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sarahbellum

sarahbellum

Joined December 2016

I like books that stand the test of time Librarian 📚 | Pet lover 😸🐶 | Runner, hiker, cross stitcher 🏃🏻‍♀️🧵| 📍California
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sarahbellum
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Leila, thank you so much for this purrrfect #muglove23 swap!!! Such an adorable mug and delicious sounding teas! I really appreciate this bright spot in my day 😍☕️😻

I‘ve been very MIA on Litsy lately, but I‘m looking forward to catching up with you all this week!

Catsandbooks I'm so glad!! Happy Valentine's Day! 💕 7mo
Cinfhen So sweet!!! 7mo
58 likes2 comments
review
sarahbellum
The Crying of Lot 49 | Thomas Pynchon
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Panpan

Uh… what?

I think I‘m glad I read this? It at least saved me from wasting time on Gravity‘s Rainbow 😬

January‘s #doublespin and another #1001books checked off @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Oh dear. At least it's off the list!! 8mo
dabbe I tried like the first page and went 🤯. No TP for me-me. 😀 8mo
51 likes2 comments
review
sarahbellum
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Bailedbailed

It‘s a no from me, dawg. Weird 80s YA sci-fi.

Read the first chapter and decided I have better things to read. I should have read the blurb before actually checking it out, but figured I‘d give it a try since I remember really liking The Chocolate War as a teen. Ah well, on to the next.

#Bookspin for Jan and first bail of the year @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Those 80s YA sci-fi are DEFINITELY hit or miss!! 😂 8mo
53 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
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Hi Leila! Your #muglove23 packages are on their way! Amazon‘s shipping them separately 🤷🏻‍♀️, so it looks like you‘ll get one box this week and one right around Valentines Day ❤️ @Catsandbooks

@TheKidUpstairs @Cinfhen

Catsandbooks OK I'll be on the lookout! Thanks!! 8mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your mug ☕️ 8mo
sarahbellum @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks not mine, but available to buy on Amazon 😆. I thought it was the perfect image for the mug love swap! 8mo
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Cinfhen Love this image!!!! So funny, I placed my order on Amazon yesterday too 😊🎉☕️Thanks for letting us know….. now the waiting 😅 8mo
sarahbellum A fun update: the second package is now set to arrive 2/1 or 2/2 📦 @Catsandbooks 8mo
Catsandbooks @sarahbellum excellent thanks! 😊 8mo
Catsandbooks @sarahbellum one of the packages arrived today! @Cinfhen @TheKidUpstairs 8mo
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing all the info with us!!! 8mo
Catsandbooks One of your packages should have arrived yesterday. Did you get it? 8mo
sarahbellum @Catsandbooks sorry for the delay! Yes, I got both packages! I‘ll going to have to hide them so I‘m not tempted to open them early 🙃 8mo
Catsandbooks @sarahbellum oh fantastic! I just got the second one from you! 😊 8mo
59 likes12 comments
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sarahbellum
Small Kindnesses | Fiona Robyn
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Thank you, everyone, for your condolences. Your kindness has been a soft place for me over the last few hard days.

One more photo of Basil, one of the last I took of him, because it always makes me laugh: I made lobster tails for New Years Eve and he jumped right up to the table, expecting me to share 😹

I‘ll always be grateful for his dedicated companionship ❤️

Ruthiella My cat Wally likes ice cream. I sometimes let him lick the spoon. 😺 8mo
sarahbellum @Ruthiella Basil loved dairy, especially yogurt and ice cream. I usually let him lick out the yogurt cup after I was done 😊 8mo
Christine Aww, such a sweet photo and memory. So sorry for your loss. 8mo
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LeahBergen ❤️❤️❤️ 8mo
batsy Basil ❤️ 8mo
wanderinglynn So sorry for your loss. 💔🐱🤍 8mo
Librarybelle So sorry for your loss 8mo
JessClark78 ❤️ 8mo
Chelsea.Poole ♥️ 8mo
Mollyanna I am so sorry for your loss ❤️ 8mo
JenReadsAlot ❤️ 8mo
quietjenn 💙 8mo
AmyG I am so sorry for your loss. Basil was a beauty. ❤️ 8mo
Allylu It was so hard losing our cat, Sam, of 17 years. Every time my daughter comes in the door, she expects him to come see her. We loved him so much. I'm sorry you had to experience this, too. ❤ 8mo
AnneCecilie I‘m so sorry for your loss ❤️ 8mo
dabbe Such a handsome boy. Looks like you were the best mamma to him. ❣️ 8mo
Hooked_on_books Oh no, so sorry for this. It‘s awful losing furbabies. 😢 8mo
Dragon 😻 8mo
iread2much What a handsome boy. I hope he enjoyed some lobster 🦞 8mo
DocBrown So sorry 😢. It‘s never easy to lose a pet. 8mo
72 likes20 comments
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sarahbellum
The Rainbow Bridge | Audrey Wood
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Today was a very hard day: I made the agonizing decision to release Basil over the rainbow bridge. He made it to 18 w/ kidney disease & pancreatitis, but his body was shutting down & it was time. I had my sweet, regal boy for 14.5 years &, from the moment he looked at me w/ his bright blue eyes, I was his human & he was my shadow. It was an honor to rescue him & give him a comfortable life. To say I will miss him is an absolute understatement 💔

