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DVGessner

DVGessner

Joined May 2016

When all else fails, give up and go to the library
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DVGessner
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It's not nearly as cold here as it is in my native VT, but I'm trying to be there in books ❤️ One of my resolutions for 2018 is to read at least 50 pages a day in between all that needs to get done. So far so good!

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DVGessner
Emma in the Night | Wendy Walker
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Quick library run and this is next up!

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DVGessner
Beartown: A Novel | Fredrik Backman
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5⭐️ No matter what genre you're drawn to you're seriously missing out if you don't read everything by this man. Excellent book, excellent characters. I had a tiny issue with how the POV jumped around so often, something not done in his previous books, but the story more than makes up for it. Recommend or gift his books to EVERYONE.

15 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Beartown: A Novel | Fredrik Backman
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Couldn't be more excited because I died with Britt-Marie Was Here and A Man Called Ove. It's 2:22am and I'm still going to get the first chapter in ❤📚

Reviewsbylola I love your dedication! 7y
14 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DVGessner
Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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Read it! I was disappointed with the "cheat" the author used to explain everything but then the last chapter makes even that excusable. I didn't see the end coming at all and that's not common. I don't tend to gravitate toward mystery/thriller but I'd recommend to all!

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DVGessner
Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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I've done the dishes, laundry takes awhile and it's raining out. So. 😃👍🏻📚

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DVGessner
A Man Called Ove: A Novel | Fredrik Backman
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Best. Book. Ever. This is my second by him and it proves the first wasn't just a happy accident. I am not a Lifetime devote of Fredrick Backman. Could not possibly recommend this book more emphatically!!

britt_brooke 💚💚💚 7y
Reviewsbylola This is on its way to me! 7y
12 likes2 comments
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DVGessner
Pickpick

4⭐️ Looooooove. A perfect continuation of the original. No problem at all with the time shift because the story is timeless, just like the first. If you've read Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls, I highly recommend.

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DVGessner
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Pickpick

3 1/2⭐️ Great read! A nice mix of two story lines and the suspense was enough to get past the slightly saccharine ending. Overall, a good read for these cold, rainy days.

Reviewsbylola I had a little trouble with this one but ended up enjoying it. 7y
Karen3 I just bought it yesterday and can't wait to start it. 7y
8 likes2 comments
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DVGessner
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Pickpick

4⭐️ Pleasantly surprised with this book! It starts out a bit slow, probably for the first half, but it picks up significantly for the back half. An added bonus is the actual discussion of the books in their book club- although I don't really buy that the most influential books of everyone's' lives are these massive classic tomes 😃 Good read overall and I would recommend.

8 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
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First fiction book of the new year... and what matters most is that I finish it this weekend! Huge stack of books waiting and thus far I'm only so so with just under half the book to go.

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DVGessner
Valley of the Dolls | Jacqueline Susann
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Book club selection up next! It's been on my tbr list forever.

9 likes3 stack adds
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DVGessner
Dark Matter | Blake Crouch
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4 1/2⭐️ SO good! I'm not a particularly fan of sci-fi but this was done so perfectly. Not so heavy on the science as to lose the audience and an awesome amount of suspense. Flew through it in a day and then gave it to my husband who did the same! Highly recommend. (It's rumored that's it's being made into a movie and while I usually frown on page to film, this would be GREAT!)

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DVGessner
Dark Matter | Blake Crouch
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A book about a man who wakes up scared and confused in an alternate reality? Yup. Sounds about right.

Demelza I read Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, I thought for a moment this was the same one with a different cover. Honestly read that one if you want creepy and sinister. It was probably the only ghost story I have ever read that has genuinely scared me! This one sounds good though. To the stack.... 7y
7 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DVGessner
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Bailedbailed

I don't know what happened here, but I cannot read this book. It's a scattered mess and even 150 pages in I can't get it back on track. I loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette, but either this is trying too hard to be clever and funny or it just isn't good. Either way, I'm so out.

britt_brooke I've seen this repeatedly about this book. 7y
jessberk13 I also bailed. Haven't seen too many good reviews for this one, which is disappointing after Bernadette 7y
7 likes2 comments
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DVGessner
The Two-Family House: A Novel | Lynda Cohen Loigman
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4 1/2 ⭐️ I love this book! I flew through it and thought the story had a perfect pace. The characters were well drawn and complex. I did have the twist figured out just before it happened but I believe you're supposed to as it informed many choices in the story. Would highly recommend!

