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nanuska_153

nanuska_153

Joined November 2019

Is the warfare between the sheep and the flowers not important? Find me on: www.goodreads.com/nanuska_153
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nanuska_153
Olive Kitteridge | Elizabeth Strout
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...again. No, if love was available, one chose it, or didn't choose it. And if her platter had been full with the goodness of Henry and she had found it burdensome, had flicked it off crumbs at a time, it was because she had not known what ond should know: that day after day was unconsciously squandered."

review
nanuska_153
Olive Kitteridge | Elizabeth Strout
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Pickpick

A collection of short stories where the character Olive has different levels of importance. Through them we meet her, her family and the people in the town whose lives are intertwined. All the characters and relationships have such depth, it's so well written, so rich in details, the stories have a gentle sadness but at the same time are funny... I can't recommend this enough, will read the second one and anything this author has to offer.

perfectsinner I think this is in my tbr 5d
nanuska_153 @perfectsinner hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 5d
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
nanuska_153
Untitled | Unknown
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This extract from Ancient Cures, Charms and Usages of Ireland is wild... I don't know if I love my husband THIS much 😅

Dilara 😨 Anybody prepared to do this needs to take a good look at themselves... 3w
nanuska_153 @Dilara definitely, I feel like if you find yourself doing something that Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights would do, you have to start reconsidering your life decisions...and that your partner should run and never look back 3w
Jari-chan Wow, creepy 🙈 3w
Dilara @nanuska_153 Definitely! 2w
22 likes4 comments
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nanuska_153
Mostly Harmless | Douglas Adams
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Pickpick

This brings to an end the "The trilogy of five" Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It recovers some of the freshness that had lost with the last book, really enjoyed it, very good wrap up of the series. I'll definitely revisit it in the years to come, a good way to get some light, fun-chaotic reading. Might look for the BBC audios, if anyone knows where to find them!

@Jas16 #24in2024

Jas16 Great job! 3w
catsuit_mango I know there is a vinyle of thé complete BBC audio, and i found the audio files but i can't remember where. 3w
catsuit_mango You might also like the BBC adaptation from the 80s. The movie is nice but mostly fan service in comparison. 3w
See All 7 Comments
nanuska_153 @Jas16 thanks! I intend to tackle this month both Middlemarch and Villette so wish me luck 🤞🏻 3w
nanuska_153 @catsuit_mango thanks so much for that, I watched the movie but didn't know there was a series. Will see if I find the vinyl it would make a nice addition to my collection ❤️ 3w
Jas16 I loved Middlemarch! 🍀🍀 3w
40 likes7 comments
review
nanuska_153
Yellowface | R F Kuang
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Pickpick

June Hayward witnesses the death of her college "friend" Athenea Liu, a very successful American-Asian author. She decides to steal her manuscript on Chinese Labourers during WWI and finally gets the success she always dreamed of, but also the hate of many people that think is cultural appropriation and those who think doubt she is the author.
The book is told from the perspective of a white woman who "is not racist but" and Kuang strikes gold⬇️

nanuska_153 with all the racist comments/attitudes from her characters that no doubt she had to suffer in real life. Some dark humour mixed with interesting insight into the publishing business, white privilege satire and a commentary in how vicious social media can get and how affects our lives. It's an interesting read, it deflated a bit in my opinion, but I'd still recommend it. 4w
Jas16 Really want to read this one soon. 4w
nanuska_153 @Jas16 I had heard such good things from it that it joined my wishlist very early on. I'm glad I read it 3w
46 likes4 comments
blurb
nanuska_153
Pride and Predujice. | Jane Austen
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I trust your family is in good health and wish all of you a Happy Valentines Day ❤️ #Pemberlittens

Ruthiella 😂😂😂 Happy Valentine‘s Day 💘 1mo
Branwen 💗 😂 😂 😂 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Happy Valentine‘s Day 🩷 1mo
nanuska_153 @Ruthiella @Branwen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thanks! I hope you had a very romantic date that included a proposal outlining their love for you despite the wishes of their family, friends and their own better judgement; I wouldn't have it any other way ❤️ 1mo
42 likes4 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Mehso-so