BookmarkTavern What a sweet face! I‘m so sorry for your loss. ❤️ 8mo
SamAnne That cat clearly is a keeper. So sorry for your loss. What a face. 8mo
DGRachel Hugs. I‘m so sorry for your loss. 8mo
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mabell I‘m so sorry - What a perfect friend 💕 How wonderful to have so many years together ❤️ 8mo
JenReadsAlot What a sweetheart. I'm so sorry for your loss. 8mo
JessClark78 So sorry for your loss. 💔❤️ 8mo
KathyWheeler I‘m so sorry. He‘s beautiful. 8mo
Aimeesue So sorry. We love them so much and it's so hard ❤️❤️ 8mo
majkia So very sorry. 8mo
Aims42 I‘m so sorry, he looked like a great friend and shadow ♥️♥️♥️ 8mo
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Awe. So so sorry. 8mo
curiouserandcurioser @sarahbellum im so sorry for your loss❤ 8mo
Dragon 😻❤️ 8mo
iread2much Im so sorry for your loss. I wish you peace and comfort in this difficult time 8mo
Jas16 Oh I am so sorry 8mo
Zuhkeeyah So sorry for your loss ❤️ 8mo
BookBosomed1 I‘m so sorry for your loss. May you find moments of peace during this gentle time. ❤️ 8mo
quietjenn I‘m so sorry. Sending you comfort. 💙 8mo
Bklover I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Basil. What a beautiful kitty- I am sure you gave him a life of love and caring, and he will take that with him, just as he leaves you with all of his love. ❤️ 8mo
Ruthiella So sorry to hear this. 💔 8mo
Bookwormjillk Sorry for your loss 💔 8mo
MoonWitch94 Sending you so much love & comfort. What a life you gave him! ♥️ 8mo
HeyT So sorry for your loss. Fur babies bring the greatest joy but also that moment of sadness when they are gone all too soon. 8mo
TheDaysGoBy Sorry for your loss! 8mo
LeahBergen Oh no! I‘m so sorry to hear this. Sending love. ❤️❤️ 8mo
Reggie Ohhh, I‘m so sorry. 8mo
batsy I'm so sorry for your loss. Basil looks like he was an immense character ❤️ 8mo
TheLudicReader 💔 I can only imagine how sad you must be. 8mo
PurpleyPumpkin So sorry for Basil‘s loss. Such a handsome fellow. 💜 8mo
Susanita What a handsome feline. I‘m sorry for your loss. 😥 8mo
Meshell1313 I‘m so sorry. Hang in there! 8mo
Chelsea.Poole He sounds like a wonderful cat. Sorry for your loss. ♥️ 8mo
AmyK1 I‘m so sorry 😢 8mo
fredamans My deepest condolences. 🙏 8mo
eeclayton I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 8mo
MicheleinPhilly I‘m so sorry. Thank you for giving him such a wonderful life. ❤️ 8mo
DaveGreen7777 I‘m so sorry for your loss! 😢 It‘s always so hard to make those decisions, even when we know it‘s what‘s best for them to end their suffering. Sending you healing energy! ❤️‍🩹 8mo
bookishdawg I‘m so so sorry for your loss 💔 8mo
MaureenMc I‘m so sorry for your loss. 💔❤️‍🩹💗 8mo
dabbe Gulp. What a handsome boy. Sending you lots of 🤗. 💔🌈❤️‍🩹 8mo
BookwormM So sorry 😢 8mo
DogMomIrene I‘m so sorry for your loss. He looks so sweet and cuddly. May you be reunited at the 🌈 bridge❤️ 8mo
BookNAround I‘m so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful boy. 8mo
jlhammar I‘m so sorry. Such a difficult thing to go through. My heart goes out to you. 8mo
Catsandbooks So sorry for your loss! My heart is with you! ❤️ 8mo
vivastory I just saw your recent post about your loss & I'm so sorry. Sending good thoughts your way. 💔 8mo
Bookwomble ❤️🐈‍⬛❤️ 8mo
74 likes47 comments
review
sarahbellum
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Mehso-so

I‘m not a YA or romance reader, let alone a YA romance reader, so me reading this was already a stretch. There were certainly parts that were endearing or poignant and, for awhile, I thought I was actually going to love it. Ultimately, it didn‘t land for me. I‘ll leave my biggest gripe in the comments with a spoiler warning. I listened to this one and I thought the narrator was top notch.

My second #roll100 read for January

sarahbellum Making out in the Anne Frank house where everyone applauded them instead of thinking they were incredibly disrespectful. And then leaving to have sex… didn‘t realize the atrocities of the Holocaust could have that effect on people 8mo
Bookwomble Yikes! Beyond inappropriate! 8mo
PuddleJumper That's great! 8mo
56 likes3 comments
review
sarahbellum
Arsenic and Adobo | Mia P. Manansala
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Mehso-so

January‘s #diversecozy buddy read

Oh dear, what a mess. I really loved learning more about Filipino-American culture and food (oh the food! 🤤), but the plot/mystery itself was partly overly complicated and partly very obvious. I was baffled by some of the characters‘ motivations and reactions, including the MC‘s. Felt very much like a debut 🤷🏻‍♀️

