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ravenlee

ravenlee

Joined March 2018

Homeschool mom trying desperately to read grown-up stuff (at least occasionally)
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ravenlee
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I just got my new copy, and it is SIGNIFICANTLY larger than the previous one! It needs to spend a day or two in the freezer (it‘s a little funky) but then I intend to get this party started!
#wildwomen

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ravenlee
Just Our Luck | Denise Williams
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Mehso-so

This is a cute story about a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants FMC and a by-the-book MMC thrown together by a winning lottery ticket. Fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, with some undiagnosed neurodiversity for flavor.

I didn‘t love it. It took a long time to settle in with the characters, and while I liked the middle section, I found the final conflict and its resolution unsatisfying. Normally I‘d get through this in a week, but this took six, so 🤷🏻‍♀️

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ravenlee
Galatea: Short story | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

My national Read a Book Day/caturday afternoon while kiddo is at dance rehearsal (did I tell you she gets to be Clara‘s friend in the Nutcracker this year, and one of the polichinelles who dance on pointe? She‘s over the moon excited about both). Hubby tried to get my tire replaced, but the shop was unexpectedly closed, so still no tire for me. Otherwise a good day so far.

Oh, and this story is chillingly, darkly good. Recommend.

Ruthiella Congrats to your daughter! 🩰🥳 2d
Leftcoastzen Congratulations to your daughter! Cute kitty!😻 2d
dabbe 🖤🐾🤎 2d
40 likes3 comments
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ravenlee
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I did it again. I wasn‘t even looking at the new books display, I swear, and then there I was with these two books in my hands…

I returned Not My Type and Know My Name, so this is a wash in that respect. But…I haven‘t started the two that followed me home last week, so technically I‘m two in the hole. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Suet624 Perfect! 2d
31 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Not sure what I expected, but this was far better and actually, strangely enjoyable. I‘m going to look for Carroll‘s other books because her voice is very readable. There were some difficult parts, as expected, but overall she makes this memoir funny, relatable, quick-paced, and memorable. Highly recommend.

Julsmarshall Ooh this was available on audio right now from my library! Downloaded! 4d
ravenlee @Julsmarshall does Carroll read it herself? 4d
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ravenlee
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This right here is why I can actually say I‘m enjoying this book. Carroll‘s sense of humor is just fantastic.

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ravenlee
Pickpick

Holy shit this book was intense and prescient. How have I only discovered Kendzior recently? I need to get physical copies of all of these books (I did all audio from the library) and sing their praises to everyone I know.

Go find this book and read it. Right now!

22 likes1 stack add
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ravenlee
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@GingerAntics @nanuska_153 my copy is on the right, and a hardcover I just finished on the left. 😬

GingerAntics Oof, so little space between the lines. That is uncomfortable. I hate when they do that. Things start bleeding together then and it is exhausting. 1w
Chrissyreadit Oh no!!! is there a way to get a used hardcover copy? or higher magnification reading glasses? that small print looks awful! 1w
ravenlee @Chrissyreadit I had forgotten how bad my copy was. I mean, also, my eyes have NOT improved in the intervening years! I think I can start with this and look for a replacement in the meantime. I had to give up on The House of the Seven Gables a few years ago and get a library copy for the same reason. I should have read my bargain copies when I was young (and when I bought them). 1w
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Chrissyreadit @ravenlee i have a used bookstore next to my office- would you like me to check in there? 1w
nanuska_153 Yes we have the same edition 😂😂 I can tell, I bought this book online, there's no way I would have picked a copy this bad in person. Those days are gone now that I'm not a student and I work hard to have the money to buy nice editions! 1w
ravenlee Thanks @Chrissyreadit but I just ordered a new copy. I can do my best with the tiny print until it arrives! 7d
Chrissyreadit ok ❤️❤️❤️ 7d
33 likes7 comments
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ravenlee
Know My Name | Chanel Miller
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Pickpick

It was hard to get into this book. The writing does get stronger, and very powerful by the end, and I wonder if that was deliberate or incidental. I expect to see a lot kore out of Chanel.

It was hard to stay with this because of the subject matter, but worth it. It‘s infuriating but important. If you can, read this book.

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ravenlee
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I found my copy! Now to see if my eyes are up to the tiny print, which is what made me give up my last try. However, I am fully bifocaled now and ready to try again! 😆🤓
My women-standing-on-shoulders vision is less matrilineal (my mother is a force, for sure, but her mother was a piece of work) and more in the tradition of wise women, elders, “aunties,” and such, all passing down lore and love. May we all become them!

