Bernie tells it like it is. He has suggestions but doesn‘t have a lot of clear answers on how to realistically fix the wealth inequity, healthcare, education etc in this country, but he brings it all up to fume about. It‘s good for Americans to hear what he has to say and to get mad about it. Loved his audio narration.

Fantastic read! The story of 3 generations of strong, black women from Memphis, TN and their ups and downs in this so called life. I really enjoyed the writing style. The chapters of each woman/narrator goes back and forth through the years and their stories are pieced together rather than going straight through a timeline. #ReadHarder23 ~listen to an audiobook performed by a POC of a book written by an AOC #Booked2023 ~featuring 3 generations

“I must now admit that I was still afraid of human beings, and before I could meet even the customers in the bar I had to fortify myself by gulping down a glass of water.” Some say this story is Dazai‘s suicide note. It‘s a sad and dark and painful story of Oba Yazo who has never had a connection to anyone around him. I wanted to read this before reading Junji Ito‘s graphic novel version. #Booked2023 ~by an author no longer living

A lot of love on Litsy lately for this beautifully written, quiet book. Novella in format, it was nice to play the audio on a drive and be able to absorb it in its entirety at just over an hour long. The story is of a girl who is sent to live with relatives, unknown to her, for the summer to make things easier for her family in rural Ireland. The movie titled ‘A Quiet Girl‘ was recently released in theaters about this book and I‘m curious.

Got a head start on April‘s Book Club choice but unfortunately, it filled 0 of my challenges 😕I liked the setting, 1850‘s Monterey, CA but the story itself was kind of a bore. I was hoping for more action and more of a mystery. The main character, Eliza was ok but I enjoyed her friend Jean‘s character much better. Disappointed overall.

The story of Lucrezia de‘ Medici, a daughter of the Grand Duke of Florence and her arranged marriage to Alfonso II d‘Este, Duke of Ferrara at a young age. I loved how short chapters were sprinkled throughout, taking the reader to the night of her untimely death while the twist at the end was truly a treat to read. #Booked2023 ~booked described with the word twist @alisiakae @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage #pop23 ~historical fiction

Finished on today‘s Volksmarch. This is a private-like memoir by Lamya who identifies as gay and Muslim as well as a foreigner from several countries. She‘s a feminist and activist and ties stories of the Quran into her own life and experiences as she learns to accept herself.
#ReadHarder23 ~nonfiction @ intersectual feminism #booked2023 ~new in 2023 @alisiakae @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage #pop23 ~book w/ a queer lead

I really enjoyed Jonestown and devoured Waco as well. I like Guinn‘s writing style and the research he puts in to tell of past events in history. I remember hearing about the Waco siege but I was a senior in high school at the time and didn‘t pay much attention to news coverage then. Learning the details of this incident makes me ponder society both then and now.
#Booked2023 ~title starts with a W @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen

I loved this full audio production! I also loved Carrie as a character, though I can see how many wouldn‘t. There‘s something about cocky competitiveness in a sport you love that I get. The story was tense at times, going through the tennis matches play by play, but it brought back some wonderful 80‘s memories of playing tennis (not competitively) during the summers and watching the tennis matches on TV with my mom, who loved the sport. #Pop23

Published as fiction, this story is inspired by the author‘s mother and the aftermath of being separated from family during the Korean War. The disconnect between the generations and black and white graphic novel reminded me of Maus. It‘s a sad story but the takeaway was worthwhile. #Booked2023 ~Set in 2 time periods @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen @alisiakae #readharder23 ~Historical Fiction set in an Eastern country #pop23

I thoroughly enjoyed a peek into Bono‘s world. From his family to the band, his activism, highs and lows and of course, the music ❤️
Bono narrates the audio and added music and other sound effects. It‘s long, but well worth the listen if you‘re a U2 fan.
#Pop23 ~ a celebrity memoir

This is a quiet, melancholy vampire story and so descriptive! You can close your eyes and just visualize ALL the details. I‘m glad I finally got around to this one and it was delightful on audio. I didn‘t realize it was written in the 70‘s and that it is the first in a series. I‘ll probably pick up the next at some point.
#Booked2023 ~ Gaslamp fantasy @alisiakae @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage
#Pop23 ~ Mythical Creature

Off to a slow start this year. I should have finished Bono‘s book Surrender but the loan on the audiobook expired with under an hour to go and of course there‘s a lengthy holds line from the library 😩 I‘m 25% of the way through The Stand and I have 3 other books in progress. I‘m kinda all over the place right now but it‘ll come together, eventually!