5feet.of.fury I agree, & I‘m glad you said that, I was at like 70% and obviously an easy one to finish but I was having a real problem of motivation bc I had no interest in these characters. Everyone‘s behavior was so random. 8mo
sarahbellum @5feet.of.fury when it was revealed what Janet had done and Lila ran up to her and gave her a HUG and Terrence didn‘t want to leave her, I was flabbergasted. Everyone was so anti-drug and she was directly responsible for the flood of illegal drugs into their community! I just… ugh 🤬😵‍💫 I could go on and on haha 8mo
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KathyWheeler @sarahbellum That was just so weird! As was her aunt‘s restaurant serving the food at the wake when they‘d been suspected of killing the dead person. 8mo
5feet.of.fury @sarahbellum that was so silly! The way Lila accused everyone, assumed it was the other restaurant owners but ate at all these places and accused them of murder. and how they don‘t really address Derek being Lila‘s ex until over half the book is gone, but especially Rosie‘s Kitchen making the food for the wake for the dead person they were under investigation for poisoning… mind blowing to me. 😂😂 8mo
5feet.of.fury @KathyWheeler that one just kills me 😅 8mo
sarahbellum @KathyWheeler @5feet.of.fury yes, the wake food and the eating at all the suspects‘ restaurants! Another thing that killed me was when Adeena called Lila while Kevin was still at the cafe to tell her that she knew how Derek was killed and who did it… like what???? The killer is right next to you! Get away, don‘t keep working and rat him out within earshot 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 8mo
KathyWheeler @sarahbellum Really! That drive me crazy too! 8mo
mhillis It wasn‘t my favorite either but I‘d still like to give book three a try this month! 8mo
sarahbellum @mhillis hopefully the series improves over time! 8mo
BookmarkTavern That‘s disappointing! But I love the cover design so much! 8mo
58 likes11 comments
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sarahbellum
Price of Salt, or Carol | Patricia Highsmith
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Highsmith on January 👌

LeahBergen Oh, I love Highsmith. 👍 9mo
batsy I loved this ❤️ I want to revisit it at some point. 9mo
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review
sarahbellum
Dovey Coe | Frances O'Roark Dowell
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Mehso-so

Cozy, blustery day with Basil 😻

My first #roll100 read of the year was this quick middle grade book. It was… meh, like a watered down To Kill A Mockingbird. I was digging it well enough until the last 10 or so pages- the resolution, for adult me, was not great. A very old TBR finally read, so still a win in my book!

PuddleJumper That's great! 9mo
60 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
The Library Card | Jerry Spinelli
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I signed up for 2 new library cards (my county‘s and the neighboring city‘s)… may have gotten in way over my head 😬😍 #librarystack

Deblovestoread Great looking stack 🤩 9mo
SheReadsAndWrites Never 🤓 9mo
Ruthiella I have four library cards. 😂 If you are still in California, you can get county library cards with your CA license, regardless of what county you live in. (edited) 9mo
Lcsmcat The Roundhouse is amazing. I hope you get to it before it‘s due. 9mo
sarahbellum @Ruthiella I now have 5 😂. Yes, I love that about CA ❤️ 9mo
68 likes5 comments
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sarahbellum
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#12booksof2022

Last, but not least, my December favorite: the Guernsey audiobook was the warm hug I needed as I adjusted to my new home. I couldn‘t help but be charmed by the cast of characters. I‘m also a sucker for an epistolary tale.
Middlemarch was a close runner up: Eliot‘s style could certainly get bogged down in minutia and obscure references, but damn, when she was on, she was ON and pulled no punches describing human nature.

Andrew65 Love this book. Thanks for playing along, it has been a good way to review the year‘s reading. 9mo
62 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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sarahbellum
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I recently managed to break the handle off of a mug of mine 🤦🏻‍♀️ so this swap came at the perfect time! #muglove23

Thanks for hosting, @TheKidUpstairs @Cinfhen ! Looking forward to this sweet and simple swap! ☕️❤️

Cinfhen Sorry about your busted mug but SUPER GLAD you‘re joining us🥳 Thanks for spreading the #MugLove 💟 9mo
Catsandbooks Hi Sarah! Do you have any favorite kinds of tea? 8mo
sarahbellum @Catsandbooks Hi Leila! I really enjoy black teas in the morning (Earl Gray, English/Irish Breakfast, etc) and green tea or non-caffeinated herbal/fruit teas in the afternoon. I‘m not super picky! Thanks for asking 🙂 8mo
Catsandbooks @sarahbellum OK great! Thanks so much! 8mo
37 likes4 comments
review
sarahbellum
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Pickpick

Needed a palate cleanser, so I listened to Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey gab away while I finished this belated Xmas gift for my nephew. I love The Office and listening to their podcast, The Office Ladies, so this was definitely a “shut up and take my money” situation. I‘d definitely recommend the audiobook, but also having the print on hand to see all the photographs and ephemera.

#litsycrafters #audiostitching

Catsandbooks The avengers cross stitch is awesome!! My husband would love that! He loves Marvel!! 9mo
sarahbellum @Catsandbooks thank you! I found the pattern on Etsy 9mo
Catsandbooks @sarahbellum I will keep this in mind for a gift idea! 😉 9mo
OriginalCyn620 Love! 9mo
62 likes5 comments
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sarahbellum
The Member of the Wedding | Carson McCullers
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#12booksof2022

I only read 4 books in November, but 2 of them were excellent. McCullers managed to capture adolescence so well in her short novel; I just love her Southern Gothic style. Fasthorse‘s critique on smug “wokeness” was 👩🏻‍🍳💋. I listened to the audio production of the play and Liza Weil (Paris in Gilmore Girls) was the female lead- she nailed it 👌. Thanks to whichever Litten mentioned the play on Tgiving and got it on my radar!

Andrew65 The tagged book is on my TBR (edited) 9mo
50 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
Lolly Willowes | Sylvia Townsend Warner
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#12booksof2022

October‘s favorite is a toss up between these absolute gems. I loved them both for their strong female leads, sparkling humor, and general badassery. Everyone needs a Lolly and a Miss Pettigrew in their life 👯‍♀️

LeahBergen They are both so good! 9mo
Andrew65 Both look good. 9mo
batsy I adore Lolly, so I must read Miss Pettigrew! 9mo
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sarahbellum
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Happy #bookspinbingo day, everyone!

