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Little Bee
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
Sarah Summers is enjoying a holiday on a Nigerian beach when a young girl named Little Bee crashes irrevocably into her life. All it takes is a brief and horrifying moment of crisis a terrifying scene that no reader will forget. Afterwards, Sarah and Little Bee might expect never to see each other again. But Little Bee finds Sarahs husbands wallet in the sand, and smuggles herself on board a cargo vessel with his address in mind. She spends two years in detention in England before making her way to Sarahs house, with what will prove to be devastating timing. Chapter by chapter, alternating between Little Bees voice and Sarahs, Chris Cleave wholly and caringly portrays two very different women trying to cope with events theyd never imagined. Little Bee is experiencing all the fullness and emptiness of the rich world for the first time, and her observations are hopeful, charming and piercing: Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl, she says: Everyone would be pleased to see me coming. Sarah is more cynical and disheartened, a successful magazine editor trying to find meaning in the face of turmoil at home and work. As the story develops, however, we learn about what matters most to her, including her fierce, protective love for her funny little son (From the Spring of 2007 until the end of that long summer when Little Bee came to live with us, Sarah says, my son removed his Batman costume only at bathtimes.). Sarah is trying to find herself as much as Little Bee is and, unexpectedly, each character discovers a ray of hope in the other. What follows when Little Bee comes back into Sarahs life is a powerful story of reconciliation and healing, but it is mixed in with a generous helping of satire about the daily difficulties of modern life. This is a novel about important issues, from refugee policy to the devastating effects of violence, but more than that, it does something only great fiction can: Little Bee teaches us what it is like to live through experiences most of us think of only as far off disasters in the news. As ever, the author says it best: Its an uplifting, thrilling, universal human story, and I just worked to keep it simple. One brave African girl; one brave Western woman. What if one just turned up on the others doorstep one misty morning and asked, Can you help? And what if that help wasnt just a one-way street?
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review
ponyflorist
The Other Hand | Chris Cleave
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Mehso-so

Coulda been so good, is so-so because It's a pick for Little Bee's chapters and a pan for Sarah's.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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kspenmoll Pretty Picture! 2y
Eggs Perfection 🧡🍊🧡 2y
63 likes3 comments
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CuriousG
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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All set for some campsite reading - my two favourite hobbies combined 🏕📚 #readoutdoors #campingislife

22 likes1 stack add
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CuriousG
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 51

DebbieGrillo A great read! 3y
CuriousG @DebbieGrillo I've heard good things and am really excited for this one! 3y
28 likes2 comments
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CBee
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

So many gut punching, heart shattering moments in this book. It‘s a shorter one, but took me longer to read and digest. Definitely recommend this, but it‘s super intense and so very sad. I did sort of feel like the ending was a bit abrupt 🤷‍♀️

Scochrane26 This one is a tough one. 3y
CBee @Scochrane26 so tough 😢 but really good. I adore Little Bee‘s character ♥️ 3y
Scochrane26 @CBee I read it years ago, but it came back to me quickly when I saw you were reading it. Little Bee is a great character. 3y
CBee @Scochrane26 I got it as a gift maybe three years ago? I‘m so glad I finally read it ♥️ 3y
76 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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jessinikkip
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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@bibliobard Hello from pre-COVID mailing times. I am soon to be fully vaccinated and getting back in touch with those I lost some contact with during the worst of it. I have this book of yours. Can you email me at jpresgraves@ferrum.edu?

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CBee
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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1. Willem from A Little Life 😭😭😭
2. Recent endings that come to mind: Anxious People, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Though I‘m not fond of awesome books ending in the first place 😂
3. Done! Also reading HP 3 and Lady Killers 🔪😁
I‘ll tag @JessClark78 @MySharonaK @Ash.on.the.line ♥️😁 #thoughtfulthursday

CBee Tagging @Jas16 too - since you‘re the one who gifted Little Bee to me and I‘m finally reading it! ♥️ 3y
MySharonaK Thank you 💗 3y
CBee @MySharonaK thanks for always liking my posts ♥️♥️ 3y
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MySharonaK @CBee 💚💜 3y
JessClark78 Thanks for the tag 🙂 3y
Reggie #1 😭😭😭 3y
CBee @Reggie right? Just take my heart and break it into a million pieces 😢😢 3y
MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🌸☺️📖 3y
51 likes8 comments
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CuriousG
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Couldn't wait just too long after getting up to open my #litsylovespringswap package - was just too excited! Thank you so much @Tattooedteacher for these two books I've had on my TBR, and other goodies. So looking forward to trying a new tea and digging into a new book! Now to decide which one to read first 🤔 #llss @rsteve388 @Bookgoil

