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AvidReader25

AvidReader25

Joined February 2016

LibraryThing member bookworm12

TinyCat library

Coffee addict☕️ World traveler🌎 Theatre lover🎭 Beekeeper🐝 Magazine editor, wife, & mom. avidreader25.blogspot.com LT: Bookworm12
review
AvidReader25
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Pickpick

A perfect book to read in anticipation of a trip to Greece. This memoir is set on the island of Patmos, where one man opened a restaurant in partnership with a local Greek. He learned so much about the culture, including their hospitality and clear lines between locals and foreigners. His naïveté and openness is blatantly American, but so is his enthusiasm for cooking and the island. I can‘t wait to visit the shores he describes.

Cathythoughts ❤️ 11h
20 likes1 comment
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AvidReader25
Our Missing Hearts | Celeste Ng
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In the timeless tradition of The Handmaid's Tale Ng tackles a dystopian future that is woven tightly with reality. The USA has made it through a crisis, but the legislation that resulted has increased suspicion of Asian Americans. She focuses on the families whose children are taken from them in order to "protect" them from sedition indoctrination. I enjoyed Ng in the past but never before have I felt rocked by the quiet emotion this book held.

AvidReader25 The pup is fine, just recovering from being fixed and in need of lots of snuggles. 6d
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5d
kspenmoll That beautiful face! 5d
See All 7 Comments
mcctrish Oh the cone ☹️ extra snuggles needed for sure 🐾🐾 ( I have this one on my TBR and I will read it this year ) 5d
batsy Awww! That face ❤️ 5d
AvidReader25 @mcctrish This book was so different from what I was expecting! I hope you enjoy it. 4d
27 likes7 comments
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AvidReader25
The Fury | Alex Michaelides
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Mehso-so

For a twisty island murder mystery this one really dragged. I didn‘t love the style of a narrator that kept telling you that he was about to tell you something big. It was exhausting. He‘s a classic unreliable narrator, but there‘s too much telling & not enough showing in the story. The characters are such selfish, superficial people & they‘re constantly betraying each other. It was hard to find anyone to root for & the ending felt like a cop out.

janeycanuck I was so-so on this one, too. You are so right about the telling about telling - such a pet peeve of mine. 7d
AvidReader25 @janeycanuck Mine too, especially if the story isn‘t worth it in the end. 6d
26 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

I finished this just in time for the Oscars. It‘s the basis of the best picture winner “Oppenheimer” & I loved seeing the way the book was adapted to become a film. This is a long in-depth biography, but he was a complicated man. It was also a perfect nonfiction read for New Mexico. The authors did an excellent job diving into the history of the making of the atomic bomb and Oppenheimer‘s role in the saga. I wouldn‘t read it again but it was good.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

This 2024 Newbery-award-winner tells the story of a dog who is friends with bison, a seagull, and other creatures in an island park. I‘ve recently read two others from the POV of an animal (Pax and Open Throat), but I loved how this one leaned heavy on a buddy comedy vibe, working in a heist and a deep, abiding friendship between the animals. I liked it much more than I thought I would and the audio, performed by Ethan Hawk) was such fun.

25 likes2 stack adds
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

I‘m reading a nonfiction book in each state and this was for Rhode Island. It was an absolute gossipy delight! I did not know all the history of the rich & famous in Newport and every short chapter was full of trivia. I highly recommend this if you enjoy the show Gilded Age. It covers a wider time period, but starts with a focus on many of the show‘s main characters. Thanks to @BkClubCare for the wonderful book!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤🐾❤️ 2w
BkClubCare Most welcome! 🤗 2w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w
24 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AvidReader25
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Mehso-so

I loved the descriptions of bookstores, falling in love with reading, & sharing your favorite novel. Some things felt like they were lost in translation. I didn‘t feel much of an emotional connection to the main characters, but some of that might have been a cultural difference. It seemed like the book headed in a very different direction in the second half. Definitely still enjoyed it, but I was wishing for something I couldn‘t put my finger on.

