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American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures
American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures | America Ferrera
From award-winning actress and political activist America Ferrera comes a vibrant and varied collection of first person accounts from prominent figures about the experience of growing up between cultures. America Ferrera has always felt wholly American, and yet, her identity is inextricably linked to her parents' homeland and Honduran culture. Speaking Spanish at home, having Saturday-morning-salsa-dance-parties in the kitchen, and eating tamales alongside apple pie at Christmas never seemed at odds with her American identity. Still, she yearned to see that identity reflected in the larger American narrative. Now, in American Like Me, America invites thirty-one of her friends, peers, and heroes to share their stories about life between cultures. We know them as actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. However, they are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. And they call themselves American enthusiastically, reluctantly, or not at all. Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.
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Sharpeipup
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“People talk about diversity of American culture as being this big melting pot…I think I prefer the term salad bowl… a bunch of different ingredients all tossed haphazardly in a way that came together “ 🥗

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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
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Pickpick

3/5

Interesting read, I think it could be a good choice for a book club. Sometimes, I must admit I would have been more interested in hearing their parents' stories.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This essay collection by indigenous people, immigrants, and first-generation kids of immigrants to America covers a wide range of experiences. Some reminisced about childhood, others discussed social justice, more talked about breaking into entertainment or politics, which is the profession of most of the authors in this collection. I wish each were narrated by their author, although most are, making this a solid 4⭐️ #audiobook

Happy New Year! 🥂

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Megabooks
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Just finished my first book of 2021! Solid 4⭐️ #audiobook that I‘ll review later on, American Like Me. Feminasty was my last book of 2020.

Happy New Year y‘all!! 🎉🎉📚🎧

#lastfirst @BookNAround Thanks for the giveaway, Kristen!

Simona Happy New Year 🥂🍾 3y
CarolynM Happy New Year, Meg💕 3y
Megabooks @Simona happy new year, Simona!! 📚🎉🥂 3y
Megabooks @CarolynM happy new year, Carolyn! 🥂🎉📚 3y
90 likes4 comments
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

This was such a wonderful reading experience. A collection of essays written by First Generation Americans (famous & semi famous) who shared glimpses of growing up in a country that didn‘t always embrace their culture or skin tone. Some stories were humorous, some sad but what they all shared is their undeniable love for their parents, who sacrificed & worked so hard to give their children what they believe is a better life. #Pop20 #Anthology

Hooked_on_books I loved this one 4y
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BookNightOwl
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Pickpick

I actually started this book yesterday and finished it earlier today. I loved the stories and the backgrounds and the families of all the different people that were included in this book. I didnt rate each story Individually because I feel like every person has a story and even though I enjoyed some more then others they all deserved a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

BookNightOwl Nonfiction is usually not my go to read but would highly recommend this if you feel like reading about why America is so great because we are so diverse and beautiful💕 5y
65 likes1 comment
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shaynarae
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Pickpick

I laughed, I cried, I loved. Wonderful essays from a multitude of celebrity and activist non-white Americans about their family‘s history of immigration and the intersection between American and non-American culture. Stop whatever you‘re doing and pick up this book!

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MandaMT
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Pickpick

I listened to this audiobook. I spent the week weeping while doing yard work, folding laundry, driving, etc. Each of these essays is beautifully written and deeply personal. I left this book feeling like I had a better understanding of the fabric of my country.

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MandaMT
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This was in the final essay of the book. Just beautiful.

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BekaReid
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Loving these essays!

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BekaReid
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This!

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eraderneely
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Pickpick

As with any essay collection, there are some hits and misses. But on the whole this collection is very strong. It was especially good on audio.
One theme that kept coming up is how surprised immigrants were at how bad American food is. “American” food is terrible. The best food in the US comes from our immigrant and indigenous communities!

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Great audio book!!!

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

I really loved this collection. Such a great mix of stories from immigrants from all corners of the globe who came here, and just how hard, wonderful, and confusing that experience can be.

It‘s a great reminder of what truly makes America Great, it is and always has been this influx of people, willing to work and strive for a better life, without that we cut off our own life‘s blood... the influx of ideas and passion that make our engine work.

