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Readings: Essays and Literary Entertainments | Michael Dirda
310 posts | 3 read | 15 to read
A collection of classic essays and reviews by a Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic for the Washington Post includes writings on the author's first experiences of Beckett and Faulkner in high school, a meeting of the P.G. Wodehouse Society, and a discovery of the Japanese epic The Tale of Genji. Reprint. 10,000 first printing.
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Aimeesue
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I don‘t do the GR challenges because I never know what the days are going to bring. That said, reading is pretty much my sole entertainment. I rarely watch tv or movies due to hearing issues - closed captions are just reading and I‘d rather be reading something excellent 😂

Ruthiella Fantastic! 👏👏👏 3mo
Suet624 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3mo
willaful I feel the same way about podcasts... why would I listen to them when I could listen to a book? 3mo
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TieDyeDude 💪🎉 3mo
Aimeesue @Ruthiella @Suet624 @TieDyeDude Thank you, thank you! I could not have done it without all your wonderful reviews and recommendations. Feels like a team effort somehow 😉 3mo
Aimeesue @willaful Indeed! I listen to a couple of podcasts, but they‘re about books 😁 3mo
38 likes6 comments
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Kshakal
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It makes me sad that the majority of my students don‘t enjoy reading but that doesn‘t stop me from talking about books to them all the time!!

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Bookgoil
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I‘m reading for the reverse readathon this weekend. Hoping to crush some of my graphic novel pile from the library. #deweyjuly #deweyrr2023

ju.ca.no I loved the Moth Keeper🥰 8mo
29 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
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Yes!!!! 🤓🤓🤓🤓

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vivastory
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Of the 4 sf authors cited, the only one yet to be published by LoA is Sturgeon.

charl08 I wonder if they read this?!! 1y
vivastory @charl08 I think he does have some influence. His articles still run in the Washington Post. 1y
Sapphire I bought Browsings by him at a book festival in 2015 but it‘s still in my TBR. I remember his presentation as rather engaging. 1y
vivastory @Sapphire I've watched a few interviews with him and he seems thoughtful and congenial. I read Browsings a few years ago and liked it. 1y
53 likes4 comments
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vivastory
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I started this last night and am thoroughly enjoying it. I recently ordered it and tucked away inside was this bookmark of the Kennedy Center with a 2015 calendar on the other side.

Lcsmcat I love finding things like that in secondhand books! 1y
vivastory @Lcsmcat It definitely provides a sense of history 📚 1y
Morr_Books The Kennedy Center is one of my favorite places! ♥️ 1y
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vivastory @Morr_Books It seems like a great place to visit 1y
Aimeesue I enjoy Dirda's pieces - he strikes a nice balance between the "literary" and lesser-thought-of "genre" books. I've found a lot of great reads due to him, because while I like well-written stuff, I also like police procedurals and horror, etc. Hope you enjoy this one! 1y
vivastory @Aimeesue I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment! There's a piece in Readings on a completely forgotten work called I Am Jonathan Scrivener & at the end he points out how anemic much of the official canon is & encourages readers to expand the canon by rediscovering genre works. The essay I just finished was about the LoA starting to include genre works. Great stuff! 1y
Aimeesue He's the BEST at finding that sweet spot between exciting/enjoyable stories and prose you don't have to gnash your teeth over because it's so stilted/ridiculous/just plain bad! 1y
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Morr_Books
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I am planning a busy week of reading. Already got a good jump yesterday. My goals for #OutstandingOctober :
📚 Read for at least 48 hours
📚 Finish 6 books
📚 Attend 2 book clubs
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😁 1y
31 likes1 comment
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IMASLOWREADER
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1. to escape boredom
2. my 5th grade teacher got me started for my love of reading
3. i read whenever i can: before bed, while getting ready for work, during commute to work, while walking, at lunch & while sewing #littenswanttoknow

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LitsyEvents
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This months #bookspin numbers brought to you by @thearomaofbooks Everyone is welcome to join in the fun!

TheAromaofBooks ❤ ❤ ❤ 2y
35 likes1 comment
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melissanorr
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I saw this on FB and cracked up so I thought I'd share. Who on here doesn't relate to this? 🤣

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Suet624
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You can‘t tell from this photo but I just set my reading goal on Goodreads to 70 books for 2022. This is 10 less than last year. Magazines, which I refuse to throw away until they are read, are piling up. It‘s an embarrassment of riches, quite honestly. So much to catch up on. I need to set a magazine reading goal for myself to get caught up!