This is a collection of migrants stories, their reasons to cross to the US and their problems in transit and once they reached their destination. I was more interested on the appendix than in the stories, the timeline about how US interference caused instability in central America and how their policies affected the migrants was brief but interesting.I was surprised when I went back and I saw that women's stories were about 40% of the book,because

nanuska_153 I didn't think their problems were represented. I saw on the Glossary that 80% suffer sexual violence on transit, rape being considered part of the price that women pay for travelling to the US and how they are also abused in the immigration centers. Despite this shocking percentage this theme doesn't appear at all on any of the stories chosen to reflect the lives of the migrants, having to learn about it in a Glossary makes me think ⬇️ 1mo
nanuska_153 that it had to be avoided on purpose. Overall it left me with the feeling that a better book with migrants stories has to exist, if you find it let me know 1mo
Ruthiella Have you read this? It‘s focus is children migrants, but it is supposed to be very good 1mo
nanuska_153 @Ruthiella no, I haven't, but it does look good. I'll add it to my list. Thanks! 1mo
35 likes4 comments
review
nanuska_153
The Mayor of Zalamea: The Best Garrotting Ever Done | Pedro Calderon de La Barca, Adrian Mitchell
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Pickpick

This was not as good as Life is a dream, but still a fun and interesting play. The theme of women being taken advantage of and the law allowing men to not suffer consequences while they are socially ostracized is repeated. Makes me interested in learning more about the author's life that in the XVII century he was so interested in representing women's problems on stage

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nanuska_153
Life Is a Dream | Pedro Calderon de La Barca
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Pickpick

Segismundo has been a prisoner in a tower all his life, he doesn't know the reason. When he was born his father, the king, predicted that he would be a tyrant, so he locked him up. Now that the king is old he decides to free him to see his true nature and should he fulfill the prophecy he intends to lock him up again and make him believe everything was a dream.
I read this play more times that I can count. This Oedipus type of story has some⬇️

nanuska_153 of the most beautiful dialogues I've ever read and a great female character that fights for her honour when no man is willing to do it for her. Pure poetry with a feminist character, what more could you ask for? 2mo
30 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
American Dirt | Jeanine Cummins
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Pickpick

Lydia and her son hide in the shower while a group of sicarios murder their whole family,they have to escape Mexico and cross the border before the cartel catches them. Through their story we catch a glimpse at the horrible things the migrants have to endure to try to find a better life.I was on the edge of my seat all through the book, there's no rest here, and the writing is so immersive that even when I stopped reading I was afraid the cartel⬇️

nanuska_153 were going to kill me. I recommend it, but it's not for fainted hearted. 2mo
36 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World | Bryan Lee O'Malley
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"He is as hot as the flames of hell you bitches are going to." ?❤️

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nanuska_153
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World | Bryan Lee O'Malley
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Pickpick

I finally went back to this series. I loved the first one but took me a while to find the second book and I finally got my hands on the full collection last year.

Such a great read, so funny, I laughed out loud more than once. I can see why despite everything Knives thinks Scott is such a sweet nice guy, I can't help but loving him too.

#24in2024 @Jas16

Jas16 Love a book that makes me laugh! 2mo
30 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
ISAAC AND THE EGG | BOBBY PALMER
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Mehso-so

Isaac is a mess, since his wife died he is often drunk, isolating himself from the world, not bathing, not going even close to the kitchen where he was when he hears the news. One day he finds a weird egg-like creature in the woods that he has to take care of; or is the egg who takes care of him through his grief?
I think I'd enjoyed more this book in a different moment, I needed something light and it's advertised as funny,but its really heavy⬇️

nanuska_153 and going through the grieving process felt often uphill. It's very well written and it left me with some very vivid images, just not the right time for me I think. #24in2024 @Jas16 2mo
37 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
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...Trojan-horse style, silence as its true intent. That the opposite of slut is not virtue but voice.

So I've written what happened, exactly as I remember...