This is an excellent read to learn and understand what it‘s like living with a disability. Alice Wong unintentionally became an activist and fights for herself and those with disabilities. She talks about what we can do to help make things more accessible to those in need. I‘m looking forward to my book club‘s discussion on this one!
#readharder23 ~ about activism

If you‘re looking for an elementary aged picture book that doesn‘t sugarcoat slavery, Alexander‘s new picture book is well done!

“Shit from Shinola” Another phrase I haven‘t heard in a looooong time ❤️ Maybe I don‘t hear these terms anymore cause I‘m old & this book was published in the late 70‘s! 😝

One thing I love about Stephen King‘s writing is his inuendos about New England. Growing up primarily in MA & CT, it‘s been a while since I‘ve heard “ijets.” I may have remind my husband of this slang, he may have forgotten it 😂

#Pop23 Oops! I don‘t have much to choose from for published books in my birth year. I was super excited to see Salem‘s Lot but for some reason in my head I was thinking The Stand, which I started yesterday and I‘m hooked on! So I‘ll finish that as my longest book on my TBR and read Salem‘s Lot this year as well. Going old school King this year!

I picked this up a few years ago on a trip to Prague. I was curious to learn more about the Golem and about Prague‘s history. This is a story of the Golem, protector and destroyer, Homunculus of the high Rabbi Low.
Johan, a Heidelberg student, sets out on a journey to Prague to find the Golem and bring him back to life. He learns more of the homunculus and those that had a part in his creation.

I love Fitzgerald‘s The Great Gatsby. With that said, I really enjoyed this modern retelling in graphic novel form. The images and watercolors are stunning and seeing the story unfold was a nice treat! #pop22 ~ A Modern Retelling of a Classic #Booked2023 ~ Proper Name in Title

This was a terrific book club discussion, but not really a terrific book! I both liked and disliked the story as well as the protagonist. Lots of emotions. It‘s a mix of The Handmaid‘s Tale and Orange is the New Black. I went through looking for #Pop23 readers. If you‘d prefer not to be tagged, let me know! #Pop23 ~ A book that‘s on a celebrity book-club list #ReaderHarder23 ~ social horror

My year in books using Goodreads. I created a Storygraph account to try out this year. I‘m still figuring it all out. Cortg15

My top 22 reads of 2022. This was hard to narrow down 😊 Cheers to 2023 🥂

I finished #pop22 😀
~ a book about the afterlife (I did not attempt the advanced 😳)
I love the idea of this book and exploring reincarnation. It was a good spin on a WWII story. I didn‘t love the book, but didn‘t hate it. I did find it a bit confusing and repetitive, and then it just ended. Maybe I‘ll give the sequel a try since I have a copy of that as well. I think reading my physical copy would have been the better bet on this one.

Loved this story! There are a lot of themes running throughout, but finding a love was my favorite, and that ending! #pop22 ~ a book with a misleading title
I have one more to complete for the challenge and I‘m halfway done!

I didn‘t care for this one. I had a hard time concentrating on the audio, so maybe print would have been better. Kinda bummed because the premise of the story sounded delightful.
#pop22 ~a book set during a holiday

I appreciate my work peeps care enough to include books in our staff resource collection to help everyone feel welcome, staff and customers. I read through this today after my cubby-mate read it. It‘s a quick guide to pronouns and very well done. ❤️

I really enjoyed Horse! Brooks did an excellent job going back and forth between the time lines. I learned quite a bit from the 1850‘s storyline and the 2019 parts felt like a mystery as Theo and Jess uncover the story of the famous racehorse, Lexington. We had a great discussion at book club tonight 😊

#pop22 ~ a book with cutlery on the table
I‘ve heard a lot of mixed reviews and it does start out slow. I kept thinking ‘is this dinner going to be overanalyzed throughout the entire book?‘ But then, things started picking up and I found my self more and more intrigued about the Michel incident, things began getting dark and the end?! I did not see that coming! Whew. A lot to process and think on. This would make a great book discussion.

