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City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris | Holly Tucker
A fierce tale of conspiracy and retribution Thanks to Tuckers sympathetic necromancy and her luscious resurrection of everyday detail, even in gilded palaces the human psyche seems familiarly deceitful and self-justifying. Michael Sims, author of The Story of Charlottes Web and Arthur and Sherlock Appointed to conquer the crime capital of the world, the first police chief of Paris faces an epidemic of murder in the late 1600s. Assigned by Louis XIV, Nicolas de La Reynie begins by clearing the streets of filth and installing lanterns throughout Paris, turning it into the City of Light. The fearless La Reynie pursues criminals through the labyrinthine neighborhoods of the city. He unearths a tightly knit cabal of poisoners, witches, and renegade priests. As he exposes their unholy work, he soon learns that no one is safe from black magicnot even the Sun King. In a world where a royal glance can turn success into disgrace, the distance between the quietly back-stabbing world of the kings court and the criminal underground proves disturbingly short. Nobles settle scores by employing witches to craft poisons and by hiring priests to perform dark rituals in Pariss most illustrious churches and cathedrals. As La Reynie continues his investigations, he is haunted by a single question: Could Louiss mistresses could be involved in such nefarious plots? The pragmatic and principled La Reynie must decide just how far he will go to protect his king. From secret courtrooms to torture chambers, City of Light, City of Poison is a gripping true-crime tale of deception and murder. Based on thousands of pages of court transcripts and La Reynies compulsive note-taking, as well as on letters and diaries, Tuckers riveting narrative makes the fascinating, real-life characters breathe on the page.
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Texreader
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Texreader
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I‘ve listened to 5 of this 9 hour audiobook and I‘m sorely disappointed. The vast majority of the book is about King Louis in Versailles and various royal relations and mistresses and little of the “crimes.” The title especially and somewhat the book description are misleading. This month when I‘m trying to read as much as I can, I just can‘t spend the last 4 hours on it. So bailing for now. ⬇️

49 likes5 comments
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Texreader
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So excited to read this one. It‘s been on my tbr so long. Thanks to @CSeydel for choosing it for #trappedinaspookyhouse!

#halloweenatoz #letterC
#hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 1mo
Catsandbooks 🧡🖤 1mo
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jenniferw88
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One of my favourite non-fiction authors!

#city #200pnpcovers @CrowCAH @mabell

julieclair Ooohhh.... This one looks really good! 3y
CrowCAH I read this and really enjoyed it! 3y
mabell Great choice! 👏 3y
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CrowCAH
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#Scarathon #Murder

A historical fiction that reads like a novel. Very interesting and captivating.

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tdrosebud
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@catiewithac thank you so much for the #litsylovesummerswap goodies. Everything looks wonderful!
Thanks for hosting @Bookgoil and @rsteve388 !

catiewithac I hope you enjoy the tea and books! 3y
Bookgoil Some interesting books there! Love to see what teas ppl send maybe I‘ll try some of those when it cools off ❤️ 3y
29 likes2 comments
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Mitch
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Pickpick

Do not skip the epilogue - in which Tucker outlines the fascinating research methods librarians, historians and authors have employed over the last 300 years to catalogue, preserve, retell and embellish this story of poison, murder and royal adultery in seventeenth century Paris. Tucker tells the story brilliantly - it is a Netflix series just waiting to be made!

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Mitch
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#bookmail 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 AND we‘re just coming out of the worlds longest lockdown and I have an appointment next week to have my haircut! It‘s the small things that count...! 👍🏼

Bookzombie I get it! I have my first haircut in a year and half scheduled for next week and I‘m super excited. I was just ready to chop it off when we went into lockdown so that‘s the reason for so long. 4y
Gissy 🙌At last! Enjoy your days out. You will appreciate everything you see! 4y
Mitch @Bookzombie I‘m soooo excited to get it cut. I have short hair which I usually cut every 5 weeks - so 4 months and I look like a real wild woman! 🤣 4y
Mitch @Gissy we did a forest walk at the weekend and the world looked amazing 🤩 4y
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catiewithac
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this meticulously researched historical true crime! It seems some people very close to the Sun King may have dabbled in poison. This book placed me in the center of 17th century Paris: the smells, the sounds, the furtive actions of charlatans and thieves. I‘m also thankful that I‘ve never been subject to 17th century French “justice.” It‘s difficult to gauge what‘s worse, poison or hours of gruesome torture! ☠️ 🐸 👑

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CrowCAH
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#OppositeDay #Light

This book not only has light but the darker side of Paris. A very intriguing novel!

