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Church of Marvels LP
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
New York, 1895. Sylvan Threadgill finds and rescues an abandoned baby while cleaning privies behind a tenement. The Church of Marvels, a Coney Island sideshow, has burnt to the ground, leaving Odile and Belle Church's mother dead in its ashes, and Belle has vanished. Alphie awakens to find herself in Blackwell's Lunatic Asylum, where she meets a girl with an extraordinary talent that might save them both. As these strangers' lives become increasingly connected, their stories and secrets unfold.From the Coney Island seashore to the tenement-studded streets of the Lower East Side, a spectacular human circus to a terrifying asylum, Church of Marvels takes readers back to turn-of-the-century New York, offering a richly atmospheric narrative that will leave readers breathless."
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all_4_kb
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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My Joseph Beth clearance find

I LOVED this!!!

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BookMaven9
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

🌟 🌟🌟🌟
This can be a very challenging book in the beginning, often confusing and a bit slow, but if you stick with it to see it come together , it‘s a tapestry of wonders. recommend!

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Victoriahoperose
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Mehso-so

This was recommended by a friend and I found it to be pretty slow and hard to follow. Interesting concept, but I didn‘t love the story or the characters for that matter. But, it could be that this is not the type of genre I normally really enjoy.

35 likes1 stack add
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Raemorales
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

Amazing had me staying up until 2am to finish. I just had to know what happened. I was audibly gasping at the twists and turns halfway through best book I‘ve read in awhile

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Dcueto
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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1.99 on Amazon!

megnews Thanks! Grabbed it. Been on my tbr for a bit. 5y
Dcueto @megnews awesome! 5y
6 likes2 comments
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JPeterson
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

Came for the cover, stayed for the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

riversong153 Yum 😋 5y
JPeterson @riversong153 Very! It was goat cheese & pine nut stuffed portobellos. 😋 5y
IamIamIam Love when that works out!!! 5y
67 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheSpineView
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ⛪️❤️ 6y
65 likes1 comment
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megnews
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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Another TBR set in NYC, 1895. @squirrelbrain not helpful for ReadingUSA but here‘s another NYC for your TBR! 😂

#church #springintoreading

Crazeedi I've wanted to read this for quite some time 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️⛪️ 6y
squirrelbrain You‘re not helping with all these New York books 🤣 I have to add each one to my TBR! 6y
35 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Mehso-so
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Kaye Good job 🍀 6y
69 likes1 comment
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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tammysue 👏🏻👍🏻 6y
73 likes1 comment
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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tammysue 🙌🏻🙌🏻☺️ 6y
DarcysMom @whatshesreadingnow 💕💕💕💕 6y
Kaye 💕 6y
77 likes1 stack add3 comments
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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DarcysMom
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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64 likes1 stack add
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Beatlefan129
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Mehso-so

I was really excited by the setting, but ultimately had some issues with the writing. At times, I‘d read a sentence and have no idea what it meant. The words were beautiful, but it was just a jumble of metaphors. Also, while I was grateful for the epilogue because it tied up a lot of loose plot points, I thought it was kind of a cop out to just slap an epilogue on at the end instead of working it into the actual story

KateFulfordAuthor Thanks for the great review! And generally agree with you about epilogues too. 6y
72 likes1 comment
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UnabridgedPod
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

Strong historical novel. It's tough to talk about it too much without spoilers, but . . . the book centers on three characters. First is Odile Church, twin sister of Belle, who is raised by their mother in the Church of Marvels, a theater featuring unique acts, including sword swallowers, contortionists, and knife throwers. Odile is searching for Belle, who left under mysterious circumstances. (Continued in comments)

UnabridgedPod Sylvan is a night soiler who struggles to recover from the deaths of his adoptive family. And Alphie, the wife of an undertaker, wakes in an asylum, struggling to hold herself together until her husband can rescue her. The stories of these three characters swirl around each other, building a world and a narrative that reveals itself in pieces. Beautiful writing and strong, intriguing twists. Loved it!⠀ 6y
15 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Beatlefan129
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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That is a great opening line! #lmpbc

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Shadowfat
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

After the first couple rotations of character POVs I figured out who everyone was and really got into the story. It was a good pick for #lmpbc. I'm hoping to mail it tomorrow to you @Beatlefan129 .