Cuilin Fabulous. This reminded me of the quote ”Here‘s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” 🩷 1w
Chrissyreadit 🙌💕🙌💕🙌💕 1w
TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ 1w
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dabbe 🩶🤍🖤 1w
GingerAntics Thanks for the heads up… I may have to pull out my bifocals. I actually hate them because I can never figure out how to tile my head, but if the print is small… 1w
nanuska_153 The tiny print also made me give up last time. Is this what getting old looks like? 🫣 1w
ravenlee @GingerAntics @nanuska_153 mine is a mass market, found at a charity book sale for a whole dollar. If I can‘t read it this time through, I‘ll have to splurge on a trade paperback copy! 😆 But also, yes, this is what getting old (especially as a reader) looks like. 1w
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh yeah, now that I look at your hand in relation to the book, yours in much smaller than mine. Still should probably give the bifocals a chance. (Apparently my phone thinks bifocals are bigots, so that‘s probably not helping either. lol) 1w
lil1inblue 🙌 🙌 🙌 I'm so bummed - I thought my copy would arrive tomorrow, but for some reason the shipping is delayed and it's estimated to come on Saturday! 😭 1w
40 likes9 comments
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ravenlee
Untitled | Unknown
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#DannyBoy has had it with our homeschool ridiculousness and wants us to be done for the week. The kiddo also wants us to be done for the week. Not coincidentally, the mama also wants to be done for the week, but our methods differ greatly. (I want her to finish corrections, she wants to ignore everything; Danny just wants us to shush)
#catsofLitsy

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 1w
kspenmoll 😻😻😹 1w
lil1inblue 😻 😹 😻 1w
Darklunarose I hope you get the chance to knock of early. I homeschooled/unschooled my three kids. It‘s hard, but so worth it. 1w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1w
36 likes5 comments
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ravenlee
A Song of War: A Novel of Troy | Kate Quinn, Libbie Hawker, Stephanie Thornton, Simon Turney, Russell Whitfield, Vicky Alvear, David Alexander Blixt
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Dammit, new books display at the library got me again. I need to finish Know My Name and Not My Type before I can start on these, plus I have two others I started ages ago that keep getting bumped because they‘re mine. Oh, and an audiobook.

I need more time to read. And concentration, definitely.

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ravenlee
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…like all survivors of sexual assault who take their cases to court, my body is at the heart of the case…

There‘s a theme in my current reading.

32 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
Know My Name | Chanel Miller
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He‘d seen me as a body, but would attempt to destroy me as a person.

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ravenlee
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But whatever we can offer, our interventions, and the risks and sacrifices they entail, are justified only if they serve the larger aims if a person‘s life. When we forget that, the suffering we inflict can be barbaric. When we remember it the good we do can be breathtaking.

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ravenlee
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Just picked up today‘s library #bookhaul - now all I need is time to catch up on all my library books. I believe this makes four at the moment.

TheBookHippie Let me know how it is. I bought it to support her but haven‘t read it yet! 4w
ravenlee @TheBookHippie I started it today and it‘s already incredible. The format is unique and very well suited to the material, and Carroll‘s voice as narrator is delightful. I know I won‘t “enjoy” it for long, but so far so good. 2w
TheBookHippie Ooo good to know! 2w
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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ravenlee
On Death and Dying | Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
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Pickpick

It‘s fine, but not terribly helpful for my situation. I appreciate the difference this book and its author made in the medical profession, but it‘s definitely both specialized and dated.

CRR Have you ever heard/read “When Breathe Becomes Air”? It is a good one on death. 4w
Butterfinger I am so sorry you have to go through this. I have been thinking of you and your mother. 4w
Eggbeater 🫂 4w
ravenlee @CRR thanks for the recommendation; I read that one last month. It was incredible. 4w
ravenlee @Butterfinger @Eggbeater thank you. We got some promising news today and she has a procedure tomorrow, so 🤞🏻 4w
40 likes5 comments
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ravenlee
On Death and Dying | Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
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Another very timely moment.

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ravenlee
On Death and Dying | Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
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Well, this seems to hit the nail on the head, not so specifically about dying, but generally for the existential crisis of our times.

Leftcoastzen She was so smart 1mo
30 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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Current library borrows. The tagged was on the New Books shelf, and how could I not?

CBee Okay, I need to find the cat book asap 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
kspenmoll I just bought this cat book for my husband! (edited) 1mo
41 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
Untitled | Anonymous

Hey Littens - I‘m having a bad spot and need some help. My mom is declining, pretty rapidly. Well, to be specific, she‘s exceedingly healthy but one of her cancers has returned and there‘s not much to be done. I know there are some good books to help with this transition (more for me than for her) but I‘m having trouble finding them. Recommendations? Nothing religious, please, I am atheist and my mom is a recovered Catholic. Thanks for anything.

