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TheAnitaAlvarez

TheAnitaAlvarez

Joined May 2016

I live in a world of books. Aspiring writer. Amateur flâneuse. Overworked millenial. Loves rain, classic novels and any movie starring Colin Firth.
review
TheAnitaAlvarez
Girl Meets Boy | Ali Smith
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Pickpick

Ali Smith is wonderful in every way possible. This little book (a part of the Canongate Myths series) is a retelling of the Iphis and Ianthe myth, in which Smith uses her lyrical and beautiful style to tell a story about love and the different shapes it can take. It‘s a lovely book and I‘d recommend it to everyone I know.

cataleya Hello anita! do you know spanish? 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @cataleya sí, es mi lengua materna ? 6y
cataleya fabuloso asi podremos hablar mas! que libros haz leido recientemente? 6y
82 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
TheAnitaAlvarez
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel | Diane Setterfield
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Can‘t believe I didn‘t post this before, but I got some book mail last week. I‘ve already read the Faulkner and The Miniaturist, and looking forward to the tagged book and the poetry collection! 😊

87 likes1 stack add
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

First time I heard the concept of “flâneur” was in an Art History course in college. I liked the romantic idea of walking the city and actually seeing it (I am from a small town, moved to a city for college). But it seemed like only men could do it. Elkin explores women and cities and how they made them their own. Mixing essays about famous women and her own experience as a flâneuse, she does a thoughtful analysis about women place in the world.

mabell Great photo! 6y
JamieArc I knew about flaneurs because I studied French, but had a similar experience studying the concept more in depth in an Art History course. I recently saw this book and noted it so I‘m glad to see you post about it! 6y
VioletBramble Have you read this book about a flaneuse.? 6y
100 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

I read this book a couple years ago and loved it. Set against the Golden Age of comic books, the story spans through the years and the world, which is changing fast around the two cousins. If you like historical novels, superhero comics, and interesting and nuanced characters, this is a real fun book to read.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

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TheAnitaAlvarez
Americanah | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Pickpick

Can‘t believe I haven‘t posted a review here! This is one of my favorite books, Chimamanda‘s writing is fantastic and this story is fascinating in every level: the characters, the settings, the ideas. I loved Ifemelu‘s strong character and how she was unapologetic in expressing her ideals. The themes of immigration and home are well thought and developed, and the story is very compelling. I‘ve recommended it many times, and I‘ll keep doing so.

KathyWheeler I loved this book. 6y
86 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Essex Serpent | Sarah Perry
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Victorian age? Mysterious events that might be paranormal? Long discussions about religion and science? Great female main character? I don‘t know about you, but this book really checks a lot of my boxes and it‘s really a fantastic read. Sarah Perry has a charming style and her prose makes you keep on reading because it is that good. Seriously, give this one a try.

Lel2403 I‘m about half way through and loving it. So well written, it just grabs you 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Lel2403 I know, right? I‘m ordering her next book soon, because it is set in Prague (Sarah Perry did a writing residence there) and looks amazing. 6y
Lel2403 @TheAnitaAlvarez ohhh I‘ll look out for it 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Lel2403 comes out in October! 6y
96 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

Apparently this book is not yet out in English, but as everything Alexiévich writes, it‘s wonderful. She has a way of finding these very human and personal stories and creates a rich tapestry that allows us to get a better picture of the consequences of WWII in Belarus, and how terrible life was after it. It‘s really fascinating and lovely.