Mitch The tea looks fab x 3y
CuriousG @Mitch I am really excited to try the tea. The other one you can't see is lavender chamomile, so sounds like a good evening one 3y
AmyG Oooo the tea and infuser! Nice. 3y
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CuriousG @AmyG Going to be a blueberry tea kind of day 🙂 3y
Bookgoil Oo look at that lovely tea and two awesome books!! ❤️ 3y
CuriousG @Bookgoil I'm feeling very spoiled right now! 3y
34 likes6 comments
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jessjess
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

"Sad words are just another beauty. A sad story means, this storyteller is alive. The next thing you know something fine will happen to her, something marvelous, and then she will turn around and smile."

@CuriousG this book. This book broke my heart, and yet was also beautiful, and I imagine Little Bee's voice and her story will stick to my heart for a very long time.

This is now the top contender for "best book in 2021" for me.

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jessjess
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Up next is Little Bee by Chris Cleave. This book was very kindly given to me by the amazing @CuriousG

Also it's snowing out and work has been cancelled for the day so I am having coffee and reading quiet time while Rick sleeps. And Peregrin is curling up next to me so it's a good day 🥰

CuriousG 🤞 it's a good one! It's on my TBR, so interested in what you think of it 3y
jessjess @CuriousG this was such a fantastic book. I cried, not ashamed to say it. I'll definitely be recommending it myself. Thank you so much for this one!! 3y
CuriousG @jessjess So glad to hear that you liked it! A wonderful little piece of kismet related to this one - my LitsyLove spring swap partner happened to gift me this one, so now I will get the chance to enjoy it as well 😀 3y
jessjess @CuriousG that is so lovely to hear!! I hope you like it as much as I have 😊 3y
21 likes1 stack add4 comments
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jessjess
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Thank you so much to @CuriousG for this lovely surprise book in the mail. I am floored by the #litsylove group and just how nice everyone has been!

Know that I've struggled a lot this year with anxiety, family deaths and just general life stresses (like everyone else!) so this is really lovely. It's like a breath of fresh air, like the promise of spring after a long, hard winter.

I'm so grateful for all of your kindness.

CuriousG I'm excited to be a part of such a lovely group as #litsylove and glad that the group is boosting your spirits! 3y
jessjess @CuriousG yes it is! Thank you again!! 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks We are happy both of you joined us!! I hope y‘all get my letters soon! @CuriousG 💌 3y
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jessjess @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I'm just finishing up a reply and it should be at the post office tomorrow! 3y
CuriousG @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looking forward to getting some more mail soon! 3y
UwannaPublishme #LitsyLove pen pals are the BEST! 🙌🏻💌📬✍🏻 3y
24 likes6 comments
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SilversReviews
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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#INSPIREDNEWYEAR
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@TheKidUpstairs

Prompt: POWERFUL

Nigeria, London, Little Bee, Sarah, Lawrence, Andrew, and Batman....all different lives all connected through good and bad situations.

The beginning pages are very clever and creative and you think it will be a funny book...it is intense.

It is a powerful, thought-provoking novel.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/y4p7f9cs

#chriscleave

TheKidUpstairs On my shelf! So many books, so little time. 3y
SilversReviews @TheKidUpstairs Yes...wish I could read them all. 3y
39 likes4 comments
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j.rye
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Summer means showing empty houses. All. The. Time. At least I get to read in between showings!

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Susanita
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Thanks @CarolynM for the tag!
🌙 Last night I unexpectedly caught the back half of FOTR on TV
🌙 “However long the moon disappears, some day it must shine again.” from the tagged book
🌙 Take a walk or a drive
🌙 Pasta
I tag @BarbaraTheBibliophage
#thoughtfulthursday

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 😊⭐️🌙 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks for the tag. I totally missed it ... whooops. 😘 4y
26 likes2 comments
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Eggs
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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OriginalCyn620 Sounds great! 4y
Eggs #blameitonlitsy, more specifically Misty —she‘s introduced me to some wonderful books! @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 4y
79 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Eggs
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

“One brave African girl; one brave Western woman. What if one just turned up on the other‘s doorstep one misty morning and asked, Can you help? And what if that help wasn‘t just a one-way street?” Absolutely beautiful book. 5 ⭐️

Book 14 of 20 for May #bookspinbonanza @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks You're flying through your list!!! 4y
Eggs @TheAromaofBooks It Feels. So. Good!!!! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheAromaofBooks she‘s a speed reader!! My hero!! 💗 4y
81 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Neither will I.

