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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This was a tough read. It made me very uncomfortable through some of it. Was it love or was it something else? You'll need to talk about this story when you finish it. I did the audio and the narrator was amazing.

Mccall0113 This one stayed with me a long time. 4y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This book isn't just about grief as I had expected, but about love. Love for her life before, during, and after her husband. Love for family. Love for food and how that can bind our souls even across culture and continents. This was beautifully written.

8 likes1 stack add
quote
Califlamingo

"Of all the countries of the world, we Americans have been the greatest destroyers of land of any race of people barbaric or civilized." Hugh Hammond Bennett

pigeonsandcrows One of my favorite nonfiction books! 5y
10 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Califlamingo
Woe to Live On: A Novel | Daniel Woodrell
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Pickpick

"Is it possible for a man to retain his humanity in an inhuman time, and if not, at least to regain that humanity after a war ends?"

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Califlamingo
The Twelve-Mile Straight | Eleanor Henderson
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Pickpick

This book had layer upon layer of family secrets, community secrets, race relations, betrayal... It was a hard story set in a hard time.

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I was reluctant to try this based on reviews, but I found that I really enjoyed this book on audio. The narration was superb. The writing style pulled me in and held me on the roller coaster of the story. I love art and art history so that was a bonus. I'm glad I gave it a chance.

24 likes2 stack adds
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Califlamingo
The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides
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Mehso-so

Not good but not bad either. I didn't find any of the characters likeable or relatable. It was almost formulaic which made the big twist predictable.

Cathythoughts I bailed on this one ... couldn‘t get into it 5y
20 likes1 comment
review
Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This book was full of family secrets and skeletons in closets. I loved how characters and storylines that are seemingly unrelated come together in the end. A great read.

MandellaL I'm currently reading the tagged book by same author and really liking it. Will have to add this one to my stack. 5y
Slajaunie This was my first Kate Morton and my favorite. 5y
17 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
Califlamingo

"Every wall of every room is lined with books: old books, new books, first editions, signed editions, twenty-third editions, stacked together on mismatched, improvised sets of shelves, in a glorious, healthy disregard for display."

15 likes2 stack adds
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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I did the audio while my daughter read her copy for class. Good discussion ensued. Tim Robbins narration was excellent and really helped me like the book. How interesting that a book this old is still relevant to the times we live in. It's a make-you-think kind of book.

12 likes1 stack add
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Califlamingo
Salvage the Bones | Jesmyn Ward
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Pickpick

This was a tough read. It's fiction but also true life. But also a book of true family love even in hard times. Beautifully written. I think it would be great in audio.
*contains dog fighting

16 likes1 stack add
review
Califlamingo
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Bailedbailed

It just wasn't my style and I had a hard time following it.

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

Just finished the audio. I can see why this has mixed reviews. The stories seemed a little disjointed at first and I couldn't figure out how it all fit. But when it did the whole story came to life. I really enjoyed this and wasn't ready for it to end. A bonus was Joanne Froggatt narrating.

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Califlamingo
Postmortem | Patricia Cornwell
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Pickpick

I'm revisiting an old favorite series. The audio version was so-so. The story held me to the end and reminded me why I liked the series. On to the next one!

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The circus history sparked my interest and I'm on the hunt for more. I would have liked more character development in the present time portion of the story. But all in all I liked it.

22 likes2 stack adds
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Califlamingo
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Panpan

Not much secret or very historical here. If you put history in the title it should have some! The story seemed to basically repeat itself. I struggled to finish it.

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I wasn't sure at first if I would like this book. But it got me. I laughed. I cringed. I cried. I truly enjoyed Eleanor's journey of self discovery. I hated that it ended...I needed more! I listened to the audio and the narrator was fantastic. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crazeedi Great story! 5y
26 likes2 stack adds1 comment
quote
Califlamingo
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"It was an era of violence, greed, audacity, sentimentality, undirected exuberance, and an almost reverential attitude toward the ideal of personal freedom for those who already had it."

