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Dear Fahrenheit 451
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks | Annie Spence
A Gen-X librarian's laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and break-up notes to the books in her life. Librarians spend their lives weeding. Not weeds, but books! Books that have reached the end of their shelf life, both literally and figuratively. They remove the ones that patrons no longer check out, and they put back the ones they treasure. Annie Spence, who has a decade of experience as a Midwestern librarian, does this not only at her Michigan library but also at home, for her neighbors, at cocktail partieseverywhere. In Dear Fahrenheit 451, she addresses those books directly. We read her love letters to Just Kids and Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury, as well as her break-ups with The Giving Tree and Dear John. Her notes to The Goldfinch and The Time Travelers Wife feel like classics. Through the lens of the books in her life, Annie comments on everything from womens psychology to gay culture to health to poverty to childhood aspirations. Hilarious, compassionate, and wise, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is the consummate book-lover's book.
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Scochrane26
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Pickpick

Listened to this book, have been interested in reading it for awhile. Loved the 1st part, but the 2nd part, mostly quick recommendations/lists of books, would have been better as a physical read. Has some good humor.

tpixie I‘ve been wanting to read this forever also. I usually do audio- so thanks for the info (edited) 1y
35 likes1 comment
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Dear Spence: You are hilarious & I had so much fun reading your letters to books you've loved and hated. With your passion for reading, finding the perfect book for others, & your snarky sense of humor, I think we would be friends if we met. The letters were perfect to read in small bites, a few at a time. You made me snort out loud w/laughter while grocery shopping. You also destroyed my TBR list with new recommendations. Thanks for the giggles.

BkClubCare Aw, terrific review! 2y
AvidReader25 @BkClubCare read it and you‘ll definitely laugh! 2y
27 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Maude
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This book is cracking me up but I‘m not sure if I can keep listening to it at work today because even if I put on headphones and work in the back of shop, folks might wonder why I‘m giggling and snorting to myself back there 🤔😄

jlhammar I really enjoyed this one! 2y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Fortifiedbybooks
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Though I'm not working today for a legitimate reason (spinal stenosis is a b*tch) and not to read all day, this paragraph is on point. "...chances are you've experienced bouts of antisocial behavior and 'read rage' outbursts... Because although you participate in society as much as necessary..., you'd rather be reading...Did you think it was just you?...You've just never met any of the others, because we don't want to talk to you either." ?

LiteraryinPA This is a reminder of how much I loved this book! 3y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Fortifiedbybooks
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I know I'm finally out of a depressive episode when I have the urge and energy to bake. I made tart cherry drop scones this morning. I'm not going to say that reading brought me out of it, but the first sign that I'm getting better is wanting to read more and enjoying what I read instead of everything being and feeling blah and gray and not worth the effort. The tagged book had been making me laugh.

LiteraryinPA I relate to all of this. So happy for you that you‘re coming out on the other side. 3y
sprainedbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
Bookzombie 💗💗💗 3y
21 likes3 comments
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jdiehr
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Pickpick

Hilarious book of notes from a librarian to her books.

Some of them are love letters.

Some are break-up letters.

All of them are funny 😄

I added several to my TBR.

*Doesn't Noodle look cute? When she jumped up on my desk, I saw a photo op.

robinb Oh, she‘s a beautiful sweetheart! This book sounds great! Stacked! 3y
Suet624 A wonderful book. 💕💕 3y
Tera66 That is a beautiful kitty. 😍 3y
48 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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jdiehr
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@Scochrane26 Thank you SO. MUCH!

This book has been on my tbr for so long and I am super excited to get into it!

And the candy...so good!

Thanks again, and thank you @bookish_wookish for hosting the #littlechristmasswap #lcs

It has been such fun ☺

BookBabe Oh man, now I want chocolate 😅 3y
Scochrane26 Hope you enjoy the book—it sounds great. 3y
46 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

Delightful to drop in and read a few letters a day.

Andrea313 I just love this book. ❤️ 3y
Prairiegirl_reading I think I should have taken this one slower. I absolutely loved it at first and then it got on my nerves after a bit. I should have done a little each day like you said. 3y
74 likes2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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"The public librarian has been typecast. We're supposed to whisper and shush, demand silence, when in reality we work our asses off trying to help people speak up. Maybe it seems safe for us to whisper. Because maybe if we could shout, it would shake the walls down."

Shout, my dear librarians, shout from the rooftops! ❤❤❤

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JennyM
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Pickpick

A joyous little read perfect for book lovers. My TBR has grown 😉

#TitleIncludesLibraryOrLibrarian #Booked2021

Come-read-with-me I absolutely loved this book! 4y
JennyM @Come-read-with-me a little gem and a good giggle 😀 4y
TrishB Great new pic ♥️ 4y
JennyM @TrishB thank you, Trish 😘 Sorry for the delayed response - I‘ve been having trouble posting comments 4y
73 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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rather_be_reading
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Pickpick

Why did I wait so long to read this one! I LOVE LOVED IT SO MUCH!! Why did it hve to end?!

