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Vertabrain

Vertabrain

Joined April 2018

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Vertabrain
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

25 likes1 stack add
review
Vertabrain
The Immortalists | Chloe Benjamin
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

22 likes1 stack add
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Vertabrain
These Is My Words | Nancy Turner
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Pickpick

This is an Amazon Kindle Deal, on sale for $1.99. Although it is a fictionalized account of one woman‘s life in early America, it reads like a memoir. Wonderful book!!!

Bklover I enjoyed this one too! 6y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Vertabrain
The Invention of Wings | Sue Monk Kidd
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Pickpick

The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd, is a Kindle deal today, on sale for $1.99. I can‘t say enough good things about this book. It‘s special...

30 likes1 stack add
blurb
Vertabrain
Untitled | Unknown
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1. Camping this weekend on our property in Western Colorado
2. 7 reads in June...slow month with writing projects
3. Both...You can ski in winter and hike in summer, and I love them both equally.
4. Best Concerts...The Revivalists; John Butler Trio; and Xavier Rudd. I also love string quartets!
5. I‘m on it. 😉

#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

DebbieGrillo Loved the Revivalists! 6y
Cedricsmom @Vertabrain the western slope? Colorado is so beautiful. How was your trip? 6y
Vertabrain @Cedricsmom So relaxing! We‘ve had a wildfire burning about 12 miles from us for the last few weeks, so our time outdoors has been limited lately. 6y
See All 7 Comments
Cedricsmom @Vertabrain I wondered about the fire situation out there. It's bad in California too. Seems like every summer now. Stay safe! 6y
Vertabrain @Cedricsmom Thanks, you too. I‘m originally from Northern CA, so I‘m keeping a close eye on the fires there too. It‘s just devastating. 6y
Cedricsmom @Vertabrain and it seems to be getting worse. It‘s heartbreaking. 6y
Vertabrain @Cedricsmom The Lake County Fires are now the largest in recorded history. I‘m in disbelief... 6y
28 likes7 comments
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Vertabrain
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The inside cover of a copy of Swinton‘s Fifth Reader, Copyright, 1883, that I picked up in an antique store and just love. Annie Barton, the young girl this book once belonged to, also scribbled a poem in the most gorgeous cursive. “May you be happy all of your life, Be somebody‘s darling little wife. Have turkey every day for dinner, That‘s good enough for every sinner.”

julesG 😍 6y
30 likes1 comment
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Vertabrain
Untitled | Unknown
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1. A cabin we plan to build on our 80 acres in CO

2. Two houseplants, because no green thumbs here, but I‘m hoping

3. A huge print of, The Storybook by Bouguereau

4. Get things done, so I‘m not distracted

5. Worst Chore = laundry
@Ke633 #tellmetuesday

Ke633 Nice!! Good luck with your dream house!! 6y
Vertabrain @Ke633 It‘s gonna take a few years, but thanks! 6y
24 likes2 comments
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Vertabrain
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“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” ~A.A. Milne

This has long been my approach to writing...spending days, months, even years thinking about characters and stories, without committing the ideas to paper. I‘m better now, trying to write every day, but the struggle is real.

My A.A. Milne collection sparks my creativity, motivation, and childhood curiosity without fail

What are the books that you turn to most for inspiration?

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Vertabrain
Homegoing: A novel | Yaa Gyasi
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“You want to know what weakness is? Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves.”

iporto This book is amazing!! Such a great pick!!! Enjoy 😀🌻 6y
Vertabrain @iporto Thanks, I‘m loving it so far. Only 50 pages in, but I can already tell this is another special book. 😍 6y
iporto @Vertabrain I couldn't put it down. Such a cruel and real story told in a beautiful way.. 6y
See All 8 Comments
Vertabrain @iporto I agree...it‘s interesting to learn about the complicity of some African tribes and their role in the slave trade. 6y
iporto @Vertabrain yes! And also puts us on the other side of history. I live in a country that received millions of slaves but we never see african culture and their role in slavery on books. We only see the colonizer version and the "why we needed slaves" version.. it's a crazy world.. 6y
Vertabrain @iporto I attended an interview with the author last year, and she mentioned that this aspect of African history was previously unknown to her as well, even though she had been born in Ghana (although raised and educated in the US). She visited the actual locations described in the book, and she said that by far the most haunting was The Castle, and trying to come to terms with that very complicated history. 6y
iporto @Vertabrain wow!! That's why her descriptions are so good. Here in Brazil we have a very strong African background and we have minimal (to zero) African history. Here in the older farms you can see the places where they kept slaves, and latter immigrants.. 6y
Vertabrain I would love to visit Brazil one day. In the U.S. we have a country built upon slavery, and sadly, racism is still very much alive. It‘s so complicated though, because for many of us, our ancestry proves that we are an eclectic bunch. Although I identify as white, I have an ancestor who was a slave, and others who were slave owners. An ancestor who was Native American, and one who directly participated in the Sand Creek Massacre. Complicated... 6y
36 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Vertabrain
Kindred | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

