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RosePressedPages

RosePressedPages

Joined July 2021

She/Her | Tired Grad Student | Mood & Seasonal Reader | Historophile | Queer & Acespec | Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/madelinemccrae
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Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov
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The Ruins of Gorlan by John A. Flanagan
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RosePressedPages
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I love middle grade fiction! I find middle grade novels to be so wholesome. I don‘t have to worry about a middle grade novel going too far and I often find them way more creative than adult fiction. I‘ve started leaning away from YA because I get tired of the tropes, but I find YA to have way more diversity than adult fiction. I get a good mix of middle grade and adult fiction with some YA once in a while.

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

sherrisilvera There was no YA when I was a kid😁 2w
BookmarkTavern I do like that, about not worrying that a middle grade would go too far. Thanks for posting! 2w
RosePressedPages @BookmarkTavern Besides maybe Where the Red Fern Grows, I haven‘t been traumatized by a middle grade novel yet😂 2w
BookmarkTavern Oh that unlocked some deep memories! 😂😂😂 2w
61 likes4 comments
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RosePressedPages
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I received my fall swap (top left) and sent mine out (bottom right)! #FallingForFallSwap 2023 @Kshakal @Avanders @Chrissyreadit 🍁🍂🥮🎃

Kshakal Yay!!! I am glad it arrived safely!! 😊🍁😊 2w
50 likes1 comment
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RosePressedPages
Halloween | Helen Borten
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1. Definitely a black cat with a cliché name like Salem or Jinx ?‍⬛
2. Slewfoot by Brom - the ultimate feminist rage and revenge novel set in Puritan America
3. I was Marty McFly in high school
4. I love fuzzy cute socks ? I‘m a size 7
5. This is a tough one! I think Ichabod Crane (it definitely needs a make over but I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
6. Caramel apples covered in nuts ??
#HauntedHollowSwap @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn 👻🎃🙌🏻 3w
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RosePressedPages
Haunted Hollow | Mark Stanislaus Gross
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wanderinglynn 🎃👻🙌🏻 3w
44 likes1 comment
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RosePressedPages
Haunted Hollow | Mark Stanislaus Gross
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#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS23 @wanderinglynn my spooky Pinterest board: https://pin.it/3YuBFLu 🎃👻💀🦇☕️

wanderinglynn Love it! 🎃 I went down the Pinterest rabbit hole last night finding Halloween pins 😜 4w
55 likes1 comment
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RosePressedPages
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Mehso-so

I loved the 1995 Sense and Sensibility with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. There was not nearly enough scenes between Marianne x Brandon to flesh out their romance more like I was hoping Lauren Lane would add to the original book.

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RosePressedPages
The Story of Russia | Orlando Figes
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Pickpick

What an incredible book. It‘s a very accessible read, written beautifully and explaining the turbulent history of one of the most critical nations in our current world affairs. Figes explored Russian history through its attachment to historical myths from the Kyivan Rus to the present day. He didn‘t shy from tackling Russia‘s unprovoked war on Ukraine, either. I‘d love to have coffee with Figes and chat about the ideas in his book.

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I got exactly what I wanted. Jane Austen‘s Persuasion + 🌶️🌶️🌶️ No more and no less lol. Now it‘s on to the wild and wanton edition of Sense and Sensibility!

CoverToCoverGirl Interesting.. 🤭 2mo
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RosePressedPages
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When I was working at B&N, I frequently lied when customers asked me if I read and liked certain books they were thinking of buying. It was usually Colleen Hoover or Sarah J Maas, and it would‘ve been really awkward if I was honest and told them I despise Colleen Hoover and I‘ve tried Sarah J Maas and didn‘t like her. So I would say positive things instead and it made the customer happy with their choice 🤷🏻‍♀️#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

Prairiegirl_reading No I don‘t because I believe every reader is different. I wouldn‘t say what other people love is not good, just not for me. I‘ll never read Coho for example because I know it won‘t be to my taste, but if other people love it then good for them! 2mo
RosePressedPages @Prairiegirl_reading I agree. But usually I saw customers wanting to be validated in their own reading choices and try to make a connection with you over a book they‘re interested in. I always liked seeing them feel happy about the book they decided to checkout, so I didn‘t have a problem pretending I really liked Sarah J Maas or Coho because it was encouraging reading 💗 if someone was checking out a book I loved, I let them know too 😊 2mo
BookmarkTavern That‘s a kind thing to do. One of my favorite memories of my Barnes and Noble was the employee ringing me up gave me a high five over my copy of Nimona. Thanks for posting! 2mo
67 likes3 comments
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RosePressedPages
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My two friends and I took a trip to Duluth before I start grad school and another joins the youth conservation core. I‘m in love with boats and the Great Lakes (so clear!) that I‘m having a blast. So many fun maritime and boat books, time on the beach, and in the water. Found a delicious gf and vegan restaurant as well. It‘s a must to live on a coast sometime in the near future 🌊 My fav part so far is watching giant boats come and go!! 💗 ⬇️⬇️⬇️