Twainy I also enjoyed this book & I read some books because of it. 4y
Come-read-with-me I LOVED this book! So glad you liked it! 4y
rather_be_reading @Come-read-with-me omg yesss! 4y
56 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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rather_be_reading
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56 likes1 stack add
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 96
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

44 likes1 stack add
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broughtyoubooks
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Panpan

Technically DNF, but since I read all the actual letters I'm going to consider it done. It's fun and the way this librarian speaks to the books says a lot about them that are probably of more interest than the actual blurbs offer. But then the last third devolves into mood-based reading suggestions and 'how to get your friend with benefits to read.'

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Chelsey_5
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Pickpick

This was so witty and laugh out loud entertaining! I feel this is every book lovers inner monologue. I also now have many more books to add to be TBR. Definitely a great read after a month of fantasy and suspense. November 3/20 #bookspinbingo

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BayouGirl85
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Pickpick

As a long time book lover, this one was like reading my inner monologue on paper. Some perspectives were funny and new while some were sad and whole-heartedly disagreeable.

September Books 17/20 #LitsyLove

28 likes1 stack add
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EH2018
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Just realized I forgot to post my #Summerfunswap package!! 🤦‍♀️
Thank you so much @mngraham !! Really looking forward to reading these!

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Revenge4bess
Pickpick

Has anyone read this yet

megnews I had to read this in high school. Don‘t remember much. Not a lover of dystopia. 4y
3 likes1 comment
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Joanne1
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Pickpick

I think I‘ve found the librarians holy text.... I adored this small collection of letters to the books one librarian loves, hates and loves to hate. It‘s laugh out loud funny at times and I often nodded in agreement when it comes to weeding, library patrons and the world at large (who don‘t always understand the workings of the librarian brain). Fittingly I borrowed this from the library I work at (which reopened this week) but need my own copy.

LiteraryinPA I loved this one! 5y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Joanne1
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The library I work in closed in mid March, but I was schedule to go in and clear the returned book chutes and do some general maintenance a couple of times during the closure (which officially ended today!). This little book jumped into my hands on one of these days and demanded to come home with me. Now I need to actually read it.

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Joanne1
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This is my list for #bookspin for June. I‘m only including ten books so double numbers for each. These are all my unread library books that I have read before the libraries open up again in a few weeks. Wish me luck getting through them.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Good luck!! I still have unread books from early March! 😬 5y
Joanne1 My library (which I also work at) closed in March too. I had all these ideas about needing mountains of reading material to get me through. But with working online from home and trying to home school two children the books mostly sat unread. Now I have two weeks off - still home schooling - I hope to tackle a few of them at least!! 5y
41 likes2 comments
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Exia
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bibliobliss
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Bailedbailed

• Bailed at 20% on audiobook. I had really high hopes for this one but it missed the mark for me completely. I was hoping for a mature, reflective memoir of the impact and importance of books in the author's life, not a sarcastic romp through the stacks with unnecessary vulgarity and a pleading attempt at humor. I guess the author's tone wasn't respectful enough for me. Maybe audio wasn't the right format •

#DNF #bail #nope #nonfiction

AmyK1 I read the physical book and felt the exact same way. Very disappointing. 5y
bibliobliss @AmyK1 So much potential but indeed very disappointing 5y
Bette I had to bail on the book as well. I had the same expectations as you. 📚😐 5y
bibliobliss @Bette ☹️ I really didn't want to bail but I couldn't continue 5y
43 likes4 comments
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bibliobliss
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45 likes3 stack adds
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LindseysLibrary303
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I‘m the kind of person who doesn‘t mind waiting at the doctor‘s office or the mechanics for long periods of time. I recently told my mother that I always have a book on hand (or five) because the stupidest thing you can do is go anywhere without a book 😄

#alwayscarryabook #bookworm #bookaddict #reading

TheQuietQuill So true!! My husband is always like “your purse is so heavy, why is it so heavy?” And I‘m like welllllll I have to have at least three books with me in case of an emergency 😂 5y
BookNotes Yup. 😁 5y
Smarkies So true! My one requirement for any purse I buy is - can it hold a book. 😂😂 No clutches for me! 5y
23 likes4 comments
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EmilyM
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Thank you @OriginalCyn620 for the Christmas presents and the extra books for my classroom! I can't wait to read these! ❤️ Merry Christmas 🎄🎅