16 likes4 stack adds
review
Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I reread One Thousand White Women before reading this. It touched on some prior characters but the stories were somewhat similar. It's still a very good read full of historical imagery.

14 likes1 stack add
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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This book made me sad. It's easy to turn a blind eye to addiction and think it will never happen to you or your loved ones. The personal stories hit home that it can happen. It does happen. And America needs to do more to not only prevent addiction, but to help people recover. This should be required reading.

Samplergal I‘m reading it now. Very maddening. 5y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Califlamingo
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Just started this. To say I'm shocked at some of the statistics is an understatement.

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Califlamingo
Verity | Colleen Hoover
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Mehso-so

I fell for the hype surrounding this book. I thought it was just okay. It was a quick read but I thought it was predictable. Not really impressed.

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

Re-read this one. Just as good as the first time I read it.

12 likes1 stack add
review
Califlamingo
This post contains spoilers
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Mehso-so

The author spent the very last few chapters to tell us about Alva's work in the community and for women's rights. I wish she'd spent more time on that than she did portraying her as a money hungry woman solely concerned with her place in "best society". I found Alva to be very shallow and not likeable at all.

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Califlamingo
Queen Sugar: A Novel | Natalie Baszile
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I listened on audio and the narrator really added to the story by making each character unique. The story about the family dynamics spoke to me. I haven't watched the series yet but plan to do so.

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Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating book. It really appealed to my inner Morbid Medical Nerd. It made me cringe, laugh, and maybe gag once. The chapter on lobotomies was my favorite. The narrator was great. I'll probably read this again.

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Califlamingo
In Cold Blood | Truman Capote
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Pickpick

I can't believe I haven't read this before now! It was ahead of it's time with regard to true crime novels. The story held me all the way through. It was interesting how much of the book was about the killers and their feelings (or non-feelings) and thoughts about what they did.

Crazeedi Fascinated with this book years ago. Very good 5y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Califlamingo
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I can't wait to dig into this!

vivastory I started this last night. I love it. B&N has a special edition that includes a poster. A bit tempting. 5y
12 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Califlamingo
Bailedbailed

I was listening to the audio and just couldn't get into the story or the characters. I think if I had the physical book I'd have enjoyed it more. I've read many of his other books and loved them. I'll have to try again later.

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Califlamingo
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Bailedbailed

I really enjoyed the movie and thought I would enjoy the book, but I had to give up. She annoyed me to no end. I tried...I really did.

Sienopoli Thank you for this review! 6y
LionHeartLeo Although I didn‘t Bail, I feel you on this one. Didn‘t like it. 5y
15 likes2 comments
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Califlamingo
A Little Life: A Novel | Hanya Yanagihara
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Pickpick

I'm not sure that I have the proper words for this book. It's heartbreaking, uplifting, beautiful, and tragic all at once. I fell in love with the characters, then disliked them, then loved them again. I was in tears more than once. This is one that I need a while to recover from. It is not for the faint of heart.

LionHeartLeo Just finished it & cant stop thinking about it! One of the best books I‘ve read, & for sure one of the saddest. 5y
20 likes1 comment
quote
Califlamingo

"No one dies of grief. That's like dying of a broken heart. It doesn't happen. The will to live is stronger than grief. The world would be a lot emptier if people dropped dead like that."

blurb
Califlamingo
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Revisiting a favorite. I read this in 2007 or so and loved it so much that I gave a copy to my mom and grandma.

LRSmith I‘ve never heard of it. What did you love about it? 6y
7 likes1 comment
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Califlamingo
The Wife Between Us | Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks
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Panpan

This book did not live up to the hype. The storyline and characters were shallow and frustrating. It did not live up to the comparison to Gone Girl.