kspenmoll How wonderful!!! 2mo
IndianBookworm Such a pretty collage!😍 1mo
71 likes2 comments
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RosePressedPages
The Bookseller's Tale | Martin Latham
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I had my last day as a bookseller before I transition into a grad student! I‘m going to miss being surrounded by books all the time and all of the knowledge I gained about the book publishing world. I‘m not going to miss the constant temptation to buy books! I‘m looking forward to starting my studies in August though!

💐I also decided to go for a more fun username. I changed from @MadelineMccrae to @RosePressedPages 💐

RosePressedPages The drink is a sunset refresher my coworker made me for my last day 💗 3mo
BookmarkTavern Good luck with grad school! 🎓 And that‘s a cute new name! (edited) 3mo
DivineDiana Here‘s to your new chapter and username! 👏🏻📚🌹 3mo
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Ruthiella Congratulations and the best of luck with your studies! Apologies if you have already posted it previously, but what will you study? 😃 3mo
Chrissyreadit Exciting! and fun user name! 3mo
RosePressedPages @Ruthiella I will be studying political science with an emphasis in international relations. I‘m interested in researching Eastern European politics and how history is used as a political tool and weapon for authoritarianism in the region 😊 I‘m super excited! 3mo
Roary47 How exciting! Happy studying and super cute name. 💛 3mo
TheLudicReader Grad school! How exciting. 3mo
Blueberry Congratulations 👏 3mo
Jari-chan Congratulations to you! 👏 3mo
bthegood congratulations and good luck - 2mo
kspenmoll Congrats!!! 2mo
109 likes13 comments
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My first adventure into a sapphic romance! It had just the right amount of spice and interesting characters. I would have to say this was more of a soft pick because I found Herrera‘s writing to be very repetitive. I think that‘s why I‘ve struggled with reading romance recently is that there‘s just not enough plot to keep me focused and I ended up skimming the last 30 pages. I‘m honestly not sure how I feel about the ending resolution though.

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RosePressedPages
Slavic Myths | J.K. Jackson
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Mehso-so

I was excited when I saw this was being released since I‘m very unfamiliar with the Slavic pantheon. This ended up being a little disappointing because it very briefly went over some Slavic gods and then instead focused on folktales. The folktales selected were very repetitive in that they were different variations of the same story most of the time. I love folktales, but it can be hard when hatred towards women is so prevalent in each story.

zezeki Sorry to hear that, I've recently bought this, and waiting for the perfect time to read it, which probably won't be so soon now. 3mo
RosePressedPages @zezeki You might have a different interpretation of the stories than I did, but I think I‘m going to try and find some other Slavic mythology books to try out and compare. Perhaps it came down to the selection of stories and translation… 3mo
RosePressedPages @zezeki Slavic Myths by Noah Charney and Svetlana Slapšak sounds like a better option 3mo
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RosePressedPages
Mid-year Report ... | Silk Association of America
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1. Unequal Affections
2. The Late Mrs. Willoughby
3. Fourth Wing
4. Inanna by Emily H. Wilson
5. Tolstoy by Rosamund Bartlett
6. Kakuriyo by Waco Ioka
7. Andrey Kurkov
8. Tatsu from the Way of the House Husband
9. Only Mostly Devastated
10. The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber
11. War and Peace B&N leather bound edition
12. Between Savage Tides by Anela Deen (can‘t wait for it to be published!)
#MidYearBookFreakOut

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I‘ve always been so curious what drug use was like before people realized drugs are very bad for you and no, cocaine should not be used to treat sinus issues... Ohler answered all my questions by examining drug usage in the third reich and it was just as wild and dark as you would expect. It was well researched, written, and I learned a lot. The background is a poster advertising meth. Apparently meth chocolates were a thing…💊🍫

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RosePressedPages
Only Mostly Devastated | Sophie Gonzales
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This was so good I read it in one sitting. The title caught my attention and the plot sounded super interesting. It wasn‘t until I finished it that I found out it‘s a modern queer retelling of Grease (it didn‘t click for me 🙈). I loved the main romance, the character growth, and the tearjerker side plot. It wasn‘t perfect but I just loved it so 5 ⭐️‘s. I‘ve struggled to enjoy romance novels for a long time, so I highly recommend this one!

