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451Degrees

451Degrees

Joined June 2016

review
451Degrees
The Wild Hunt | Emma Seckel
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Mehso-so

Picked this one up interested in the Scottish folklore aspect. I‘m not really one for thrillers so I think that‘s where this book kind of fell for me… Leigh returns home after her father has died only to come back during October when the Sluagh rule the island that she is from. After the war they have become more violent, leaving the inhabitants wondering if they can continue living on the island they call their home.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

A great nonfiction read centering mostly on highly accomplished paleontologist Barnum Brown who discovered the first T-Rex fossil. The book really did read a bit like a novel which I really liked and focused on the Bone War between science and natural history museums during the late 1800s/early 1900s. Discussed how the discovery of the T-Rex has shaped pop culture, movies, and the way we look at science and evolution. A fun read for Dino lovers!

Itchyfeetreader This sounds interesting 4w
47 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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451Degrees
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Mehso-so

I definitely preferred the two before this one… as awesome as it was getting into the world outside the schoolmance, El‘s character development really crashed in the first quarter of the book (rightfully so) and turned me off of the story. However this novel does make a come back in the last half of the book and ties up loose ends that were left from before. Ultimately a decent end to the trilogy but didn‘t knock my socks off.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Wowza. @Clare-Dragonfly you weren‘t joking on not guessing what was going to happen in this book. It was all over but in a good way😅😅 I feel like this was an excellent starter mystery novel if you haven‘t dabbled too much in that genre. I did take notes to help keep everything in line, not that it helped me guess the ending😆 I really really enjoyed this read and highly recommend it if it‘s on your TBR😊

KristiAhlers I've really got to bite the bullet and read this one. It's been recommended a couple of times and it's on a couple of my reading challenge lists. 1mo
451Degrees @KristiAhlers it was really good! I started getting a little intimidated when they started getting into the middle of the book trying to keep track of it but I never take notes on books and I was happy I did with this one just so I could reference events and times! 1mo
Clare-Dragonfly Right?! I wasn‘t as impressed by that ending coming out of nowhere though! 1mo
451Degrees @Clare-Dragonfly it was quite abrupt I‘ll admit! It did leave me a bit wondering what happened after the ending but I was ok with that😅 1mo
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451Degrees
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So I‘m a little over halfway with this read and I have some suspicions of who may be behind all the stuff going on in this book… (there‘s a lot😅) but I can‘t help but think I‘m reading Harry Potter right now🤣🤣

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451Degrees
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Decided to take notes on my next book club book to see if I can solve the mystery before the end of the book! Featuring my favorite potato #finankitten, he makes a superb writing desk🤣 I‘m not much of a mystery genre reader but this one is intriguing to say the least!

Clare-Dragonfly I will be very impressed if you can figure this one out! Keep us updated! 2mo
451Degrees @Clare-Dragonfly I have very low expectations that I will figure it out but we‘ll give it a whirl🤣🤣 2mo
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451Degrees
The Book Thief | Markus Zusak
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Pickpick

A reread but for the life of me I couldn‘t remember anything about the book from when I read it the first time 🤦🏻‍♀️ and I‘m so glad I reread it. An absolutely wonderful way to tell a story especially during WWII from Deaths perspective. And although it‘s a tough and heartbreaking read, most of the book is so lively following Liesel around!

Allylu This is one of my favorite books of all time. 2mo
451Degrees @Allylu it is so brilliant!❤️ 2mo
63 likes2 comments
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Took me a bit to get through this book but only because I wanted to soak it all in. Only eleven states in the US have legalized M.A.I.D and have given those with terminal illnesses a choice in how they will die. The author spent five years following volunteers who help with the assisted death process and she was able to write about patients stories on why they wanted to use the Death with Dignity Act! A must read for those interested in this!

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451Degrees
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Panpan

After bailing my first read of this book I picked it back up for a book club read. I still really had a hard time connecting with the story and really didn‘t like Nora the MC. The book felt really repetitive and predictable. I do give it props for being transparent about depression and SI and I think it rounded out the story in the end to show how Nora was grateful when given a second chance at living her life.

