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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A book to dip in and out of. Interesting places were highlighted (floating islands, ephemeral places, breakaway nations) and the topic of "borders" is brought up and considered.

#bookspin

rockpools Sounds fantastic. Stacked! 4w
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

A collection of stories by a Singaporean author which borrows its name from a book written by colonial governor, Frank Swettenham. These stories tell life from the POV of the malays as an ethnic minority in Singapore.
Short stories are not usually my jam but these managed to keep my attention through most of the book. Maybe because the subject matter was closer to home. The illustrations were fun too. #ashortstorycollection #booked2023

23 likes1 stack add
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

A quick middle grade mystery set in what seems like Rennaisance Italy. There was a lot about reading and the love of books in this. ❀️
#bookspin

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A micro history of oysters and how they grew /died with the rise of New York. The cover I have does not have the bit about New York, so I was a bit thrown at the amount of content it had.
Overall interesting and I definitely learnt alot about these bivalves.
#roll100

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Smarkies
I Capture the Castle | Dodie Smith
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Pickpick

This classic has been on my shelf for a while, and it was worth the read. The narrator is perhaps a little too self-aware, but the story itself was heartfelt and full of feels.
Using this for #quietyabook for #booked2023
#192025 #1948

Tamra Totally outside my wheelhouse but I absolutely adored it! 2mo
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Smarkies
Shady Hollow | Juneau Black
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Pickpick

A sweet cosy mystery based in the neighbourhood of Shady Hollows. A good palate cleanser kind of book.
#booked2023 #setinaneighbourhood #52books23 #abookwithsecrets

20 likes1 stack add
blurb
Smarkies
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Katharine Keeble Wilkinson
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review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

A short-ish read/listen about how to live more productively with our devices. There are a couple of takeaways that I will try to put into practise.
Can be included for #52books23 #analliterativetitle

29 likes2 stack adds
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Smarkies
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Mehso-so

#bookspin brought this back to my radar after I had sort of despaired with it as the subject matter, though interesting, is a bit too dense for me. I managed to make it through with the help of the audio.
#52books23 #abookwithasubtitle

Cinfhen Love this photo 😍 2mo
33 likes1 comment
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Book 4 in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. The first half sets up the pieces (a little bit slowly), but the last quarter really hurtles along as Wimsey solves the mystery.
Picked this up for #roll100 but it also fits #52books23 for the #aboutaninheritance prompt.

batsy I enjoyed this one! Love the edition you have. I have a very worn edition of Gaudy Night in that edition πŸ™‚ 2mo
Smarkies @batsy I tried to get second hand copies of all my peter wimsey series. Unfortunately I think only this one is in this edition. 2mo
35 likes3 comments
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

Read this both for #bookspin and #192025 as this book was published in #1920 .
The publishing date is the reason why there are some racist bits. Overall, if you just focused on the adventure and the animal shenanigans it was a good read.
Generally a pick.

23 likes1 stack add
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

Second in the Vish Puri series. Enjoyed this one as well as it is really rooted in India and its social norms. All the side characters (especially my favourite Mummy-ji) help flesh out Vish Puri's daily life
My first #roll100 for the year.

review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

A #cozymystery set in #India with the detective Vish Puri. I enjoyed the setting and the characters - especially the mother, who was a hoot. The author really managed to capture the streets / social norms of India.
Especially good in audio.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

All I could think whilst reading this was - this could have been me.
Full of anecdotes and dark humour but oh so real. The Afterword really got to me.
My last #bookspin read for the year and it's a good one.

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Smarkies
The Honjin Murders | Seishi Yokomizo
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this as a locked room mystery even though the ending was a little convoluted. It does give a view into the Japanese feudal and honour system.
Contemplating getting the other books by this author. πŸ€”
My last #roll100 for the year

Ruthiella I also liked this one and want to read others with the same detective! 3mo
AllDebooks I enjoyed this one too 3mo
batsy I liked this a lot and have been meaning to get to his other books 3mo
36 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
Smarkies
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Bailedbailed

Bailing on this until I decide to get a physical copy as the audiobook narrator did not suit me πŸ˜‘

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Read this for #hopepunk for #booked2022 and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heartfelt and adorable and all the characters popped off the page for me. Teared up a few times as well.
This marks the completion of #booked2022 for me. Onto next year's challenge!
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen https://forms.gle/sMyR1gVJciu1HqkA9
Hereβ€˜s the link for the final quarter drawing formπŸ˜ŠπŸ’— congrats on COMPLETING #Booked2022 πŸŽ‰πŸΎπŸ₯‚
3mo
36 likes1 comment
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Smarkies
The Balmoral Incident | Alanna Knight
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Mehso-so