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nanuska_153
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Pickpick

"Lacy" said my mother "where you raped?" "Only in my mouth",this heartbreaking answer is only the beginning of what happened to Lacy when attending St Paul's school.When she was only 15 two older boys raped her,she doesn't have the vocabulary for what happened.Is it rape if it was my mouth?Is it rape if I didn't scream?She gets STD,she doesn't understand it because the school hides the diagnosis,she thinks it's God's punishment for what she did.⬇️

nanuska_153 All that she has to go through afterwards is just heartbreaking, the sexual harassment, the bullying, the school protecting the perpetrators by threatening the victim. This is not an easy book to read, it's outrageous, but you should read it because just like countless times before, they did their best so you don't listen to the victims. 2mo
Jas16 Sounds like a heart wrenching read. 2mo
nanuska_153 @Jas16 it was, probably not the best choice considering January is already tough as it is, but it was a good book and very well written 2mo
34 likes1 stack add4 comments
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nanuska_153
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Joining @Jas16 on her #24in2024 to try to tackle my TBR list. Hopefully I won't buy 24 more books this year and go back to where I started

Thanks @Ruthiella for the tip!

Jas16 So glad you are joining us! 2mo
33 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
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Finished up 2023 with 36 books, 6 more than I had planned. Very happy considering I had a reading slump that lasted almost 2 months. Will I dare to aim for 40 books with a toddler?

My main target this year is to reduce my TBR list, I bought too many books last year because of the closure of book depository and now that it's so close to the 100s I feel guilty while still wanting to buy more books. Any ideas to inspire me to tackle my TBRs?

AllDebooks I listen to audiobooks while doing other tasks or activities. It took me a while to get into them, but it was so worth it. 2mo
Ruthiella Nice work! I find reading from what I own before buying new shiny things a challenge too. There a lots of ways to whittle it down, like making a TBR jar or committing to a stack (like #24in2024 ) . You just have to find the method that works best for you. 2mo
nanuska_153 @AllDebooks thanks for the tip! My library has a big audiobook catalogue I might look into it 2mo
nanuska_153 @Ruthiella oh I didn't know about the #24in2024 challenge. Thanks so much! That kind of adds up with what I had in mind and leaves me a bit of extra for free choices. Will definitely try to make a list 2mo
47 likes4 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Mehso-so

This was my least favourite of the series so far.It was the first that the author wrote as a novel and more or less he lazed his way through it until his editor locked him in a room and forced him to finish it. It shows xD He had the set up of the story,the questions he was going to ask and answer,where the story was going to finish,but the story goes wherever it wants to go and Douglas Adams seems to have no control over it. ⬇️

nanuska_153 Still made me laugh at loud, but it's definitely the weakest of the series. 3mo
35 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
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Pickpick

After interviewing hundreds of women from different backgrounds Ensler writes these monologues, poems,about their relationship with their body,with sex,with sexual violence.She wants us to use the word vagina,to stop feeling uncomfortable saying it,to stop the shame,to speak without fear,to share our experiences so we can heal,so we can fight systematic violence.According to WHO 1 in 3 women suffer physical or sexual violence, 1 in 3,remember them

30 likes1 stack add1 comment
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nanuska_153
The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas
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Yeah Tupac is still relevant

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nanuska_153
The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas
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Pickpick

Starr witnesses her childhood friend murdered by a policeman in a racially motivated crime,she is afraid that people in her poor neighbourhood will know she is the witness endangering her life;she is afraid that people in her mostly white school will find out and categorise her as ghetto;she feels guilty for not finding the strength or the words to speak up.While grieving she has to learn to reconcile who she is in each sphere and find herself⬇️

nanuska_153 This is heartbreaking, because although it's fiction you know it's many people's reality. Although it transpires on the dialogues that is a YA it is so well written that you really feel like you inhabited this world. It's also oddly uplifting and there's place to smile in this harsh reality. 3mo
35 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
Persuasion | Jane Austen
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Pickpick

The older I get the more I like Persuasion over P&P. I guess with age I have tempered my character and went from being more of an Elizabeth to more of an Anne. They are alike in many ways, but at the same time dramatically opposite, Elizabeth is headstrong and once she believes something she won't let anyone persuade her to act in a different way, she'll do what she thinks is right, but at the end of the novel she changes her views. ⬇️⬇️