TheEllieMo I‘m with you - my pile of magazines is huge! 2y
Suet624 @TheEllieMo Do they call to you? “Hey! I'm over here!!!“ I wish I could be one of those folks who can just toss unread magazines, but I can't. Especially New Yorkers. I always learn something from each issue. 2y
TheEllieMo @Suet624 yep, I can‘t throw away an unread magazine, however old. Just in case there is the most outstanding, most relevant article in history in it🤣 2y
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Amiable I hear you. My stacks of unread magazines used to overwhelm me. Now I force myself to read (or at least skim) them within a few months of arrival in the house because I donate them to the book cart at the hospital where I work. The volunteer office that coordinates the cart won‘t take anything older than 6 months. So that forces me to pick them up. 2y
Suet624 @TheEllieMo that‘s it exactly!!! 2y
Suet624 @Amiable that‘s a great approach. 2y
AlaMich @Amiable @TheEllieMo I don‘t know if you folks use Libby or Hoopla, but you can borrow magazines from both of them. Hoopla‘s selection is meh, but Libby has quite a few good ones. (edited) 2y
Suet624 @AlaMich Thanks for the recommendation. However, I only use Kindle about .00000001% of the time. I like holding paper in my hand. :) I do use Libby for the few audiobooks I listen though and am very thankful it's available to me. 2y
AlaMich I‘m not sure how great an experience it would be to read them on a Kindle, anyway. I read them on an iPad, which is *almost* like the real thing. 😉 (edited) 2y
LeahBergen I love your little Christmas tree! 🎄 2y
Suet624 @LeahBergen Thank you. The tree is over 60 years old and it's a childhood favorite. A light cardboard that slowly rotates with the heat of the lightbulb that's inside the tree. It's pretty sweet. When there is snow on the ground, the light from the tree shines through the window on to the snow and it looks a bit like a disco ball. Which is a little bit of a bummer AND pretty spectacular. :) 2y
LeahBergen Well, now I really want one! 2y
Jeg That window looks like my early childhood Christmas. I love when you put up scenery , it‘s so much like my first home. 2y
Suet624 @Jeg New Hampshire, right? 2y
Jeg Yes. Keane . 2y
Suet624 @Jeg I‘ll try to be sure to include scenery in future photos. ❤️ (edited) 2y
Reggie That is a lovely photo. 2y
Suet624 @Reggie thank you Reggie. 2y
Mindyrecycles I have magazine issues too. Haha. Pun. 2y
57 likes19 comments
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Born.A.Reader
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Much less than in the past, but with the year it's been, this is an achievement in itself. Still hoping to squeeze in one more before the year is over.

WJCintron 🎉 🎉 🎉 2y
15 likes1 comment
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AmyG
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1. My reading plans are always the same….just try to find time to read! My main plan is to finish The Last Story of Mina Lee.
2. I make the same things every year since my kids do not allow me to deviate. But the favorite is always cornbread stuffing….a Tyler Florence (I think) recipe.

Come play and consider yourself tagged!
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Stuffing! Yum! Happy Thanksgiving 2y
60 likes1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
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My reading plans for this week. Several #Netgalley #ARC s on the agenda. 🕷🕸🦇

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RavenLovelyReads
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Second week of good reading! #momlife gets in the way

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BookishMarginalia
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Some tips to add more reading to our lives

https://apple.news/Ax3sEUT2nQ8StW5r3g8D-Yw

Lreads Thank you for sharing this article! I especially liked this quote: “You disconnect from the chaos around you. You reconnect with yourself when you are reading. And there‘s no more noise.” ☺️ 3y
kspenmoll Thanks for sharing this article! 3y
Lizpixie Thanks for this. It was very helpful👍 3y
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vivastory
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I bought this mug during 45s presidential campaign. After he took office I put it away in my cabinet, using it only on rare occasions. It was with joy that I used this mug for my morning coffee today. I'm not naive, I know our country has real challenges ahead. But I look forward to less doomscrolling, more reading!

