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shrewandsnail

shrewandsnail

Joined April 2018

Reader, book blogger, biologist. Austin, Texas. #atx www.shrewandsnail.com and www.goodreads.com/SUE_RE
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Circe by Madeline Miller
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The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
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I'm only on page 9 and I'm in love. "Undercooking is a justifiable reaction to the 1950s tendency to cook vegetables to collapse. But the pendulum has swung too far." AMEN.

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I'm reading this series and listening to the Fated Mates podcast for each one. I'm loving it so far! It. Is. WILD. And I'm pretty nervous about this one, I have heard some things about Regin's book and there was a glimpse of it in the last book that was pretty rough. Eek! Oh I got a bunch of these nice paperbacks in mint condition at the Half Price Books after Christmas sale! 📚

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Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo
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A fantasy novel with a heist? Yes, please. Maybe a little bit of a Firefly vibe? It's hard to believe the characters are really teenagers but they're so great. Also, this is my 69th book this year!

Eyelit firefly vibe? sign me up! 5y
24 likes1 comment
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Jane Steele | Lyndsay Faye
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A friend gifted me a pile of paperbacks and I chose this one to take on vacation. I'm enjoying it very much!

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Pickpick

I follow Nicole Georges on IG and she's very adorable. I found myself in the Salt Lake City library on an afternoon and chose this book from their graphic novel shelves. It's very cute and makes me think cartooning is probably a good way to cope with the past. I loved the story and all the little side stories.

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Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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I was shocked when this book won the Pulitzer because it seems like light fluffy reading, i.e. chick lit, but written by a man. I am about to board a flight and this was my airport purchase, and I hope to eat my words. Or enjoy some fluff, I don't care.

Eyelit Well?!? 5y
shrewandsnail @Eyelit I read YA novels on my Kindle app instead. 🙈 I think I was avoiding the paper book more than its content. 5y
16 likes2 comments
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It Takes Two | Jenny Holiday
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Pickpick

I'm really digging Jenny Holiday, she writes contemporary romance that is realistic and sweet and fun, usually with some diversity. This series is so good!

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This book and a couple of essays are all that's standing between me and the end of the 2018 Read Harder Challenge from @bookriot --eek! Not off to a great start with this book but gotta power through, it's for 2 categories-- a genre novel in translation and an assigned book you hated or never finished.

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Lethal White | Robert Galbraith
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Not nearly as dark as the earlier books in the series, but extremely long and the convoluted payoff was not as satisfying. It seems like a bridge between books in some ways, especially with Cormoran and Robin. Very suspenseful though! I read a 22 hour audiobook in about a week, which is extremely fast for me. Can't wait for the next one!

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Pickpick

This book is not as romantic as Gentleman's Guide, it's more like 18th Century Indiana Jones with 3 heroines. It has such good characters! Highly recommend. Highlights: Percy and Monty are in it! An asexual heroine! A Muslim pirate heroine! A feminine heroine! A slobbery dog! Natural history! And more pirates! Five stars.

Crinoline_Laphroaig Just finished and I LOVED it! 6y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lethal White | Robert Galbraith
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I'm loving this audiobook but omg it's over 22 hours long. 😭😭😭

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Pickpick

Oh dang this series is good. And the third one comes out.... in a year. 🙄😭 I'm apparently going on a goth YA binge now.

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Pickpick

I read this book because it was on the Audible Romance Package, it's short, and it has an outrageously funny title. I thought it would be more satirical than it was, but then again maybe I just can't judge after all the cheesy yet self-aware contemporary romance I've read? If you're on the Romance Package give it a try. It's short and fun. Also this email from goodreads cracked me up I mean where do you go from here.

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All's Faire in Middle School | Victoria Jamieson
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So freaking good.

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Bet Me | Jennifer Crusie
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Book haul! I also got a bunch of Sarah MacLean and a Beverly Jenkins. Coas Books in Las Cruces has the biggest romance section! I was amazed.

Crewgurl Oh I liked Do You Want To Start A Scandal! 6y
Liatrek Love Beverly Jenkins❤️ 6y
17 likes2 comments
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One and Only | Jenny Holiday
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I really need a laugh this week. This book may be the ticket.

MarriedtoMrT I feel like I‘ve been seeing this one everywhere! I hope it‘s as good as all the reviews I‘ve read and it‘s just what you need to read right now. 6y
shrewandsnail @MarriedtoMrT It totally hit the spot! Very light and fun. ❤ 6y
14 likes1 stack add2 comments
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The Duke And I | Julia Quinn
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Getting in on this Bridgerton saga I keep hearing about. So far so good.

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Mehso-so

This book felt really dated in some ways, and I didn't love the heroine. She wasn't salty enough for an East End girl. Also can we please never use the word damp in romance novels? Errrrghhhhh. Loved the hero and the Mackenzie brothers, though.