My #bookspin is The Bumblebee Flies Anyway
My #doublespin is The Crying of Lot 49 (this was also a #roll100 selection I didn‘t get to last year, so the universe must really want me to read this one!)

I‘ve got my eye on that last row as my way towards a bingo 👀

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 9mo
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sarahbellum
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#12booksof2022

It took me awhile to read this one, but I was finally able to finish it in September. I‘m not typically interested in books about WWII or even historical fiction, but this one really worked for me. Curious to try some other Doerr novels- I know many of you adored Cloud Cuckoo Land 🤔

Andrew65 A wonderful book. 9mo
SamAnne Highly recommend his short story collection Memory Wall! I hope to get to Cloud Cuckoo Land this spring. 9mo
sarahbellum @SamAnne great to hear, thank you! ☺️ 9mo
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sarahbellum
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My 2022 reading stats! Goals were to read 50 books and read down my TBR, specifically books that have been on my TBR the longest- crushed both!

79/93 were from my TBR! 😱
36 read or DNF were from my oldest TBR books
Read or DNF 29/33 #roll100 selections 😱
Read or DNF all 12 #bookspin picks and 10/12 #doublespin picks (not always in their original months) 😱
Checked off 32 years for #192025
Read 8 #1001books
⬇️⬇️⬇️

sarahbellum A huge THANK YOU to @TheAromaofBooks and @PuddleJumper for hosting your respective challenges- I credit you both for helping me crush my goals in 2022! 🎉 9mo
PuddleJumper That's brilliant! Well done! 9mo
wanderinglynn Congrats! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! What a fantastic year!!! 9mo
57 likes4 comments
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sarahbellum
A Small Place | Jamaica Kincaid
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#12booksof2022

A #roll100 pick for August, this one was small, but mighty. Definitely made me think long and hard about colonialism/tourism and my own actions as a tourist. Need more Kincaid in my life! 🔥

Andrew65 Sounds a must read. 9mo
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sarahbellum
Middlemarch | George Eliot
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Pickpick

With just a couple of hours to spare, I finished Middlemarch in 2022! 🎉 #1001books

Thank you for understanding, @Graywacke , as I dealt with some curveballs that delayed my reading. That middle was a slog, but Eliot‘s sparkling wit and insight came back in full force for the final book and made it worthwhile for me. So glad I decided to give this DNF from college another shot and join you on this journey! #george

Cheers to 2023, everyone! 🥂

vivastory Impressive! 👏👏 9mo
batsy Yay! 🙌🏾 9mo
erzascarletbookgasm 👏 well done! I‘ll continue my journey with #george this year. 9mo
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Graywacke Kudos! You did it! And happy new year 9mo
BkClubCare 👏👏👏🎉🌟🎆 9mo
Ruthiella Wow! 🤩 Well done! 👏👏👏 9mo
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sarahbellum
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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I‘m also excited to be participating in #bookspin and #bookspinbingo again in 2023!

Like in 2022, I‘m going to create my #bookspin lists from my Goodreads TBR, sorted by date added. In Jan, I‘m using books 1-20 on my TBR; in Feb, I‘ll use 101-120; in March, I‘ll use 201-220; and so on. Once I reach the end of my TBR, I do “second chance” #bookspin lists for the books that caught my eye, but I didn‘t get to during their original month

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 9mo
46 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
Rolling The Dice | Alessandra Torre
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Excited to be participating in #roll100 again in 2023!

Just like 2022, I‘ll sort my Goodreads TBR by date added and use the first 100 titles (the ones that have been on my TBR the longest) as my #roll100 list every month.

January‘s picks:
The Fault in Our Stars (will most likely listen to this one- with tissues at the ready 😬)
After Dark (my first Murakami!)
Dovey Coe

Thanks, as always, @PuddleJumper !

PuddleJumper Looks good! 9mo
40 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
Excellent Women | Barbara Pym
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#12booksof2022

Like many of you, Excellent Women won me over in July. Pym had long been sitting on my TBR, so I‘m very grateful that the #pemberlittens buddy read encouraged me to finally get to it this year. Very much looking forward to my next Pym!

Andrew65 This one has got a few recommendations. 9mo
50 likes1 comment
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sarahbellum
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#12booksof2022

I read some real stinkers in June, but I also read this gem of a novel, one of my top reads of the year. #camplitsy gave me the needed to push to read it this year instead of having it languish on my miles long TBR

Suet624 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 for Camplitsy. 9mo
Andrew65 Looks a fun read. 9mo
Ruthiella I loved this one too! 9mo
58 likes3 comments
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sarahbellum
Price of Salt, or Carol | Patricia Highsmith
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#12booksof2022

Read for May‘s #authoramonth, this was my first Highsmith and boy, can she create an atmosphere. I can‘t say this was an enjoyable read per say, as I largely found it uncomfortable and itchy, but I have deep respect for an author who can evoke those emotions in a reader not only in the moment of reading, but in the months (years?) following when the reader recalls the story. Looking forward to more Highsmith!

Andrew65 Another excellent author. 9mo
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sarahbellum
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#12booksof2022

April was an okay reading month for me overall, but listening to a production of M. Butterfly was absolutely a highlight of my reading year. I fell down many Wikipedia rabbit holes with this one. Would really love to see this performed live one day!

lynneamch Yes! And Jeremy Irons was amazing in the 1993 movie. 9mo
Andrew65 Love when boons send me down those rabbit holes and expands my knowledge base. 9mo
sarahbellum @lynneamch ooo I will have to check it out! 9mo
50 likes3 comments
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sarahbellum
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Everyone is welcome to join the super casual #diversecozy buddy reads in 2023!