Beatlefan129 Ooh, looks good, I‘m looking forward to it 6y
34 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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beeweird
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
Mehso-so

It's a marvel that I finished. ⭐⭐⭐

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sherryvdh
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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@robinb is hosting her first giveaway! Go follow her and check it out!
All three of these were 5🌟 reads for me, and left me with massive book hangovers
#alltherightstuffgiveaway

robinb Thanks for entering/sharing! These sound wonderful! More TBR to my list! 👍👍😊 7y
40 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DebinHawaii
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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#MarchIntoOz #Misfits The main characters in this novel set in 1890s NYC & Coney Island are misfits. Odile was raised with her sister in their mother's Coney Island sideshow-The Church of Marvels-along with other 'misfits.' Sylvan works as a 'night soiler' cleaning out the muck behind tenements where he finds a baby, & Alphie was a "penny-Rembrandt"-cleaning up the faces of drunken men before finding herself in an asylum-courtesy of her evil MIL.

sherryvdh I loved this book so much! 7y
DebinHawaii @sherryvdh Me too--it's on the darker side but really good! 📚❤️ 7y
ElishaLovesBooks This looks so interesting! Stacked! 7y
See All 7 Comments
DebinHawaii @ElishaLovesBooks Hope you enjoy it! 📚👍 7y
Reviewsbylola Awesome collage!!! 7y
tammysue Great picture! 7y
Cinfhen Loved this book!!! One of my favorite time/eras to read about😊great choice 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
94 likes6 stack adds7 comments
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Daniellesbooks1
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

The first 4-6 chapters were rough for me, I was trying to figure out how all the characters connected and thinking too hard. Finally I gave in and let the book take me for a ride. And oh what a ride it was! Victorian historical fiction and/or circus/sideshow subgenres may be my new favorite genres. This book was much darker than I was initially prepared for, but I quickly got over that and loved it!

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Texreader
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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@4thhouseontheleft nailed it down to all the sweet treats! It‘s like she dropped me in a historical fiction book dream where I️ would love to hang out forever...except for some Stranger Things Love! I️ Love everything so much!!! Thank you!!! And check out those bookmarks! Too cute!! #secretsantagoespostal What a marvelous way to end the day. #allsmiles

BarbaraTheBibliophage What a fun bunch of goodies! 7y
MinDea I loved The Miniaturist! 7y
Scurvygirl Look at the little Dustin!! So cute! 😹 7y
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alisiakae I‘m glad you like everything!! ❤️💚❤️💚 7y
Texreader @4thhouseontheleft I kept unwrapping sweets and I️ was all smiles! That chocolate covered graham cracker? Sounds decadent! Going to have to wait for some alone time to relish that one. Then Dustin! Awwww! I️ saved the books for last and I️ am so so excited! You stalk well. 7y
Texreader @Scurvygirl @4thhouseontheleft My son saw it and took off with it! 😂 He eventually gave it back...but our whole fam loves that show so much!!!! 7y
alisiakae @Texreader @Scurvygirl I love that little Dustin! I was so tempted to buy one for myself. 😂 I also love Stranger Things, and the 80s nostalgia that goes along with it! 7y
118 likes7 comments
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TommieMarie74
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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My Book Outlet haul from Black Friday! #bookhaul #nevertoomanybooks #bookoutlet

RaimeyGallant Welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon And here's a compilation of Litsy tips that some of us put together:
https://raimeygallant.com/2017/10/31/litsytips/
7y
PurpleyPumpkin Welcome to Litsy! It's a great community and I hope you enjoy it here. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts. 😉👍🏽 7y
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy! 🎉📚👍😀Hope you are enjoying it here! 7y
DebReads4fun Welcome to Litsy! 7y
30 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Ncostell
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

I raced through this book set in NYC and Coney Island in 1895. It was a dark read, showing the seamy underbelly of turn of the century Manhattan and the circus life but it kept my attention with its many twists and turns. So good!

