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Crooked Heart
Crooked Heart: A Novel | Lissa Evans
45 posts | 48 read | 56 to read
Paper Moon meets the Blitz in this original black comedy set in World War II England, chronicling an unlikely alliance between a small-time con artist and a young orphan evacuee.When Noel Bostockaged ten, no familyis evacuated from London to escape the Nazi bombardment, he lands in a suburb northwest of the city with Vera Sedgea thirty-six-year-old widow drowning in debts and dependents. Always desperate for money, she's unscrupulous about how she gets it. Noel's mourning his godmother, Mattie, a former suffragette. Wise beyond his years and raised with a disdain for authority and an eclectic attitude toward education, he has little in common with other children, and even less with the impulsive Vee, who hurtles from one self-made crisis to the next. The war's provided unprecedented opportunities for making money, but what Vee needsand what she's never hadis a cool head and the ability to make a plan. On her own, she's a disaster. With Noel, she's a team.Together they cook up a scheme. Crisscrossing the bombed suburbs of London, Vee starts to turn a profit and Noel begins to regain his interest in life. But there are plenty of other people making money off the warand some of them are dangerous. Noel may have been moved to safety, but he isn't actually safe at all. . . .
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Cuilin
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#CoverLove

 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Heartwarming and hilarious. Set during the blitz, Vee a petty criminal and 10 year old evacuee Noel team up. Survival is the game. I haven‘t read it in years so I‘m missing some of the details but I remember both these characters and the story was really engaging. It‘s definitely due another read.

Eggs Sounds charming 🧡🧡 4mo
Aimeesue I love this one, and 4mo
Cuilin @Aimeesue will have to read that one too. Thanks. 4mo
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
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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 in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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Lucy_Anywhere
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#TBRPile 📚 “Hitler was thumbing his nose from just across the Channel, and London had decided to move the children out again, all the ones who had come back and all the ones who had never gone. This time Noel was going with them; once again, he hadn‘t been consulted.”

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Coleen_Nieto
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1. In a Holidaze, Crooked Heart, Troubled Blood
2. The Reckoning by John Grisham
3. I think I set it for 35 books in the Goodreads challenge
@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads

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Coleen_Nieto
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January #bookspin #doublespin
I'm looking forward to both if these! Thank you @TheAromaofBooks

Happy New Year!!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y
13 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

Just finished from my tbr list. 3.5 stars

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TrishB
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Pickpick

I didn‘t love it as much as Old Baggage, characters weren‘t quite as engaging. But I love her style of writing and will definitely read more 👍🏻

Caroline2 I‘ve had Old Baggage on my shelf for ages now. Must move it up the pile. 👍 4y
TrishB @Caroline2 Old Baggage is lovely and made me laugh 😁 (well it did then, who knows now 🤷‍♀️) 4y
Caroline2 @TrishB good point!! I‘m finding it hard to laugh lately!!! 🥸 4y
TrishB @Caroline2 definitely! 4y
91 likes4 comments
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TrishB
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Corona brain described in the 1940s 😁

JennyM 😂 accurate! 4y
Cathythoughts Oh for gods sake !! Sometimes it‘s hard to get to the next word in the sentence.... ! And thankfully, sometimes the reading flows .... Covid 😑 4y
LeahBergen Truth! 4y
See All 14 Comments
KarenUK Perfect 👌 4y
squirrelbrain Very prescient! 4y
charl08 Love Lissa Evans. Great quote. 4y
eanderson Yep! 4y
Caroline2 Yes!! This is me with anything too complicated this year!! I‘ve bailed on so many! 4y
Reggie Oof that was me March-April this year. 4y
TrishB @JennyM @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @KarenUK @squirrelbrain @charl08 @eanderson @Caroline2 I feel sorry for all the books that have been bailed on this year due to brain scramble! 4y
TrishB @Reggie it‘s weird how it‘s got us all at some point! 4y
Tanisha_A That is it 😔 4y
kaysworld1 This year I am thankful for audio books because reading a physical book is so hard. 4y
TrishB @kaysworld1 concentrations levels are very low some days! 4y
78 likes14 comments
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violabrain
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Mehso-so

OK, but not great. I don‘t understand the blurbs on this book saying it is a must read. Heartwarming by the end, sure, but sloppy in execution.