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AvidReader25
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I couldn't put this down. It's a nonfiction account of NASA's first 6 female astronauts. They went through so much to break the glass ceiling all the way into space. There were moments when their story was infuriating because of what they had to put up with but I am so grateful for their fearless determination. These brilliant women were doctors & scientists long before joining NASA. Their dedication to the space prorgam paved the way for so many.

24 likes1 stack add
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

My goodness this one was hilarious. Ned travels to the Victorian era from the future to help with the restoration of the Conventry Cathedral. Soon he finds himself boating down the Thames, navigating Victorian etiquette, & saving a kitten. The supporting characters: his partner in crime Verity, Baine the butler, flighty Tossie, and Lady Schrapnell are what really made the book. I'm glad I read Three Men in a Boat 1st to get the added references.

BkClubCare Oh! Darn - this would have been a good readalong! 📚🤣 it‘s on my tbr but I have been intimidated by the length 2w
AvidReader25 Everyday Reading on Instagram hosted a readalong of it! She saved her thoughts and questions to a reel. I‘ll tag you. If you end up reading it you should watch them! 2w
22 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
The Body in Question | Jill Ciment
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A tightly-packed novel about one woman's time as a juror on a controversial case and its aftermath. I couldn't put it down. The trial is really only a back drop to the human interactions that make up the story. I loved some of the author's choices, like only referring to characters by the jury number in the first half of the book. This was an Ann Patchett recommendation and it didn't disappoint.

Soubhiville I just read this for the same reason! 😁 3w
AvidReader25 @Soubhiville what would we do without her impeccable taste? 3w
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AvidReader25
A Spindle Splintered | Alix E. Harrow
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Mehso-so

Zinnia Gray is terminally ill and just turned 21 when she finds herself in the castle of a real Sleeping Beauty. The story is one part The Fault in our Stars and one part Gaiman's The Sleeper and the Spindle. I loved the author's other books, but by its very nature this slip of a novel doesn‘t give the reader enough time to feel too attached.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4w
BkClubCare Hello sleepy puppy! 4w
29 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
Assistant to the Villain | Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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Silly and so much fun, this world with dragons and brooding villains comes to life through the eyes of Evie. She brash and funny and doesn't seem to mind the evil deeds her boss does each day. Don't overthink the plot and it's completely entertaining and similar in tone to Legends & Lattes. The supporting characters are a treat. There's a sequel in the works and I can't wait to read it.

BkClubCare Is there an animal sidekick? 🤨 (for a reading challenge (because I don‘t want to read Steinbeck 🤷🏻‍♀️)) 4w
AvidReader25 🤣 there is a very helpful frog! 3w
33 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

If Bill Bryson used cuss words and wrote a book about the British monarchy, this would be it. Funny, irreverent, and I afraid of finding the hilarity in a whole system that claims a gold hat makes you a ruler. The book flits between the facts of each monarch but doesn‘t go too deep with any of them. Come for the history, stay for the humor.

BkClubCare David Mitchell of Cloud Atlas Mitchell? 1mo
AvidReader25 @BkClubCare It‘s not, but I‘d be lying if I said I didn‘t pick up the book because I thought it was him. 🤣 1mo
27 likes3 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

I read “In the Footsteps of St. Paul” by this author in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Greece, including Ephesus (pictured). I loved the message and hearing more about Paul and his travels, though I will say if you‘re hoping for something that describes some of the areas you‘ll be visiting, this isn‘t the book.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Serious P.G. Wodehouse vibes & left me laughing. There were also surprisingly poignant lines. Read before To Say Nothing of the Dog, which references it.