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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“do they realize there is something far scarier than being the country everyone wants to come to? What if we become the country no one wants to come to? Fifty years ago, if you asked someone living in Europe, Asia—or anywhere else, really—where they would go if they had to leave their home country, the answer was clear.“

- Joaquin Castro

Texreader 👍🏻 5y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I loved this part by Linda Sarsour

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Melismatic
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Half finished with the audiobook — I can‘t recommend this enough! So heartwarming and uplifting! A great chicken-soupy type book — relatable and insightful. 🥰🤗

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RealLifeReading
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Pickpick

A great audiobook by a wonderfully diverse group from so many different cultures and backgrounds. These are not just people who write for a living but also politicians, people in sports (Michelle Kwan, Jeremy Lin), people on stage/screen (Padma Lakshmi, Lin Manuel Miranda).
They all have amazing stories to tell about being American -
I loved hearing them read out their stories, and it was nice to put voices to some unfamiliar names.

ChasingOm Oh, this sounds like a wonderful audio pick! 5y
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Purrsistently
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Pickpick

This was wonderful!!!!

JanuarieTimewalker13 Sounds good!! Stacked!! 5y
nelehelen I loved it too!! 5y
Purrsistently @nelehelen I loved the wide variety in tone, style, format- it was enjoyable in that sense even divorced from the top-shelf content.💕 5y
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RealLifeReading
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Listening to an audiobook and playing around with my granny hexagons - trying to decide if I should add a neutral fourth round (white maybe?) to give a more cohesive look.

kspenmoll So pretty & so much work! I like it as is. 😄 5y
julesG White sounds like a good idea. You could connect them while doing that next round. 5y
cathysaid My vote is leave them. The contrast makes each so beautiful! 5y
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Lindy 😍 5y
tammysue ❤️ 5y
CouronneDhiver Pretty! Has a retro vibe 5y
Laura317 I‘m with @cathysaid - I love it as is! 5y
Freespirit That‘s gorgeous! 5y
RealLifeReading @julesG I‘ve never done the connect-as-you-go route but have been meaning to try! 5y
RealLifeReading @cathysaid thank you! I do kinda love it the way it looks but I may just add a fourth row to a few of them just to see the difference! 5y
RealLifeReading @CouronneDhiver it does! Although I didn‘t realize it until your comment 😂 5y
Lindy I have been considering your question about cohesiveness. The appeal of multicoloured granny squares lies partly in randomness, don‘t you think? A border all in one colour scheme will change that effect. (edited) 5y
RealLifeReading @lindy thanks for giving it some thought! I think the only way I can solve this is to just start on a fourth neutral round on a few hexagons (and try out the join as you go method) and see if I like how it looks. Part of my hesitation is also that I like the size of the hexagons as they are at the moment! 5y
Lindy @RealLifeReading Instead of adding another row, maybe you could lay out the pieces against a white sheet with space in between each of the edges to see the colour effect. 5y
110 likes16 comments
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RealLifeReading
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Chocolate cake doughnut, coffee, and this audiobook with so many amazing contributors. And all is well with the world despite having woken up at 5 on a Sat morn. The boys are playing quietly (and nicely!) together and if you have boys you will know how rare that is. As I was trying to take this photo they were running around shining blue lights all over and yelling because they have no other way of talking except at the top of their voices.

RealLifeReading At any rate, after I took this photo (having deleted several with bits of blue lights), I plugged in some earphones and ate my doughnut in peace 5y
AlaMich @RealLifeReading is that an Entenmann‘s devil‘s food crumb donut I see?? 🤤 5y
everlocalwest Lol, your boys sound like my nephews, way too excited about life to speak beyond the 'happy screams'. 😻 Hope you get some peaceful reading time today! 5y
RealLifeReading @AlaMich it was a Krispy Kreme chocolate cake doughnut! Although I must say that a devil‘s food crumb doughnut sounds delightful 5y
RealLifeReading @everlocalwest 😂😂 boys... 5y
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RealLifeReading
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Finished up with the Grinda Shawl and started on a new one! It‘s a fun pattern to make and you can‘t quite see in this photo but the bottom section (the pink part) has hearts in it. Listened to a couple of audiobooks (and some Netflixing) while working on this. Tagging my new #audiobook

#audiocrochet

For my fellow crocheters, pattern is here https://www.lillabjorncrochet.com/2018/06/grinda-mal-general-information.html?m=...

