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mhillis

mhillis

Joined July 2016

This book is good! Reading in Japan.
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mhillis
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Pickpick

If you want to learn more about transformative justice, then this is a great book! I decided to read it for #Nonfiction2024 to fulfill the prompt for The Hate You Give. One of the reasons the novel is banned is because of anti-police views. That made me wonder, what are the alternatives to restorative justice? I learned so much from this book and something called a Vent Diagram sent me on a deep dive. Really interesting info and resources.

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mhillis
The Corpse Wore Tartan | Kaitlyn Dunnett
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Mehso-so

I read The Corpse Wore Tartan in January for #SeasonalCozies It was a bit disappointing with too many characters and not much of a mystery, but I liked the idea of everyone being snowed in at a hotel during a Burns Night banquet. I haven‘t read any other books in this series so maybe that dampened my enjoyment. Oh well! The cover is great! On to February!

julieclair The cover really is great. Wish the book had been better… 😉 1mo
49 likes1 comment
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mhillis
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Reading so many books at once! Didn‘t finish any this week. Here are my impressions so far:

Forbidden Notebook is my favorite at the moment.
You, Again is going to be set aside for now.
The Good Wife of Bath is the biggest surprise because I don‘t usually like historical fiction from this period.

And I checked out The Neighbor Favor because I saw many people posting about it!!
#BookReport
#WeeklyForecast

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mhillis
The North Light | Hideo Yokoyama
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Two books I‘m planning to read and review this month! #JanuaryInJapan

The North Light
Nails and Eyes

batsy Both sound good and have been added to my TBR. I've only read Seventeen by Yokoyama so far and I liked it a lot. 2mo
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mhillis
A Room with a Roux | Sarah Fox
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery! It‘s the 7th book in the Pancake House series but it‘s the first one I‘ve read. Marley runs a pancake house and she goes on a trip to Holly Lodge with Brett during the holiday season. Then a body is found in a snow bank and Marley starts asking questions. Nice winter setting and interesting mystery—not sure why there‘s a cat on the cover though! #cozies #seasonalcozies

julieclair Despite there being no reason for its presence, that cat is adorable! 😻 2mo
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mhillis
The Corpse Wore Tartan | Kaitlyn Dunnett
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I‘ve just started reading my January choice for #SeasonalCozies

The Corpse Wore Tartan is set at a Scottish Hotel in Maine where a group gathers for Burns Night. This is number 4 in the series and I haven‘t read the previous ones, so I hope it‘s easy to follow! @julieclair

Soubhiville @Yenya1954 here is a hashtag about cozys. 🙂 2mo
mabell I have a couple of these on my shelf! I haven‘t read them yet either 😆 2mo
Susanita Great cover! 2mo
julieclair This cover is a hoot! 2mo
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mhillis
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#BookReport
Murder Under the Mistletoe
Love Alice
They Called Us Exceptional

#WeeklyForecast
Forbidden Notebook
A Room with a Roux
You, Again

No classes this past week, so I enjoyed reading and planning my reading!! My favorite book this week was Murder Under the Mistletoe.

Looking forward to participating in a couple reading challenges this year, especially #Nonfiction2024 and #SeasonalCozies

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mhillis
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Pickpick

They Called Us Exceptional is a #memoir by journalist Prachi Gupta. She shares her experience growing up in an Indian American family & it is also about other things: the model minority myth, patriarchy, mental health, relationships. Some parts were difficult to read.

For #Nonfiction2024 this is my pick for Not Your Perfect Mexican American daughter as the two books seem to share some common points. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

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mhillis
Murder Under the Mistletoe | Erica Ruth Neubauer
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Pickpick

Happy New Year!! I‘ve finished reading my first book of 2024! Murder Under the Mistletoe is book 4.5 in the Jane Wunderly mysteries. Jane visits Redvers‘ family for the first time during the holidays. This series seems to get better with every book, and I‘m looking forward to the next one coming out later this year!

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mhillis
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I‘m enjoying this book so much! The pastry was very good too!! #CurrentlyReading #CoffeAndABook #Japan

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mhillis
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Pickpick

The Paris Agent was inspired by real events surrounding WWII and SOE agents in France. It is told in two different timelines and from three points of view: Charlotte, Josie, and Eloise. Ultimately it is a story of bravery and family.