TheKidUpstairs This was really good! The author used to be pretty active on Litsy, not sure if she's still on here 4y
CrowCAH @TheKidUpstairs correct. I looked up @hollytucker account and she hasn‘t posted anything since four years ago. 4y
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catiewithac
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Rachel, OMG I don‘t know why I waited all day to open this package?!? I‘m super excited to read these especially the true crime poison one! ☠️ You have no idea how much this box made me happy! My cherished #LitsyLove friends really saved what promised to be a rather grim birthday. Thank you for thinking of me and choosing perfect books!!! 📚🐾👯‍♀️ You are the BESTEST!!!!

iread2much You are so welcome! I‘m glad it arrived near your birthday 🎂 4y
catiewithac @iread2much I‘m so excited to read these!! 😆 I need a time machine to create more time to read!!! 4y
iread2much @catiewithac it would so wonderful if we could do that! 4y
54 likes3 comments
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Texreader
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Texreader
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Day 2: I‘m following the idea to post a book from my tbr list from @StaceyKondla and @Cortg

No description or reason for wanting to read it is necessary if you want to join along. #tbrpile

Andrew65 This sounds interesting, but then I noticed it is already on my TBR! 🤣 5y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads This may be of interest to you. 5y
Tove_Reads Could be, haven‘t heard of it. Will check it out! 5y
59 likes3 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Pickpick

This was utterly engrossing and well written. This book took on the mammoth task of digesting the mess that was the Affair of Poisons in France and turned it into something compulsively readable. Some of the names at the end got confusing, mostly because of how many similar names there are, but ultimately this was a quick and entertaining glimpse into a part of the past I am very happy to not be a part of. #bookspin #bookspinbonanza

RainyDayReading @TheAromaofBooks This was my #bookspin for this month! Now onto the #doublespin 😁 (edited) 5y
TheAromaofBooks Sometimes it's important to read history books just to remind ourselves how good we have it!! 😂 5y
RainyDayReading @TheAromaofBooks Right? Part of history books are fun and the other part is your mind thinking 'oh I am so glad I live now and not then' 😂 5y
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RainyDayReading
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1. Tagged, Outpost and A Dance of Cloaks.
2. Both really, but I do tend to lean more towards fantasy.
3. Survive by Stephen Llewelyn I think.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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RainyDayReading
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Here is my newly rearranged #bookspin stack for the month! I moved the books into the positions they were drawn for. The tagged book is my #bookspin and Darkwood is my #doublespin for the month. We‘ll see how much of the rest of these I get through. I find it funny how some of the genres wound up grouped together. 2 sci-fi back to back, 2 mysteries back to back, another 3 mysteries together etc. Fingers crossed this goes well! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks That actually looks like a super fun stack! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!! 5y
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Berryfan
Pickpick

Very readable history of poisonings among the aristocracy during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The author spends little space on the murders (perhaps to avoid glamorizing them) which lessens their impact when we get deep into the interrogations. Terrific insight into the Court of Miracles.

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Texreader
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History Ebook on sale today

BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks! I took this out from the library and loved it. Now I have my own copy! 5y
Crazeedi Sounds like a good book!! 5y
Texreader @BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks to your comment I went ahead and bought it too! #blameltonlitsy 😊 5y
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Texreader @Crazeedi Right? I succumbed and bought it. I have the most enormous pile of Kindle books on my phone. At least I‘m never without a book! 5y
Crazeedi @Texreader I have a ton of kindle books too, and take it with me just in case , 🥰 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Crazeedi @Texreader My Kindle shelf is quite completely overflowing. Thank goodness it‘s digital! 5y
TNbookworm I really liked this book! 5y
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Daisey
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Pickpick

This was an interesting listen, and it felt appropriate for October. I enjoyed the history and was fascinated by the different types of poison and methods described. The only thing that tripped me up a bit was my lack on familiarity with French which made it sometimes difficult to keep up with all the names in audio. #audiobook #nonfiction

Second book completed for the #readathon. #DeweysReadathon #DeweyOct

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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

Book 5 for #24in48! An enjoyable work of true crime/history read by Kate Reading. I‘d known a bit about the Affair of the Poisons (Nancy Mitford covers a bit in The Sun King but waaaay dishier) but this is a more in depth account of the Paris Chief of Police La Renier and his involvement. There are a LOT of historical figures introduced very quickly. If you‘re not familiar with 17th century French history you may want to brush up on it beforehand.