WhatWouldJaneDo This is gorgeous! 5y
Leftcoastzen So pretty! 5y
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Wow! So lovely! ❤️ 5y
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wanderinglynn That is gorgeous! I love the colors. 💜 5y
RiverKScottWrites Wow! You made that?? Pretty! 🌸 5y
readordierachel Beautiful! 5y
batsy Lovely 😍 5y
Megabooks Beautiful! And I really enjoyed your new read! 5y
PickwickPlockPlock Beautiful! 5y
Owlizabeth Gorgeous!! You and @Lindy are super talented! 5y
Lindy Gorgeous! ❤️ 5y
valeriegeary Pretty colors! And so delicate! 😍 5y
ReadingRachael Beautiful! 5y
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Kathrin
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Pickpick

This is a powerful and diverse collection.

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maleahrae
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I finally finished the Winter prompts for #booked2019!!
Female Detective-- The Craftsman
Fairy Tale Retelling-- Everything, Everything
Reminds Me of My Happy Place-- The Book Thief
Related to a Podcast-- American Like Me
Irish Author-- One Hundred Names
New to Me Author-- One Day in December

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maleahrae
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This book was incredible!! I highly recommend reading these inspiring stories from people from so many backgrounds shedding light on what it's like to be American like them. So great!
#booked2019 #relatedtoapodcast
@4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen

Cinfhen I literally JUST downloaded this from my library!!!! 5y
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I loved this book! In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I sent a copy to my Indian-American bff. Immigration is such a contentious point today. America (the person) did a great job of inviting participants from various parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America as well as Native Americans. The writers are actors, activists, singers, politicians, etc. 5⭐️

#nonfiction2019 #somethingwithpolitics

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m still on hold for this at the library, I‘m glad to hear you enjoyed it! 5y
Megabooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I hope you like it! I‘ve really been enjoying essay collections lately. Some are better than others in this, but there were only 2/31 that I didn‘t think were as great as the others. 5y
87 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Chelleo
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Listening to this #audiobook and I‘m loving it! The stories are varied and so confirming for me, a biracial daughter of a Filipina immigrant and Black father. The stories of language (I speak English but my mother speaks a Filipino dialect), hair, food (they mention lumpia and pancit...my favorites) and music (NWA and gangsta rap we‘re part of my teenage soundtrack. I‘m only a 1/4 in and can‘t wait to hear the rest! #ownvoices #diversebooks

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds great, I‘m still on the library‘s hold list for this one and I can‘t wait. 5y
dalma_st_paul On my TBR this year. Thanks for reminding me😊 I'm really excited for this one. 5y
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Sace
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Pickpick

I would highly recommend this on audio. It brought me to tears at times.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

In this fabulous #ownvoices collection, the contributors share stories of family and childhood, ultimately demonstrating that we are more alike than different and that our variety makes us stronger. Latinx, Black, Asian, Native American, and Trans voices are all represented here. This should be required reading for all Americans.

#dogsofLitsy #Greta

Cinfhen 🙌🏻💕 5y
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Expandingbookshelf
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Pickpick

Bravo @americaferrera for cultivating and editing this anthology. “American Like Me” features accounts from creatives who grew up between two cultures. No matter where your family came from or how long they‘ve been here, you‘ll be inspired by this fabulous collection ❤️🇺🇸📖

12 likes1 stack add
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marissaecaldwell
Pickpick

I enjoyed the different life's that make us so beautiful

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razmanda
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Bookish presents from my best friends! 😍😍😍

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Sace
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My latest listen. A #blameitonlitsy

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teainthelibrary
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#BookAndBath 💕 I love living in England, but being away from home can be hard. Being an American living abroad inspires complicated feelings, but I‘ll never shy away from the love I have for our patchwork quilt of a country. I‘m seeking out home in this collection, and hopefully new perspectives as well. ❤️🇺🇸

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ErikasMindfulShelf
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Pickpick

Great book of essays. Just wish more of the authors read their own essays.

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nelehelen
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Pickpick

5/5
I won my first Goodreads giveaway and got this awesome book! I love that the first time I win anything book-related, it‘s about a subject that is personal to me. I also grew up feeling “in between cultures” and didn‘t fully realize how much more we have in common with one another by sharing in that same experience. The stories made me cry and laugh, but it mostly allowed me to reflect on my own past experiences in a new light.