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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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I like how she's appreciating the small things in life.

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LapReader
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

Thanks guys for all the b‘day wishes. My massive 40th party on Sat complete with bonfire & fireworks may have been cancelled but it was still a beaut day with my little fam & plenty of presents, cake & my fav champagne so much that I fell asleep on the lounge watching The Crown at 8:30pm (allegedly). I managed to convince my partner & step children to walk with me to the Little Free Library where I scored these books. No mean feat let me tell you!

BarbaraBB Congratulations 🎈 4y
Rissreads Happy, happy birthday! 🎈🎉 I hope you got to eat cake! 🎂 4y
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LapReader Thankyou @Rissreads my partner and kids made a carrot cake with buttercream and gold leaf icing. I will still be eating it tomorrow for breakfast 3 days later xo. 4y
Rissreads Nothing wrong with that! It sounds good to me!!!! 🤣 4y
Catherine_Willoughby Can't go beyond 2km from our house , with so many not abiding to social distance of 2m its best to stay home- so miss going for my coffee 4y
LapReader Most of the things I need are within that distance from my home. I am very lucky @Catherine_Willoughby Only 8 people at a time allowed in my local supermarket and I haven‘t been around anyone other than family for 1 week now so have what I guess is a false sense of security. Stay well xo 4y
Crazeedi Happy birthday, such a lovely photo ❤💚💙💛 4y
JaneyWaneyB Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎁💖 4y
marleed Happy Birthday! You‘ve a lovely family! I‘ve been loading up some LFLs near me and noticed that most of my contributions were picked up! 4y
58 likes11 comments
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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robinb Wow. 4y
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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That's beautiful. 💐

Megabooks Yes 4y
39 likes1 comment
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JulietReads
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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40 likes1 stack add
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Kelly326
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

Finally read this one thanks to #BookSpin. It was a sad, tough read, but am very glad I read it. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Glad you got to read a book you've been thinking about reading!! Great review. 4y
4 likes1 comment
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bibliobard
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Started reading this for #WomenReading and received this nice card in the mail from @laurenslibrary so thanks! I am excited to be in a postal book club with you as well ❤️

blank Glad the card made it to you! ❤ 4y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Butterfinger
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

WHAT AN AMAZING READ!

It's a story of a young refugee who is deported back to the country that want to kill her.

It's a story about sacrifice! A lost finger. A lost freedom.

It's a story about a family who began loving each other during a moment of terror.

It's a story about death - violence - beloved sister and a dismissed husband.

Wife Read this years ago and it‘s still on my shelf. I only keep books that I really liked and will read again📚 4y
Nute Gosh...you just reminded me that I really wanted to read this book a long time ago. It‘s so crazy how a book can get away from you. 4y
Butterfinger It is not an “own voices“, but I think it does make people aware of the troubles that refugees face. And, I appreciate that. 4y
60 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Butterfinger
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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I also read A Raisin in the Sun and continuing The Dutch House, Joseph, and 1Q84. I will finish Little Bee tomorrow.

ElizaMarie Im also reading IQ84 and am loving it! I'm on the last book part so its all tying together (very nicely). 4y
43 likes1 comment
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Butterfinger
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl.

rockpools That‘s some first line! 4y
andioop I am scared of my wife‘s eyes. 4y
Butterfinger @andioop I love it. Thanks. 4y
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Butterfinger
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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1. Dragged
2. Three-way tie: Queen of Air and Darkness, The Martian, and Emily of New Moon

@4thhouseontheleft @howjessreads
#friyayintro

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Buechersuechtling
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Mehso-so

This is only a scare “So-So” for me. Towards the end the story was more credible to me but it still lacked a consistent feeling of authenticity. I felt like the author couldn‘t decide if he wants to write a book with a political statement or a light novel and so he tried to combine both. That didn‘t work for me.

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Buechersuechtling
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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After four of six hours I‘m biased. To me it‘s more a feel-good way to spend one‘s time than a story that‘s really dealing with being a refugee and trying to find a safe space.

The plot has a shocking moment and shows the cruelty of Western asylum processes – but the alternating perspectives of Little Bee and Sarah make it difficult for me to take them both serious. The relationship between them is just a too foreseeable glue for the whole story.

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Buechersuechtling
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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I‘m tired and exhausted 😩 – and worrying at the same time. 😢

So I see another sleepless night coming.

