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PatriciaU

PatriciaU

Joined July 2016

Reader.Parent.Partner.Librarian in Rochester NY http://itsallaboutthebook.org
review
PatriciaU
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Pickpick

It‘s not often I find a cookbook that is as much a story as a collection of recipes. Crystal Wilkinson writes a lovely, flowing memoir of her family as seen through the food they grew and consumed. Blending elements of a family scrapbook (snapshots of Wilkinson‘s people likely taken with an old Kodak or Polaroid camera) are interspersed with fancier photos of the current finished recipes. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org

Chrissyreadit She is going to be at my local bookstore- i think this weekend. 1mo
Tamra That sounds terrific! 1mo
26 likes2 comments
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PatriciaU
Book of Doors | Gareth Brown
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Deep into the ARC of this fabulous story. It‘s out in February so look for it. If you loved Mr. Penumbra‘s 24 Hour Bookstore or just enjoy books about books, you will enjoy this. Warning though - there‘s some disturbing cruelty and sociopathic behavior described in some detail.

29 likes3 stack adds
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PatriciaU
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Found in my library. The name of this book? Spectral Images. 😁

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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

The concept of heirlooms is something that has been top of mind for me in the last few years as my family has coped with multiple losses of our elders and kin. My home is currently filled with things that connect me to those who have gone before me, all of them keeping a story that is a thread of my past. If anything, this book made me pull out my grandmother‘s old silver, polish it up and place it in my every-day utensil drawer.

34 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
The Dirty Duck | Martha Grimes
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Here‘s the second in my “Six Degrees” reading challenge. Enjoy!

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PatriciaU
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Here‘s the first in a set of 6 reading challenges I created for my library system. Each book is related to a fact about the author. As an extra challenge, discover the facts! #ReadingChallenge #ReadingChallenge2024

Sapphire Wow! Now that‘s a fun and novel way to do a challenge! 3mo
Sapphire Can‘t wait to see what the other challenges are! 3mo
Daisey This is fun! I had to look up a couple of the books that I didn‘t recognize, but I have an idea of the connections to Tolkien. #FellowshipOfTolkien (edited) 3mo
18 likes3 comments
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PatriciaU
The Twelve Days of Murder | Andreina Cordani
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Pickpick

The setting at this remote, snowbound Scottish estate is right out of Agatha Christie and the Golden Age country house murder mysteries. Cordani is great at setting the scene and using narrative description to build tension.

I‘m on a Christmas murder mystery binge right now and this one is definitely recommended! Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org

27 likes1 stack add
review
PatriciaU
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Pickpick

Spent the last few days utterly immersed in this remarkable book. It is unlike anything Arden has published before but it is every bit as good, altho there are hints of Midnight and Chaos if you look carefully. One of the best ARCs I‘ve read this year. Get it in 2024.

currentlyreadinginCO I just started this arc and now I'm excited, great review! 3mo
39 likes1 stack add1 comment
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PatriciaU
Rebecca | Daphne Du Maurier, Dame
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This was my FB memory today. 14 years ago, I apparently loved the Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis feature on Shelfari. Can you write a synopsis of your favorite book in 115 characters or less? Here's mine: Evil b*tch haunts shrinking violet in gloomy castle by the sea guarded by venomous woman in black.

What‘s yours????

dabbe I don't have any, but boy, do I have a book! It's called ABRIDGED CLASSICS by John Atkinson. Have you heard of it? Here are some faves:
WAR AND PEACE: “Everyone is sad. It snows a lot.“
GRAPES OF WRATH: “Farming sucks. Road trip! Road trip sucks.“
DON QUIXOTE: Guy attacks windmills; also, he's mad.“
THE SUN ALSO RISES: The Lost Generation gets drunk, and they're still lost.“
MOBY DICK: Man vs. whale; whale wins. 😃
4mo
27 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
Treacle Walker | ALAN. GARNER
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Pickpick

This is not an easy book but well worth it. written in dialect and layer upon layer of brilliant commentary on sight (what‘s real and what‘s not), aging, dreaming, and healing. Simply gorgeous. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org

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PatriciaU
Halloween Tree | Ray Bradbury
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What an awesome #HauntedHollowSwap! Just what I needed at the end of a long day. Thank you @kaykay521 for the wonderfully spooky things and thanks to @wanderinglynn for hosting another successful swap! #HHS

JamieArc Ooh. I‘m curious about the Dahl book! 5mo
wanderinglynn Awesome! 🎃🖤👻🧡 5mo
kaykay521 Glad you enjoy! Happy Halloween 🎃 👻 5mo
27 likes3 comments
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PatriciaU
Halloween Tree | Ray Bradbury
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Got my #HauntedHollowSwap package today @wanderinglynn #HHS Looking forward to opening day!