Read the monthly book at your own pace and tag us when you have comments to share. Many of these are the first in a series- if you‘ve already read the first book, feel free to read whichever is next in the series for you. Skip any you want and join in again whenever!

Let me know if you‘d like to be added to the tag list 🙂

ShananigansReads I would like to be added to the tag list. 9mo
sarahbellum You got it, @Bookjunkie57 ! 9mo
KathyWheeler I‘d like to be added since I read in this genre a lot, but haven‘t read most of these. 9mo
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ShananigansReads @sarahbellum thanks! I already have a few of these on my TBR so it will be nice to have to motivation to move them to the top. 😁 9mo
sarahbellum @KathyWheeler yay, added! 9mo
sarahbellum @Bookjunkie57 having that extra motivation is key! 🙃 9mo
Bookwormjillk I love this idea! Could you add me please? 9mo
sarahbellum @Bookwormjillk absolutely! 9mo
mhillis Looking forward to it! Thank you ☺️ 9mo
5feet.of.fury ❤️ add me please! 9mo
Mollyanna Woohoo! Great list! Looking forward to more cozies 😊. Thanks Sarah. 9mo
sarahbellum @5feet.of.fury sure thing! 9mo
kspenmoll Please add me after Jan. Read that one already. This looks like fun! 9mo
sarahbellum @kspenmoll okie dokie, I‘ll start tagging you in February! 9mo
RedxoHearts Please add me to the tag list. I love cozies! I haven't read any of these except for Arsenic and Adobo which I loved. I still need to read the next book of that series 9mo
sarahbellum @RedxoHearts yay, welcome! 9mo
DebinHawaii Can you add me to the tag list? I have the first one & several of these on my #TBR & this could be the push I need. 🤗 9mo
sarahbellum @DebinHawaii awesome, added! 9mo
Lunakay Could you add me to the list?😊 8mo
julieclair What fun! Please add me to the tag list. Several of these have already been on my TBR awhile. 📚 8mo
46 likes20 comments
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sarahbellum
Meaty: Essays | Samantha Irby
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#12booksof2022

March was another mixed reading bag. I really enjoyed listening to Meaty, a collection of very funny essays that had been on my TBR for ages.

Close runners up were Circle of Friends (just the right amount of chick lit vibes) and Malibu Rising (TJR can certainly nail a setting). I had never read any of these authors before and now I want to read everything all 3 have written!

Andrew65 Maeve Binchy is a favourite of mine and loved everything she has written, many good books ahead of you. Also love Taylor Jenkins Reid and loved all 3 books I‘ve read. Malibu Rising was my choice for March. 9mo
sarahbellum @Andrew65 lovely! Lots to look forward to 😊 9mo
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sarahbellum
In the Winter Woods | Isabelle Adler
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Pickpick

Finished Dec‘s #diversecozy read right before heading out the door for trivia night tonight.

There were some mistakes that should‘ve been caught by an editor that drove me a little batty, but I enjoyed this more than I didn‘t. The town was charming, it wasn‘t too romance-y for me (a genre I‘ve never been able to enjoy), and the mystery wasn‘t easily solvable. Very easy to read, especially for the holidays, but will probably be forgotten soon

mhillis I wanted to read this one but couldn‘t get the hold in time! Enjoy trivia!! 9mo
sarahbellum @mhillis that‘s always a bummer! It‘d be fun to read any time during the winter 9mo
62 likes2 comments
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sarahbellum
Yes, Chef: A Memoir | Marcus Samuelsson
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#12booksof2022

February was a mixed bag of a reading month. My favorite was listening to Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson. I appreciated how he didn‘t shy away from his flaws and missteps.

Close runners up were Ivanhoe (way more entertaining than I thought it‘d be going in) and Half Empty (another audiobook; highly recommend for David Sedaris fans)

Andrew65 Three very different books. 9mo
JenReadsAlot I really enjoyed Yes, Chef! 9mo
sarahbellum @Andrew65 I‘m nothing if not eclectic 😂 9mo
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sarahbellum
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#12booksof2022

January was a very good reading month for me, both in quality and quantity. My favorite book of the month, and will most likely be my favorite book of the year, was the graphic memoir, Good Talk by Mira Jacob. Close runners up were I Capture the Castle and In Waves.

vivastory Good Talk is phenomenal. I read it at the beginning of last yr & it kicked off a love for graphic memoirs. 9mo
JenReadsAlot I loved Good Talk! 9mo
Andrew65 Good choices. 9mo
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jlhammar I loved Good Talk! In Waves was also really good. Still need to try Castle! I‘ve been meaning to for years. 9mo
Aimeesue That was a good one! 9mo
tpixie I BOUGHT Castle this year- can‘t remember where I had just learned about it. It‘s still waiting TBR. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. 9mo
sarahbellum @vivastory Blankets did the same for me back in high school! Love a good graphic memoir 9mo
sarahbellum @jlhammar @tpixie Castle is really wonderful for when you‘re feeling nostalgic and in the mood for a light coming of age story 💖 9mo
tpixie @sarahbellum ☺️ 9mo
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sarahbellum
Self Care: A Novel | Leigh Stein
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A few ways I‘ve been taking care of myself during this season of major change (aside from reading, of course): hiking and exploring my new town, cooking comforting meals, taking the time to fill my new home with meaningful things instead of grabbing the first thing, speaking regularly with friends, researching ways I can participate in my new community, finding future fun things to do in the area