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Kulti | Mariana Zapata
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I am on a sports romance jag, this is just a glimpse. I don't even like sports? So far Kulti is the best by a mile, but I'm looking for more with female athletes! Any recs?

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Circe | Madeline Miller
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Finally listening to this, read beautifully by Perdita Weeks. So good.

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Oh heck yeah, Edelweiss has Avon books! How did I not know this before?

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Man, are libraries the coolest or what? Also, happy Pride month! 🌈

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Steel Magnolias | Robert Harling
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1. Going to the library with my daughter.
2. I have one brother
3. My maternal grandmother is 109 years old! She's not doing as well as she was but she's doing ok.
4. Yes! I have trees going back several generations.
5. Central.

Thanks @jesshowbooks ! Have a great weekend! ❤🤠📚📚📚

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May 2018. 20 books, mostly romance! I guess it's not just a phase. I put up a blog post with a summary. Faves were A Princess in Theory and The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.

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Emma Newman narrates this audiobook! I love her. I'm enjoying the book, and from all appearances I'm destined to be a Carriger fan.

BookaholicNatty Have you read Soulless???? You need to check that out! I just finished it last week and it was soooo good! Been recommending it to everyone! 6y
shrewandsnail @BookaholicNatty This is my first Carriger, I just picked my favorite narrator. But I now have Soulless on hold at the library! Thank you! 6y
Crewgurl Try Etiquette and Espionage, the narrator is AMAZING! 6y
shrewandsnail @Crewgurl I'll add it! Thanks! 6y
Crinoline_Laphroaig You are in for treat! Once I discovered Gail Carriger I had to read EVERYTHING! #blameLitsy 6y
21 likes5 comments
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Finally reading this, I chose it for my Pride month read for romance book club. Well, I may have a couple of reads by the time we meet. Loving this one so far!

25 likes1 comment
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Mehso-so

I'm going to try more Penny Reid maybe? This one was not for me. Too much going on, and just super cheesy. Meh.

KateFulfordAuthor If you would like something “meatier”, with a quirky narrative and well developed characters, may I recommend my debut to you? 6y
19 likes1 comment
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The Hooker and the Hermit | Penny Reid, L.H Cosway
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The two main characters meet when he starts cleaning eclaire off of her lap at random. Borderline harassment meet-cute. Yikes.

Eyelit Agreed! Ick. 6y
13 likes1 comment
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Pickpick

So sweet, and I loved both of the main characters. I knew I would love Alyssa Cole and I was not disappointed.

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3.5 stars. Very fun idea and a page-turner, but could have used a serious chop. Way too long. A lot of cringey moments for me, like way too much focus on appearance and some other weirdness. Great audio reader. Will read more by this author.

KateFulfordAuthor If you need another recommendation in a similar style (but tighter!) may I point you to my People‘s Book Prize nominated debut? Sassy female narrative, laugh out dialogue and a pacy plot. Check the link in the bio for 2 free chapters, reviews and more. 6y
12 likes1 comment
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Listening to this as a reward for finishing my audiobook for book club. Really looking forward to it.

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Florida | Lauren Groff
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Little birthday gift for myself, i'm celebrating the whole month. I only just noticed those are books! Yes I'm a space cadet.

rather_be_reading awesome! 6y
Cinfhen Great tote😍 6y
20 likes2 comments
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King's Man | Elizabeth Kingston
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Pickpick

I read House of Cads (hopefully Litsy librarians will add it soon, it wasn't available to tag) after seeing Elizabeth Kingston's presentation on white supremacy in historical romance. I enjoyed her writing and the fact that this deviated from the formulaic duke story that is common in historical romance.

Hey goodreads, I have EIGHT books in my currently reading list, I think we all know what I should do next. 😂

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1. Austin, Texas
2. Desert island? Hmmm. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it's got everything.
3. Harry Potter
4. I love Super Troopers, not gonna lie.
5. The IT Crowd
6. Siouxsie
7. Black goes with everything
8. Lately, Romance
9. A cubicle 😭😭😭 I work for a state agency and i'm a biologist but I don't get in the field much.
10. Dottie and Sweetpea, my mutts.

#meetthelittens

cobwebmoth I love The IT Crowd.😊 6y
19 likes2 comments
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Among the Janeites | Deborah Yaffe
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In which we discover if I still know how to read paper books after reading ebooks and audiobooks for .... ever?

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The Library Book | Susan Orlean
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Coming in October! Super excited for this advance copy, it sounds right up my alley. Books! Mystery! Libraries! It's my birthday in a couple of weeks and I was super happy to get this book and the upcoming Barbara Kingsolver in advance. ❤ My TBR pile is only slightly out of control.