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃👻🧡 5mo
17 likes1 comment
review
PatriciaU
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Pickpick

If you are looking for a fun and unusual mystery series, try Gigi Pandian‘s The Accidental Alchemist. I just finished #4 and am working my way up to her newest over a few days of vacation.

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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

It has been awhile since I had to stop reading a book because the stories frightened me so badly. When I say this book *haunted* me, I am not exaggerating. Horror fans, get yourself a copy.

23 likes2 stack adds
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PatriciaU
Halloween Tree | Ray Bradbury
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My #HauntedHollowSwap is on its way to Texas! @wanderinglynn #HHS Eagerly awaiting arrival!!! 💀👻🎃

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃👻🧡 5mo
20 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
Small Spaces | Katherine Arden
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tagged one of my favorite spooky books in this #HauntedHollowSwap post. Thanks @wanderinglynn for the tag.

1. Owl for sure. Creepy but beautiful
2. Halloween Tree - it‘s an annual thing
3. Not a big costume fan
4. I prefer soft, fuzzy socks, size M
5. Too many! Monster movie is Creature from the Black Lagoon; original 13 Ghosts has always been a fave
6. Payday or Butterfinger bars

wanderinglynn I love rereading the Halloween Tree too! 👻🎃🙌🏻 6mo
21 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
Halloween Tree | Ray D Bradbury
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My #HauntedHollowSwap vibe this year is vintage & campy. I am grooving to movies I watched with my kids when they were little - Casper, Haunted Mansion, Hocus Pocus - but also some annual re-reads (Christie‘s Hallowe‘en Party) & re-listens (full-cast version of Bradbury‘s Halloween Tree). I am a huge fan of ghost stories and adore books by Sarah Rayne and Simone St. James. Bring on the witches, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts & goblins! @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Love it! 🎃 6mo
JessieKB Oh Casper!! That was a great one 🖤🎃 6mo
27 likes2 comments
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PatriciaU
The Fox Wife: A Novel | Yangsze Choo
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OMG you guys! If you can get your hands on an advanced copy of this one, do it. It is GORGEOUS!!! This book gets ALL the adjectives: mysterious, lovely, heartbreaking, satisfying, lyrical, deadly, and so many more.

30 likes2 stack adds
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PatriciaU
A Scrap of Silk | Virginia King
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Pickpick

I always enjoy a new mystery series & Virginia King has made me a fan with this mysterious, semi-creepy book. She has given readers a very appealing protagonist in Tiggy Jones & dropped her into Topsham, a veritable bed of intrigue. The component of the mysterious locked cellar is handled nicely, even though it turns into a gruesome and sad story. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/2023/08/31/a-scrap-of-silk-by-virginia-king-indie...

25 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

There are a lot of boxes ticked here for fans of cozy British mysteries. There‘s an appealing protagonist, an attractive police officer, an annoying aristocrat, an unusual and clever mystery, and a lovely setting. Lyn makes an auspicious debut with the first in her Cotswold Crimes series. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/

34 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos
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I‘m running a summer reading program for staff in my library system this year and it has been going really well. People are reading such a wide variety of titles! Here‘s a word cloud of the 641 titles submitted in the first 4 weeks of the program. The most frequently read books are Lessons in Chemistry, Hello Beautiful, The Ancient Magus‘ Bride, and Tsubasa.

wanderinglynn That‘s awesome! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8mo
16 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
Deadly Depths | John F. Dobbyn
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Pickpick

As a longtime fan & reader of action-adventure fiction, I don‘t know how I‘ve missed out on John Dobbyn‘s work! This is one wild ride, beginning in Boston and ending in a forbidding Jamaican jungle. A well-constructed plot, a vivid & engaging narrative (there‘s an absolute nightmare of an underwater scene that had me at the edge of my seat) & a non-stop pace make this one a winner for any reader looking to escape into an adventure for a few hours.