nanuska_153 Anne on the other hand lets, out of love, other people persuade her to act against what she believes is best, although she is constant on her emotions. In Persuasion Anne's character is measured against the more impulsive and stubborn character of Louisa, and although in both novels the resolution is that a more flexible cautious behaviour is always better, in P&P Elizabeth's character is romanticised. 3mo
nanuska_153 Anne and Elizabeth are both seeing as perfect, but the idea of what "you ought to be" evolves with age. 3mo
Cuilin Persuasion has always been my favorite. 🩷 3mo
See All 8 Comments
ravenlee I‘ve always loved Persuasion. P&P is great, but Persuasion has my heart. 3mo
Ruthiella It took a second read and 10 years for me to appreciate Persuasion. That letter! “You pierce my soul”. ❤️ 3mo
nanuska_153 @Cuilin it's so good, you can tell a more mature Jane wrote it 3mo
nanuska_153 @ravenlee both Persuasion and Captain Wentworth have my heart ❤️ I'd pick him over Darcy every time 3mo
nanuska_153 @Ruthiella and the way he gives it to her, I always get nervous when it's coming. You really can tell how strongly he feels about Anne 3mo
42 likes8 comments
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nanuska_153
Persuasion | Jane Austen
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Time for a cozy re-read by the Christmas tree 🎄

Wentworth, I'm ready to fall in love with you again ❤️

peanutnine Favorite! 💖 Also, love your tree! 🎄😍 4mo
nanuska_153 @peanutnine thanks! It was the first time that we put the tree with my toddler's "help" so to be honest looking at it still gives me a bit of stress from re-living the experience ? 4mo
peanutnine @nanuska_153 🤣🤣🤣 4mo
40 likes3 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

Swann is usually jumping from woman to woman, but when he meets Odette he falls in love with her, well, first with the idea of love and then with her. The relationship soon turns on a jealous nightmare, but he refuses to let her go, as they say players only love you when you are playing.

This is a stand alone story from In Search of Lost Time, so a good way to find out if Proust is for you or not. I understand why some people find him difficult⬇️

nanuska_153 his sentences are very long, it's all a one stream of thought that takes you through their whole story, no chapters, no rest, so it's difficult to find a point to stop reading. But it's not difficult to follow, his writing is beautiful and the characters are very distinctive and sometimes funny. I'll definitely read the full novel. 4mo
merelybookish I'm currently on Volume 5 of his opus. Definitely worth it and some parts do go on forever! 😅 4mo
nanuska_153 @merelybookish yeah I can see that happening. There was a part here that he goes to a party alone and he tells you something is going to happen that is going to change his views on the relationship, but then he goes on and on and you start meeting new characters and he goes on and on and there was a point when I wondered if he forgot about it 😅 4mo
40 likes3 comments
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nanuska_153
On Palestine | Noam Chomsky, Ilan Pappe
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Israel has killed over 120 kids per day on average since the 7th of October; over 100 of the kids killed never reached 1 year old.

The cycle of violence perpetrated by Israel has to stop. It's not antisemitic to ask that Israel is held responsible for their crimes against humanity. We need more than cease fire, we need accountability for this to stop. Please, inform yourself about the past so we don't continue to make the same mistakes.

18 likes1 stack add
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nanuska_153
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Proust: almost every sentence that he writes it's about 10 lines long.

Also Proust: "He is a bit of a poser" ?❤️

review
nanuska_153
On Palestine | Noam Chomsky, Ilan Pappe
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Pickpick

Sequel to Gaza in Crisis,that was more centered on US politics,while this one is more on Zionism.It gives context to the conflict and Israel's policies, explains the never ending cycle:Israel attacks-ceasefire-Palestine abides by it,Israel doesn't-Palestine attacks-Israel responds as if it was an isolated incident,kills more people,grabs more land,the rest of the world looks the other way.Repeat.An interesting read that will leave you heartbroken

nanuska_153 It was written in 2015 but it could have been written today, or sadly probably in 10 years time. Pappé provides an interesting insight considering he is born and raised in Israel so he really knows what he is talking about when he talks about Israel's brainwashing of its people; while Chomsky provides an interesting insight from the US point of view, that is relevant since one could not exist without the other. 4mo
Darklunarose This. So many people do not know this. They are so settled into what they think is going on they don‘t take the time to learn what is really going on. 4mo
nanuska_153 @Darklunarose exactly,it's shocking that when we have so much information to hand some people just let media and governments dictate their views without putting any critical thinking onto it.We're talking about things that happened during our lifetime more than once and so many people still believe Israel's narrative.I'm afraid that even those who don't,they think that ceasefire is the goal,it should be making Israel accountable for their crimes 4mo
29 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
nanuska_153
How to Build a Boat | Elaine Feeney
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Mehso-so