54 likes6 stack adds
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Ncostell
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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"I haven't been able to speak since I was seventeen years old." This is the #firstlineofcurrentread from Church of Marvels. I'm about a third of the way through and loving it so far. #anditsaugust

JazzFeathers Intriging 7y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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sherryvdh
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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I haven't been on Litsy lately, life has been so busy! We have visitors coming the next few weeks, too. I may not get much reading squeezed in.
My #Fave5 at the moment. @Oryx thanks for the chance!

Oryx Since I've read four of those and love them too, I'm guessing I might enjoy the 5th one too. Hadn't heard of it. Added to my tbr. 😀 7y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Ruri_kaichou
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Day 7: New Author - a few new authors that I would like to read. #SplashIntoSummerReads #TBR @Tiffy_Reads

BookBelle84 I love the Land of Stories! The characters are so great in those books! 7y
Ruri_kaichou @BookBelle84 that's good to hear! I bought it on a whim at B&N because it was half of since I bought a bunch of children's books. So I'm glad I'm hearing good things 7y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Rachbb3
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
Pickpick

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. It's one of those books that makes you queasy. It's set in late 19th century Manhattan. It's follows 3 main characters whose lives are very different until one thing brings them all together. From the slums to opium dens to asylums, this book really grasps the times and hardships of that time.

#maybookflowers

61 likes2 stack adds
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Rachbb3
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Up next. This cover...😍

#maybookflowers

Nat_Reads That looks so fun! 7y
86 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Ange44
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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I'm trying to get a couple of chapters in before work starts. Monday mornings come way too quickly! I'm just trying to remind myself that I have a four day weekend coming up.

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Ange44
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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My other lazy Sunday read. This book takes place in turn of the century New York and involves circus/sideshows, two of my favourite things to read about! So far I'm enjoying it.

Maike Also, it's really pretty 😄 8y
18 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Foragingfantasy
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Started this one last night at baseball practice. Didn't get super far, but I think it's going to be good.

BekahPat Beautiful photo! I have been wanting to read this one also! 8y
Cinfhen It's a little odd, in a good way. I liked the setting and cast of characters. 8y
Foragingfantasy @Cinfhen I'm a big fan of odd! ☺️ 8y
Foragingfantasy @BekahPat thank you! There was a rose bush by the building my son was practicing at and I couldn't help myself. 🌹❤️ 8y
DebinHawaii I enjoyed it too! 👍📚 8y
29 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Ruri_kaichou
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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My baby discovered my TBR tote and proceeded to peruse its contents. She even did a happy shoulder wiggle. ❤️🤓📚

Merethebookgal Too cute 😁 8y
Smrloomis 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤ 8y
55 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kirstin
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Away from home. Quiet hotel room, snowy night and a new book. 🤗📚❄❄❄

42 likes2 stack adds
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Foragingfantasy
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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On my birthday I bought my Thriftbooks.com shopping cart. I had a happy mailbox today! One was injured in transit, but can still be read. That's the risk of media mail. Oh well. I'm still super excited to have them! We the Drowned is a #blamelitsy purchase.

Cinfhen Church of marvels was a good one👍🏻 8y
SaraFair Love Thriftbooks! Have found a couple there that were a lot more than on Amazon. 8y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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chansen
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

I picked this up two or three years ago, but I didn't get around to reading it until #BackAlleyBookClub picked it. The descriptions are tangible - you can feel the grit and grime of 1895 New York. The pacing is good, with the characters intertwining at just the right moments, and there is at least one surprising plot twist. My only criticism is the amount of explanation in the epilogue.

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JacqMac
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Pickpick

Excellent book for a lazy Sunday. It's hard to put down. Reminiscent of The Night Circus and Geek Love.

StellarDoc With that description, I'm sold! I loved both of those books! 8y
56 likes8 stack adds1 comment
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JacqMac
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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I made a nest. Fuzzy onesie, piles of blankets, plethora of pillows, stacks of books. I ❤ lazy winter Sundays. I just need some tea. But I'm afraid if I leave I'll never make it back.