RaeLovesToRead I'm so sorry 🩷 If you're looking for a book about finding optimism and life in the face of terminal illness, the tagged was very good. It speaks of Rebellious Hope in the face of hardship and living ones best life regardless of the time we have left. The author was a remarkable woman. 2mo
RaeLovesToRead If you're looking for more of a distraction, or something less specific, then I'll try and recommend you something different 💕 Sending best wishes to you and your Mum. 2mo
CBee I don‘t have recs but, wanted to comment and let you know how sorry I am about your mom. Sending you light, strength, and love ♥️ 2mo
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TheBookHippie I‘m sending you so much love. I only read poetry in these situations. I wish I knew a book for you. I‘m holding you close in my heart. 2mo
DaveGreen7777 I‘m so sorry about your mother. 😔 Sending healing energy to you and her! 2mo
Ruthiella So sorry to hear that. ❤️ (edited) 2mo
SamAnne Oh condolences. Yes, what others said, poetry. if you choose to read any books about death, I'd avoid Sally Tisdale's Advice for Future Corpses. I listened to it while I was with my mother in her last days. Had it been a print book I would have hurled it out of the car window. I have enjoyed Caitlin Doughty's books. But poetry. Read poetry. 2mo
Liz_M I'm sorry to hear about your mom. I haven't read it yet, but I want my elderly mom to read with me and discuss the tagged. 2mo
Librarybelle I am so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you and your family at this time. 2mo
dabbe I am so sorry to read this and am keeping you, your mom, and family in my thoughts. 💙🩵💙 2mo
Eggbeater My heart goes out to you. I remember reading this book by a doctor with terminal lung cancer years ago, and it really touched me. I read it so long ago, and so I can't guarantee anything, but I don't think there were religious elements. I am an atheist also. 2mo
Chelsea.Poole So very sorry 💔 2mo
TheBookHippie Stopping in to say I‘m think of you… 1mo
ravenlee Thank you @TheBookHippie I appreciate the thoughts. 1mo
ravenlee Thank you, everyone. It means a lot to have this kind of support. My mom just got out of a procedure to determine if there‘s a viable treatment option, so 🤞🏻 for good news on that front. If so, she‘s scheduled for that treatment in about two weeks. If it‘s not viable…not sure. I‘m working on some of the recs, and I thank everyone who suggested anything (I haven‘t found yours, @RaeLovesToRead ). I‘m very glad for this community 💗 1mo
ravenlee @Eggbeater I finished your rec a couple days ago and, wow. It left me in tears, but it was incredibly good. Thank you. @Liz_M thank you; I had stacked this one ages ago and then couldn‘t bring it to mind when I needed it. I requested it from the library, so I should get it soon. 1mo
Eggbeater You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful. You and your mom are in my thoughts. 1mo
RaeLovesToRead All my fingers and toes are crossed for your Mum ❤️ The book is by Deborah James, but maybe it's one that was mostly popular in the UK. 1mo
SamAnne @ravenlee you are in my thoughts. I will give some thought to books that might be good. Am noting some of the recommendations here. (edited) 1mo
21 likes20 comments
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ravenlee
Bailedbailed

And I‘m out on this one, too. I tried to overlook the emphasis on teaching “godly” character and a biblical worldview, but now there‘s garbage about avoiding “government indoctrination” about gender and “critical race theory.” Enough dog whistles, thanks.

27 likes3 comments
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ravenlee
Bailedbailed

You know the people who think homeschoolers are anti-education system, militant in their beliefs, and generally antagonistic toward all non-homeschoolers? This book perpetuates all of that. Traditional school is socialist! And conformist! And deliberately bad for most children! And the only solution is for everyone everywhere to educate their children at home, regardless of economic situation, family philosophy, ability, or desire! Hard pass.

Tamra My kids would not do well at all with homeschool! They are far too social and just having extracurricular activities wouldn‘t be enough. Plus, it would be a full-time job and I already have one of those! 😅 (edited) 2mo
28 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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I started this yesterday as my commute audiobook, and it turns out to be almost perfectly sized for it. I‘m only in the car for about 20 minutes at a time, which is about the length of most of the essays so far. I already highly recommend this one, too.
#DannyBoy for tax. He‘s not impressed with Mom working and gone for several hours every evening, so we get extra morning snuggles whenever we can.