JenniferEgnor Reading opens up a whole new world of possible and helps us have more empathy and compassion...those two things are everything!!! 45 can‘t read, and he has no understanding of these things. Drink up, read on! Towards a more loving, peaceful world for all! (edited) 3y
Prairiegirl_reading Less doomscrolling and more reading sounds good to me. ☕️ 3y
Leftcoastzen Hallelujah, brother!Also loved the blue cap that was floating around out there “Make Orwell Fiction Again.” 3y
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FashionableObserver Yes!!! 🙌🏾 3y
JenniferEgnor @Leftcoastzen AGREED. 2+2=4!!!! 3y
AmyG That‘s my plan for today! 3y
Aims42 Yessssss!!! 🙌🏻 3y
Tanisha_A Super post! ❤️ 3y
sarahbarnes LOVE this mug!! 3y
sarahbarnes LOVE this mug!! 3y
116 likes11 comments
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Tove_Reads
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Opinions on which series I should start next? They all sound good. Anyone read these?

TrishB Don‘t know any of these! 3y
Tove_Reads @TrishB I‘m shocked 😳 3y
TrishB Me too!! 3y
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Tove_Reads @andrew65 Any knowledge? 3y
Andrew65 Don‘t know any of these or the authors. However I recommend the one with the girl in the red coat. 3y
Tove_Reads @Andrew65 Why am I not surprised? 😳🤔😂 3y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads So predictable 😂🙈 3y
45 likes7 comments
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Thndrstd
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Saw this online and thought I‘d share it here

Darklunarose That‘s exactly what it does. It‘s a good way to leave the troubles of today away, to dream to imagine. 3y
33 likes2 comments
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Suet624
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Third year in a row. I‘ll probably get to 91 by the end of the year. This is all thanks to Litsy friends and your wonderful recommendations.

Jas16 🙌🏽 3y
Leftcoastzen Yay!Congrats!🎉🎉 3y
LeahBergen Yesss! 👏🏻👏🏻 3y
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Reggie Way to go, Sue!🥳 3y
Gissy Congratulations!📚📚📚🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 3y
batsy Woohoo! 🎉⭐ 3y
Redwritinghood 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
LauraBeth This is amazing! 🎉🎉🎉 3y
kspenmoll 🙌🏻🙌🏻🎉🎉 3y
57 likes9 comments
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RinaBrahmbhattBarot
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Pickpick

Happy Monday!! This WORD, Like my reading...journey started almost 10 years ago, when someone gave me a non-fiction book..to read (it was One day and then Shantaram) since then I‘ve hold on to this reading journey (even though I‘m a self confessed non-fiction geek) I try to mix and match! #WOTD

How did your reading journey start?

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MonthlyBookClub
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Hey Book Frogs! Our readathon started today at 12 AM! We will be doing check-ins every 6 hours in our Facebook group that can get you entries to win our biggest prize of the year! Go check it out, link is in bio! 💚 💚 💚

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StayCurious
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#SummerFun #SummerFunJR Hello Friends! Sorry this week‘s #SummerFunBucketList is a bit late. I hope you all are still enjoying the challenge. Remember that all points you‘ve gathered over the challenge will count towards the final prize! If you would like to give me your current tally so I can compare it to my records that would be great. Let me know if you have any questions. Keep reading!

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Morr_Books
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I did well with this readathon. #JubilantJuly

📚Read at least 24 hours = I read just about 24 hours.
📚Finish at least 3 books = I finished 4 books.
📚Attend virtual book club = Attended book club.

I wish my reading life was this focused all the time. @Andrew65

Texreader Congrats!! 4y
Andrew65 That‘s great 👏👏👏🙌🙌🥳🍾🥂 Thanks for playing along. 4y
34 likes2 comments
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Morr_Books
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With work and a class that I just started taking, I've been too busy to read much of anything lately, so im hoping this will jump start my reading life. Here are my goals for #JubilantJuly:
📚Read at least 24 hours.
📚Finish at least 3 books.
📚Attend Virtual Book Club.

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Patchshank
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https://austinkleon.com/2020/05/13/if-you-are-having-trouble-reading/

I've been seeing a lot of posts about people having trouble reading (understandably). It's a very short list. It's a quick read with simple enough advice. Hopefully it will be helpful to someone.

If you can think of any other advice let's hear it.

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Morr_Books
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Gonna do #NutsInMay to give me a reading boost this week. My goals are:
📚Complete the book for Tuesday's book club (that I've barely started)
📚Complete 3 additional books
📚Read a total of at least 24 hours

Andrew65 Good luck, great to have you with us. 😊👍 4y
35 likes1 comment
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Cuilin
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We used the DEAR acronym in a school I taught at a few years ago. I like this be calm one though. #bibliomaynia

OriginalCyn620 Me too! 4y
37 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
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Love the #BOTM post on insta.