KateFulfordAuthor @Califlamingo perhaps you could consider my debut? Reviews are saying: “I loved this book more than I initially thought I would. Fulford infuses her characters with intense personalities that are prone to clashing with those of others. I loved Eve from the very beginning..." It‘s been nominated for The People's Book Prize 2018 too!

Learn more via the link in the BIO
6y
15 likes1 comment
review
Califlamingo
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Pickpick

I'm not usually into self-help type books but this caught my eye. There is nothing revolutionary in this as far as advice goes, but her writing style and her honesty pulled me in and made me feel like I was talking to a friend.

15 likes1 stack add
blurb
Califlamingo
A Little Life: A Novel | Hanya Yanagihara
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I just started the audiobook this week. I'm already hooked.

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Califlamingo
Of Human Bondage | W. Somerset Maugham
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"Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading..."

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Califlamingo
Small Great Things | Jodi Picoult
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Pickpick

I was reluctant to read this book because I didn't know how the author, being white, would handle the sensitive topic. It was a little cliche and predictable at times, but it also makes you think. I'm glad my book club picked it.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved this book and she is one of my favorites!! 6y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
Califlamingo
Outlander | Diana Gabaldon
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My friend had an opportunity to meet Diana Gabaldon recently and she brought me an awesome surprise!

18 likes1 stack add
review
Califlamingo
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Pickpick

Injustice after injustice after injustice after injustice. This book horrified me and made me so angry. What those boys were put through was shameful. And it was just one instance of too many at that time. The author's research was meticulous and well thought out. Everyone should read this and know about this chapter of our history.

TheEldritchProfessor Ooh, I don‘t know this title. It sounds like something I really need to read. Thanks for the rec! 6y
12 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Califlamingo
Untitled | Unknown
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1. California
2. The Pillars of the Earth
3. Outlander series
4. Thelma & Louise
5. Downton Abbey
6. Manchester Orchestra
7. Red
8. Historical fiction
9. Insurance
10. 4 cats - all rescues

#meetthelittens

Chelleo Loved Downton Abbey! 6y
13 likes1 comment
review
Califlamingo
Cloudsplitter | Russell Banks
Pickpick

This book was not at all whatI expected. My ancestors are from Kansas where the massacre occurred and I've heard all the stories and visited the site and museum many times. This book, although a fictionalized version, gave me a new perspective of John Brown the man and how he came to do the things he did.

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Califlamingo
Cloudsplitter | Russell Banks

"For even if we cannot know the ultimate consequences of our actions or inactions, we must nonetheless behave as if they do have ultimate consequences. No little thing in our lives is without meaning; never mind that we can never know it ourselves."

Suet624 Loved this book. 6y
6 likes1 comment
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Califlamingo
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Mehso-so

I didn't dislike the book, but I also didn't love it. The story itself is heartbreaking. It's shocking to think people can be so greedy and heartless. It's a sad chapter of history.

blurb
Califlamingo
Untitled | Unknown
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I had an hour to kill today. Might as well buy books!

laurenlovesliterature Hellz yeah! 6y
11 likes1 comment
blurb
Califlamingo
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Starting a new audio book.

7 likes2 stack adds
review
Califlamingo
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating story. The author's research is so thorough and detailed, yet it kept my attention. I liked how he dove into their personal lives and how they became criminals. Their fierce loyalty to each other and their families (and some of their partners) is admirable. I found myself almost liking them.

Suet624 Guinn does a wonderful job with his books. 6y
10 likes2 stack adds1 comment
quote
Califlamingo
Cloudsplitter | Russell Banks

"If you yourself are not a victim, you cannot claim to see the world as the victim does."

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Califlamingo

Sound motherly advice: "It might be a good idea to stop falling in love with felons."

4 likes1 stack add
review
Califlamingo
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Mehso-so

I expected more from this book. It's mostly memoir with a bit of social commentary almost as an afterthought at the end of each chapters.

APLitlife I just about put it down after the first chapter or so. 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I agree. It was underwhelming. 6y
8 likes2 comments