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Karisimo

Karisimo

Joined July 2022

middlegradefiction*literaryfiction*historicalfiction*mystery*sci-fi
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Worser by Jennifer Ziegler
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Throwback by Maurene Goo
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The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
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Karisimo
Lily's Crossing | Patricia Reilly Giff
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I read these two middle grade books for #bookedintime #ww2 . Lily's Crossing was about a girl in America who's father leaves for France. While he's away she meets a refugee from Hungary. White Bird is a graphic novel about a Jewish girl in France who spends the war hiding in the barn of some friends. Both were good! The writing style of White Bird was more appealing; the writing style of Lily's Crossing was a bit dated (1990s).

@Cuilin

Cuilin I think I read Lily‘s crossing, the cover and story are very familiar. 2 for WWII ✅🎉 7d
28 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Ikenga | Nnedi Okorafor
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Pickpick

Read this for #authoramonth and was not disappointed! Perfect for young readers who dream of being superheroes! When 12-year-old Nnamdi is actually gifted super powers (similar to The Hulk) he quickly learns its not so easy and clearcut to know what to do with them as he seeks to avenge his father's death. The story is set in Nigeria and I enjoyed the African voice in the audiobook. @soubhiville

Soubhiville Sounds like a good one. 🙂 2w
33 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Karisimo
Shot Clock | Caron Butler, Justin A Reynolds
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Pickpick

A story of family, community, and basketball for fans of Jason Reynolds' Track series. Middle schooler, Tone is facing several challenges- a friend lost to a police shooting, his mother's mental health, and trying out for AAU basketball team. Lots of good messages here told with an authentic teen voice. Highly recommend!

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Karisimo
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I always have these three types going on...

Physical book: Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
Audiobook: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
Middle Grade: Ancestor Approved

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

rachelsbrittain What a great trio! 3w
25 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Midnight's Children | Salman Rushdie
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I read this last month and almost forgot to count it as a #chunkstermini ! #chunksterchallenge2023
@amiable

Amiable This totally counts! 👍🏼 3w
33 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Carrie Soto Is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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#1 St.Louis Cardinals baseball is the only sport I watch and follow closely! ⚾️ Well, also the Olympics!
#2 the tagged book even though I‘m not at all a tennis fan! 🎾

14 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #bookspin and #doublepsin for September! No middle grade books to make it easy for me this time!

@thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!!! 3w
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Karisimo I hope my Fourth Wing hold comes through in time!!! 4w
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks fantastic!! 3w
22 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
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“Your body is a world. In that world there are three warriors. A superhero, someone who needs help, and a villain. But there can only be one leader of your world. My job is to wake up your superhero and help you slay the villain.“

Great middle grade story of family, emotional pain, forgiveness, and change with a relatable MC set on an Objibwe reservation in Minnesota.

22 likes1 stack add
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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I did a little better than I expected due to a week home with COVID!

4 BINGOs
13 middle grade
1 YA
0 Non Fiction
7 audiobooks

#bookspinbingo
@thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!! Hope you are feeling better!! (edited) 1mo
20 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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🍎 Here's the plan for September! #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1mo
24 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Much Ado About Nada | Uzma Jalaluddin
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Pickpick

I so extremely rarely like a romance story. I bailed on Beach Read, but I loved Ayesha At Last. So thought I'd give this author another chance and it was a win! I think it's because of the family and friendship drama? And the chaste nature of the romance? Maybe because it's based on a Jane Austen plot? Anyone else have a guess at why these stand out to me?

Ruthiella I wonder if it might be because the constraints of courtship within the Muslim community depicted by Jalaluddin make sense, like they do in Jane Austen. Whereas in more mainstream Canadian society, in order for the will they/won‘t they to work, unrealistic plot devices are often inserted.🤔 1mo
Karisimo @Ruthiella I had also wondered if it was something about the Muslim culture! 1mo
26 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
Mark of the Thief | Jennifer A. Nielsen
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Pickpick

I read this for #bookedintime #ancientrome @cuilin

This was great which comes as no surprise. Jennifer Nielsen is a solid gold middle grade writer! Very similar feel to The False Prince which I read recently- A kid with power unsure of who to trust among both adults and peers, but wanting to do the right thing. This would be a great intro to Ancient Rome for kids who also love fantasy!

Cuilin 🎉 Roman Civilization ✅ looks like a great read!! 1mo
30 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
The Last Beekeeper | Pablo Cartaya
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Pickpick

This middle grade book is like a combo of City of Ember and 1984 with a strong emphasis on community. As in 1984 the powers that be are watching and listening to their every move. Like in City of Ember, the kids are the ones to confront and expose the leaders who seem nice on the outside, but are taking more and more control for themselves. Fast-paced with a Hispanic flair. This is my second great read by Pablo Cartaya!