Faibka Pero por lo que veo está disponible en español? :) 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Faibka sí, editada por Debate ?? 6y
Faibka @TheAnitaAlvarez excelente, a conseguirla! Gracias por compartir :) 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez @Faibka de nada! Debate ha editado cuatro libros suyos en el mismo estilo y se ven muy bonitos juntos 6y
Faibka @TheAnitaAlvarez híjole pues qué remedio, tendré que conseguir los cuatro ?? y un nuevo librero! 6y
Lidia Se oye muy interesante. Tengo el de Voces de Chernobyl pendiente por leer 😊 6y
74 likes1 stack add6 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
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“This is the saddest story I‘ve ever heard” begins this novel, which talks about two couples and their disintegration as the world changes around them. It‘s a very short novel, but it manages to involve you in the world of this health spa and pre-WWI Europe in general. There‘s interesting gender dynamics in both relationships, considering the context of early 20th century.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

zsuzsanna_reads One of my favourites. 6y
Jinjer This post is from 2 years ago but in hopes that you're still around, I will ask the question. What edition is this? I don't see that cover on Amazon or Goodreads and I really like it. LOL 4y
83 likes12 stack adds2 comments
review
TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

Love love love retellings of myths (and fairy tales, and classics). This one, by my favorite author ever is fantastic. When I read The Odyssey in High School, I was very frustrated with how Penelope was always sidelined and we never got to hear her side. Atwood does a beautiful work of telling her story and portraying a different part of this narrative. I‘d love to get to the rest of the series.

Alfoster Yes! You need to read Little Darlings when it comes out (I got an ARC from NetGalley) as it‘s a dark, creepy retelling of some tales about changelings!😳😳😍😍😍 6y
Bertha_Mason I love that cover. You can't go wrong with Tamara de Lempicka. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Alfoster I‘ll look it up! 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Bertha_Mason it‘s so pretty 😊 6y
NeedsMoreBooks This is one one of my favorites 😊 6y
106 likes9 stack adds5 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Lolita | Vladimir Nabokov
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This is easily the most controversial and most misread book in the world. Also, pretty divisive. Nabokov‘s prose is unbelievable and he has a great insight into the mind of a horrible disgusting man. Lolita is a victim here, and she is also a fascinating character because we never really get access to her as a person, she‘s only seen from the eyes of HH, who is so horrible.

Susannah Terrific review. I‘ve always heard about this book that I‘d be appalled by it while simultaneously being amazed by the writing. I know I need to read it, but at this point, I‘m wondering, what if I can‘t see beyond my urge to put the story in a modern context? I‘m ambivalent.... 6y
Cathythoughts Great review.. it‘s waiting on my shelf & move it towards the front 👍🏻❤️ 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Susannah if you ask me, I‘d say that Nabokov is ultimately saying that Lolita is a victim here. The thing is that he does the unreliable narrator so well, a lot of people gloss over that and focus on her as a seductress, which says more about them than the book itself, in my opinion 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Cathythoughts it‘s great, but you have to be prepared because it is also quite disturbing 6y
Cathythoughts @TheAnitaAlvarez my lifes work has been with victims of sexual abuse. It never gets easy though! Thankyou for the warning ❤️ (edited) 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
A Room of One's Own | Virginia Woolf
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This book changed my life when I first read it as a budding 16yo feminist. It help me start questioning what I was reading and studying, as well as what women‘s roles were and how they affected me. Despite being written about ninety years ago, it still feels current, which is very sad and frustrating. But Woolf is a fantastic writer and her work is thought provoking and fascinating. A must read for everyone.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

ValPenny This was recommended to me by a friend a couple of years ago. Inciteful & forward thinking despite its age. Beautifully written too. 6y
BarbaraBB Great review😘 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Complete Persepolis | Marjane Satrapi
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This is my absolutely favorite graphic novel/memoir in the world. I loved how Satrapi conveyed the complexities of the Islamic Revolution and how it affected her life (and that of every woman!) in Iran after it. Her story is really fascinating and her art is amazing, which makes it a joy to read. I recommend this book to literally everyone because it‘s fantastic in every way.