Time to start a new audiobook …

JennyM Hope you are ok. Sending hugs 4y
Buechersuechtling @JennyM Thank you very much for your support. To be honest, no I‘m not okay. A lot of crying and eating snacks today. Might be, I need 24 more hours to develop a battle plan. But that‘s okay. You can‘t go on forever. Sometimes you need to sit down and do the inventory. 4y
JennyM @Buechersuechtling I‘m sorry to hear this. Just take it slowly and if you can take time to rest, do so. Sometimes these things sneak up on us and we don‘t realise how long it‘s been building. Thinking of you and sending you good thoughts 😘 4y
10 likes3 comments
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rmaclean4
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Panpan

I read and listened to this on audio. I enjoyed the physical reading more than the audio. Narrators can make or break a book for me. I found the characters muddled and frustrating. I don't need a main character to be likable but this book put me to the test with so many of the characters both unlikable and unbelievable. I also found the metaphor of the book obvious. I was not a fan. 2.5 🌟

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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84 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mydearwatson
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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review
Lydiamansel
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
Pickpick

Quick read. Emotional and unforgettable

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suvituulix
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

6/5

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TiffanyMichele
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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How many of you guys dabble in writing? And if you do, are you thinking of attending the virtual Camp NaNo this April?

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violetmoon
The Other Hand | Chris Cleave
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readingjedi
The Other Hand | Chris Cleave
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1. Also known as Little Bee. There is a scene when the mother is talking to the son that makes my toes curl just to think of it.
2. I eat at home because I'm mostly AT home. I'm a SAHP.
3. I really don't have the embarrassment gene. I just laugh at my ridonculous ass.
4. Way too hard to answer. Smell is very important/precious to me. Oud wood is a current fave.
5. Mottled Grey Wind. Lovely. 🤔🤔🤔😂

#friyayintro @howjessreads

readingjedi That's oud wood the material, NOT the Tom Ford aftershave. Though that is very nice .... 😜 5y
BiblioLitten Smell is very important to me too! I couldn‘t zero in on one either. The current favourite though is Camphor, it reminds me of pleasant things. 😊 5y
75 likes2 comments
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Cspen113
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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I love nothing more than a book that opens your mind to something new. I‘m really enjoying the way this book points out the difference in perspective, almost without the reader noticing what they‘re truly getting. #hiddengems

LauraBeth I‘ve never read this book, but reading that makes me want to! 5y
Cspen113 @LauraBeth I have really enjoyed it so far! I‘m about halfway through it. I think you should give it a try!! 5y
15 likes2 comments
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mentinker
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
Pickpick

It took me a while to get into this book —. But about half way through I finally hit a stride. Interesting look at how the industrialized world relates to, mourns, forgets about, remembers and/or tries to help individuals suffering due, in large part, to the global politics and power structures we all live under.
Story told through compelling and well meaning characters.

Megabooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚👋🏻 Great review 👍🏻 #litsywelcomewagon @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
See All 14 Comments
Purrfectpages Welcome to Litsy! 5y
CarolynM Welcome to Litsy 🌼 5y
DarcysMom Welcome to Litsy! 🤗 5y
Cinfhen This was our first bookclub pick ages ago.....and I LOVED IT!!!! 5y
BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 5y
RaimeyGallant Loved this book. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗📚 5y
Chelleo Welcome 🤗 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hope you're enjoying Litsy so far 📖💙 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
AlwaysForeverReading Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
30 likes14 comments
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mentinker
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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So, I realized - life had finally broken through. How silly it looked now, my careful set of defenses against nature: my brazen magazine, my handsome husband, my Maginot Line of motherhood and affairs. The world, the real world, had found a way through. It had sat down on my sofa and wouldn‘t be denied any longer. p. 95

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you are enjoying it here! 5y
15 likes1 comment
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throwmeabook
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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@MinDea #humpdaypost

1. My word game book is always close by
2. ~7
3. Milk chocolate and either mint or orange
4. Every 2-3 months
5. Recommend

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Tianarose
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

Just finished this audio book! I really adored this story. Such imaginative writing and the story was so touching. Can‘t say how much this one made me feel, I cried, laughed... all the feels here! Now I‘m going to start The Alienist

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throwmeabook
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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No better way to end the day than a little reading and Olivia Benson and the SVU. 📚💕👮‍♀️ #book19 #mounttbr

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Little Bee | Chris Cleave
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Some books with #Orange on the cover from the tbr shelf!

#Blackcatchallenge

Eggs Love that pumpkin ❣️❣️❣️ 5y
ephemeralwaltz 😍😍😍 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs thank you!! 🎃🧡🎃🧡 5y
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tracey38 Love the pumpkin!! 🎃🧡 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @tracey38 thank you 🧡🎃 5y
97 likes6 comments