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Karisimo
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An installment of Murderbot was just the thing I needed after trudging through Midnight‘s Children!

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Karisimo
Midnight's Children | Salman Rushdie
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Mehso-so

Honestly, I‘m so happy to be done with this one so I can move on. I had to read a chapter summary to help me in the beginning. The stories seemed so random and only loosely tied together. I was never sure if the narrator was reliable or not. It didn‘t make me want to pick up another book by this author.
#authoramonth
@Soubhiville

Texreader This month confirmed that this author is not for me either 1mo
Soubhiville Kudos to you for pushing through! This author has been tough for most readers. 1mo
29 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
The Golden Hour | Niki Smith
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Completed both my #bookspin and #doublespin for August! Moo was a light and sweet story in both verse and prose of a family transitioning from city to country life and coming to love a stubborn cow named Zora. The Golden Hour was heavier graphic novel in that the MC is experiencing PTSD after a shooting. He anchors himself by taking photos and cautiously makes friends with kids involved in 4-H. I enjoyed them both! 🐮

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1mo
20 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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1. Karis Luran in A Curse So Dark and Lovely is the only time I‘ve come across my name in a book!
2. I just started reading a book called “moo” which is pretty unusual! 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

TheSpineView My granddaughter's name is Karis too! 1mo
Karisimo @TheSpineView that‘s awesome! 1mo
Eggs I remember Moo 🐮 by Sharon Creech? 1mo
Karisimo @Eggs yes, that‘s the one! 1mo
20 likes4 comments
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Karisimo
Spirit Week | Ira Marcks
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I happened to be reading both of these books this week (one on audio, one physical book) and they both took place in creepy hotels in the winter! Spirit Week is a spoof of The Shining and Two Truths and a Lie is a closed room mystery. Funny how that works some times!!

24 likes1 stack add
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Karisimo
Tidelands, Volume 1 | Philippa Gregory
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Pickpick

I read this for July's #bookedintime challenge of historical fiction set in 17th century England. I enjoyed the more historical parts, such as the political and religious mindset of the time. The romance storyline, not so much, but that's my personal preference. I did appreciate the challenge to read about a time I'm not very familiar with! @cuilin

Cuilin I‘m also not a huge romance fan so maybe this is not for me too. Glad you enjoyed reading about this time period. 2mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here's my August #bookspinbingo board! Thanks to @thearomaofbooks for hosting all the fun!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Looks great!!! 2mo
19 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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🐮These both feature cows in their stories, but are a bit different in style- one heavy about grief, the other heartwarming and light! Excited for each! 🐄

@thearomaofbooks #bookspin #doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!!! 2mo
18 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
More to the Story | Hena Khan
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These two books are both retellings of Little Women! In So Many Beginnings the family lives in the freepeople's colony of Roanoke Island during the American Civil War. In More to the Story the family is a modern Muslim family in Atlanta Georgia. I thought they both held true to the original characters, but I liked the second better- it hooked me in faster.

Karisimo I enjoyed what Beginnings had to say about the freepeople colony, but it was maybe too much to combine with a re-telling? 2mo
17 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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July Results! #bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

5 Bingos!
2 Non-fiction
9 middle grade
1 YA
9 audiobooks
21 total books

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 2mo
20 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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Lots of MG reading this month for the YHBA committee! And hopefully a little time left for some adult reads too!

#BookSpin
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo
20 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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Anyone else get this email from Bookshop today??? 😳😬 #proofreadingisimportant

TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😅 2mo
Soubhiville Oops! 😬 🙊 2mo
RebL Inject some reading into your summer 💉 2mo
21 likes3 comments
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Karisimo
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#subdayfunday @ozma.of.oz

This is an excellent MG book of a father and daughter trying to outrun their sadness. They meet lots of fun characters along the way!

Read4life I picked the same book. 🤓 2mo
BookmarkTavern That sounds really sweet. And I love the title. Thanks for posting! 2mo
20 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
Manga Classics Anne of Green Gables | LM Montgomery, Chan Crystal
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Pickpick

This was very true to the original and brought back all the feels I remembered when I read this as a child. Also seemed to be influenced by the 1980's movie (that I loved), as the characters loosely resembled the actors. This was a perfect introduction to manga for me!

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Karisimo
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
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1. The Covenant of Water
2. Warrior Girl Unearthed
3. The Wager
4. Family Lore
5. The Windeby Puzzle
6. Piranesi
7. Sofiya Pasternack
8. Maia (The Goblin Emperor)
9. none
10. The Reading List
11. The Grace of Wild Things
12. The Count of Monte Cristo
#midyearbookfreakout @klou

Ruthiella I loved Piranesi too. ❤️ (edited) 3mo
tpixie Piranesi Was definitely a surprise!! And so sweet was the man in 3mo
29 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Ambitious July goals! #bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks fantastic!! 3mo
25 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here are my July #bookspin and #doublespin results! My doublespin is also my #bookedintime selection! Thanks @thearomaofbooks !