Unfortunately a slightly slow and disappointing end to the series which I have generally enjoyed. The mystery only sorta got going at 60%.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Adorable story and great illustrations. πŸ˜„

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Smarkies
The Mercies | Kiran Millwood Hargrave
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Mehso-so

Very lyrical writing but it was a little too slow for me. I may not have been able to get through it if it was not my option for #aboutanonpatriarchalsociety for #booked2022

review
Smarkies
The Snow Geese | William Fiennes
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Mehso-so

A memoir of travelling along with the migratory snow geese. I appreciated the parts where the author talked about the birds and himself. Less so the many detours about the people he met on his travels which seemed to left a bit hanging as he then moves on...
#booked2022

review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

Wonderful as an audiobook! Was riveted by the performances.
Read for #booked2022
#MCorauthorlivingwithHIVAIDS

mcctrish Oh I saw the plays and the movie back in the 90‘s ❀️❀️❀️ I‘m looking this up 4mo
sarahbellum I love listening to recorded performances of plays! Will have to find this one πŸ™‚ 4mo
Chelsea.Poole I loved this! 4mo
28 likes3 comments
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Smarkies
Penguins with People Problems | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Hilarious.

CarolynM 🀣 5mo
33 likes1 comment
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A short audiobook on caffeine. Gives an introduction to the world of coffee and tea and how they have changed the modern world.

30 likes2 stack adds
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Smarkies
A Boy at the Hogarth Press | Richard Kennedy, John Randle
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Mehso-so

A quick-ish light memoirs -one about growing up in the shadow of WW1 and the other of working at Hogarth Press with the Woolfs. Witty with drawings by the author who was an artist.

35 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

A fun adorable read.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Setting context - I know little to nothing about Nigerian food.
The author didn't feel the need to dumb it down and explain everything to the audience that is not well versed in the food and culture. There was an essay about sex which was a bit odd and skippable.
Would I have appreciated it more if I have eaten Nigerian food? - Yes. But if I ever do I will dip back into it.
#booked2022
#fromablackownedorcentricimprintorpublisher

IuliaC Nice review and great photo! 5mo
batsy Is that homemade pie? Looks yum! 5mo
charl08 I want to read this one. I've always meant to try cooking breadfruit and also jollof rice. 5mo
See All 6 Comments
Smarkies @batsy unfortunately not. I was at a cafe in Subang reading this book. 😁 it was yum though. 5mo
Smarkies @charl08 I wish I could find a good African restaurant where I am so that I can try the food she is talking of. 5mo
charl08 @Smarkies your post inspired me to look online - found some recipes, so will have a go. I found Nigerian (or rather, the food on the small section of Nigeria I visited, such an enormous, varied place) had too much chilli for me - so hoping that I could make a milder version. 5mo
29 likes6 comments
review
Smarkies
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Pickpick

"We have an epidemic of grabbing. Land grabbing. Resource grabbing. Even grabbing the sky by polluting so much that there is no atmospheric space left for the poor to develop."
Ugh. But so true.
Nothing new here but she seems to have more hope than I do. ??
#bookspin

25 likes1 stack add
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A middle grade book that tackles alzheimers in a grandparent.
#bookspin

27 likes1 stack add
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Smarkies
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Mehso-so

Slightly repetitive.
Read for #booked2022 #setinaninnlodgeorhotel

review
Smarkies
Concrete Rose | Angie Thomas
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Pickpick

Angie Thomas writes another book that keeps me hooked and reading.
#roll100

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Smarkies
Gilead | Marilynne Robinson
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Pickpick

A beautiful quiet meditative read. I thought it lost my attention a few times but overall I think this is a book I will reread to fully sit in the world that the author weaves.

EvieBee I like this edition‘s cover! 6mo
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Smarkies
Dear Mrs Bird | AJ Pearce
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Mehso-so

This unfortunately fell a little flat for me.
#bookspin

erzascarletbookgasm Hope your next read is a good one! 6mo
Smarkies @erzascarletbookgasm πŸ€—πŸ€— 6mo
CarolynM Glad it wasn‘t just me😬 6mo
33 likes3 comments
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Smarkies
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Mehso-so

I love food memoirs but I felt a bit of a disconnect with this one - it could just be my reading mood. The look into old Livorno and Tuscan traditions were really interesting and I have bookmarked a few recipes.