I could review this book in just one word: "meh". It's easy to read, neither love it nor hate it, things happen but characters lack depth so you don't care. Ironically the most boring parts are the ones where they explain how to build a boat. Not sure if the author knows how to do it, but she definitely doesn't know how to explain the procedure. In a week I probably won't remember I read it

keithmalek I don't think "meh" is a word. ? 4mo
nanuska_153 @keithmalek it is, according to the Oxford dictionary is both an interjection and an adjective. Its definition as adjective is "Mediocre; unexceptional, uninspiring; (also) unenthusiastic." 4mo
keithmalek Oh...I stand corrected.😅 4mo
nanuska_153 @keithmalek in fairness it was only introduced in 2007, which although is already 16 year ago, since it's after the year 2000 in my mind counts as yesterday 4mo
keithmalek Mine too. 4mo
33 likes5 comments
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nanuska_153
On Palestine | Noam Chomsky, Ilan Pappe
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This was written in 2014,it could have been written today,just multiply the Palestinian victims.Back in 2014,Chomsky wrote "for the past 14 years, the norm is that Israel kills more than two Palestinian children a week".After almost a decade we see over 4,000 Palestinian kids killed in less than a month.All of us have their blood in our hands,together with the blood of so many women and men that didn't deserve a life of imprisonment,loss and death

nanuska_153 To put it on perspective: my local school has about 1,000 students; you'd have to kill every student of 4 local schools to reach those numbers. In only a month. Think about that when you are dropping your kids to school 4mo
21 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
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Mehso-so

It has magic and a school,but this felt less Rowling and more Pratchett,with lots of magical elements thrown at you in a chaotic way;but while that's a praise on his books,it's not in this instance.I feel this novel needs polishing.The purpose of the book seems to be to introduce you to this universe, since it finishes when things start to happen, but after 350 pages I was left with more questions than answers about it, I feel lost in this world.

nanuska_153 It would benefit of an explanation of the different realms and what each does. I found the school system nonsensical, sometimes there doesn't seem to be a distinction between alumni and teachers; you join the same class doesn't matter when you start; and the tests are the same regardless of your level, for some their last test is the same than for others the first one, someone that's there for a year fails a test that people that have been there⬇️ 4mo
nanuska_153 there less than a week pass? Do they learn anything in that school? Also, what's the purpose for society of this immortal beings? What's their skillset, beside age-shifting, how are their powers used to help society? 4mo
nanuska_153 Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of my honest review 4mo
33 likes3 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

I heard this before I read it, but this is really the definition of cozy read. Viv is an orc that tired of her adventures as mercenary and with the use of a lucky stone opens a coffee shop in a city that never heard of coffee. In this fantasy world enough things happen so the day to day of starting a new business in a new city doesn't become boring, but not too much either to feel the coziness of a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll leave us.

AvidReader25 Loved this one! There‘s a new one (a prequel I think) coming out this week! 4mo
LiteraryinLawrence I just started this last night and it‘s adorable so far! 4mo
nanuska_153 @AvidReader25 yes! I saw that and immediately requested it on NetGalley but I think I'm too close from publication date to be accepted. Will definitely read it 4mo
nanuska_153 @LiteraryinLawrence I was off today so I brought breakfast to bed to read the book for a bit (I was in chapter 4). Long story short, I kept reading until I finished the book and forgot to eat xD Honestly, getting absorbed into this universe is exactly what I needed. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 4mo
Blerdgal_Fenix I loved this book!! Alice of life and very cozy for the avid fantasy reader 🖤 4mo
46 likes5 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

This is what I was looking for:a gentle approach; with checklists about if your kid is ready for each stage;it's easy to try even if you are working full time, since they are little nappy free sessions that increase as your child succeeds,and tells you how to stop and try again if it doesn't work.

