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Nebklvr
The Otherwhere Post | Emily J. Taylor
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Pickpick

The Otherwhere Post is a propulsive, magical tale of danger, romance, and secrets. The atmosphere is intense and the characters are vibrant.

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Nebklvr
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Panpan

Pointless

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Nebklvr
The Familiars | Adam Jay Epstein, Andrew Jacobson
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Pickpick

Cute story of wizards and magical familiars.

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Nebklvr
The Fur Person | May Sarton, Jared T. Williams
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Mehso-so

The Gentleman Cat makes life decisions and shares his commandments. The illustrations are gorgeous and the short episodes of cat life are warmly amusing.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

These novellas are packed with philosophy of the most heartwarming kind.

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Nebklvr
Mi familia y otros asesinos | Fran Navarro, Chus Navarro
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Panpan

If someone used AI to write a novel in spanglish with the plot and character development of a game of clue, they could sell it as a fun cozy mystery for $25.

Susanita Oh dear. I‘m sorry you had to read that, but your description is hilarious! 4d
Nebklvr @Susanita I would have stopped but I paid full price for it! 4d
28 likes2 comments
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Nebklvr
Will's Race for Home | Jewell Parker Rhodes
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Pickpick

This has the fast-paced adventure of a western but with much more depth of character.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

Grit and grief and so much anger lead a young boy to a deplorable act and an expectation of great feats. This was a stellar novel told partially in poetry and partially in epistolary format. Frequent mentions of Sept 11 and the aftermath.

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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

This was fine. It didn‘t have the pull of the first book. Not sure I will continue.

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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

The story of past heartache and a new quest for home unravels slowly. There is much in the way of family drama but it is resolved pretty easily.

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Nebklvr
The Frindle Files | Andrew Clements
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Pickpick

This was a great story. It was funny and had a good message but wasn‘t as heavy as many books these days.

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Nebklvr
The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster
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Pickpick

Fun and imaginative. This should be required reading for politicians.

AmyG You are assuming they all can read. 🤣 (edited) 2w
Nebklvr @AmyG They have audio books now. Good luck with their research since they fired Librarian of Library of Congress! 2w
44 likes3 comments
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

This was a rather concise explanation of Ukrainian history region by region which is immensely helpful when dealing with such a contentious shifting of borders. It was conversational. Occasionally, the editing was a bit lax but the info was great. Feel free to use 5-calls to express your thoughts on Ukraine and fascism in our country.

Suet624 I appreciate you mentioning this book. I've been looking for some background information. I feel so badly about what is going on there. 3w
Nebklvr @Suet624 I was in the same boat. I feel it expanded my knowledge. I knew a bit about the Great Famine but not much else. 3w
Suet624 Do they talk about the religious differences/friction between Russia and Ukraine too? 3w
See All 6 Comments
Nebklvr @Suet624 Yes. Quite a bit actually. 3w
Suet624 Good. I‘ve been trying to explain that to people recently because of the whole Pope/Zelenskyy and Vance/Putin (Opus Dei and Orthodox vs Roman Catholic) situation. There is such a big religious story going on and no one in the media talks about it 2w
Nebklvr @Suet624 Mostly described in terms of why different religions in different sections and some of friction politically die to dif religions and also some $ issues 2w
33 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Nebklvr
The Inheritance | Cauvery Madhavan
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Pickpick

What a lovely melding of stories. The lives of past and present blend together in this story of an Irish village. The characters and atmosphere are superb. I was fortunate to win a give away sponsored by Shawn Breathes Books. @shawnmooney

Cathythoughts I enjoyed this one too. We read it for Bookclub 👍🏻❤️ 3w
36 likes1 comment
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

This was a messy family road trip novel. These complex characters filled the pages with sadness, determination, anger, and regret. However, as the trip progressed, they made room for love. The resolution was a bit quick and frustratingly incomplete. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

I read books about diseases frequently but still learned things from this book geared towards kids.