In honor of what would have been Octavia Butler‘s 71st Birthday, I wanted to take the time to recommend what I consider to be a masterpiece of historical fiction...part time-travel fantasy, part slave narrative from the perspective of a modern day black woman who finds herself inexplicably in the antebellum South.

The first line from the Prologue...”I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.”

Published in 1979, this book is a classic!

34 likes2 stack adds
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Vertabrain
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Pickpick

I love supporting Indie and hybrid authors, and Irina Shapiro‘s new dual-time romance did not disappoint. Despite occasional lapses in point-of-view, the characters were multi-layered, and the story compelling. There is a paranormal spin to this one as well (my favorite), and the 17th Century storyline captivated me, then broke my heart. This is the first book of a trilogy.
#paranormal #romance #historical fiction #indie #time-slip

blurb
Vertabrain
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Introvert (INFJ)
Sleep, please!
Audiobook
Cook
To beat a book slump...write, journal, breathe, repeat...💕

@hermyknee #bookslumpblues

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Vertabrain
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“Writers always devise ways to approach that place where they expect to make the contact, where they become the conduit, or where they engage in this mysterious process.” ~ Toni Morrison

#writers #goals #work #motivation #writersoflitsy

29 likes1 stack add
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Vertabrain
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“Death found an author writing his life,
but he let him write no further;
For Death who strikes whenever he likes,
Is jealous of all Self-Murther.”

December, 1827
#writing #journals #memoir

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Vertabrain
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Color: 💙
Season: Spring 🌼
Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction/Thrillers/Paranormal 📚
Hobby: Writing 📝 & Figure Skating ⛸
Snack: Cheese 🧀
Drink: La Croix Sparkling Water 💧
Bookish Item: Antique Typewriter
Tag: Anyone who wants to play along!! 💕

@Tiffy_Reads #gettingtoknowyou

knittedgnome What's your favorite La Croix? I'm currently on a huge sparkling water kick but have only bought strawberry and apple bubbly. 6y
Vertabrain @knittedgnome I‘m totally addicted! Passionfruit is my favorite, followed closely by orange. My husband wants me to look into a Soda Stream, or something similar, because my habit is getting out of hand, lol..Apple Bubbly sounds delish!!! 6y
knittedgnome @Vertabrain I will have to look for those! I have often considered a soda stream but never went for it. The apple is really good. Definitely my favorite of the two. 6y
20 likes3 comments
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Vertabrain
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1. Yes, although titles are important too!
2. I love my porch, but my favorite reading spot during the summer is anywhere our little travel trailer decides to land...preferably in the mountains.
3. I read during every spare moment, so stopping mid-chapter is annoying, but part of life.
4. I‘m mostly an e-reader these days for convenience, but love bookmarks for my print editions.
5. Obviously..😉

@SilversReviews

SilversReviews Fun on your traveling trailer....that would be fun. Thanks for playing. 6y
26 likes1 comment
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Vertabrain
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Crazy like a fox? Or just plain crazy? I could actually see myself doing this, because books are like babies, right? http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/37395526/writer-rushes-into-burning-buildi...

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! I agree. 6y
AmyG All that time and energy spent writing? Of course I‘d run in and save them! 6y
kiks If those two were the only two finished copies, he'd be crazy not to. 😂 6y
Vertabrain @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AmyG @kiks I‘m glad we‘re all on the same page! I keep my childhood journals in a fire-proof safe. 😂 Our words are precious!! 🙌🏼 6y
32 likes4 comments
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Vertabrain
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Pickpick

This skinny little book was a game-changer for me in terms of the planning process for my own writing. I‘ve always struggled with outlining, but this book, read in one sitting, provides the structure needed to plot with ease.