Also the quote "although it's shocking to see your little princess deliberately pooing in her kickers like an angry convict" will stay with me forever.

nanuska_153 I understand the parents that want to go for an all or nothing approach if you are potty training a 3 year old, but if you have a younger baby that is showing signs of being ready, I think those approaches can be quite confusing for them and even though other books confirm that potty training is not linked to age and it's possible to be ready from 18 months, they don't really assist with those cases. 5mo
BethM Omg that quite totally describes my son! 5mo
nanuska_153 @BethM I'm glad I'm not alone!She is showing signs that she is ready and she is definitely curious about using the toilet,but she's only 22 months,so I don't want to delay her if she is really ready but I don't want to rush her onto it either if she is not, this book has a more "let's try this out" approach and it tells you if x,y,z happens try again next month; if a,b happens keep trying. Is your son potty trained already? 5mo
See All 6 Comments
BethM He just turned 3 and we waited to start until June. We‘re trying to move to underwear this week with varying degrees of success. 4mo
BethM We also did not do any of the naked type training. 4mo
nanuska_153 @BethM I read in another book to read them stories about potty training so they kind of know more what's going on and I started with that, after that I will try this method, it says it can take several weeks but I'm in no rush. It's on internet archives for free if you want to take a look; they have also a potty training for boys version, but I saw nothing that couldn't be done if it's a boy 4mo
32 likes6 comments
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nanuska_153
The Book Thief | Markus Zusak
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They have punctured hearts.
They have beaten lungs.

review
nanuska_153
The Book Thief | Markus Zusak
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Pickpick

While death is busy collecting the souls of so many death in Nazi Germany,he can't help looking at Liesel's life,a little girl who was adopted after her parents were sent to a concentration camp and that becomes a book thief.I loved to see the day to day in Nazi Germany from a kids perspective,still room for lot of a lot of heartwarming occasions, lots of lovable characters. The whole book is great, but the first chapter was probably my favourite.

review
nanuska_153
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Panpan

First,I want to make clear that I don't know if this method works.My baby is too young for this,it starts saying that we delay too much potty training and it used to be done by 18 months, but this is for kids about 3. The low rating is because I hate her way of talking to the kids, with childish vocabulary and all "this makes mom happy/sad". I try to teach my baby not hurt feelings, but I'd hate if she felt that my happiness is her responsibility.

review
nanuska_153
The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen | Jane Austen, Penelope Hughes-Hallett
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Pickpick

I read this at the same time than Deirdre Le Faye's. It contains just extracts of the most relevant letters, but if you just want a picture of her life on her own words, this book is enough.The letters are divided on different periods and before each one there's an explanation of what was happening in Jane's life, at the end of some letters contains some clarifications or relevant extracts of her novels,all very helpful. This edition is beautiful.

review
nanuska_153
Jane Austen's Letters | Jane Austen, Deirdre Le Faye
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Pickpick

Reading this feels a bit too much like a scholar's job, it has too many notes (over 300 pages of notes and indexes) and they are not well enough integrated to not feel lost on the many names. There's a lot of dress talk on the letters and the most interesting parts were likely destroyed by the family,but the letters still reflect the brilliance of the author. ⬇️⬇️

nanuska_153 The ones written after she achieved fame, helping Anna Austen with her novel and Fanny with her love life, and the ones at the end of her life are definitely worth the read. 5mo
40 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
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Panpan

One of the most difficult things about being a parent is that apparently there's not a single decision that you can make that won't end up scarring your baby for life. I read this hoping to get some practical ideas to be prepared when potty training time comes.I got absolutely nothing from this, except the many ways that I can traumatise my baby, like apparently by telling her that her farts smell. Well, that ship sailed long ago Katie xDD

gossamerchild Omg, can you imagine how traumatizing it would be later in life if we told all our children that their farts DIDN'T stink? 😂😂 5mo
Ruthiella @gossamerchild 😂😂😂 5mo
nanuska_153 @gossamerchild 😂😂😂 I hadn't thought about it that way. Imagine, YOU NEVER TOLD ME?! My poor baby, now I kind of want to pretend that we can't hear them either 😅 5mo
gossamerchild @nanuska_153 😂😂😂 5mo
32 likes4 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

This is a very nice little manual. It is a bit generic, like a first steps of a nature manual, and its description are of grass, flowers, seeds, water flowers etc rather than go into different flowers. I know it's for kids but I was one of those kid scientists that loved specific information about nature and that knew so much more than I do as an adult. It's a good start guide though that could lead to that level of interest. ⬇️

nanuska_153 It comes with the basics explained of how plants work, what do pollinators do etc and with little experiments and scavenger hunts. I saw there's more on the collection, they are too basic for my nephews but when my little one grows up a bit I'll definitely get the full collection to introduce her to nature. Thanks to NetGalley the publisher and author for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review 5mo
26 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
Trespasses | Louise Kennedy
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Panpan