HannaPolkadots I agree! We read this for book club before summer and I've been recommending it to everyone ever since 😀 Last week one of my students was reading it during break and I really wanted to let her graduate then and there just because of that 😉 6y
margreads Love this book. Have you seen the movie of Chicken with Plums. The last 15 minutes is the best montage of time passing I've seen 6y
NeedsMoreBooks This is one of my favorites ❤️ 6y
Mcoun This is the only graphic novel I have ever read and I really enjoyed it! 6y
102 likes6 stack adds4 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
One Hundred Years of Solitude | Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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I‘ve already reviewed this one, but I got this copy recently and it‘s too pretty not to show it off. It‘s a 50th anniversary thing, so it‘s lavishly illustrated and a family tree and everything. I really had to buy it.

charl08 Lovely! 6y
Velvetfur Soooo pretty! 6y
lalatiburona I recently found this at a street stall in Mexico and I was soooooo excited! 6y
See All 8 Comments
jveezer @lalatiburona Did you buy one por mi? 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @lalatiburona it‘s a really nice edition 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer whoops, sorry 🙈 6y
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review
TheAnitaAlvarez
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Mehso-so

I‘m kinda in the fence about this one. While I think that the experimental side is cool, I‘m not crazy about his style. And it was very hard to read a book in which all the characters were despicable. I‘m cool with unlikable characters, but these ones were too much for me. There‘s a section where they discuss attacking a young woman which was particularly disturbing.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

TheAnitaAlvarez Btw, Jessica Hopper wrote an article on Vanity Fair about the copy department in Rolling Stone and how these women had to re write EVERYTHING Thompson sent, which was very interesting. 6y
73 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Hag-Seed | Margaret Atwood
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I‘m a big Shakespeare nerd, so the Hogarth series hits the sweet spot for me. Especially this one, since I was lucky enough to see Margaret Atwood herself talking about it. Taking on Shakespeare‘s weirdest play is not a small feat, but Atwood tackles it with brilliance. I loved the parallels between magic and theater and the whole jail setting as the context for this adaptation. And I have a signed copy!!!

rabbitprincess This was my favourite of the Shakespeare retellings (and to be honest the only one I was really interested in...). 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @rabbitprincess I‘ve read this and Vinegar Girl, but I‘m looking forward to getting to the rest of the series (there‘s a Jeanette Winterson one!) 6y
jveezer I loved this one and that Zimakov cover is the bomb. I had to have my daughter grab it for me in London since the U. S. cover was not half as cool. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer yes, the UK cover is so pretty! And the endpapers!! 6y
rather_be_reading thts awesome! 6y
96 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Little Women | Louisa May Alcott
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This is one of those books I‘ve read so many times throughout the years. Largely because I just love it, grew up with it, and find new things every time I read it. I‘m definitely a Jo (loyal, fierce, bad tempered, reader, writer), but I love all the sisters (yes, Amy too). It‘s one of my comfort books as well, so I read it when I‘m feeling down, as they just feel familiar and cozy.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

Itchyfeetreader This is my comfort read too! 6y
bridge12 This is my favorite comfort read too! I have an incredibly old copy, that‘s barely holding together, that my mom read to me growing up! ❤️ 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Itchyfeetreader it‘s just cozy, right? And lovely and adorable and all the feels 💙 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @bridge12 oh, this is the English edition I got some years ago, I first read it in Spanish because that‘s my mother tongue. I don‘t know what happened to that copy, though 6y
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review
TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

When we think about female writers, for some reason we usually picture them in isolation. Men are usually surrounded by other male authors, but women are sort of alone. This book does a great job at describing female friendships that shaped these women‘s work and lives, which is something that‘s usually left aside. But these women did have a community behind them, and we should see more of it.

RaimeyGallant Sounds so interesting. 6y
tpixie Intriguing!!! 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @RaimeyGallant it is! And it‘s not overly academic, so it‘s also a really fun read 😊 6y
98 likes10 stack adds4 comments
review
TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

When I was in high school, a friend asked my why I liked Jane Austen, as she was only a writers “of manners”. And I‘m sure Jane Austen may seem like that superficially, but she‘s so much more than that. Helena Kelly does a brilliant work of presenting how Jane Austen approached hard social topics in her novels and their subversive nature as a female writer in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Highly recommend to any Austen fan.