TheBookHippie ♥️ 2mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
37 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
The Saint | Tiffany Reisz

People keep asking me what I‘m reading. The past month I was traveling and preparing for an upcoming musical theater gig, planning kiddo‘s birthday party, getting her to her various obligations; I‘ve got zero bandwidth to spare. What‘s the best thing to tell people when the truth is: copious amounts of digital smut because I can‘t concentrate on anything else? 😆🤪🤣

Ruthiella Haha. 😆 Maybe just always keep the first page of some “OK for the public” book on tap and say that is what you are reading. (edited) 2mo
Prairiegirl_reading 🤣🤣 whatever works!! 2mo
Suet624 I always go with “the world is falling apart and I have no bandwidth for reading.” 2mo
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GingerAntics This is when you pop out something they definitely will not ask more about like “I‘m muddling through Voltaire in the original French. Just me and my French dictionary.” The only follow up question you‘ll even get is “why?” Say something vague and academic sounding… “intellectual edification” or “warding my brain against Alzheimer‘s” and people will leave you alone. They‘ll think you‘re vaguely nuts, but they will definitely never ask what… 2mo
GingerAntics …you‘re reading again! 2mo
dabbe @GingerAntics 🩵🎯🩵 2mo
GingerAntics @dabbe 🤣😂🤣 2mo
ravenlee @GingerAntics I love it! Maybe I should tell people I‘m wading through the complete works of Joseph Campbell and Mircea Eliade again (I dabbled in the past, with the intention of an as-yet-unrealized deep dive into both). It used to be a conversation stopper! 😆 2mo
GingerAntics @ravenlee see! That‘s the spirit! 2mo
39 likes9 comments
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ravenlee
Untitled | Unknown
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My mom sent the packages of what I couldn‘t squeeze into our suitcases when we came home. Kiddo already absconded with her stack of manga drawing books and Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. I must have put a cookbook or four back at HPB because I thought I had more coming, but these actually fit on my shelves! This is a combo of HPB, BN, and my mom‘s shelves shopping sprees. One of them is for our homeschool library, does that make it better?

mcctrish Books make it all better regardless 2mo
Lindy What @mcctrish said! 2mo
33 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
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Am I ignoring my towering, teetering stack(s) of books at home to read this book that just came in to the library? Why, yes. Yes, I am, thank you for asking.

Susanita This is the way. 2mo
38 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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Mehso-so

Very generously rating this a meh. The idea is good, but the execution…not so much. Poorly written from a grammar-and-punctuation standpoint, this feels like fanfic at its mediocre-est. I enjoyed the cameos (Mr. Woodhouse as a cranky plane passenger, for instance). I HATED how Frederick Wentworth‘s Navy career got explained (it isn‘t hard to find out how rank structure works, even in the US Navy). Plus, pages keep falling out of this copy. Meh.

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ravenlee
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This section ends: “Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed.”

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ravenlee
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“Who the hell wants unity with Nazis until and unless they stop being Nazis?”

Another great essay.

kspenmoll I cannot wait to get this- one day soon! 2mo
25 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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Very similar in tone to Hope in the Dark, in how change is incremental and invisible until it‘s not, this essay in particular is really striking to me. Sometimes I miss with Solnit, but this is a home run.

Sace I want this book for this page alone. 2mo
24 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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We are writing stories that are not markers to say, “We got here,” but compasses to say, “Press on in this direction.”

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ravenlee
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These were acquired BEFORE our trip (to be joined by the rest my mom is sending…I have a cookbook problem, for real) as library discards. I showed restraint, I really did! But I cannot be trusted at the freebie cart. Now to squeeze them into my already-groaning cookbooks bookcase.

kspenmoll More books is always a plus! 3mo
Tamra 👏🏾 No such thing as a cookbook “problem” 3mo
TheBookHippie I adore the top book. 3mo
TheBookHippie @Tamra exactly! 3mo
30 likes4 comments
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ravenlee
Step-By-Step Manga | Gecko Keck
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Part 2 of kiddo‘s haul: she‘s recently become obsessed with manga/anime/kawaii/chibi art styles, so when she found the bottom five at Half Price Books I wasn‘t going to say no. Even when we found many (many) more at B&N, too. I‘m a sucker, that‘s no secret. The rest are en route thanks to Gramma because our suitcases were maxed out.

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ravenlee
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Part 1 of kiddo‘s haul: the tagged has been borrowed from the library at least a dozen times, the bottom two finish the series, the Daughter books is her cousin‘s absolute favorite series (she carries them around and calls them her children) and a birthday present for my kiddo, and the Calin just because (and author‘s first name is kiddo‘s first name so if that‘s ever a bingo square again she‘s set).