#holidayfriends

Soubhiville That stew looks amazing! 9mo
sarahbellum @Soubhiville it‘s one of my favorites and super easy to make. Here‘s the recipe (I typically use kale instead of escarole since escarole can be hard to find near me): https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/gnocchi-lentil-and-escarole-soup/ 9mo
Soubhiville Thanks! I saved it, I‘ll put the ingredients on my next shopping list! There‘s nothing like a good soup in the winter. 9mo
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sarahbellum @Soubhiville You said it! Let me know how you like it 🍜😋 9mo
Andrew65 Sounds perfect and liking the look of that soup / stew! 9mo
TheBookHippie Oh I love the recipe!!! Thank you!! I love this post! Sending light! 9mo
Soubhiville Thanks @TheBookHippie ! I‘ve bookmarked this one as well 😋 9mo
TheBookHippie @Soubhiville Foodie. I am. 9mo
wanderinglynn Great photo! Looks like you have a great place to hike. 🥾 9mo
sarahbellum @TheBookHippie oh yum- that soup sounds amazing! 🤤 Definitely going to make it the next time I‘m jonesing for a hearty soup! 9mo
sarahbellum @wanderinglynn yes, I‘m very lucky that so many amazing hikes are nearby! ⛰️💖 9mo
TheBookHippie @sarahbellum It is definitely soup weather here with the blizzard! HA. 9mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds wonderful!! 9mo
Aimeesue Your soup looks wonderful! 9mo
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Welp, I had my flight canceled on Friday and then again this morning, so it‘s just my cat and me in my new apartment for Christmas this year. I was so looking forward to seeing my family, who I haven‘t seen since 2019, but you can‘t control the weather 🤷🏻‍♀️. Looking forward to making the most out of a bummer of a situation- getting some major reading and organizing done, stocked up on yummy food, found some gorgeous hikes to explore 🎄

JamieArc 🤗🤗🤗 9mo
LiteraryinLawrence Oh no! I‘m so sorry your flights were cancelled. Of course it‘s great that you‘re making the most of it with reading, but still, that‘s rough. 9mo
BarbaraBB Wishing you the best time possible under the circumstances 🤍 9mo
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Ruthiella Bummer! 9mo
Jas16 Oh I am so sorry. What a tough situation to be in. I hope that your holiday still manages to be special. 9mo
Susanita That stinks. I hope you can make lemonade out of lemons. 9mo
batsy Sorry to hear that. Wishing you a lovely, peaceful time. 9mo
LeahBergen Oh no! Sending ❤️❤️❤️. 9mo
Amiable So sorry that your travel plans were cancelled. 😕 It sounds like you are making the best of a disappointing situation! Merry Christmas to you. 9mo
Soubhiville Oh no, that is a bummer. I hope you get to spend some screen time with them anyway. Enjoy your reading and hiking. Merry Christmas. 💕 9mo
JenReadsAlot Merry Christmas from Frankie and I 🎄💕 9mo
MaureenMc 💗💗🎄🎁💗💗 9mo
iread2much I hope you get to visit your family soon! 9mo
Megabooks So sorry!! 💔🫶🏻 9mo
sarahbellum @Megabooks thank you, Meg! 💖 9mo
Eggs Awww so disappointing-hope your day went okay! Merry Christmas! 9mo
sarahbellum @Eggs thank you! I had a very peaceful day 💗 9mo
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sarahbellum
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Happy Litsyversary, anniversary twin @Chrissyreadit ! 🥳👯‍♀️

So glad I found this community 6 years ago. Not only my reading life, but my whole life, is all the better for it 🥰

CaitZ Happy Litsyversary!!🎉 9mo
JamieArc Happy Litsyversary!!! 🎉🎉 9mo
mrp27 Happy Litsyversary! 🎉📚🎉 9mo
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julesG Happy Litsyversary! 9mo
LeahBergen Happy Litsyversary! 9mo
Ruthiella Happy Litsyversary! 🥳🥳🥳 9mo
Chrissyreadit Yay!!! Happy Litsyversary twin!!!! 9mo
Aimeesue Yay! Celebrate 🎉 🎊 🎉 9mo
Jas16 Happy Litsyversary 🎉📚🥳📖 9mo
fredamans Happy Litsyversary! 9mo
Reggie Happy Litsyversary!!! 9mo
IuliaC Happy Litsyversary! 🥳 9mo
eeclayton Happy Litsyversary! 🎉🎉🎉 9mo
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sarahbellum
Freakonomics Rev Ed: (and Other Riddles of Modern Life) | Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
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Pickpick

While interesting, I‘m not really sure what to take away from this book. Things are often more interconnected than one might think? The key to research is a good dataset? I‘m glad I finally gave this a listen, but I have a feeling I‘ll be forgetting most of it very soon 🤔 #rolldecember pick @PuddleJumper

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sarahbellum
The Help | Kathryn Stockett
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Pickpick

The audio production of this book was wonderful and probably the only reason why I finished this book and am considering it a light pick. Something about a white woman (who got sued for using a maid‘s likeness in the book) writing as Black women just felt off to me. This was very much a white centered story when it had true potential to not be.
Almost finished with my cross stitch gift for my grandma! #audiostitching #litsycrafters

sarahbellum ✅ January #doublespin finally complete @TheAromaofBooks 9mo
tpixie My grandma‘s favorite flowers were pansies! Such happy faces! 9mo
sarahbellum @tpixie They‘re my grandma‘s favorite too 😊 9mo
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tpixie @sarahbellum 💙💙💙 9mo
AmyG Lovely! 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress, and I love your pansies!! 9mo
Catsandbooks Lovely!! 9mo
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sarahbellum
In the Winter Woods | Isabelle Adler
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December‘s #diversecozy buddy read is In the Winter Woods: a little M/M Christmas romance mystery for you! Available on Hoopla for easy access.