I hated this SO MUCH, it's meant to be a love story but it is so problematic that the only reason I didn't DNF is because I thought that she'd realise and break up. He is older than her, which on itself wouldn't be a problem if he didn't know her father and knew her as a child.First time they are together he tells her that he was hoping to deflower her and after they have sex he says "so it's true that catholic girls are nymphomaniacs" ⬇️⬇️

nanuska_153 she gets turned on by that (?). He is married, controlling and constantly patronises her. The theme of being turned on by age difference is repeated through the book with different characters. I just found it so disturbing that although I am interested on The Troubles I couldn't digest anything that was happening. 5mo
nanuska_153 It's this 50 shades of Grey type of relationship that women are supposed to want. Well, I don't, and if you do, please, know you deserve better, don't let society tell you otherwise 5mo
nanuska_153 As a side note, everyone else in my book club loved it because of the description of the atmosphere during The Troubles, so if the above doesn't disgust you a lot, you should give it a try 5mo
30 likes3 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

This is a cute little collection of fables, the moral of most stories are highlighting the importance of family and friends, and how they will love you and forgive you even if you screw up, which is a great lesson to learn. The illustrations are beautiful and the book is well worth buying just because of them.

Thank you to NetGalley the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of my honest review

review
nanuska_153
The Lords of Time | Eva Garcia Saenz
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Pickpick

Our detective this time is investigating a serial killer that is recreating murders from a best selling book. I generally don't like "books within books", so the fact that every other chapter was a chapter of the fictional book made me struggle at the beginning. I thought that presenting this fictional book as something all the characters love was the author shooting herself on the foot, because it was boring me to death. ⬇️

nanuska_153 Then both stories picked up and I have to admit I got hooked on both and this ended up being my favourite book of the trilogy. In the acknowledgements I saw that this is actually a crossover with a historical saga written by the author years ago, which I thought it was a pretty cool idea as well as very clever marketing that possibly worked with me 6mo
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blurb
nanuska_153
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My sister texted me very upset this morning because she is only discovering Harry Potter now and she read how Dumbledore dies and now this. RIP to Michael Gambon

I remember just after I finished re-reading A Monster Calls, I saw a missed-call from my sister and I called her,she told me that my grandfather died,after I hung up I saw that the call was between 12:00 and 12:14.The Monster visits at 12:07

Anybody else has weird literary coincidences?

review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

Elizabeth Zott is a talented chemist in the 60s,being a scientist is what defines her but,despite many being aware of her talent,she only encounters barriers from a misogynistic society and ends up creating a cooking show that sparks a revolution.This is a surprisingly light read for such a heavy theme where many of Elizabeth's experiences are sadly still present in our daily lives.Perhaps it goes on for too long, but overall I really enjoyed it.

review
nanuska_153
The Water Rituals | Eva Garcia Saenz
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Pickpick

I read this one a couple of months ago my recollection is that it's more or less the same than the first one, I was thrilled that I didn't have to read any more tweets, but because the main character lost his ability to speak having to read how he writes what he has to say it's tiresome (I got tired typing that). In general I liked the mystery more than the first one, it again uses a lot of historical-mythical symbolism. ⬇️⬇️

nanuska_153 The type of victims are chosen once more to fully horrify the reader, with the first book were babies, now it's pregnant women, so readers discretion advised 6mo
41 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
A Room with a View | Edward Morgan Forster
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Pickpick

I'm sure I said it before because it describes every Forster book that I read, but this has such a wonderful cinematography in my imagination. I loved seeing the women liberation movement through different eyes, the difference between the most conservative characters, the pretending to be feminist characters and the real feminist ones, it will forever be relevant. This is the most homoerotic of Forster's stories (and yes, I read Maurice) ⬇️

nanuska_153 but the adoration of George Emerson doesn't know of sexualities, it's universal. Hello, new literary crush ❤️ 6mo
49 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
To the Lighthouse | Virginia Woolf
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Pickpick

