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blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Given that I‘m SO good at posting to Litsy atm, I thought I‘d give a little update on my Women‘s Prize for NonFiction reading.

Short Version: I‘ve started these! I might even finish some.

Very long version: I love being surprised by prize lists, being encouraged to try things I never would normally and finding I love them. This list does that in spades and it‘s fab.

rockpools I have SUCH admiration for this woman. I worried for her! But I had to read it really fast, because I really didn‘t want to spend too long in her world. She seemed so close to her documenting of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. It‘s a lot. (edited) 1w
rockpools This sounded right up my street. In reality, it‘s going to the next person in the queue and I may try again in a few weeks. Not sure why, but I wasn‘t grabbed. (edited) 1w
rockpools Current obsession. Brilliant, funny, entertaining and empathetic. As of today, this is my winner. I had no interest in reading this. I have quite enough grief living in a female body without reading about the nonsense we get to put up with. And the cover makes it look like hard work. But I was wrong. Well worth reading. (edited) 1w
See All 16 Comments
rockpools Again, wasn‘t initially interested, but my hold came in and I‘m hooked. On a book about Dutch art. ?. And the author‘s experience of it from childhood. It‘s gorgeous. And makes me want to go and hang out in a proper big art gallery. (edited) 1w
rockpools Excellent, epic, a little denser than some of the other reads, might take me some time… (edited) 1w
rockpools This is such an interesting concept - I think it‘ll be a really good read. At the moment, though, Eve and Thunderclap are refusing to let me go. I‘ll come back to this when i can give it some space and time. (edited) 1w
rockpools I had been planning to pause reading these on Wednesday, throw myself at International Booker, and come back for the shortlist. Now I just don‘t know!. *** As they do on YouTube, I should probably clarify, I‘ve only finished Some People. Still working through the others. But read enough to have thoughts!*** (edited) 1w
Megabooks Wow! Looking good. I'm not as organized as you yet. 1w
TrishB Doing well 👍🏻 1w
rockpools @Megabooks I Think it‘s a case of serious scatterbrainedness, rather than organisation, Meg. I‘m sure you‘ll finish them all before I do. But I‘m really loving this list! 1w
rockpools @TrishB Still crazy excited about this prize. Going to have to go back and read On Chapel Sands as well now. 1w
TrishB 😁 your reviews of NF always make me want to read more! I have Some People Need Killing, it sounds brutal so I am warned. 1w
squirrelbrain I‘m reading pretty much the same ones as you…although I just finished Thunderclap. Some People is so good, and I think Eve might also be my winner too, even though I‘ve hardly read any of it! 1w
rockpools @squirrelbrain Yay! I‘m loving that it‘s the ones I was Meh about that have grabbed me. And yes. Eve. Same. Need a lot more reading time. 😂😂 1w
rockpools @TrishB Aww, thank you. And yes. Some People is kind of dystopian real life. It‘s terrifying. 1w
Hooked_on_books I listened to Wifedom on audio the other day, fully expecting to get bored and bail early, but I was immediately sucked in and ended up loving. I love it when prize lists do that for us! 1w
55 likes16 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Absolutely categorically not starting a new book. *

But it was on the returns shelf when I went in this morning. And, after a day of cheerleading and Bhangra dancing, it was still on the shelf when I left this afternoon. (A normal day in this library). So it‘s coming home with me.

And it looks a lot more interesting/readable than I initially expected, so… 🤷🏻‍♀️

*Also Women‘s Prize for Non-Fiction Longlist. Not reading that either.

tpixie Interesting 🤔 2w
charl08 Waiting for this from the library: would love to hear more. 2w
squirrelbrain Hooray! Your day sounds rather interesting / stressful, Rachel, depending on your POV. 🤪I‘ve only read the first chapter of this (I bought it and library holds took over) but it seems really fascinating, and quite accessible. I‘m looking forward to reading more. @charl08 2w
See All 8 Comments
rockpools @squirrelbrain I need to acquire a world book day outfit by Thursday. My job is increasingly weird. I left them setting up for tonight‘s Barn Dance 💃🏻 🕺🏽 🤔 2w
squirrelbrain Oh bloody hell… I wouldn‘t know where to start - I hate fancy dress! 😬 2w
Ruthiella Totally clear: 1. Not starting a new book and 2. Not reading the Women‘s Prize longlist. Check. 👍 2w
rockpools @Ruthiella 👍 Totally. Excellent. Good. 🙄 I have a week and 2 days to finish all the books I‘m not reading for the list I‘m not reading, before the list I am reading is published. So it‘s good that I‘m not doing these things really… 2w
rockpools @charl08 @tpixie There‘s a LOT of humour in this one - and she‘s really good at explaining difficult stuff in a totally unscientific way that makes sense. I really didn‘t expect to be that interested in a biology-based book. But a lot of it seems to be read-with-jaw-dropped kind of stuff. I‘m not sure what I‘d think as a scientist, but as a non-scientist, she‘s a fantastic writer/storyteller. 2w
61 likes8 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Shadows at Noon and train journeys at sunset.

