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Valentine
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
98 posts | 88 read | 77 to read
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Judybskt
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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🩷Just a quiet day and evening
💜Tagged

@TheSpineView #two4tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing and Happy Valentine's Day 1mo
17 likes1 comment
review
WorldsOkayestStepMom
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

There were so many characters and points of view in this book, but they all tied together nicely.

39 likes1 stack add
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

This book blew me away. The writing is so rich, it‘s hard to believe this is Wetmore‘s debut novel. A story about the fallout of a violent crime told from various perspectives, Wetmore weaves a narrative of resilience and vulnerability. 1970s Odessa, TX offers a bleak outlook for its female residents, but these deeply defined characters are some of the toughest around - telling a powerful story about female rage and the righteousness of it. 5⭐️

Cinfhen Excellent book and the audio was outstanding!!! 1y
jlhammar Loved this one! 1y
19 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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TorieStorieS
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

Aspects of this debut novel are so strong- from the vividly described setting and the characters in 1976 Odessa, TX. The opening of the brutal rape and attack that Gloria suffers sets a dark tone for the book and the shifting perspectives give a wider but not uplifting view of the aftermath. Some style choices are a bit distracting but I can see this being a solid discussion starter for a book club!

BkClubCare Yep, good review 1y
TorieStorieS @BkClubCare Thank you! 🥰 1y
56 likes2 comments
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mollyrotondo
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ This book started off so good. The first two chapters were excellent! But then other female characters were introduced and had their own chapters and the book diverged into too many different situations. I wasn‘t as interested in the other characters‘ stories. I just wanted to get back to Glory and Mary Rose. I also didn‘t like the glib tone. These women are strong but the writing didn‘t represent that strength to me. #doublespin July No. 15

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
43 likes1 comment
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JenReadsAlot
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Deblovestoread I agree! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 🙌🏻📚 2y
25 likes2 comments
review
JamieArc
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Overall, I really liked this. I could feel the setting of the dry Texas desert, the stifling heat. I always enjoy following different narrators and seeing how their stories come together. The only thing that left me feeling a bit cringe was realizing I had read the story of the sexual assault of a Mexican girl, yet the whole book focused on the white women in the town who were affected. #LMPBC

JamieArc @Megabooks I actually finished this a while ago, and sent it media mail since I was the last to read it. You should receive it today. 2y
Megabooks @JamieArc I have already received it! Thank you. I think that‘s a good point about the book being focused on the white reaction to a crime against a Latina. (edited) 2y
34 likes2 comments
blurb
thebluestocking
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Here‘s what I read I April. It was a solid reading month. Valentine was my lone 5-star read, but I enjoyed almost all of these.

#aprilwrapup #aprilreads #monthlywrapup

Julsmarshall I loved Valentine! 2y
JenReadsAlot Valentine was great! 2y
BkClubCare Yay! What a month. 2y
thebluestocking @Julsmarshall @JenReadsAlot Valentine is a book I think should have a bigger audience! 💙 2y
thebluestocking @BkClubCare Thank you! 💙 2y
47 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Megabooks
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

This is my #LMPBC #Round14GroupB choice (#botm backlog), and it was excellent. I hate that I waited 2 years to read it, but I love that I get to read my group‘s thoughts.

It‘s the 1970s in oil booming Odessa, Texas, and a 14 year old who has been brutally raped crawls to a farmhouse for help. This is the story of women in town and how they reacted. I will say I love how the author really inhabited and wrote differently for each woman.

Megabooks @thebluestocking @JamieArc @LMJenkins @suvata I accidentally deleted the email with everyone‘s contact info. Could one of you please forward it to me? I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. 👍🏻 2y
jlhammar Loved this book. One of my favorite BOTM selections (since I joined in 2016). 2y
JamieArc @Megabooks I just forwarded the email. Let me know if you didn‘t get it. 2y
See All 14 Comments
Megabooks @jlhammar it was a really good choice! 2y
Megabooks @JamieArc got it! Thanks 👍🏻 2y
Megabooks This is my #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks !! 👍🏻👍🏻 2y
Hooked_on_books I just loved this one. I thought it was absolutely fantastic. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
Cinfhen This was one of my favorite books two years ago!!! Audio was AMAZING 2y
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen it was definitely a fantastic read! I look forward to reading more from her. 2y
LMJenkins I was going to ask one of you to send me the email as well because I don‘t believe I ever received one with our groups information. 2y
Megabooks @LMJenkins is your email laurenandkenny (at) cox (dot) net ?? That‘s what is listed. I can send it to you at that address or another. Let me know. 👍🏻 2y
LMJenkins @Megabooks Yes! Thank you. 2y
Megabooks @LMJenkins sent! Let me know if you don‘t have it. 2y
109 likes3 stack adds14 comments
review
Nikki_E
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
Mehso-so

This was the first book I read in 2021. I originally gave this a four star rating, but thinking back now…I probably would give it three stars. It was well written, but not overly memorable.