Friends, how are we feeling about continuing #diversecozy in 2023? Should we stick to one a month or shift to every other month? Want me to continue picking out titles or should we do suggestions/voting? Thanks for your input! 🙂

Soubhiville @ThePageantHam is this a book/ a group you‘d be interested in? 10mo
BookmarkTavern I read an arc of this one two years ago, and I am so excited to read it again! And I‘m 100% in for 2023! I‘ve had a couple cozy mysteries on my TBR I‘d love to read with a group, so maybe, if you‘d like, you could open a couple months for suggestions? But I‘d be thrilled either way, this has really broadened my horizons! ❤️ 10mo
mhillis I‘m in for next year!! 10mo
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Mollyanna I‘m also in for next year! I‘m happy to assist in finding books if needed. This has been great for expanding my cozy experience. 10mo
ThePageantHam @Soubhiville oooh thank you for the tag, I love it 😍 I'm often overextended with book club reading but may drop in from time to time. This one is particularly tempting ❄️ 9mo
sarahbellum @ThePageantHam yay, you‘re more than welcome to join us! It‘s very casual- just read at your own pace and tag us when you have thoughts to share 😊 9mo
sarahbellum @ozma.of.oz @mhillis @Mollyanna excellent! I will throw together a Google form so you all can suggest titles for next year. Stay tuned for the link! 9mo
Mollyanna Sounds great! Thanks for organizing. 9mo
sarahbellum Thanks for your patience, @ozma.of.oz @mhillis @Mollyanna ! Here‘s the Google form: https://forms.gle/jDmQ8vP3ksfPhFrN7 9mo
BookmarkTavern Excellent! I‘ll take a look right now! ETA You had every book on my short list on that form! 🥰🥰 (edited) 9mo
sarahbellum @ozma.of.oz oh yay! 👯‍♀️ I‘ll give the others a few more days to vote and then I‘ll make the list for next year 9mo
Mollyanna Finally got around to filling out the form. Sorry it took so long. 9mo
sarahbellum @Mollyanna no worries, I know it‘s a very busy time of year! I‘ll give @mhillis another day or two to vote and then I‘ll post our list for 2023! 9mo
Mollyanna Sounds great! Thanks for organizing this for another year. I‘m looking forward to it. 9mo
mhillis thank you for the reminder @sarahbellum 🥰 9mo
sarahbellum @Mollyanna happy to do it! ☺️ 9mo
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sarahbellum
A Rising Man | Abir Mukherjee
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Pickpick

This book was… fine and a borderline so-so. It was easy to read and kept me interested enough to keep coming back. I enjoyed learning more about the tensions between Britain and India post WWI. I kept getting the police force and military personnel confused though and the ending felt very thrown together. Probably won‘t read more of the series. November‘s #diversecozy buddy read

BookmarkTavern Hoping to finish this in a couple days! 😁 10mo
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sarahbellum
The Help | Kathryn Stockett
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I finished this Xmas present for my mom a few days ago. A colorful crab for a Cancer. Now on to a bouquet of pansies for my grandma. #litsycrafters #audiostitching

I‘ve been listening to The Help while stitching and packing. It was my #doublespin from way back in January, so hoping to finally finish it this month. It‘s very long, but the audio production is 👌

RowReads1 Very impressive! 10mo
Catsandbooks So beautiful!! What a lovely gift! ❤️ 10mo
AnnR Really lovely! I used to do cross-stitch years ago and know it can be a time consuming hobby but also relaxing. 10mo
LiseWorks Nice! 10mo
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sarahbellum
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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The #bookspinbingo gods were good to me this month: both my #bookspin (Middlemarch) and #doublespin (The Exclamation Mark, Chekhov‘s parody of A Christmas Carol) were two that I was already planning to prioritize reading in December.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
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sarahbellum
November's End | Heather McVea
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Well, I completely whiffed my reading goals for November. Between traveling and personal stuff, I‘m surprised I managed to finish anything.
✅ 1 #roll100 title
✅ 3 audiobooks, one of which was my #bookspin
✅ 2/4 from my TBR
✅ 4 years added to #192025
🚫 1 DNF

I‘m midway through 3 books right now, so hoping my Dec reading will look a bit more robust 🤞

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The Breakup Plan | Jennifer Sucevic
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Hi, friends. Apologies for being a bit behind on just about everything. I ended my long term relationship last week and have been busy getting ready to move 200+ miles to a brand new town. Everything‘s a bit topsy turvy right now and reading has sadly slid to the bottom of my to do list. I‘m doing fine, all things considered, and am looking forward to a new chapter in my life, along with having time to read again. Thanks for being here 💖