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Grey Bees | Andrey Kurkov
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This was quiet but stark lit fic about a man living in the grey zone of Ukraine and his journey to find a place for his bees to pollinate. It reminded me of Fredrik Backman‘s writing. I really loved the MC Sergey Sergeyich for his soft and observant soul. We see how Sergeyich reckons with the war in his relationships with his frenemy neighbor Pashka, the Ukrainian soldier Petro, his ex-wife, the Tatars he meets in Crimea, and his beloved bees 🐝💛

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Wednesday | Mary Lindeen
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1. Edinburgh (City of Bones by Victoria Schwab) and I did! Someday, Ukraine.
2. I just finished Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov and it was so good. I definitely recommend if you‘re looking for a new lit fic
3. Mesopotamia by Serhiy Zhadan
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Loved City of Bones series🩷🩷 3mo
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Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 I‘ve only recently learned about my own identity as queer/bi & acespec, so it was very meaningful to read about someone else‘s journey and challenges. I could connect with Maia‘s experience being asexual, and it was powerful to see how em came to terms with eir gender identity. My reading has been super slow, but I‘m hoping to read more queer books and learn more about other LGBTQIA+ experiences and my own 💗

RosePressedPages I enjoyed This Book is Gay, and I wish I would‘ve had it when I was younger. Similar to Maia, being ace for me means I‘ve been very ignorant of sexuality most of my life. So this was a fun book to learn more. My only complaint was that I didn‘t totally love the author‘s writing style. 3mo
Megabooks Great reviews! I‘m aroace and hadn‘t really dug into books about my sexuality until a few years ago. I‘m reading more and more queer literature in general and really enjoying it. 💜🖤🤍 3mo
RosePressedPages @Megabooks That‘s awesome! I only realized I was acespec after reading a queer lit with ace rep for the first time. It‘s an amazing experience for sure 3mo
Megabooks Yes, I picked up this back in 2016 or 2017 was like, “that‘s me, and that‘s me, and oh that‘s me, too!” 3mo
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RosePressedPages
The Wednesdays | Julie Bourbeau
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1. No, but I would love to get a book signing from Fredrik Backman, Yangsze Choo, Katherine Arden, and Rick Riordan
2. No, but I‘ve forgotten I already added a couple books to my tbr and then “discovered” them again only to find out I‘d already done so
3. Narnia, Hogwarts, and I‘d love to live in a world where mythology and folklore blended with reality, like in Arden‘s or Riordan‘s books
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Lovely 🥰 Thanks for joining in 🙏🏻🥳 4mo
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None of these people were sane. Not. A. Single. One.

dabbe Now THAT looks like a fun book to read! 🤣🤩🤗 4mo
RosePressedPages @dabbe It was so much fun to listen to it on the way to work and be continuously baffled every single chapter😂 4mo
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RosePressedPages
Voroshilovgrad | Serhiy Zhadan
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I wish I had read Voroshilovgrad with a book club because there is just so much to unpack. Zhadan‘s prose were gorgeous. I loved the magical realism and that we couldn‘t always trust what Herman (the MC) or the secondary characters were seeing/saying. I also thought Herman sucked (such a perv). However, there was so much striking symbolism and the ending hit hard and was hilarious. I‘m looking forward to trying more Ukrainian lit! 🇺🇦

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1. I want to say This Business of War by William LeDuc. It was written in the 1800s but I could only find the recent re-publication date. I think it was first published in the early 1900s after LeDuc died in 1917.
2. Around 3. For Manga a lot more since they are so short. I‘m not a fan of series.
3. Kakuriyo. It‘s not necessarily over, but the most recent is book 8 and I‘m still waiting for the next one.
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Thanks for joining in 🥳📚❤️ 4mo
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RosePressedPages
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Manco‘s multidisciplinary look at the peopling of Europe was fascinating! She relies on genetics, archaeology, and linguistics to piece together the migration patterns starting from first settlement to the Vikings. I don‘t have much knowledge of genetics, so it was hard to visualize terminology like “haplogroup R1a.” However, I took this book as more of a starting point on the subject and I‘m excited to read other works.