31 likes4 stack adds
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Vertabrain
The Coming | Daniel Black
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Purrsistently Is it alright if I share your blogpost? I love it! 6y
Vertabrain Absolutely. I stumbled across it on the internet this morning, and loved it too. Wish I could take credit for the writing, but this is someone else‘s genius. 😉 6y
Aimeesue Somewhat ironically, I have The Black Swan in my TBR bookcase. 😂😂😂 6y
Vertabrain @Aimeesue Ha! I just added it to mine! 😂😂 6y
24 likes4 comments
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Vertabrain
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For all the Mary Kubica fans out there...You can pre-order an e-copy of her new book for $2.99. I haven‘t read her stuff yet, and I‘ve heard mixed reviews, but decided to give this one a whirl.

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Vertabrain
House of Shadows | Pamela Hartshorne
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Pickpick

I‘m a sucker for a good time-slip novel, and this book was solid. Although I had an inkling about the ending halfway through, it could have taken several turns, so still kept me guessing. I enjoyed the supernatural elements, and the depictions of the Tudor era. Excellent characters and a solid, well-researched plot. This is fun, escapist reading...an engaging blend of mystery, romance, and the supernatural.

25 likes1 stack add
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Vertabrain
Yellow Crocus | Laila Ibrahim
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Pickpick

This is my Public Service Announcement for the day...If you have yet to discover this book, it‘s a Goodreads deal, today only. It‘s wonderful, heart-breaking, and ultimately filled with hope. I devoured this novel in practically one sitting, and the characters will be part of me forever.

26 likes2 stack adds
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Vertabrain
Sea Change | Karen White
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Pickpick

This one took me longer to get into than previous Karen White novels, but overall the story did not disappoint. I love the way this writer uses the supernatural in subtle and believable ways, allowing the reader to explore the nature of reality, without making huge leaps of faith. I liked/invested in some characters more than others, which is perhaps my biggest criticism. Still, a quick and enjoyable read from one of my favorites.

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Vertabrain
Member of the Family | Dianne Lake
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Pickpick

I totally just binge listened to this book...12+ hours since yesterday. It is narrated by the author, which I first thought was going to be a detriment, but Dianne Lake‘s sincere recounting of her tragic childhood experiences as the youngest member of the Manson family quickly resonated with me. This is an extraordinary story, and Dianne‘s courage and resilience are stunning. One of my favorite non-fiction reads of 2018, if not all-time.

GondorGirl Added this to my library list for when I'm in a better mental state. It sounds right up my alley! 6y
Reviewsbylola Very well done, I agree! 6y
TheFunkyBookworm I LOVED this one!!! It was great to read in conjunction with Helter Skelter because it gave a human side to the members of the “family”. I recently heard Dianne Lake speak but unfortunately she was overpowered by her coauthor- who I was not wild about 😒 6y
Vertabrain @TheFunkyBookworm I just read Helter Skelter for the first time last month, but had never considered the other victims, like Dianne. It was interesting, but I thought I could distinguish the two distinct “voices” in the writing, but found myself gravitating to what seemed like Diane‘s authentic memories, in their simplicity. I have 14-year-old daughters and I can‘t even imagine how she was able to reclaim her life...She is an incredible human. 6y
TheFunkyBookworm @Vertabrain interesting- I didn‘t catch the 2 voices when I read it but I bet I would now! She‘s incredible and so genuine and earnest in her telling of her story. Really amazing! 6y
26 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Vertabrain
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Pickpick

A comprehensive biography of one of America‘s most beloved writers, this book dives deep into the complex historical, political and cultural climates of the times, and does not sugar-coat Laura‘s personality, viewpoints, or relationships. Rose Wilder Lane is also rendered honestly, as is the often tumultuous relationship between mother and daughter. The Pulitzer was well-deserved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lcsmcat On my TBR. I need to bump it up. 6y
Vertabrain @Lcsmcat You won‘t be disappointed! I actually heard mixed reviews from some people, which surprised me. I learned far more than I expected...🤗 6y
JSW This was easily one of the best I‘ve read this year. Meticulously researched. 6y
Vertabrain @JSW I couldn‘t agree more. One of the best biographies I‘ve read in ages. 6y
33 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Vertabrain
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wanderinglynn ❤️ 6y
Stephen11 “To Infinity and Beyond!” - Buzz Lightyear 💫 6y
Vertabrain @Stephen11 I‘m with you! ⭐️ 6y
30 likes3 comments
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Vertabrain
The Time Between | Karen White
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Pickpick

Karen White is one of my favorite authors, because of her ability to weave multi-layered stories about love and loss, and to create memorable characters who grow and change in both subtle and profound ways. She transitions effortlessly between past and present, revealing just enough information to keep the reader engaged. This book wrecked me, and made me think about how we choose to live with the consequences of our actions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Vertabrain
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Mehso-so

I wanted to like this book, but the characters were too over-the-top, and because I didn‘t like them, I couldn‘t invest in what happened to them. The author did a great job leading the reader on wild goose chases at every turn, obfuscating literally everything in ways that left me delirious, but in the end, it was all so unbelievable that I felt let-down and frustrated. I know I‘m in the minority on this one, but I feel wrung out...