Daisey I‘m reading this a chapter at a time as I have a chance to revisit each of the novels and loving it. It‘s very much making me think more carefully about her work as I read. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Daisey it has always bothered me when people dismiss Austen as merely writing romance novels, she tackled class, women‘s rights, slavery, and war. And she did all from the domestic space in which women were confined back then. It‘s amazing. 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Finnegans Wake | James Joyce
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Since my brain can‘t deal with Joyce alone, I am alternating it with N. K. Jemisin‘s The Fifth Season in my Kindle.

readordierachel Excellent choice! Love Jemisin. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @readordierachel I‘m almost done with it and she‘s so good 6y
JazzFeathers Joyce is a tough one. But he's also awesome. 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez @JazzFeathers I‘m trying to enjoy his playing with language and not question everything 6y
jveezer Yay! You‘re going to tackle the Wake? I found Joseph Cambell‘s Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake very helpful. Also his video lecture on Joyce. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer I need to check those out! When I read Ulysses I also got a reading guide, and I feel like it‘d be useful here as well 6y
77 likes2 stack adds6 comments
review
TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

Reading Shirley Jackson in college was a revelation. Loved the way in which she brought horror to seemingly normal spaces, showing the darkness among the domestic and familiar. This biography is great, as it shines a light on her life and the importance of her work (which is highly regarded by authors like Stephen King and Neil Gaiman). I‘m really loving this revival of Shirley Jackson!

SkeletonKey I reeeally want to read this one. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @SkeletonKey it‘s an awesome biography! 😁 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

Despite the crude descriptions of the cruelty of war, this book seems to me like an example of good journalism, taking government and the military up to task and asking the hard questions. Hersh doesn‘t seem afraid of showing the horrors that the US did in Vietnam, despite lots of people questioning his facts and why he covered this massacre. That‘s what a journalist should always do. #RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

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TheAnitaAlvarez
Finnegans Wake | James Joyce
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Honestly, at this point I‘m not sure which way is up and which is down, but there‘s something very interesting about Joyce‘s playing around with language. He uses weird spelling and creates new words mixing old ones. It‘s weird and incredibly hard to follow, but it‘s a bit hypnotic at the same time.

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TheAnitaAlvarez
Finnegans Wake | James Joyce
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Okay, challenge accepted. I‘ll probably go very slow, as I always do with Joyce because he‘s hard.

MichelleScott_author Wow! That‘s impressive. 6y
BarbaraBB I don‘t think I can handle this one. Isn‘t it in dialect? 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Coffeeshopreviews I‘m going a chapter a day, because I don‘t want my brain to explode 😂 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @BarbaraBB it doesn‘t look like any dialect I know, but he‘s definitely very creative with language and grammar/phonetics 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

It‘s September 1st, so that means it‘s time to #GetBacktoHogwarts. A friend is hosting a re-readathon in Mexico, so I‘m joining from a distance. And it‘s good to get out from the Vietnam war for a while. #RavenclawForever

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TheAnitaAlvarez
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It‘s been a while since I stopped here. Shame on me, I guess. But I‘m reading this right now and it‘s unbelievable. Hersh does not shy away from describing the cruelty and horrors of war. So much that I had to leave my book aside for a little while because it is quite upsetting.

CaramelLunacy Whenever I am reading/dealing with something like that, I have to keep a "popcorn" book going as well to balance myself out. 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @CaramelLunacy it‘s a great idea, really 6y
51 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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It‘s so cold outside, but it‘s also a long weekend and I can read to my heart‘s content. This is my book for #June #ReadAroundTheWorld. Hope it counts! @JenP

MelissaSue81 It‘s a heatwave here! Enjoy your cold weather reading! 6y
rjsthumbelina I'll trade you! Extreme heat advisory here in St Louis, with heat indexes up to 115 degrees F! 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @MelissaSue81 I am enjoying it! 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez @rjsthumbelina to be honest, I love the cold. Also, Farenheit scale makes no sense to me 6y
rjsthumbelina @TheAnitaAlvarez I just used Google to convert it- apparently it's just over 46 degrees c. I love the cold, too! I love feeling cozy and snuggling up when it's warm outside 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @rjsthumbelina hahaha, the Farenheit scale makes me think it‘s always hot 😂. We‘re having a nice 4C (like 40F) right now 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Where are you?! It‘s 100 degrees here in Mississippi 🔥🔥 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m in the south of Chile, almost in Patagonia 😂 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheAnitaAlvarez cool!! So nice to correspond with people all over the world!! ☺️ 6y
BarbaraBB I feel the same about the Fahrenheit! Always hot 😂. But your fire looks cozy and I looooove Patagonia 💜 6y
102 likes8 stack adds11 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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How pretty is this illustrated edition? I love the pictures in here, they are amazing! 😍