Vansa This book was awful, and in my opinion, quite offensive to people with depression. Medication helps a lot of people,and dismissing it is irresponsible.Also the conceit didn't work-if she's landing up in different lives,she would be..fully qualified at that particular life and not completely lost at sea,as the book depicts her. 2mo
Clare-Dragonfly Sometimes (usually) we bail for a reason! 😅 2mo
451Degrees @Vansa I‘m glad I wasn‘t the only one who wasn‘t a fan😫 I think the concept is a good one just really not well executed and I agree she should be qualified to work within her lives as she shows up in them🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ (edited) 2mo
451Degrees @Clare-Dragonfly I should listen to my gut more often when it comes to bailing on books apparently😅 2mo
40 likes4 comments
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451Degrees
Pachinko | Min Jin Lee
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Pickpick

Well all of you who were saying #finankitten was sitting on this book to spare my feelings were absolutely correct😭 I generally have a hard time with multigenerational stories because I like sticking with one character‘s perspective but this one had such an ease of transferring the main story lines from one generation to the next. Absolutely heart wrenching and a must read. Stunning writing!

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451Degrees
Pachinko | Min Jin Lee
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In other news Pachinko is loved not only by myself but by #finankitten as well🥰 this is not staged he just likes sitting on books 😆 my kind of cat❤️

Julsmarshall Sweet baby! 3mo
ShelleyBooksie Adorable 3mo
DivineDiana What a beauty! 😻 3mo
See All 6 Comments
RaeLovesToRead Awww he's so beautiful!!! 🥰🥰 Doesn't look like you're getting Pachinko back though! #kittensagainstliterature #kal 3mo
LitStephanie I love that book, but it is sad. Kitty is trying to spare your feelings. 3mo
peanutnine 😻😻 3mo
58 likes6 comments
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451Degrees
Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon
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Mehso-so

I REALLY wanted to love this book. I started it in a cabin in the woods and had my full attention to it despite it being an audiobook (which I struggle focusing on at times). I loved the world building aspect of this book but I did have a hard time keeping track of characters, places, religions. And my biggest complaint is how rushed the ending was!! For such a chunker of a book the ending was merely a blip and I was disappointed by that.

TracyReadsBooks This was the third or fourth Samantha Shannon book I read and at the end of it, I concluded that while I think she is a good writer, I just don‘t like the stories she tells. 3mo
451Degrees @TracyReadsBooks I know it‘s so frustrating! There‘s so much potential there and it just kinda ends up being meh by the time you get to the end. I want to try the prequel to this book but I don‘t want to waste my time either 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3mo
48 likes2 comments
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451Degrees
Pachinko | Min Jin Lee
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Started this book this weekend after finishing The Last Graduate and boy is it a hefty read so far😅 beautifully written though. It‘s been on my TBR for years and I‘m finally getting around to it🤍 Coffee added for extra support☕️

CissaMae I‘m going to start this one this weekend!! 3mo
451Degrees @CissaMae yes!!👏🏻👏🏻 3mo
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451Degrees
The Assassin's Blade | Sarah J. Maas
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Pickpick

Finished this one this weekend as well! I liked learning a bit more about Celaenas story and background and really liked the short story format this book had. I know everyone has their preferences on when you should read this book and I‘m glad I read Throne of Glass first personally🤷🏻‍♀️ Onward!

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Spent the weekend in a quiet cabin and caught up on my reading🥰 this series is cruising right along and I‘m glad that the third one is out so I can go pick it up and finish the story! The author has a knack for cliffhangers and I‘m looking forward to what she has in store for El, Orion, and the rest of the Schoolmamce

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

What a great follow up to the first of this series! I know a lot of people has mixed feeling about the original story but I was absolutely delighted with the first and second books of this series. I also listened to it on audible and the reader is perfect for this character!! Excited to see where the open ended ending takes us in the third book. Too bad we have to wait another year 😩

booksandsympathy I listened to the first book in a whim last autumn and really enjoyed it. I'm on the holds list for this audiobook, but it'll be a while before it's available. 3mo
451Degrees @booksandsympathy I‘m glad you enjoyed the first one! I hope the next one comes available for you soon😊😊 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Well this was a fun one! Had a bit of trouble grasping the world it is set in for the first chapter or two but by the end I had a very clear picture of what was going on. I liked the character development within the book and am excited to see where the story goes with the subsequent novels.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Don‘t mind me just crying over here… I was entranced by this read. It kept me on my toes without jolting the story along. There was some sort of poetic grace and structure within this book that just gently pulled you along. I maybe a couple of times wanted the book to speed up a little bit just in anticipation of where was the story going to go! A delight of a read. Even though it was heartbreaking😩

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451Degrees
Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas
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Pickpick

After reading SJMs other series, I figured I would give this one a whirl even though I have tried to read it before. I‘m not quite as wild about this series as the others but I think this book is really setting up for some better reads later on. I enjoyed that this competition that she was in wasn‘t super forefront which I think left space for the main character to settle into the relationships that she will be involved in later. Onward!