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mhillis
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Pickpick

I listened to the audiobook during my commute and the narration was excellent! Each character has had such an interesting journey. It took a while to get in to the story, but then I was hooked! Looking forward to the next book 📚

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mhillis
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Wrap up #20in4 #Readathon
Successful readathon with three books finished-and the covers are all color coordinated with lovely shades of orange and yellow! 💛🧡
Not quite my planned TBR but these were all quick reads and the other two books I had planned just weren‘t catching my attention. Thanks @Andrew65

Andrew65 Brilliant, well done 👏👏👏🙌🎊🥳🍾🥂😍 13mo
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Finished two books so far #20in4 #Readathon
✅ Finance for the People - I had heard the author on a podcast. It has fun illustrations and checklists so it‘s easy to understand.
✅ She and Her Cat: Stories - I wasn‘t expecting parts of the stories to be from the cats‘ pov!

Tomorrow I‘d like to read a mystery

Andrew65 That‘s an excellent start 👏👏👏 13mo
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Ready to start #20in4 #Readathon
My TBR: The Bandit Queens, She and Her Cat, and The Only Child 📚

Andrew65 Best of luck, great to have you with us. 😁 13mo
mhillis @Andrew65 Thank you 😊 13mo
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mhillis
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This year‘s reading is off to a great start! #BookReport

Sweet Bean Paste and Diary of a Void #JanuaryInJapan

In the Winter Woods #DiverseCozy

A Botanist‘s Guide to Parties and Poisons - The audiobook was great and I‘m looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out later this year

ChasingOm This one sounds particularly interesting to me 1y
mhillis @ChasingOm It‘s very good 1y
Cinfhen Beautiful covers have all caught my interest 😍 1y
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mhillis
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It is almost summer vacation! Looking forward to having more time to read! #BookReport

Finished
🎧 Velvet was the Night
📚 The Widow, The Priest and the Octopus Hunter
📚 Linea Nigra

In Progress
🎧 The Black Jersey
The highlight of this week‘s reading has been listening to this book! I didn‘t know I‘d be so interested in all the details about cycling! #DiverseCozy

Up Next
📚 Miss Aldridge Regrets

sarahbellum Yay, so glad you‘re enjoying it! I was surprised by how engrossing all the cycling details were too 🚲 2y
Cinfhen I love when a book captures my full attention 💜 2y
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mhillis
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Finally feel like I‘m able to concentrate on reading again after a busy semester! And yesterday was my SIX year Litsyversary!

The Kimono Tattoo is my favorite recent read, and I highly recommend it! It‘s set in Kyoto and I listened to the audiobook as I commuted by bus through the city.
The Kimono Tattoo
Tokyo Ever After
Meet Me in the Margins
They Wish They Were Us

I‘m still reading The Widow, The Priest, and The Octopus Hunter.
#BookReport

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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Hi all! It‘s been a while since I‘ve been here! It has been hard to concentrate on reading since going back to in person classes last month. I‘m on a train for the next three hours so will take this opportunity to jump back in and get started on the readathon! What to start with, an audiobook or arc?
Thanks @Andrew65 #MarvellousMay

wanderinglynn Welcome back! 👋🏻 2y
Andrew65 Great to see you here. 🤗 Good luck and enjoy whatever you choose. 2y
Bookwormjillk Good to see you! 2y
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mhillis @Andrew65 Thanks! I enjoyed listening to the audiobook 2y
kspenmoll Welcome back!! 2y
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mhillis
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I‘m a little late with this week‘s #BookReport
Intimacies was so good and i was interested in the main character‘s work as an interpreter at The Hague.
✅ Mimi Lee Cracks the Code
✅ There‘s No Such Thing as an Easy Job
✅ Intimacies
🎧 Patron Saints of Nothing #Roll100

This week the plum blossoms are finally blooming and I‘m looking forward to exploring the titles on the Booker Longlist!!