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DVGessner
Panpan

2 1/2 ⭐️ This book felt very self important, found myself skimming to move it along. I didn't even care to go back and try to better understand the ending which was supposed to be quite a twist. Eh.

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DVGessner
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Next up- a little suspense for the Halloween weekend

6 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Only Daughter | Anna Snoekstra
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Mehso-so

2⭐️This was a fast read but it was just "eh" for me. Definitely some suspense but too many unanswered questions about some characters and what felt like a fast wrap up with little insight into why certain choices were made. Looking back after the resolution I'm wondering why some topics/subjects were even part of the story at all. If you're looking for a solid thriller I'd say keep looking.

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DVGessner
Only Daughter | Anna Snoekstra
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Yesterday at the library. I meant to pick up two. Just two. #addict #dontcare

Pelican71 Isn't that the way that it goes? 😜I enjoyed Two-Family House 🏡. I have a few of the same books on my TBR list. 7y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DVGessner
House of Leaves | Mark Z. Danielewski, Zampan
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Skeptical but giving it a go... 🎃🕷☠️🕸⚰️👻

5 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Nine Women, One Dress | Jane L. Rosen
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4⭐️ First time I've finished a book in a day in awhile- such a cute read! I loved how it jumped from person to person but still came back around to the original stories. I may have quietly cheered out loud in a cafe for one happy ending, may have teared up at another a quick read with so much heart and a dress I wish actually existed!

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Nine Women, One Dress | Jane L. Rosen
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In lieu of my own search for my brother in law's wedding ?Seems like a great, fast read so I can get one more "scary" book in before Halloween.

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Small Great Things | Jodi Picoult
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5⭐️ Oh. My. God. Jodi Picoult fans will already know, but if you're not already a reader of hers: START. This is a five star book and I'll let it rest with that. Litsy couldn't possibly allow enough characters for a review that does it justice.

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DVGessner
Mehso-so

3⭐️ She is clearly an amazing writer and I look forward to rereading The Haunting of Hill House later... but this just wasn't very "spine tingling" for me. That being said she's excellent at setting a creepy scene and tops at interesting characters!

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DVGessner
Small Great Things | Jodi Picoult
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So excited for this... and it's making the 7pm 50 degree soccer practice that much more bearable ⚽️📖

9 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
The Nest: A Novel | Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
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My book club's pick this month- can't wait!

7 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Love Warrior: A Memoir | Glennon Doyle Melton
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Pickpick

5⭐️ This book is amazing. It's page after page of things I've felt or currently feel. She started to lose me a little bit toward the end with heavy talk of God and the bible and their places in her new life. I was also struck by how she seemed to take virtually no responsibility for not working at her marriage prior to its collapse- but maybe that's a different book. Overall this is a woman who's writing speaks directly to women and I'd recommend.

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Love Warrior: A Memoir | Glennon Doyle Melton
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I feel like we've all had at least one of these relationships. At least. PS- I want to share just about every other paragraph in this book.

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Love Warrior: A Memoir | Glennon Doyle Melton
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This writing is just full of imagery and not in a flowery way that loses readers. Flying through this book.

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Love Warrior: A Memoir | Glennon Doyle Melton
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Wouldn't even have known about this book if Jennifer Weiner hadn't pitched such a tone deaf fit about it. I don't care much for memoirs but it's wonderful so far. THIS woman writes women.

4 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
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Pickpick

4⭐️ Excellent story, loved it. I appreciated all the new info, the insights into my favorite characters adult lives, the what-ifs of several versions of the past and future. I have to say that while I know it was partially written- and therefor approved- by Rowling, I don't consider it an "eighth book". Rather it came across as excellent fan faction or one of her companion books. I still feel like the real story ended at 19 years post battle.

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DVGessner
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Temporarily curbed my library addiction so I could get to this on my TBR shelf. Can't believe I waited this long!

3 likes1 stack add
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Kids off to school and stealing a few minutes to start a new book, apparently continuing on a fire theme 🔥🔥🔥

4 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Ashes of Fiery Weather | Kathleen Donohoe
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5⭐️ This is a fantastic book with a big cast of characters, all of which are beautifully drawn and heartbreakingly human. Digging into several generations of a fire fighting family, the book jumps in time and to different narrators but that enhances the story rather than be distracting. The accounts of bravery in the line of duty and especially of 9/11 are startling in their accuracy. I was flying though pages to follow this family. Read now.

