Litsy

Not book-related at all so please excuse me while I indulge @Cinfhen in a picture of our local Benetton!

During the #back2school #bunnyread Cindy reminisced about shopping at Benetton, back in the day.

You asked for a pic, Cindy, and I never renege on a promise! 🤣Our town is the only place I‘ve seen one for years, and I haven‘t been in it for years either!

MsMelissa Were the Benetton green and white (or blue and white) rugby shirt a thing for you growing up. When I was around 12 years old they were the must have article of clothing for tweens/teens. 4y

Caroline2 How funny is this!! 😆 4y

Cathythoughts That‘s brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y

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BarbaraBB Haha! I think we have one too but I‘m not even sure as it is in a street where only the tourists come 😎 4y

TrishB Ours closed ages ago! 4y

squirrelbrain Yes @Book_Fiend_Melissa - those, and diamond patterned cardigans (Argyle?)! 4y

Ruthiella WOW! I haven‘t seen a store since 1992 or so. I didn‘t realize they were still around. 4y

TheEllieMo Wow, that‘s a blast from the past! 4y

charl08 I didn't know these were still here either? Wow. 4y

Lcsmcat I didn‘t know they were still in business! 4y

LeahBergen What?? I haven‘t seen one of these in forever! 4y

Megabooks This is perfect!! 💖💖💖 4y

Cinfhen Ahhhhh, you‘re the BEST BUNNY EVER , thanks SO MUCH, Helen😘😘😘 yesssssssss @Book_Fiend_Melissa I definitely have a picture of me somewhere wearing the blue & white and my boyfriend then/hubby now is wearing the green & white 😂😂😂Wow!!!! So funny. I MUST find that photo ❤️❤️❤️ 4y

Cinfhen BTW: I don‘t think I‘d want to purchase anything in that window...it‘s indistinguishable from Gap, Old Navy, H&M etc, etc ☹️ 4y

squirrelbrain It‘s all a bit ‘1990s‘ isn‘t it @cinfhen?! 🤣🤣 That‘ll be why there only seems to be this one shop left in the whole world! 4y

Hooked_on_books Wow, I wasn‘t sure they still existed. They were such the hot store was I was a teenager. 4y

68 likes16 comments

Cinfhen

Galentine's Day: 20 Hand-Drawn Cards to Tear, Color and Share with Your Favorite Ladies | Eva Marie Taylor

Now that our #Back2School party weekend is over.....
If February 14 is for lovers, than Feb 13 is all about friendship♥️?‍♀️?
It‘s Galentine‘s Day! Ladies celebrating ladies or their favorite male buds. So let‘s celebrate our Litsy friendships with a #BestBuddyRead! Join @BarbaraBB and myself for a #GalsAndPals Party Weekend ? ??
**Please nominate a book below about friendship that we can buddy read February 5-7, 411**

Kalalalatja I completely missed it this weekend, but I‘m so ready to join next time! Don‘t have a nominee yet, but I‘ll think about it 👍 4y

Cinfhen Can‘t wait to welcome you back @Kalalalatja 4y

Cinfhen I‘m sharing my suggestion but can‘t wait to see what others come up with

The Great Believers

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CarolynM Thanks for the fun at the Bunny party😘 I've just commented on Barbara's post that I'd be very happy with The Great Believers too. 4y

Cinfhen Thanks for joining in @CarolynM 🎉🥳🎉and glad to hear you‘re back for #GalsAndPals #BestBuddyRead 4y

BarbaraBB I‘ll nominate a male friendship (and former winner of the #bookerprize)

The Finkler Question: A Novel

65 likes6 comments

jenniferw88

Bunny: A Novel | Mona Awad

Basically from this quote to the end of Chapter 35 symbolises the writing process for me - I'm imagining the editors of the book thinking along the same lines when first reading it!

Have no answer about the "drafts" though.

#back2school #bunnyread @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Wow, this may be so true!! Great quote - which I didn‘t interpret the way you did 👍🏽 4y

BookwormAHN I didn't interpret it that way either, nice catch. I was busy trying to figure out if she was hallucinating the episode. 4y

batsy Yes! Very apt. 4y

51 likes3 comments

BarbaraBB

Bunny: A Novel | Mona Awad

We‘re starting our #Back2School #bunnyread! Let‘s discuss this extreme book! @Cinfhen and I are welcoming all, tagged are some people who we know have read the book recently! ????

