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Pretty Monsters
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
The crossover literary sensation...now in paperback! Through the lens of Kelly Link's vivid imagination, nothing is what it seems, and everything deserves a second look. From the multiple award- winning "The Faery Handbag," in which a teenager's grandmother carries an entire village (or is it a man-eating dog?) in her handbag, to the near-future of "The Surfer," whose narrator (a soccer-playing skeptic) waits with a planeload of refugees for the aliens to arrive, these ten stories are funny and full of unexpected insights and skewed perspectives on the world. Kelly Link's fans range from Michael Chabon to Peter Buck of R.E.M. to Holly Black of Spiderwick Chronicles fame. Now teens can have their world rocked too!
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Linsy
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👹🙌🏻🖤 2y
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annamatopoetry
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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I'm bored and list my nine favorite English fiction books, day 5: I like all of Kelly Link's short story collection, but I like Pretty Monsters best. On the one hand, it doesn't have Two Houses, but it does have Magic for Beginners, The Specialist's Hat, and The Constable of Abal. AND the titular story. Link writes the weirdest, most evocative short stories for anyone old enough to handle them, and you should read all of them.

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booksandsympathy
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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#20in4 update: I didn't get home from my hike until after 10pm, so I only read for 2 1/2 hours yesterday. That brings it up to 6 1/2 hours for Friday and Saturday. I took a break from Addie LaRue while I folded laundry, but listened to The Specialist's Hat which is a short story in the book Pretty Monsters. I've read a total of 3 hours today(not much, but I've been tired). Going to read some more Addie while I'm eating dinner.

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Linsy
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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TheSpineView
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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tournevis Mike Wasowaki!!! 4y
46 likes2 comments
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LoveToReadLiveToRead
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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#7days7covers
One of Kelly Link‘s weird and wonderful short story collections. I just like the font and colours on this one.

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annamatopoetry
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Day 6 of #7days7covers #covercrush. Anyone who wants to play, consider yourself tagged.

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glitterkitty459
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

A good collection of creepy (not too scary, I don't like scary lol) short stories!! #shortstories #catsoflitsy #Romeo 🐱

Palimpsest Oh good to know. I really enjoy creepy & gothic themes, but not horror. 5y
rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 5y
KatieDid927 I love this book so much! 5y
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SW-T Your cat‘s adorable! And I‘m sure the title has nothing to do with his behavior! He looks much too sweet to misbehave😂 5y
CorinnaBechko Oh, I adore that book! 5y
glitterkitty459 @SW-T thank you!! He is sweet 😊😸 5y
WorldsOkayestStepMom What a sweet baby angel! 💖 5y
111 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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j9brown
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

A fantastic collection of magical shorts. The writing is charming yet the stories are creepy. Very fun read!

KatieDid927 Yay glad you liked it too! 🤗 5y
34 likes1 comment
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KatieDid927
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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📚Fantasy, but I like both
📚Earthbound
📚Iced coffee, but I do like unsweetened iced tea too
📚Magical
📚Salty rivalry
📚ASOIAF (books only!)
📚Hmm, both but I think I lean towards dystopia
📚Animal
📚Amphibians
📚I‘m surprising myself by picking series. They have to be excellent though. Mediocre series are no fun.
📚I don‘t like YA but some books/series transcend the genre, like Hunger Games. Or the tagged one. 💁🏻‍♀️

@hermyknee

hermyknee 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 5y
16 likes1 comment
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night_shift
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Mehso-so

For some reason I was expecting more horror. Some of the stories were creepy, though. I liked the title story and The Faery Handbag best. The Cinderella Game was probably the creepiest one of the lot, I think. Link has an interesting way of writing that took a while to get used to.

I got this book from @Marmie7 from #halloweengoespostal 2017 - thanks!

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night_shift
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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1. Americanah 📱, The Lies of Locke Lamora 🎧, Pretty Monsters (still), and I just started Bad Feminist.