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451Degrees
Untitled | Untitled
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My good friend @CissaMae has joined Litsy!! Everyone please extend her a warm welcome and a follow😊😊

DivineDiana Welcome, @CissaMae! ❤️📚❤️ 3mo
Deblovestoread Welcome @CissaMae! 🎉 3mo
JessClark78 Welcome to Litsy! @CissaMae 🙂📚 3mo
Bookzombie Welcome @CissaMae ! 3mo
27 likes4 comments
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451Degrees
Scaramouche | Rafael Sabatini
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Just when I thought I was freed from musketeers the next pick was this….🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ does anyone have any advice on how to get through a book that you DO NOT want to read for a book club??? #askingforafriend

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451Degrees
The End of Men | Christina Sweeney-Baird
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Pickpick

An interesting take on a dystopian era novel. Set from multiple perspectives over a seven year period including before, during, and after pandemic. A book that addresses country reform, work drafts, and fertility when a flu takes out 90% of the worlds male population. Heart wrenching and surprising at times realizing how much the world would potentially change without a male population.

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451Degrees
The Three Musketeers | Alexandre Dumas
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Mehso-so

Wow I‘m so glad to be done with this book… it was for a book club and although it is a classic and the story and writing have their merits, I just really did not enjoy reading it. I felt like the story was way too long and had us shooting off in random directions the whole time. I will say in the end everything was addressed and closed up which is why it‘s getting a so so and not a pan.

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451Degrees
The Dragon Republic | R. F. Kuang
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Pickpick

Second in the Poppy War series and there‘s a lot of stuff going on in these books! I have a little bit of a hard time transitioning between events and got lost a couple of times but the book definitely keeps you on your toes. A little graphic at times but seeing as they are in the middle of a war that‘s to be expected. Its not knocking my socks off but I‘m intrigued to see how the third one finishes.

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451Degrees
Harlem Shuffle: A Novel | Colson Whitehead
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Panpan

This was a book club pick that I was actually super pumped about and was disappointed ☹️ I listened on audiobook and loved the narrator and the writing but I just could not get into the plot or the characters till 4/5 through the book when it actually felt like things were getting relevant. It was often repetitive and just felt like most of the book didn‘t need to be there.

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451Degrees
The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang
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Pickpick

Wow there was a lot of book in this read😅 starting off as a lowly shop girl and ending several years later in a war torn country and that‘s all in the first book! Interesting concepts of shamanic power intertwined with Chinese history and mythology. I found I was much more interested at the beginning of the book and lost it a little towards the middle but the ending came back around. Look forward to the next one!

thewallflower0707 If you liked the ending, I think you‘re gonna love book 2&3. This trilogy is effing amazing, brutal and is still on mind weeks after finishing it. 4mo
451Degrees @thewallflower0707 awesome! Thank you for that! Sometimes when you get committed to a trilogy you kinda wonder if it‘s gonna be worth it or not 😬 sounds like this one is! 4mo
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Wow this book had me cruising through the pages. Covering multiple areas of why we as a society feel like we are losing our ability to focus. From social media to lack of sleep to possible misdiagnosis of ADHD. A must read!

SamAnne Have been wanting to read this! 4mo
451Degrees @SamAnne I highly recommend it! I‘ve heard really good things about his other book, Lost Connections, as well 4mo
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451Degrees
Station Eleven: A novel | Emily St. John Mandel
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Pickpick

A most excellent dystopian novel with multiple perspectives both pre and post flu epidemic. Was fascinating to read about how life was perceived to end up post epidemic before we as a society went through our own epidemic. I can see why this book became very popular during COVID era. Amazing way that all the characters were connected and eventually circled back around to each other. Honestly would have loved to have a little bit more book!

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451Degrees
The Crown of Gilded Bones | Jennifer L. Armentrout
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Mehso-so

After really not enjoying the first two books in this series this one was marginally better. With that being said because there was SO MUCH in this book while the one before it felt like it had nothing at all except the last quarter of the book, I felt like the action could have been better spread to make the series more well rounded. Still not sold on this series and Poppy honestly makes me cringe.

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451Degrees
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This is disheartening 😰

Deblovestoread Agreed! 5mo
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451Degrees
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Mehso-so

Honestly was so unimpressed with this book until the last four hours on the audiobook. And that is the only reason it‘s getting a so so. I felt like most of the book was the same conversations over and over again with no movement in character development or plot. However with the last section mentioned above it did make things very interesting and had me jumping to the next book. Hopefully the third one will redeem the series in its entirety.