Question 1 of 6:

In what ways is this book an allegory for the writing process? What do you make of the “Drafts” & why are they always gloved?

KarenUK, DebinHawaii, Megabooks, Palimpsest, JennyM, Hooked_on_books, peaKnit, Kimberlone, erzascarletbookgasm, BarbaraTheBibliophage, Howseldomtheydo, CarolynM, LeahBergen, Caroline2, JoyBlue, claffy_reads, TrishB, jenniferw88, merelybookish, Librarybelle, batsy, vivastory, Billypar, vlwelser, squirrelbrain, Cathythoughts, Angitron, BookwormAHN, tanisha, veritysalter, Mogoeg, CorgiBooks

jenniferw88 Thank you for this question - expect a post shortly! 4y

Kimberlone It was interesting that the Bunnies treated the bunny boys just like a draft of writing...ready to scrap (abandon or actually kill) and start over once they have a better idea. 4y

Kimberlone The gloves...I guess the point was that the Bunnies, unlike Samantha (a true artist?), were unable to fully conjure anything to exact realism because they didn‘t have the touch/attitude/artistic temperament necessary? 4y

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BarbaraBB @Kimberlone I agree, they are like sketches only. I have been wondering why they are wearing the gloves. Your interpretation is very interesting. (edited) 4y

TrishB Never specifically thought of the gloves! But now I am, assuming, like @Kimberlone says, so they don‘t ‘touch‘ reality. 4y

squirrelbrain I agree with @Kimberlone and @TrishB - I hadn‘t really thought of the gloves before now. My initial thought was that the drafts were unfinished, but @Kimberlone makes much more sense! 4y

jenniferw88 And maybe Samantha doesn't like scrapping her work? - we know she keeps journals. So that when it gets to her creating her "bunny", she can't do it because no ideas are coming and can't abandon/kill it because she wants it to be perfect first time. 4y

Kimberlone @squirrelbrain i think the Bunnies view it that way (unfinished drafts that they can keep workshopping until they achieve perfection), but once it‘s revealed that Samantha created Ava and Max (much more fully realized creations) I got the impression that the gloves and mouths and lack of genitals meant that they just weren‘t as talented as Samantha 4y

DebinHawaii Really interesting—I chalked up the unfinished hands (& other parts 😉) to an unfinished/imperfect draft in writing too. There was a point when one of the Bunnies (not sure which) said “hands are hard” or something to that effect. I think @Kimberlone is in to something. Maybe also the gloves cover the imperfections of the bunny‘s drafts. 🤔 4y

Cinfhen I agree with @Kimberlone the “half formed darlings” are another word for a writer‘s manuscript/ and the Bunnies can never fully form the hands on their “drafts” aka “bunny boys” because they can‘t create something tangible and they literally take an axe to their work. They wear gloves as a barrier to hiding their unfinished form 4y

BarbaraBB Agree @DebinHawaii that @Kimberlone is in to something about the Bunnies being not as talented as Samantha. 4y

vlwelser @DebinHawaii I thought the same thing. Samantha seems to have perfect creations immediately and the others often have to kill theirs. Because they are so bad, Bunny. So bad. 4y

BarbaraBB @vlwelser So bad 😂 4y

DebinHawaii @BarbaraBB @vlwelser So bad! It happens sometimes Bunny! Not to me of course Bunny... 🤣🤣🤣 4y

merelybookish Aren't hands notoriously challenging to draw accurately? It does seem a good way to symbolize their limited artistry. At the same time, they have found a way to cover their flaws. 4y

peaKnit The gloves were like covering “mistakes” or things that weren‘t ready to be share perhaps? The drafts of the bunny boys were crumpled up like a piece of paper...just with an axe?🤪 4y

peaKnit @merelybookish good point! They are hard to draw to scale or something. 4y

peaKnit I didn‘t put together Smackie made Ava until the author kept going back to her gloves. Mostly I was thinking how dirty those gloves must be lol. Lonely Smackie. 4y