“Let your boat of life be light, packed w/only what you need-a homely home & simple pleasures 1 or 2 friends, worth the name, someone to love & someone to love you, a cat, dog, & a pipe or 2, enough to eat & enough to wear, & a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.”

mabell This book surprised me with how funny and relatable it was! It‘s on my to be reread list! 1mo
AvidReader25 @mabell Me too! I wasn‘t expecting to snort laugh at a book that was more than a century old. 🤣 1mo
mabell Exactly! 😂 1mo
34 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AvidReader25
The Lola Quartet | Emily St. John Mandel
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Mehso-so

I love this author‘s work so much that I was just happy to read another book by her. While it was interesting, it‘s definitely not her best. Read it if you are a completist for her work, but otherwise start with Station Eleven.

“The point was that Gavin had opened a door, cracked it slightly, & he could see through to the disgrace & shadows on the other side. If you tell a lie it‘s easier to tell another. And abyss yawns suddenly at your feet.”

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AvidReader25
Pax, Journey Home | Sara Pennypacker
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I loved returning to these characters. Peter is broken from the heartbreak of the last book and Pax has established his own family. Seeing how those two can help each other with healing and growth was beautiful.

“Memories were so treacherous. Always lurking under the surface, ready to bushwhack you with a blade to the heat when you weren‘t careful.”

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AvidReader25
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I think the cover & title are awful, but I actually loved learning more about the enneagram in this book. It's full of humor & hard truths & helped me understand some of my own challenges & others' choices better. The structure worked well introducing each type & explaining how their childhood, work, relationship, etc. can be affected by their type. It wraps up each one w/ a list of ways they can work on spiritual growth & healthy decision making.

29 likes1 stack add
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

If you love Greek mythology, sarcasm, and studying the classics from a feminist POV, this one is for you. I loved every second of this dive into the stories of the goddesses. Haynes doesn't shy away from painful stories, but she manages to bring humor to the book as well. The section on Persephone‘s kidnapping (pictured) is heartbreaking. I'm off to read the rest of her books now and I can't believe I‘ve missed her work so far!

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AvidReader25
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Mehso-so

This novel from the point of view of a mountain lion in the Hollywood Hills, surprised me with its tenderness. The lion is based on the real P-22, but we see people and dangers through his eyes. He wants to be a part of the world as much as he's confused by it. Pax, a novel from the POV of a fox, hit me more deeply, but that's probably because I read it first.

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AvidReader25
Girls and Their Horses | Eliza Jane Brazier
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Pickpick

This one has serious Big Little Lies vibes, while still feeling completely original. I couldn‘t put it down! Mean girls in horse barns with lots of buried secrets. I loved that the POV switches quickly and we keep learning more of the story. The tension remained taut throughout and it stuck the landing. A definite slump buster if you need one.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🐴 ❤️📚 2mo
Leftcoastzen Love the little horses! 2mo
AvidReader25 @Leftcoastzen My kids happened to be playing with them while I was reading this. 🤣 2mo
35 likes3 comments
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AvidReader25
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Martha Ballard is a midwife in the late 18th century who's called to testify in a rape case. I couldn't put this one down. Martha might be one of my favorite characters I‘ve read in recent years and knowing she's based on a real woman makes me love her even more. She's strong, smart, and opinionated without ever sacrificing her love for her children and husband. Just an excellent novel across the board. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

AvidReader25 This is a particularly good book to read when it‘s as cold and frosty outside as it has been this week! 2mo
MeganAnn My library hold for this one just came in. I‘m really excited to read it! 2mo
intothehallofbooks I loved this one too. 2mo
43 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

After watching the 1st season of Reacher I was curious about this well-known series. The first book is a great thriller & the show did a very good job with the material. Good plot, interesting characters, clues and twists all made sense. Really that‘s all I‘d ask from a book like this. A great read to curl up with on a frigid day. I don‘t think I‘ll read the next book in the series, but I‘ll watch the new season of the show.

