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atenelli
Children of the Arbat | Anatoli? Rybakov

This is a reread for me. If you are interested in learning about life under Stalin‘s rule in the 1930s, then I would highly recommend this novel. It is well written and a fast read. This is the first book in a trilogy following the characters spanning from the mid-thirties to the defense of Moscow during World War II.

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atenelli

Finished another door stopper. I actually liked this historical novel so much that I will read the second part right away. I do need to brush up a little bit on the War of the Roses. well-written and really worthwhile the time.

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atenelli

Finally finished this one along with an audiobook and another novel. It is one of those „feel good“ novels where you can detect early on that it will end well, but it has a few little turns that keep you going. I would give this to a friend who needs some “reading TLC“, but is not up for a very challenging story.

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If You Leave Me: A Novel | Crystal Hana Kim

I was not really disappointed by the book, I just was surprised by the overwhelming darkness and depressing approach to life. I did not connect with any of the characters. I have not often read a novel that is so filled with loss, regret, bitterness, and a dark mood of failure. There seems to be no hope for any of the characters in the book. Whenever I thought finally somebody will move forward, that person regressed.

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atenelli
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Back to something easy and short. Feels good to sit here after a run and some chores - perfect Saturday.

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atenelli
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I did and finally finished my doorstopper novel. I really enjoyed it, but I need to refresh my British history to get a better grip on it. I felt that the author took sides and sometimes her characters felt a little flat, a little too black and white.

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Could not resist starting this on my way to work as an audiobook. Seems appropriate since we might add another kid to our herd.

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If You Leave Me: A Novel | Crystal Hana Kim

While out on my run last night, I began listening to this book. I could not wait to start it because I read a lot of good things about it.

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atenelli

Finally done listening to this novel. There are more books in this series, but I will take a break. I felt that the book had become a little formulaic and am worried the rest of the series will be even more so. I liked the first in the Fleury-series best. Still, it was entertaining and an excellent companion on walks and runs.

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atenelli

I am still fighting my way through this doorstopper. I really like the story, and I only have about 200 pages left, but still...I could have read a lot more books this year, had I chosen something smaller. Oh well...And did I mention there are four more novels in this series, equally long 🤔🤔

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atenelli
Das Licht der Welt | Daniel Wolf

I feel like a winner tonight. I just finished my listening marathon of this historical fiction doorstopper. This novel has over 1,100 pages, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was the second in a series about the Fleury family in Lorraine in the 13th century. I will probably start on the third one tomorrow on my way to work.#2018#historicalfiction#germany#ingerman

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atenelli
An American Marriage | Tayari Jones

I went for a walk in my new neighborhood and stumbled upon a free little library that had An American Marriage in it. Whoop!

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atenelli
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My weakness: trying to read too many books at once. That‘s not even all of them.

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I don‘t like cooking, but that does not prevent me from reading books in which food and food prep are major characters.

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Some easy reading on the patio while playing with the dog

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atenelli

Very informative read, but also funny and entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know what Apartheid in action looks like.

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atenelli

Wow, this was bad. The characters were so flat. There was nothing interesting about them. The whole story seemed rather biased along the cold war lines of how to talk about East and West. What a disappointment. Overall, I would recommend to read the first book of the trilogy and leave the rest alone.

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atenelli

I did not like the sequel as much as The Fall of Giants. However, it is still a pretty good read. Interested to see how he will end the story in the third and final part.

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atenelli

I really loved this novel and have already reread it once. I found it easy to read and enjoyable. I admit I might be a little biased because I have always enjoyed Ken Follett‘s historical fiction.

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Started reading this tonight. Some easy reading is in order.

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atenelli

I really loved this novel and have already reread it once. I found it easy to read and enjoyable. I admit I might be a little biased because I have always enjoyed Ken Follett‘s historical fiction.

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Empire of Silver | Conn Iggulden

#historicalfiction#centralasia#mongolia#ghengiskhan

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I have already read the whole series twice. It is a great read and very informative.#historicalfiction#centralasia#mongolia#ghengizkhan

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atenelli
Into Thin Air | Jon Krakauer

I read this when it first came out, and in the meantime have read memoirs by other climbers who were on Mt. Everest at the same time. Powerful story with one big lesson: There are too many people up there who should not be.#nonfiction#mountains#favorite

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#history#mongolia#women#2018

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Price of Blood | Patricia Bracewell
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German Angst | Friedrich Ani

I read this novel a long time ago, but the themes it carries are absolutely relevant today. With so many voices crying about “Ueberfremdung” and the loss of national identity because fellow citizens do not share their white skin, but actually have white vests, this book is a reminder where xenophobia and prejudice can lead us.#contemporaryfiction#germany#ingerman#xenophobia

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This is probably my favorite of all Amy Tan novels I have read so far. I am still missing a few, but will get there in time.#asianamericanfiction#amytan#favorites

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Finished listening to this one. I liked it so much that I have already started listening to the follow-up. Let‘s see if it is as good as the first one.#historicalfiction#middleages#germany#ingerman

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Just started listening to this audiobook, and cannot stop listening to it. Interesting story and very good narrator.#historicalfiction#europe#middleages#firstinseries#

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“Great leaps, however exhilarating, are hard on mortal creatures.”

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Listening to this story while recovering from a long trip and feeling jet lagged. Like it a lot so far#historical fiction#middle ages#germany#ingerman

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A Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

Time to reread; might eat up a lot of my reading time#doorstopper#india

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The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest | Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt

Read this after Krakauer‘s Into Thin Air. Captures the same event, but from a different perspective. Tend to agree with Boukreev.#nonfiction#mountains#disaster

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atenelli

Second part in the series about Otto the Great. Did not like it as much as the first one. Decided that I probably need to brush up on my history.#historicalfiction#germany#ingerman#ottothegreat

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atenelli

The first in a two-part series about the German Emperor Otto the Great. I loved how easy this novel read. Many of the places the author described were familiar to me because I grew up in that area.#historicalfiction#germany#ingerman#ottothegreat

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Excited to start this “door stopper” that I found at the local library.#history#easterneurope

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I read this book after I had finished Conn Iggulden‘s historical fiction series on Genghis Khan. I wanted to see how close Iggulden stayed to the truth, and was pleasantly surprised how well he did. I had a lot of misconceptions about Genghis Khan. All the more surprising to read about his idea of government and the reasons that made it possible for him to build his empire.#history#centralasia#mongolia

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