Bookwormjillk I was just sitting here watching shark week and thinking I needed to find a book that features diving! 8mo
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
PatriciaU
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Pickpick

Ancient Crete, 1450 BC. In a world of Goddess worship, sacred snakes and sacrifice, human jealousy, resentment, and betrayal still run wild. Years of reading mystery novels have taught me one thing – people are the same, no matter the time period. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/2023/07/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-bull-by-eleanor-k...

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PatriciaU
The Puzzle Master: A Novel | Danielle Trussoni
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Pickpick

Trussoni is known for unusual interpretations of mythical beings (check out her Angelology series) and here she tackles one of the most terrifying, the golem. There‘s one scene involving a living doll parting the curtains in a room that literally gave me nightmares. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/2023/06/01/the-puzzle-master-by-danielle-trussoni...

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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

I‘ve read several reviews of this incandescent debut comparing it The Plot, The Secret History, and other novels. But I am here to tell you that this is like nothing you‘ve ever read before.

This is psychological mayhem at its very best.

All I‘m going to say is READ THIS!

DivineDiana Great review! Stacked! 9mo
38 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
PatriciaU
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Pickpick

This is a solid start to a new series described as an “historical/ghost/cozy mystery.” The “history” here is 1885, a time when independent women were rare and the West was still relatively unknown. The “ghost” is the deceased partner of the main character‘s late husband, and the “cozy” is evident in the absence of the more grisly aspects of murder. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/2023/06/06/pryce-of-conceit-by/

DivineDiana Sounds like a fun read! 9mo
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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PatriciaU
Vaster Wilds | Lauren Groff
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Read an ARC of this couple weeks ago and it is still sitting with me. I know Groff‘s writing isn‘t for everyone, but this one is just something. It‘s a survival story, but also a study of the depths to which humans will sink when faced with horrific circumstances. This is a very, very dark book.

squirrelbrain I just applied for this yesterday on NetGalley - good to hear your views. 10mo
PatriciaU @squirrelbrain it is a fascinating study of what can happen when basic human needs are not met. I have followed Groff on social media for a few years and I surmised from some of her posts that she really struggled with Covid and the uprising triggered by the George Floyd murder. If her writing is an indicator of her mood, it was pretty dark. 10mo
28 likes2 comments
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PatriciaU
This Bird Has Flown | Susanna Hoffs
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Pickpick

This will be in every beach bag and carry-on this summer and if it‘s not, it should be! I‘m looking forward to more from Susanna Hoffs, Author!

See full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/

27 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
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Doing some work this weekend and, of course, some reading! Almost finished with The Woman in the Castello. So, so good! Red Rabbit up next and it sounds bananas! Wild West bounty hunters after a witch with lots of ghosts & goblins along the way. #WeekendReading #WhatAreYouDoingThisWeekend

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PatriciaU
Killing Me | Michelle Gagnon
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Haven‘t been around here for a bit. Life gets in the way, you know? Spending this cool, rainy afternoon with my pup and my porch and this new book. Really need the quiet time!

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PatriciaU
Reinhardt | Marianne Scott
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Pickpick

It's been a while since I've read a flat-out, non-stop spy thriller, and I found Reinhardt a spicy appetizer to lead me back to the genre. A relatively short book, this can be easily read in an afternoon, and you will find yourself flying through the pages to get to the end. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org

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PatriciaU
Covert in Cairo | Kelly Oliver
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Pickpick

5th in the Fiona Figg series by Kelly Oliver, Covert in Cairo finds our clever Ms. Figg applying her razor-sharp mind to mysterious activities in Egypt and around the Suez Canal, all the while wearing her collection of clever disguises and trying to maintain her (somewhat) orderly existence as a proper English lady. Fans of the Phryne Fisher series will enjoy this one. See full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/

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PatriciaU
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The last 4 weeks have been rough. My brother passed peacefully 10 days after having his first stroke. He was the oldest left of my siblings and had been more of a father to me than a brother since our parents died 40 years ago. His death has left a big hole in my family. I turned to this gem of a book, which always brings me comfort. The process of dying and of grieving is something....