Not the easiest read so far, but really interesting…

julesG Love the photo 3w
rockpools @julesG Thank you ☺️. You probably can‘t see, but there are a lot of seabirds living on those wrecks. 3w
squirrelbrain Ooh, did you go with the ebook? I haven‘t got much further than the first chapter. Because I now own the book, library books are taking priority. Lovely pic - and we‘re really starting to see it get lighter at both ends of the day - hooray! 3w
See All 6 Comments
TrishB Lovely pic ♥️ 3w
rockpools @TrishB It was a lovely evening. Which is more than can be said for the weather at 2 this morning. It was LOUD! 3w
rockpools @squirrelbrain I did! And obviously library books *should* be priority - but I don‘t like lugging hardbacks about, so started this for trains. And apparently I need the dictionary - I keep having to look up (English!) words, so ebook was a good call for me. I‘m still on the first chapter (it‘s long!) but I do like reading about places that I didn‘t know I didn‘t know about. It‘s quite dense though! 3w
37 likes6 comments
blurb
rockpools
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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It‘s prize season. And nothing says International Booker more than daffodils and sunshine 🤔.

Here‘s my #bookspin ‘list‘ for March.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3w
39 likes1 comment
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

Where to begin?

This was some trip.

It starts off as a farcical fishing trip to put a curse on pause, and turns into… something else. Something with a whole lot of heart and supernatural folkloric beings. And witches. And mosquitoes.

Give it a go if you‘re up for a dose of Finnish weird. I liked this a lot. Whatever it was.

#readaroundtheworld #finland

Currey Sounds weirdly wonderful 3w
rockpools @Currey It‘s quite out-there. But it‘s also well-written with a decent story. 3w
Centique And mosquitos… 😂 You write the best descriptions! 😍 3w
rockpools @Centique 😂😂 Thanks Paula 😘. It‘s set in/around a swamp in Eastern Lapland. There are a LOT of mosquitoes 🦟 ! 3w
54 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Announcing this month‘s clear winner in the ‘what the flip am I reading??!‘ category.

It‘s Finnish. There are bugs. There‘s a small town in the back of beyond. There‘s a pike, that isn‘t too keen on being caught*. And there are card games with mythological creatures. Then the police show up.

*Given everything else that‘s going on, I feel the pike has been short-changed on the character-development front.

Also, perfect cover design. Perfect!

julesG 🤣🤣 I'm intrigued! 4w
rockpools @julesG So am I, to be honest! 4w
rockpools @squirrelbrain 😵‍💫🙃🫠🤯! 3w
BookwormM Sounds intriguing 3w
50 likes3 stack adds5 comments
blurb
rockpools
Reading All Around the World | Sandeep Kaur Gill
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@BookwormM I‘ve been waiting for the dates for this for ages. Are you doing this year? My reading has just been derailed by the Women‘s Prize for NF. Would now be a good time to panic?

squirrelbrain 🤣😬🤪 1mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain The nf prize has a MUCH more sensible timeframe. I may need to switch allegiance 😵‍💫 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘m always interested in your IB reviews, but it‘s the one list I definitely couldn‘t tackle - far too highbrow for me! 🤓 1mo
BookwormM Definitely time to panic arrggghhh and yes will be doing again 1mo
BarbaraBB I‘ve been waiting for this too! Not sure if I‘ll read all but I always discover some gems through the International Booker. 1mo
47 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
I Love Trains! | Philemon Sturges
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Currently looking for…

Fiction about or heavily featuring trains or train-drivers, suitable for 10 year-olds.

Thanks in advance!

TheKidUpstairs Kenneth Oppel has one 1mo
LeeRHarry This is a series that I‘ve read the first and enjoyed it, heard great things about the others too. (edited) 1mo
rockpools @TheKidUpstairs That looks perfect. Thank you! 1mo
rockpools @LeeRHarry A whole series! I might even give these a go myself- thank you! 1mo
48 likes4 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Facts.
- The Women‘s Prize for Non-Fiction Longlist was announced last night.
- I am absolutely not reading it.
- Apart from the tagged, which I started, & am finding gripping, heart-breaking, and terrifying. Now I‘m into it, I love her voice.
- I might have reserved 4 others. Thankfully the library catalogue went down for maintenance at that point.
- I think this might be a prize we actually need.
- But I‘m absolutely not reading the longlist.