Cinfhen OMG! Those plum blossoms are GORGEOUS 🤩😍🤩Do they have a heavenly scent like cherry blossoms?? 2y
Cinfhen I agree, Intimacies was really good 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen I think they smell even better than cherry blossoms!! 🌸🤩 2y
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mhillis
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#BookReport
A bit of a slow reading week! Just finished one book: Daughters of the Samurai which is about the first Japanese women to study in the United States. This was really interesting for me!

Currently reading There‘s No Such Thing as an Easy Job and Mimi Lee Cracks the Code!

Cinfhen Your NF book really sounds fascinating 🤓thanks for sharing 2y
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mhillis
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🧡 Current reads: Daughters of the Samurai

🧡 Book you wish more people knew about: Straight from the Horse‘s Mouth

🧡 Last book you added to your TBR: Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness

#WeekendReads

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mhillis
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#BookReport
This is actually my book report for the month of February! I didn‘t read much this month, but these six books were interesting. I liked all of them, and I want to recommend The Tenth Muse, Straight from the Horse‘s Mouth, and Fault Lines. Hoping to finish up Daughters of the Samurai this weekend.

Cinfhen All of these book covers are fantastic🤩I‘ve noted the books that you‘ve highlighted & will be adding to my TBR 🙌🏻♥️ 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen Yes 🙌 I especially like the cover of Fault Lines! 2y
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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I‘m really looking forward to getting some reading done during #20in4 Readathon! I‘ve only read 4 books so far in February which means that I definitely have a few ARCs and books I‘d like to make progress on. I‘ll start with these:
Fault Lines
Straight from the Horse‘s Mouth
Daughters of the Samurai

Thanks for hosting @Andrew65

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck. 😊👍 2y
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mhillis
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March 2022 #Roll100
This month‘s books are 5: Patron Saints of Nothing and 28: Confessions. I‘m going to start with the audiobook of Patron Saints of Nothing because it‘s available now from the library! Thanks @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Looks great! 2y
mhillis @PuddleJumper Thanks! I finished February‘s book and really enjoyed it 2y
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mhillis
The Roughest Draft | Austin Siegemund-Broka, Emily Wibberley
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🍊 Current reads: Two books in translation—Straight from the Horse‘s Mouth (Morocco) and Tales from the Cafe (Japan)

🍊 Last book you couldn‘t put down: The Roughest Draft
Not my usual genre but I liked the dynamic between the main characters who were book cowriters, and I read it in a day!

🍊 Bake cookies!

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mhillis
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Surfacing was my favorite this week! I also finished The Pages and Several People Are Typing.

After reading The Power of Fun last month, I wanted to read more fun, humorous, comedic books. (Any recommendations?) Several People Are Typing did make me laugh! Lots of wfh antics! And same time, I found myself thinking about it after I finished reading.

I have two books in progress: Straight from the Horse‘s Mouth and Tales from the Cafe.

Cinfhen I also thought this was funny/ especially on audio 2y
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Cinfhen And this one on audio gave me #AllTheFeels 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen Nice!! Thanks ☺️ I‘ll look for them! 2y
Cinfhen My pleasure 😁 2y
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mhillis
The Pages: A novel | Hugo Hamilton
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The Pages by Hugo Hamilton is narrated by the most unlikely of candidates—Rebellion by Joseph Roth, which escaped a Nazi book burning during World War II and is now in the hands of Lena in the present day US. From its place on the bookshelf to the inside of a shoulder bag, the book tells the story, but it has secrets of its own, including a hand drawn map among its pages. #NetGalley #ThePages

mhillis This is a soft pick for me. I really liked parts of the book and appreciate what the author was doing, but the second half wasn‘t as interesting as I‘d hoped. 2y
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mhillis
Surfacing | Kathleen Jamie
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Pickpick

The two essays on archeological digs in Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie were most interesting. This is a beautifully written book touching on nature, time, people, and traditions. I listened to the audiobook during #20in4

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mhillis
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February #Roll100

This month I plan to read The Tenth Muse. It looks really good and I‘ve already downloaded the audiobook!

I don‘t plan to read The Silvered Serpent because I just realized it‘s the second in the series, so I‘ll save it for later!