AnnR My husband likes the show on Prime Video, but my goodness every episode is violent. Are the books incredibly violent, too? 2mo
AvidReader25 @AnnR Definitely violent. I‘d say the show is a good representation of the book. 2mo
AnnR @AvidReader Thanks for the candid info. I think I'll skip the books then as the violence in the show really disturbs me. 😬 2mo
AvidReader25 @AnnR I‘d watched the show with my husband so I was prepared for it. I was curious about the books since the series is so wildly popular. I‘m not interested in reading more of it though. 2mo
29 likes4 comments
blurb
AvidReader25
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We celebrated my daughter‘s birthday with the best cake ever! She‘s a big reader and she wanted a book cake. The woman who made this did an incredible job! I love my daughter‘s head tilt as she read the spines with so many of her favorite novels. 📚

Leftcoastzen Very cool! 2mo
BkClubCare Aw!! That is wonderful!! 2mo
RaeLovesToRead Wow!! 2mo
See All 19 Comments
Nebklvr Happy Birthday!!! Gorgeous girl and gorgeous cake! Read on! 2mo
Deblovestoread Fantastic cake! Happy birthday to your daughter! 2mo
Bluebird This is fabulous! 2mo
Tamra Awesomeness! 2mo
AnnR Amazing! What a fun way to celebrate. 2mo
Sparklemn Best cake ever! 2mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
MaureenMc 😍 2mo
IuliaC Awesome cake! Happy birthday! 🤩 2mo
BarbaraBB So cute! 2mo
yourfavouritemixtape This cake is amazing!! 😍 2mo
Kristy_K Love this!! 2mo
Dilara Wow, what a cake! Happy 8th birthday to your daughter! 🎂 2mo
ItsAnotherJen Best cake ever!! How sweet. Your daughter looks so happy 2mo
Arvena Wow! 2mo
47 likes19 comments
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AvidReader25
Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross
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Pickpick

What a beautiful conclusion to the story! I loved the first book and it picks up right after Divine Rivals ends. The gods, Dacre and Enva, are a much bigger part of this one and I loved getting to. know their characters. It‘s war and there are gutting losses, but the story unfolds beautifully and did not disappoint. I loved the way the author connected Roman and Iris through the distance. Each one showed such strength and courage.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love your typewriter 💙 2mo
AvidReader25 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Me too! It was a gift from my best friend years ago. 💙 2mo
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AvidReader25
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A perfect book to start the new year. Rubin works through one of her senses at a time, trying to enjoy each one to the fullest. She visits the Met in NYC each day. She tries a meal at a restaurant where you are blindfolded. She takes a class on developing your sense of smell. She discovers the taste & visual cues that bring her joy. I know I‘ll be putting some of these tips into practice as I try to deepen my appreciation of the world around me.

34 likes1 stack add
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AvidReader25
Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan
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Keegan is so gifted at capturing an emotionally fraught story with her quiet condense prose. It‘s 1985 & Bill Furlong is a coal man in Ireland preparing to celebrate Christmas with his wife & daughters. His path crosses with the nuns at the Magdalene Laundry & his conscience is in turmoil. It was a brief but beautiful story. If you‘re curious to learn more about the laundries, I‘d recommend the movie Magdalene Sisters, which I watched years ago.

SamAnne One of the best novels I read last year. She writes beautifully. 2mo
AvidReader25 @SamAnne She does! I loved Foster last year. I‘m amazed by the depth of character. she can achieve in so few pages. 2mo
SamAnne @AvidReader25 it‘s wonderful to read a work in one sitting, and hold the story and writing in your head. There are many long novels I love, but when I read Keegan, Colton Whitehead‘s Nickel Boys, I wish some other writers would learn a little from Keegan! 2mo
AvidReader25 @SamAnne Yes! I‘m a journalist and edit a magazine. I‘m constantly having to cut peoples work down. It‘s hard to write more with less. 2mo
37 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AvidReader25
Women Talking | Miriam Toews
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Part 3 of 3: My favorites from the 144 books I read (in no particular order). I don‘t include rereads. I‘d love to hear your favorites!

11) Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
12) Women Talking by Miriam Toews
13) The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
14) The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
15) Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

CaliforniaCay What a beautiful Lothlorien sign! 🤩 Is it yours? 3mo
AvidReader25 @CaliforniaCay Yes! We moved into our new home last year and we have a big woods behind our house. I had the sign made the month we moved in. 😊 3mo
CaliforniaCay @AvidReader25 that's such a good idea, how special!! Tolkien would be proud. I just learned today just happens to be his birthday by the way 🎂 2mo
AvidReader25 @CaliforniaCay Happy Tolkien day!!! 😊 2mo
29 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AvidReader25
Go as a River: A novel | Shelley Read
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Part 2 of 3: My favorites from the 144 books I read (in no particular order). I don‘t include rereads. I‘d love to hear your favorites!

6) A Book of Bees by Sue Hubbell
7) Throne of Glass series
8) The Once and Future King by T.H. White
9) A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan
10) Go As a River by Shelley Read

dabbe #8 is on my top 5 list of ALL time. 🤩 3mo
AvidReader25 @dabbe It was so much more fun than I was expecting! I loved it. 3mo
28 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
Notes on Grief | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Part 1 of 3: My favorites from the 144 books I read (in no particular order). I don‘t include rereads. I‘d love to hear your favorites!

1) Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
2) Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3) Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
4) Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
5) Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

BarbaraBB I loved Hello Beautiful and Notes on Grief too! 3mo
AvidReader25 @BarbaraBB They we‘re both so wonderful! 3mo
batsy I've been seeing so much about Divine Rivals! 3mo
AvidReader25 @batsy magic type writers, a war between gods, and enemies to lovers. I was a fan! The sequel just came out too! 3mo
24 likes4 comments
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AvidReader25
Brave Men | Ernie Pyle
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I‘ve always admired Ernie Pyle, a WWII war correspondent and journalist. He had such a gift for telling soldiers‘ stories and the reality of war. This exhibit at the Indiana State Museum included his typewriter, Uniform, army bag, and some incredible photos of him. I just loved learning more about him. If you haven‘t read Brave Men, I‘d highly recommend it.

22 likes1 stack add
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AvidReader25
A Redbird Christmas | Fannie Flagg
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Pickpick

What a treat to read a Christmas story that's not a Hallmark romance. Yes the ending is predictable, but it doesn't lessen the joy of the novel. Oswald Campbell moves from Chicago to Lost River, Alabama because of his health. The community he finds there, including a little girl named Patsy, Jack the cardinal, & Frances, the local busy body, all create the home & family he wasn't expecting. Just the feel-good Christmas read I was hoping for.

NatalieR I loved this book! You‘re right, it is a perfect Christmas read. 🎄 3mo
AvidReader25 @NatalieR I just loved the community! 3mo
NatalieR @AvidReader25 Yes! So idyllic!! 3mo
22 likes3 comments
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AvidReader25
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Mehso-so

Rachel returns to her Maine childhood home when her mom dies. While there she loses her job as journalist, has major issues w/her ex-husband & fights w/her sister. There are a lot of issues. It‘s beautifully written but it piles on so much drama it's hard to focus on anything. Between alcoholism, family w/PTSD, affairs, illness, child abuse, etc. I wish it was narrowed down so we could see Rachel work through something instead of just surviving.

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AvidReader25
The Half-Life of Marie Curie | Lauren Gunderson
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Gunderson is the master at highlighting the incredible accomplishments of women. This two-person play is about the friendship between Nobel-prize winner Marie Curie and the electromechanical engineer and suffragette Hertha Ayrton. Both women were brilliant and both fought against the sexism and absurd double standards in their field. The audible production of the play is perfect and I would love to see it live.