OriginalCyn620 Yay! Enjoy and happy reading! 🎄 5y
27 likes1 comment
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GidgetsTreasures75
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12-13-19: My 103rd finished book of 2019! A fantastic read!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #dearfahrenheit451 #anniespence 👍🏼📖#️⃣1️⃣0️⃣3️⃣

BookNotes This is one I want to read! 5y
LoverOfLearning Wow! 103 congratulations!! 5y
GidgetsTreasures75 @CherylRussell It was a very fun and quick read! 5y
7 likes5 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
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12-13-19: Favorite quote and words to live by! 📚

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GidgetsTreasures75
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12-12-19: Up next! Dear Fahrenheit 451....📖

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Come-read-with-me
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Pickpick

A book about books... this one had me scratching my head until this gem literally jumped of the shelf at me (someone reshelving books dropped it and I caught it!) This is a collection of love letters from a librarian to the books she loves, ones she used to love, and ones she wants to love but just doesn‘t . A must read for anyone who has loved a book! #TIL I‘m not the only one who just can‘t get in to Anna Karenina! # NFNov. #TIL

CoffeeCatsBooks I loved this one. It sounds like this book picked you! 😂 5y
Twainy Loved this book! I added a book or two to my mountainous TBR stack 👍🏼 5y
Buechersuechtling Oh, I‘d _love_ to read this‼️😍 5y
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Come-read-with-me @Twainy I know - she really provides a great range of books. I‘ve added to my TBR based on her letters. 👍🏻 5y
Come-read-with-me @Buechersuechtling I think you would adore it! Her style of writing is strong and it‘s so much fun to read her reflections on different books! 👍🏻 5y
Clwojick I loved this book! 9 pt. 5y
66 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

A book that is ideal to be dipped into. I preferred the second section of the book to the first as some of the letters in the first tried a bit too hard to be funny.
Overall a decent read with occasional chuckles and a definite increase in my TBR.
Tagging this as my #somethingyousawonlitsy for #nonfiction2019

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RealBooks4ever
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Mehso-so

A fun distraction between some heavy reading.

kgriffith Picked it up for the same reason, though I haven‘t actually gotten around to opening it yet 😬🙄 5y
RealBooks4ever @kgriffith It's a quick read! 😸 5y
29 likes2 comments
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JoyBlue
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Pickpick

I read with my ears, but will follow up with a look at the print edition. Written by a Gen-X librarian with a fair dose of humor. Includes book recommendations (beyond the books to which she writes love letters).

66 likes4 stack adds
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LouBeth
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Almost done with this audio book. Now it is time for some Lion King. #24in48
@24in48

MemoirsForMe Oh, I really want to read this book! How do you like it so far? 5y
LouBeth @UwannaPublishme So good. I'm listening to the audio book and there is a really funny party where she talks about Stephen King's Misery. 5y
MemoirsForMe I‘m convinced now! Thanks! 🙌🏻 5y
58 likes3 comments
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LauraBeth
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I didn‘t know this book was missing from my life until @Cinfhen recommended it. It‘s such a perfect sendup to the pleasures of reading. This book made me laugh and made me remember why books are so magical (and why some just...aren‘t). Spence‘s voice is both hilarious and genuine.

PS When I went to the library to check this out, it was turned front-facing on the shelf - and we all know what that means when librarians do that. ❤️

TrishB Great reviews and hi 👋 Bitsy 💜 5y
Cinfhen Yay!!!! So glad you loved it!!! Great review 🙌🏻💕and so happy to have reconnected for the moment 😘😘 I‘ve beeen missing you & Bitsy 😻 5y
LauraBeth @TrishB 😊 Bitsy says hi 👋 5y
See All 15 Comments
LauraBeth @Cinfhen it‘s been a wonky year but hopefully, things are smoothing out. It was refreshing to laugh for a change while reading! I‘m glad you recommended this because it wasn‘t even a blip on my radar. Hope your hubby is doing better ❤️❤️ 5y
Bette U didn't put a volley ball or a globe over Bitsy...🤣👀🐶🎱💙love your pics 5y
LeahBergen Aww! Look at the fur family! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
CarolynM Nice to see you (and the animals)💕 5y
MarriedtoMrT I loved it, too! Her voice was awesome. 5y
BarbaraJean LOVE that quote. And I‘m with @Bette —I was just going to say “Where are Bitsy‘s pants?!?” 👖😂 5y
LauraBeth @Bette and @BarbaraJean I figured that since it‘s summer, I‘d let her go without pants today 😆 5y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen they‘re the beast, I mean, best! ❤️🐶😻😻 5y
LauraBeth Awww - thanks @CarolynM! 😀 5y
LauraBeth @MarriedtoMrT Oohh - now I want to hear this on audio! 5y
Cinfhen My hubby is getting there😃thanks so much for asking. And this book is fabulously entertaining on audio ❤️ 5y
Suet624 The audio was 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍👍👍 So glad you found it. 5y
123 likes9 stack adds15 comments
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Macnjen
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Pickpick

Very cute audiobook. It starts out as “love letters“ to certain books, many of them were familiar to me, which helped. The last section is bookish advice on favorites, lists and librarians. If you love books about books, read or listen to this. Pleasant narration, too!