Hooked_on_books Keep telling yourself you‘re not reading the list. Maybe you‘ll start to believe it. 😂 1mo
batsy Ha 😆 I've placed a hold on the tagged book, I'm sure it's going to be a tough read. 1mo
youneverarrived 🤣🤣 1mo
See All 20 Comments
julesG I'm probably getting a few of the books on the long-list, but I'm not sure I'll read them before next year's long-list is announced. 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘m also NOT reading the list, and definitely don‘t have two of the biggest, chunksteriest books arriving today… 1mo
lil1inblue Oh no, there goes my weekend. 😂 1mo
Ruthiella You are absolutely not reading the longlist! 😂😂😂 1mo
Aimeesue lol. Whoops. 1mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain Ooh. Which? Shadows at Noon and…? 1mo
squirrelbrain …and Eve. Just about to post about them! 😃 1mo
jlhammar 😂 Love it. I was already interested in reading several of these (especially Thunderclap since I really enjoyed Cumming's last book), but this definitely added a few more to my TBR! 1mo
rockpools @Hooked_on_books 😂 I‘m absolutely not reading this list! 🙃 1mo
rockpools @batsy I wasn‘t too sure about it from the blurb, but I‘m finding it a really good, really tough read. And I‘ve discovered that I know NOTHING about the Philippines. 1mo
rockpools @youneverarrived 🤷🏻‍♀️😘 1mo
rockpools @julesG To be fair, I only said I‘d reserved 4 books. Definitely didn‘t say I‘d read them. But yes, that sounds about right tbh - my enthusiasm will probably dwindle after the first one. 1mo
rockpools @Aimeesue who? Me??! 1mo
rockpools @lil1inblue 😂😂 Have fun! 1mo
rockpools @Ruthiella Nope. Definitely not doing that. Glad we‘re clear 😘 1mo
rockpools @jlhammar ooh, now, I must admit I haven‘t really explored Thunderclap yet. I‘ll have to go and look at that too… But yes, there are a lot of things on here I actually want to read (rather than just feeling I should…) 1mo
Centique Im so glad theyre doing nonfiction now 🙌 I look forward to reading your reviews - and ill probably pick one at random to read along the way 😂 1mo
58 likes1 stack add20 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I‘ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this, but I really, really enjoyed it. It‘s the first book this year I‘ve totally been able to disappear into. Yes, it meanders, and there are a fair few characters to get your head around, but I loved getting to know the characters of Chicken Hill, perhaps I need a new motto (“be more Chona?”) and he managed to ramp up the tension at the end. Massively looking forward to reading McBride‘s other books.

squirrelbrain Glad to see you loved it! 1mo
TrishB I loved it too ♥️ 1mo
Ruthiella I think you‘ll definitely like this one then! 👍 1mo
See All 8 Comments
rockpools @Ruthiella Do you know, I think I‘ve been disinterested in reading that simply because of the title. I‘ll definitely give it a go now (well, one day!) The Good Lord Bird as well, though I don‘t know if my lack of American history knowledge would be a problem. 1mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain Thank you for persuading me to read it 😁 1mo
rockpools @TrishB Yay! I can‘t wait to dig into his others! 1mo
marleed I just finished and really liked this one, as well! 1mo
Centique Yay! I got this for Christmas so im glad to hear you enjoyed it! 1mo
60 likes1 stack add8 comments
quote
rockpools
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Due to a string of regrettable occurrences, Elina Ylijaako had to catch a pike from a certain pond by June 18th every year.

Her life depended on it.

Dilara I loved that book! 1mo
rockpools @Dilara ooh, that‘s good news! It‘s quite… out-there so far! I think it‘ll be fun. 1mo
Dilara It is! I am currious... Is your version in British or American English? I read the French translation, but decided to tag one of the English versions (Fishing for the Little Pike) in my posts, to connect with more people. 1mo
rockpools @Dilara Aaah! I was surprised I was the first to mention it - the different title explains it! And Huh. Interesting question. I had to check, because mine‘s from a UK publisher (Pushkin) and a US translator (Lola Rogers) and I only usually notice if it feels jarringly out of context. It‘s in American English. 1mo
Dilara @rockpools Thanks 😁 1mo
54 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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I haven‘t done a monthly wrap-up in about a million years (or maybe 3) so now seems like a good place to start again

I read 3 books this month, and bailed on one. Meh. On the other hand, outside of Litsy, that‘s not that bad!

I read an ARC called In All Weathers, a fantastic novel in short stories called Good Citizens Need Not Fear, and buddy-read Ultra Processed People (feelings: mixed.)

Good Citizens was my hands-down favourite this month.

Libby1 I‘ve bailed on FOUR books in the past 48 hours. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1mo
rockpools @Libby1 Good going 😂! Sometimes just nothing fits! 1mo
54 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
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I suppose this Saturday relief cover malarkey isn‘t that bad. Trying to squeeze in 15 mins train reading before I start.

Really enjoying this book. Yes, it‘s meandery, but I find I can sink right into it. Has to be back by Friday, so we might need to speed up a bit.

A few of you have said it‘s not his best. Would love to know which James Macbride books I should be stacking then…

BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one more much more than expected based on the reviews. I am glad you are too. Another good one by him is 1mo
squirrelbrain Lovely view! ❤️ 1mo
Ruthiella I liked Deacon King Kong but really loved this one, but maybe especially because of its spotlight on the events of Harper‘s Ferry and US history 1mo
LeahBergen Lovely photo! 1mo
Hooked_on_books Both books tagged by others here are fantastic and I recommend both. 1mo
58 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
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https://inews.co.uk/opinion/cant-price-joy-libraries-2865747

I mean, there‘s a lot she‘s missing, but on the whole, yes.

KathyWheeler Before I retired in June of last year, I was in charge of collection development at my library. It was very frustrating being expected to even keep pace with database costs when all we ever experienced was budget cuts. But people kept wanting more and more. I would have loved to have received some ****ing money! 😄 2mo
rockpools @KathyWheeler Yup. We won‘t even talk about the databases here I‘m afraid! But the expectations vs ‘and in the real world‘ gap is massive. Congratulations on your retirement though - hope you‘re enjoying it! 2mo
KathyWheeler @rockpools I‘m so glad I retired. I was getting increasingly frustrated every year. 2mo
33 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Here, for no reason whatsoever, is a very fishy #BookSpinBingo list for February.