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howjessicareads
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Mehso-so

Not for the faint of heart... but I learned a lot more about Louis Quatorze‘s era! #howjessreadsin2019

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howjessicareads
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Mehso-so

Not for the faint of heart... but I learned a lot more about Louis Quatorze‘s era! #jesshowreadsin2019

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ABookGeek
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Currently reading, among others.

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jenniferw88
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Day 6 of #adventrecommends and one of the few non-fiction books on my list. I like the cover that my book has, but this cover is gorgeous! @emilyrose_x

TNbookworm I agree! 6y
Andrew65 Don‘t know this one. 6y
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Caksf
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Pickpick

Fantastic non fiction about Paris during the reign of Louis IXV “the sun king”. This intriguing tale exposes murder plots, the Paris underground and how the man appointed to the newly created position of “police chief” worked to clean up the city and bring a network of murders to justice. Great snapshot of 17th century Paris that reads like a mystery. Highly recommend 5/5

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mklong
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Pickpick

I have been meaning to read this since I met Holly Tucker at the Decatur Book Festival in 2017 and am so glad that I finally did. I was fascinated by the amount of research she did for this book, but I was truly impressed by the way she wove all of that meticulous research into a compelling, page-turning narrative. It has everything, murder, magic, revenge, satanic sacrifices, you name it. You really couldn‘t make this up!

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jenniferw88
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larah17 This looks really interesting! 6y
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RainyDayReading
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Wasn‘t sure what book to read as I sat in the sun and reintroduced my ghastly pale legs to the sun. So I just brought them all!

forevermint I can see why, all those books look so good! 😍 7y
RainyDayReading @forevermint I can only speak for 3 so far, but those 3 are really good and I can‘t wait to start the others! It‘s just so hard to choose 😩 7y
kstadt929 LOVE the Martian ❤️👨🏻‍🚀 7y
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Nikki15 I am dying to read. I‘ve heard such good things!! 7y
RainyDayReading @kstadt929 That‘s the one I wound up getting hooked on and read the most of 😁 7y
RainyDayReading @Nikki15 It‘s really good! Couldn‘t put it down yesterday! I‘m pretty sure I could devour it in one sitting if I had the time. 7y
Nikki15 @RainyDayReading looks like I‘m buying it then!! 7y
RainyDayReading @Nikki15 Good 😈 Let me know how you like it! 7y
34 likes8 comments
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RainyDayReading
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1. Funny Little Creature by Nothing More 🖤
2. Reading the tagged book and right now I‘d give it four stars. Really enjoying it so far! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. Uhh...Game of Thrones? Order of the Phoenix? The Lord of the Rings bindup? I honestly have no idea. Probably one of those three.
4. Whoever hasn‘t done this yet and wants to!
@GarthRanzz #trivialthursday

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RainyDayReading
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Continuing on with one of these tonight, just not sure which one. The time change has really screwed me up, I feel way too tired to read but these are due back to the library soon 😪 Also @BookwormAHN I finally sent my reply to you out in the mail! Sorry it took so long to write back and please forgive my atrocious handwriting 😅

BookwormAHN No problem, I'll look out for it 😸 7y
19 likes1 comment
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RainyDayReading
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“The priests who presided over this church lived not in the light, but twilight.”

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RainyDayReading
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame vibes anyone?

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RainyDayReading
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That moment when the book you‘re currently reading features a female serial killer that you just read about in a previous book 🙄😁 Marie-Madeleine d‘Aubray, marquis of Brinvilliers. Previous book was Lady Killers by Tori Telfer

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RainyDayReading
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Taking a bit of a break from the graphic novels. Plus it helps that this is technically due back to the library today 🙈 oops. Oh well. Been wanting to read this for a while!

