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squirrelbrain

squirrelbrain

Joined June 2017

Speed-reader who's trying to slow down...
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squirrelbrain
Big Swiss: A Novel | Jen Beagin
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My #guiltypleasure is that I keep buying pretty books that I don‘t need…! So I‘m going to read one of them (at least!) this month for #titlesandtunes.

Whilst driving home last night I had my own #guiltypleasure playlist on LOUD and thought I‘d choose a tune from there. They might have a great baseline, be good for caterwauling along to when you‘ve had a bad day, or just a complete👂🐛. Altogether now…‘I said-a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie‘

LeahBergen Love this song! 😆 2d
Cinfhen This is the tune my hubby wanted me to use!!! He can rap the whole thing ☺️😂😂LOVE it!!! 2d
Cinfhen Big Swiss is also very much a book about pleasure so great choice 2d
See All 12 Comments
Amiable Great song pick! 2d
squirrelbrain @Cinfhen - the other one I like to (try to) rap along to is Dub Be Good to Me - do you know that one? It‘s British rather than American. Tank fly, boss walk, jam nitty gritty…. Gosh, I won‘t sleep tonight for the ear worms! 🤣 2d
TrishB I‘m rapping both those, in my head…. 2d
Cinfhen No….I don‘t know that one, Helen. I‘ll need to listen 🎧 the other one my hubby & I love is https://open.spotify.com/track/3odqT6FRAUAFCeOmNFmLrb?si=SkBYj-vuRm-to5UAbioVgw 2d
BarbaraBB Hahah so good, this is one I can rap phonetically because when it was a hit I didn‘t speak English yet so I just sang the sounds I heard (and still do even after I have learned the lyrics!) @Cinfhen @TrishB 2d
Cinfhen So funny @BarbaraBB 😂 2d
dabbe Excellent song choice! 🤩🤩🤩 2d
squirrelbrain Oh yes, I love that one too @Cinfhen ! That‘s so cute @BarbaraBB that you can rap it phonetically! (edited) 2d
batsy Oh, great song! ❤️ 2d
64 likes12 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Big Swiss: A Novel | Jen Beagin
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I may have accidentally walked into the bookshop today, when really I didn‘t mean to!

I‘ve been umming and aahing about this one for ages. I applied for it on NG but didn‘t get it, the library hasn‘t got it in yet but when I saw those edges I just had to have it. 😍

Bonus - didn‘t even know it was signed until I got it home!

Birdsong28 Sounds like you were meant to get with those beautiful edges 😍 and it being signed! 4d
E.Bolhafner aieee those edges. I would have picked it up as well. 4d
TrishB Looks lovely ♥️ 4d
See All 16 Comments
Oryx Oooooh... 4d
youneverarrived So pretty! 4d
rockpools Nice! And that cover‘s so much better than the other one! 4d
Bookwormjillk I mean I feel like it would be impossible to walk away from those paw prints 4d
Hooked_on_books This one doesn‘t appeal to me, but I‘d have a hard time resisting those edges! So cute! 4d
LeahBergen Ooo, pretty! 👀 4d
Cathythoughts Loving that red colour on the edges ❤️ 4d
batsy What a lovely edition! The book does feature a most excellent dog. Hope you enjoy this one. 4d
sarahbarnes I want to read this, and that edition is so much more fun than the one in the US! 😍 3d
squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @rockpools - the US cover is *awful* isn‘t it?! 3d
BarbaraBB What a gorgeous edition! Hope you‘ll like the book. I liked not loved it 3d
Megabooks Awesome!!! 🤩 3d
75 likes16 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Bailedbailed

Bit of a #bailfest today, which isn‘t like me! 🤣

I thought this one was proving difficult due to the random incorrectly hyphenated words scattered about the #netgalley download, as well as the off-putting titles, appearing somewhere on every page.

However on reading Holly‘s @Hooked_on_books review I realised that the book itself is tough to get through; it‘s rather pretentiously self-conscious so I‘m giving up.

dabbe Ooh, that would drive me crazy, too! 🤩😍🤗 5d
Hooked_on_books I hate to say it, but good call. And the errors in the copy are obnoxious! 5d
ChaoticMissAdventures That is so odd I follow him on Twitter and he doesn't hyphenate like this I wonder what happened. He is obsessed with coffee though and not drinking after like 2 which I strongly disagree with and will continue to have my last cup around 6-7pm 😂 5d
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes This is disappointing. I have this one coming in at the library and I was looking forward to it after liking Real Life quite a bit. 5d
squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - there are often weird formatting errors on NetGalley so I think it‘s them rather than him…. 4d
squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes - don‘t let me put you off! At least it‘s a #borrownotbuy if you don‘t like it. 4d
MicheleinPhilly Oh no. I was so looking forward to this. 😕 4d
Megabooks Uh-oh! I just started this. 😬😬 3d
59 likes8 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Mrs. S | K. Patrick
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Bailedbailed

I requested this from #netgalley a while ago as the author was named on Granta‘s Best Young British Novelists list. I didn‘t get it until this week and I think that could be as it‘s had such poor reviews on NG, so they‘re hoping for better, but not from me. 😬

The book is described as ‘powerfully sensual‘ but at 30% in I haven‘t seen a scintilla of sensuality. It‘s also written without any quotation marks, hardly any paragraphs and no chapters.

jlhammar Darn, that‘s too bad. I don‘t mind no quotation marks, but I tend to dislike when there are few paragraph breaks and no chapters. 5d
TrishB Not for me either then! 5d
Hooked_on_books On the other hand, “A Scintilla of Sensuality” would be a great book title! 5d
68 likes3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Quietly Hostile | Samantha Irby
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Pickpick

I loved this!

Now, don‘t ostracise me from Litsy but this is the first Irby I‘ve read / listened to….

I‘m definitely going to listen to more and have found two on Scribd audio (Wow, No Thank You and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life)

Hooked_on_books I‘m excited for you that you get to listen to her other books for the first time! She‘s great! 5d
Chelsea.Poole I LOVE her!! This one I have in book format, but I hesitate to read it because her audiobooks are brilliant. I‘m on hold but it‘s taking forever 😆 5d
jlhammar My audiobook just came through for this one! I‘ve enjoyed all of her books. 5d
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I had it as a digital book from NetGalley but decided to use an Audible credit instead, as @Hooked_on_books had recommended. 5d
MicheleinPhilly I ❤️ her so much! 4d
Megabooks Never Meeting is my fave of hers, but probably because she talks a lot about her time at the vet hospital. I was so surprised when she got a chihuahua (because they‘re notoriously hated by vets 🫢), so it was really interesting to hear the story behind it in quietly! 3d
69 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
One Hundred Summers | Vanessa Branson
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Pickpick

Vanessa is Richard Branson‘s sister so I picked this book in the hope that it would feature Necker Island, in the #britishvirginislands for #readingtheamericas23. It does, although barely, but I‘m still counting it! 🤣

I enjoyed the book as a whole; it was a fun romp through 100 years of their family history,but I would have preferred more depth in some places and there were a few too many names to remember.

Librarybelle Hooray! 1w
BarbaraBB You‘re right to do so 😀 7d
63 likes2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Of Women and Salt | Gabriela Garcia
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Pickpick

I loved this book, following 3 generations of women from #cuba all battling their own demons. I was most invested in Jeanette‘s story, as she struggled with addiction in modern-day Miami. I also found the tangential story about immigrants from #elsalvador fascinating, and liked how it linked in to the main story.

I‘m using this for #cuba, for #readingtgeamericas23, but there‘s a tiny bit of #elsalvador and #mexico in there too.

TrishB This has been on my pile for a while! 1w
Librarybelle This sounds interesting! 1w
BarbaraBB I keep this in mind for Cuba! 7d
74 likes3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Way The Day Breaks | David Roberts
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Pickpick

I was drawn to this cover in the lovely ink@84 indie bookshop in London. It was newly published so there were no reviews, but I decided to take the risk, mainly because it‘s set in 1980s Yorkshire.

This was a compelling read, looking at a family as the father descends into depression, when such things weren‘t spoken about. However, much as I liked it, the narrative style is really unusual, hence showing the extract in the photo, as it takes ⬇️.

squirrelbrain ⬆️ some getting used to. It‘s kind of stop-start stream of consciousness. Look particularly at the ‘it‘s‘ in the middle of sentences. If this page confuses / annoys you then don‘t read the book! Once I got the hang of it I could hear it in my head. 1w
squirrelbrain These sections were interspersed with the youngest son looking back on his childhood, which I loved. Who remembers the Blue Peter competition to fit as many items as you could into a matchbox, or picking the ‘best thing‘ of each page of the Argos catalogue, or when a Wall‘s Viennetta was the height of sophistication?! Just me then?! You had to have grown up in the 1980s in the UK though! 1w
TrishB C buys a viennetta when she‘s upset! She used to have all her house mates eating them at uni. I remember all the other things too 😁 1w
See All 9 Comments
Cathythoughts Interesting .. I‘d like to try a sample. Great review! I like how you say you could hear it in your head. I remember Viennetta .. Ice cream , right ?! 1w
squirrelbrain Yes @Cathythoughts - a layered ice cream confection. It was a HUGE treat in our house! 😁 1w
squirrelbrain It was so funny to be reminded of all these things @TrishB - there are pages and pages of them. 1w
youneverarrived I just bought Vienetta the other day 😂 still love it! 1w
Centique Oh yes viennetta! I must see if they‘re still around - that was such a treat. For me it was late 90s though, I don‘t think we had them in NZ until then. 1w
LeeRHarry Viennetta - dessert of choice in our house in the 80s! 😋 1w
73 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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squirrelbrain
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#libraryhaul from the last 2 days and 2 libraries! 😁

Bandit Queens is of course for #camplitsy23, although I read it a few months ago.

The next two are also #blameitoncamplitsy. Biography of X started out quite strongly in the voting and then tailed off. The Nursery was nominated by @youneverarrived and sounds interesting.

The remaining books are for #readingtheamericas23. @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Excellent stack!! 1w
TrishB Brilliant 👍🏻 1w
youneverarrived The Book of Night Women is one of my favourite books! And looking forward to your review of The Nursery 🤍 1w
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BarbaraBB Such a good stack. I am curious how you will continue with X, f it picks up again for you! 1w
sarahbarnes Fantastic stack. I want to look into a few of these! 1w
Megabooks Very interested in what you think about X! 7d
kspenmoll Great haul! Aren‘t libraries the best?! 5d
78 likes7 comments
review
squirrelbrain
This Could Be Us | Claire McGowan
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Pickpick

A fascinating account of one woman who does the ‘unthinkable‘ and abandons her family, including her disabled daughter. We see how her choice affects not only her, but her husband, her son, her best friend. 20 years later her (ex) husband has written a book detailing how he taught their daughter to sign; what will happen when the film rights are optioned?

A completely engrossing book, even if there were a few too many ‘convoluted‘ relationships.

squirrelbrain #netgalley #arc Published 1st June in the UK. 1w
TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻 1w
74 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Paris, California | Kevin St. Jarre
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Pickpick

Ashin is a widowed dentist, living out his retirement in Paris, California. The book starts off in a quiet, contemplative way, as Ashin befriends 12 year old Mateo, who moves in next door with his family.

It then turns into a social commentary as more and more people move to this ‘perfect place‘, paying exorbitant prices for housing and then turning the town into where they came from, with fences, signs, dog bans etc.

So far so good, ⬇️

squirrelbrain But then it turned a bit weird at the end, with one of the MCs doing something out of character, that wasn‘t foreshadowed at all. 🤷‍♀️ Still a pick though. 2w
BarbaraBB Hmmm this seemed so good but your review somehow doesn‘t motivate me to pick it up soon! 2w
Megabooks I‘m stacking it! 2w
61 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Guest: A Novel | Emma Cline
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Mehso-so

Alex is ‘dismissed‘ as the girlfriend of a wealthy older guy on Long Island and is running from something in her past.

Meh, I had such high hopes for this. I thought it would be very clever, but there was only the old glimmer. It was fairly gripping in places, but you never really fully got in the head of the MC. The ending just really wound me up; it felt lazy to me, like the author had run out of steam. Very frustrating.

thereadingreference Nooo 🙈 ... I love The Girls so much & this is one I've been dying to get my hands on! 2w
batsy I just finished this and am mulling it over. I felt like the ending was a cop out, too... 2w
squirrelbrain I‘m glad you felt the same about the ending @batsy - makes me feel better! 😁 Looking forward to seeing your review. 2w
See All 9 Comments
squirrelbrain @thereadingreference - hopefully you‘ll like it; don‘t let me put you off. 😬 2w
BarbaraBB I am now definitely not going to read this one. I wasn‘t really up for it because of The Girls and now I‘m sure it‘s not for me! 2w
Megabooks Glad I decided to go library, but I‘m still interested enough to read. Great review! 2w
Hooked_on_books Very interesting! Nothing winds me up as much as a poorly done ending. I have the audio from my library and should probably get to it next week, so now I‘m more curious about what I‘ll think. 2w
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Hooked_on_books - it just didn‘t feel ‘special‘ to me; rather like a Megan Miranda book. Nothing wrong with that author but I understood it to be so much more. 2w
Caroline2 Oh no, how disappointing. I was looking forward to this one. Meh 😒 2w
76 likes9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

It was a rainy morning so I had the time to finish this book.

I‘m not sure whether it was me or the book, but I couldn‘t quite connect to it. Odd, as I absolutely loved Wintering which I read only recently.

This one felt less cohesive as a whole; more a selection of essays. It also felt quite negative, certainly more than Wintering, even though it‘s about finding the enchantment in everyday things.

Still a pick though, but a soft one.

TiredLibrarian What a handsome puppy! 🐶 2w
Amiable That face! 😍 2w
dabbe Da sweetest pup! What a face! 💙🐾💚 2w
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB Oooh Henry! Too cute 🥰🥰 2w
youneverarrived He‘s the cutest 😍😍 I‘ll lower my expectations going into this! 2w
Megabooks Happy Henry! 🤩🤩 2w
90 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Another fab Kim Stone book, which I inhaled in one sitting this afternoon - I don‘t know how Ms Marsons keeps doing it!

This one is about psychics and, like all the other books, I love how everything about the subject gets explained as we go along but without seeming obvious.

And this one has a cliffhanger at the end….or maybe you‘d call it a hangover to the next book. 🤔

Tove_Reads Starting it next! I just have to go into a panic room/wardrobe/another dimension so that I one can find me. Dogs for example are too good and they sniff me out, and demand attention. Don‘t they know it‘s Kim??? 2w
MicheleinPhilly Wait, did this come out today? I‘ve pre-ordered it but don‘t see it yet. 2w
squirrelbrain No, it‘s the 25th May @MicheleinPhilly - I had an ARC. 2w
squirrelbrain @Tove_Reads - I managed it in a campervan with a dog (and a husband!) so I‘m sure you‘ll manage! 🤣 2w
TrishB Went and checked and preordered months ago 😁 can‘t wait. 2w
70 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Chrysalis | Anna Metcalfe
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Pickpick

I really liked this, but wish it had gone deeper in many areas. The MC is observed by 3 people as she begins to change both her body and her mind, to become the strongest she can be. This narrative device lends a distance and I never felt like I got inside the MC‘s head.

Still, it left me with many questions, and I can‘t stop thinking about it. (Maybe that is the point, questions rather than answers?)

squirrelbrain Comments for @megabooks, @monalyisha @JamieArc in spoiler ⬇️ 2w
squirrelbrain I thought your comment on Cultish really interesting Alyisha, but I thought the fact of her childhood trauma detracted from this a bit. Was she only trying to help herself or was she aiming to create a following? 2w
squirrelbrain Also, I completely agree with you all - I totally thought something was going to happen to Susie. It seemed like she‘d been drugged by the drink he gave her. 🤷‍♀️ 2w
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squirrelbrain And finally, for now(!), not doing any social media myself (other than here of course) I didn‘t feel that the commentary on this went into enough depth, or maybe that‘s my lack of understanding of the medium? 2w
squirrelbrain Thanks for nominating for #camplitsy23 @MicheleinPhilly - I wouldn‘t have come across it otherwise. It would have made for a great discussion! 🏃‍♀️ 🤣 2w
MicheleinPhilly TOLD YA SO!!! 2w
BarbaraBB Too bad it didn‘t make it. I think I voted for it! 2w
BarbaraBB I will read your spoilers later! 2w
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - I didn‘t read the others‘ spoilers until after I‘d finished. I resisted, for once! 2w
76 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Happy Hour | Jacquie Byron
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Pickpick

I loved this! Thank you so much for sending it to me @CarolynM 😘

Franny is grieving after her husband died 3 years ago in a tragic accident. When a single Mum with two kids moves in next door her life is up-ended in all sorts of ways. I loved all of the characters, especially Franny herself and the two kids next door.

If you liked Eudora Honeysett you‘ll love this - it‘s actually a little bit sharper and funnier.

dabbe Looks like da real pup is ready for happy hour! #sweetface 💙🐾💚 2w
batsy Such a good book model 😁😍 2w
Megabooks Handsome Henry!! 🤩🤩 2w
See All 12 Comments
Cathythoughts Lovely pic ! I‘m jealous of your lovely camping trip. 🥰 2w
LeahBergen Hello Henry! 😘 2w
jesseastin This sounds great! I wonder why I can‘t find it at my library or on Amazon. Must search harder…. 2w
jesseastin Found and ordered! 2w
squirrelbrain @jesseastin - it‘s an Australian book which is maybe why you struggled but glad you‘ve found it now! 2w
TrishB Henry ♥️ book sounds fab too. 2w
BarbaraBB Sounds great. @CarolynM always finds the best Australian books! 2w
Hooked_on_books Henry looks like he enjoyed it, too! 2w
CarolynM 💕😘 Eudora Honeysett reminded me of this book, yet there aren‘t really that many similarities. Franny and Eudora are both fabulous but in very different ways! 2w
83 likes2 stack adds12 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Happy Hour | Jacquie Byron
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We‘ve had two days of walking so today is a campsite chill-out day.🚐

I‘m over halfway through Happy Hour and loving it; it‘s the perfect holiday read.

Only just started Enchantment and about to start Chrysalis on Kindle, because why read one book when you can read three?! 🤣

bnp What part of the world are you camping in? 2w
Bklover Those are my favorite days! Depending on the temperature, coffee, a comfy lawn chair, and a book by a campfire. Bliss. ❤️❤️❤️ 2w
CarolynM So glad you‘re enjoying Happy Hour ❤️ Isn‘t Franny fabulous? 2w
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youneverarrived Sounds good! ❤️ I‘m waiting on Enchantment at the library, I really enjoyed her other book 2w
Cathythoughts Enjoy your well deserved chill out day 👍🏻❤️ 2w
Tamra Camping! 💜 Except it looks like you do the real thing! We faux camp with a camper. 😉 2w
squirrelbrain @bnp - we‘re in Yorkshire in England. 2w
squirrelbrain I‘m loving Franny @CarolynM - in fact all of the characters are fab! 2w
squirrelbrain @youneverarrived - so far I don‘t think it‘s as good as Wintering. Still good, but somehow it seems more negative even though it‘s meant to be about finding the positive. 2w
squirrelbrain Oh no @Tamra - we faux-camp too! That‘s just the side of the awning you can see. We have a camper too - it may be tiny but it has central heating! 😁 2w
Tamra @squirrelbrain 😂 okay, I don‘t feel so wimpy now. 2w
Megabooks Glad you‘re having a good camping trip! 2w
Cinfhen Exactly!! 2w
73 likes2 stack adds13 comments
review
squirrelbrain
August Blue: A Novel | Deborah Levy
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Pickpick

I thought I was going to love this and I did. I didn‘t go into it trying to analyse it; I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the beautiful prose. However, I feel like re-reading it straight away to unpick it a bit more; it would have been so good as a #camplitsy23 choice @BarbaraBB @Megabooks (so near but not quite near enough!)

Pic is from the Cleveland Way in North Yorkshire - the blue sky could be the Med in August!

RaeLovesToRead It can be a bonus pick! For extra camp badges! 😄 3w
sarahbarnes Can‘t wait to read this one! Glad you loved it. 3w
youneverarrived Looking forward to reading this! 3w
See All 9 Comments
TrishB Lovely pic ♥️ I‘m not tempted by the book as I haven‘t liked any of the others by this author (sorry, not sorry 😁) 3w
Hooked_on_books Pretty pic! Hope you‘re having a fun time there. 🚐 3w
BarbaraBB You‘re out campering, good for you! And it seems you chose a good time ☀️ Glad the book was so good although I didn‘t expect any less! 3w
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB - we‘re having a lovely time. Weather is a bit mixed but we have been lucky for the two days we walked on the coastal path. ☀️ 3w
BarbaraBB I‘d love to walk that coastal path! 2w
CarolynM So looking forward to this one 2w
73 likes2 stack adds9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
A Trip to the Beach | Melinda Blanchard, Robert Blanchard
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Pickpick

There‘s a shortage of books set on #anguilla but I found this used copy for only 75p and I‘m so glad I did.

It follows the authors as they set up a restaurant on the island and it‘s just my kind of ‘travelogue‘ - all about the lovely people that they meet. Hurricane Luis felt a bit tagged on at the end but still a really nice, easy, read.

As well as being for #readingtheamericas23 this is also my pick for #titlesandtunes #islandvibes

Read4life I met the Blanchards years ago when they were promoting a book. They gave people they spoke to polished, colored glass with smiley faces on them. They said to keep it in your pocket and hold it or feel it whenever you felt overwhelmed, unhappy, in need of a reminder of peace, happiness & your worth or pass it to someone with a kind word. 3w
BarbaraBB What a great catch! And I love your story @Read4life they seem very nice people 3w
Cathythoughts Lovely picture 💫 3w
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain That‘s so nice! @Read4life ❤️ They cam across as lovely people in the book, so it‘s good to hear that they‘re really like that in real life. 3w
Librarybelle This sounds so lovely 3w
Cinfhen This sounds great 2w
72 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Send Nudes | Saba Sams
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Pickpick

I loved this book of #shortstories about womanhood, girlhood and all different kinds of love. I don‘t think there was a bad one in the collection, which is unusual.

I *think* this is a prompt for #booked2023 although I may not have the exact wording - no spreadsheets here! 🤣

jenniferw88 It is a prompt for #booked23! 3w
Cinfhen Yup! Short story collection is a prompt for #Booked2023 🥳thanks @jenniferw88 3w
julesG I'm going to stack it. 3w
batsy It's great when a story collection is strong! I've heard about this and was on the fence, but now I'll add it to the pile 😁 3w
Megabooks Definitely stacking! 3w
77 likes4 stack adds5 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Untitled | Unknown
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Interesting article in today‘s Guardian newspaper, about how to get audiobooks for less, or for free, and focusing on avoiding Amazon.

Xigxag came out as one of the best options for a non-subscription model, but I thought Spiracle sounded really interesting. (ca per month to subscribe for a choice of 2 ‘exclusive‘ books, or (c8 - (ca per book, supporting small presses (like Fitzcarraldo). There‘s also a lot of books in translation.

squirrelbrain @rockpools - have you seen Spiracle before? Sounds right up your street! 3w
rockpools That‘s very cool. Thank you! I hadn‘t seen Spiracle before - will definitely keep an eye on them for indie publishers stuff - and fab that they‘re actually producing new audiobooks. Xigxag is my go-to these days - I don‘t buy many audiobooks, so I like the no-sub model. At Qf.99, it‘s a fab alternative Audible and they tend to have the titles that people on here are raving about! Planning on doing Fire Rush through them ? 3w
rockpools Also tagging @BookwormM - this might be another option for next year‘s international Booker! Thanks Helen 🤗 3w
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squirrelbrain I knew you liked Xigxag @rockpools - I downloaded it but haven‘t used it yet. I tend to use Scribd the most for audio, which wasn‘t mentioned in the article. 3w
rockpools @squirrelbrain Scribd and I have a difficult relationship! I subscribe every March (!) but, probably because I only subscribe for odd months, and possibly because I‘m click-happy, try-it-out, change-my-mind-a-lot on Libby, it tends to cut off the amount of audio I can listen to fairly quickly, so I feel like I never know where I am with it. I‘m liking that there are some different options on the scene now. 3w
squirrelbrain That‘s weird Rachel @rockpools - I‘ve never had an issue with Scribd, although I know @cinfhen sometimes reaches some kind of limit. Maybe I don‘t use it as much as I think I do. 🤷‍♀️ 3w
BookwormM @rockpools talking of Booker International can you send me your prediction for winner 😀 3w
BookwormM Interesting options to check out I am currently doing free trial of kobos book / audio subscription 3w
Cinfhen Yes, it‘s true @squirrelbrain @rockpools Scribd can be FICKLE with me too! I often get blocked out of all new releases on day 4 or 5 of every new month. Or they‘ll remove a book from my account 🤷🏼‍♀️although, I still think it‘s well worth my monthly fee of $8.99 a month. I generally get 6 or 7 monthly borrows. 3w
61 likes9 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Chrysalis | Anna Metcalfe
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I really ought to stop looking on #netgalley…! Just had the following 3 approved today and already I‘m struggling to stay ahead of pub dates. 😬

Actually, Chrysalis is a total #blameitonmegabooks! I may try to read next week, Meg.

Roman Stories jumped out at me from the #netgalley front page, due to the author, and luckily it‘s not out until October so I have plenty of time.

And I can‘t even remember where I heard about My Husband! 🤣

AmyG Ha! Blameitonmegabooks 3w
BarbaraBB Haha I have so many #blameitonmegabooks 💕 @Megabooks 3w
Chelsea.Poole I have mannyyyyy of those too @BarbaraBB @Megabooks 3w
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jlhammar I‘m excited for the new Lahiri! 3w
JamieArc Interesting cover to Chrysalis! I finished it last night and am hoping to post my review today (in short, it‘s definitely a recommend!) 3w
squirrelbrain I look forward to reading your review! @JamieArc 3w
Cathythoughts Chrysalis sounds good ! Look forward to your review 👍🏻❤️ 3w
batsy My Husband looks intriguing, so that seems like reason enough 😁 An interesting array of books! 3w
Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole you all influence me a lot too! Litsy has expanded my read a million fold over the past 7 years! I hope you like Chrysalis, Helen!! 3w
Megabooks @JamieArc awesome! It‘s such an interesting one!! 3w
Megabooks Also, I didn‘t know Lahiri had a new one. Eagerly awaiting your review! 3w
64 likes11 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Count of Monte Cristo | Alexandre Dumas
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Always good to come home to #bookmail after a long stressy day. Even better when the books are free!

These are my ‘prizes‘ for achieving Platinum status on Penguin Bookmarks. 🐧❤️

squirrelbrain Look @BarbaraBB - I‘ll have to let you know what I think when I get round to reading it! (edited) 3w
BarbaraBB Please do! I am super excited about it, unfortunately I was the only one voting for it 🤷🏻‍♀️. The Dumas is good by the way! 3w
Megabooks Nice!! Congrats!! 😁😁 3w
67 likes3 comments
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squirrelbrain
Europa | Sean O'Brien
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Hi #europacollective!

Here are the books to choose from for June 2024. It was so difficult to narrow it down to two…there‘s a little bit of a theme here: both refer to ‘small towns‘ in their blurb.

Links to both books are below.

Deblovestoread Those several weeks just flew by 😂! Both sound fascinating but I‘ll vote 3w
See All 26 Comments
Tamra The mystery sounds intriguing in 3w
mcctrish I can‘t decide, I‘d love to read both but maybe 3w
jlhammar @Adventures-of-a-French-Reader Excited you‘ll be joining us! Feel free to cast your vote. 3w
jlhammar I‘m so torn! They both sound incredible and I keep changing my mind. Okay, I‘m going to take the plunge and vote for 3w
CSeydel They both sound so good but I‘m going with 3w
lauraisntwilder I'm a sucker for Maine! 3w
LeahBergen Interesting choices! I‘ll vote for 3w
squirrelbrain Maybe a *slight* exaggeration on my part! 🤣 @Deblovestoread 3w
GatheringBooks Ooh, thank you so much for the tag! In the event that i can now vote, i would go for 3w
jlhammar @Sapphire You can still vote on this one if you‘d like! 3w
jlhammar @TheKidUpstairs So happy you‘re joining us! You can go ahead and vote on this one if you‘d like. 3w
BarbaraBB So hard!! I really would love to read them both but I‘ll choose 3w
TheKidUpstairs Both sound great! Happy with either, but my vote is for 3w
charl08 Sounds brilliant. 3w
Aimeesue Well, I grew up in Dalton. . . .Massachusetts, so I obviously have no choice! 3w
squirrelbrain How wonderful @Aimeesue ! 3w
jlhammar @Cathythoughts You can still vote on this one. So glad you‘ll be reading with us. 3w
jlhammar @Sapphire @Cathythoughts @DrexEdit Did you want to vote on this one today before we call it? If you‘ve no preference that‘s fine as well. Thanks! 3w
jlhammar @TheBookDream You can still cast your vote on this one today if you have a preference. 3w
DrexEdit @jlhammar these both look good to me! I'm looking forward to hunting all these books down and getting started reading! 3w
Cathythoughts @jlhammar Thankyou X This is a tough choice , I‘ll go with 3w
jlhammar This was a close one, but going to call it for Bowring and close voting. Our June 2024 read will be The Road to Dalton! 3w
51 likes26 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

#authoramonth

This was my first Larson book and I‘m glad he was chosen as an #aam as I found it fascinating.

The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat during World War I. I liked the mix of viewpoints in the book; passengers‘ stories, both UK and US politics, what was happening on the submarine itself.

Of course, reading about a tragedy like this is ever easy but I thought that this was a balanced view and I learnt a lot.

LeahBergen I found this so fascinating, too! 4w
JillR I‘ve had this on my “maybe one day” list for ages! Might bump it up… 4w
squirrelbrain I think you‘d like it @JillR 3w
Megabooks This is definitely one of his best! 3w
87 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Loved this story of Marcellus, a giant octopus living in an aquarium who knows he is coming to the end of his life, so decides to help out some friends.

Marcellus is as lovely as Six Thirty (Lessons in Chemistry) and Claude (Still Life) so if you liked those books you‘ll love this one too. I‘m also pleased to have read a book about an anthropomorphic sea creature that didn‘t traumatise me, after Pod! 🤣

rockpools I have so many questions. I almost feel I should read Pod to see why I shouldn‘t read Pod. And anthropomorphic sea creatures are acutely lacking in my reading diet. 4w
TrishB Lovely review ❤️ 4w
squirrelbrain If you want to read Pod, Rachel @rockpools , you should, but don‘t come running to me when you don‘t like it! 🤣 (dolphin gang rape? Nope, not for me… 😬). Now this one, on the other hand, is warm and life affirming. 4w
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Oryx I really liked this one too 🐙 4w
JenniferP I'm reading this too, almost finished, and really loving it! 4w
julesG Your copy doesn't have the octopus on the cover. 😳 4w
squirrelbrain No, @julesG - but I think the UK paperback, coming out in July, does have the 🐙 on. The horse is kind of relevant but not a huge part of the story. 4w
julesG I wouldn't have recognised this cover as the "octopus book" 4w
73 likes1 stack add8 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Today‘s book mail. Hijab is of course for #camplitsy23 - I just need to be patient and not read it until Meg tells me to!

A Trip to the Beach is a pre-loved copy for #titlesandtunes #islandvibes and also #readingtheamericas23 #anguilla.

TrishB Cool 👍🏻 1mo
Cinfhen How fun!! I love #BookMail 1mo
Megabooks Fantastic!! I can‘t wait to see what you think! 1mo
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BarbaraBB I have my copy too and patiently wait for Meg‘s “go!” as well 😉 1mo
Hooked_on_books I may have to steal your Anguilla book idea! I don‘t think I have one for there on my list and my library has a copy. Thanks for the tip! 1mo
Librarybelle Hooray!! 4w
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome @Hooked_on_books - just started it now and it seems like it will be a good read. 4w
73 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Small Worlds | Caleb Azumah Nelson
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Pickpick

I adored this! I‘m sad that this couldn‘t be on the #camplitsy23 list due to publishing dates.

It‘s so nice to see a different side to the young, black experience. Yes, there is prejudice, violence and racism always there in the background but, above all, this book is about love and relationships.

It‘s such a warm book as Stephen navigates his late teens / early twenties and learns to love, lose love, grieve and find love again.

TrishB How like Open Water is it (I struggled with writing style- 3rd person and that one!) 1mo
squirrelbrain I haven‘t actually read Open Water @TrishB 😊 although I have it on Kindle. There wasn‘t anything stylistically that I struggled with in this though. 1mo
rockpools @squirrelbrain @TrishB On the other hand I loved Open Water! Really happy to know this is out there. Was it an ARC, Helen? 1mo
squirrelbrain Hi Rachel @rockpools - yes, it‘s an ARC but it‘s due out next week in the UK. It was the US (for once!) where it‘s being published later so it couldn‘t be on the #camplitsy23 long list. 1mo
69 likes4 stack adds4 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Greek Lessons | Han Kang
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Mehso-so

Another book that was on the #camplitsy23 long list. It did reasonably well in the voting and, actually, would have made for some great discussions. It‘s a very opaque book; I‘m not really sure what was going on most of the time and, personally, I don‘t like that in a book.

The book switched between two viewpoints, one first-person and one third-person and it wasn‘t clear at the start that there were two MCs so I was very confused. ⬇️

squirrelbrain The two MCs are a woman who loves language but has lost her ability to speak, and her Greek language tutor, who is losing his sight. The two barely interact and there is no storyline, so I was left wondering what the point was. Maybe a bit too high-brow for me? 1mo
BarbaraBB I voted for this one but won‘t hurry now to get to it! 1mo
sarahbarnes This one sounded interesting, but your experience makes it sound like a bit of a slog. I‘ll keep pondering it. 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Larkken Have you read Memory Police? The plot for this subtly reminded me of the last novel the MC in that book was working on. I didn't love her novel so I wasn't drawn to this one. Dunno if I feel inspired now either... Lol 1mo
squirrelbrain @Larkken - I have read Memory Police and didn‘t make that connection so thank you! @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes - it may just have been the wrong time for me to read this. I have so many ARCs (thanks, #camplitsy23!) I just grew a bit impatient with it. It‘s only short so give it a go. 1mo
Megabooks Sounds a bit opaque for sure! 3w
68 likes1 stack add6 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I couldn‘t review this before, as I knew it hadn‘t made the #camplitsy23 shortlist but you lot didn‘t! 🤣

When I was in London I chatted to 3 booksellers - the first didn‘t rate it at all, and thought it needed editing, the second thought it was the best book ever about the queer, black experience and the third thought it was a ‘nice‘ romance.

I tend to agree with the third - it felt like a typical millennial love story. ⬇️

squirrelbrain There was nothing ground-breaking in it, whereas it has been marketed as something new and exciting. To me, the MC‘s best friend was a far more interesting character than the MC and I‘d rather have read about her. I‘m glad, therefore that it didn‘t make camp. I liked it, but not much to discuss. 1mo
TrishB Won‘t be rushing for it- but I love the cover. 1mo
BarbaraBB That is a bit of a bummer. I expected much more! 1mo
sarahbarnes Great review. Agree with @BarbaraBB that I had higher hopes for this one! 1mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes - I had high hopes too; I nominated it for camp! It‘s a perfectly good book, but a bit millennial for me. 1mo
61 likes5 comments
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squirrelbrain
Romantic Comedy | Curtis Sittenfeld
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#camplitsy23

Hello campers! I‘ll be leading our discussions in August.

We‘ll read Romantic Comedy first, discussing it on the weekends of 5th/6th and 12th/13th, followed by The Memory of Animals on the following two weekends. Page / chapter numbers will be confirmed during July.

Then it will be the end of camp (let‘s not think about that now! 😭) and time to vote for your overall favourite - I wonder which book it will be?! All 6 sound fab!

Ruthiella Looking forward to discussing these‘round the campfire with you! 😃 1mo
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Megabooks Yay!! Can‘t wait! 🎉🎉🏕️ 1mo
TrishB Thank you 👍🏻 1mo
BarbaraBB Thanks Helen, I am excited about your two books! And I want to tag my dear friend @Suet624 who is on the fence about joining and wants to be tagged just in case 💕 1mo
AmyG Yay! Thank you! 🎉 1mo
sarahbarnes Glad to see Romantic Comedy in the last month since the hold line is very long. 😬 1mo
Bookwormjillk Yay! 1mo
squirrelbrain Oh I‘m sorry to miss you out @Suet624 - it would be lovely to see you at camp, even if only for a book or two! @BarbaraBB 1mo
BarbaraBB Just got my copy of the Fuller. It looks so good 🥰 1mo
Cinfhen Looking forward 😍 1mo
CBee Can‘t wait 😊 1mo
jlhammar Wonderful! Thanks, Helen! 1mo
youneverarrived Looking forward to reading these! 1mo
Meshell1313 Awesome! Can‘t wait!! 1mo
Soubhiville I‘m excited to start reading! Thank you. 1mo
jenniferw88 I'm not sure I'm reading these two... we'll see! 1mo
dabbe Who's bringing the s'mores? 🤣💙😊 1mo
squirrelbrain @dabbe - the more the merrier, as far as I‘m concerned, so we can all bring some! 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures These are the 2 I am most excited for (that I have yet to read) and it's my birthday month! Thanks for hosting! 1mo
Suet624 Thank you for doing this and for adding me to the list. 1mo
batsy Wheee! Thank you! 1mo
Caroline2 Really looking forward to these two. 👍 1mo
CarolynM Looking forward to these two. 1mo
79 likes27 comments
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squirrelbrain
Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader
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Your camp hosts thought you‘d like to see the next 6 books for #camplitsy23 - those that nearly made it but didn‘t!

It was very close with the winners changing with almost every vote. Questions and August Blue were very close, only missing out by a single vote each. The remaining 4 books received a few votes less, but all were on the same score.

And I make no apologies for using the UK cover of Big Swiss; so much nicer than the US one! 🤣

See All 38 Comments
JenReadsAlot That cover is much better! 1mo
TheBookHippie Thank god no Emily Henry 😵‍💫 1mo
TheBookHippie I agree about the cover!!! 1mo
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing 😁I‘m actually thrilled with the 6 we got but there were so many great outcomes 1mo
julesG @TheBookHippie Agree! And I read Henry as an ARC. 1mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Oh, pshaw! 😜 I love Emily Henry‘s books…but I agree that I don‘t need a whole community read or discussion about them. 😉 It‘s a little bittersweet to know that Questions was so close! You‘re right in thinking that some of us might want a peek into the workings behind-the-scenes, though. Interesting post! Thank you! ✨ (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @julesG She‘s an alt right religious zealot that does harm 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I don‘t like her. As a person. The genre is fine. 1mo
julesG @TheBookHippie Didn't know that. 1mo
TheBookHippie @julesG she went to college here I can‘t separate person from book in this case 😵‍💫😅😂🤦🏻‍♀️ 1mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Where did you see that? Before I deleted my social media accounts, I followed her on Instagram and subscribed to her newsletter and never got that impression! I‘d love to follow-up and read more about her, though, if you can direct me! (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha she went to college here. She was and could still be a member of Hillsong church. I don‘t follow her. One of her first books we read and her author note was what made me put the two together. I didn‘t realize they were the same person. 1mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha it all use to be in her bio on her web page -she deleted it. 1mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Hmm. Something to keep an eye out for, I guess…but I‘m going to reserve judgment. College is a weird time. Everyone‘s still forming themselves and their own opinions, separating their individuality out from how they were raised. Maybe (hopefully) she‘s changed her stance. At the very least, it seems like it‘d be challenging to write & widely publish so much steamy sex before marriage while pursuing an evangelical Christian ideology. 1mo
monalyisha @TheBookHippie But I totally get and respect your decision not to read her! 1mo
sarahbarnes I voted for four of these! 😃 Thanks for posting this as well! 1mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha There‘s always that hope. I agree about college. I only know as recent as 2017 which is 5 years after.. . And a long time ago. People change -let‘s hope she has. I can‘t unsee the damage. Many books to read. I just chose not to read these. 1mo
Larkken I‘m excited to read several of these! The nonfiction about the museum looks esp good and wouldn‘t have been on my radar if not for the long list. Hooray for camp Litsy already! 🥰 1mo
BarbaraBB Thanks Helen for sharing and keeping track of all those votes! You‘re the best 🩵 1mo
Soubhiville I so agree about the big Swiss cover! Thanks for sharing these, BS is the only one I‘ve read, so onto my TBR with the other 5, of course! 💕📚 1mo
batsy Cool! One I really enjoyed (Big Swiss) and about three others on my TBR. 1mo
AmyG @TheBookHippie Ha! I so enjoyed People we Meet on Vacation and bailed on Book Lovers. So I agree with you. I am very happy with the chosen books. Good job everyone. (edited) 1mo
RaeLovesToRead I'm totally happy with the picks we have for camp, but there are some intriguing books here too... 😯 1mo
peaknit The UK cover is waaay better! 1mo
dabbe The American cover of Big Swiss scared the ___ out of me! 🤣 1mo
jlhammar Thanks for sharing. Very interesting. I agree, I just can‘t with the US cover of Big Swiss. 1mo
squirrelbrain @JenReadsAlot @TheBookHippie @Soubhiville @peaknit @dabbe @jlhammar - how about the US cover of this one, which @megabooks spotted when we were pulling together the long list? We nearly disqualified it for that! 🤣 1mo
squirrelbrain @Larkken - the museum one sounds fabulous doesn‘t it? 1mo
TheBookHippie @dabbe 😵‍💫 1mo
Soubhiville Huh, the close to home cover is strange, but I don‘t mind it quite as much as Big Swiss, possibly because it‘s a child? 1mo
jlhammar @squirrelbrain 😂 Yikes! That one is also terrible. 1mo
Caroline2 Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing!! 😀 1mo
87 likes38 comments
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squirrelbrain
A Trip to the Beach | Melinda Blanchard, Robert Blanchard
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#titlesandtunes #islandvibes

I was going to read another book for #readingtheamericas23 #anguilla that was available on Scribd, but on looking at it today it sounds like hard work…! I decided that the tagged sounds like fun and I just bought a used copy on Amazon for 75p, which will arrive within the week so plenty of time to read this month.

I hope no-one else picked Message in a Bottle yet - a great tune and appropriate for the theme, I think!

LeeRHarry Love the song choice - so clever! 😊 1mo
Cinfhen Fab choice!! Excellent song and book does sound fun 🤩 1mo
julesG Great song choice! 1mo
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB Yay! The Police! I didn‘t think of them but are so happy you did!! 1mo
batsy Ooh! Perfect song choice. 1mo
Centique I love that song! 1mo
58 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Patricia Wants to Cuddle | Dr Samantha Leigh Allen
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Pickpick

This was 🍌👖fun! (To quote @Cinfhen 🤣)

The blurb at the top says it best; I don‘t like horror and I‘ve never watched The Bachelor but I still really enjoyed it. It follows the final 4 girls on The Catch as they arrive on Otters Island, known for being LGBTQIA friendly, but is there something else there too?!

It‘s certainly not deep and meaningful and the horror isn‘t actually that horrid but it‘s fab as a weird and wacky palate-cleanser.

JamieArc I *almost* picked this up yesterday! I‘ve been waiting for something to pop up to fit the #Booked2023 prompt - described as weird. 1mo
squirrelbrain Ooh yes, I forgot to check all my prompts @JamieArc - this would definitely work for that one! Much as I liked it, I do think it‘s a #borrownotbuy - it‘s fun but not the sort of book I‘d keep on my shelf. 1mo
Cinfhen You know I LOVE 🍌👖 #stacked 1mo
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TrishB It‘s a title for me 😁 1mo
squirrelbrain Aw, bless you Trish! @TrishB I didn‘t even think of that…. Mind you, none of the characters in the book are exactly cuddly, so I wouldn‘t try it with them, if I were you! 😬 1mo
TrishB No one ever calls me that anyway 😁 only my Mum. 1mo
vlwelser 🍌👖 for sure. I sort of loved this book when I read it. 1mo
Reggie I love at the end when the girls are finally hashing it out and one of them just says-I a human being. Like strip away all the rest of it and we‘re all the same. I loved this book. 1mo
76 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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squirrelbrain
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A combined #bookreport and #weeklyforecast this week.

I loved Carlotta, Still Life was a good read but tough, and I also enjoyed Flight.

The question marks are for #camplitsy23 long listed books, where I don‘t think they‘ll make the shortlist but I can‘t tell you their names until the shortlist is posted in a few days. 😁 🤔

I‘m going to pick one of the two audios for various #bannedbook prompts - any thoughts on which is the best?

MicheleinPhilly The 57 Bus is fantastic but it is a very tough read. Such a heartbreaking story. 1mo
Cinfhen I loved Carlotta too! 1mo
Bookwormjillk Lol THE SUSPENSE!! 1mo
RowReads1 Oh Still Life with Bones is on my list. 1mo
Hooked_on_books See, you‘re just teasing us now! 1mo
63 likes5 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Ones That Got Away | Stephen Graham Jones
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Hi campers!

Barbara, Meg and I thought you‘d like to see the books that didn‘t make it onto the long list for #camplitsy23. As you know there were MANY wonderful books nominated, so these are your faves that received 3 or more nominations.

The Ferryman didn‘t make it as it‘s a bit too long for a 2-week read, and all of the others weren‘t available in the UK in time for camp.*

Don‘t forget to vote if you haven‘t done so yet! Link below ⬇️

squirrelbrain * there were also books that were nominated in the UK but not published in the US in time, just not as many…. The UK publishing dates seem to be way behind the US, as a rule! 1mo
See All 31 Comments
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing! Can‘t wait to see the final 6 🤩 1mo
Bookwormjillk Thanks for this! I am counting down the days until we see the final 6! 1mo
Hooked_on_books I was curious about The Late Americans not being on the list. I thought it came out in the UK the same day as the US, but I don‘t have much of a way of knowing these things. Such a bummer, as I was hoping it would be one of our books, but we definitely want everyone to have access! And Hello Beautiful is just wonderful. I liked The Ferryman a lot, too (I somehow scored an early copy, which felt like winning the lottery)! 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s the 22nd June over here @Hooked_on_books so just a tiny bit too late for people to get hold of. I have it on #netgalley, along with Hello Beautiful, which is mid-July over here. Looking forward to both, when I can get to them! #somanybooksolittletime 🤪 1mo
Magpiegem Oh no… I‘m in the UK and I nominated The Celebrants 🤦🏻‍♀️ obviously didn‘t do my research properly! 😂 1mo
BarbaraBB I screenshot these as if the longlist is not doing enough damage to my TBR 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤣 1mo
squirrelbrain That‘s OK @Magpiegem ! The Guncle was bad enough to get hold of in the UK anyway - it was ridiculously expensive for ages. I‘m hoping this one won‘t be the same when it gets published. 1mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I really wanted Americans (as I‘ve pre-ordered it), but we had to draw a line somewhere. And I also loved HB and think it would‘ve made a great discussion book. Those and Half Moon were the ones that broke my heart the most. Still, we‘re getting some great votes in! Very excited for how the winners are shaping up so far. 👍🏻🏕️ (edited) 1mo
JamieArc Thanks for sharing this! 1mo
Soubhiville Thanks for this post! We‘ll just have to enjoy them all on our own I guess 🙃📚 1mo
CatMS Looked at these that didn't make the long list and have to confess there are only one or two that interest me on this list. Looking forward to the long list. Thanks ladies for your hard work on #CampLitsy23 1mo
TheAromaofBooks I'm still working my way through checking out all the books on the longlist! 😂 1mo
CBee @squirrelbrain two of those are ones I chose and I just figured the publishing dates were wonky. Still so excited to see what gets chosen! A lot of nominations were ones I want to read anyway 😊👏🏻 1mo
Larkken I‘ll throw them down at the end of my copy of the long list! Looks like it‘s another source for years worth of reading for me and I still haven‘t figured out my top 6! I Promise I‘m getting there… 1mo
AmyG Oh, thanks for posting this! 1mo
Ruthiella Good to know. Accessibility is key if we want everyone to have a chance to read along and I did not pay any attention to length when choosing, which can be critical. Thanks! 😃 1mo
squirrelbrain @Larkken @TheAromaofBooks - we‘re looking forward to your nominations! 1mo
Hooked_on_books I‘m itching to know what‘s high up in the voting. Want to give us any hints? 😬 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures It was such a long list a quarter of the way through I forgot what I had nominated in the first place!! So many good books. Thanks for all your hard work sorting through them. 1mo
robinb I‘ve read four of these and definitely recommend them to anyone‘s TBR list. (Beautiful, Ferryman, Moon & Clover) 😊 1mo
squirrelbrain Well, seeing as it‘s you Holly @Hooked_on_books , the top 3 are….. only kidding! My lips are sealed.😇 1mo
squirrelbrain I really want to read all 4 of those @robinb - I have Beautiful and Moon as ARCs. 1mo
Hooked_on_books Drat! Well, I had to try. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1mo
BkClubCare I am most looking forward to Hello Beautiful and the Stradal ❤️ Thanks for sharing! (I was wondering why they weren‘t there - thx for explaining) 1mo
robinb @squirrelbrain I think you‘ll enjoy them. 😊 1mo
88 likes31 comments
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squirrelbrain
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I‘m really rather pleased with this shortlist. Well, apart from one!

For once, I got it nearly right. Except for Pod, which is just really, really wrong. 😱 Even more convinced now that it‘s going to win, just to spite me as I hated it so much! 🤣

Black Butterflies is my favourite from the long list and the only one I‘m disappointed to not see there is The Bandit Queens.

charl08 Delighted to see that Trespasses and Fire Rush made it. Demon Copperhead and The Marriage Portrait I felt pretty confident about. I was hoping Stone Blind would make it as well though. 1mo
charl08 (I still have to read Pod, I see though 🤣) 1mo
Hooked_on_books Hooray for Pod! (Oh dear.) Why do prizes do these things to us? I just finished Fire Rush today and thought it was good. Still waiting on Trespasses and Black Butterflies. I had previously read the O‘Farrell and the Kingsolver. Hopefully I can finish them all (except Pod) before the big day. I just won‘t read that one! 1mo
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Cinfhen @Hooked_on_books in case you change your mind Pod is available on #Hoopla 1mo
Cinfhen I know Helen gave it the 🥾 1mo
Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen I see it‘s also on Scribd, but I‘ve been convinced not to read it. Part of me says, “it looks short, so maybe…” then I remind myself of what Helen and other Littens have said and it‘s a hard pass for me. I can do without dolphin gang rape! 1mo
squirrelbrain @charl08 @Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen - it is only short and please don‘t let me put you off. Although @Leniverse and I have just been discussing it and we agreed it reads like poor YA environmental fiction, but with added dolphin SA. Leni described it as cartoonish. 1mo
Cinfhen Oh GD @Hooked_on_books that sounds BEYOND HORRIBLE - yikes 😱 1mo
Leniverse @Cinfhen Pod is about as subtle as being clobbered over the head with a cartoon mallet, yes. It's also unrelentingly miserable. There's some nice prose on the sentence level though. Unfortunately I can't get this book out of my head. 1mo
Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain no, you‘ve put me off and I‘m GLAD! It‘s good for Littens to be honest about books, so the rest of us can avoid the right ones. @Cinfhen maybe we could write some Pod fan fic together? 😂 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm pretty happy with this! I still have less than zero interest in reading Pod, so it'll probably win 🤣. Would've been happy to see that swapped out with just about anything. LOVED Trespasses (my top pick so far), Marriage, and Demon. I'm reading Fire Rush now. And I'm extra glad I put in a last minute Book Depository order for Butterflies! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse I found The Bees to be similar. Beautiful sentences, but Dear Lord was it over the top, repetitive, and just why? 1mo
Leniverse @TheKidUpstairs 🤣 I haven't read The Bees, and I now doubt I ever will. 1mo
youneverarrived I thought of you when I saw Pod had made it to the shortlist 😂 the bottom two I really want to read. 1mo
Cinfhen I trust all of your tastes @squirrelbrain @Leniverse but I might just need to give it a try - and I‘ll be the first one to #HailTheBail 🙌🏻♥️ 1mo
jlhammar I can‘t believe Pod made it instead of Bandit Queens or Wandering Souls! I‘m happy about the rest though. Excited to give Fire Rush a try. 1mo
AnneCecilie I‘m so disappointed that The Bandit Queens didn‘t make, but my favorite from the Longlist hardly ever makes it to the shortlist. (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain I never really got the attraction of The Bees so hadn‘t read it, and now I definitely won‘t be! 🤣 @TheKidUpstairs @Leniverse 1mo
squirrelbrain Are you not going to read Pod?! @youneverarrived 1mo
squirrelbrain I know @jlhammar - I can‘t understand why anyone would choose Pod over any book on that long list. (Or over any book ever written! 🤣) (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘m very surprised by how close I was this year @AnneCecilie , as I‘m usually the complete opposite of the judges! 1mo
youneverarrived Think I‘ll pass 😆 1mo
squirrelbrain Thanks for that! @Birdsong28 1mo
72 likes24 comments
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squirrelbrain
Daunt Books - Marylebone | London, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Visited Daunt Books this morning for a browse, before meeting up with @TrishB @Oryx @jhod @RaeLovesToRead to see the play of A Little Life this afternoon.

I can‘t carry any more books home so I‘ve resorted to taking pictures instead, of books I want to read!

TrishB Lovely ♥️ 1mo
RaeLovesToRead I also cannot carry more.... or can I? 🤔 (No, no I probably can't 😅) 1mo
Hooked_on_books You should get a roller bag, then you can buy more and don‘t have to lift them. 😬 1mo
See All 16 Comments
BarbaraBB What a beautiful shop! You‘ve made the most of your trip to London! 1mo
Soubhiville So pretty! 1mo
AmyG I am curious how the play is as it‘s one of my most favorite books. And your trip sounds and looks fabulous! 1mo
LeeRHarry It‘s a lot quieter than last time 😊 1mo
Cinfhen Oh wow! That sounds like a fabulous day! Enjoy 😊 1mo
LeahBergen How fun! 👏👏👏 1mo
squirrelbrain @AmyG - it wasn‘t as traumatic as we‘d all feared, in terms of the abuse / self-harm parts, but we all cried. 😭 1mo
squirrelbrain I did bring a roller case anyway @Hooked_on_books plus a rucksack but I needed to bring clothes to wear as well! 🤣 1mo
AmyG Awww. I would have cried, too. 1mo
squirrelbrain @LeeRHarry it hadn‘t been open long so was lovely and peaceful. Unlike the train home, which is full of footie fans again, just like last year. 😬 1mo
Hooked_on_books The first time I visited Powell‘s, I didn‘t yet live in Oregon. I had already planned to buy a tote bag there and it‘s good that I did, because I bought so many books that I had to resort my packed luggage, check my roller (it had been a carryon), and use the tote to help get everything on the plane! I regret nothing. 😂 (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain The things we do for books ! 🤣 @Hooked_on_books 1mo
Centique So beautiful! 1mo
102 likes16 comments
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squirrelbrain
Libreria | London, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Another fab day in London! Visited 8 bookshops (I think!) - my favourites were Libreria, bottom 2 pictures and Bookbar (books and wine!) where I got the signed Sittenfeld. (Poverty is also signed)

Also liked The Common Press, pictured top, which was a bookshop / cafe with yummy cake.

The Hustvedt and Evans are from a charity bookshop. I‘m pleased to get the Evans as her new one is supposed to be great but it follows on from this one, I think.

TrishB Sounds like a fab day Helen 😁 1mo
Amiable I‘m living vicariously through you and drooling with envy! 1mo
Soubhiville Oh wow, what fun! 1mo
See All 12 Comments
LeeRHarry Sounds like you had a brilliant day 😊 1mo
Caroline2 Oh I‘ve had send nudes in my Amazon basket for ages. Can‘t wait to hear what you think of it. Great looking haul and fab looking shops! 😀 1mo
BarbaraBB Brilliant! You really made the most of it! 1mo
Megabooks Wonderful day!! 🎉📖 1mo
CarolynM So envious! (edited) 1mo
Hooked_on_books Sooooo envious! 🤩 1mo
Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰 1mo
squirrelbrain I think someone had it as their BYOB on Between the Covers, didn‘t they? @Caroline2 1mo
Caroline2 Yes! They loved it, can‘t remember who now. Think I read a glowing guardian review too so it should be good. 👍 1mo
83 likes12 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

When Zona is killed just after her wedding, in 1897, her husband goes on trial for her murder. It‘s based on a true story (historical faction?) and has a slightly gothic twist.

I was going to nominate this for #camplitsy23 but it isn‘t out in the US yet. I‘m glad I didn‘t because, while I enjoyed it, it certainly doesn‘t have the ‘wow‘ factor and I‘m not sure how much discussion it would have generated, other than how women were / are treated.

Tamra Sounds fun? 😏 Stacked 1mo
BarbaraBB And the wow factor is what we‘re looking for 💃💃 1mo
johncadams Beautiful combination of colours for the cover art. 1mo
79 likes4 stack adds3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Thank you @Librarybelle for putting this on my #readersradar for #readingtheamericas23 #ecuador.

Puri travels from Spain to Ecuador to claim a family inheritance but circumstances force her to pretend to be her own husband.

I enjoyed this on audio as I find this ‘lighter‘ kind of HF novel works well that way; I might have found it less interesting in print. (I listened whilst gazing out of the train window on my journey to London)

Librarybelle It did really work well as a listen, and totally agree about lighter HF on audio! 1mo
75 likes1 comment
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squirrelbrain
Gay's the Word | London, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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5 bookshops visited yesterday, and only 2 books purchased…I must make up for that today! 😁

Bought Thunderstone from the tagged shop, (the author wrote 50 Words for Snow) and the Beatrix Pottymouth is for @julesG as she had to have it when I showed her the sweary squirrel picture! 🤣

Also visited the lovely Word on the Water book barge, the British Library, Foyles and the London Review Bookshop.

Hooked_on_books That sounds like an amazing day! 😍 1mo
Bookwormjillk I love the idea of a book barge! 1mo
Soubhiville Wow what a fun day! 1mo
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes This all sounds amazing!! 1mo
BarbaraBB You must have had such a wonderful day! Enjoy ALL 💔 1mo
squirrelbrain And today was even better! @BarbaraBB 1mo
BarbaraBB Really? I hope to hear more about it! 1mo
squirrelbrain Just posted! 😁 @BarbaraBB 1mo
73 likes8 comments
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Unknown
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This is great news!

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/17/uk-publishing-industry-reports-rec...

TBH, though, 669m books is about the number I‘ll be adding to my TBR list as a result of the #camplitsy23 nominations! 🤣 Don‘t you agree?! @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

TrishB 😂😂😂 same. 2mo
Megabooks Truth!! 🙌🏻 2mo
JamieArc Yep, me too 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ 2mo
BarbaraBB That‘s really good news. People are still reading books. Or is it just us who are responsible for those numbers 🤣? 2mo
89 likes4 comments
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squirrelbrain
Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader
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It‘s been so exciting seeing everyone‘s #camplitsy23 nominations today - here are mine! There‘s a couple of duplicates, the Levy and Fuller but hopefully some new ones too!

We‘d love you to join in; if you haven‘t been to camp in previous years and you want to know what it‘s all about, check out the hashtag #camplitsy23 or my previous post, or those on Barbara and Meg‘s pages.

🏕️❤️🏕️❤️🏕️❤️🏕️❤️🏕️❤️🏕️❤️🏕️❤️

Ruthiella I actually love seeing duplicates! Maybe it‘s FOMO but when multiple Littens are excited about an unread book, I want to find out why! 😂 2mo
sarahbarnes Ooh Rosewater sounds good! 2mo
Cinfhen Yay! Counselor picks 🫶🏼 I just posted my review of 2mo
See All 17 Comments
AmyG Oooo Games and Rituals! (edited) 2mo
BarbaraBB Such a great selection Helen! Your spreadsheet is exploding I guess?! 😘 2mo
squirrelbrain We‘re so easily influenced aren‘t we?! @ruthiella 🤣 2mo
squirrelbrain It does sound good doesn‘t it? @sarahbarnes I just got it on #netgalley in the UK. 2mo
squirrelbrain Love your review @Cinfhen - I‘m definitely reading this if it makes the shortlist or not @AmyG 2mo
squirrelbrain My spreadsheet is highly dangerous @barbarabb 💣 💥 2mo
Cinfhen The spreadsheet 🎊🙌🏻 2mo
Megabooks You know I hope a short story collection is chosen. Glad you nominated the Heiny! 2mo
jhod I just read Elizabeth Day's review of Rosewater - sounds great! 1mo
squirrelbrain That‘s good to know! @jhod I don‘t think it will make the shortlist, although you never know, but I plan to read it anyway. 1mo
Cathythoughts These look great Helen, I‘ve taken a screenshot 👍🏻. I‘m not going to officially join camp this year as life is busy and I‘d be afraid I wouldn‘t contribute very much. Loving looking at all the books though 🥰 🥰🥰 my TBR is overwhelmed , in a very good way. @Megabooks @BarbaraBB You guys are great to host this camp 👍🏻♥️ fair play ! 1mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts We‘ll miss you Cathy! You‘re always welcome to jump in for one of the books 🤍 1mo
squirrelbrain You‘ll be missed Cathy! @Cathythoughts - it‘s very dangerous for one‘s TBR though, this camping business! 1mo
81 likes17 comments
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squirrelbrain
Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader
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Attention all campers! We are pleased to announce #CampLitsy23! We‘re opening nominations for the longlist. We invite folks to suggest 6 books for campers to read this summer. Post your choices on Litsy with #CampLitsy23 and tag your 3 counselors. The nominated books need to be published in 2023 and by 15 June, so campers can procure the final choices.

Nominations are open until 25 April. Then we will publish the longlist for voting. Details ⬇️

squirrelbrain Camp Litsy is a summer event where Littens nominate books written in 2023, then we create a longlist, and you vote on which books to read. We read two books each month in June, July, and August. Every weekend one of the counselors will post discussion questions about that week‘s book. Campers choose their favorite book each month, and the monthly winners will face off to find the Camp Litsy favorite! Join us for individual books or all six. 2mo
BarbaraBB Let's get this party started ❤️ 2mo
Magpiegem This is making me feel summery already! 2mo
See All 19 Comments
Chelsea.Poole Thank you all for putting this together! Love #camplitsy 🏕️ @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain 2mo
Cinfhen Already SO MANY GOOD TITLES 2mo
RaeLovesToRead Ooh! Can I join! I have bought a LOT of new books this year 😁 2mo
Megabooks Woo hoo!! It‘s camp time!! 🤩😁🏕️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead Of course you can! Be aware that it probably will lead to buying more books 😂 2mo
BookBosomed1 Woot! 2mo
squirrelbrain Please do join in @RaeLovesToRead - can‘t wait to see your nominations. 2mo
AmyG Oh fun! I love camp…..with books! 2mo
RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I'll have a think 🤔 Also, I am down with any excuse to buy new books!!! 😉 🏕🏕🏕🏕 2mo
monalyisha This is so fun! I probably don‘t realistically have time to participate (Children‘s Librarian…summers are busy!) — but I‘m going to think about it, at least! 2mo
BarbaraBB @monalyisha Do you want me to add you to our taglist? That way you can vote and decide once the winners are in if and when you want to join in for a book? 2mo
monalyisha @BarbaraBB Sure! Thanks. 😊 1mo
julieclair I‘d love to participate! Please add me to the tag list. 😀 1mo
squirrelbrain Lovely to have you along @julieclair and thanks for your votes! We‘ll add you to the tag list going forward. @BarbaraBB @Megabooks 1mo
BarbaraBB @julieclair I did and I saw your votes! Thanks for participating! 1mo
Megabooks @julieclair fantastic! Welcome to camp! 🏕️😁 1mo
66 likes19 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Ann and her husband give up their busy lives in Toronto in the mid 90s to sail the Caribbean. This is just my kind of travel book; I love it when it‘s mainly about the wonderful people the travellers meet along the way. The book also contains many recipes too. (Their boat is called Receta)

The blurb says they visit 16 countries, but I don‘t think I spotted them all. Below is my list, some of which I‘m using and some I‘ve already read.

squirrelbrain I know there were others but some of the visits were *very* fleeting. 2mo
Bookwormjillk Thanks for the review. I was just eyeing this one. 2mo
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squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - go for it! It‘s a lovely read. 🏝️ 2mo
BarbaraBB I had this one stacked already. I think I‘ll like it too! 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘m sure you will! @BarbaraBB 2mo
Librarybelle I also have this stacked already - it sounds like a fun read! 2mo
Aimeesue I have friends who are actually doing this now. Their FB posts are amazing! 2mo
71 likes1 stack add8 comments
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squirrelbrain
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So many wonderful Littens are May babies!

Looking forward to all the fun celebrations coming up! If you‘d like to have your special day added to the #birthdaylove calendar, send your Litsy handle and birthdate to litsybirthdays@gmail.com. You can only apply for yourself so why not tell your friends to join in too!?

Litsyland looks forward to celebrating with you all!

🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉

robinb More fun on the way! 🎉🎉🎉 (edited) 2mo
Monica5 Happy Birthday 2mo
52 likes2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
On the Savage Side: A Novel | Tiffany McDaniel
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Pickpick

Well, that was a tough read, and worse for knowing it‘s based on real women who went missing in Chillicothe, Ohio.

I don‘t think I liked it as much as Betty as, weirdly, I found some of the prose too flowery; it jarred with the ugliness of the story. I presume that was the point, to have that contrast, but it didn‘t sit quite right with me.

It wasn‘t quite as bad as A Little Life, but is still filled with *all* the trigger / content warnings.

TrishB It was a tough read. Funny- I liked (not quite the right word but you know what I mean!) much more than Betty. 2mo
CBee I don‘t know that anything could touch the one huge trigger warning that is A Little Life. Thinking about it still makes me sad, even now!! 2mo
squirrelbrain I just re-read ALL @CBee , in advance of seeing the play this coming weekend. 😬 2mo
Cathythoughts Interesting! I have this stacked already 👍🏻 2mo
CBee @squirrelbrain oh right, the play! I heard about that. Will be interested to hear your thoughts once you see it. 💔 2mo
82 likes1 stack add5 comments
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squirrelbrain
My Prizes: An Accounting | Thomas Bernhard
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Here‘s my (not quite short enough!) shortlist for the #womensprize. The list is in approximate order best to worst, but I just can‘t decide on 2 out of 3 for the final 2 places. Each time I figure it out, I don‘t want to lose the other one!

Pod was so awful I‘m booting it off the list completely. I also wouldn‘t mind if the Pin or Patel made it on to the list.

The actual list will be the complete opposite of course! (And Pod will win!) 🤣

rmaclean4 Of your top books, I have not read Black Butterflies or Fire Rush. I am waiting to read more once the short list comes out. Looks like I should read Black Butterflies even if it does not make the cut! 2mo
LeahBergen I like the “boot” 😆😆 2mo
JillR I‘ve not read any yet, and am thinking now I might just pick the ones you liked the best 😆 2mo
See All 37 Comments
Cazxxx I‘m not interested in reading Pod, I‘ve not heard anything good about it! I think my favourite will be the bandit queens but haven‘t managed to read them all as my online library don‘t have many of them 2mo
JillR Forgot I‘m halfway through Trespasses though! 2mo
Oryx Love the shoe 😂 2mo
youneverarrived Lol at booting it off the list 😂 2mo
MicheleinPhilly 😂😂😂 2mo
Chelsea.Poole I‘m excited for Bandit Queens! And I have Memphis currently checked out, so hoping to get to that asap. Great work with all these! 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks for the tag!! I love this prize. Totally agree with you on Pod. I DNF'd it, so far the only book yet. I have 7 left to read and this shortlist date is coming quickly! 2mo
Cinfhen Oh wow!!! That‘s awesome!! There are still several books I can‘t get including butterflies and 2mo
Cinfhen Hahaha 🤣 love the boot 🥾 I have POD on loan from hoopla so that might be next even though you clearly aren‘t a fan 😉I‘ve read 9 and bailed on Tresspasses and Glory (both on audio) if they make it to shortlist I might try to borrow in Print. Right now my top contenders are DC, BQ, MP, WS, CoP 2mo
jlhammar Love it! 😂 I‘m kind of dreading Pod. I‘m going to let myself DNF if it isn‘t working for me. I think The Marriage Portrait, Trespasses, Black Butterflies and Bandit Queens (currently IP) all have a very good chance of making my shortlist. 2mo
thewallflower0707 I think The Marriage Portrait will definitely be on the shortlist, though I‘m not sure if she will win, considering she just won the prize with Hamnet. 2mo
squirrelbrain Some people must like Pod @Cazxxx @Cinfhen @jlhammar - after all, it made the long list. (Just not me, or @ChaoticMissAdventures ! 🤣) 2mo
Leniverse I'm with you on Pod. 😕 I still have way too many left to read before I can build a shortlist. Better get to it! 😃 2mo
squirrelbrain @thewallflower0707 - I did wonder about The Marriage Portrait being on the list. It is so good but I think less well-known authors should be given more of a chance. I feel the same about Demon. 2mo
squirrelbrain @JillR - we do have very similar taste in books so….!😁 2mo
squirrelbrain Fire Rush is still expensive over here @Cinfhen so I can see how it‘s not available elsewhere. (I read an ARC). BB is out in paperback next week, so if either makes the shortlist I can always get copies here and send them to you. 2mo
squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I think you‘ll like both of those! 2mo
charl08 I just love this discussion. 😍 And not just because my top books are almost the same (despite still have several still to read). 😂 2mo
Hooked_on_books Thanks for the tag! And yeah, Pod will totally win. 😂 I have no intention of reading either it or Glory, but I‘d like to try to read the rest eventually. I think I have 6 to go. Can‘t wait to see how close you are to their short list! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs Of what I've read so far, Trespasses and Marriage Portrait are my favourites. I just started DC yesterday and am loving it so far, and Bandit Queens is next up for me. I haven't disliked anything I've read, but Dog of the North and Stone Blind didn't strike me as prize-worthy. I could see Homesick on the short list because of the way it plays with genre and style, it's the kind of quirky pick that tends to get that recognition. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs The other one I've finished is Memphis. I'd be happy to see it on the shortlist, but not surprised if it didn't make the cut. 2mo
JenniferP I‘ve only read the Marriage Portrait, Demon Copperhead, and Trespasses. I own Stone blind and am hoping to get to it this month. I would put Trespasses at the top, personally. 2mo
Cinfhen Thanks so much, Helen!!! Fire Rush is available on Tuesday through Audible so I think I‘ll use a credit and I‘m hoping black butterflies will be available on #Scribd in the coming weeks 2mo
batsy Love the "boot" ? 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘ll be nowhere near I‘m sure! @Hooked_on_books 2mo
squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs - I agree re Dog and Stone Blind - they just weren‘t ‘different‘ enough. I think I read the ‘abridged‘ version of Homesick as that also didn‘t strike me as anything other than a (fictional?) memoir. 2mo
squirrelbrain @charl08 - I think there‘s a few books that *everyone* seems to like best. 2mo
Cathythoughts Thanks for the tag Helen X I‘m screenshot taken. Pod got the boot 🤣 I love it. 2mo
TrishB Of your top 7 I‘ve loved 5 😁 just finished Bandit Queens and didn‘t like as much as Trespasses or Memphis. But 5/7 is very similar! I‘m not bothering with any you don‘t like- esp. Pod 😁 2mo
squirrelbrain I think you‘d really like Fire Rush @TrishB 2mo
BarbaraBB Love the boot 🤣 and am intrigued by your shortlist! 2mo
Megabooks Pod was on the new releases at the library when I dashed In Friday and I almost picked it up, and then I thought…wait someone I really trust hated this…I could remember that but not who. Glad I dodged the bullet!! 2mo
squirrelbrain You might have liked it @megabooks, although somehow I think not. 😬 2mo
70 likes37 comments
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Unknown
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#wondrouswednesday

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView 😁

1. No fictional series at the mo, but I‘m loving Between the Covers on BBC - a book club show discussing new releases and old favourites. It‘s the last episode of this series next week and I shall be bereft. (Won‘t we @MicheleinPhilly ?! 😭)

2. I can‘t think of any off the top of my head… #thebookisalwaysbetter 🤣🤣🤣

youneverarrived I love sitting down with a glass of wine watching between the covers 😁 2mo
TheSpineView You're welcome 2mo
squirrelbrain It‘s warm, fluffy telly isn‘t it?! 🤗 @youneverarrived 2mo
See All 6 Comments
Eggs Sounds fun 🤗🥰 2mo
MicheleinPhilly Between BTC and the final series of For the Love of Dogs debuting today, tv is making me very sad. I should just read a book instead. 😩 2mo
squirrelbrain I can‘t remember if you can get Channel 4 @MicheleinPhilly ? It‘s All4 on catch-up / streaming. If so, try The Dog House. There‘s a few UK series, and we‘ve just got the first Aus one. 2mo
49 likes6 comments