Thanks Sarah @TheAromaofBooks

Yuki_Onna 🤣 2mo
Knitmaths You‘ll going to have to tell me about pic collage! 2mo
rockpools @Knitmaths Download the app! It‘s free (just say no to the £££ bits) - you‘ll get it in no time. Way easier than Canva imo. 2mo
rockpools @Yuki_Onna 🐠🐟🪸😁 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
39 likes5 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I‘ll be catching up on last year‘s international Booker reviews over the next weeks- I reviewed them over at thereadersroom.org but they never made it to Litsy. Or NetGalley. 🫣

I reached the end, and immediately wanted to flip to the front and start again. Standing Heavy tells of life as seen thro the eyes of undocumented security guards in Paris – work so tedious it requires an ‘engrossing inner life‘: it‘s this inner life

rockpools that we‘re invited into.

Written largely in vignettes from various security posts, we also get to learn the backstories of Ferdinand, Ossiri & Kassoum, who have come to Paris from Côte d‘Ivoire. It‘s thought-provoking, astute & at times very funny, covering everything from racial stereotypes to fashion; from perfume sales techniques to the global impact of 9/11. I‘ll always now be wondering what the security guard in the corner is thinking.
2mo
batsy Great review. I bought this on Kindle when it was longlisted and promptly forgot to read it 🙈 2mo
squirrelbrain Sounds fascinating - stacking. 2mo
rockpools @batsy I think you might like it! It‘s quite a quick read, but there‘s lots in there! 2mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain I really enjoyed it. But it has quite a bitty/jumpy style. Not perfect, but you‘d probably zip through it in an hour or so! 2mo
47 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
rockpools
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Mehso-so

It‘s a really good premise. The author sets out to intentionally experience what is often considered ‘bad‘ British weather - rain, fog, snow & ice and rain. Where this really worked was where he was meeting other people- the fenland skaters section was fantastic!

And it has made me want to consciously appreciate some of our more trying weather. But I wasn‘t always

rockpools keen on the more personal/descriptive passages (it‘s not the first weather book I‘ve had this issue with!), and I just wanted a little more, I guess.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the chance to read and review this title. ‘In All Weathers‘ will be published on 28th March 2024.
2mo
44 likes2 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I am SO out of practice with reviews. Time to snap out of it!

I really enjoyed this. It‘s your favourite @BookwormM - interconnected short stories 😁 - this time set in a Ukrainian apartment building before/after the fall of the USSR. I would say it‘s at the novel end of the ISS genre - we get to revisit the main characters, and grow to really feel for some of them - even the awful ones have heart. From a young orphan making her

rockpools escape, to friendships formed over bootleg records, green beans and the frustrations of a system that makes little sense. It‘s dark, sad, funny and weird, and I could happily read it again.

This was my #readaroundtheworld book for January. The author was born in #Ukraine and grew up in Canada.
(edited) 2mo
Currey @rockpools - for being out of practice, that was well done! Sounds good 2mo
BookwormM 🤣 my library book ordered in December had still not arrived 😱 2mo
55 likes3 stack adds3 comments
blurb
rockpools
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https://lithub.com/for-the-love-of-plants-a-reading-list-of-books-on-nature-and-...

Not sure if this has already been posted, but 11 books on nature and conservation coming out in 2024. Some fab looking titles in here. #naturalitsy @AllDebooks

AllDebooks I've got an arc of the tagged to read. It's a great list x 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 2mo
rockpools @AllDebooks oops. I‘d been happily resisting new ARCs for a few months, until I cleared some of the backlog. But I just took a quick peek at NetGalley‘s nature section, and… Oops! 😅 2mo
AllDebooks @rockpools lol 😆 2mo
40 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
Diary of a Somebody | Brian Bilston
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I may well get bored before the end, but currently I‘m finding this very funny, and way more relatable than it should be.

And any diary-style book that begins January 1st with a full poem version of My Resolution will not be Televised deserves brownie points for sheer brass-necked punnery.

50 likes2 stack adds
quote
rockpools
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Ukraine, sometime before the fall of the USSR. A New Years Eve visit to a baby house (children‘s home) by Grandfather Frost (definitely NOT St Nicholas), making swans 🦢 out of tyres 🛞. This is how he did it. In case you need to practise at home!

We‘ve already established that the solution to a vegetable canning issue is to grow triangular vegetables.

This book is bizarre. I like it.

rockpools So so sad, mind. 2mo
BookwormM Sounds intriguing 2mo
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
rockpools
Nightshade | E. S. Thomson
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Bailedbailed

Apparently I‘ve been reading this for 2 months now (or not). Lost my place, finally got round to finding it again, and realised I just wasn‘t fussed how it ended. So I bailed.

It‘a a really good set-up! 1851: a body is found under a deadly nightshade bush, in a physic garden full of poisonous plants. But the dual timeline via a journal aspect never grabbed me, & I felt kind of indifferent towards the main characters. Oh well. Gorgeous cover tho!

Tamra That is a really fabulous cover. 2mo
56 likes1 comment
blurb
rockpools
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Possibilities for #ReadAroundTheWorld #Ukraine this month.

I really enjoyed the surreal seagulls of Kurkov‘s Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv earlier this year. But Good Citizens is really appealing at the moment. I do (usually) like a novel in short stories, if it‘s well done.

Highly unlikely to get through both this month, so Decisions will have to be made!