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Nebklvr
Every Man Dies Alone | Hans Fallada
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Pickpick

Hans Fallada survived Nazi Germany, wrote a novel based on the story of Otto and Elise Hampel in 24 days, and then died before its publication. If that wasn‘t tragic enough, his depiction of the grinding away of morality, loyalty, and self-respect to leave a society immersed in fear and loathing is exceptional.

nanuska_153 I loved this book. It's called Alone in Berlin in Ireland, I wonder at the change of title 1mo
Anna40 I love this book! 1mo
Nebklvr @nanuska_153 I noticed that! It is a rerelease but it looks like it was originally published under this name in the U.S. I never understand this. 1mo
See All 7 Comments
Nebklvr @Anna40 I usually don‘t appreciate longer books but I am trying to catch up on books hanging out on my shelves. 1mo
nanuska_153 @Nebklvr I've just checked the original title and it translates to "Everyone dies alone", maybe they thought in Europe we would be more freaked out by the thought of dying alone (?) (but not of living alone in Berlin xD) 1mo
Nebklvr @nanuska_153 Now that is interesting. I wonder if there was a movie and they changed book title to match? Hmmm… Now I am even more intrigued as I don‘t think there is any group of people less willing to talk or think about death than Americans 1mo
nanuska_153 @Nebklvr there's a movie with Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson! It's called Alone in Berlin but it was made in Europe. I wonder if it changed the name in the US 1mo
42 likes7 comments
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Nebklvr
This Is Me Trying | Racquel Marie
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Mehso-so

The author spent the first half of this very angsty story working around a storyline instead of telling it. It should have built suspense but for the most part built annoyance. The last bit was much better.

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Nebklvr
The Gods' Revenge | Katherine Marsh
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Pickpick

This sequel is quite fun. The pacing was a bit off and some strings should have been tied up but the friendship was great and the characters were complex. The mythological aspects were interesting. Who hasn‘t thought Zeus an unfaithful putz? Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

Nevermoor is beset by a mysterious illness which causes its victims to become violent and then catatonic. The character growth Morrigan experiences is wonderful. It was a bit of a disappointment to find her friends somewhat sidelined. The war against bigotry and fake news was apropos. Next in the series is due out in May.

quote
Nebklvr

“The thing about numpties, Mog, is that they can always find plenty of other numpties to believe their numpty nonsense. You know what they say: You‘re never more than six feet away from a numpty.”—oh, I definitely feel this!

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Nebklvr
Psalm for the Wild-Built | Becky Chambers
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Pickpick

This was a lovely read in a dark time for humanity.

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Nebklvr
Death in the Andes | Mario Vargas Llosa
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Mehso-so

With a wavering timeline and shifting points of view, this was a dark nightmare of Peruvian storytelling. It was somewhat difficult to follow but the claustrophobic terror felt real.

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Nebklvr
Ps: I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
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Pickpick

Sad, funny, lovely….emotionally devastating. This was great.

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Nebklvr
The Antidote | Karen Russell
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Mehso-so

This was interesting but not engaging. The characters resembled game pieces. If there was a plot, it was vague enough to escape notice. The author‘s descriptions of the dust storms were the most visceral and true of anything in the novel.

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Nebklvr
Majestica | Sarah Tolcser
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Pickpick

A magical hotel and animal sanctuary are a fantastic setting for an adventure featuring dragons, trigers, poachers and dark magic. There were a few unanswered questions. The plot was fast-paced. The characters were well rendered.

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Nebklvr
Any Trope But You | Victoria Lavine
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Pickpick

I am late in reviewing this April ARC. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing it. In a rather hectic month, this provided the steam, heart, and laughs one always loves in their rom com. It also proved grumpy characters don‘t need to be jerks.

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Nebklvr
The Sherlock Society | James Ponti
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Pickpick

A new detective agency, a treasure hunt, and a few felonies later….This was great fun. There was adventure galore, humor, personal growth, and the mention of lots of yummy food.

38 likes1 stack add
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

This was not my favorite. It was incredibly predictable.

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Nebklvr
Old School | Gordon Korman
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Pickpick

Korman is a reliable good read. Great characters, lots of humor, and some heartwarming moments are his bread and butter.

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Nebklvr
The Antidote | Karen Russell
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This is rather strange…haven‘t decided if I like it yet.

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Nebklvr
Safe Harbor | Padma Venkatraman
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Mehso-so


April is poetry month and this little story in verse covers many different and serious topics without delving deep enough to become bogged down.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

This is an intense and chaotic adventure exploring the perils of the internet: swatting, isolation, extremism, cancelling, and just letting our worst selves out to play. In internet land, there is no making a mistake and learning from it and then we are surprised when this atmosphere pushes people even further into the darker corners. This was almost too intense at times because as crazy as the plot is, it could so easily happen.

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Nebklvr
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This is an intense look at the perils of the internet: swatting, isolation, extremism, cancelling, and just letting our worst selves out to play. In internet land, there is no making a mistake and learning from it and then we are surprised when this atmosphere pushes people even further into the darker corners.