BarbaraTheBibliophage Loved this one! 7y
RainyDayReading @BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m really enjoying it so far! 7y
6 likes2 comments
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SharonGoforth
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Mehso-so

What started out as really interesting turned into a bit of a slog. Endless descriptions of the same torture method almost became that in and of itself. However, it does make me want to read Antonia Frasier‘s book about Louis XIV‘s mistresses. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #audiobook

LitLogophile 😂 great review 7y
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SharonGoforth
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This was Audible‘s daily deal yesterday. Started listening on my way home from work. Really interesting so far! #audibledailydeal #audible #audiotravel #audiobook #ilovemynewairpods

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Here‘s a great idea for the #nonfiction2018 folks and anyone looking to explore audiobooks for nonfiction. This is a GREAT book that, while completely true, reads like fiction. It‘s got a lot of intrigue and twists! Plus @hollytucker is here on Litsy. Go get it ... I dare you.

TNbookworm I agree, great book! 7y
RainyDayReading I just picked this up from the library today! Though in physical book form 7y
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CrowCAH
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Pickpick

#BestNewAuthorOfTheYear #DeckTheShelves

A great non-fiction book that reads like fiction! Poisons, murder, and intrigue. ☠️

BarbaraTheBibliophage I loved this. My friend read it and said the Netflix series Versailles has a lot of these topics. Just in case you want more! 7y
CrowCAH @BarbaraTheBibliophage oh sweet, that‘s neat! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @CrowCAH Yeah, I need to check it out too. 😎 7y
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

So much crazy treachery it‘s hard to believe it‘s nonfiction.

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mklong
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Finally made it to #DBFestival!! Starting my day with a little Francophilia and murder.

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Pickpick

Holly Tucker has accomplished a feat of research in creating City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris. More than that, Tucker has made the detailed historical events and personages into an incredibly readable story. It's extraordinary!

I'm absolutely planning to hunt down copies of Tucker's previous books, tout de suite!

Full review at www.TheBibliophage.com

erzascarletbookgasm Sounds good, stacked! 7y
Cinfhen Sounds fascinating! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen @erzascarletbookgasm It is! As always, more details in the full review, including my own failings as a history reader. 😜 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Hey, this was the perfect post for Bastille Day! #setinfrance #jubilantjuly @RealLifeReading 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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When the King leaves town, the prisoners get a wine upgrade so they behave better. It's details like this that have made this book priceless! 👑🍷

LauraJ I've enjoyed all of @hollytucker's books. She pretty awesome 😻 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LauraJ This is the first of her books that I've read. Definitely will hunt down the others now! 7y
104 likes2 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Starting this one by @hollytucker today as I recover from this morning's #migraine. It's really quite fascinating.

#paris #history #nonfictionchallenge #sundayquiet #litsymigrainebookclub

DGRachel Been a weekend for migraines, it seems. I hope yours is short-lived and you feel better soon. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @DGRachel Yes, only a few hours. I've had a lot of vertigo lately, so I thought it might join the fun. Thankfully it hasn't! 7y
LiteraryinPA We missed you today, and I really hope you can feel better soon! 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @LiteraryinLititz Thanks - I missed you guys too! 7y
Scurvygirl Ugh. Been fighting one today too. Good luck!💚 7y
101 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I had intentions to read other books, and I'm sure this isn't the whole list for July. But when I was returning a book at the library, these also jumped in my bag! #iregretnothing #happybibliophage #julymostanticipated #jubilantjuly #libraryhaul

Gezemice Nice! I enjoyed "you can't touch my hair" and I think you will, too! I listened to the audio, and she is hilarious. 7y
RealLifeReading You Can't Touch My Hair was a fun read! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Gezemice @RealLifeReading I'm looking forward to it, especially based on all the love it's gotten here! 7y
MarticaMustRead Make sure and have tissues at the ready for 'Paula!' It's devastatingly beautiful!💖💔 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @MarticaMustRead That's what it sounded like from the reviews. Thanks for heads up! 😘 7y
105 likes5 comments
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Crystalblu
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Pickpick

Full disclosure I received an ARC for an honest review.
So, I don't read a whole lot of non-fiction books that are not biographical, that being said I thoroughly enjoyed this one! It sucked me in and brought to life Paris of long ago. I got a little lost with the changing of titles that happened, but that is on me ;). All in all a pleasure to read!

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jenniferw88
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@hollytucker look what arrived today ☺️! Looking forward to reading it some time soon!

LisaJo Stacking this… You had me at Paris. 8y
109 likes7 stack adds1 comment