BookwormM I am waiting for Death and the Penguin from the library 2mo
rockpools @BookwormM I‘ve been wanting to read that for a few years - but the queue was a queue - so I ordered Grey Bees instead! 2mo
44 likes2 comments
blurb
rockpools
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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I made a #BookSpinBingo board for January 🎉 🌈 It‘s forever since I played! Think I need a nice, neat, nifty template if I‘m going to play all year (but making bingo boards is so much (time-consuming) fun!)

Reading 100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Cafe this morning which is a wildcard Christmas prez from the brother - alternating chapters of text and graphic novel, and REALLY good. 👻 🐈‍⬛ 🐰

IndoorDame I love your board 💜💜💜💜 2mo
rockpools @IndoorDame Thank you ☺️. I needed some colour. And obviously had too much time on my hands!! 2mo
squirrelbrain So pretty! ❤️ 2mo
Deblovestoread 😍😍😍 2mo
Knitmaths Love the colourful penmanship 😍 2mo
51 likes5 comments
review
rockpools
Swallowing Mercury | Wioletta Greg, Eliza Marciniak
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Pickpick

…and let‘s see if we can start the year as we mean to go on, by actually writing the odd review!

Set in rural 1980s Poland, these vignettes of a young girl growing up are beautifully evocative and well-written. There‘s humour, there are several dark episodes, and there‘s wonderful detail of time and place.

But they are very much vignettes. I don‘t mind not-

rockpools much-plot, but several of these started as a story, then wandered off elsewhere, leaving this reader floundering a little. Parts do have the feel of a dream you can‘t quite grasp, but I WANTED THE REST OF THE STORY.

So a pick. But a low pick. As always, this is my late entry for #readaroundtheworld #poland.
3mo
Ruthiella That‘s often my trouble with short stories- I want more… 3mo
BookwormM You know me not a short story fan 3mo
42 likes3 comments
blurb
rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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It‘s been forever since I took part in #bookspin, so it‘s time to dive back in. This year it‘ll be more about the bingo than the bookspin (I don‘t need help deciding which book to start next. I do need help persuading myself to actually finish them or bail). And let‘s face it, it always was about making a list and a bingo board really…

So here‘s my January list. In which i try to finish some of those books on the nightstand 🫣 @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
35 likes1 comment
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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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Happy New Year, Litsy!

Wishing you a beautiful year filled with friends, books, time to enjoy both, and the best sort of adventures.

RaeLovesToRead Happy New Year, Rachel! 🤗💕 3mo
TrishB Happy New Year ❤️ 3mo
AnnR Happy New Year! 🎉 3mo
See All 12 Comments
zezeki Happy New Year!! 🥳🥳🥂 3mo
TheBookgeekFrau Happy new year🎊 3mo
Ruthiella Happy New Year to you! 🥳 3mo
BookishMadHatter Happy New Year! 🎉 3mo
LeahBergen Happy New Year! 3mo
dabbe HNY! 🖤💙🖤 3mo
batsy Happy New Year! 💫 3mo
youneverarrived Happy New Year Rachel 🥂❤️ 3mo
Reggie Happy New Year! 2mo
42 likes12 comments
blurb
rockpools
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I‘m attempting a festive read on audio. (Bah humbug!) I wasn‘t feeling murdery, and Karen Swan is one of those authors who is SO popular (in a small uk public library) I can always call it research. I used to listen to Joanna Penn‘s self-publishing podcast, and you have to admire these authors who manage to churn out 2 books a year (if she is a real person. PLEASE tell me Karen Swan is a real person, someone?)

rockpools So far
🗺️ Plot ok, but I can see a major plot twist coming and I‘m only on chapter 3.
🏔️ Locations. Somerset & Nepal. 👍
✍🏻 Writing 🙇🏻‍♀️ I mean it‘s fine. But.
👧 Fully rounded 3 year old characters❌. I may be asking too much!
4mo
TrishB Love the summary! 3mo
monalyisha Tagging you to let you know that registration for Auld Lang Spine is open! (I always find your lists interesting…so I‘m giving you a heads-up even though I said I wasn‘t doing that.) Shh. Don‘t tell. 😅🙈 No pressure if you‘re busy this year! (edited) 3mo
rockpools @monalyisha 😂 Thank you! I LOVE doing Auld Lang Spine (even if I can never remember its name!) but this year‘s a bit mad and I haven‘t time to do it justice. I‘ll work on organising my life for next year (yeah, right!). No, seriously- this is one I want to do properly when I do it, so will try for next year. Thank you for the tag Alyisha 😘 3mo
monalyisha Of course! I totally understand. My life‘s been a bit wacky lately, too. Good luck! 3mo
34 likes5 comments
blurb
rockpools
Falling Animals | Sheila Armstrong
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Mysterious strangers in Irish coastal villages, 1 living, 1 dead. Who are they, and how will their secrets unfold?

The library‘s new books shelf had a bit of a theme going on. And somehow I‘ve never read John Boyne, so now seemed like the time.

squirrelbrain Both great books! 4mo
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rockpools
Nightshade | E. S. Thomson
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I‘m finally reading a book. Let‘s see how long that lasts!

Set in an apothecary‘s physic garden in 1851. When Jem (Mr Flockhart) uncovers a skeleton as she‘s clearing away deadly nightshade, there appear to be links to her parents.

I‘m not 100% convinced by anyone yet, but the story‘s quite gripping.

