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City of Dreaming Books
City of Dreaming Books | Walter Moers
The search for the author s identity takes Yarnspinner to Bookholm the so-called City of Dreaming Books. On entering its streets, our hero feels as if he has opened the door of a gigantic second-hand bookshop. His nostrils are assailed by clouds of book dust, the stimulating scent of ancient leather, and the tang of printer s ink. Soon, though, Yarnspinner falls into the clutches of the city's evil genius, Pfistomel Smyke, who treacherously maroons him in the labyrinthine catacombs underneath the city, where reading books can be genuinely dangerous. In The City of Dreaming Books, Walter Moers transports us to a magical world where reading is a remarkable adventure. Only those intrepid souls who are prepared to join Yarnspinner on his perilous journey should read this book. We wish the rest of you a long, safe, unutterably dull and boring life!"
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wordslinger42
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I had no idea that both of these were such chunksters!! 975 for the tagged and almost 700 for The Book of Elsewhere! These will keep me busy for awhile 🤣

Meshell1313 Unless you end up bailing on Book of Elsewhere like I did. Could not do it. Wishing you better luck! 🍀 4mo
wordslinger42 @Meshell1313 Yes, I just saw that everyone who‘s read it on Litsy so far has bailed! We‘ll see if I follow suit 😆 4mo
BarbaraJean 😳My print copy of Dreaming Books is ~450 pages! I wonder if it‘s all the illustrations that are pushing up the page count?! 4mo
wordslinger42 @BarbaraJean That must be it! I was shocked when I saw the page count and feeling bad for the number of renewals I‘d need since there are others waiting to read it 😂 Good to know it‘s not actually that long!! 4mo
26 likes4 comments
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ItsAnotherJen
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Pickpick

How do you even describe the experience of reading this book? It's completely unique. Like an adult children's fantasy book all about books and authors. If you haven't heard of it, check out the book summary and read some of the reviews. This is very beloved by a lot of people. The writing style is so creative and imaginative. The creatures, book titles, and made up words are fun. It seemed a bit long, so 4 stars from me. Definitely worth reading!

Deblovestoread Great review! Stacked 5mo
MariaW All of his books are. 🥰 5mo
73 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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bookishbitch
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Pickpick

According to my fb memories, I found this gem 10 years ago. It is still in my top 5 of favorite books. It is whimsical to be sure, but it is also a love letter to the book obsessed. I even made a friend of mine, who also read the book, a stuffed Bookling. (The character on the cover.) Highly recommend this one. (It does get dark and scary near the end for anyone considering this for their kiddos.)

16 likes1 stack add
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reading.rainb0w
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I have never been more excited to read anything, EVER!! I came across this randomly on Scribd/Everand as an ebook. Once I read the first couple of pages and saw the artwork, I knew I had to find a physical copy ASAP. MelCat for the win. 💪🏽

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to tie up my laces and embark on this journey. 👟

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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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Pickpick

I have never been so happy to have stumbled upon a book by accident. This book is now one of my all time favorites. It made me laugh, cry, start with surprise, sigh with relief. I didnt want it to end. Whimsical fantasy. Lemony Snicket meets Tolkein with a dash of Dr. Seuss. I cannot give it enough praise. I imagine I will re-read this until it falls apart.

diovival Yes! I loved this book too 🥰 1y
11 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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'Reading is an intelligent way of not having to think'

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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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I'm saying goodbye to the forest for now. But I'm taking all it's advice with me ❤️ until next time, PNW.

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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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Enjoyed almost a whole day of reading in the woods. Didn't see a single other person near our camp site. Had to do some exploring at the nearby creek, of course, but got through a lot of this delightful book the rest of the time. Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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Stumbled on this at my local book shop. I haven't heard of it before. I think its going to come with me while we go hiking and camping in the PNW for the next couple weeks 🥰

DivineDiana It has the “magic word”in the title! 📚😂📚 1y
HiMyNames_Alyssa So I, obviously, couldn't leave it behind! 😆 1y
sebrittainclark I love this book 1y
HiMyNames_Alyssa I'm very much looking forward to it with all the great reviews! 1y
6 likes4 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Somewhere between quirky fantasy and gothic/medieval horror. Having hopped from the first to the fourth in this series, it's intriguing to see the evolution, or difference, in style, both in the writing and illustrations. First had a Roald Dahl/Shel Silverstein look, this one is darker, more detailed, woodcut-like sketches. I believe the first is billed as YA, and this one isn't, which the body horror alone would account for! 1/?