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Lucy_Anywhere
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#TBRPile Day 5 📚 When 10 year old Noel is evacuated from London to escape the Blitz, he winds up with debt-ridden Vera. Always desperate for money, she‘s unscrupulous about how she gets it. The war‘s thrown up all sorts of new opportunities but what Vee needs is a cool head and a plan. On her own, Vee‘s a disaster. With Noel, she‘s a team. But there are plenty of other people making money out of the war and some of them are dangerous...

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Buechersuechtling
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Bailedbailed

Thanks @CoffeeAndABook for the nudge. Sometimes all needed is some encouragement.

🔊 I bail on this one. I don‘t like the protagonist although I understand that Vee is supposed to be a goofy but loveable rascal. Well, to me, she isn‘t. She‘s just incapable. Additionally, I think what she does or tries to do is, in those circumstances, fairly immoral. Let‘s be honest: She steals from poor people. And her son is an unlikeable slacker. 📣

CoffeeAndABook Always happy to nudge towards better books 😁😁😁 5y
17 likes1 comment
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Buechersuechtling
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I already fell asleep yesterday while listening – which, to be honest, the book isn‘t to blame for because I simply didn‘t set a timer. I‘m sure I didn‘t miss much, maximum 15 minutes, but despite, I don‘t feel like I missed much or important events of the plot.

Another fact that makes thoughts of bailing on it coming back and back again.

I‘m so unsure because at my library it does have good ratings.

Anyone knows if it‘s worth persevering❓

CoffeeAndABook Sorry, don‘t know the title. But don‘t waste your precious time with books you‘re not thoroughly enjoying or appreciating. There are sooooo many really good books out there!!! 5y
16 likes1 comment
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Buechersuechtling
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At first, I needed to smile because the plot begins with Chamberlain returning from the Munich conference in 1938 and I thought this is a good omen since that‘s where “Munich” ended.

But as I said, I have problems with the protagonists. And the title. It translates “Vee or how to spell the World” (originally: “Crooked Heart”) and so I thought reading or letters would play a role. But, no, after 3 hours no significance of letters foreseeable. 🙄

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Buechersuechtling
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I wanted something lighter after Robert Harris‘ “Munich” and this seemed a good choice. The story of chaotic Vee who doesn‘t get her life on track and never has money ending up trying to form a family with with highly-talented, 10-year-old Noel who is evacuated from London to the countryside.

But until now, 3 of 9,5 hours in, I‘m annoyed. I like Noel but neither Vee, nor her son Donald. They are rascals and shall be likeable but they are not.

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AmberWB
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Pickpick

This book was interesting. Overall- I liked it. The setting of London during WWII has always intrigued me- I just can‘t imagine living that way. But at times, I felt like there were too many things happening in this story- too many story lines. But, in the end, I‘m glad I read it.

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jillrhudy
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Pickpick

Jolted out of my book slump by this delicious novel of black humor set in the London blitz, as poignant as it is hilarious. Thanks for the recommendation @Aimeesue 💕 #anglophilesoflitsy

Aimeesue Any time! This really is a great book. 5y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jfount
Pickpick

Look, I‘ll be honest, “WWII homefront novel” conjures up visions of twee, nostalgic blather. This is so, so far from that. Genuinely rooted in an understanding of the time, and of people, it‘s a book about people on the edges and the scams they‘re willing to try to find some way forward. Funny and wonderful.

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jfount
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There‘s a quote on the back of this from the Sunday Express asking why Lissa Evans isn‘t more famous, and I have been thinking something similar. I‘m kind of amazed that this came out before Old Baggage, given the affection and perfect characterization of Mattie already in evidence.

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Suet624
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Pickpick

A highly intelligent 10 year old evacuated from London during the war stays with a woman desperately in need of guidance and options. I enjoyed this story a great deal.