#ReadHarder2018

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Floresj
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Pickpick

Inspiring, thought-provoking, funny, and heart warming collection of essays by various actors, comedians, authors, and athletes. Focus on family, hard work, and acceptance of oneself, the essays shed light on the “infrastructure of opportunity” America is and should be. I loved reading about the plethora of cultures! Lots of well known essayists made this collection really wonderful!

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Lauren.Archer
Pickpick

Beautiful essay collection. These snippets reflect real America, and should be essential reading.

68 likes3 stack adds
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Lauren.Archer
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This book is beautiful to look at. Looking forward to all the essays.

EKonrad Just finished this one. Loved it! 😊 5y
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Sace
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My latest #audiobook acquisitions.

RadicalReader @RestlessFickleBookHoarder I swear my audiobooks multiply like mogwai lol rotfl 5y
Booksnchill Almost finished withthe Stephen Fry audii- so entertaining!! 5y
Sace @RadicalReader mine too! I'm an multi format hoarder-physical, kindle and audible. 5y
See All 8 Comments
Sace @Booksnchill yay! The subject matter sounded very interesting. 5y
Booksnchill @RestlessFickleBookHoarder done like a podcast with interviews and sound effects 5y
Sace @Booksnchill oh cool! 5y
Daisey Those are the same two originals I picked this month! 5y
Sace @Daisey they seemed the most interesting to me. 5y
85 likes8 comments
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EKonrad
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Pickpick

America Ferrera did a fantastic job putting together a collection of stories from many well-known actors, writers, athletes, etc. who are first-generation Americans. The stories range from humorous to sobering, but all of them are extremely heartfelt and inspiring. In a day and age when the American public is being encouraged to foster the divide between immigrants and natural born citizens, the book is timely and much-needed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Sace Stacked! (Who am I kidding... I'm headed over to Amazon right now 🙄) 5y
EKonrad @RestlessFickleBookHoarder I hope you like it as much as I did! 😊 5y
Sace I just purchased it. I think I'm going to adjust my November TBR and prioritize this one! 5y
39 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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ladyneverwhere
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@emilyjwhit9 @Laura317 @Laughterhp here are my picks for #lmpbc let me know what you all think!

Laura317 I‘ve read Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. I‘ve been wanting to read Vicious, so that would probably be my pick, although the other two books would be interesting to read. 6y
emilyjwhit9 I am good with Vicious as well! I have not read anything from that author and have wanted to. I am also excited about. American like me. 6y
Laughterhp I‘ve read Long Way To a Small Angry Planet. I‘d be okay reading Vicious or American Like Me! 😊 6y
12 likes4 comments
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Zbayardo
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Pickpick

Thank you and Gracias @AmericaFerrera for a beautiful reminder that my life between two cultures is just as worthy, important, and TRULY AMERICAN. #favoriteread2018 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #mexicanamerican

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JoyBlue
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Pickpick

Finished yesterday.... Some of the essays are more compelling than others, of course; but, overall, this was a great read, full of insights and food for thought.

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Eyelit
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Totally a #blamelitsy purchase for the tagged book - preordered it based on a post a while ago. Also preordered Descender immediately after reading the last volume. Both orders came in yesterday and I‘m very much looking forward to my weekend reading! #bookhaul

dariazeoli Just saw America on The View talking about the book today! 👍 6y
Peddler410 I can‘t blame Litsy for my purchase of this one! B&N 20% sticker is what I blame! 😂 I think it‘s going to be great. 6y
RadicalReader @Eyelit love the cover of descender 5y
60 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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Sharing this #TBRtemptation with you all.
September 25th can‘t come soon enough! 😍 #PSILoveYou #HeyJune

Cinfhen This should be good!!! 6y
GypsyKat Cool! 👍 6y
Hooked_on_books I just read about this is a BookRiot email. They had me at Roxane Gay, but look at all those contributors! 😍 6y
MatchlessMarie @Hooked_on_books They had me at@ LMM 😂 plus Joaquin Castro is my representative so I am looking forward to what he has to say too! (edited) 6y
70 likes2 stack adds4 comments