Robotswithpersonality I loved Booklings, all the book lore, and found the ending moving and fulfilling. The story got more violent and more tragic than I expected, but it was also an incredible adventure on a beloved theme. 2/3 2y
Robotswithpersonality ⚠️ Similar to the first book in this series, still published nearly 20 years ago, it lacks sensitivity on a number of fronts: rampant fatphobia, pretty casual with mentions of suicide, depiction of one villain felt like a harmful stereotype 2y
Robotswithpersonality P.S. Kudos to the English translator because a book so focused on words, and often making up new ones must have been a unique challenge to represent faithfully 2y
julesG Especially like your last comment. It's always tricky to translate a book, but this must have been double tricky. Glad you liked it 2y
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Robotswithpersonality
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Sass! 💅🏻And self-burn! 🔥

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Robotswithpersonality
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"demanding literature" and reading comprehension: it's a process! ?

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Robotswithpersonality
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Proto- ChatGPT?

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Robotswithpersonality
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Marvelous imagery! 🥰📚

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Robotswithpersonality
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Tusk-mounted monocle! 🧐👌🏻Love it.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Shades of the Hell's Library series....I love book lore.

diovival I love this book so much ♥️ 2y
5 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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Books and dinosaurs. BOOKS and DINOSAURS! This is the BEST thing. 🦕🦖📚

MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward These are DELIGHTFUL 😍 2y
5 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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scottcheatham
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I just picked this up for my Kindle. Amazon had it for $1.99. Have any of my friends here read books in this series?

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K.M.-Forester
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Pickpick

This book was full of imagination and twists and turns. I absolutely loved it 🥰. I felt like I was a kid falling in love with reading all over again. What an ending! Definitely is one of my favorite books now. Already ordered the next book that connects to this one!

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K.M.-Forester
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The illustrations in this book are too cute. I love the ‘fearsome‘ booklings. Tea and a good book is the best way to spend a day don‘t you think?

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K.M.-Forester
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Went on a long walk with the family and of course my book came along 📚❤️☀️ my pup got very dirty 🤦🏽‍♀️ Also thank you all for the welcomes, I feel the love 💕 #naturewalks #familytime #welcometolitsy

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K.M.-Forester
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What a beautiful day. Time for a brain break after an exam #bliss

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K.M.-Forester
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Perfect day to read outside 😍☀️ #sunnydays #bookaddict #thecityofdreamingbooks

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K.M.-Forester
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Seems like Optimus and I had the same idea for a snack and a good read ☕️🥮 #cityofdreamingbooks #cozyreads

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K.M.-Forester
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1. The City of Dreaming Books by Water Moers
2. Audiobooks
3. Dracula by Bram Stoker

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bookishbitch
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Still one of my all time favorite books. A true book lovers book. Trust me on this. Even if the main character is a 300 year old dinosaur. Superb writing. I really need to check out some of his other books.

Heideschrampf The first (13,5 lives...) was by far the best. The others were still lovely but just repeats 4y
MariaW I‘ve read all of the books of Walter Moers, every single one of them is one of a kind. 😊 4y
bookishbitch @Heideschrampf Thanks for the recommendation! @MariaW I'm glad to hear that. 4y
amber_ldsmom The Alchemaster‘s Apprentice is the BEST! 4y
bookishbitch @amber_ldsmom I will check that one out. Thanks! 4y
20 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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MeganAnn
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#currentlyreading this imaginative #LGPOG pick. I haven‘t had much reading time lately so it‘s slow going, but quite good.

I love the illustrations, all the bookish references, the whimsical characters. Hoping to get a little more reading in tonight and tomorrow so I can finish it.