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JenReadsAlot
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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1. Waterfalls in Wisconsin and Michigan
2. My first PSL! Cooler temperatures arriving
3. This is my #doublespin #bookspinbingo
#thoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94
@peaknit @Kshakal @BethM

MoonWitch94 I love waterfalls. So peaceful. Thanks for playing 🌻📖🍁 3y
BethM PSL FORever! 3y
26 likes2 comments
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Lauren890
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is definitely a book where it‘s easier to keep track of the characters if you don‘t set it down for too long between readings. I thought this book was very well written and held my attention until almost the end. I‘m not sure if it‘s just my impatience, but I felt the last section dragged a bit. Overall it‘s a powerful story and an excellent debut. I‘m glad I read it.

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janeycanuck
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

#audiopuzzling again!

This was fine. I would have liked Wetmore to focus with more depth on fewer women since I found it hard to keep track of so many characters when we visited them so infrequently. I did like how much the stories intersected but again, would have liked to concentrate on just a small handful of the women.

Also, I was confused as to why there were only two narrators, given the number of different story lines?

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rachaich
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Recommended by Mr B's in Bath. And I trust their recommendations completely 😍😍🤩🤩

Tamra I really enjoyed this novel! 3y
19 likes1 comment
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marleed
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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There‘s some good ones here! I tagged a reread remaining a 5* even after a second time through it. My bookclub noted Salma Hayek is adapting the book to small screen. I‘m intrigued when books on my radar are the inspiration for a limited series.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

66 likes1 stack add
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marleed
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

It just so happened that I‘d already read 10 of the 11 books chosen for my 2021 IRL (Zoom) bookclub. After realizing I had little to contribute to a conversation because I neglected reread one of the books for our meeting, I‘ve been rereading the others. Boy, this book was worth the reread! I loved Corrine and Potter - how did I forget about these characters I only met last year!?

70 likes3 stack adds
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MicheleinPhilly
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

This is my local indie‘s book club pick for March. I finished it probably 2 weeks ago and still think about it daily. The setting is so wonderfully evocative and each of the characters are so richly drawn. Even though the catalyst for this story is the brutal rape of a young girl, I found it fiercely feminist. Highly recommended.

TrishB Loved this one too ❤️ 3y
Kalalalatja It was so good! 3y
Suet624 I keep thinking I read this every tine I see the cover. I didn‘t. 3y
60 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Texreader
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Tamra I really liked Whetmore‘s writing in Valentine! 3y
GingerAntics Sharks in the Time of Saviours sounds REALLY good. I have the ebook, but having a paperback would be lovely. 3y
75 likes2 comments
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Sharpeipup
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Thanks @RamsFan1963 for the tag!
1. Not usually
2. No but I am looking for one.
#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 😊 3y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AmyL
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Like it‘s West Texas setting, this is a gritty debut novel of survival, courage and how women support each other. The descriptions of Odessa are completely vivid and like another character in the book. The audiobook narration was really good and kept me engaged enough that I finished it quickly.

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Eyelit
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It‘s a very slow burn (something I usually hate) - it‘s not happy and doesn‘t have a tidy ending (the antithesis of what I‘ve been reading for the past month, cause, you know, the state of the world)... but I found myself engrossed in this small Texas town with these 2 girls and three women - which highlights their struggles and resiliency. Frustrating and true to life.

Eyelit Quoted above are the thoughts of one of the characters - a 10 year old girl. These thoughts are echoed again by Solnit her character later in the story. It felt apt as a summation on the plight of these characters (and often women in general). 3y
Reagan This one is rapidly moving up my list. It sounds so good! 3y
BookwormM I loved this book 3y
AmyG I loved this book, too. (edited) 3y
charl08 Yes, another fan here. 3y
75 likes5 comments
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Jas16
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Lots of mixed reviews for this one but I loved it. Focusing on the lives of women in a Texas town in 1976 after a 14 year old Mexican girl is violently raped. These are women that nothing much is expected of and who are largely ignored outside of the comfort they can provide men but Wetmore shines a light on their resiliency and compassion.
#booked2020 #bookclubworthy

crowlows19 I really loved the story but had to listen to the audio version. The written style was not working with my brain 3y
Cinfhen I think this will make my Top 10 fiction list for this year!! I loved it 3y
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Texreader
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Ebook on sale today

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sarinarachelle
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Panpan

Interesting start. Disappointing middle. New characters introduced after the climax. Ultimately a disappointment. Would not recommend. ⭐️⭐️

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Victoriahoperose
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

I got this for book of the month club awhile back and I just thought it was kinda slow and hard to get through. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn‘t grab my attention and it was a slow burn for sure.