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rockpools
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#Audioflatpacking!

It‘s WET 💦 out there, and I‘ve finally splurged on shelves-with-drawers-in. I‘ve been after them for months 😁

squirrelbrain Have fun building! 5mo
Itchyfeetreader Good luck - flat pack building is my kyrptonite! 5mo
Ruthiella Lovely! Can‘t wait to see what they look like . 😃 5mo
julesG Can I say: enjoy? I like building flat pack furniture, especially with a good audiobook. 5mo
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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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📻 Podcast-listeners of Litsy! 📻 (of course you listen on an old fashioned radio!)

You‘re probably aware of this one already, but I‘ve just discovered & am really enjoying it. Women writers choose & chat about 5 life-changing books. And they get good people on!

In case you haven‘t heard (again I‘m sure you have)- Women‘s Prize are doing a Non-Fiction prize next year- this seems to feed in really well!

Other podcast recs always welcome!

Ruthiella Thanks! I‘m always happy to find another good bookish podcast! 5mo
Hooked_on_books Oooo, a nonfiction prize! I‘m here for it! 5mo
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rockpools
Untitled | Anonymous
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The Warwick Prize for Women in Translation Longlist has been announced - an interesting prize that sadly doesn‘t lend itself to reading along with - just a month from longlist to winner.*

I‘ve read one (A Line in the World - thanks @Mitch !), own one other (Chinatown), and have heard of 3 more books and 2 more authors. Anyone read any? Recommendations?

Full list at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/womenintranslation/longlist2023/

rockpools *They do put up the list of nominees months in advance, so I guess they want you to read from those, rather than focusing on the lists. Which is cool. But it would require a level of organisation I just don‘t have! 5mo
BarbaraBB I definitely want to read Forbidden Notebook and I think you cannot do wrong with Magda Szabo. I didn‘t know she had a new book out! 5mo
rockpools @BarbaraBB I don‘t know how I‘ve never read Magda Szabo. And Forbidden Notebook seems to be the one my library has (and it sounds great). So they seem like a good place to start! 5mo
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BarbaraBB There are some raving reviews on Litsy that made me buy Forbidden Notebook (but I haven‘t read it yet). You‘ll probably love it! 5mo
Dilara Seconding Szabó, although I don't know The Fawn - it's the only one I haven't read on my public library's shelves: I am keeping it for a special occasion 😁. Glad to see there is a new translation of Deledda out. She's an early female Nobel Prize winner and the first, public domain, English translation of After the Divorce doesn't do her justice. Haven't read The Queen of Darkness though.
I have to say all the titles look interesting!
5mo
Simona @BarbaraBB @rockpools I started The Fawn yesterday, and few pages in, I‘m almost sure that is going to be pick 🤞 5mo
squirrelbrain I‘m fairly sure I have a (physical) ARC of the Duras on my TBR shelf. I‘ll have a look…. 5mo
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rockpools
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I‘ve declared Friday my lunchtime reading day, in an attempt to actually read *something* in a week.

Really loving this book. But it‘s Way Too Big!!

julesG Is this your staff room? Looks comfortable. 5mo
rockpools @julesG Sort of. We share the kitchen with customers who are using the hot-desking space (So it‘s much nicer done-out than a ‘staff‘ area would be, but we don‘t have a closed door to rant behind!). 5mo
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rockpools
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If anyone needs a slow, gentle read, this is quite gorgeous and very relatable (even the bits about chipboard!)

Interviews with the remaining residents of a small village in Sweden, laid out as poetry. It reminds me of an up-to-date version Ewen Maccoll‘s Radio Ballads but on paper.

This was last year‘s joint winner (with Tomb of Sand ❤️) of the Warwick Prize from Women in Translation- this year‘s should be kicking off in the next few weeks.

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rockpools
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Started this this morning, which Emma somehow remembered I was after the best part of a year ago - thank you @Oryx !

A trip from the UK to Singapore on a Maersk general cargo ship (a tad bigger than these ‘teensy‘ ships in the docks here - one day I‘ll post a picture to show just how teensy they are 😬), and an insight into the global shipping industry. Fascinating and really well-written- I think I‘m going to enjoy this!

julesG Maybe @Oryx keeps secret ledgers with notes. Or spreadsheets like, @squirrelbrain? 😁😁 5mo
Oryx @julesG I have a drawer of presents and things I'm going to give to people. At any time it might have Xmas gifts, charity shop book finds for the nieces, random things for my mum, and litsy books 5mo
Oryx @rockpools glad you are liking it. I found it really fascinating. 5mo
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julesG @Oryx I have a similar drawer, but my gift-giving talent is not as strong as yours. 5mo
squirrelbrain Sounds great! Hmmm @julesG you‘ve given me an idea for a new spreadsheet. 🤣 5mo
rockpools Somewhere in the last few years, I completely lost the ability to social media. Sorry for the non-replies! Loving the idea of a secret ledger @julesG -I might work on that… and I was actually eyeing new drawer-units just before you posted @Oryx. Obviously I need to hit the buy button now. I think you might like this one Helen @squirrelbrain. 5mo
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rockpools
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Still working my way up to Scotland from Gladstone‘s. Still reading Every Rising Sun - a way overdue ARC and retelling of 1001 nights. Far from perfect, but very enjoyable nonetheless. And this is a very pretty journey, with not-bad coffee 👍

julesG 😍😍 Nice view! Safe travels! 6mo
Larkken Pretty! Does not-bad coffee mean you're tired of tea? 😂 6mo
Dilara What a view! 6mo
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AmyG So green and beautiful. 6mo
LeahBergen Lucky you! 6mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 6mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

Slightly to my surprise I enjoyed this a lot. Rarely seen short stories of ‘terror and the supernatural‘ (or at least a little spooky. Terror - not so much) from crime writers of the Golden Age. I particularly enjoyed The Witch by Christianna Brand and Personal Call by Agatha Christie.