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Clwojick
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Ahhhh! I just realized I haven‘t finished this months prompt for #ReadWithMrBook yet! I had some recs earlier in the month, but I only had two of those books on hand and I just realized they‘re already on my May TBR for #BookSpinBonanza. Any librarians out there want to recommend one of these books to me, and I‘ll try to read it today! 🙏😊

I‘ll post two pics of my shelves.

shortsarahrose I‘m not a librarian yet (though I work in a library and am in school for it), but I really liked A Thousand Splendid Suns. 4y
Clwojick @shortsarahrose thank you! I actually just recently picked it up. It‘s not my regular genre, but I‘ve heard such good things about it 4y
shortsarahrose @Clwojick you‘re welcome! I wasn‘t sure about it when I picked it up, but was pleasantly surprise with how engaging I found the story. Hope you enjoy it 4y
68 likes3 comments
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Clwojick
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Ahhhh! I just realized I haven‘t finished this months prompt for #ReadWithMrBook yet! I had some recs earlier in the month, but I only had two of those books on hand and I just realized they‘re already on my May TBR for #BookSpinBonanza. Any librarians out there want to recommend one of these books to me, and I‘ll try to read it today! 🙏😊

I‘ll post two pics of my shelves.

LibrarianRyan Any of the Fern Michaels are great for a quick fun read. Especially if it is part of the revenge of the sisterhood series. 4y
Clwojick @LibrarianRyan do you think they would be okay to read out of order? I doubt I have the first of the series, but I probably have at least a few from the sisterhood series 4y
LibrarianRyan @Clwojick I think it would be enjoyable. It is better to read in order, but each book is it's own story. You have the overreaching arch of the Sister hood (which starts with weekend warrior I believe). but each story has it's own revenge plot. 4y
monalyisha Of the books pictured, I'm gonna go with “The Rosie Project.“ I think it'd be the most enjoyable to read at a fast-pace. The other two that I really *want* to recommend (but I think they should be savored) are “The Interestings“ by Meg Wolitzer & “Educated“ by Tara Westover; the first is more character development than plot so I think it might be frustrating to try to get through it quickly, & the latter is just a lot to take in at once. 4y
54 likes4 comments
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TheBookDream
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1. The Northeastern USA
2. Star Trek: The Captain‘s Oath and some psych novels
3. Cheez-its!
4. Not awake enough 😂
5. I honestly don‘t remember, but I‘ll try to finish one book I suppose.
#readathon #deweysreadathon

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suzie.reads
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Definitely back into the swing of things with my reading 📚 Finished this weeks planned books, so on to 3 new ones 😊
Sending out lots of love to everyone 🥰❤💯

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SW-T
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Read what brings you joy. 😊📚

Geenie ❤️💖👍 4y
Crazeedi Yes❤❤ 4y
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Parvez
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JazzFeathers
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Reading stand. Though l have to admit, The Two Towers is the only one l'm activelly reading at the moment.
I'm also listening to The Faceless Killers, which l hope to finish tomorrow.

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JazzFeathers
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I'm falling still more behind in the #FellowshipOfTolkien #LotRChapterADay

I'm doing only scant progress on the #ReadingEurope2020

I really need to start reading for the Reading Ireland Month (a blogger thing)

And if l don't start stuff from my friends, l'll end up buried in it.

I'm doomed.

(Photo: fantasy arc from a friend)

Freespirit My reading is slow this year too. 🤫 4y
cherinium You're not the only one. I've gotten a really slow start on all of my reading goals. That's ok, though. Stressing about it would make it no fun at all. 😊 4y
JazzFeathers @Freespirit It's that kind of year, isn't it? 4y
JazzFeathers @cherinium Wise words. 4y
31 likes4 comments
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Gissy
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I'm humbly present the books I read during the month of January😟The first 2 weeks of January my attention was away. But no matter how many books I read I can say I enjoyed my reading time. Even with books rated as so-so for me, I enjoyed the reading time because they were in my tbr, I wanted to read them and have my opinion about them. I only would find out by reading them. I accomplished some of my 2020 reading goals with these books.📚🤗

mabell Could you email me your new address? I have a little package to send 😊 purple_3@ yahoo.com (edited) 4y
Gissy @mabell I will but I have your package here too. I felt bad but I will try to send it this week. I have been busy during the days but things are more stable now. 4y
mabell @Gissy I replied to your email! 😊❤️ 4y
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Gissy @mabell I read it. I answered it, don't laugh with my loooog answer😂 4y
Suet624 Congrats on getting them off your TBR! 4y
Gissy @Suet624 I am trying to read more from my huge old tbr, from books received in Litsy swaps and from books I continue buying😱They are in my tbr because I'm interesting in reading them, they are ok or soso sometimes but I want to find out that by myself. But this is crazy, can I stop buying books?😔I don't think so 😉🤗 4y
Suet624 I completely understand. Between libraries and book sales I can‘t get to my many already-owned books. But how lucky we are! 4y
42 likes7 comments
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TheDaysGoBy
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I got this in my email via Buzzfeed. Penguin Random House is allowing for people to enter a contest to win 25 books and some new bedding if they take the #readtosleep pledge.