8little_paws Ooohh and that book!! Love that book 8y
52 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JacqMac
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Last day of being lazy before life goes back to normal. Starting this one now. It's all I'm putting on #thismonthstbr I can hardly choose what book to start next, let alone choosing a months worth. 😂 #readjanuary

8little_paws Oh my ever loving God did I love this book 8y
beaniebankbeth Great book! 8y
MicheleinPhilly Yep. 10 minutes ago: "What are all of these piles of books on the coffee table?" 8y
See All 7 Comments
JacqMac @8little_paws @beaniebankbeth That's great to hear! It's a book one of my kids bought for me, so I wasn't sure about it. But I HAVE to read it. lol (edited) 8y
ReadingOver50 I'm with you. I don't plan out my TBR. So much can change 😄 8y
JacqMac @ReadingOver50 It's true. And I'm very much a mood reader. 8y
55 likes6 stack adds7 comments
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JacqMac
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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There were books under the tree! And something to keep my tea warm while I read. I have big book plans for tomorrow. Have a happy day Littens!

rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 8y
James 😀👏👍🌲 8y
Mommamanzi Love your tea pot!!! 7y
62 likes3 comments
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NerdyRev
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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I started this on the train to NYC and just could not get into it, but I kept plugging at it and now I am just drawn in! While most circus books of last year, and there were lots, are lighter and take place in a circus, this one isn't and doesn't. This is dark and the circus is gone. Once I figured the tone and got to know the characters, it became smooth sailing. Halfway done.

Christinak Some of my favorites have been the hardest to start. That is why I have such a hard time quitting books. 8y
8little_paws Oh man. This book is fantastic once you get into it. She twists the story around at the halfway point 8y
DebinHawaii I really liked this one! 📚👍 8y
NerdyRev I am really enjoying it. 8y
36 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Heatherine
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
Mehso-so

FINALLY finished this. I almost quit several times. Not a good book to read at the end of the night if you're prone to falling asleep while reading. There's just so much going on and I may have missed some stuff in my dozing off. Not a bad book at all, but I had a hard time getting into it.

5 likes1 stack add
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meltedsquirrel
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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getting ready to drop these in the mail. I am so happy with this wrapping paper from the 100 yen store. #secretsantagoespostal

Varshitha That wrapping paper is so pretty💓 8y
LeahBergen It's beautiful! 😍 8y
BookishMarginalia Cuteness! 8y
Simona Beautiful ❣️ 8y
26 likes4 comments
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Heatherine
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Tried to start this book at the BOA Grand National Championships, but it's pretty hard to read while listening to marching bands. 😂

Matilda Tell them to keep it down you're trying to read! 8y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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theladygreer
Church Of Marvels | Leslie Parry
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Birchbark Books in Minneapolis is cozy and charming and has a canoe on the ceiling. They curate relentlessly & do a wonderful job with shelf-talkers; if a book's here, it's because someone in the store loves it. (I happen to agree with them about Church of Marvels!) #getindie

20 likes4 stack adds
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Bookish.SAM
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
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Mehso-so

Meh :/

I really wanted to love this, but it seemed like the incidents that drove the 'plot' were too coincidental and didn't stand up very well. Lots of twists, so that was fun. I didn't find the graphic descriptions all that offensive (as I've read in other reviews) but they definitely stood out. Overall, it was an interesting story that had a ton of potential, but the execution didn't quite do it for me :(

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ReaderbirdAR
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
Mehso-so

Raw and gritty...good writing! On a recent podcast I wholeheartedly agree with this that the hosts said...books set in the circus you think may be happy and fun but no...some of the most intense and disturbing books written have been set around the circus.

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ReaderbirdAR
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
Mehso-so

Raw and gritty...good writing! On a recent podcast I wholeheartedly agree with this that the hosts said...books set in the circus you think may be happy and fun but no...some of the most intense and disturbing books written have been set around the circus.

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ReaderbirdAR
Church of Marvels LP | Leslie Parry
Mehso-so

Raw and gritty...good writing! On a recent podcast I wholeheartedly agree with this that the hosts said...books set in the circus you think may be happy and fun but no...some of the most intense and disturbing books written have been set around the circus.