PuddleJumper You can swap out the series book for the first one if you want. That's what I'm planning on doing with a few of mine 2y
mhillis @PuddleJumper Good idea! I‘ll see if I can get a hold of book one 2y
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mhillis
Heaven | Mieko Kawakami
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⭐️ Current Reads: Meet Isabel Puddles by M. V. Byrne and Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie

⭐️ Fav book of January: Heaven (tagged)

⭐️ Most recent library checkout: The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory

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mhillis
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I really enjoyed my reading time this week!! #BookReport

This week I finished four excellent books in translation: Love in the Big City (Korea), An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good (Sweden), The Woman in the Purple Skirt (Japan), and The King of the Copper Mountain (Netherlands).

I also read a new release, The Roughest Draft which is about writing partners. It‘s a romance novel but with lots of details about the writing process.

LiteraryinLawrence Most of your books have a similar color scheme going on! 2y
mhillis @LiteraryinLawrence haha pink and yellow! It‘s funny how that happens sometimes!! 2y
Cinfhen Fun covers and yeah for reading in translation 2y
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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#JoyousJanuary wrap up post!
I didn‘t set any specific goals, but I had a great readathon!
Finished 6 books, wrote 3 reviews for NetGalley, watched two books to movies! I liked all of these books, and my favorite was Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking.
Thank you @Andrew65 #readathon

tpixie Amazing! 2y
mhillis @tpixie Thanks! I finished classes so I had some extra time! 2y
tpixie @mhillis 🥳🥳🥳 2y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏🙌🥳🍾🥂😍📚 Thanks for playing along. 2y
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mhillis
Love in the Big City | Sang Young Park
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💙 Current Read: Love in the Big City

💙 Last blue book read: The Beadworkers

💙 A book with blue in the title on your TBR: Blue Bear Woman

#WeekendReads

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mhillis
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Can‘t believe it‘s the weekend already—this week went by so fast! I read a lot this week and finished:

The Power of Fun
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking
Strange Weather in Tokyo
The Windsor Knot
Thank you, Mr. Nixon

Thank you, Mr. Nixon is my first Gish Jen and it is a short story collection! So I‘ve read 3 short story books this year! I‘m looking forward to reading a couple of her other books, especially The Resisters and Tiger Writing.

Cinfhen Great week!!! And some fabulous book covers 🤩 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen thanks! yes, lots of red on the covers! 2y
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mhillis
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Mehso-so

I‘m glad to have read Ida B. the Queen for #SheSaid This was a good introduction to her life, but I definitely wanted more information about her and the people she‘s inspired, so in the future, I plan to read Crusade for Justice and The Echoing Ida Collection.

Today I just happened to see an article that there will be an Ida B. Wells Barbie doll.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/01/12/ida-wells-barbie-do...

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mhillis
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Mehso-so

The Power of Fun has some practical ideas for having more fun: the state of playfulness, connection, and flow. However, there was quite a bit of repetition both within the book and from her other book, How To Break Up With Your Phone. The author introduced the term “collective effervescence” from Dirkheim which I found fascinating though! I listened to the audiobook and would recommend it as a borrow, not a buy. #JoyousJanuary

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mhillis
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Pickpick

Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking was recently recommended by Mayukh Sen in Lit Hub‘s Craft of Writing Newsletter. It sounded so interesting that I immediately downloaded the audiobook. The author cleverly mixes Soviet history, memoir and food writing.
#JoyousJanuary #memoir

lynneamch Really enjoyed this one and learned some history, too. Even made the kulebiaka (Ukrainian fish pie). 2y
jlhammar I really liked this one too! 2y
mhillis @lynneamch @jlhammar thanks! Cooking some of the dishes sounds fun! 2y
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mhillis
Untitled | Unknown
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Thank you @EadieB for the tag
1. Yes! It is the most convenient way to read while commuting by train!
2. I usually read ebooks on my iPad. In fact, I don‘t read many physical copies of books these days.

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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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#JoyousJanuary #Readathon update!

