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The Tenth Gift
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
18 posts | 11 read | 20 to read
In an expensive London restaurant Julia Lovat receives a gift that will change her life. It appears to be a book of exquisite 17th-century embroidery patterns but on closer examination Julia finds it also contains faint diary entries. In these, Cat Tregenna, an embroideress, tells how she and others were stolen out of a Cornish church in 1625 by Muslim pirates and taken on a brutal voyage to Morocco to be auctioned off as slaves. Captivated by this dramatic discovery, Julia sets off to North Africa to determine the authenticity of the book and to uncover more of Cats story. There, in the company of a charismatic Moroccan guide, amid the sultry heat, the spice markets, and exotic ruins, Julia discovers buried secrets. And in Morocco just as Cat did before her she loses her heart. Almost 400 years apart, the stories of the two women converge in an extraordinary and haunting manner that will make readers wonder is history fated to repeat itself? From the Hardcover edition.
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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I don‘t think this book has gotten the love it deserves. I love books about embroidery that are truly serious about the craft. This one is and it‘s lovely how it‘s a book about a book (yes, I wrote that correctly) about embroidery, about the craft itself, about kidnapped and enslaved Brits in the 1600s, and about #Morocco then and now. Quite a lovely read so far. #foodandlit @Butterfinger @Catsandbooks

46 likes2 stack adds
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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An interesting snippet of information about #Morocco. #foodandlit @Butterfinger @Catsandbooks

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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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My ebook may have a typo

megnews I was going to say that means a lot later but alas it was only some moments later later 3y
GingerAntics That drives me nuts. 3y
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Again I laugh: the fiction book I‘m reading (tagged) references Francis Drake, the pirate about whom I currently reading in a nonfiction book. Always these coincidences!

The tagged book makes an interesting point, as does the North African (a slaver who‘d just thrown a man overboard as being too old to fetch a profit) tells the main character: most every culture has had its share of slavers. He was no better than Drake (who renounced slavery).

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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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I seem to often have book coincidences. The top book is about pirates kidnapping English folks to sell as slaves, which I‘m reading for #foodandlit #Morocco. The bottom audiobook is about former pirate Francis Drake but also I‘m learning about pirates of his time. Reading it just for fun. How do these coincidences occur so often? To up the ante, one of my daughter‘s first courses as a college freshman in a couple of weeks is about pirates!

Butterfinger How cool!!! 3y
62 likes1 comment
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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I love historical fiction because there‘s a kernel of truth in it and sometimes I learn something new, like tonight. Who knew that African and Turkish pirates kidnapped people living on the English coast for around 300 years to sell as slaves? I had no idea! More here:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Barbary-Pirates-English-S...

#foodandlit #Morocco

Butterfinger That was interesting. And Cervantes. Never knew. 3y
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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My sister had a child‘s encyclopedia set that I absolutely loved reading or just looking at the photos. As I think about it, that must have been part of my inspiration for a love of reading. Unfortunately, the internet has made encyclopedias pretty much an antiquated concept.

Did anyone else have a childhood attachment to encyclopedias?

#foodandlit #Morocco

babyruth2510 I had a collection of encyclopedia Brittanica and would spend hours reading them. 3y
Butterfinger Yes. My story is similar to yours. I loved my daddy's old Worldbooks. I scribbled in them when I was 4 and would love to pore over the pictures and illustrations. Then, around 7, I began reading them for pleasure. 3y
DivineDiana Yes! I don‘t remember the publisher of my family‘s set, but I believe it had dark blue covers. Don‘t think it was a children‘s set exactly, but it was easy to read. I did love it! The funny thing is that my husband happily brought home a neighbor‘s set who was moving years ago, and he prefers to use it instead of an online search! (edited) 3y
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Aaah yes, encyclopedias. 🥰 I still get all nostalgic and excited when I see sets at thrift stores or HPB. 3y
Ncostell I remember being very excited when my mom purchased our own set of encyclopedias. It was a big deal pre-Internet as it was convenient having them at home when I needed to look up anything for school projects. I tell my kids about this and they have no concept of this! 3y
marleed I loved our encyclopedias. We had the Brittanica set with a book of yearly updates. I loved reading thru the updates. We also had a set of children‘s encyclopedia which was immensely helpful because I didn‘t visit my public library until I was in high school. Surprising my voracious reader of a dad was not a library goer - one location not close to my house. 3y
Catsandbooks Yes! I had an animal encyclopedia as a child and read it so much it's barely holding together and the binding is broken at the spine. I believe it's still at my mom's house. Also it had a tiger on the cover and I'm pretty sure that's partly why tigers are one of my favorite animals. 😂 3y
56 likes7 comments
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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I am so so behind but here I am still reading (actually barely started) the tagged book and trying Moroccan food a day late. The fam is a little tired of experimental food but fortunately my local HEB has accommodated. #foodandlit #Morocco

PS: This meal was delicious!! Definitely will try it again so long as HEB makes it! 😋

Bookwormjillk Perfect! 3y
Catsandbooks Yum! I was behind too this month. 3y
Butterfinger I love that you found it already prepared. 3y
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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A map. Always a good way to start a book. #foodandlit #Morocco @Butterfinger @Catsandbooks

