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#commingofage
review
jdiehr
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Mehso-so

This memoir was fine.

The author recalls her childhood growing up in Florida, her parents' divorce, and various other family members.

Her story is well-told but, honestly, won't stick with me for very long.

review
ravenlee
The Labors of Hercules Beal | Gary D. Schmidt
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Pickpick

Very good MG with some tough stuff. I came close to crying several times. Hercules has a school assignment to recreate the Twelve Labors of the mythical Hercules. It‘s a challenge, but it makes Herc learn about himself and how to process losing his parents. TW for death of parents and harm to animals (not by humans, all natural, but nature is kind of a bitch in this case).

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Amie
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Pickpick

Good. Set in Appalachia in the 1930s-40s. Coming of age story. Sad in parts, but not overwhelmingly depressing. Ends on a hopeful note (which makes sense because there is a series).

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Jess861
Closer by Sea | Perry Chafe
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Pickpick

I picked up this book from the library having never heard of it, and I quite enjoyed it. Spend the summer in a small fishing village with a group of boys while they try to solve a mystery while growing up before us. A great look into the cod fishing industry on the east coast of Canada and the struggles it and the families that worked it suffered. A quick read and a good coming of age story.

#Readathon #ReadAway2024 #EastCoast #Fishing

37 likes2 comments
review
Itchyfeetreader
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Pickpick

Sneaked in another of @DebinHawaii recommendations for #auldlangspine2024 and I loved it. Heartbreaking story of friendship and family over the course of one summer in a neighbourhood grappling with poverty, gangs and it‘s actual eradication and the buildings are demolished. Powerful and both sad and yet optimistic. Beware numerous trigger warnings

DebinHawaii Glad you enjoyed this one! It is very powerful & moving. I am still working my way through The Huntress on audiobook (loving it!) & I will start My Monticello soon. Plus have a few others from the list awaiting holds! 2mo
48 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Jess861
Closer by Sea | Perry Chafe
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While our eldest took his drama class I popped into the library and checked out this book. Our library had a flood so the entire fiction floor has been closed for a while. There are only a few shelves to browse on the upper floor (or you reserve ahead of time from their entire collection). I know nothing about it so hopefully I like it. Popcorn and a book for me tonight!

#LibraryBook #Popcorn #Canada

review
Amie
The Labors of Hercules Beal | Gary D. Schmidt
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Pickpick

Middle grade fiction. Excellent characters. Several difficult and/or very tragic events were a little too much for me. Very good audio narration.

39 likes1 stack add
review
BookNAround
Stealing: A Novel | Margaret Verble
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Pickpick

This is a heartbreaking and gorgeous book told by Kit, a half Cherokee, half white girl, a wonderful, sometimes naive, sometimes incredibly astute child. Verble has a quiet, masterful way with this story that does not minimize any of the terrible realities chronicled within it. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-stealing-by-margaret-verble.html

review
Cathythoughts
We Run the Tides | Vendela Vida
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Pickpick

I thought the mc and her best friend were well drawn characters. I enjoyed the epilogue, it‘s interesting how we look back on friendships in our lives and often see them differently and more clearly. I think of Bob Dylan‘s line
‘Ain‘t it hard when you discover that he really wasn‘t where it‘s at .. ‘
The good writing kept me going until the end , but I felt disconnected from the book. A pick/so-so.

lauraisntwilder Disconnected is a good word for this one. I really enjoyed it, when I read it a couple years ago, but I almost felt like a voyeur. Their lives and mine were so drastically dissimilar. 3mo
Tamra This sounds thought provoking. At least for me, it came as a surprise to discover in adulthood most friendships have seasons. So different than childhood perceptions & expectations. 3mo
BarbaraBB Great review though. I think I felt similar about 3mo
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Cathythoughts @lauraisntwilder Yes I really enjoyed it too.. I could identify with being young and all the over thinking and uncertainty of that time. The disconnect was more that I never felt close to the characters at all. Interesting to hear your thoughts 👍🏻 3mo
Cathythoughts @Tamra I know , me too. I suppose we change and our friends change too in different ways … Sometimes we have to let friends go ( that came as a shocker for me I remember) friendships end. But some stand the test of time. Seasons ! As you so wisely say 👍🏻❤️ (edited) 3mo
Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB Interesting! During the first half of the book I thought I‘d be looking up her other books… now I‘m not sure. We‘ll see. I was glad to finish it. 3mo
63 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Billypar
We Run the Tides | Vendela Vida
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Pickpick

Books like this are satisfying for me on the basis of writing style alone. The plot is almost besides the point - descriptors like 'missing girl' and 'coming of age' are true for countless novels. Vida makes this one memorable through her wry humor and keen observations for how teenagers interact. And there are moments that crystallize just how awful those teenage years can truly be.

Billypar This photo is not the San Francisco coast but a gorgeous nature preserve in Bradenton, Florida. 3mo
Ruthiella This one is on my list! 3mo
Kappadeemom Right down the road from me 😁 3mo
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Billypar @Ruthiella Vida is 2 for 2 for me: I really liked The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty as well. 3mo
Billypar @Kappadeemom What a great place to have nearby - so many pelicans and other birds! Just got back to NJ and greeted by rain and 30 degree weather 🫤 3mo
Ruthiella The Diver‘s Clothes is also on my (very long) list. 😆 3mo
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻♥️ 3mo
43 likes1 stack add7 comments