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Bad news days call for new, used books for the teens on tweens on my street. America's in trouble, but I can share books. #lfl #read #middlegrade #ya

This is a shorter book, & I borrowed it from my friend‘s LFL. I just didn‘t get into the storyline on this one, but others may love it. A widow is dealing with grief after her husband dies, then has 2 different events going on—being drawn into helping an undocumented Mexican couple and searching for a missing sister with her other sisters. I‘m still going to read another Alvarez book, i just didn‘t love this one. 3⭐️

A great read about the impact of war, generational trauma, and the importance of human connection. Alternating perspectives of individuals in Las Vegas, centering the war in Iraq and the aftermath on soldiers and their families, as well as an immigrant family. In-depth inner dialogue and emotional lives of the featured characters who all struggle, but do their best. A great audio as well!

May 11, 2025 Happy Mother's Day to all the hardworking fearless strong compassionate mothers out there who do EVERYTHING for their kids. Today I am starting this TBR. I sort of started it but never finished it so I am re-reading it again.

I liked learning more about the Ethiopian immigration experience but otherwise the sprawling, disconnected narrative and bland main character put this near the bottom of my #ToB25 list.

This novel covers a lot of ground: grief, family dynamics, generational trauma, illness, addiction, income inequality, immigration, racism. I appreciate the writing and the characters, but like others, I found following the story to be a challenge. The format and timeline feel true to life and therefore a little unsettling to me. I wonder if I go to fiction because a tidy narrative helps life seem more manageable. (This isn't a tidy narrative.)

I‘m not at all sure that I understood this book at all. My take away is that African immigrants to the USA (and their children) have a strong sense of dislocation and not belonging and they are always on edge, waiting to be arrested. I kept waiting for a story beyond this. If it existed, I lost it in the constantly shifting timelines.

Liked but didn‘t love this one. The protagonist‘s relationship with Samuel was really well written as were the real/not real elements. The way his relationship with his wife and son was described felt a little shallow and unfinished to me, I couldn‘t quite get a hold on it. Definitely a unique story overall and I‘m glad I read it. #tob25

Now on to beach reads!

This was my most anticipated #TOB2025 title. I live in a city in Virginia with a large Ethiopian population so I thought I would learn more about my new neighbors. Haha no. That‘s not at all what this was. This was a fever dream that jumped all over the place and I‘m not even sure what happened to be honest. I‘m not mad. Just confused. Still a pick, but don‘t ask me any questions 😂