Leftcoastzen Yay maps! 3y
Branwen YAAASSSSS!!! 😍 3y
wanderinglynn Love maps! 3y
Nute Yay! Maps in books! 3y
56 likes4 comments
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Up next and FINALLY I‘m getting to the July #foodandlit country of #Morocco. Nothing like a multi-month reading slump to really slow ya down. The tagged book should be right up my alley but the reviews are mediocre. Fingers crossed anyway. @Butterfinger @Catsandbooks

Butterfinger I want to touch it. It looks very treasured. 3y
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Simona
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Panpan

We are following the fate of two women linked by the book of embroidery patterns. The story runs in the 17th century and in a modern times, and is set in the Cornwall and #Morocco This novel was just too sweet for me, all I liked in it was some historical facts of which I didn‘t know nothing, like Barbary slave trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_slave_trade #FoodAndLit

Cinfhen What do you think of the long list??? Im intrigued by MANY titles!!!! 3y
Simona I think that is the most readable longlist since I follow the Booker Prize, the only more heavy/intellectual book is by R.Cusk. I listened it, and the prose sounds beautiful, but I had the feeling that I missed a lot and I will read it again in print. Her audiobook is on Scribd. I‘m not sure about R.Powers‘ novel, summarisation didn‘t grab me, but I loved his previous novel The Overstory… I think that Ishiguro‘s and Lockwood‘s novels aren‘t … 3y
Simona … prize worthy, but I must admit that they are very topical, so … if that is the literary merit 🤷🏻‍♀️ Shipstead novel was already in my July bingo list, but I didn‘t manage to read it, so I‘m glad that is longlisted. The Promise and the China Room were already on my radar and the rest of the authors are new to me. Overall, I‘m quite glad with the longlist, the premises sounds good, but we will see about the execution. What caught your eye @Cinfhen 3y
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Cinfhen I actually LOVE the Lockwood and I‘m EXCITED it made the longlist. I didn‘t care for Klara, I don‘t think it should continue. I‘m tagging the books I‘m looking forward to reading below: (edited) 3y
Cinfhen Most books are still very expensive so I‘m gonna see what I can borrow / I may wait until shortlist before I purchase any 3y
Texreader I‘m way behind but about to start this one for #foodandlit #Morroco. Hope I have better luck with it. 3y
Simona @Cinfhen I‘m prepared for financial side of the Booker Prize and I have special budget for that … I bought ebooks, which are slightly cheaper than print books, but still expensive 🤷🏻‍♀️ I‘m the most excited for the The Promise, China Town and Great Circle - which I‘m going start later today after I will finished …. usually I drop everything and start with the longlist, but I can‘t put this book down, because the story is so intriguing. 3y
Simona @Texreader I hope that you will 🤞It‘s a quick, easy read, but unfortunately, it wasn‘t my cup of tea… 3y
BarbaraBB That is so cool, that you saving up budget for the Bookers. I am looking forward to following your reads again. I'll wait for the reviews to decide which ones I'm going to read I think. 3y
Cinfhen I read A Burning… it was a little too much satire for me but I can see why you‘re gripped…keep me posted on your Booker reading, I‘m curious about the 3 books you mentioned!!!! so impressive that you budget ahead 🙌🏻♥️😘 3y
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Simona
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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This #weeklyforecast is actually two weeks pile of possibilities - I will be for two weeks on the area where internet isn‘t reliable. Two books are for #ctob one for #foodandlit and the rest of them are those that have recently piqued my interest.

Cinfhen Looking GOOD 🤩🤩🤩enjoy 3y
Simona @Cinfhen Thank you 😊 3y
47 likes2 comments
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Texreader
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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This looks amazing and great reviews. I succumbed to the sale, again.

GingerAntics Not going to lie. I may do the same. 5y
GingerAntics My only concern is the Gabaldon review. She doesn‘t have a handle on the facts or realities of history, so I‘m always cautious where she‘s concerned. 5y
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Sumi
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Very enjoyable book about two women: one in contemporary Great Britain & the other in 17th century GB. With embroidery, pirates and more!!!

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CharissaWeaksAuthor
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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Ebook deals are a weakness.

CocoReads Mine too 7y
readordierachel Yep 🙋 7y
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PurpleyPumpkin
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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LeahBergen I have The Tenth Gift but haven't read it yet. 😬 8y
Caterina This is a gorgeous stack! So many pretty orange hardbacks. 😍 8y
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Cinfhen
The Tenth Gift | Jane Johnson
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#septphotochallenge #somethingforsept #day2 #numberintitle I was looking at my TBR list on GoodReads and noticed these four all have numbers in their title....Have any of you fabulous Littens read any from my list??? Which do you suggest I bump up ??? Happy Labor Day Weekend to all👙🕶☀️🍹

Marchpane The Seven Good Years is wonderful, and very short! 8y
Cinfhen @Marchpane thanks, it's been on my list for awhile...I think it's light reading?!? I'm up for that 8y
Marchpane @Cinfhen it's a quick and easy read, parts of it are set in Israel so the war is there in the background but it's not front and centre of the story. 8y
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Coleen I have The Tenth Gift on audio, but haven't yet read it. 8y
megt I read Five Days at Memorial! I think it's an important book, but not necessarily the easiest read. I thought the first half, which recounts the events at the hospital, was the strongest. Once you get to the investigation and aftermath it starts to feel like it's dragging on a bit. 8y
Cinfhen @Megt @coleen @Marchpane thanks for the feedback! 8y
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