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AvidReader25
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

Berry has an incredible skill for writing about things we've all felt but sound new & familiar in his prose. Jayber tells the story of his time as barber in Port William. Through the years he watches dramas unfold from his solitary place. He sees how time changes the community, deals w/his own heartbreak, hatred & struggles w/faith. It‘s a book that flows slowly & should be savored. Nothing big happens & yet all of life is packed within its pages.

28 likes2 stack adds
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AvidReader25
Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley | Lauren Gunderson, Margot Melcon
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There is no shortage of Pride and Prejudice spinoffs, and honestly I don‘t tend to love them, but these plays are possibly my favorite! They‘re based during a Christmas spent at Pemberley after Lizzy and Darcy are married. I love the character development and the way they capture the family dynamic. The servants in this one are great additions. It was a complete delight and I can‘t wait to read the third in the series if I can find a copy.

Bluebird Sounds great, thanks for your review! I‘ll try to find them—always looking for those good austen inspired books! 😀 3mo
AvidReader25 Gunderson is an incredible playwright. You can‘t go wrong with her work. 3mo
33 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AvidReader25
The Gardener's Year | Karel ?apek
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Our Icelandic tradition continues! We‘re cozied up by the fire with chocolates and our new books! I‘ve been dying to read this play, so I‘m thrilled. 😊

Tamra What? Capek wrote a gardening book??? I associate him with R.U.R., which is a fabulous short play so reflective of the era and relevant today with AI. 3mo
AvidReader25 @Tamra That‘s sounds amazing! I‘m looking it up now. My husband is the gardener in our house and I got him this little gem. 3mo
Tamra @AvidReader25 so thoughtful! 💚 RUR is in the public domain, so you should be able to find it for free online. It‘s super short. 3mo
AvidReader25 @Tamra Oh thank you! 3mo
31 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AvidReader25
Sweet Bean Paste | Durian Sukegawa
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This novella set in contemporary Japan is about a man who is released from prison and runs a Doraharu, which serves dorayaki (pancakes with sweet bean paste). He meets an old women, Tokue, who grew up in a leper colony on the outskirts of town. His unlikely friendship with her & Wakana, a school girl who visits the shop, is quiet and lovely. Despite their differences, the three learn to look past their outward appearances to find something deeper.

Soubhiville Sounds like a really nice story. 3mo
AvidReader25 @Soubhiville I think some things are lost in translation, but the core message that we mean more to this world than just our work, and contributions is a good one. 3mo
34 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

In this sequel, the family of girls meets a young boy named Guido. His mother is sick and they decide to help him. I loved seeing how the girls work together and learn about sacrifice and loss as a family. Building a sukkah together was a lovely moment. This is the sweetest series. The story is set in New York City's Lower East Side in the Jewish community. Based on the author's own experiences, the little vignettes always feels so real.

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AvidReader25
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Mehso-so

I thought this would be a rom-com love story about 2 people, Cleo & Mack, who share a cabin on Salvation Island because of a booking mistake. The first 1/2 dragged & left me rolling my eyes. I stuck with it & found a story rooted more in reality than Hallmark. The best part is definitely the Irish island & the community that lives there. Cleo & Mack grew on me and matured as characters, which made the book worth it. *Also the title makes no sense.

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AvidReader25
Halloween Party | Agatha Christie
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Mehso-so

‪The newest Poirot movie was based on this, but very little of the story remained the same. This one didn't hold my attention like others in the series. A young girls is killed after claiming to have witnessed a murder, but everyone says she was a compulsive liar. Poirot works with a famous author to try to solve the case. Not a bad mystery, just missing some of the urgency in Christie's others.‬

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AvidReader25
Pax | Sara Pennypacker
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Peter & his fox Pax are separated when war comes to their community. The book rotates POVs between the 2 as they find their way back to each other. I loved this one enough to immediately find the sequel. The way Pax's POV is written is so realistic. It's a beautiful story about learning what's important to you & finding true family.