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They were reading a comic book together. 😍 Then at bedtime she read Bread and Jam for Frances to us.

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My daughter's school has Scholastic Book Fair this week. I volunteered today and bought a book for the library and one for the teacher. The book I bought for the library is Aru Shah and the End of Time, which I look forward to checking out!

Cinfhen Miss the Scholastic Book Fair days💜 6y
18 likes1 comment
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This sweet sticker on my car reminds me of Litsy! I got it at Book People in Austin, is there a Litsy fan there? 🤔

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Angels' Blood | Nalini Singh
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Mehso-so

I had some serious issues with this book (maybe alpha heroes are not for me?) BUT I really enjoyed my first time at the Romance Book Club! Maybe a tiny bit disappointed that we did not discuss the egregiously bad sex scene in this book. So. Bad.

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The Swarm: A Novel | Frank Schatzing
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1. I wouldn't read it on the beach, but The Swarm was a great ocean book.
2. Favorite sea creature? OMG I can't choose. I'd really love to see a whale shark.
3. My favorite beaches have all been in the Caribbean, I love that warm water.

Happy Monday! Now to stay awake at my desk.... thanks @JoScho !

JoScho Whale sharks 💙💙💙 6y
10 likes1 comment
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Angels' Blood | Nalini Singh
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Seriously thinking of going to this book club. Podcasts are making me so happy right now but actual humans may be even better? Could I read the book that I have not started yet by Tuesday at 6:30 pm? Probably. Overcome introvert new- thing-aversion? Maybe. 🤔 Anyone ever been to a romance book club before? #bookclub #atx

Eyelit That book club sounds cool! Did you go? I‘ve been meaning to join on of APL‘s book clubs just haven‘t found one that fits my schedule yet. Someday! 6y
shrewandsnail @Eyelit yes, I went! It was fun! June is pick your own book for LGBT Pride month. There is a library employee who leads the discussion which is good. I'll go back in June but probably miss July. Their Monday craft night looks fun but ugh... Mondays. 6y
Eyelit That‘s fab! Maybe I‘ll try and make it to the June meeting 😃 6y
shrewandsnail @Eyelit Yes, yes! 6y
12 likes4 comments
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Love and Other Scandals | Caroline Linden
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".... was the smell of freedom." Light and fluffy, not a lot of plot but plenty of banter and I enjoy Linden's writing. This would be a good first romance to read.

17 likes1 stack add
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Early Riser | Jasper Fforde
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New Jasper Fforde? NEW JASPER FFORDE!

Swe_Eva 👍👍👍 6y
12 likes1 comment
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Ok #sorrynotsorry I am obsessed with all things Romance and Romance podcasts are amazing. Faves so far are Whoa!mance and Wicked Wallflowers. Drunk Austen also fun, with less sex. Any other faves? Also #rombklove hashtag is going to make me hit my checkout limit at the library. 📚📚📚

Vagablonde Smart Podcast, Trashy Books is always fun and interesting. 6y
18 likes1 comment
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I'm reading this for book club so I guess I'll finish it but I feel like someone snuck a Franzen in here under a different name. I do not like anyone in this book. Wahhh! Ok onward. Probably at 1.3x on the audo.....

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"... good looking, which doesn't hurt either. Way to go." Jackpot, indeed. ? https://bookriot.com/2018/05/01/bookish-boyfriend-quiz/

Eyelit I got Henry from The Time Traveller‘s Wife 😅 6y
shrewandsnail @Eyelit Wow you said yes to the long distance thing, eh? 🤣 6y
Eyelit I said the maybe it would work but no promises on that one. I‘m guessing I got him because of the staycation reading, maybe? Idk 6y
sprainedbrain Oh but Henry! 😍 @Eyelit (edited) 6y
21 likes4 comments
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Riveted | Meljean Brook
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Well I went to look up my April books and.... I guess the Romance genre binge is official. Jeez. 🙄 AND there are 2 that got squeezed out of this picture. I did read one True Crime book! Despite this bizarre foray into genre obsession, I'm still on track with my Book Riot Read Harder Challenge.

15 likes1 stack add
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Snow Crash | Neal Stephenson
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1. Ooh hard to choose. I am going with Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I loved that book.
2. Tetris.
3. I've been listening to Sisters of Mercy a lot lately, and The Smiths and Siouxsie always. I also love 80s pop, my first tape was Culture Club!
4. Highlander, the Princess Bride, Indiana Jones, Die Hard are some faves.

Thanks @JoScho !!

JoScho Love Die Hard! Thanks for playing ❤️ 6y
12 likes1 comment
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Foundryside: A Novel | Robert Jackson Bennett
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I haven't gotten far, but we're starting with a heist and I love the cover. 👍