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1. Eastern Europe
2. Maybe the Ocean or anywhere in Europe
3. Narnia or Hogwarts. I also just love some lush worldbuilding that includes mythology/folklore
#Wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Well done 👍🏼 4mo
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RosePressedPages
Pet Peeve | Piers Anthony
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I can‘t stand 1st person narrative most of the time. Mainly because it comes off as immature and a lot of tell and no show. There‘s a reason English teachers get picky about it😂 It just ends up sounding choppy and I can‘t get invested in the story. I‘ve only read a few books where the author pulls it off but mostly I find it annoying and avoid it.
#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern First person is a real hit and miss for me! There‘s so much that can ruin it. Thank you for posting! 5mo
CoverToCoverGirl I‘m with you on first person narrative. I find very few authors pull it off successfully. Diana Gabaldon is one of the very few who does it well. 5mo
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Tuesday | Edward Bond
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1. History ❤️📖
2. I Kissed Shara Wheeler!! I usually don‘t read books with high school characters because I can‘t connect with any of them, but this one about queer characters in the Deep South actually hit deep and I loved it
#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView I enjoyed history too. Especially ancient history. Thanks for playing 5mo
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RosePressedPages
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I first learned about the Galveston hurricane on an episode of the podcast Morbid, and was taken aback by the gruesome descriptions. Naturally, I had to learn more! I happened on Larson‘s narrative while shelving at work and immediately put it on hold at the library. Larson does an excellent job weaving an intriguing narrative with fact, and I was enthralled. However, Isaac Cline and his brother Joseph had major main character syndrome! 🙄

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RosePressedPages
Ghostly Things Vol. 1 | Ushio Shirotori
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A soft pick. The art and the information about yōkai were fun, but I think plot and character development were sacrificed. It had a lot of potential, but was left largely unfinished with loose ends. I still enjoyed it.

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Tolstoy: A Russian Life | Rosamund Bartlett
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I decided to make this a pick because of the sheer volume of research Bartlett put into this book. It‘s kind of mind blowing and super impressive. I recently bought a gorgeous edition of War and Peace, but I thought I should learn about Tolstoy‘s life before I dived in. That was a mistake…the more I read about him, the more I found myself disliking him. While I understand the profound impact he had on Russian culture and language ⬇️

RosePressedPages He was such an awful, narcissistic, selfish, and egotistical person. His treatment of his family and wife made my blood boil. He seemed to think whatever ideas or phases he was pursuing trumped his family in every way. I couldn‘t find a single review on Goodreads where anyone felt the same way. Everyone seemed to find his genius writing skills as an excuse for his poor character. While his eventual philosophies with serfdom, christianity ⬇️ (edited) 6mo
RosePressedPages and private property were admirable, he was firmly a misogynist. I just can‘t overlook his flaws and I think it might take me a while to decide to pick up War and Peace now. 6mo
Deblovestoread War and Peace is one of my all time favorite books but I wonder if I would feel the same if I had known more about the author. He sounds like a complete Ass. 6mo
RosePressedPages @Deblovestoread I should‘ve just read the book and remained completely oblivious…he makes me so angry but it sucks cause he‘s so important to Russian history at the same time 6mo
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RosePressedPages
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Mehso-so

This was recommended as a similar Manga to Kakuriyo with a romance and lots of ayakashi. It was ok; there just wasn‘t a real reason for Koharu and Iori to develop feelings for each other. Still a fun and fast read.

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Pickpick

A scary Yakuza known as the immortal dragon turned doting and intense house husband? I couldn‘t get enough! My library had volumes 1-6 and now I‘m anxiously in search of 7 and 8. Tatsu is precious and hilarious 💛

BrandedKristen Ooh, I should see if my library has the manga too. I love the Netflix series. 6mo
RosePressedPages @TheShadowJournals I‘m going to have to give the Netflix series a go! 6mo
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RosePressedPages
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Pickpick

These were so good I need more!!!😭 They are very reminiscent of Studio Ghibli‘s Spirited Away but with a romance as a major theme (which I‘m dying for it to develop a little faster…). I love the characters, especially the Ōdanna and I can‘t wait for Aoi to catch some serious feels because the Ōdanna‘s flirtations are cracking me up! I know the anime was never completed so I‘m desperately hoping the same fate won‘t befall the manga. I‘m obsessed!

