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#EdgeofSeventeen made me immediately think of the tagged book, despite having read it several years ago. Buntin's strong debut tells of Marlena & Cat & their dangerous friendship. Cat, the narrator, is 15 at the time of the events of the novel & she has a fascination with her older friend's reckless lifestyle. Highly recommend.
@eggs @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
#volumesandvocals

Want to add to your TBR? Do you like books set in the Midwest? Well, my new recommended reading list up on Electric Lit is for you! https://electricliterature.com/11-books-about-midwesterners-who-arent-trying-to-...

5 year-old Kat is fascinated by 17-yr old wild child, Marlena. Soon they are BFFs and it is downhill from there. There is nothing cheerful about this book, but I was engaged throughput. The interjection of the POV of 34-yr underscores how a teenaged tragedy leaves an indelible scar on those impacted by it.

Starting 2020 off with reading a book by an author I don‘t know for my 2020 reading challenge

Scout wants me to move my books off my lap so SHE can lay there. I‘m staying strong. For now. It‘s just so hard to read with a puppy on my lap!

I‘ve been carrying around 3 books trying to decide what to read next, I decided to go with Marlena. #booksonboats

⭐️⭐️ • Sorry to say, but this one‘s a snoozer.

Catching up on some #botm reads. 🍦🧡

#SpringIntoReading Day 27: Here are some of the #OneWordTitles in my bookshelf - all #WomenReadWomen titles, too! And just look at creme brulee chocolate. What Saturdays should be like.

This was a more contemplative book than I‘d expected. There‘s some beautiful writing about friendship, adolescent insecurity and addiction, but what I liked most were the descriptions of how we reframe formative memories in our minds as we move farther away from them. (Clearly #SullivanCat is considering this as well 🐱 #catsoflitsy)

After a bunch of air travel headaches due to the snow storm in the northeast US, I finally made it home to my cats and my bed. 😊 Am looking forward to reading some physical books instead of my Kindle, which I use exclusively when I travel. Starting with this one and cuddling with #PercyCat. #catsoflitsy

Home sweet snuggles!

Finished tagged book last night, just as the clock struck midnight! It was a melancholy read, but lovely writing, heartbreaking story about youth & friendship & first loves & loss. It would make a great quick pick for Autumn #booked2019 #BooksAboutAddiction

Kind of wish I had saved it for that prompt actually. 🤣 So if anyone has recs for other books about addiction, I'm all ears! 🤗

4 hours 40 minutes until 2019 hits the West coast. 1 hour 45 minutes before our plane leaves. 2 hour and 30 minute flight home. 143 pages to read in this book. Would love to finish this one up tonight and start fresh tomorrow. Seems doable....if I don't fall asleep.🤞🤞🤞🍾🍾🍾 #readinthenewyear

In a few more hours I'll be getting on a plane to go home and oh I am so ready to go home. We had a nice visit with family, but I miss my Charlie Waffles and my quiet time. So that's how I'm planning on #readinthenewyear. On a plane. Cozy with my book. We land just before midnight. Huzzah!

@hermyknee

Spending the next few days with my second set of in-laws. Lucky me they have this cozy little reading nook!

When your family golfs but you definitely don't but the sun is out and the golf cart was free........

Here‘s my Christmas book stack for 2018! A little lighter than usual, but that‘s a bit of a relief since my TBR is (as always) out of control already. Excited to read all of these (and page mournfully through the Bourdain).📚🎅

🌟🌟🌟🌟 beautifully written but such a tragic story.. slightly drags in parts, but the characters of Cat and Marlena are electric!

Pretty excited for this box! 😍

Today's prompt #LipstickLies made me think of the character of Marlena from this book... This is a twisted story about teen friendship if you're interested. Not bad at all!

#SeptemberDanes @Kalalalatja Ooh, I just remembered @Cinfhen herself sent this one to me! 😍

✨✨ BOOK SWAP ✨✨
Looking to trade this #botm for one of the following:
- Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Goodbye Vitamin
- The Woman in the Window
- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
- Exit West

Let me know if you‘re interested in trading! 😊📚

🚨🚨 BOOK SWAP 🚨🚨
Anyone interested in trading another #botm pick for this copy of Marlena? Ideally looking for Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Goodbye Vitamin, but open to other possibilities. #bookswap #bookmail #evelynhugo #goodbyevitamin

This book, with its vivid and piercing prose, brought me back to my own experiences in high school—to the insecurity and recklessness, the urgency that bonds teenage girls together. I absolutely loved this book. It also broke my heart and made me cry. I am glad I made my own decision and chose to read this book. Beautiful debut. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am at 30th st station waiting for my train into Egg Harbor City NJ. My dad came into town from New Mexico for a surprise visit and is staying with my grandmother. Of course I had to stop for a draft latte from La Colombe (their coffee is hands down better than Starbucks). The only downfall is that this isn't big enough.