BekaReid Yes! That art looks awesome! 7y
BilboBookends I love this! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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My heart is breaking with this book. I can see the echoes between what happened in my country and what happened in Ethiopia and I feel I understand a little of the pain they‘ve suffered. #ReadAroundTheWorld #Ethiopia

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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

What a lovely book! While it does explore terrible topics like loneliness, the consequences of abuse, and mental illnesses, it does so with a humorous and compassionate way. I really wanted to give Eleanor a hug (though she would probably not like it) and tell her everything‘s gonna be better. She was an interesting character and so well portrayed that it‘s impossible not to feel for her and her story.

TEArificbooks Great pic! 7y
CouronneDhiver I agree - an excellent read! 7y
rather_be_reading love tht cover!! 😍 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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It‘s a dark cold day on this side of the planet, the perfect weather to lie down and read my #ReadAroundTheWorld pick for #May, #Ethiopia, here I come!

jveezer That book is so good (and depressing). But soooooo good. And a story that needs to be read. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer I‘m woefully ignorant of Ethiopian history, so this is mind-opening 7y
jveezer That‘s how I felt. I was protesting Aparthied and remember Idi Amin at that time (yes, I‘m that era) but how did I not know about that catastrophe? I didn‘t even make the connection being a Bob Marley fan. This is exactly why I read widely outside the western white canon. 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez I wasn‘t even born, but you‘d imagine this would‘ve come up in history classes or something... I don‘t think my parents could remember this, either (combination of being too young and our country going through a dictatorship in the 70s-80s) 7y
BookishMe I didn't even know there was an Italian Occupation ;o as grim as this book is, I am pleased with my choice :)) 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @BookishMe I sort of knew about the Italian occupation because that did come up in my history classes (very briefly, while we were covering the antecedents of WWII) 7y
76 likes6 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Charlotte's Web | E. B. White
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Pickpick

I can‘t believe I didn‘t read this one as a child. Even if my mum had it at home, I only read it when I got to college. And there were tears because the ending is so sad and beautiful and adorable. Charlotte is one of my favorite characters in children‘s literature and I loved her fierceness when protecting Wilbur. #RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

BeansPage One of my favorites ❤️ 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Love it❤️ I love spiders bc of this book. 7y
jveezer So good. Even the movie is good. I don‘t say that often. 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez @Syndelle777 it‘s just so cute and adorable! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @JanuarieTimewalker13 hahaha, I‘m not very fond of them, but I let them be (unless they‘re dangerous) 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer I don‘t think I‘ve watched the movie, really. I‘ll check it out! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Alfrazier21 I love that cover! Such a good book ☺️ 7y
CouronneDhiver Loved this one! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Alfrazier21 the stars make me so happy! And I‘m enjoying it as well 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @CouronneDhiver it‘s so good! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

Emily Wilson‘s translation is fantastic! It reads very differently from the translations I had to read in High School and at uni, but it retains the magic and themes that are so attractive. Even if cunning Odysseus has never been my favorite, I love his story of trying to go home.
This was my book for #April in #ReadAroundTheWorld #Greece. Better late than never, I guess. There‘s also a picture of me chilling at the Parthenon last November. @JenP

elizabethlk I have heard such wonderful things about her translation! 7y
Vihrig I just finished Circe. It might be a nice follow-up for you. 🙂 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Vihrig it‘s in my TBR! I loved her Song of Achilles, so I‘m looking forward to Circe 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @elizabethlk it‘s really good! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Fresh Complaint | Jeffrey Eugenides
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Pickpick

So many of Eugenides themes appear throughout these short stories: loneliness, the desire for transcendence, solipsism, the paradoxes of human relationships. He‘s a very subtle writer, and I loved reading these stories. However, the last one (“Fresh Complaint”) just felt a bit tone deaf in this #metoo climate. It showed a teenage girl “seducing” an older English professor to accuse him of rape to save herself from an arranged marriage.