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ravenlee
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My most recent Haymarket subscription book. I wasn‘t really excited about any this month, but this is a beautiful cover.

Kiddo and I just got back from 16 days at Gramma‘s house (kiddo did a ballet intensive and we had some sorely-needed family time). We may have gone crazy with the book shopping. Photo deluge incoming (some are being shipped, so this will last a while).

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ravenlee
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Just as enjoyable as all the others! Full of book references and fun puzzles, as usual.

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ravenlee
Along Came Amor | Alexis Daria
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#bookmail from the last few days, as preorders trickled in. I‘m traveling next week and considering taking one or both of these along. Might need to do a series reread for the tagged, though, because I don‘t remember the first two primas stories, so maybe that will wait for later this summer. Oh, the decisions!

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ravenlee
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Kiddo has been begging to go to the bookstore, and I finally gave in. The deal: less than ten minutes, we‘re only buying her one book (Misty Copeland‘s new book, Letters to Misty), and minimal browsing. Then I saw this one. Well, one is minimal, right? And it was for me…

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ravenlee
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I do so appreciate a good Elon dig.

dabbe 🤣🎯🤣 3mo
28 likes1 comment
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ravenlee

I recently subscribed to SK‘s Substack, and it turns out I have a few gift subscriptions. It‘s a one-month subscription. Anyone interested? I have five to offer, so I‘ll set a deadline of noon tomorrow (1200 CT on 30 May). If more than five people are interested I‘ll do a drawing. Simply comment below if you‘re interested, and I‘ll let you know if you‘re a winner! Feel free to repost, but only comments on this post will count.

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ravenlee
Untitled | Untitled
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Thanks for the tag @Eggs
1 - I actually like my name, though I went through a period of disliking it (more specifically being OVER Annie) and trying to go by AC around sixth grade. But now I‘m good with Anne. Maybe I should have tried Cordelia…😜
2 - Danny; Boris and Natasha; Laddy Buck (not sure I named that one); Paula (who was in fact Apollo and never forgave me)
3 - Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman; Jordan from Real Genius

Tag if you wanna!

Eggs Thanks for playing 🥳 I love Boris/Natasha❣️ 3mo
27 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
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Hope in this sense is just the recognition that…the future is not (as it is so often spoken of) a place that already exists, toward which we are trudging, but a place that we are creating with what we do and how we do it (or don‘t) in the present.

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ravenlee
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Starting this one today.

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ravenlee
The Outsiders | SE Hinton
Pickpick

Okay, I get it now. I never had anyone assign this, so I just never got around to it. Now I feel all sorts of wrecked. What an incredible piece of writing - and SE Hinton was 15 when she started it?! Okay, brb, need to go track down her other work.

TheBookHippie It is all good. ♥️ 3mo
dabbe Love all of her books. 💜 3mo
24 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
Abundance | Derek Thompson, Ezra Klein
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure at first, but this was a very interesting and thought-provoking read. Why is there such scarcity in America? In housing, clean energy, and tech development (not innovation, but the follow-up), Klein and Thompson posit that yesterday‘s policies hinder today‘s and tomorrow‘s progress. I‘d like to see some more concrete examples of how to solve these problems, especially at a grassroots level, but it‘s worth a read regardless.

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

I finished this on audio and…holy crap, Sarah Kendzior is so spot-on about everything. Her predictions from Trump‘s first term have all come true, everything she was worried about has come to pass. We should call her Cassandra. I need to find everything she‘s ever written now, and you need to read this book! I subscribed to her Substack a few months ago, and I just upgraded to paid when I finished this. Seriously, read it.

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ravenlee
Pickpick

This book is what I wanted Angela Garbes‘ work to be: personal yet with research and numbers to back up the claim that modern motherhood is unsustainable. While a lot of the information is familiar, and there are no quick fixes offered here, Grose‘s work gives a solid foundation to the general unease and overwhelm so many of us feel. If you‘re interested in the economic value of caretakers, this one‘s a good piece.

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ravenlee
Dating and Dragons | Kristy Boyce
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Pickpick

I didn‘t finish it in one day, but I did wrap it up this morning over tea. Just as good as the first, there‘s no connection between them (except a blink-and-you‘ll-miss-it cameo by an unnamed Riley). Quinn has baggage to deal with when she joins Logan‘s D&D group at her new school, and their brewing attraction could scuttle the whole game. Green flags abound in these stories! Just the pick-me-up I needed when the world is terrible.

32 likes2 stack adds