Tamra I‘m so sorry - take care. 💜 11mo
Soubhiville My condolences. 💔 11mo
Susanita I‘m so sorry. 😢 11mo
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xicanti I‘m so sorry about your brother. 11mo
Clwojick I‘m so sorry. 💙 11mo
Deblovestoread I‘m so sorry for your loss. 💜 11mo
Magpiegem Sending love and strength. Im really sorry to hear about your loss x 11mo
Bookzombie I‘m so sorry for your loss. 11mo
Librarybelle I‘m sorry for your loss 11mo
Leftcoastzen So sorry for your loss , condolences. 11mo
Dragon So very sorry for your loss. One of my all time favourite books - I can understand your choice. 💚🙏 11mo
gossamerchild oh, I am so sorry for your loss. 11mo
batsy I'm so sorry ❤️ 11mo
CarolynM I‘m so sorry for your loss💜 {hugs} 11mo
Rissreads I‘m sorry to hear about your loss 😞 11mo
DivineDiana I am just seeing your post. My condolences for your loss. Hoping you are given some solace from your books. ❤️ 10mo
45 likes2 stack adds16 comments
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PatriciaU
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This came in the mail today and oh do I need it tonight! Have spent the last 3 days in hospital with brother who has had 2 strokes since Saturday. Need to lose myself in a good book….

Aims42 Nice 🙌 I‘m number 20 on my library‘s waitlist, this sounds delightful 😁 12mo
TheBookgeekFrau 🙏🏼for you and your brother 12mo
Lindy Best wishes to you and your brother 🌻 12mo
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Librarybelle I keep eyeing this book. Thinking of you and your brother. 12mo
DivineDiana Sending healing wishes to your brother and you. ❤️ 12mo
Fortifiedbybooks I just ordered it because that is one beautiful book! 12mo
PatriciaU Thanks for the good wishes. No change today. @Fortifiedbybooks this book is so light in weight! 12mo
Fortifiedbybooks @PatriciaU It really is! I've got paperbacks heavier than this book 😆 I got it in the mail today, and it's just as beautiful as in your picture, so I'm thrilled 😁 12mo
Leftcoastzen Just saw your post , hope your brother improves. 12mo
35 likes1 stack add9 comments
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PatriciaU
Homecoming | Kate Morton
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Mehso-so

I have been a solid Kate Moreton reader for a long time, but it took me a looong time to engage with this chunkster. I found the beginning very convoluted then had a hard time with the time shifting. I finished it because…Kate Morton…but it isn‘t one I‘ll recommend or go back to.

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PatriciaU
Come Home Safe: A Novel | Brian G. Buckmire
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Pickpick

Brian Buckmire uses his platform as a legal analyst & public defender to describe two horrifying situations experienced by two siblings as they go about their day. While this is a work of fiction, my sense is that Buckmire is writing about clients he has defended and people he has known, and perhaps even personal experience.No one should have to experience what these children experience in this story. This is hard to read but necessary.

33 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
Witch of the Cumberlands | Mary Jo Stephens
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Snowy, slushy day here in western NY and I‘m feeling nostalgic. This was one of my very favorite books as a child, one I borrowed again and again from the library. Years later, I bought that very copy in the library book sale!

Tamra So beautiful! 13mo
35 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
Chalice of Darkness | Sarah Rayne
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Pickpick

The storytelling her is as intriguing and well-plotted as usual, and is accompanied by a surprisingly tender treatment of a woman horribly wronged.

The Fitzglen family is fascinating. The blend of thespian and thief was fun to read, and the ending was so satisfying.

This will appeal to fans of Simone St. James and of course to Raynes‘ fans.

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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

Anya von Bremzen brings her own form of sarcastic, witty, and irreverent assessment of the foods considered part of the identity of certain countries.

Serious foodies and those in the industry will enjoy this, but the average reader like me, who has an interest in food but not a deep knowledge of world cuisine, will end up skimming a lot of the text or will alternate between the text and the internet looking up names, dates, and dishes.

21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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PatriciaU
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Saw this on Instagram recently. What are some of the things that bug you in books? My big pet peeve is ridiculous names.