TheAnitaAlvarez I should probably write a longer review in Goodreads. Let‘s see how this day goes. 7y
Richryan52 If you are an aspiring writer I wish you luck. Just keep writing and don‘t let anyone tell you you can‘t! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Richryan52 thanks! Those are really lovely words! (I‘m indeed an aspiring writer) 7y
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Richryan52 I aspired for a long, long time. My third novel is due out in September. It‘s a lonely business so stay strong! 7y
RidgewayGirl Yeah, that last story was very bad. Between that and the supposedly humorous one set in Ireland, this book really changed how I view the author. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @RidgewayGirl his novels have so much more nuance. To be honest, these stories didn‘t change how I see him (after all, the themes are still there), but I do think that last story was particularly ill conceived and no one told him 7y
RidgewayGirl Yeah, that last story was very bad. Between that and the supposedly humorous one set in Ireland, this book really changed how I view the author. 7y
87 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Fresh Complaint | Jeffrey Eugenides
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Morning coffee (first cup of many) and my current read.

Andrea4 Damn that cuppa looooks good! 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I only do morning coffee bc for some reason, every other cup is not as good. Can‘t wait to hear your review on this one. I loved Middlesex, but have never read another book by him (edited) 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @JanuarieTimewalker13 I try to limit myself because I have a lot of sleep issues, but some days call for lots of coffee. If you loved Middlesex (me too! How awesome is it?), you can go for his other novels: The Virgin Suicides (I did my undergrad dissertation on it) or The Marriage Plot. Very different from Middlesex, but so good (edited) 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez @Andrea4 gotta drink good coffee 7y
Andrea4 @TheAnitaAlvarez oh yea, nothing more disappointing than a bad cup. 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Ooh, very good to know!! Thank you! 7y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @TheAnitaAlvarez I completely forgot The Marriage Plot was called that, was trying to recall the title the other day. It was so good, a tie for me with Middlesex as my favourite book of his. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @MommyWantsToReadHerBook I want to reread it. It‘s the only of his books I‘ve read in translation, I need an English edition 7y
jveezer Middlesex and The Marriage Plot have been on my shelf waiting to be read forever. Need to get to them soon, especially Middlesex. 7y
78 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Romanovs: 1613-1918 | Simon Sebag Montefiore
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Sunday reading! And coffee. Lots of coffee.

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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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My father visited his godfather a couple of days ago, and apparently spoke of my love of literature. So, his godfather sent me this through my dad: a vintage edition of the first novel ever written (and by a lady, no less). And he said that if I like it, I can keep it! How cool is that?

PurpleyPumpkin What a lovely gesture! I‘m sure he‘s happy to know that this book has found a happy new home. 💜 7y
Cinfhen How lovely!!! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @PurpleyPumpkin he already told me to visit him next time I‘m in the city to talk about it! 7y
PurpleyPumpkin That‘s wonderful. It‘s always great to find fellow book lovers. 💜 7y
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review
TheAnitaAlvarez
La tentacin de lo imposible | Mario Vargas Llosa
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Pickpick

It‘s been a while! I‘ve been busy with my new job, but I still wanted to check my book for this month in #ReadAroundTheWorld. This month, the country was our neighbor #Peru and I‘m cheating a wee bit here because I read this book long ago. While I‘m not a huge fan of Vargas Llosa, this book is an interesting essay about one of my favorite books in the entire world, Les Miserables. @JenP