38 likes2 stack adds
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at the impact of nature on people‘s wellbeing—physical and mental.

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Nebklvr
Twelfth Knight | Alexene Farol Follmuth
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Pickpick

Two knights with different world views are enemies in real life and friends and partners in a popular role playing game. There is a lot to take in but it was a fun way to receive it.

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Nebklvr
Impossible Creatures | Katherine Rundell
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Mehso-so

The reader is dropped in to a new land with magical creatures. Some are explained but many are not described at all. The tale drug on a bit and by the time it got to the best bits, I was ready to be done.

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Nebklvr
The Newcomer: A Novel | Mary Kay Andrews
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Mehso-so

It wasn‘t horrible but it was just rather flat.

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Nebklvr
Louder Than Hunger | John Schu
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Pickpick

What is louder than hunger? The voice in his head telling him he is a loser who shouldn‘t eat, doesn‘t deserve to eat. This portrait of a young boy suffering from anorexia and those determined to help him is inspiring. The voice feels genuine and telling the story in verse was genius.

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Nebklvr
Where Wolves Don't Die | Anton Treuer
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Mehso-so

Hunting, trapping, tradition, and a great love between Grandfather and Grandson. The family bonds were lovely. The nature scenes intense. The reason for Ezra being sent to the wilderness seemed almost irrelevant.

38 likes1 stack add
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Nebklvr
Stay Dead | April Henry
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Mehso-so

This could have been a much more intense story without the flashbacks to the inciting incident. One chapter could have provided that info. Lackluster.

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Nebklvr
El seor presidente | Miguel Angel Asturias
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Mehso-so

This was a challenging read. There was a plethora of characters falling in and out of the story and rarely was their end known. Also, there were hallucinations or delusions galore. This was a grim story about a grim time. Apparently, it was a story humanity felt the need to repeat.

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Nebklvr
Six Truths and a Lie | Ream Shukairy
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Pickpick

Well now. Isn‘t this a timely read. A system set up for anything but justice. A complicit media. Six teenagers in the wrong place at the wrong time and of the wrong ancestry and religion. It started slow with the multiple points of view but the main event brought the intensity and depth of character to the story.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

The Amari series has been fantastic. Alston is a genius at devising new challenges to keep the intensity ratcheted up. Each book gets better and the first was amazing. The new characters were great. The heartbreak was real.

TheBookHippie I love this series. 3mo
Nebklvr @TheBookHippie It is so good! 3mo
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Nebklvr
Killers of a Certain Age | Deanna Raybourn
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Panpan

Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series has humor and lively, wonderfully singular characters. Killers of a Certain Age has very bland characters. Female assassins who have aged-out of their jobs at the "museum" fighting against an unknown enemy with an elite force at its disposal. What a great plot. Alas, it was boring. The time skips could have been used in such a way as to make the story more complex; however, mostly they were just tedious.

KathyWheeler I always find it interesting how different people react to books. I didn‘t really love what I read of the Veronica Speedwell books at all, but I loved this one. I did find one character, Valerie — I think — unnecessary, as I couldn‘t even remember that she existed let alone remember her name. 3mo
Nebklvr @KathyWheeler I know!! I read the other comments and I am an outsider on this one! 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

This was a fun adventure and romance story. It was also completely in the fantasy realm as women were quite independent and society had very little control over them. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance review copy.

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Nebklvr
Vanya and the Wild Hunt | Sangu Mandanna
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Pickpick

The books tried to warn her…A protagonist struggling with school and all the ways her differences, including ADHD, make her feel like an outsider, kills a monster and learns a big family secret. Imaginative and thoughtful. I do wish there had been more of an ending to this installment. This one was quite abrupt. Thanks to Edelweiss and the Publisher for an advance digital copy.

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Nebklvr
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

Shearwater Island will exist forever in my mind. This desolate, cold, and doomed island with its isolated inhabitants, its treasure trove of seeds which hold the hope of a future world, seems as real as Antarctica. Atmospheric, tense, and incredibly well-written, this must be one of the "it" books of the year. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advance review copy.

BarbaraBB Great review. Can‘t wait to read it myself 3mo
AmandaBlaze Loved it! 3mo
Karisimo Agree!! 3mo
43 likes3 comments
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

The author understates the difficulties of her childhood and also her successes. While this indicates an abundance of humility, it also makes it feel a bit dull.

38 likes1 stack add
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Nebklvr
Simple Twist of Fate | April Asher
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Pickpick

This was a cute story. Ripe for sequels. Fun and flaky and spicy. Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance digital copy.