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Abailliekaras
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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We recorded our ‘best books of 2020 so far‘ recently - choosing 3 each. So hard to narrow it down! These were my 3. (I would add Vanishing Half but Annie chose it luckily). #booksonthego

CarolynM I loved There Was Still Love too. 4y
Abailliekaras @CarolynM such a gorgeous book. 4y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Hooked_on_books
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Ostensibly about the aftermath of a violent rape, this book is really a portrait of a community, 1976 Odessa, Texas, echoing the structure of Julia Phillips‘s Disappearing Earth. I found it riveting from page one and have no doubt it will be one of the best books I read this year. Phenomenal.

Mitch Oh wow - high praise. I have it on the shelf and you‘ve bumped it up my TBR! 4y
BarbaraBB Great review. I loved Plow but those one didn‘t do much for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y
Megabooks I need to finish this! 4y
59 likes3 comments
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jdiehr
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I wish I had read a physical copy of this book as opposed to the electronic version. I found it hard to keep up with who was who as the POV changed with each chapter.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It shows how one violent act affects many people.

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Ghostnipps
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I can already feel the emotional book hangover starting. It‘s a haunting and raw story, the writing is done really well. The multiple POV‘s were easy to follow along with and described so well that I completely lost myself in this book. The sisterhood in this novel rivals that of Steel Magnolia‘s.

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kyraleseberg
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

What a heartbreaking story. The characters are incredible, with a razor sharp edge between strength and vulnerability. Fantastic writing with so much brutal honesty about womanhood and motherhood.

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8little_paws
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
Pickpick

What a fantastic debut! It balances character development and plot so well. A great sense of place and time--1976 Odessa, Texas. I've never been there nor was I born by then and yet I could envision it perfectly. Content warnings abound as this story is about a violent rape of a teenage girl, if you are OK with reading about that content please do pick up this book.

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kyraleseberg
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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No words for the emotions I have reading this as a woman and a mother. 😭

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Abailliekaras
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

A brilliant, hugely accomplished debut. I couldn‘t put this down. Set in 1970s Texas in an oil boom, it vividly depicts the landscape & tough lives of the women. Characters beautifully observed. Great tension with a menacing atmosphere: drought, sexism, teen pregnancy. I was invested in all of the characters & kept wanting to see how it would resolve. Moments of kindness & laughter provide relief. I loved the polyphonic structure. Recommended.

Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ I have it on kindle ... must get to it 4y
Abailliekaras @cathythoughts thanks! I hope you enjoy it. ☺️ 4y
45 likes2 comments
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rather_be_reading
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Book 138 of 2020
#botm #botmbacklist

charl08 Ooh I liked this one. Hoping to see it more around Litsy! 4y
Cortg I hadn't heard of it. I saw it in a Little Free Library and decided to download the audio. I was pleasently surpised! 4y
rather_be_reading @charl08 glad to hear that! 4y
rather_be_reading @Cortg i love when that happens! 4y
63 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Cortg
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I plowed through this audiobook and it really had me thinking, a lot. It takes place in the mid 70‘s in Odessa TX. There are 4 or 5 different point of views, all female, surrounding a brutal rape of a 14 year old Mexican girl. It was sad, and frustrating, but worth the read. After reading this, I‘m moving Friday Night Lights up in my TBR pile since it also takes place in Odessa.

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Aswenson
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Wow- loved this! Something I will definitely be recommending to others. #botm

49 likes1 stack add
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staci.reads
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Wow! Beautifully written, this book is filled with remarkably strong women in a place and time where women held little value and their choices were limited. The author draws Odessa Texas in the 1970s so vividly, you feel the land and politics and social mores, and the sexism...you definitely feel that too. The book made me angry, disgusted, and inspired.

Maria514626 This sounds great. Adding it to my TBR. 4y
70 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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BarbaraBB
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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#BookReport 27/20

My books this past week. #MoreMehThanYeah... I know, it‘s me, not the books!

TrishB Sometimes you just get weeks like that ☹️ I feel like I‘ve had quite a few recently! 4y
BarbaraBB @TrishB Me too, all the time it seems 😫 4y
Cinfhen Too bad they were all meh for you😞but that‘s how reading goes sometimes 📈📉📈Hoping you find something fabulous this week 😊♥️ 4y
BarbaraBB I am actually reading a good one now! 4y
72 likes4 comments
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Godpants
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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June Round Up Part 1: Overall these were all really good. I didn‘t like The Everlasting but would recommend everything else.

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Rissa1
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

I wanted to like this more. I wanted more of Glory's story. I am saddened that this book wasn't what I hoped.