34 likes1 stack add
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

As the first book in the series, I enjoyed how Ghosh set the scene with this book and delved into the characters.
I have the second book on hand (though I don't know when I will get to it) but I have read some reviews and am unsure if I will like how the series continues....

merelybookish Haha I read this book this year, and felt the same. Just not sure I wanted to read on even though I enjoyed this one. 6mo
Smarkies @merelybookish πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ such an odd reaction no? 6mo
LeeRHarry I finished this series last year and it was a bit of a slog tbh but I was determined 😏 6mo
Smarkies @LeeRHarry ahhhhhh! This makes me really in doubt whether to continue. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ I may just do book 2 since I have it on hand. 6mo
32 likes4 comments
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Smarkies
Saturdays at Sea | Jessica Day George
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Pickpick

The final book of the Castle Glower series in which loose ends in the story are tied up by a journey to Prince Lulath's home and an adventure to find the unicorns.
Read for #booked2022 #anauticalnovel as Celie and her family build and travel via ship to the Well.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

I enjoy books which cover small topics as you get an understanding of how this "small thing" influenced the world. And so it was in this case. The cod has helped guide the politics of territorial waters and helped in the independence of Iceland and has unfortunately facilitated the slave trade.
Read as part of my August #bookspin

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Smarkies
Ella Minnow Pea | Mark Dunn
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Pickpick

A quirky book in epistolary form in which the correspondents have to use fewer and fewer letters in the alphabet to communicate with each others.
#roll100

DisneyFan Stacked! I‘m intrigued! 7mo
37 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Smarkies
A Dance with Dragons | George R. R. Martin
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Mehso-so

This has sat on my shelf in the hope that the author will finish the series. This seems unlikely in the near future... so decided to tackle this for both #booked2022 #adaptedforthesmallscreen and #chunksterchallenge2022. It took me 3 months longer than I initially expected owing to the fact that Martin constantly meanders and lost my attention at times. I will still continue reading the series (if any) but was at times disengaged with this one.

Amiable Woo hoo! Great job! 7mo
29 likes2 comments
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Smarkies
The Boy Who Lost Fairyland | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

An interlude in September's tale but just as richly told as the rest of the series. Looking good forward to the final book to see how thr author ties it all up.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Was introduced to this book owing to the excellent podcast by the author. It is hopeful yet sad, funny yet thoughtful. The author weaves his life through the essays about different items which he gives a rating to. Glad I finally got to this book.
#roll100

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Smarkies
The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
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Pickpick

This is my wheelhouse. A cosy murder with some depth in terms of characters. This had twists and spins and also had a warmth from the characters. One quibble - It did have a little bit too many characters in it and (especially towards the end) I had to try and recollect who someone was.
Read for #bookspin

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Smarkies
Passing | Larson, Nella
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Pickpick

Was looking forward to pick this up as I had heard about it about 2 years ago. A short classic that is worth the read to understand the push and pull of passing as white.
#roll100
#1929
#192025

Librarybelle I have this on my to read list…a classic I really want to read 8mo
Smarkies @Librarybelle do! It is less than a 100 pages! 😁 8mo
32 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

What a romp!
Read for #bookspin and #authorborninafrica #booked2022

45 likes1 stack add
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Smarkies
Fridays with the Wizards | Jessica Day George
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Pickpick

Celie's adventures continue with the griffins and the wizards. I liked that the parents (especially the queen) were given a bit more airtime in this book.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

When I realised that this was Julia Child's editor I was intrigued as I have just finished watching the TV series 'Julia'. However, this is a very slim memoir with a third of it dedicated to recipes. As such, it just skims the surface of her life. I would have appreciated a more in depth memoir of what seems to be a very interesting life.
A soft pick.
#booked2022 #includesarecipe #roll100

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A very frank and passionate diary by Dara (fifteen years old at the point of writing and autistic). It documents the uprooting of his home and how he relates to nature and his increasing prominence as an environmental activist. His descriptions of his encounters with the nature around him were evocative and lyrical. The way that he talks about his autism was enlightening.
#roll100

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Smarkies
The Birchbark House | Louise Erdrich
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Pickpick

I now understand why this book is so beloved. ❀️
Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Kristin_Reads This has been on my TBR for so long! 9mo
32 likes1 comment
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

Had never heard about this King Arthur story but it is an interesting one which centers around Gawain.
FYI - The cover is misleading. πŸ˜…πŸ˜… I expected there to be more dragon based on it.
Also my #doublespin for June.

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Smarkies
Piranesi | Susanna Clarke
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Pickpick

Slim book which weaves in mystery and magical realism. I was absolutely drawn into the story when the labyrinths were introduced. However, I found my interest lagging slightly as we approached the halfway point of the book. It seemed to drag a little. The end really pivoted - I definitely did not think it was heading that way.
A soft pick for me (partially due to all the hype as well I think).