Who‘s in for #pop23 ??? I‘ve been reading over the list and decided to choose some of the prompts in advance that are either harder to fill or that I really want to read. The rest I‘ll just fill in as I go throughout the year. Also, I‘m really looking forward to reading The Stand 😂 Let us know if you‘d like to be tagged in ‘23! Everyone is welcome to play along! https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/reading-challenge-2023-49013480/amp

I think I would have preferred to have read a physical copy rather than the audio for this one. I enjoyed the story, characters, and friendships and how the characters are interwoven together around a science fiction book. I also like how the outcome of a sequel was completed. It was a sad story but I loved that Maxwell‘s father was a pirate! #pop22 ~ a book with a constellation on the cover

Loved this one! I really enjoyed the character building and relationship building in this, and though it was very much a Stockholm Syndrome kind of story, it wasn‘t, though maybe that‘s what it‘s all about? 🙌🏼 #pop22 ~ a book featuring a party

I listened to this one on a roadtrip today. I really enjoyed the narration! The story was good, but I kept thinking 1. These characters would be really fun to perform on stage and 2.The game Clue kept popping in my head ‘Mrs. White in the ball room with the pipe‘ 😂
#pop22 ~ a book that takes place on a train

An excellent adventure as only King can portray. Charlie, who I adored, befriends a curmudgeon neighbor and his trusty pup Radar. He soon discovers an underground fantasy world with dark fairy tale vibes. Prince Charlie must save the kingdom and find his way home, in a way.

My “completed” #booked2022 reading progress-mess that hangs on my cabinet at work 😂

I enjoyed this little whodunit story with lead detective Kate Shackleton. It‘s book 6 in a series but works as a stand alone (I haven‘t read any of the others.) There were a few things on Kate‘s list to include a missing person, a murder, a lost monkey, another missing person and another murder. Also, a lot of it takes place in a library! A quick read for bookclub and #booked2022 ~ a murder mystery, is now complete!

I love library books. A previous reader penciled in a mistype when a word was left out! 🤣🤣🤣

Loved this coming of age story, 1970‘s Baltimore! 14 year old Mary Jane is hired to nanny for 5 year old Izzy while psychiatrist Dr. Cone treats a famous rockstar and Mrs. Cone keeps his actress wife company when they move into the house for the summer. Mary Jane is out of her strict parents house while having the summer of her life. #pop22 ~ a book that takes place during your favorite season

Soaking up some unusually warm November weather in the hammock with flip flops and the pooch! Book club is on Tuesday and I‘m just getting this one started.

So glad I finally read this one. Written in the 60‘s, this gives me a lot to think about between the then and now when it comes to mental illness, love interests and relationships. Have we progressed? Enough? #Pop22 ~ a sapphic book

Great YA story! Quite a few LGBTQIA+ characters at a private school in the south that reminded me of Footloose. Shara Wheeler goes missing and leaves clues for classmates, three that she kisses just before she disappears. Reminding me a bit of Paper Towns with the clues. Overall, this was a well done story that will really appeal to today‘s high schoolers.

Finished #DraculaDaily this morning! It was a great read and I‘m glad I got to experience it through substack. #pop22 ~ a book set in Victorian times

I loved this story of the complicated friendship Sam and Sadie have. The ups and downs as their friendship ebbs and flows through successes, hardships and tragedies. At times I both loved and loathed each one as they navigated through life. The gaming aspect was fresh and I liked that they are my age so it was fun to look back at how gaming has evolved through the years. #booked2022 ~ a title that repeats itself

#pop22 Scrolling through my GR‘s challenge, I found that Solitaire fulfills a prompt 🙃

An interesting read that explores relationships, who we fall in love with, marry, and how families intertwine with one another and impact us.

I loved this story! The writing is wonderful, I loved reading about Cypress, the characters were great, each with their own baggage trying to move forward, and beautiful insights about the island, trees, animals, birds, and humans from a tree‘s perspective; brilliant! A truly delightful read.

I really liked the way this story is told, like various stories about a particular time that someone would look back on and talk about. It‘s the story of two friends during the Chinese Cultural Revolution that are sent from the city to a rural community to be reeducated and the time spent with the villagers. Different. #Booked2022

Historical fiction WWII books are overly done, so for me, they really need to be spectacular to love them. This one was good, I loved how books brought the community together during troubled times, but the story was predictable and nothing really stood out to make it unique or have that wow factor.

Such a creative way of telling the story of China‘s Boxer Movement, aka Society of Righteousness and Harmonious Fists and the Relief of Peking (battle.) I‘m looking forward to reading the companion book, Saints, to learn about the other side of history. Two sides to each story.
#Booked2022 ~ Set in China

Cute middle grades graphic novel about friendships, family, and acceptance. Oh, and witches, roadkill, ghosts and Halloween! I‘m glad the title was changed from Roadkill Witch 😂