You either like Virginia Woolf or you don't. To the Lighthouse, like the rest of her fiction that I read, is painstakingly slow and deceivingly short; you will have to work through those pages where the author lets you experience just a moment in someone's life. It's so descriptive of what the characters are seeing, feeling and reminiscing on that single mundane moment that you get to fully experience it with them. ⬇️

nanuska_153 It's beautiful and like all things beautiful you can't quickly pass by, you have to stop and take your time to admire them. 6mo
eeclayton I like her but I bailed on this book. I intend to have another go at it later on, though. Great review. 6mo
IuliaC Great review! I should read this one again 6mo
nanuska_153 @eeclayton thanks! I actually put it on hold for two months and then picked it up again because you really need a certain mindset to read her fiction (as well as peace and quiet). Really worth both waiting and picking it up again 6mo
nanuska_153 @IuliaC thanks! It's one of those that I know I will definitely re-read in the future 6mo
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review
nanuska_153
The Count of Monte Cristo | Alexandre Dumas
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Pickpick

I know this is going to sound weird, but Edmond Dantes reminds me a lot of the Cat in the Hat, balancing stuff and saying "but that is not ALL I can do!"; mixed with Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet and that man your parents warned you about that was going to give you drugs for free; all sprinkled with the biggest flair for drama that you can imagine...and honestly, if that doesn't sell this book to you I don't know what more do you want

ravenlee Whar a great review! It totally makes me want to read it…but I think it might be a once-in-a-lifetime read, rather than a reread. 7mo
nanuska_153 @ravenlee thanks! Yeah although I liked the book, I'd be surprised if I revisited it to be honest. I know it's a favourite of many people so you never know 7mo
catsuit_mango I did a reread nos so long ago (must have read an abriged version as a kid), and I kept wondering why there is no recent movie adaptation, it has every kind of adventures :) 7mo
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nanuska_153 @catsuit_mango yes, it really has it all adventure-wise. Prison break, lost treasure, kidnapping, murders... There's very little that doesn't happen. I'd be interested on who would be casted as Maximilien Morrell and Albert de Morcef, because they were pure🔥🔥 in my imagination 😅 7mo
ravenlee @catsuit_mango there was an adaptation around 2000, and it‘s a good movie if almost nothing like the book. It would need to be done as a series to do it justice, and even then…there‘s a lot… 7mo
nanuska_153 @ravenlee @catsuit_mango we need one of those BBC mini series... with Colin Firth coming out of a lake ❤️😌 7mo
catsuit_mango There seems to be a french movie adaptation in the works but the Guy casted for Edmund is just too bland for me, he will be OK at the beginning but not as the Count 7mo
41 likes7 comments
review
nanuska_153
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Pickpick

The book moves between Sally's chapters,a woman on the spectrum whose adoptive father just died and has to learn to socialize and about the mystery of her origins;and Peter's chapters,a kid that lives secluded with his misogynistic father,who treats his mother like Rochester does to Bertha.The alternation between the dark and the more light-hearted chapters works,making it very easy to read.⬇️⬇️

nanuska_153 I loved the first 2/3rds of the book, but it really deflates towards the end and the author goes where nobody wants to follow. 7mo
42 likes1 comment
review
nanuska_153
The Secrets We Kept | Lara Prescott
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Panpan

The story is divided between the chapters about the role of women in the secret service and the ones centered on the publication and reintroduction of Doctor Zhivago in the USSR.
In relation to the later, the chapters show Pasternak as a selfish infantilized figured,that seems to drift between being uninterested and being barely aware of the consequences of his actions.Not sure if this was exaggerated to enhance the character of Olga Ivinskaya ⬇️

nanuska_153 or if he was really like that;to me the characterisation seems at odds with someone who wrote a book reflecting all aspects of theRevolution and who saw many friends executed/sent to the camps because they expressed ideas against the government.As to the former,the author based this part on the CIA declassified papers about Zhivago case,but since the names were blacked out I'm not entirely sure if the involvement of the women was real or invented. 7mo
nanuska_153 In any case I didn't engage much with any of the characters.
The story is easy to read, but it's ironic that a story about criticising a country who controlled the narrative it feels so one sided and with a political agenda. I love stories about the involvement of women in history, but this just felt to me like an unnecessarily made up Hidden Figures story.
7mo
keithmalek I didn't like that novel either. 7mo
18 likes3 comments