Aimeesue Such a good book. Maddie's in Old Baggage, too. 6y
Suet624 @Aimeesue Oooh, I really liked Maddie. I'll check that one out too. This is my first time reading an Evans book. I really enjoyed it. 6y
56 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Aimeesue
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One dog up and one dog down, because this is the one and only chair we have in our entire house and they couldn‘t possibly lay anywhere else but on top of me. 🙄
#dogsoflitsy
#pitbullsoflitsy
#pibble

britt_brooke 😆 So cute, though! 💚🐾 6y
AlaMich And you wouldn‘t have it any other way, right? 😉🐶🐶❤️ 6y
LeahBergen ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Aimeesue @AlaMich Well, for about ten minutes. Then my legs fall asleep! 😂 6y
40 likes4 comments
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Aimeesue
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Wartime scammers and hustlers -including a 10 year old boy - in London during the Blitz. Oddly heartwarming in parts. Kind of reminds me of Warlight, minus the spying and the adult distance from events, and a bit squishier.

26 likes2 stack adds
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TrishB
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#hungryheart #marchintothe70s
Have this one on the pile at home 😁

Cinfhen ❤️you win for #MostDedicated 😄 6y
Cathythoughts 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
gradcat Love this cover! ❤️ 6y
100 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kappadeemom
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Looks like my book is in jail 😂😂 #pensacolabeach

FreeReadAndWrite Omg I love this book 6y
minkyb If that is the view from my jail, lock me up!🤗 6y
JenReadsAlot I wish the jail I work at had that view 🤣 6y
57 likes3 comments
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Kappadeemom
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Look at this cute page marker that I got from @irre ❤️❤️ Thank you, Erika!

ErikasMindfulShelf You‘re welcome! 6y
ErikasMindfulShelf Who picked this book? I forgot to write it down. I keep a record in my journal. 6y
Kappadeemom @ReadingsByTheC picked this book, @irre (edited) 6y
ReadingsByTheC @irre I hope you enjoyed it! 😊 6y
47 likes5 comments
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Lel2403
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99p for the Kindle at the moment.....sounds good

59 likes1 stack add
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CareBear
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Perfect Sunday morning. ☕️📚

Lovesbooks87 Love the stand! 💜💜💜💜 6y
CareBear Me too! @Lovesbooks87 thanks 😊 6y
AnneCecilie ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
See All 8 Comments
JoScho This table is amazing! (edited) 6y
BiblioLitten Such a cool stand😍 6y
BookishBlonde12 Oh wow, Love the table! 🤩 6y
Hollie Love it! 6y
111 likes8 comments
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Moray_Reads
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I've been saying this for years!

saresmoore Truth! My husband can‘t seem to grasp this. 7y
vivastory So true! 7y
batsy Me too!! 😆 7y
See All 10 Comments
Kalalalatja 😂😂 7y
julesG Yep. My knitting suffers from my reading addiction. 7y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore @vivastory @batsy @Kalalalatja @julesG your responses are exactly why Litsy is so important for my life choices 😉 I've had various other hobbies in the past but after the initial enthusiasm wears off I just think of all the reading time I'm wasting! 7y
julesG My son just asked what film I'd like to see tonight and I just responded that I won't waste precious reading time on another super hero film. I try to knit while listening to audiobooks though. 7y
Moray_Reads @julesG my family always do this when I'm home. Often I "compromise" by reading in the same room as the film being watched ? 7y
Weaponxgirl I just end up with books on the hobby and read about doing said thing instead of doing it. 7y
SilversReviews Love it and totally agree. :) 7y
60 likes10 comments
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Jessicav
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Next up for #litsypartyofone on a Saturday night at home. I'm... unsure how excited I am for this one but I want to give it a go and see.

RealBooks4ever The cover is cool! 😍 8y
Jessicav @RealBooks4ever I really like it! But I saw a different cover for it and maybe liked it even more... 8y
12 likes2 comments
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Verity
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Pickpick

This is my #recommendsday pick - world war 2, home front, evacuee and host family. Feels a bit Goodnight Mr Tom but for grownups if Mr Tom was crooked (and a woman) and William had been raised by an elderly lady. Dark but funny and definitely touching.