Cinfhen I‘ve now removed this book from my TBR list!!! I‘m completely DONE with wild over the top plots that suspend all belief. Thanks for honest review (edited) 7y
Vertabrain @Cinfhen Although I never want to dissuade someone from reading a book, because we all have different tastes, I feel you. I love dark, psychologically bendy plots, but they have to ring true, unless it‘s an obvious fantasy or paranormal story. I will say that this girl can write, but like many debuts, it just seems like she was trying too hard to fit as much in as possible. I think it paid off for her, because lots of people really liked it... 7y
Cinfhen Thank you for articulating exactly how I feel. And I agree, it‘s so difficult to judge one‘s book. I have tremendous respect for all authors, but I don‘t think this book will be a good fit for me right now. 😉 7y
See All 6 Comments
RaimeyGallant I just read a synopsis. I'm not sure I would like this. 7y
rather_be_reading i loved it lol 6y
Vertabrain @rather_be_reading I know I was in the minority on this one...So many people loved it, and she‘s undoubtedly talented. 6y
23 likes6 comments
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Vertabrain
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A little over halfway through and struggling a bit, because I don‘t like the Protagonist. I do, however, like the ambiguity, and slow build-up of tension, the complex relationships between characters, and the promise of some twisty turns coming up. Reading while I eat in order to get to the good stuff, which I hardly ever do, because I tend to spill food when I‘m not looking at it. 😂😜

27 likes1 comment
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Vertabrain
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On this date in 1945, the U.S. Army liberated 31,601 prisoners from the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. As the world continues to spin wildly, and sometimes feels out of control, I think a lot about personal responsibility, and the legacy I want to leave behind for future generations...Compassion, integrity, and acceptance for people whose views may differ from my own are some of the things I strive to bring to the table...💕

Nute These are needed qualities. These are qualities that should be the rule and not the exception for humans. We should all be determined to be in full possession of each one. I look forward to building a ‘Litsy Friendship‘ with you.😊 6y
Vertabrain @Nute I agree completely. People need to embrace the truth of our shared humanity. Fear is the enemy, and it breeds contempt and a feeling of separation that does not truly exist. I look forward to getting to know you too! 6y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Vertabrain
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Pickpick

I love reading about the creative lives of writers, and this was a fun little book to relax with over morning coffee. It‘s short, with lots of interesting details about the habits and quirks of famous authors we all love.

A couple of fun tidbits
* Isaac Asimov could type 90-100 words per minute
* Alexandre Dumas was so prolific, he produced 300+ volumes of work in his lifetime
* Sir Walter Scott preferred to write in motion...often on horseback!

JoScho Welcome to Litsy!!! I hope you love it 💕 7y
rather_be_reading brb hve to buy this rn! 6y
Nute Welcome to Litsy! I know that you will love it here. 6y
Vertabrain @Nute Thanks so much!! I love it already. 💕 6y
29 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Vertabrain
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Just starting this today, after some great reviews. Has anyone else read it yet?

ItsAngel I am waiting for it to come into the library! I can‘t wait! 7y
Vertabrain @ItsAngel I‘ll let you know what I think. Without spoilers, of course. 😉 7y
Chelleo Welcome! Checkout #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: http://bit.ly/litsyvideos They‘re great and should help you get settled in. Follow @LitsyHappenings to find out about various challenges, buddy reads, meet-ups and swaps taking place. #LitsyWelcomeWagon 7y
See All 16 Comments
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚👍Hope you enjoy it here! 7y
Vertabrain @DebinHawaii Thanks so much! 💕 7y
asiriusreader Welcome to Litsy! 7y
Traci1 Welcome to Litsy! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Welcome to Litsy! 📚📚🎉🎉 7y
cathysaid Looking forward to your thoughts on this book! And welcome to Litsy! 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Nope, but look forward to your thoughts :) 7y
tammysue I have it on order, I‘ve heard good things on it! 👍🏻 7y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 👋😁 7y
niha923 Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉👋😀 7y
Swe_Eva Welcome! 7y
keys_on_fire Welcome to Litsy!!! 7y
28 likes16 comments