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DVGessner
Ashes of Fiery Weather | Kathleen Donohoe
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Multi-generational story of a fire fighting family and the women who have shaped it? Yes PLEASE.

5 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Finding Audrey | Sophie Kinsella
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3⭐️ So cute! A quick read with a lot of great moments and real humor. It's definitely a bit too easy with no real conflict or obstacles but it does comment on some real topics. You will love all the characters and their quirks.

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Finding Audrey | Sophie Kinsella
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Summer ending and school starting up and a new puppy- all equals major brain scramble. I need to hit restart on my reading so taking it nice and easy with a fast, fun read so far!

3 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Arrowood | Laura McHugh
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4⭐️ A fast read with decent suspense. I wasn't particularly sympathetic to the main character but all the characters are sketched just enough and the story moves right along because you're always interested in what happened. And I totally appreciate the avoidance of a "perfect" ending- instead very real life and believable. I'd recommend and will add her first book to my to-read list.

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Arrowood | Laura McHugh
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Brought a bag full of books on vacation and used Litsy reviews to decide which one to start next!

reneelyons Nice! My copy just came in and I can't wait to dig in. I loved the Weight of Blood! 8y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DVGessner
Three Sisters, Three Queens | Philippa Gregory
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4⭐️ Always love Philippa Gregory but this one was particularly good because it was from the point of view of someone outside the immediate Henry/Boleyn circle. As there wasn't much written about Margaret educated guesses had to be taken but all seemed adequately supported by actual letters and facts. In the absence of a time machine, Gregory gives us another excellent story. Would recommend and happily await her next!

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Three Sisters, Three Queens | Philippa Gregory
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Let the vacation reading begin!

Reviewsbylola Enjoy! Looks like you have some great books to choose from. 8y
5 likes1 comment
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DVGessner
Three Sisters, Three Queens | Philippa Gregory
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Never get tired of her books or the Tudors 📚📖

3 likes2 stack adds
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DVGessner
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Bailedbailed

So even though I bailed I'm going to give this 3⭐️. He's funny and it will certainly appeal to a wide audience. But for me he relies too much on shock factors- sex, size of his member, fat shaming, bathroom functions, vomit and other bodily fluids. There's also too much "I cracked a joke, the person didn't get it". Got it. He's funny but I guess I prefer a more sophisticated humor? Didn't want to wait through the last 100 pages.

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DVGessner
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Not usually a fan of short story or essay but giving it a shot 📚📖

britt_brooke This looks up my alley, adding it! 8y
8 likes1 comment
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DVGessner
Julian Fellowes's Belgravia | Julian Fellowes
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5⭐️ Full disclosure: this should probably only be four stars but I am unabashedly obsessed with Downton Abbey and this was a nice substitute. It was a little too neatly done at the end but that doesn't necessarily take away from the experience. And there was no Maggie Smith, which of course would have made it perfect. 100% recommend for any fan of Downton or the time period in general.

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DVGessner
Truly Madly Guilty | Liane Moriarty
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4 days until we travel so I'm squeezing this one in. I've been disappointed to see mixed reviews so I hope it's good!

BookishMarginalia I enjoyed it, though Big Little Lies remains my favorite. It's a fun read and I really wanted to figure out what happened in the darned barbecue! 8y
10 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DVGessner
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Pickpick

3⭐️ A nice summer read, fast and suspenseful, but nothing to blow me away. I was kind of annoyed that the mom never remembered ANYTHING- I almost expected to find out she'd been drugged. A little heavy handed with the "who am I, what is my life" business but overall it kept me reading and I was invested in the outcome. I'd recommend.

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DVGessner
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Next up! To compliment tomorrow nights' gymnastic coverage in Rio 🏅👯(these are not gymnasts but they're wearing leotards!)

9 likes1 stack add
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DVGessner
Britt-Marie Was Here | Fredrik Backman
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5⭐️ I LOVE this book! It's well written, fast moving, sweet and FUNNY! I laughed out loud, I turned pages quickly, I wanted to call people and tell them to read it. I want to drive to the town and meet these people. Pick this up and read it ❤️

Churchlady 💖💖💖 8y
7 likes1 comment