As a side-note, probably as well not to live in Devon if you want to avoid being murdered/haunted by 1940s crime writers 😁

jenniferw88 😂🤣😂 6mo
LeahBergen Side-note duly noted 😆 6mo
rockpools @LeahBergen I feel someone should have told me this before now! 6mo
batsy 😂 Sounds fun! Adding to the list. 6mo
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rockpools
Near Distance | Hanna Stoltenberg
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Pickpick

I really liked this - mostly. The ending… hmm.

A very quiet novel of a mother and (grown up) daughter and the space between them - what connects them, and what keeps them apart, and what they expect from each other. It‘s very well observed, but I wanted something more.

If you had a lit fic bookclub, this could make for some interesting conversations.

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rockpools
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My library hold came in 🎉

I really want to read it now.😁

It‘s 803 pages long😳

This will not be coming on the train with me tomorrow 😞

And it looks Soooo good! Oh well.

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rockpools
Near Distance | Hanna Stoltenberg
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This morning‘s reading. A story of mothers and daughters and the space between them. Very readable so far, if very white-pagey (I don‘t even know what I mean by that. Sparse? Stripped back? The pictures in my head aren‘t coloured in, somehow Rachel Cusk‘s Outline springs to mind).

Anyway, we‘ll see. Happy Saturday, folks!

charl08 I love that cover. 6mo
BarbaraBB Me too 6mo
rockpools @charl08 @BarbaraBB It fits well. And the title fits well. You both *might* like the book, too. 6mo
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Centique I know what you mean about “white pagey” and the kind of illustrations that go with it. A very definite literary vibe that one 🙌 6mo
rockpools @Centique Ha! I‘m glad someone knows what I‘m talking about. There‘s a lot of description of what‘s going on round them, but it‘s totally not *about* what‘s going on round them! Lots of what‘s left unsaid. V literary, I guess! 6mo
charl08 Not out here yet - will add to the list! 6mo
rockpools @charl08 👍 I got it as part of the Republic of Consciousness Prize subscription- the prize itself I struggle with a bit (more 🙃😵‍💫🤯 than I can handle in large doses) but I do love getting small press books every couple of months. Hadn‘t realised it wasn‘t out yet. 6mo
BarbaraBB It does sound like my kind of book. Thanks for the recommendation! 6mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

Well, that was quite a ride! Robin Hobb is an incredible storyteller (as a rarely-reads fantasy, big books or series reader, I‘ve finished the trilogy in 9 months, which is quite bizarre!). She‘s just kept pulling me back in. And (eventually) we even got dragons.

Time for a few months away, but I‘ll definitely be back to this world and (presumably.some of) these characters.

rockpools Special mention to Paul Boehmer for incredible, never-any-question-who‘s-speaking narration, even at double speed for 39 hours! 6mo
TrishB So glad you‘ve enjoyed it ♥️ the next trilogy is as good! 6mo
rockpools @TrishB Gah. What have you done to me?! So, which IS the next series? (I may save it for next year tho) 6mo
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TrishB Ahhhhh, here is the crux of the matter. Fans are split on this. Do you want to read in a linear order or do you want to read the Fitz and the Fool follow ups? Then go back and read the others set in the same world. 🤔 6mo
rockpools @TrishB Huh. I KNEW there was a reason I didn‘t know the answer already! I kind of feel like F+F have reached a good pause point - I wasn‘t even sure if their stories continued - so I might try something else. Possibly. 6mo
TrishB Liveship Trader trilogy is next in linear order. F&F have 2 more trilogies. 6mo
rockpools @TrishB 👍 Thank you! I might try Liveship Trader next. And I might change my mind by the time I get to it! 6mo
RaeLovesToRead Read Liveships next would be my advice! I'm on the 1st book of the second Fitz trilogy now after reading Liveships. Liveships was amazing and it feels right reading them in order. 6mo
RaeLovesToRead When I read Assassin's Quest I gave it 3 stars in protest because I was like THIS IS NOT HOW THINGS END, but I should revisit that because there are like another 5 books 🤣🤣 6mo
Centique Well done you! This is how far I‘ve read too. I seem to really like starting trilogies but i take a long time finishing them! 6mo
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rockpools
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“You are confusing plumbing and love. Again. “

Yes, I‘m still going with Fitz & (thankfully) The Fool. Robin Hobb is a master storyteller. I‘d decided I was DEFINITELY giving up after this book. Buuut… I‘ll probably need to carry on after a (long) break. She‘s kind of genius.

9 hours left, and 7 days before Libby eats the audiobook. I REALLY don‘t want to be left with waiting for 3 weeks for the final 90 minutes! (Ramps up speed to x2.5 😬)

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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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It‘s a #bookreport! Two weeks running - what is the world coming to?!