I am at 30th st station waiting for my train into Egg Harbor City NJ. My dad came into town from New Mexico for a surprise visit and is staying with my grandmother. Of course I had to stop for a draft latte from La Colombe (their coffee is hands down better than Starbucks). The only downfall is that this isn't big enough.

Ehhh. I feel like I can sum up my thoughts with just 🤷🏻‍♀️. It was ok. Not the worst but not anything I‘d call interesting. Honestly it was fairly derivative—the “troubled bad girls who do bad things and then one dies” thing has been done a lot, especially over the last few years. Wasn‘t much new here, and the drug scenes got repetitive. Did like the study of how this affects Cat later in life, wish there was more of that. Again: 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2/5 ⭐️

I was in a rush this morning and forgot my book. I feel so lost.

Haven‘t heard much about this one but it sounds intriguing - and of course now I have that Wallflowers song in my head 😜 #nowreading

Hanging out at starbucks reading after work. I can't put this book down.

Breakfast and book before work. Thank you again @Ddzmini for the book cover. I love it and use it all the time.

This view will never get old.

I had a very long exhausting, hellacious day. But I did get some yummy meats and produce at Reading Terminal. After the crappy day I had, I deserve this beer.

So I am thinking the earlier I do my chores the earlier I come home and can read. I totally forgot about rent. Thank God I am not late until tomorrow.

[Insert No Doubt's "I'm Just a Girl" here]

I've got my Starbucks Italian roasted coffee (I can only drink hot coffee in the air conditioner) and my comfy spot on the couch. My plans were cancelled for today so I am going to force myself to read. Currently on pg. 24

I have been In a reading slump lately. I start books and then I stop them in the middle for no reason. I am forcing myself to get back into it starting with this one. 1 chapter before work.

I actually did an all women no men month, to my surprise! Awesome 😎 Not a great month in terms of ratings but I had a lot of fun with all of these!

Finished this over breakfast this morning. This surprised me as a debut because the writing is haunting and Buntin really makes these characters come to life. From the blurb inside I thought this would be more suspenseful... So I think it's better if you go in without knowing anything about the plot. The story dragged a bit for me but I see how it feeds the narrational structure. Recommend if you like coming of age stories involving f**-up teens!

Yay for cherries! 🍒 #currentlyreading

Mornings 😴 Started this one today. @Cinfhen

Second book to arrived today. This is the British edition. Miss getting books from England. Can't wait to read this.

Look at the amazing package I got from @Cinfhen for her #SurpriseMeGiveaway all the way from Israel- I was so lucky to be the chosen one!! 😍😍 I love everything Cindy, especially Her Body and Other Parties, which I was dying to get a copy of. Thank you again so much for your generosity and thank you for making Litsy a better place! 🎉📚😍
(The hand cream is faaaabulous)

A very complex story about friendship, addiction, and secrets. Incredibly sad in so many ways. I found myself having the most pity for Sal, though - he didn‘t have a choice in what happened to him, unlike all of the other characters. All in all, a very good book. I think this story will stay with me for a while.
#BOTM #LRC (a book with a first name in the title) #LRC2018

Aw man, I had a really good streak going for March, and broke it just because I decided to sleep in yesterday morning! 😩 but March was my best reading month yet this year. Now on to April - I‘m going to do my best not to miss a single day this month, starting now! A little Marlena before I have to get ready to leave for NY to visit the fam.

Happy Easter, littens! 🐰🌸

Only a year late on this #BOTM pick.... 😳 I‘ve only been reading for about a half hour and I‘m 40 pages in. The blurb on the bookmark is so true - I could definitely read this in one sitting if I had the time. (Damn hubby will be home from work soon and interrupt me!!) I can see myself finishing this in just a few days.

I couldn‘t put this one down. It‘s told from the perspective of an adult woman remembering her high school best friend, Marlena, who died as a teenager. I related so much to the characters, the town, and their situation. It‘s not just about friendship, but it‘s also about class, poverty, and addiction...

http://www.amyyuki.com/books/2018/03/12/marlena-by-julie-buntin/

It was a good month, but unfortunately no 5⭐️ reads (I‘m stingy). I had several 4⭐️s though; my favorite being #Marlena by #JulieBuntin.

#FebStats #ReadingResolutions

15 completed
8 nonfiction
9 audio
3 rereads
1 classic
1 buddy read

“What I‘m trying to say is that day, I learned that time doesn‘t belong to you. All you have is what you remember. A fraction; less.”

This is fiction, but it feels real, like it could take place anywhere. Life can really deal some shitty circumstances, and for many, it‘s very familiar. Removing oneself is a struggle and often impossible. I‘m impressed with Buntin‘s debut. I can‘t stop thinking about it.

Taking a MUCH-needed birthday party prep and house cleaning break. We have family coming in from out of town and, of course, I want everything perfect for our baby‘s 4th birthday tomorrow.

A BIG thanks to hubby for bringing me a beer! He‘s the best. #booksandbrews 🛁 + 📖 + 🍺

Franny and Zooey - great choice, Cat. 💚 I love when books mention other books (especially ones I hold dear).