dylanisreading Ahhh, I'm glad you liked it! 6mo
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1. I was dead set on being a veterinarian. I even had a lab coat, stethoscope, and I would shadow my aunt at her vet practice.
2. Today, I‘m entering a PhD program for political science! I‘m planning to enter a foreign affairs analyst type career.
3. I listen to a mix of classical and the Red Hot Chili Peppers 🌶️ I‘m seeing them in concert on the 8th!!!
@Eggs #Wondrouswednesday

Eggs Congratulations on your new program 👏🏻👏🏻 6mo
RosePressedPages @Eggs thank you!!! 6mo
NovelGirl82 Congrats on your new program!! And I‘m seeing the Chili Peppers in San Antonio next month!! So excited!!!! 6mo
bthegood Congrats on your program, and enjoy the concert 6mo
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RosePressedPages
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Pickpick

Another fun collection of themed folk tales of Britain and Ireland!

Itchyfeetreader This looks lovely 6mo
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This was my first dive into Manga after a coworker insisted I give this series a try. Manga has never appealed to me before, but I ended up loving this cozy romance fantasy. I can‘t wait for book number five to be released in May!

Question for Manga-Reading Littens:

What are some Manga series you recommend with a similar vibe? I enjoyed the unique story, world-building, and romance. I‘m a huge fan of Studio Ghibli if that helps? Thank you!!!

dylanisreading I would recommend Ancient Magus' Bride for Ghibli vibes. 6mo
dylanisreading For cozy fantasy, I've heard good things but haven't started Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits. 6mo
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wisherwishinguponastar @dylanisreading Those are some great suggestions! I thought this series was very cozy and heart warming. I am glad you enjoyed it! 6mo
BookLove4Ever I want to try this one too! 6mo
dylanisreading Another one with Studio Ghibli vibes and fantasy romance (commenting as recs occur to me 😅): Snow White with the Red Hair. 6mo
RosePressedPages @dylanisreading I really appreciate it! I‘ve already got your recs waiting for me at the library😂😆 6mo
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This novella was from the perspective of Agent Hamed, who was a minor character in A Master of Djinn. Siti also makes an appearance as a secondary character, giving more background to her character. I liked the mystery of what exactly was wrong with tram car 015, the backdrop of Egyptian suffrage, and the plot twists. I‘m always excited for more of Clark‘s dead djinn universe :) 💛

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P. Djèlí Clark‘s second short story in his Dead Djinn Universe was a peak at how the lives of other Cairenes are changed with the return of magic into the world because of Al-Jahiz. This short story was written in second-person, which was very different but an interesting perspective to experience Aliaa‘s desperation in seeking out the Angel of Khan el-Khalili. The ending was a twist I wasn‘t expecting and quite devastating. I‘m itching for more!

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I loved getting to read how Siti and Fatma met! The “angels” were so creepy! 😖 I‘m looking forward to reading the other short stories Clark has for his djinn filled Cairo universe!!❤️

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A Master of Djinn | P. Djeli Clark
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A queer detective of the supernatural in an alternate, steampunk Cairo full of djinn in 1912!? Yes please!! Most of the main characters were women of various backgrounds and religions striving to succeed in a Cairo thrown into modernity by the the mysterious Al-Jahiz. I loved Fatma, Siti, and Hadia!! They were all complex characters and the romance was amazing. The angels were so disturbing! Looking forward to Clarke‘s other works!!

BiblioLitten I‘m looking forward to reading this! 💕 6mo
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I can never turn down a book on shipwrecks, and this one delivered! It was fun to listen to as Jamieson covered shipwrecks in media, the history from the very first known account of a shipwreck in ancient Egypt to today, and maritime archaeology today. I learned a lot, and I got to relearn about some familiar ones :) 5/5 🌟‘s

lynneamch Have you read this shipwreck story? 7mo
RosePressedPages @lynneamch I have not! Thank you for bringing it to my attention, I‘m adding it to my tbr 😊 7mo
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1. A Master of Djinn (paperback), Animal Folktales of Britain and Ireland (audiobook), and The Dragon‘s Bride (ebook)
2. Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Yangsze Choo, and Jane Austen
3. Women Warriors: An Unexpected History by Pamela D. Toler

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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This book was incredibly unique. It was completely in verse, something I wasn‘t expecting. I loved how Romero drew from her own experiences as a Jewish Latina when writing Ilana‘s story. The verses were so beautiful, some of them could‘ve been stand alone poems. I liked how Romero drew from folklore when writing Wasserman‘s character. Romero‘s story was a love letter to Jewish people everywhere and their struggles/persistence throughout history.