"Feelings are all dangerous. Love, hope. Ha! Hope! You talk about dangerous, eh? No you can't avoid any of them."

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AvidReader25
Howards End | E.M. Forster
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Found this gorgeous vintage paperback at a new bookstore and coffee shop in Indianapolis! Dream Palace Books was just lovely.

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AvidReader25
Empire of Storms | Sarah J Maas
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Pickpick

What just happened?!?! Oh man, for someone who didn‘t like the first book in this series, I‘ve becoming ridiculously attached to this bands of misfits. I love the friendships. I couldn‘t believe the sea dragon scene or the finale. So many twists, so much fascinating history in their world, I loved the stories coming together that have been building since the beginning. Beautifully plotted and I can‘t wait to see what happens next.

Bluebird I keep hearing such good things about this author! I need to give her a try. Congrats on continuing the series and finding it a winner. So hard when book 1 of a series doesn‘t captivate (edited) 3mo
AvidReader25 @Bluebird Right! I‘m glad I had so many people tell me to stick with it. 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Such a fun quick read. The whole book is told in the form of snarky emails, texts, and group chats. A small town theater group is putting on a holiday pantomime and of course, chaos ensues. Fun and silly, it was a great seasonal book when the romcom holidays kept falling flat for me.

31 likes1 stack add
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AvidReader25
The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale | Philip Van Doren Stern
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I can‘t believe I‘d never read the short story that “It‘s a Wonderful Life” is based on! Obviously, a lot is different in the movie, but the core theme remains the same. I loved that this edition includes the background of the author coming up with the whole idea in a dream, and the director Frank Capra happening to get a hold of one of 200 copies that was sent out as a Christmas card in 1943. We truly never know how many lives we‘ve touched. 💙

Tamra What? I didn‘t know this and now I have to read it! 3mo
BarbaraBB Love your photo 3mo
AvidReader25 @BarbaraBB I loved the illustration they included! 3mo
AvidReader25 @Tamra Right! A perfect December read. 3mo
33 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AvidReader25
Bookshops and Bonedust | Travis Baldree
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An absolutely delightful prequel to Legends & Lattes. If you liked the first, you‘ll like the 2nd. I particularly loved the character Satchel. Learning about Viv‘s past gave her character more depth. The coziness factor is wonderfully high with a bookshop & bakery and the small town connections. Each new character interaction added to the overall joy. Two thumbs up!

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

I was expecting this to be about gatherings with friends, but was surprised to see a much wider view of adding value to get togethers in any setting. I found myself thinking of ways I could incorporate the 15 Toasts or specific rules to some of the work events I plan. I loved the idea of making people step out of their comfort zones in order to be vulnerable and make deeper connections. Her attitude can be jarring, but I can see the value there.

Bookwormjillk I read this right as we were going back to work after covid and used it a lot that first year. I've been thinking about re-reading because we've been having some issues with culture. 4mo
27 likes1 comment
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AvidReader25
Winter Solstice | Rosamunde Pilcher
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Panpan

I kept comparing this one to Binchy's A Week in Winter, but this one didn‘t hold up. So much could have been edited out for a stronger story, instead we limp along with these wounded creatures. I loved Coming Home & Shell Seekers so maybe my expectations were too high.

“You never really got to know people properly until you had seen them within the ambience of their own home. Seen their furniture & their books & their manner of their lifestyle.”

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AvidReader25
Iron Flame | Rebecca Yarros
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Pickpick

That was a LOT! It felt episodic & there‘s too much stubborn immaturity w/Violet, but there‘s a lot to love. I love the friendship between Ridoc, Sawyer, Violet, Imogen & Rhi. I love every single dragon interaction, esp. Tairn. I wish we had learned more about the founding 6, but I bet that‘s coming.

“You and I are not easy people. What we build together has to be strong enough to withstand a storm. Or a war. Easy isn't going to give that to us."