BarbaraBB @peaknit Why the axes, I wonder? 4y

BarbaraBB @merelybookish Clever thought! (edited) 4y

peaKnit @BarbaraBB axes symbolize, as I think on this, a vicious way to kill someone, I think smashing a paper draft into a ball seems dramatic too...maybe? 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y

BarbaraBB @peaknit Why didn‘t I think of that. Good point. I kept associating it with that violent outside world somehow. 4y

BookwormAHN I was thinking that the axe was more like ripping up a draft and I was thinking that the lack of hands could also be due to the superficial content or lack of depth. 4y

JennyM Hi everyone, I thought the whole story was an allegory for writing. So many writing troupes throughout. I also think the violence is representative of the whole horror of writing sometimes. It can be hard and a real wrestle where you literally have to kill your darlings. I really love @kimberlone idea about the gloves too. 4y

Cinfhen 💯 @JennyM there are SO MANY references to writing/ the Bunnies meet their professor in a womb like cave as writing is like giving birth....you‘re creating/birthing something 4y

Billypar Agreed with the above comments that the gloves are covering up unfinished hands, a knock on the Bunnies' artistry. I think it's hands because hands are key to taking action: the Bunnies don't have their own agency, they just parrot the Bunnies' thoughts. They're not just sexually impotent, but impotent in a larger sense. 4y

Billypar Samantha's darlings, on the other hand, can plan actions that Samantha wouldn't have considered herself, even if they have their own issues. 4y

Cathythoughts I hadn‘t thought about the gloves... but yes , I agree the gloves are covering up ... taking off the gloves would be to become real , to face themselves. It‘s like that expression “ the gloves are off “ that‘s when the real fight begins .. the truth comes out .... 4y

Cinfhen Excellent point @Cathythoughts 4y

Hooked_on_books Lots of good thoughts here. I think Samantha is the brilliant, natural writer of the group, so much so that she almost doesn‘t even notice what she created, as reflected by Ava and Max. And her creations are fully capable of engaging with the world. But the Bunnies are pretenders, hence their incomplete, not fully functional creations. 4y

Librarybelle I had not made any specific inferences with the gloves and writing, though everything said here makes perfect sense. I kept thinking of the “kill your darlings” adage writers have regarding drafts and sentences and phrases. Even if the author thinks the work is perfect, you may have to murder it (ax it???) to make an even better creation. 4y

batsy I agree with @Billypar. I think the underlying commentary on Bunnies' artistry is that is was held up by "fragile" bonds i.e. peer pressure. It was hard for each to find their authentic voice, but in a clique they could come up with generic art that got approval (from Fosco & each other) but that wasn't profound in any way. Think it was also a hard knock on writing/MFA/publishing culture that prioritises networking & cliqueish approval vs art. 4y

Mogoeg When I was reading, I felt that the gloves signified that The Bunnies creations (their writing) was superficial and sloppy - whereas Samantha truly lived and immersed herself in her work - she 'lived' inside them and alongside of them - if you will. It is interesting to think about the 'boyfriends' as drafts - as part of the process in that way. It actually makes the Bunnies more interesting to me in a way! 4y

batsy I wondered about the gloved hands and the comments above are interesting! Perhaps hands are are the most personal and unique part to a person to get right and the Bunnies couldn't hack it (metaphorically speaking, lol). The lack of genitals—I was thinking that's because the Bunnies couldn't even tap into their true desire. It's too raw and ugly. But Samantha could and was probably the better artist for it, just full of self-doubt and loathing. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Brilliant thoughts here everyone! @Kimberlone @batsy love your interpretations. I couldn‘t think why they were wearing gloves. Now it‘s so much clearer! 4y

Cinfhen Wow, everyone....I knew discussion would lead to great insights. Thanks so much for your participation @erzascarletbookgasm @batsy @Mogoeg @Librarybelle @Hooked_on_books @Billypar @BookwormAHN @peaknit @Kimberlone @JennyM @merelybookish @DebinHawaii @vlwelser @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @TrishB and as always @BarbaraBB can‘t wait for #GalsAndPals #BestBuddyRead♥️🥳🎶 (edited) 4y