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Macnjen
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Loving this audiobook, it is so fun!!!!!

Graciouswarriorprincess It was a fun read! :)
5y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Blaire
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Pickpick

A book made for book-lovers. @Cinfhen thank you so much for this recommendation - I found the author‘s letters to books completely charming. She hit on many of my own favorites. Captures the magic of being a reader, how perspectives on how books shift on rereading, and just made me smile.Especially loved her imagining of her ideal bookshelves. Listened but will be buying a hardcover so I can look at the lists that make up the end of the book.

Cinfhen I felt the same way!! It‘s a book I want to own and peruse. And I thought she had such a wonderful sense of humor. I totally want to hang out with Annie & go on a book store crawl!!!! 6y
Blaire @Cinfhen yes!! She did! The book store crawl would be so fab. 6y
68 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Librarian Annie Spence combines letters to books about why they are being culled, anecdotes about library patrons, and recommended reading lists in this small volume. I found it a completely charming love letter to books.

megnews Loved this 6y
56 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Hestapleton
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Pickpick

This was delightful and helped me remember why I love to read so much. Spence was a great narrator on audio and her book was perfect to listen during walks and on my commute. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Macnjen Can't wait to read/listen to this one! I love books about books!
6y
73 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JesseConley
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Pickpick

Such a hilarious read. Great stories mixed in with quotes and funny antidotes. Must read if you love books.

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Butterfinger
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Pickpick

Freaking loved this book. I wonder if Ms. Spence would think it creepy that I want to be her best friend.

#PopSugar19 - 38/50

Cinfhen Agreed....so good!!! 6y
rretzler Oh, I‘ve had this on my list. Glad to hear it was good! 6y
GingerAntics I‘m going to guess she gets that a lot. lol 6y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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smilingshelves
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12 hours and 47 minutes! More than I thought I would get, thanks to audiobooks and my husband giving me Saturday afternoon to read. I got a book hangover from Bridge of Clay. I loved diving into Robin Hobb's Ship of Magic. And the tagged book was a lot of fun to dip in and out of. It's been a great readathon!

#24b4Monday @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

BeansPage That's awesome sweetie you made it over halfway!! Congratulations 👏👏👏 6y
Andrew65 A great total - well done 👏👏👏 And kudos to your husband too. 6y
25 likes2 comments
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smilingshelves
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My wonderful husband is giving me the afternoon to read, so I've escaped the kids and the house and camped out at the library. This is such a comfy chair I may never leave!

#24b4Monday @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

BeansPage OMG I love that chair! I would want to take it home with me along with my stack of books 😂🤣😂 6y
Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid A great plan! Enjoy. 6y
smilingshelves @TheReadingMermaid Yes! I am seriously coveting this chair! 😄 6y
33 likes3 comments
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Kaila-ann
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It‘s been my goal this year to read more nonfiction and then I saw this nifty challenge. After looking at the books I‘ve read so far this year, I realized I already had a start on the #nonfiction2019 challenge. The tagged book was hilarious and definitely worth a read (or listen).

BarbaraTheBibliophage Glad you‘re joining in! 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Welcome aboard! 6y
Kaila-ann @Riveted_Reader_Melissa thanks, I‘m looking forward to it! 6y
6 likes4 comments
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mcctrish
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Look @Laru79 it‘s already here thx again for the inspiration

Laru79 That was quick!! Enjoy!! 6y
47 likes1 comment
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EmilyChristine
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Pickpick

Welp, I thought I had another disc so now I‘m waiting for my class with no book left. *sigh* But I really enjoyed this book. I‘ll have to get the paper copy though so I can write down all the titles she mentions.

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Laru79
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this, such a fun idea to write letters to each book! Annie has me laughing throughout and also noting down lots of new books to read. I also really liked the regular shout outs to libraries!! Thank goodness for free books.

mcctrish It‘s free shipping with no minimum spend at my big chain, so I just bought this 🎉 6y
Laru79 @mcctrish ooh perfect timing!! Hope you enjoy it, it was a really lovely bookish read for me 6y
29 likes2 comments
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SHUPERBookLover
Pickpick

Hilarious! Annie Spence has given us a delightful bunch of letters to books. Some are love letters, some break up letters and a few might be classified as hate mail, but even those letters are clever, witty and just plain good reading. I loved this book. Would love to read it again. But my letter to Annie would read “ dang you Annie Spence. You have added even more books to my TBR!!!” #anniespence#dearfarenheit451#tbrpile