Bookworm83 I‘m so glad you are enjoying it! ❤️ 5y
49 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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Squidapus
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Pickpick

This was...y'know, alright. The language and prose were fantastical and whimsical and fun to read...but the actual narrative could've been 100 pages and with a main character who didn't just watch everyone else do everything. Squidapus is not a fan of writing a narrative tale where 80% of your focus is world-building history and lists like it's a Fantasy Wikipedia article. In the end he still liked the book but he often waited for plot to show up

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Squidapus
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Some pretty good advice in here

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JSW
City of Dreaming Books | Walter Moers
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A booklover‘s dream. Powell‘s Books on Christmas!!

LauraBeth 🙀 6y
readordierachel 😍😍 6y
49 likes3 comments
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LittleBug
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Pickpick

Moers‘ language is rich and imaginative, sometimes with an almost formal feel to it, but simultaneously playful, almost whimsical.
Although many people may read this as an amazing, fantastical story, to me it was about the adventure that‘s reading. About the dangers and pitfalls, joys and surprises, excitement and anticipation.
Either way, an absolute joy to read!
@Tahoe Thanks for the recommendation!!😘
(Image from robots-and-dragons.de)

SilversReviews Love this photo. 6y
LittleBug @SilversReviews the book is full of drawings like this😊 absolutely adorable ☺️ 6y
SilversReviews @LittleBug Thanks for sharing. 6y
Nute Fabulous review! I wanted to read this book at one time and then I thought it wasn‘t for me, but now I‘m reconsidering because of this review. Thanks for sharing! 6y
LittleBug @Nute It‘s good fun! I read it in the original language though and I have no idea how good this translates... 6y
34 likes5 comments
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LittleBug
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Do you do this too? Whenever I‘m eating alone, I‘ll read a book while eating.😊 Two of my favourite activities combined😜

wanderinglynn Yep! A good book is the best way to enjoy a meal! 👍🏻👍🏻 6y
Tahoe Me too^^ 6y
28 likes2 comments
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LittleBug
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Hot chocolate and a book, what more can I ask for🤩🤩🤩

Tahoe Yeeees! You're reading it! 6y
LittleBug @Tahoe yep yep!!😊 6y
26 likes2 comments
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LittleBug
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#SisforSeptember Day 30: #Skinny

Well, I‘m not skinny and my books are never skinny, so here‘s my next, not #skinny read😜

RavenLovelyReads 😂😂😂 6y
Sarah83 I still have to read this one 🙄 6y
Tahoe Oh you should! Its fantastic! First it takes a little time to get going but then you can't take responsibility for your reading habits anymore. It's the authors fault xD 6y
LittleBug @Tahoe 😆😆😆 6y
31 likes4 comments
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aimelou26
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~ Dancelot Wordwright

8 likes1 stack add
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aimelou26
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Bronte_Chintz Welcome to Litsy! 7y
12 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BarbaraJean
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Mini #bookhaul from this weekend‘s fire sale at my favorite local used book store. I was good... I put three back! But these three came home with me. And they‘re basically all #blameitonlitsy picks. 😊📚

PickwickPlockPlock That english City of Dreaming Books edition looks so slim compared to the german one 😱 7y
BarbaraJean @PickwickPlockPlock I‘m so curious what the German edition looks like! This one is a large format paperback, and about 450 pages, so it‘s deceptively slim! 7y
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PickwickPlockPlock
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I bought this #fantasy book purely for its cover, but I didn't regret it. The title means The City of Dreaming Books. That little guy is a Buchling (bookling). Walter Moers' Zamonia books are full of strange creatures.

#litsyclassics @Sarah83 @Bambolina_81

GatheringBooks i 💙 zamonia! i think i read all of walter moers‘ novels translated in english. 🧚🏼‍♀️📚😍 7y
swynn Another Zamonia fan here! 7y
PickwickPlockPlock @GatheringBooks @swynn Zamonia is special 😃. It must have been a real challenge to translate into English. 7y
See All 6 Comments
Centique A Buchling sounds pretty cool! I will look for a translation of this 😍 7y
PickwickPlockPlock @Centique I've got to warn you, though, his books are really strange 😄 7y
Centique @PickwickPlockPlock that‘s ok - I like a bit of strange! 7y
41 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Owlizabeth
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Pickpick