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451Degrees
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Mehso-so

Spent the weekend glamping in the forest and audiobooked this one! This series was recommended by a friend and although the story is intriguing and I know it‘ll get better this one didn‘t knock my socks off. But I am going to carryon into the next book in the series!

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451Degrees
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I don‘t know how I forgot to post my #booktree on here but here it is! Been enjoying it for about a week now😍

Soubhiville How cute! 6mo
JenReadsAlot Love it! 6mo
MoonWitch94 Ohhhhh it‘s perfect! 6mo
See All 10 Comments
CloakNQuill I love this! 6mo
Read4life That is lovely! Can you come fix mine? 😂 6mo
451Degrees @Read4life I loved yours!! That‘s the great thing about book trees they all look good and are always filled with different stories😊 6mo
IndoorDame I love it!!! 6mo
Read4life I love that sentiment. 💙 6mo
mom_of_4 It looks really nice. 6mo
47 likes10 comments
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451Degrees
The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson
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I mean… it‘s not like I wasn‘t reading that or anything🤦🏻‍♀️😆😸 #hesactuallymycat #finankitten #catsoflitsy

WorldsOkayestStepMom 😻😻😻 7mo
RaeLovesToRead Awwww so cute! 🥰🥰 7mo
ShelleyBooksie So fluffy and adorable 7mo
Bookzombie 💕🐈 love the face too! 7mo
IndianBookworm Love the expression 😂😍 7mo
63 likes5 comments
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451Degrees
Untitled | Untitled
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So very true 🥰📚📚📚

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

An excellent reread of this novel that I can now appreciate it a little more than when I read it the first time. The author has an uncanny knack for writing almost nonchalantly about the horrors of the Great War only because the main character knows no different in his adult life. A hard read but an important one nonetheless. A story of a young German man, Paul, and his comrades‘ lives while on the Western frontline during WWI.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Wowza this was a hefty book. Absolutely heartbreaking novel set on a small island, Jeju, off of South Korea. Between present day and the years of WWII and the Korean War, a story of friendship and hardship, life and death, love and sorrow.

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451Degrees
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When you start a death doula class and you decide to go to the book store… clerk probably thought I was a bit morbid!💀 I‘ve already read two of these but have loaned them out and will probably never get them back😆

jewright I loved Stiff! I found it fascinating. 8mo
MoonWitch94 What is a “death doula”? That sounds so interesting. 8mo
Librariana Stiff is a fascinating read. And Caitlin Doughty is a frickin' rock star! Love her 😊 8mo
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451Degrees @jewright I‘ve had it on my list for forever! I‘m very interested in finally reading it😊 8mo
451Degrees @MoonWitch94 it‘s someone who helps with the dying process and helping family members cope with their grief! Very unknown profession! 8mo
451Degrees @Librariana I‘m really excited for Stiff! I love Caitlin‘s writing❤️ she‘s such an inspiration in the death industry! 8mo
MoonWitch94 @451Degrees That sounds like a very beautiful (but difficult) profession. 🖤 Grief is such a heavy burden that does not get enough attention or assistance for those suffering. And after losing my Grandmother to cancer in August, sounds like we could‘ve benefited from one. 8mo
451Degrees @MoonWitch94 I‘m so sorry to hear about your loss😞 it‘s something in life I feel like we are never truly prepared for but it is so difficult to know what to expect out of grief since we are so out of touch with end of life💔 grief never truly goes away but I hope you have people to rely on on the hard days that will come and go❤️‍🩹 8mo
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451Degrees
Anatomy: A Love Story | Dana Schwartz
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Pickpick

I was a bit hesitant on this read after going through some previous reviews on it. However after listening to it on audio I actually really enjoyed this story! The narrator did amazing and I was very drawn to listening to it. Early 19th century Scottish setting about a young woman‘s ambitions to become a surgeon working with a Resurrection Man to study the human body.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Wowza what a read! It is geared toward a younger audience making it a straightforward read but holds your attention throughout the whole book. I mentioned earlier I initially thought this was nonfiction (😅) so the writer is very persuasive with her prologue and epilogue to set the scene with the main character. A young high schooler becomes famous with his internet sermons under an alter identity.