This week I finished Blood River. It‘s a good, interesting read, well told, but not easy, as the author follows the trail of Stanley along the course of the Congo River.

And I only have 12 hours of Assassin‘s Quest to go. But 9 days before it returns itself. Will I make it?! (No). She‘s such a good writer. I thought this would be enough Hobb for a looong time, but now…

Cinfhen You can do it!!!!! 6mo
rockpools @Cinfhen 😂😂 I‘m up to x1.95 speed - but I‘m still not sure I can. Watch this space 🫨 (Obviously an emoji of me listening at double speed. Or not. Someone please tell me if it‘s something totally inappropriate!) 6mo
Cinfhen What???!! 1.95 is ridiculously fast 💨 💨 💨 and I love the emoji you chose 🙌🏻❣️ 6mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

Firmly Not-My-Usual, but actually worth a try.

These are gentle stories of life as a 1960s rural policeman in a Yorkshire village. They‘re the series that Heartbeat was based on, but I found them a little more charming, and they probably contain a little less action than the TV series.

Very much Of Their Time (1980s) so you‘ll have to put up with ‘oh those funny women drivers‘ & the likes. But generally good-humoured with excellent narration.

Larkken Sounds really cute! I‘ll look for it. 6mo
rockpools @Larkken There‘s a huge series of these if you find you like them. Very gentle humour, mostly. 6mo
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rockpools
Fire Rush | Jacqueline Crooks
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Yay!

Xigxag gave me a half-price voucher, for being such a rubbish customer (strange but true), so I‘ve finally got my audio copy of Fire Rush.

Sadly, it‘ll have to wait a month or two, because I‘m in full-Fitz mode, but Yay! all the same.

(And I do love that cover.)

squirrelbrain I bet this will be great on audio! 7mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain I think @Cinfhen said the audio was a must-do, and as my library aren‘t playing, I‘ve been holding out for an affordable copy. 7mo
Cinfhen It‘s SOOOOO GOOD on audio! Yay! I‘m glad you held out 😁 6mo
rockpools @Cinfhen I‘m really looking forward to it! But I‘m NOT starting anything new til I‘ve finished something. Probably 🤥 6mo
Cinfhen Hahaha 🤣 love that emoji 😁 6mo
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Untitled | Unknown
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Ooh look! A #bookreport - haven‘t had anything to report in quite a while! (Hi Cindy 👋 @Cinfhen )

Finished Constable Across the Moors and, you know what? It was quite enjoyable. A very gentle set of stories of a young policeman in 1960s Yorkshire. Dated in parts, but good-humoured and fun.

Blood River has become the book I‘m READING. Flicking between shocked, angry and fascinated. V good.

And back to Fitz, who is doing his own river crossing

rockpools right now. Only 21 hours to go 😬.

I‘m coming round to the fact that I just need to read 1 book very slowly at the moment (or 1 print, 1 audio perhaps). It‘s a bit of a change, but seems to be working so 🤞.
7mo
julesG 🤞🏻 7mo
julesG Also, imagine 21 hours (or more) with cassette tapes. 7mo
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TrishB A worthy 21 hours 😁 7mo
rockpools @TrishB Well of course! I can‘t believe I‘m still going - did I ever mention I don‘t do big books??! 7mo
TrishB Once upon a time I didn‘t read little books! #blameitonlitsy 7mo
rockpools @julesG 😵‍💫 That added danger - would the tape player eat the cassette at the crucial moment? And a whole forklift truck, just to get back from the library. 7mo
rockpools @TrishB 😂😂 Who even are we? 7mo
Cinfhen Hi Rachel!!! So glad you‘ve found a system that‘s working for you 🥰 7mo
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rockpools
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Bank holiday reading. The beach seemed like a bad idea. The park, on the other hand, is looking nicely empty.

LeahBergen Perfect setting! 7mo
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rockpools
Untitled | Unknown
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It is AGES since I did a #weeklyforecast and, tbh, if anything sticks as long as tomorrow, we‘ll be doing well. But this is where we‘re at.

🗺️Blood River - really interesting history/travel through the Congo. But not sure if I‘ll stick with it, because ‘interesting‘ might not be winning right now.
👮‍♂️ Constable across the Moors - the total opposite! Fictionalised community policing in 1960s Yorkshire.

rockpools Reading for customer research purposes. Better than expected. More charming than the Nick Berry version (sorry, Heartbeat-lovers!)
🏸🏓🎾 Pretty sure none of those are squash balls! Western Lane. One of those books where nothing happens. I‘m loving it so far - despite the very mixed reviews it‘s definitely working for me. Today. 🤞

Happy reading, all!
7mo
squirrelbrain Oh, I read all the Rhea books when I was younger (local, you see!) and loved them. 7mo
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rockpools
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Pickpick

I‘ve found my current level. Hooray!

A young (and very special) werewolf starts her new school, and just wants to make friends and be treated as normal. Buuuut… A sweet, pretty, story with some lovely touches (the evening howl), supportive friends, a teensy bit of tension, and a healthy amount of gardening!

#BBRC #MiddleGrade #BarkingUpTheWrongTree (or at least howling underneath a cherry tree).

LiteraryinLawrence This looks delightful! 7mo
LibrarianRyan Love it. Looks fun 7mo
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