A huge thank you to @Bookworm83 and @LitsyGoesPostalOG for bringing this book into my life!! It was a slow burn for me, but once I got into the story it was a rollicking good time!! Lots of bookish fun, and some great notes and coloring from my fellow #LGPOG members!! I‘m loving this endeavor, friends!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Bookworm83 Yay!! I‘m so glad you enjoyed it ❤️ I can‘t wait to see all the coloring 😍 7y
yourfavouritemixtape Oh I loved this so much! 7y
Eyelit Loved that one! And it was a slow burn for me too 😄 (edited) 7y
LazyDays Ive been waiting to read this one!💜 I read Rumor frist by mistake😊 which was very confusing but i meet going👏 7y
71 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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GatheringBooks
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Pickpick

#ReadingResolutions Day 2: The Zamonia series is the quintessential #BooksAboutBooks - the German author, Walter Moers, is endlessly entertaining. He is so unbelievably talented that he even illustrates his own tomes. I read all of the five books here - practically all his novels translated in English. If you haven‘t read any of his books yet, and you are a certifiable bibliophile, you need to find him stat!

TorieStorieS These books are great!!! 😍😍😍 7y
Crystalblu I was halfway through City of Dreaming Books when somehow I lost it 😩 I must get a new copy! 7y
BookishMe I have yet to finish the first book... So whimsical! 7y
76 likes3 comments
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SammyWeasley
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Pickpick

Eines der schönsten Bücher die ich gelesen habe. Nicht nur die Geschichte, sondern auch Walter Moers' Schreibstil sind einfach anders, aber auf eine gute Art und Weise. Es hat mich von Anfang an gefesselt und unterhalten. Ich kann das Buch jedem empfehlen, der gerne Bücher der Phantastik liest.

3 likes1 stack add
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Owlizabeth
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Just got my latest #LGPOG book and I‘ve never even heard of this one. @Bookworm83 I can‘t wait to dive in, it sounds right in my wheelhouse!!

Bookworm83 I hope you like it! It‘s bookish fun 😃 7y
Chelleo Love that cover! 😍 7y
68 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Heywhatsup
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Let's be honest, dear readers: I lay down at full length.

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Heywhatsup
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It is certainly the most brilliant sentence any writer has ever devised. It runs: 'This is where my story begins.'

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Cupofjo
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I am hating how busy reality can be, and how it‘s interfering with my reading... it is taking me a lot longer to get through this wonderful book, and every time I have to put it down I get sad

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Cupofjo
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This book has had a slow grip on me since I started, slowly drawing me in... until today; the grip tightened and I officially want to put life on hold and read until I‘m finished... (And I‘m not even half way through yet)

Bookworm83 This makes my whole day! I‘m so glad you are enjoying it! 😊 7y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Cupofjo
City of Dreaming Books | Walter Moers
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I love Saturday mornings. Wishing I could do this all day!

RealLifeReading Nice title! 7y
Lola I really liked this one. Enjoy! 7y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Cupofjo
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Starting this one tonight @Bookworm83 you have great handwriting! #catsoflitsy #smores

Bookworm83 Why thank you! I hope you enjoy the book 💕 7y
DebinHawaii 🐱❤️ 7y
32 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LukkiAnn
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Pickpick

✅book about books
✅with pictures
✅adventures
✅mystery
✅ page-turner
✅ cute creatures
❗️for adults ❗️
And your Litsy fellow allowed you to color it❤️
How else to describe this OMG book I do not know🙀
I have swollen 500 pages in 5 days 🤤

Bookworm83 Oooh!!! Coloring the book...what an excellent idea!! I can‘t wait to get this back and see it everyone‘s additions ❤️ I‘m so glad you liked it! (edited) 7y
8 likes1 comment
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Eyelit
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So far, #harvey has just meant reading and cat napping for me and the adorkable duo... but my heart is going out to my fellow Texans more adversely affected by the storm. Stay safe and take care, y'all.

#catsoflitsy #caturday

MrBook 😻😻😻😻😻😻 7y
CoffeeCatsBooks They could be twins to my Kitcat! 😻😻 7y
Sace This is like an Escher print. 😊 7y
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JazzFeathers 😍😻😻😻 7y
Liatrek I have that Tardis blanket😊Kitty comfort in space. 7y
maich So sweet😻😻😻 7y
Bette Lovely kits...stay safe and dry. 🐱💙🐱💙 7y
Jinjer Look at them!!!! 7y
101 likes8 comments