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451Degrees
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So I‘m reading this for book club and was absolutely convinced this is a non-fiction book only for the rest of the group to tell me it‘s not????😩😩 I‘m crushed honestly! But that‘s what makes it good writing 😏 Larry is very wise!

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451Degrees
Night Witches | Kathryn Lasky
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Mehso-so

Somehow finished this one in a day! A quick read for my work book club. The writing is geared towards a younger audience so it was easy to read and straightforward. I felt like things moved quite rapidly which is usually what happens with younger audienced books but it left something to be desired. A young Russian girl‘s dream to fly with the infamous Night Witches.

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Sometimes you get to finishing all your books all at once😅 Another I‘ve been working on for several years and another I hold very dear. A witty and honest take on the life of a mortician and facing your own mortality. Accompanied by the one and only #finankitten #catsoflitsy

WorldsOkayestStepMom 😻😻😻 9mo
451Degrees @WorldsOkayestStepMom 🥹❤️❤️ 9mo
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451Degrees
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I was saying this even before COVID😞 An honest remark even if it hits hard

Clare-Dragonfly Did you notice the bit where someone says we will have a shortage of doctors by 2020? 😬 That stuck with me. 9mo
451Degrees @Clare-Dragonfly gave me goosebumps reading that😳 of course it was written before covid but I was like what timing! 9mo
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451Degrees
The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson
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Now that I have finished two (😅) books this week I figured I should dive into this bad boy when camping this weekend! Not too far in but it‘s already a stunning read!

CallMeIshmael Just you wait 9mo
451Degrees @CallMeIshmael I‘ve been warned several times over but I appreciate one again! I‘ll buckle up 😊 9mo
TrishB You‘ll get arm ache holding that one up! 9mo
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451Degrees @TrishB it is such a big book!😆💪🏼 9mo
Saknicole Looks like a cozy spot to read! I love a good hammock read! 9mo
451Degrees @Saknicole I haven‘t done it enough! It was great! 9mo
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451Degrees
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Panpan

How our whole book club felt about finishing this book… we all had the hardest time getting though this pick. I personally didn‘t like 1. the repetition of statements, the book could have been half as long without them 2. The editing was terrible I don‘t know how this author was a NYT journalist and 3. The author seemed to change his opinion constantly throughout the book. With that being said I did appreciate the topics that were brought up!

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Finished this gorgeous story while chilling at work today. This was one of the dumpster books I saved a few months back and I‘m so glad I did! A warrior and a princess‘ journey to save magic that was taken away from their continent. Many ups and downs but much character growth!

DivineDiana I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure! Thank you for saving from the dumpster. ❤️ 9mo
451Degrees @DivineDiana I‘m so glad I did too! I‘m excited to read the next one! 9mo
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Words cannot sum up the complete awe and appreciation I have for this book. I have read this book over the last year not because it wasn‘t a good read but because I wanted to take in all that it has to offer. The importance of asking our loved ones how they want the end of their life handled and the reality that we need to think the same of ourselves! An absolute pick!

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451Degrees
The Paragon Hotel | Lyndsay Faye
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Pickpick

A novel written during the Prohibition era based out of Portland, OR where I currently live! A story about a girl running from the Italian mafia out of Harlem finds herself in the only black hotel in Oregon filled with secrets and mysteries. Many many twists and turns with this book some that seemed to match the storyline and some were a bit out there and surprising! I felt a little let down by the ending but overall was a book I enjoyed reading!

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451Degrees
No Country for Old Men | Cormac McCarthy
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Panpan

The only thing that didn‘t make this book a bail for me was the authors writing is very good and it was for my book club. It took so much effort to get through the story and I cannot begin to tell you how much the structure of this book bothered me. That‘s all I have to say😒

IamIamIam McCarthy is tough for me. I totally understand. 11mo
451Degrees @IamIamIam I‘m glad someone understands😫 the rest of the book club has been in love with it and it‘s just been a slog for me😆 11mo
IamIamIam @451Degrees I read Outer Dark and was so confused by the flow of the story and ambiguous characters that I never understood how it was even horror!!! Lol 11mo
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DGRachel I love McCarthy‘s style, but I can see how it wouldn‘t be everyone‘s cup of tea. Hopefully you‘ll enjoy your next book club selection more. 11mo
451Degrees @IamIamIam yeah I was really confused who was talking and what perspective we were in for most of the book🤦🏻‍♀️ 11mo
451Degrees @DGRachel yeah I liked his writing but I couldn‘t stand the format or the story🤷🏻‍♀️ not for everyone! 11mo
39 likes6 comments