BookwormAHN Hugs 💝 10mo
Librariana When something of this magnitude is going on in one's life... so much change and readjustment along with so many other details to take care of/be mindful of, it's completely understandable that certain tasks/habits end up falling in the list of priorities. But I do hope you'll be able to find comfort in reading again soon. Best of luck on this new journey 🍀 10mo
LeahBergen Do take care of yourself. Sending ❤️❤️❤️! 10mo
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Ruthiella We‘ll be here when you are ready. Take care of yourself! ❤️ 10mo
batsy Take care 💕 10mo
Librarybelle Take care! ❤️ 10mo
AmyG Wishing you all good things in your new home. Hugs. 10mo
slategreyskies Sending hugs. ❤️ 10mo
KateReadsYA Here's to a positive new chapter in your life 🥂 I hope you keep your head up and your heart happy. ❤️ 10mo
quietjenn Hope the future is full of goodness and do take care of yourself. 💜 10mo
jlhammar Wow, that's a lot of change. Wishing you all the best. 10mo
JenReadsAlot Sending good healing vibes your way 💕 10mo
fredamans Sending positive vibes 🤗 10mo
Jas16 Sending ❤️ 10mo
AnnR When the time is right, may you find comfort in reading again. In the meantime, sending good wishes for the next chapter in your life. 🤗 10mo
BookNAround Here‘s to a happy future through all the major changes you‘ve made. (edited) 10mo
SamAnne Sending good vibes and wishing you the best starting a new chapter. 10mo
MaureenMc 💗 10mo
Monica5 ❤️❤️ 10mo
Megabooks Sending hugs!! 💕💕 10mo
sarahbellum @Megabooks thank you, Meg! 🤗 10mo
BarbaraBB Whishing you strength 🤍🤍 10mo
sarahbellum @BarbaraBB thank you, Barbara! 💓 10mo
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Roll the Dice | Wayne Avrashow
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I‘ve been trying to figure out how to participate in #rolldecember since there‘s no way I‘m going to be able to read these 4 AND the #roll100 selections AND all the other books I want to read by the end of the year. Now I‘ve got it- I‘m going to consider these 4 as possible substitutes for any Nov or Dec #roll100 titles I‘m not really feeling. I will most likely switch out 2 titles for Freakonomics and BUtterfield8 in the coming weeks 🤔

PuddleJumper I have so many books I want to read in December and I'll probably end up reading 2 😂 10mo
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sarahbellum
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Pickpick

Listened to this relatively short memoir while cleaning and stitching over the weekend. The latest from Graham, I found this entertaining enough with a few gems folded in. Not earth shatteringly good or insightful, but if you‘re a fan of her or her shows, you will most likely enjoy hearing her unique voice again.

Thanks to Libro.fm for this free audiobook!

#bookspin for Nov @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
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Middlemarch | George Eliot
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Finished up book 5 this weekend.

I noticed that Ladislaw kept being referred to as an “Italian with mice” and had no idea what that meant (no footnote about it was in my edition). I took to Google and I wasn‘t the only one miffed by that phrase. Apparently, it was common for Italian immigrants in Victorian times to be street performers with monkeys or mice. So more xenophobia being thrown at Ladislaw. Hoping his is a redemption story! #george

kspenmoll Sorry I am bowing out- could not keep up. 10mo
Graywacke @sarahbellum i was wondering. I finished book vi yesterday. I found book v fast and book vi fast except for an extended (paternalistic?) look at Caleb Garth in one chapter. @kspenmoll - no worries! 👍 (edited) 10mo
sarahbellum @Graywacke oh good to know! I‘m hoping that the Thanksgiving holiday will help me pick up my pace a bit. 10mo
sarahbellum @Kspencer10 Hopefully you‘ll find a time to read this one in the future! It‘s dense, but worth it so far 10mo
Graywacke @sarahbellum i hoping to take advantage of the holiday too. I‘m hoping to finish the last day of November. It‘s possible. 10mo
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sarahbellum
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Pickpick

Finished this audiobook while making progress on a Xmas gift for my mom (she‘s into astrology & her sign is Cancer) #audiostitching #litsycrafters

I mainly enjoyed this book; I thought the narrator was excellent. So much privilege & seeming contempt for others, especially overweight people, though. I found many of the stats & facts uncomfortable and, no doubt, things are more dismal now than in the late 90s when Ehrenreich did her experiment ⬇️

sarahbellum I would have liked to hear more about how capitalism/consumerism keeps creating these low wage jobs and how folks can actually get out of this awfulness (education being a big one, but also interventions as a society). A very tangled web, indeed. My first #roll100 read for Nov @PuddleJumper 10mo
Catsandbooks So cool! 😍 10mo
Aimeesue I read Nickel & Dimed years ago, and I still think about it often. What a cute little crabby! 10mo
RowReads1 I‘ve read this book several times for classes over the years🥱. It‘s important, however definitely dated. Adorable crab! Cancers rule🦀 (edited) 10mo
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sarahbellum
Rolling Dice | Beth Reekles
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December‘s #roll100 picks are up! Even though I have a perfect track record of reading all #roll100 selections through October (!!!), I‘m not gonna lie- I feel myself slowing down with my reading and I‘m not sure how strong I‘m gonna finish the year. I‘ll give it my best shot all the same 🤞. Thanks, as always, @PuddleJumper !

Ruthiella OMG! A perfect track record? Awesome. I‘m only at 10% ! 😂 10mo
PuddleJumper November is such a bad month for me in terms of reading. I'm hoping I'll perk up in December with some fluffy reads 10mo
sarahbellum @Ruthiella I know, wild! 🙀 I‘ve really been trying to read down the titles that have been on my TBR the longest, so my #roll100 list is the first 100 books on my GR TBR, sorted by date added. I guess you can say I‘ve been successful! 10mo
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Middlemarch | George Eliot
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Hey, #george friends, did you see that Middlemarch was a Double Jeopardy category last week? Didn‘t seem like any of the contestants had read it recently 😅. Full list of answers can be found at the URL in the comments ⬇️

I‘ve slowly been working on book 5 the last few weeks and should be able to finish it by the weekend

Graywacke How cool. Wonder if Casaubon was sufficient, or if the answer required Edward. 10mo
sarahbellum @Graywacke if I remember correctly, they were just looking for Casaubon 10mo
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sarahbellum
Flying Home | Angie Moses
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Same, American Airlines, same 🤓📚

About to fly home after almost 2 weeks away. Didn‘t get much reading done between the conference and road tripping with a best friend. Looking forward to getting back into it and catching up on Litsy!

5feet.of.fury Oooh love a good road trip! 10mo
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