2. Slytherin with a touch of Ravenclaw.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

alysonimagines I love Pretty Monsters! That‘s one of my most favorite story collections. 5y
rachelsbrittain I still need to read Americanah. It's sitting on my shelf haha. Thanks for joining in 💚💚 5y
night_shift @alysonwrites it's been hit or miss for me so far, which is probably why I've been reading it for a while now! @rachelsbrittain it's the Everybody Reads read for 2019 with my library.. so it was available without a wait, so ai figured why not! It's good so far! 5y
alysonimagines @UnidragonFrag It‘s different, that‘s for sure. Some stories I like more than others, but I do think Kelly Link is a really good storyteller. The way she writes reminds me of a friend who has the most interesting secrets to tell. 5y
night_shift @alysonwrites I'll give you that! That's absolutely how her stories feel! 5y
61 likes5 comments
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KatieDid927
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

I LOVED this book of short stories. The author‘s style and dream-like imagination sucked me in right away and even inspired me to start thinking about writing again myself. I loved how different each story was and how vivid the worlds she created were. Highly recommend.

TheBookBabes This looks unreal! 5y
KatieDid927 @TheBookBabes I really dug it. Another one of her books of stories was a finalist for the Pulitzer and I just ordered it today haha. The reviews aren‘t as good as this one but I still want to check it out! 5y
TheBookBabes No way! Are you usually a fan of short stories? This could really make me a convert! 5y
KatieDid927 @TheBookBabes I actually really do like short stories but I understand those that don‘t. She might be a good intro. Like I read Neil Gaiman‘s Fragile Things last year and meh. His novels are better. 5y
TheBookBabes Well I will definitely try this one out! Thanks for the recommendation! 5y
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kstadt929
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Book and audiovisual returns at my library 🤣

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KatieDid927
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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It‘s Book Club tonight—BBQ, beer & book talk about this fantastic collection of short stories. At least, I love the collection. Last month, the group was unanimous in its love for Grasshopper Jungle (even people I wasn‘t at all sure would like it) & I can‘t wait to hear what they think about this one. Next month is Carry On (love Rainbow Rowell) & then December will be a Book Club member‘s recommendation. Nothing better than cold nights & books!

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aarchamb
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

It's still summer-like temps in NC but this book gave me some great chills! I found Link's short stories to be just enough of a mixture of odd and wonderful, spooky and endearing. #neabigread #prettymonstersisprettyawesome

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

What a marvelous collection of stories! If I was smart, I would have posted mini reviews after reading each one. Ranging from horror & fantasy to science fiction & everything in between as well as combinations of all the above, this collection is enthralling & many stories will need to be reread—The Wrong Grave, The Wizards of Perfil & Monster were favorites. I enjoyed the entire collection & look forward to reading more by Link. Recommended. 3/50

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Hahaha! Yep, that is often how it plays out during a dig season... ⛺️💘⛏ Oh, and dirt. Lots and lots of dirt!

MicrobeMom I love this cover! How@is the book? 6y
TracyReadsBooks @MicrobeMom I loved it! Full of fantasy and magic and mystery and horror and all the good things. I paced myself with a story every couple of nights to savor it all the more. It‘s marketed YA but it‘s all ages wonderful! I definitely plan on reading more by this author. 6y
MicrobeMom Well that sounds great! Another add to the TBR. Thanks. 6y
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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Ha! Anyone else read the ending first? Truth time. It doesn‘t happen often but I will admit to, on occasion, reading the ending not first but somewhere in the middle. Sometimes the knowing of things the ending provides is too hard to resist. (And no, spoilers don‘t usually ruin it for me.)

ravenlee Just today I was doing this - sometimes I get to the point where I‘ve got the twist pretty much figured out, and I peek ahead to see if I was right. But only sometimes. 6y
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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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😂

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Ha! Who hasn‘t been asked this and then offered the very same response? (I will admit to being tempted to say ‘no‘ every once in a while.)

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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😂

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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I don‘t know about you but sometimes I like to read short story collections all the way through from beginning to end without stopping & sometimes I like to take it slow, a story at a time. That‘s the case with the tagged book—I‘ve read the first two stories in the collection & loved them both—and I think it‘s a story a night for me so I can savor them & Shaun Tan‘s illustrations. These stories are quirky, mysterious & magical—all the good things.

emtobiasz I do much better taking Kelly Link‘s stories slowly, since they can be so mindbendy. If you haven‘t read her collection Get In Trouble you should add that to the list too— I loved it! 6y
TracyReadsBooks @emtobiasz Thanks for the recommendation. It‘s added to the list! 6y
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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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😂

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Going with a short story collection to end the evening.