36 likes36 comments

peaKnit

Bunny: A Novel | Mona Awad

so-so

I‘m not sure what I read. I‘m not sure how I feel. If I liked it. If I want my time back. I look forward to the #bunnyread #Back2School discussion to perhaps sort out my feelings on this one. That said, I do love the cover. 💗 @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Cinfhen I agree, it‘s a fun-tastic cover 🐰It‘s almost discussion time 🙌🏻🎉🙌🏻 4y

squirrelbrain My thoughts entirely! 🤷‍♀️ 4y

BarbaraBB Right on time! 4y

peaKnit My entire review on good reads is “what the actual f*ck did I just read”. @squirrelbrain (edited) 4y

24 likes4 comments

DebinHawaii

Bunny: A Novel | Mona Awad

pick

#Back2School #BuddyRead

I powered through & at the end I‘m between a pick & a so-so & I‘m still wondering what the hell I just read?! I‘m going with a pick for now because I liked the trippy & beautiful writing & dark humor but I may feel differently once I have slept on it.🤷🏻‍♀️Looking forward to the discussion because I feel that this book is smarter than I will ever be (& it might be mocking me behind my back too)😉& I‘d love some insights.

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 I‘m hoping someone has the answers too! 4y

Cinfhen I think this is the type of book that works once someone who‘s obviously a brain surgeon explains it all to you 😘 4y

BarbaraBB I feel the same about that mocking! I gave it a so-so but probably after today‘s discussion it will become a pick because I‘ve overlooked so many smart things 🤦🏻‍♀️ 4y

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Cathythoughts Excellent review! I felt that mocking too or like there WAS someone behind my back. I looked behind me a few times ..., 4y

Billypar I love the thought of it mocking us behind our backs- of course this would be the book to do that 😅 4y

peaKnit I could not have summed this up better, I am just on part three determined to get through. But I am also feeling mercilessly mocked, I don‘t get it. I can‘t wait for discussion to help me make sense of it all so I can give this book the finger 😂 (edited) 4y

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Cinfhen

Weekly Forecast | Thomas Gibson Inc

Can it REALLY be the end of August?!?!?!?!?!?
Hoping to finish 2 ARCS before September 1 and maybe pick up The Parisian, which was gifted to me by my lovely Bunny co-host @BarbaraBB 🥰 Don‘t forget: #BunnyTalk today 2pmEST / 8pmCET questions posted on @BarbaraBB page
SO MUCH to discuss 🐰🐰🐰
I‘m LOVING all the #Back2School photos and playlists 🙌🏻🎉🎧

LeahBergen How has this 💩 trap of a year already rolled around to the end of August? 😆 4y

Cinfhen Honestly?!?!!!! @LeahBergen I still don‘t believe it 4y

Megabooks Vivek Oji and Unseen World are great! 4y

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squirrelbrain I have The Parisian on my Kindle TBR - be interesting to hear your thoughts. 4y

rockpools They look great. The Parisian is in my ARCs of Shame heap from however-long ago! Please inspire me to read it 😜 4y

TrishB Looks like a good week coming up 👍🏻 4y

TrishB And I can‘t believe it will be September either. 4y

91 likes7 comments

DebinHawaii

The 80s Music Compendium | Dave Kinzer

My 83/86 Mix Tape Playlist for the music portion of this weekend‘s #Back2School #BunnyRead party. I jpicked 2 years: ‘83 when I graduated high school & 86 as I finished college, worked retail & (legally) hit the clubs.😉The songs all came out in 83 or 86. My Spotify playlist👇🏻has 40 songs-20 from each year & I picked 10 from each year for my pic so it was more readable. Mostly 80s Pop 💕that I listen to at work to get me through the mornings!😆

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

DebinHawaii Here‘s the playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6CilOOQT5jtPaGLfl4o0t5?si=KujMvwd3SRWjoSW-3BzO... (edited) 4y

Deblovestoread Great list! 4y

Crazeedi Love all them! I posed in my first body building competition to higher love 4y

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Cinfhen We are VeryCloseInAge 😜😜😜so I TOTALLY relate to this playlist/timeline 💕🙌🏻 So happy you included the FULL playlist!!!!! 4y