BarbaraBB Good to see you back! I am not a fan of Vargas Llosa either but this one sounds great. Good luck with the job! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @BarbaraBB his latest books are awful. And of his early work I‘ve only enjoyed one novel. When he got the Nobel Prize I was genuinely shocked 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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I‘m in charge of three teenage boys tonight, so wine seems to be in order.

mrozzz What do you think of this read?? 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @mrozzz just started, so I‘m not sure what to think right now 🙈 7y
mabell Can you ever be "in charge" of teenage boys? ? 7y
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RidgewayGirl The nice thing about teenage boys is that as long as they‘re fed, they may be loud but they don‘t want you to entertain them. Unlike five year olds. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @mabell honestly, I just gave them pizza 😂 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @RidgewayGirl yes! Right now one is watching a movie, other is on the computer, and the youngest is with his phone 7y
mrozzz I know only one other person who‘s read it! Looking forward to your review... 7y
139 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Reading about gender biases in science is making me a wee bit angry.

rather_be_reading cute tea diffuser 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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I was going to read but my mum hijacked me into helping with lunch. #ReadAroundTheWorld #Turkey @JenP

Bks4Wrms I just read this one for #ReadAroundTheWorld #Turkey. It was enjoyable. 7y
SandyW I guess you like your tea with lemon, as opposed to milk and sugar. 😝 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @SandyW lemon and sugar, really. Sometimes milk, but it depends on my mood 7y
113 likes3 comments
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Pickpick

I read this one when it came out, years ago. I remember thinking it was a sweet and sad love story. Funnily enough, it also came at a point when I read a lot about the Japanese American internment camps, so I was very aware of the history behind this novel. It‘s far from being Allende‘s finest book, but it is rather enjoyable as a light read.

TheBookAddict I love Allende!!! 💕💕💕 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @TheBookAddict she‘s great! I prefer her early work, but her new books are always a nice read 7y
TheBookAddict @TheAnitaAlvarez I don‘t think I‘ve read anything recent of hers yet. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @TheBookAddict oh, what have you read of hers? 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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This book is fascinating and I‘m loving it very much. #ReadAroundTheWorld #Turkey @JenP

SandyW I've been too busy for Litsy the last few days (horrors). I've missed the infusers! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @SandyW can you believe there‘s still infusers left? 7y
SandyW Ha. No... 😂 But I'm looking forward to more. 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Loving this book so far, so a heart-shaped infuser is kinda appropriate. #ReadAroundTheWorld @JenP #Turkey

Mentallofilth Huge fan of Shafak, but I haven‘t read this one. Glad to hear it is good! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Mentallofilth it‘s my first time with her and I‘m loving it 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Great Gatsby | Francis Scott Fitzgerald
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Pickpick

Is there anyone left who hasn‘t read this book? I love the way in which Fitzgerald describes the excesses of the roaring twenties. And how it all comes crashing down in one moment. Jay annoys me at times, but his relentless optimism is what makes him endearing, isn‘t it? This is a classic for a reason, and I love it very much.
#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

