win a GR giveaway 👍🏻😀 6y
BarbaraJean Congrats!! (Also: soooooo jealous!!) 6y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments