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syasutake

syasutake

Joined June 2016

Reading and writing, every day.
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Overturned by Lamar Giles
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Emma by Jane Austen, James Kinsley, Adela Pinch
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syasutake
Charlotte's Web | E. B. White
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This beautiful mug was a gift from a dear friend. 😊🎁

LauraBeth What a beautiful mug! 6y
Godmotherx5 I need a friend like that. 6y
rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 6y
Andrew65 Love the mug! 6y
ladym30 Great mug! 6y
53 likes5 comments
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syasutake
The War that Saved My Life | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
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Pickpick

I‘m coaching a 5th Grade Battle of the Books team, and this was one of the books on our list. The storytelling is superb, and I have such affection for Ada, Jamie, and the friends they make along the way.

JessClark78 🐱❤️ 6y
Zelma Beautiful kitty! 😻 6y
ladym30 Gorgeous face! 6y
38 likes3 comments
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syasutake
Karma Khullar's Mustache | Kristi Wientge
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So much for my solemn vow not to read any more library books until I‘ve cleared my tbr shelf at home...

quietlycuriouskate Yep. Many's the time I've sung from that hymn-sheet! 6y
32 likes1 comment
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syasutake
Solo | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Finished my first book of 2018! I enjoyed this story about family, redemption, and the healing power of music.The audio version includes original songs composed for the book. 🎵

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syasutake
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As far as the asterisk goes, I've been there, done that. I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book, and I think applying her approach will make a big difference in my storytelling. #amwriting #writersoflitsy

CrowCAH Yay for creative writers! What are you working on currently? 6y
syasutake Thanks @CrowCAH! I'm working on a contemporary YA novel with some fantasy elements. Are you a writer too? 6y
CrowCAH @syasutake sounds fantastic! 🐉 Yes, I'm a creative writer, too; working on a historical Golden Age of Piracy romance adventure novel! ⚔️☠️⚓️ (edited) 6y
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syasutake That sounds amazing @CrowCAH! 6y
CrowCAH @syasutake I'll have to keep your name in mind, so when I start seeing your books on shelves, I can be like, "That girl is a Litsy friend of mine"! ? 6y
syasutake @CrowCAH One can dream, right? I will keep you in mind too. Maybe someday you'll be posting about your book on Litsy! 6y
CrowCAH @syasutake of course, that's the goal to get it published! 6y
MyNamesParadise Pretty sure I've bought this one! 6y
syasutake @MyNamesParadise I recommend it. 6y
44 likes1 stack add9 comments
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syasutake
Orphan Island | Laurel Snyder
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Just finished this and I so look forward to discussing it Saturday for #mgbuddyread. How does the discussion work--do we chime in at a particular time or any time on Saturday?

Lmstraubie Yay! 🙆 I'll start posting questions on Saturday morning. You just answer when the time is right for you. By tagging others they will know you responded to them. I hope this helps! 7y
syasutake Thank you @Lmstraubie! See you Saturday! 😊 7y
49 likes1 stack add2 comments
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syasutake
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Pickpick

This was my book club's pick, and I was pleased that they chose something with magical elements. It felt a bit slow for me at times, especially in the first half, but my interest in the intertwining past and present stories, and the mystery of how they fit together, tugged me along. Those of you who have read the book will understand how eerily fitting the deluge of rain was as I finished reading this morning.

Robothugs You should read the tagged novella. I believe it's just an ebook, but only $1. It's a prequel. (edited) 7y
syasutake Thanks @Robothugs! I'll check it out. 7y
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
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syasutake
Pretty in Pink | H. B. Gilmour
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I ❤️these #5movies.

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage I ❤️ Totoro! My sister's merril Great Dane is named Totoro too 7y
syasutake @BookHoarder32 I love it! ❤️ 7y
Mamashep ❤️Sabrina - both versions! 7y
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syasutake @Mamashep It's been a long time since I've seen the newer version--I should track it down. My husband and I named our twin daughters Audrey and Sabrina. 😊 Most people don't know there's a connection. 7y
Mamashep @syasutake I love that! 7y
Debiw781 It's funny because I love the soundtrack to Pretty in Pink but it wasn't one of my top movies. I wore out several cassette tapes of that soundtrack though 😂 7y
syasutake @Debiw781 I love the soundtrack, too. 😊 7y
Debiw781 ❤️❤️ 7y
batsy Totoro! Pretty in Pink! ❤️ 7y
readinginthedark ❤️Sabrina is amazing--great choices! 7y
62 likes10 comments
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syasutake
Orphan Island | Laurel Snyder
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This future Litten snagged my #mgbuddyread book off the shelf and dove right in.

Reviewsbylola 😍😍 7y
Bostonmomx2 😍 7y
WhatDeeReads Yes Tiny Litten! 7y
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Robothugs 💕 7y
LibrarianJen 💖💖💖 7y
Lmstraubie Yay! I hope she lets us know what she thinks. ☺️ 7y
57 likes6 comments
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syasutake
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1. Keep a talisman collection on my desk
2. Love animals, esp. dogs, cats, bunnies
3. Married for 15 years
4. Met husband at 230 Post St., San Francisco
5. Worked as a lifeguard in high school
6. Read The Grapes of Wrath in my lifeguards' book club
7. Clumsy and scatterbrained
8. Stopped reading fantasy in my teens
9. Read Neil Gaiman when I was 37 and it woke something long dormant in me
10. I write MG and YA fiction
#20factsaboutme ⬇️

syasutake 10. Former lawyer 11. 10 y.o. fraternal twin daughters 12. ❤️ New Jersey 13. I name my cars 14. Socially awkward 15. Birthday is a palindrome (3773) 16. High school classmates thought I would be a choreographer 17. Not so good at Just Dance 18. Learned a new song on the piano this year for the first time in 30 years 19. It was Dear Theodosia 20. Don't know how I would live without books or music (edited) 7y
jfalkens My birthdays March 7th too 😊 7y
syasutake @jfalkens it's a good birthday! I've met many wonderful people born on March 7 😄 7y
syasutake @jfalkens yes indeed! 😊🎂 7y
58 likes5 comments
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syasutake
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"Every dead person is a dead language, and every memory a translation."

40 likes2 stack adds
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syasutake
The Romance of the Forest | Ann Ward Radcliffe, Chloe Chard
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Starting this while waiting for my daughter at the orthodontist. Looks like it hasn't been a big favorite with those of you who've read it, but I'll give it a try.

Daisey It was not a favorite, but it was interesting to read an early gothic novel. It also helped me get more references to Radcliffe's writing in a recent reread of Northanger Abbey. 7y
syasutake Thanks for your perspective, @Daisey. It sounds like it's worth reading for me. 7y
moranadatter It's not my favorite of hers, but it's a fun read. 7y
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syasutake @moranadatter This is the first book of hers I've read. Which do you recommend after this? 7y
moranadatter The style is a bit of a struggle, but I find her books amusing because they were pop culture for Jane Austen and her contemporaries. 7y
36 likes7 comments
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syasutake
Neverwhere | Neil Gaiman
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1️⃣Ellicott City, Maryland--with a cat curled on my lap
2️⃣The Hate U Give
3️⃣Days of Blood and Starlight
4️⃣Anne of Green Gables
5️⃣Sense and Sensibility
6️⃣Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere sequel, The Seven Sisters

#LETSTALKABOUTBOOKSBABY

Lmstraubie There's going to be a sequel to Neverwhere?!?!? YES!!!! 7y
syasutake @Lmstraubie I know!!! 7y
moranadatter Wow! I missed that news! Thanks for the heads up on the Neverwhere sequel. 7y
41 likes3 comments
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syasutake
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Hermione Granger and Professors Lockhart, Trelawney, and McGonagall along with our muggle friend at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in concert.

Lmstraubie Wonderful!!! And a beautiful group of wizards. 😊 7y
syasutake @Lmstraubie Thank you! 😊 7y
54 likes2 comments
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syasutake
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I find myself yearning to find a nearby Latin class to audit. #blameitonlitsy @Biljana

quietlycuriouskate Oh, goodness, that takes me back! I used to love Ovid and Catullus. Did you study Classics, too, @syasutake ? 7y
syasutake Yes, @River_Voice, I studied Latin and Ancient Greek. For a while I thought I might major or at least minor in Classics. Life had other plans. I would love to find a way back to it. 7y
51 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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syasutake
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Pickpick

Loved this sweet, often hilarious book.

46 likes1 stack add
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syasutake
The Magicians: A Novel | Lev Grossman
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"For me fantasy isn't about escaping from reality, it's about re-encountering the challenges of the real world, but externalized and transformed." -Lev Grossman

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syasutake
Very Young Dancer | Jill Krementz
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It was fun revisiting this childhood favorite and sharing it with my own young dancer. Does anyone else remember the "Very Young" series?

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syasutake
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One of my critique partners keeps telling me I have to read this, so here I go. After I finish this and the other library books I currently have out, I solemnly swear to read nothing but books I own for a month.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Famous last words!!!!! 😜 7y
syasutake @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I know! 😂 I figure if I say it publicly maybe, just maybe, I'll stick to it! 7y
43 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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syasutake
Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp | Teddy Slater, Ron Dias, Bill Langley
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This is how I found Bootsie and Lady when I woke up this morning. #littenkitten #catsoflitsy

Tanzy13 🐱 7y
Lmstraubie Awwww 😻 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻 7y
55 likes3 comments
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syasutake
Strange the Dreamer | Laini Taylor
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Pickpick

Exquisite. Laini Taylor's unbounded imagination, deft storytelling, and lyrical prose captivated me. My top ten list already has more than ten books, but I'm going to have to add this one.

Nutmegnc @syasutake one of my fav books ever. The attached is likewise amazing. 7y
Nutmegnc @syasutake i was bereft when I finished! Girl of smoke and bone is okay but not even in the same realm of amazingness. 7y
syasutake @Nutmegnc Thanks for the recommendation! I just added it to my TBR list. 7y
syasutake @Nutmegnc I agree! She has outdone herself with this one. 7y
46 likes4 comments
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syasutake
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1. In bed, preferably with lots of pillows.
2. Greek, so I could meet Athena. And also because I studied Ancient Greek back in the day.
3. This is the hardest question for me. I think I have to go with one really good book. Though I'd be miserable without anything to read the rest of the month.
4. Netflix because there's a higher likelihood I'd watch it.
5. YA
#bookishwouldyourather @Kalalalatja

Kalalalatja 👌👌 7y
37 likes1 comment
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syasutake
Pachinko | Min Jin Lee
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Those who've read Pachinko might enjoy this interview with Min Jin Lee on the Writers on Writing podcast.

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syasutake
The Scorpio Races | Maggie Stiefvater
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Any fellow Littens going to be at #7sentencesva tomorrow?

tjwill I wish! Have fun! 7y
syasutake @tjwill I'm super excited! 7y
tjwill How was it? I saw that Maggie tweeted a picture of the participants! 7y
syasutake @tjwill It was amazing! Completely made me rethink the way I'm approaching my writing. I'm somewhere in that picture she tweeted! 7y
29 likes4 comments
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syasutake
Anne of Avonlea | L M Montgomery
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It warms my heart to see my daughter reading Anne. Loved these books so much growing up.

awishman ❤❤ I still love Anne! She has been a bosom friend since I first read her 27 years ago. 7y
syasutake @awishman I hadn't re-read them since I was a kid. When I started reading the first one aloud to my daughters I fell in love all over again. 7y
DivineDiana I just bought this exact edition. Planning on reading the entire series. Had only read the first a very long time ago! 😉📚 7y
syasutake @DivineDiana Enjoy! I need to re-read the entire series. They're such wonderful books. 7y
48 likes4 comments
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syasutake
Strange the Dreamer | Laini Taylor
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Epic library haul!

valeriegeary 👏👏👏 7y
syasutake @valeriegeary I'm so excited to dive into that one! 7y
lamaman2boys We are reading Howl's Moving Castle as our chapter bedtime book right now! And I have Strange the Dreamer waiting {patiently} on my shelf until I finish my library books! 7y
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syasutake @lamaman2boys We have similar taste! The film version of Howl's Moving Castle is quite different from the book. I love them both but I think I like the book a bit more than the film. 7y
wanderlustywriter Sooo many good one here!! 7y
lamaman2boys @syasutake I'm so glad you like it, I haven't read it before, but so far it's really fun! My boys will probably be excited to see the movie eventually too. 7y
40 likes1 stack add7 comments
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syasutake
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"But if you can't give it up, if hearing how impossible the odds are only makes you dig in deeper, it doesn't really matter if you've got natural talent. Your job is to marshal the talent you do have and find people who believe in your vision. What's important, finally, is that you create, and that those creations define for you what matters most, that which cannot be extinguished even in the face of silence, solitude, and rejection." #amwriting

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syasutake
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If I had given my daughter this book and told her to read it, she would have turned her nose up at it. So it rested quietly on the bookshelf for a few years, then lo and behold last night my daughter picked it out and started reading. And guess what? She likes it.

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syasutake
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Spotted in Silver Spring, MD: a dress made of library check-out cards and an umbrella made of microfiche. I'm sorry I couldn't get a better photo because of the glare.

Mimi28 Oooooo!!! Aaaaahhhh!! Interesting!! 7y
erinreads This is a block from my apartment! I've tried to get a decent pic so many times, but always fail, hahaha. 7y
syasutake @erinreads How funny! My daughter takes ballet near there so I'm in the area often. 7y
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DivineDiana This is fantastic! Is it at a library? 7y
syasutake @DivineDiana No, it's a display of art/fashion projects by students at a local art school. Coincidentally there is a library across the street! 7y
DivineDiana Thank you for sharing! Two of my favorite things! 7y
46 likes6 comments
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syasutake
Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli
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All snuggled up. I had insomnia last night. Here's hoping for a good night's sleep after a little reading.

rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 7y
Texreader My son's teacher gave this one to him while she was cleaning out her shelves. I didn't even realize it's on my tbr list. Going to have to raid his room! 👍 7y
syasutake @Texreader I'm enjoying it so far! 7y
53 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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syasutake
The Raven Boys | Stiefvater, Maggie
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Picked these up at the Friends of the Library bookstore yesterday. I'm rereading The Raven Cycle in anticipation of a one-day writing workshop that Maggie Stiefvater is teaching next month. So excited!

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syasutake
Strange the Dreamer | Laini Taylor
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I loved the rich fantasy world in Daughter of Smoke and Bone and can't wait to discover what Laini Taylor has come up with in her latest. #YAYAY2

Branwen This book was SO good! You're going to love it! :-) 7y
syasutake @Branwen Awesome! 7y
46 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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syasutake
The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas
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Currently reading this excellent YA. #yayay1

lean_rosey Same, I can't put it down. 7y
Nicole Me three! 7y
jenada It's on my tbr list! 7y
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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syasutake
The Thief | Megan Whalen Turner
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I keep two chairs at my desk because of this little seat stealer. She likes to take my spot when I get up for more tea. I rotate the chairs and we start over again...

JessClark78 🐱❤️ 7y
Lmstraubie So cute 😻 7y
Zelma 😂 we have a similar set-up. Office chair for humans, and beat up, scratched up leather chair for cats to climb sleep and perch on. 7y
syasutake The things we do for our cats, @zelma! 😻😹 7y
51 likes4 comments
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syasutake
The Crossover | Kwame Alexander
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"When you stop playing your game you've already lost."

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syasutake
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I had an extraordinarily challenging weekend. At the moment, this book is exactly what I need.

Reviewsbylola I hope your week is better! 7y
syasutake @Reviewsbylola Thank you! 😊 7y
CrowCAH My all time favorite book; ❤️ P&P!!! 7y
Heidi2 Loved sooooo much!!! ❤️ 7y
48 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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syasutake
Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones
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Diving into this now.

39 likes2 stack adds
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syasutake
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My book club's pick for this month. I'm enjoying the audiobook so far and finding myself feeling quite endeared to Mr. Fry.

36 likes1 stack add
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syasutake
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A new book and a kitty. The perfect Saturday night. So sorry I missed #litsypartyofone last night!

Suzze I really liked that book. I have to get the next one. 7y
Soubhiville I'm having my party right now! And all day tomorrow! 7y
julesG Liked that one a lot. I'm currently reading the next one in the series. 7y
Lmstraubie I love that cover!! 7y
52 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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syasutake
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Pickpick

This has been the perfect escape. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Kalalalatja It is so good! You have something to look forward to 👍 7y
julesG It's a great series, probably the best I've read in the last years. 7y
syasutake @Kalalalatja @julesG Glad to hear that the rest of the series is good too! 7y
33 likes3 comments
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syasutake
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My mom passed along her love of Jane Austen to me. What can I say? They're my comfort books. #mostreread #feistyfeb

readinginthedark Me too! 7y
Lmstraubie Pride & Prejudice is on my #TBR list. I'm embarrassed to say it will be my 1st Jane Austen 😶 7y
syasutake @Lmstraubie No need to be embarrassed! 7y
41 likes1 stack add4 comments
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syasutake
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My favorite literary Shadow. #shadows #FeistyFeb

Lmstraubie I've only read his kid stuff. I definitely need to check out his adult books. 7y
Zelma 😆 nice one. I cannot wait for the tv series. 7y
60 likes2 comments
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syasutake
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Chapter 12: On Christmas, Harry gets lots of presents, but we never hear about what he gives his friends. Doesn't he give them anything? #passivity #hpchapteraday

Lacythebookworm Our kitties are twinkies 😻 7y
OrangeMooseReads Aww kitty looks like my Izzy only skinnier LOL 😻😻😻😻 7y
syasutake @OrangeMooseReads It's all in the angle 😉😹😻 7y
57 likes5 comments
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syasutake
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I need to step up my game--the rest of you Littens put me to shame with the number of books you devour on a monthly basis. I want to get through all of these in Feb. I'm already about halfway through the Laini Taylor. #tbr #feistyfeb

Reviewsbylola Me Before You ❤💔 7y
BibliophileMomma Love Me Before You and the Rosie Project. 💗💗 7y
Lmstraubie @Reviewsbylola Agreed Me Before You 💖💔 7y
42 likes3 comments
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syasutake
1984 | George Orwell
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Spotted at Books with a Past Bookstore, Maryland

Bibliogeekery ❤️💔❤️ 7y
RebeccasReading Ugh! Truth! 7y
Chelsey Ooh snap 7y
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Lmstraubie Wow, but such a great sign. 7y
Cortg That's great! 7y
shelf-improvement Ahhh, that's my friend's store!! 7y
syasutake @shelf-improvement How cool! They co-sponsored an event yesterday for my local writers' group. 7y
69 likes7 comments
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syasutake
Pickpick

Sometimes fiction can illuminate history in ways that a straight-up history lesson cannot. This is one such work of fiction. It made me uncomfortable and expanded my worldview.

ValerieAndBooks Very true! 7y
Itchyfeetreader Just finished and popped along to see what other people thought. Your review resonates so much ! 7y
46 likes3 comments
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syasutake

Congratulations to all of this year's ALA award winners! http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/01/american-library-association-anno...

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syasutake
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Today's "destiny" theme sparked an interesting discussion with my daughters. What makes a person's destiny? Is it within or outside of our control? I referenced this fortune, which is taped to my laptop.

QueenAnne I wish I had discussions like this with my mom.. personally I feel like destiny is an icecream cart with different flavours, the choice is yours. Depending on your choices and preferences, there's a range of tastes you can pick. Although some are easy and plenty in stock, others are more sought after and need to be earned the hard way. I am currently trying to turn my vanilla cone into a "caramel swirled, chocolate covered, whipped cream on top" 7y
syasutake @QueenAnne Great analogy! 🍨🍦👍 7y
48 likes1 stack add2 comments
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syasutake
Party Time! | Scholastic, Inc. Staff, Lauren Cecil
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This is my kind of party! Thanks @Ambrosnazzy for the brilliant idea!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled See you there (online in my jam-jams)! 7y
44 likes1 comment
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syasutake
Wish Girl | Nikki Loftin
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I'm a day late, but had to jump in with these #girlinthetitle books. I met Nikki Loftin last year--she's a beautiful writer who's warm and funny in person. The Carrie Brownstein was a gift from a dear friend who knew me back when I listened to Sleater-Kinney all the time.

Lmstraubie There's nothing like a signed book! 7y
50 likes1 comment