✅ Wrote 2 reviews and earned my 25 Reviews badge on Net Galley
✅ Watched The Lost Daughter and Passing on Netflix. Both of these books are favorites of mine and the films didn‘t disappoint!
✅ Finished The Windsor Knot
🎧 Still listening to Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking and Strange Weather in Tokyo. Not sure what I‘ll pick next, maybe The Woman in the Purple Skirt

Thanks @Andrew65

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mhillis
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#BookReport
Finished four books this week!
📚 The Inugami Curse #JanuaryinJapan
📚 The Beadworkers
📚 Ida B. the Queen
📚 Avidly Reads Poetry #NetGalley #arc

I like short story collections lately—I‘ve already read two this year: Terminal Boredom and The Beadworkers. Every story in The Beadworkers was great, and I especially liked Beading Lesson.

slategreyskies I really liked Strange Weather in Tokyo. :) 2y
Cinfhen Nice mix of genres 🥰 2y
shawnmooney I have the Piatote collection on ebook - great to hear that you enjoyed it! 2y
mhillis @shawnmooney looking forward to your review! 2y
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mhillis
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#BookReport Some great books to start the year!

#JanuaryInJapan
Terminal Boredom
Heaven

The Last Rose of Shanghai
The Subtweet 🎧
Body and Soul Food
Bull Shit Jobs 🎧

Cinfhen Nice 👍🏽 I‘m hoping to read/listen to this one ever since I think @Lindy posted it 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen I enjoyed it and it is completely different from 2y
Lindy @mhillis @Cinfhen Vivek Shraya has immense talent. I‘m looking forward to her latest: 2y
mhillis @Lindy I hadn‘t seen that yet! thanks! 2y
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Wrap up post #NewYearSpecial #20in4

I finished one book—The Mercies—and that was the last book of 2021. In the new year, I‘ve been reading quite a few books but haven‘t finished anything yet! My first book of the year was Terminal Boredom and first audiobook The Subtweet. Thanks for hosting

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mhillis
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I haven‘t finished any books in the New Year, so these are the last four books of 2021! Whereabouts was so good and I‘d definitely put it on my best of 2021 list! #BookReport
The Mercies
Northern Spy
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
Whereabouts

Cinfhen I really enjoyed Whereabouts too and I‘ll be reading this book with the #literaryCrew next month 2y
Cinfhen Did u enjoy Mercies?? 2y
mhillis @Cinfhen Yes! I listened to the audio. A little long, but good. 2y
Cinfhen I have the print book but good to know audio is another option 😁 2y
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mhillis
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Day three #NewYearSpecial #20in4

I had no idea what my first book of the new year would be until today—Terminal Boredom by Izumi Suzuki. Off to a good start with the first story, Women and Women.

Andrew65 Always good to start the year strongly. 2y
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mhillis
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The two books from my #Roll100 list are Radiant Fugitives and The Grace of Kings. I‘m pretty sure that I‘ll only have time for the first one! Thanks @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Yay! Grace of Kings is on my list too and it's a hefty one 2y
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mhillis
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Happy New Year!! I read so many good books in 2021! But I didn‘t read much in the autumn, so I didn‘t finish Reading Asia. Looking forward to more reading and reading challenges in 2022!!

Ruthiella Well done 👍 and Happy New Year!🥳🥂 2y
CaitZ Congrats! 2y
Reggie You did great! 2y
Gissy Awesome!📚📚📚👏👏👏 2y
Bookzombie Happy New Year!🎆 2y
56 likes5 comments
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mhillis
The Mercies | Kiran Millwood Hargrave
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Pickpick

Day two reading for #NewYearSpecial #20in4

Today I finished listening to the audiobook of The Mercies, and this is my last book of 2021! Although long, I really enjoyed it because of the characters and setting, not to mention a great narration!

Crazeedi I started this and put it down. May have to pick up again Happy new year Mary! 2y
mhillis @Crazeedi Happy New Year 🥳 2y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
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mhillis
Readathon storybook: Oshindonga & English | Dorian Haarhoff, Linekela Shipindo Moshindonga, Sarie Maritz
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Day one reading for #NewYearSpecial #20in4 🥂

Listening to The Mercies on audio and my goal is to finish listening before the new year! At about 40% in Bull Shit Jobs which was recommended to me by a student, and started reading The Last Rose of Shanghai which I downloaded from NetGalley

Andrew65 Good luck, great to have you with us. 😊👍 2y
mhillis @Andrew65 Thank you! 2y
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