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night_shift
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Ignore my stupid cup lol

Messy side table. Two notebooks (one for work, other my bujo), lots of pens, kindle and the only actual physical book I'm reading right now. Plus, jam packed DS case.

@24in48 #24in48 #hour18

TheBookgeekFrau Love the cup!! 6y
night_shift @C.Perone lol thanks 😂 6y
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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Thanks so much @monalyisha for these wonderful books. Never heard of Kelly Link and of Kij Johnson, so I'm very excited, because I love new discoveries! I absolutely love the card ;)
Thanks @CSeydel for organizing this wonderful #shortstoryswap ;)

RealLifeReading Oh I love that Kij Johnson collection! 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Nice! Love Shirley Jackson. 6y
Adventures-of-a-French-Reader @RealLifeReading and @erzascarletbookgasm Now is the moment that I wish I wouldn't have soooo much work, and I could just sit all day reading books after books... 6y
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monalyisha @JulietteGF Opening day is so exciting! I‘m thrilled that the authors are new to you! I love both of them so much (all three of the authors I sent you, actually). I hope you found the cool embroidered bookmark in the Kelly Link, too! 6y
Adventures-of-a-French-Reader @monalyisha Yes, I found it! It's super cool, thanks again! 6y
monalyisha @JulietteGF Perfect! 🙌🏻🧟‍♂️⚡️ (And you‘re welcome.) 6y
CSeydel Nice! These look amazing. I don‘t know Kelly Link either; now I‘m intrigued to check her out! Great stuff. Thanks for participating @JulietteGF and @monalyisha - good swap! 6y
monalyisha @CSeydel You should check out “Stranger Things Happen.” I almost included that one but “Pretty Monsters” matched the bookmark I sent way too well. 😅 6y
CSeydel @monalyisha cool, I‘ll look for it! 6y
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alysonimagines
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Each day for 7 days, post the cover of one of your favorite books. No words. No explanations.

#7favesin7days / Day 2

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TracyReadsBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Today‘s #bookhaul includes a collection of short stories that has been on my radar forever (and yay, I finally found it!) as well as a history of Chicago that I found, where else, on the sale shelves at Unabridged Bookstore. You have to love local independent bookstores—I know I do!

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MystGalaxyBooks
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Mysterious Galaxy‘s April 11 Book Group will discuss Pretty Monsters as part of a month long community Big Read with local literacy group Write Out Loud.

MCYmermaid Discussion to led by moi... so should be appropriately weird! 🧚🏿‍♀️🧜🏿‍♀️👻🦔 6y
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ArcticDwarf
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Love the drawings in this book! 🤗
#litsyreads #litsyreaders #bibliophile #bookish #bookaholic

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MommyOfTwo
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Which one are you ? I use bookmarks

hermyknee Hahahahaha 6y
CocoReads Mostly bookmarks, occasionally a monster. 😂😂😂 6y
Sills Definitely a bookmark👍 6y
ReadingRover 😂 I‘m a monster!!!! 6y
RadicalReader @MommyOfTwo I always use book marks 6y
23 likes5 comments
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ArcticDwarf
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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This made me snort 😂
#litsyreads #litsyreaders #bibliophile

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Angitron
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Bailedbailed

Just couldn‘t stick with this one. The first story was funny and quirky, but the following few stories weren‘t my cup of tea.

CatLass007 Hi! I‘m your #HalloweenGoesPostal match. I mailed your package on Friday. I‘m surprised you haven‘t received it yet. Should be any day now. 6y
Angitron Hey there! Yes, I just got it yesterday evening and due to some personal stuff, just haven‘t gotten around to posting the pic yet. But I will post it tonight! Thanks so so much - I need something to make me smile and I‘m super excited to see what‘s inside!!! 😊 6y
14 likes2 comments
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Rekki
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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#fallintobooks Day 12 - Silver and Gold
I fell behind again and decided I will be skipping days that I have no books to match for my own sanity's sake. Pretty monsters is perfect for #silverandgold plus a #cat photo bomber.