VanChocStrawberry Me. 😱😱😱 7y
rubyslippersreads I have to confess I've never read it. 😔 But it's on my #litsyclassics list to read this year. 7y
bookswithbec I need to reread this book❤️ 7y
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chlolovesbooks Loved this read it in high school 💙 7y
BookishMe @rubyslippersreads +1 here... Dunno when I will get to if, if I ever at all 🤔 7y
Bookaholicforlife I haven‘t actually read it in full yet but I really need to! 7y
JazzFeathers I found Jay Gatsby sweet. He is aware of him many flaws, and l think he sense they will be his u doing, but still he hopes there is a stronger power somewhere that may save him 7y
Velvetfur Aahh love the old Fitzgerald style of writing 😀 7y
jveezer I don't think I've read it. In fact, I'm not sure I've read him at all. On my TBR but so many...🤓 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @VanChocStrawberry @rubyslippersreads @BookishMe @Bookaholicforlife @jveezer It‘s good, I swear! Though I would‘ve expected it to be a required reading if you lived in English-speaking countries (?) 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @bookswithbec it stands rereading pretty well 7y
Bookaholicforlife @TheAnitaAlvarez it was for me but I never got the chance to finish it. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @chloeeblack it‘s so good! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @JazzFeathers he is sweet! But I‘m a little cynical, so he annoyed me a wee bit 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Velvetfur so beautiful! 7y
VanChocStrawberry @TheAnitaAlvarez I live in the US, I was even in advanced English/AP classes. I have a degree in English Literature. Just not a book I was ever required to read...and not one that interested me. (edited) 7y
jveezer @TheAnitaAlvarez not sure how that happened. I read Lord of the Flies, Great Expectations, Romeo & Juliet, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Those were the only novels, I think. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @VanChocStrawberry curious, I would‘ve thought that as an American classic it would‘ve been pushed down the throats of high schoolers 😂 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @jveezer well, Romeo and Juliet isn‘t a novel, but I get you. Did you read more short stories and poetry? 7y
VanChocStrawberry @TheAnitaAlvarez now you have me wondering if I can track down my required reading lists from 25+ years ago. 😂😂 I am friends with one of my HS English teachers on FB. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @VanChocStrawberry in my school we had ver few books as required reading. Like, we would read some in class (like the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Song of the Mio Cid), some were compulsory (Don Quixote, Wuthering Heights) and sometimes you could choose between two (One Hundred Years of Solitude or Like Water for Chocolate) and you also had to read a “personal reading” book a month 7y
dragondrool Yep. I 've never read it. 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
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Cute little duckling in my mug! Reading my February book for #ReadAroundTheWorld @JenP #Turkey

JenP So cute. Is that a tea strainer? 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @JenP yes! Ain‘t it cute? 7y
JenP @TheAnitaAlvarez I love it!! 7y
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britt_brooke Cute! 7y
dixi_e How is it?? I‘ve been wanting to read this one. 7y
wanderlustforwords OMG! I liked your photo and had to go back as I-stopped and thought, “ is that a rubber duckies in the cup?” 😂😂😂 7y
rather_be_reading omg adorablr 6y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Remains of the Day | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

Ishiguro has a way of writing that always floors me. He has a way to portray terrible tragedies by focusing in small stories. In this case, the ending of the world as the character know it is portrayed in an intimate and empathetic way that allows the reader to fully immerse in this world. A seriously fantastic read.

BarbaraBB I looooove this book! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Book club read! Finally, I‘ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while now. Began it this morning and I haven‘t stopped reading. And isn‘t the umbrella infuser pretty?

vkois88 I love/want/need that mug! 7y
Jessicav I loved that book SO MUCH. I have an ARC of Millers next book Circe on my shelf and I think I need to read it very soon. Happy reading! 7y
Lindy Yes, your umbrella infuser is sweet. Great book too. 😊 7y
Christine11 It‘s a phenomenal book ! Enjoy 😊 7y
BekaReid I recently heard about this book and need to read it! 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
Mrs Dalloway | Virginia Woolf
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Pickpick

Whatever I say about this book will never be enough to express my love for it. The way in which Woolf writes makes you feel like you‘re right there on the streets of London. And the psychological depth of the characters is amazing, her understanding of how the mind works was definitely miles ahead of her time. This is one of the books I go back to again and again.
#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

Eugeniavb Virginia Woolf could do no wrong ❤️ 7y
UrsulaMonarch Great review! 7y
Litsi I don‘t know why I waited so long to read this book. I read it 2 years ago and was absolutely blown away. It is masterful. I can‘t tell you how much I take from the beauty of the bed being narrow and the sheets drawn. It says it all for women of a certain age. Page after page of glorious writing that says so much with so few words without seeming spare. (edited) 7y
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TheAnitaAlvarez
The Queue | Basma Abdel Aziz
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There‘s another really cute shark in my tea today!

hermyknee 😍 7y
starlight97 And the mug... *___* 7y
Bertha_Mason I loved that book. I hope you enjoy it too. 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @starlight97 the Little Prince is an institution in this household 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez @Bertha_Mason it reminds me of Kafka a little 7y
110 likes5 comments