Texreader Several of these definitely are pet peeves of mine! 13mo
CSeydel Why do people hate dream sequences, I wonder? I understand most of the others!
13mo
OrangeMooseReads #7, YES! I don‘t get the dislike of dream sequences, is it in particular situations or just in general? 🤷🏼‍♀️ 13mo
PatriciaU I don‘t mind dream sequences, but there are some phrases that irritate me. “sunk her teeth into her lip” and “bit the inside of her cheek” to describe a woman holding her tongue. I just want her to let it rip!😂 13mo
20 likes4 comments
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PatriciaU
Threadneedle | Cari Thomas
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Pickpick

Fantasy lovers will scoop this one up. Clever world building and some lively and dangerous witches here. Kind of a twisted mother-daughter-sister-aunt thing going on that makes for some fun reading.

33 likes2 stack adds
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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

I‘ve heard a lot of buzz about this debut and I wasn‘t disappointed. The plot is well-constructed and slick in it‘s blending of the baking competition show and a semi-locked-room mystery. The format featuring short sections channeling the thoughts of the characters might put off readers who like their mysteries complex, but I found it a pleasant change from lengthy prose. Overall, a fun read. Out in April.

34 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

I devoured the ARC of this new series from Angie Thomas (The Hate You Give).
Thomas is well on her way to becoming the best writer of her generation. Not many authors can swap genres, but Thomas more than succeeds in moving from realistic contemporary fiction to building a brand new world full of magic and unimaginable power. This will be the MG book of the summer. Out April 4.

29 likes3 stack adds
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PatriciaU
The Skeleton Key | Erin Kelly
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I was drawn to this because it is loosely based on the book Masquerade, a picture book containing clues to a buried treasure which captivated me many, many years ago. I am thoroughly enjoying this story altho reading the heavy print version reminds me why my arthritic old hands prefer the kindle!

37 likes1 stack add
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PatriciaU
The White Lady: A Novel | Jacqueline Winspear
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Pickpick

Winspear‘s strength is her capacious knowledge of the World Wars, which is on display in her latest. Here, we have a retired spy/assassin who is trying to build a life away from the service. Try as she might, she cannot avoid getting involved with other humans, another thing that is common on Winspear‘s work. She has an uncanny way of writing characters who think they want to be alone but who end up forging important and long-lasting friendships.

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PatriciaU
River Sing Me Home | Eleanor Shearer
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Pickpick

This stunning novel will take you on an emotional journey that you will not soon forget, especially if you are a parent. The experiences of mothers, fathers, children, siblings born into slavery & ripped away from each other are just too horrific to fully understand. While not an easy read, this is ultimately a story of joyous reunification driven by the incandescent love of a mother for her children.

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PatriciaU
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This is me tonight while I finish this new one in the La Lune series by M.J. Rose. Her books are the perfect blend of mystery, romance (sometimes a little spicy!), and supernatural.

Tomorrow? SOUP!

Artist credit: Naoko Stoop

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PatriciaU
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Saw this reading challenge on The Next Best Book blog and LOVED it! Thought there would be a few of you here who would also enjoy…
http://thenextbestbookblog.blogspot.com/
#OldPunk #StoryOfMyYouth

wanderinglynn How fun! I love The Cure. ❤️ 1y
TrishB Wow 😯 almost tempted! 1y
squirrelbrain I was just about to tag you @TrishB but saw you‘d got there first! 🤣 But, have you seen how many prompts there are?! 😯 1y
See All 6 Comments
PatriciaU @squirrelbrain Yeah, I think I might pick *one* album! 1y
TrishB @squirrelbrain @PatriciaU one album may be doable! But there is no way I could stick to that many prompts! I‘m as good as challenges as buddy reads 😁 1y
CarolynM I do not need any more challenges, but some of these prompts are kind of hilarious. I might try to do the first album (I like that you get credit for a bail😆) 1y
24 likes6 comments
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PatriciaU
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This is definitely a Hygge day. #Snuggle #blankets #ReadAllDay

Bookzombie I love this graphic! 1y
PatriciaU I wish I knew the artist! 1y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PatriciaU
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Hello Littens! I‘ve been writing a blog about books for 23 years, first at Blogspot and at Wordpress since 2005. I have recently spent some time revamping the site and adding new content. Take a look at http://itsallaboutthebook.org. In addition to reviews, I have 2 features on the site - Reader Profiles and Author Spotlights- and I am look for some new entries for both. If you‘re interested, let me know.

wanderinglynn That‘s awesome! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (edited) 1y
23 likes1 comment