16 likes1 stack add
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jhod
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Pickpick

Weekend with family and this book, a gentle heart warming read, not a life changer but cosy and comforting.

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Verity
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The bottom of the to-read pile is at the top because of packing it in boxes for building work. This has been on the pile for about a year - I know because it's an arc I picked it up from the shelf at work where the arts team put review copies once they're done with them and this came out in January last year!

12 likes1 stack add
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amckiereads
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Pickpick

The post man just dropped off these most excellent reads. Crooked Heart was on sale for $7 and I used that as an excuse to buy other books. Obviously, no flaws in my logic.

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LisaJo
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Like today is the best book day ever. @Litsy updated Litsy and it's wonderful. Goodreads sent us our Year in Books. I have loved looking at everybody's Goodread post today. I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ all you bookies so much.

37 likes1 stack add
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Amy_H
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this novel, a really departure from from the usual WW II bringing out the best in people. And I think that everyone should have a suffragette godmother.

Liberty I love this book so much!!!! 8y
4 likes1 comment
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Amie
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Pickpick

So good! Excellent audiobook. Loved how the characters came alive and how the story examined the idea of right and wrong.

2 likes1 stack add
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Anbolyn
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My #FunFridayPhoto features a fox on the cover of one of my favorite books from last year. #crookedheart #lissaevans 🐺

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mrldg
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Loved how Noel would sit and read to Vee. Also how he loved the library!

6 likes1 stack add
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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

This is the story of how a precocious ten-year-old orphan --who has been evacuated to the outskirts of London-- and his widowed foster mother --who has always been down on her luck-- find a way to become a family while making a living running cons in WWII Britain. I also learned a lot about life on the British Homefront, which I enjoyed. A hopeful book about trying circumstances.

50 likes6 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
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How Vee responds when Noel feels responsible for the actual deaths of people whose deaths he had wished for: "I've wished plenty of people dead in my time, and it never works. Never." (They were killed in a German bombing run on their London suburb.)

TheLondonBookworm The more I see of this the more I want to read it 😊😊 8y
53 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
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Isn't this a fabulous description of cooking? Protagonist Noel, a precocious 10-year-old bookworm, starts using cookbooks when his godmother slips further into dementia. He feels wonderfully accomplished whipping up tasty recipes!

Varshitha Nice quote!! 8y
57 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
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How ten-year-old Noel feels when the (rest of the) children in London are evacuated to the countryside during WWII.

Alytrue Yes! Listening to this on audiobook now and enjoying it very much! 8y
Cyn.Microcosm What a great description! 8y
Suet624 I loved this line and the image of it from the book. 6y
BookishMarginalia @Suet624 Isn‘t it great? 6y
52 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Too true, unfortunately 😕 - even when budgets are cut across the board, money is always found to support war.

52 likes1 stack add
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BookishMarginalia
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Words of wisdom from ten-year-old protagonist Noah 💚 - loving this book so far!

BookBabe 😁👌🏻 8y
KVanRead Y E S 8y
ImaginativeMom I first read that as, "Hobbits" instead of, "Hobbies" and was so confused! ? 8y
MyBookLife @ImaginativeMom Haha, so did I 😂😂😂 8y
69 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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This one is calling my name! Ten-year-old orphan and 36-yr-old widow running cons in a London suburb during WWII? I'm so there!

Donna_sBookMinute Reminds me of Paper Moon. Enjoy! Let us know how they compare. 8y
Suzze I'm suggesting this for my book group. 8y
BookishMarginalia @Donna_sBookMinute and @suzze I'm really liking it so far - well written, with interesting insights into life in WWII Britain 8y
45 likes9 stack adds3 comments
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kay89
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Hobbies are for people who don't read books.

Liberty I love this book! 9y
kay89 I'm enjoying it so far! 9y
9 likes1 stack add2 comments