Cinfhen Wait, WHAT!?!????! @Crazeedi I need to hear more about this!!!!! xxxx 4y

erzascarletbookgasm @Crazeedi ?! What @Cinfhen said! 4y

BarbaraBB Great list! I looooved Mad World by Tears for Fears and Love is a Battlefield was my favorite during most of my high school years. I felt like Pat Benatar knew me sooo well 🤣❤️ 4y

squirrelbrain Oh my gosh @Crazeedi - what?! Love this list Deb - 80s all the way, especially Bon Jovi ❤️ 4y

RachelAmphlett Fabulous list - I‘ve got an 80s Spotify playlist too - always cheers me up on a dreary day! 🎶 4y

DebinHawaii @Kdgordon88 Thank you! 🤗 4y

DebinHawaii @Crazeedi Higher Love is my favorite “alone in the car” song to sing to. Like @Cinfhen @erzascarletbookgasm @squirrelbrain I definitely want to know more about your competition! 😉 4y

DebinHawaii @Cinfhen Yes we are pretty close there! Coming over to see your list soon. I stopped looking at Litsy to finish the book! Not sure what I just read 🤔 so I‘m looking forward to the discussion! 4y

DebinHawaii @squirrelbrain Yes! I ❤️Bon Jovi! 4y

DebinHawaii @BarbaraBB Thank you! I so ❤️❤️❤️Tears for Fears! And Love is a Battlefield is a anthem! 4y

DebinHawaii @RachelAmphlett My work mornings classify as dreary days sometimes!! 🤣🤣🤣 4y

britt_brooke Awesome list! 4y

peaKnit Oh my gosh, how could I forget VH, I totally thought “I don‘t feel tardy” when you posted yesterday about being tardy. Lol! I saw them in concert twice in the 90‘s with Sammy Hagar. 4y

Crazeedi @Cinfhen @erzascarletbookgasm @squirrelbrain I was a competitive bodybuilder for 15 years, from age 30 to 45.(yes I know you'd never know it). I won several, my last was a national show(I didnt win or place) but I was completely dedicated, worked out daily without fail, at 5am before work. ⬇️ 4y

Crazeedi Let's just say I was addicted and as with any addiction you destroy many things , even though this was a "healthy" addiction. I have my degree in exercise science, did a lot of personal training too 4y

Cinfhen #LiveAndLearn that‘s awesome @Crazeedi 💪🏽💕 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Wow! @Crazeedi That‘s dedication, and amazing! 👏 4y

squirrelbrain Wow @Crazeedi - fascinating! 4y

DebinHawaii @Crazeedi That‘s really interesting. I have a friend who did that a few years ago and I admire the crazy dedication that it takes! 4y

Crazeedi @DebinHawaii its definitely crazy dedication, hence my handle!! I used to take my food with me to events, so I stayed on dietary track. 4y

60 likes24 comments

Centique

Totally Awesome 80s: A Lexicon of the Music, Videos, Movies, TV Shows, Stars, and Trends of that Decadent Decade | Matthew Rettenmund

#Back2School @Cinfhen
Jumping on the #schoolbus even though I didn‘t #bunnyread sorry! I thought I‘d just sum up first year in high school (left) and the last year (right) I went from Aha and Amy Grant and bad hair and obsessing over Seventeen and Madamoiselle magazines to REM and Billy Bragg and a little more political awareness - plus lovely friends (that‘s a Bambina we hand painted at the bottom) Nice memories to recollect right now!

merelybookish Great pics! Love both Tracy Chapman & Billy Bragg. 💙 4y

Billypar Some great selections here. REM should have been on my list too. And that paint job is so cool! 4y

Cinfhen Oh, that CAR is amazing!!!!!!!!! I love how we lived such similar lives wayyyyyyyy across the oceans💕💕💕 4y

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LeahBergen Aaahhhhggh, the memories from these pics! ❤️ 4y

Reggie I love the big hair!!! 4y

Centique @Cinfhen @LeahBergen @Reggie I‘m so glad I was in the big hair generation 😂😂 4y

Cathythoughts You are gorgeous 💕 4y

DebinHawaii Fun post! I see some of my favorites on here! 🤗 4y

Centique @Cathythoughts you are so lovely Cathy 😘 me and my crazy hair thank you! 4y

Centique @DebinHawaii thanks Deb! 😘 4y

britt_brooke That‘s my favorite version of Madonna. 💚 4y

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