I‘m sure a lot of us Littens already do this, but I thought it was great! And so in line with my attempts at improving my sleep since reading Why We Sleep

The link to enter: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/cm/read-to-sleep

BookDragonNotWorm Thanks for sharing this!!! 4y
TheDaysGoBy @BookDragonNotWorm You‘re welcome 🙂 4y
zezeki It's only US, too bad I can't participate. 4y
TheDaysGoBy @zezeki Aw, I‘m sorry! Didn‘t even think to check the fine print 4y
37 likes4 comments
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Butterfinger
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@ljuliel

1. I started reading to get away from the parents fighting. Then, when I was 10, it was my job to help my younger sister do her reading homework. By that time, I was already reading Jules Verne and Louisa May Alcott, but I found out I was patient at listening to little ones.

2. I'll read the back of the ketchup bottle if I don't have anything to read.

wanderinglynn Your answer 2, I do that too! 😂🙌🏻 (edited) 4y
TheAromaofBooks I read all the shampoo/soap bottles in the shower lol 4y
ljuliel ♥️ 4y
31 likes3 comments
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Butterfinger
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I need more Grisham and Sparks in my life. Being a teacher helped with the children's and young adults' literature.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa You should have posted a link! 😂🙈. Great job though! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Butterfinger That‘s a long one, thanks for feeding my list addiction, when I get a quiet second I‘ll do it and let you know how I made out. Although I haven‘t read any Nicholas Sparks at all. 😂 4y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa Only 17% for me. 4y
Butterfinger @Riveted_Reader_Melissa hey that's pretty good. There were a lot that I never had the desire to read. It was a pretty eclectic list. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Butterfinger That is true, and as a whole...that made it a fun list to go through. 4y
30 likes6 comments
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ReadingSusan
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Anyone else participating in #boutofbooks? It starts tomorrow! #readathon #nopressure #bookstagram #readingweek

Beachesnbooks I am! 😄 4y
hes7 Me! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 4y
60 likes2 comments
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bibliobliss
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wanderinglynn Awesome! 🙌🏻 4y
54 likes1 comment
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PNWBookseller85
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This is me, at work, with 1/3 of the books I read in 2019. It was a good reading year for me. Happy 2020! It‘s an election year!!! 🎉🎉🤞🏻🤞🏻

readordierachel 🎉🎉🤞🤞 4y
rachelsbrittain So cute! And what a stack 4y
janeycanuck What a delightful photo! 4y
102 likes3 comments
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Briary
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This was a good reading year, even though maybe not a very good year otherwise. But I found wonderful new books, had a lovely time with old favorites and have so much to read in this exciting new year of 2020. 👾📚📚📚🎉

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Jerdencon
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Just made it!! Phew!
Now to set up next years challenge!

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Congrats! 🎉 4y
Reviewsbylola 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 4y
Jas16 🙌🏽 4y
sprainedbrain Awesome! 🥳🥳🥳 4y
Reggie 🥳Congrats!!! 4y
53 likes5 comments
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mariaku21

This has nothing to do with the tagged book but I'm going to be catching up this week with all sorts of reviews from the past few weeks and I'm going to apologize now for it 😂

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Butterfinger
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I'm going for it @BarbaraTheBibliophage - Reading Challenges give me great joy. Thank you.

BarbaraTheBibliophage Aww. I‘m glad you added this little challenge to your list! I always say “just two this year” and then I get tempted by all the options! 4y
22 likes1 comment
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Butterfinger
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I'm going for it. @MrBook - I can always use the same book for different prompts. Thank you for doing this and broadening my horizons.

MrBook Wonderful! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤗 4y
18 likes1 comment
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LA_Mead
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1. “Me Before You,” by Jojo Moyes. 2. Both! All day if possible. 3. Rainbow Rowell & Noelle Stevenson #weekendreads @rachelsbrittain