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! Enjoy!! 3mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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I think this was my best month yet! #bookspinbingo @theAromaofBooks

My June Stats:
3- nonfiction
7- middle grade
2- young adult
9- audiobooks
3- graphic novels
2- in verse
22- total

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 3mo
19 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Bring it on, July, I'm ready for you! I'm adding a new challenge: #bookedintime

#Bookspin
Thanks to @TheAromaofBooks !

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
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Pickpick

This middle grade book is a perfect blend of The Secret Garden and The City of Ember: A secret garden at a moon boarding school where plants are taboo and the food supply is running out and two kids willing to risk it all to save the day! Loved it!

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Karisimo
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When I think of rockets I think of this man! #volumesandvocals #rocketman

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs 🖤🚀❤️ 3mo
21 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
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Eggs So clever! Beautiful book 🙌🏻 3mo
29 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
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I peer through the door at the lone empty seat in the classroom— my empty seat.

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Karisimo
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This is my first Goodreads Giveaway win! I think both me and the hubby will read it. Can‘t wait to dive in!

dabbe Congrats! 🤩🤗😍 4mo
34 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Nancy Drew Starter Set | Carolyn Keene
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For all the fans out there- a new line of collectibles! https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/a...

Ruthiella Love that it‘s old school Nancy! 4mo
29 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Looks fantastic!! 4mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Yellowface | R F Kuang
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“The night I watch Athena Liu die, we‘re celebrating her TV deal with Netflix.”

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Karisimo
Ride On | Faith Erin Hicks
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Yay for June #bookspin and #doublespin announcements! I started Yellowface last night and Ride On is a graphic novel, so I have an easy month! Which is good because-- Summer School 😬

@theAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!!! 4mo
20 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Wayward Creatures | Lorentz, Dayna
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Pickpick

My May #Bookspin book was a middle grade story with alternating narrators of a boy and a coyote. It begins with everything going wrong but ends with healing and restoration. The sweetness caught me off guard- I'm not a crier, but I actually teared up a little! Highly recommend!

@theAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Lovely review!! 4mo
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Karisimo
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Another good reading month!

5 Non Fiction (high for me, 2 is my usual!)
6 Middle Grade, 1 a graphic novel
6 Fiction
5 Audiobooks (3 fic, 2 nonfiction)
TOTAL: 17 books and 2 BINGOs

#bookspinbingo @theAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fantastic month!!! 4mo
28 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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Here's the plan for June!
#bookspin
@theAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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1. Goodreads tells me it‘s The Great Gatsby, although I know I‘ve read some Dickens and Shakespeare…
2. One 😂. I tend to avoid series, although I‘m currently reading through Inspector Gamache!
3. Maybe Harry Potter? Although sad is too strong of a word for it.

#wondrouswednesday
@Eggs

Eggs Love Gamache and Guy Beauvoir 💙💙 4mo
19 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
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I managed to read two books by Erik Larson this month, both on audio! I think my favorite of his is still Isaac's Storm. And I still want to read Dead Wake. You can count on Larson for a solid narrative non-fiction!

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

Amiable Totally agree! 4mo
Soubhiville Great! Glad you liked them. 4mo
25 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
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Pickpick

Loved this new one from Abraham Verghese! Maybe even more than Cutting for Stone! A multigenerational saga of a family in India. I loved both the family and the side characters. It was well-worth it to spend awhile in their corner of the world. Highly recommend!

#chunkstermini
#chunksterchallenge2023
@amiable

Amiable I‘m reading this right now! About 65% through it . It‘s so good! 4mo
AmyG Oh wow….more than Cutting for Stone? I am excited for the group read…in Sept I think. (edited) 4mo
35 likes2 comments
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Karisimo
Untitled | Unknown
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I‘m a day late, but… when authors completely leave you hanging at the end so you have to read the next book of the series to get any resolution. Not nice.
#sundayfunday
@ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern That‘s exactly my thought! If an author ends the book in the middle of the climax as a “cliffhanger”? I‘m not picking that author up again. Thanks for sharing! 5mo
22 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
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1. When I was going through infertility someone told me a had “a mother's heart“ and it meant the world to me.
2. I wish I had a nurse's touch- when my family is sick I just hope it goes away soon or run up to the store to get medicine. I'm not caring in that way!
3. This is a caboose turned into an airbnb where we stayed last weekend! So fun!

@eggs
#wondrouswednesday

Eggs #1 What a sweet compliment 💞😘! I love the caboose idea 🚂 (edited) 5mo
14 likes1 comment