AlaMich Arghhh! This book sounds delightful, but I just can‘t see myself reading a novel written in verse. (edited) 7mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 😍 7mo
RosePressedPages @AlaMich It was definitely a new experience for me! I can‘t say I‘ll be searching for more books in verse, but it still read like a cohesive story. It was also a quick read. 7mo
AlaMich @MadelineMcCrae Yeah, it wouldn‘t kill me to broaden my horizons a little, either. 😊 7mo
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RosePressedPages
Interpreting Folklore | Alan Dundes
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1. Fall 🍁
2. Coffee and something sweet ☕️🍰
3. Pink 💕
4. Black eyed Susans 🌻
5. Any kind of medieval society intermixed with folklore or mythology 🐲
6. San Pellegrino 🇮🇹
7. Clue 🕵🏻‍♀️
8. The Ruling Families of Rus
#Wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Thanks for playing 🌼 7mo
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RosePressedPages
Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling | Lara S. Ormiston, Ormiston Lara S Austen Jane
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After reading Claudia Gray, I‘ve been on a bit of a Jane Austen binge. I found this title on Goodreads as a pride and prejudice retelling asking what would have happened if Elizabeth had accepted Darcy‘s first proposal. I was a little shocked this book started off as a fan fiction, it reads to me like a literary piece. I finished it in one sitting it was so good, with a lot more sexual tension and character growth for both than most retellings. ❤️

eeclayton I enjoyed this one too 😊 7mo
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RosePressedPages
Tash Hearts Tolstoy | Kathryn Ormsbee
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#Wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Escapism and building knowledge/curiosity
2. Tash Hearts Tolstoy (Asexual representation!)
3. It‘s not my favorite genre, but I recently tried Claudia Gray‘s Austen-murder mystery series and I loved it. I‘m going to try more of her books now!

Eggs #1 Agree 💯! Thanks for playing! 7mo
everlocalwest I love Claudia Gray - if you are into Star Wars, her book Bloodline is my absolute fave! 💙📚 7mo
RosePressedPages @everlocalwest I‘ll definitely give it a go! She‘s a lovely writer! 7mo
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Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC! I really enjoyed Gray‘s first book in this series, but I LOVED this one. Gray does such a phenomenal job making her writing feel like you‘re reading another Jane Austen novel, just with murder included. I always liked Marianne and Colonel Brandon‘s romance, but Gray gave them such depth and character growth that I think they‘ve become my new favorite Austen couple. Jonathan and Juliet are such a delight ❤️

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#ihavequestions @RaeLovesToRead
Since I love history so much, I‘ve thought about what historical figures I‘ve read about I‘d want to meet. I‘d invite Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Pirate Queen Ching Shih, General/Queen Fu Hao, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc, and Queen Boudicca. I would have an assortments of foods from each of their cultures and we‘d spend the night chatting about their lives (so I can be a history nerd and record all of it :)

RaeLovesToRead Sounds amazing! I've got a book to read about Pharaoh Hapshepsut 7mo
RosePressedPages @RaeLovesToRead She‘s a really amazing woman! I did part of my thesis on her :) (edited) 7mo
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review
RosePressedPages
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Panpan

I was hoping for a well researched and comprehensive analysis and narrative of the history of Eastern Europe and its complex relationship with nationalism and ethnic identity. Instead, Anne Applebaum delivered a rather heartless travelogue of her journey through the former Soviet Union. Her comments on people‘s appearances are prejudiced, condescending, and derogatory. She continuously fat-shames people to the point where I almost dnf‘d the book.

review
RosePressedPages
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Pickpick

The Murder of Mr. Wickham was a fun mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Mr. Wickham‘s death certainly wasn‘t tragic, but the idea of any of Austen‘s protagonists going to the gallows had me a nervous wreck while reading it. I loved Gray‘s originals characters Juliet and Jonathan. Gray did an excellent job of making the story feel as if Austen wrote it herself. The middle dragged a little but I‘m absolutely pumped for the sequel!

Deblovestoread I thought this was fun too and felt the same tension over a favorite character going to the gallows. Happy to know there is a sequel. 7mo
RosePressedPages @Deblovestoread It‘s called The Late Mrs. Willoughby and I think it‘s set to release in may. I‘m looking forward to more Juliet and Jonathan adventures :) 7mo
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