BarbaraBB I felt so too. 4y
25 likes1 comment
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BarbaraBB
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Rust, dust, poverty, church, heat, racism, and oil. That is Odessa, Texas in a nutshell. It‘s the 20th century, men rule, girls get pregnant, nothing changes. But this is is the story of some strong women who stand up for themselves, against tradition and bigotry, who change things a little bit.

All ingredients are there for a very good book and most people do love it but somehow it didn‘t do much for me. Between a pick and a so-so

sisilia Intriguing.... 4y
StayCurious What a nice summery picture though 🤗 4y
readordierachel Great review. And I love this cover. 4y
83 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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CindyE09
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Finally making my way through some of my #BOTM #backlist. I enjoyed this novel about the rape of a 14 year old Hispanic girl in small town Odessa, TX in the 1970s and focused on the reactions and consequences as well as the daily lives of some of the women in the town. I thought this focused on too many characters, we never really spend more than two or three chapters total on any one character, but overall an interesting novel.

Aswenson Just started this and like it so far. 4y
CindyE09 @Aswenson I hope you enjoy! I liked it overall, and now my sister and mom are reading it so we can discuss. I think it raises a lot of interesting thoughts/discussions. 4y
Aswenson @CindyE09 I can see this being a good one to discuss with my reader friends! 4y
80 likes1 stack add3 comments
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morgan_krahn
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Mehso-so

This one was between a so-so and a no for me. It just felt like it dragged on with no clear destination.

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Chelsea.Poole
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

Gorgeous writing! Alternating chapters from several women's perspectives, each in different places in their lives. Odessa, Texas in the 70s (for the most part, I believe) could not have been an easy place to live for anyone who wasn't a white male. Misogyny + racism are themes but not what the entire book hinges on, if that makes sense. Corinne's description of her relationship with Potter was my favorite part of the whole novel.

83 likes1 stack add
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BookBelle84
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed parts of this book. The story was interesting and I liked the different perspectives of the women during the time of the rape of a young Mexican girl. I just thought some of women's stories were not developed enough, and they didn't entirely tie in to the story. Beautiful writing though.

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Chelsea.Poole
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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A storm is a brewin'. (On this cover + in my backyard!)
This book is incredible so far.

Another #readwithjenna pick; not that I'm reading her selections on purpose... 🤷🏼‍♀️ I've enjoyed many on her list, so I may have to follow her picks more closely.

Cathythoughts Good to hear your thoughts so far ! I don‘t know when I‘ll get to it , but I have it 👍🏻❤️ 4y
mabell I love reading outside when a storm is coming in! 4y
81 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Godpants
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I loved this.

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Godpants
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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I‘ve seen such good reviews for this one, so am excited to get to listen to about an hour while I work today.

squirrelbrain Loved this one! 4y
Godpants @squirrelbrain I‘m very early into it but I‘m in the “mood.” 4y
15 likes2 comments
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JenlovesJT47
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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Pickpick

I have mixed feelings about this, although I think it‘s still worth reading. Some parts were brilliant, raw, relatable, etc., but I think the story as a whole suffers because of lack of cohesiveness. It‘s all over the place. It lessens its impact to some extent, but still, I‘m left with many things to think about tonight. The world is an unjust place. 3.5⭐️

#BOTM

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squirrelbrain
Valentine | Elizabeth Wetmore
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This book seems to get a lot of love on here so just putting this out there.... only Q9.99 on Amazon today.

I *may* have rushed off to download a copy, but in my defence I‘ve spent less than Qd on books in the last month (including this one!) ?

TrishB I enjoyed it 👍🏻 you‘re doing well in spending! Which is why I don‘t keep a spreadsheet 😁 4y
squirrelbrain I‘ve been *very* well-behaved this year so far @TrishB - particularly since lockdown as I haven‘t been working. Started work again last week and having to resist logging on to buy ALL the books! 4y
TrishB Oh yay on the started work 👍🏻 hope it‘s going well. I have averaged a book a day purchased in lockdown, but I‘m defending myself as I‘ve been so bloody miserable!! 4y
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squirrelbrain It‘s only a bit of consultancy work, probably short term but who knows @TrishB - and it‘s nice to be working again.... Hope all those books have cheered you up a little bit... I‘ve been trying to reduce the TBR shelf. (and I did raid the library the day before it closed!) 4y
TrishB Marginally cheered me up! I‘m trying really hard to focus on the positive at the moment (trying!!) as I know it‘s up to me to drag myself out of it, I‘ll get there ❤️ 4y
squirrelbrain I think it‘s shaken us all up in some way or other @TrishB - you‘ll definitely get there, you‘re a superstar! 😘 4y
TrishB Aw, you too ❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts Thanks Helen ... I got it 👍🏻❤️ 4y
58 likes8 comments