#goldandsilver #september #photobomb #cats #gold #silver #monsters #grimms #fairytales #catsoflitsy
@RealLifeReading

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katycronk
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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I get a lot of books for Christmas mainly since my birthday is so close. My friend Tamara had recently followed me on Goodreads right before my bday last year. She made sure to pick books off my TBR so I got what I wanted for my birthday. #Liberthday Happy Birthday @Liberty! 🎉🎉🎉

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Maude
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

#maybookflowers #eyesoncover I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but I love Kelly Link's! They are weird and creepy cute :)

Maude I have not read, Gideon the Cutpurse, yet. I'm not even sure where it came from 😮 7y
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Maude
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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@Liberty #readathonstories
Kelly Link writes my favorite short stories, I just enjoy everything about these two books of hers, covers, titles and of course the stories :)

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BramBresseleers
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link

"Miles's mind was full of poetic thoughts. Every cloud had a silver lining, except there was probably a more interesting and meaningful way to say that, and death wasn't really a cloud."

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Twohourflyer
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Horror writers are very rarely scary looking, although they are frequently good cooks.

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beccaeve
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Thank you so much, @meltedsquirrel for lovely #cupidgoespostal gift! Pretty monsters and super hero friends sound like the perfect topics for me. Both of these authors have recently been recommended to me, so these are exciting!

@BookishMarginalia

Reviewsbylola 😍😍😍 7y
RealBooks4ever Oooo, Kelly Link! Lucky you! 💜💜💜 7y
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Malisa
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Today I bought me some discounted books!!! Gotta love them, but why must the store put their sticker on the top right corner??!!??

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DeeLew
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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I wish I was participating in the readathon but my BF and I only have about 2 days per month where we both have the same day off from work so we try to spend time doing things we both enjoy. We went on a nature hike and, although I don't have time to read, I did smuggle one book in my backpack. 😊💀🐞🍁🍂🎃🌳#SpookyOctober

Zelma Perfectly good reason to skip readathon! Glad you are having a fun day. 👍🎃 7y
melbeautyandbooks Happy y'all are having a fun day together! 7y
DeeLew @Zelma and @melbeautyandbooks thank you, it was a fabulous day! 7y
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DeeLew
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Taking a break. Enjoying the last few moments before the television in the break room gets cranked up to full volume. 📙💀

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readordierachel
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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Pickpick

Kelly Link is the jam. These stories are inventive, often hilarious, and the best kind of weird. If you like magical realism, I can't recommend these highly enough.

#shortstories #booktober

valeriegeary This picture is fantastic! 7y
readordierachel @valeriegeary It's straight from the book! 7y
LectricSheep Without knowing the context: this bag feels like it would be useful to get out of social engagements that go on too long... 7y
readordierachel @LectricSheep I could use one of those 7y
Linsy I need to read this!!! 7y
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DeeLew
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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I love October!! Finishing up these and ready to continue with my spooky reads. #SpookyOctober #HalloweenCountdown #FrightFest

Jillsandypants Oh, I really enjoyed Descent! 7y
Bette Descent was good. 😊 7y
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Downtonabbeyroad394
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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This remind anyone else of the sorting hat ✨😜

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jojoandthemoon
Pretty Monsters | Kelly Link
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After cooking a veggie lasagna for the dude and I, these vegan cookies are oh. so. delicious and pair quite nicely with a book of short stories. 😎 So far #PrettyMonsters is great; not demanding by any means, but Link really infuses some magic into these pages that keep you subtly craving more... Definitely digging it! (Plus, it helps fulfill the always present desire to live life as a wizard.) 🤓 #HappyTuesday #LITtles #LitsyNYC

EnidBiteEm Anything that helps live life as a wizard! I hear you... 8y
MrBook You live in NYC also? 8y
jojoandthemoon @MrBook yes sir! 😎 @EnidBiteEm Anything at all! 😁 8y
MrBook Fantastic 😊👏🏻! If you ever want to come by for a get-together, @BookBabe & I run the 20/30 something Book Club and the 20/30-Something LongReads Book Club on Meetup.com ☺️👍🏻. We have a few #Litsyans who attend. 8y
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