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#Politics
review
fredthemoose
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a twofer—an #auldlangspine pick from @Amiable and the January book for #WinterCampLitsy and I loved it! The storytelling through letters was so clever and I really loved the characters. It was a book where as I was listening I was aware (and sad) that I could only read it for the first time once and it made me really savor and enjoy it. Looking forward to the discussion next week! Thanks again @monalyisha for the great match!

squirrelbrain Lovely review! Looking forward to next weekend! 1h
Amiable Ooh, it‘s great when you can make a twofer (or even a threefer!) out of one book! I‘m so glad you like it! 3m
BarbaraBB I read it for the second time and found it just as good. So there‘s that 😀😉 now
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
merelybookish
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Mehso-so

Welp, unpopular opinion. I did not love this. 🤷 Something about it felt contrived or like I was being manipulated to feel a certain way. Maybe that sounds weird and arguably that is true of any novel. There's always an author pulling the strings. I just don't want to feel it. Sybille never felt true to me. She felt like a creation & a few storylines (Martinelli, Dean of English) struck me as absurd.
I also might have a cold, black heart. 🖤

BarbaraBB Ouch! I didn‘t expect that but we can‘t all love the same books! 8h
BkClubCare And that's okay! 7h
Daisey I haven‘t read this yet (waiting on a library hold), but I‘m kind of glad to see some less than glowing reviews in order to temper my own expectations. 7h
See All 18 Comments
Leftcoastzen Wow I haven‘t read it yet , I have to say I‘m allergic to feeling manipulated! Maybe a warning for me . I will put it on the borrow list !😁 5h
Ruthiella She seemed real to me, mainly because I have an aunt who is similar- very accomplished but basically bullies people into getting what she wants. But as @CSeydel pointed out, it was all a little too neat. And yes, you clearly have a cold, black heart. 😂 Just kidding! 5h
merelybookish @BarbaraBB I know. So many people who I usually would have the same taste as love it! 5h
merelybookish @BkClubCare Thank you! 😊 5h
merelybookish @Daisey I definitely went in with high expectations! 5h
merelybookish @Leftcoastzen This veered into "feel-good" for me and that generally gets under my skin. 4h
merelybookish @Ruthiella Definitely too pat! Definitely could have a black heart. 😆I also hated A Man Called Ove so maybe I am allergic to stories about cranky old people. 4h
CSeydel The Dean of English storyline was particularly absurd. 4h
Larkken All hail the cold black heart 😉 4h
merelybookish @Larkken Lol. Nothing wrong with a little bitterness and melancholy. 4h
Prairiegirl_reading I‘m currently reading this one and it‘s ok but it‘s nowhere near a favourite yet. And I like a curmudgeon story. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3h
BkClubCare @merelybookish - I am just glad that I read it in the first wave and hadn‘t really heard ANY reactions or reviews. Whew! 1h
merelybookish @Prairiegirl_reading Well maybe I'm not totally alone. 🙂 24m
merelybookish @BkClubCare Yes very different to go in with no expectations! 23m
45 likes18 comments
review
Kristy_K
On Freedom | Timothy Snyder
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Pickpick

Another great and necessary read from Snyder.

53 likes1 stack add
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josie281
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#weekendreads Tagged title is for the overbooked zoom book club January meeting!

review
CSeydel
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Pickpick

There was so much hype around this book that it was inevitable to be slightly disappointed. I enjoyed it, the epistolary format worked well to keep the story moving forward, but on the whole it just came across a bit too pat. The main emotional climax comes from the reader finally understanding why Sybil is the way she is, and her relationships with the other characters are basically repaired “offstage,” which felt a bit unsatisfying.

squirrelbrain Great review! 2d
merelybookish Definitely too pat! 4h
60 likes2 comments
review
ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

First book of 2026, #AuldLangSpine pick. This book was on my radar & happy that it was pushed to the top of my list to start the new year. With all the heaviness of the world right now it was nice to be lost in this story. I appreciate the idea of what will your family know of you when are gone without leaving them a piece of who you are, your thoughts & feelings.

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DeeLew
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I feel sick and sad and angry right now.

Tamra Why regimes try to suppress the media. 🤬 2d
BookishMarginalia 🫶🏼 2d
AmyG We seem to be a fascist country now. 2d
See All 7 Comments
dabbe Scarily spot-on. 💙✊🏻💙 2d
Bookwomble @AmyG No "seem" about it, sadly ? 2d
DeeLew @Tamra exactly 2d
DeeLew @AmyG we definitely are headed that way 2d
31 likes7 comments
blurb
Kitta
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#wintercamplitsy folks, should I just give in and buy a kindle copy?? I want to be a part of the discussion as it happens and it sounds so good so might be worth owning a copy?

Or should I wait the 6 weeks and join the discussion later? I looked at the library for a physical copy and I‘m ~1,200th in line. 😞

Opinions needed please!

#wintercamplitsy26
#camplitsy
@BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books

Meshell1313 I‘m in the same boat! I‘m down to number #207 but it took weeks 😩 2d
marleed I‘ve already read a library copy but the book is so good I going to purchase my own copy. I don‘t think you‘d regret the purchase. 2d
AmyG It‘s that good of a book. 2d
See All 17 Comments
Ruthiella I broke down and bought a copy myself. Hopefully by removing myself from the library holds list, I made someone else get it than much more quickly. 2d
Kitta @Meshell1313 it‘s taking ages!! I‘m just going to get a kindle copy. Can‘t justify the hardback. 2d
Kitta @marleed oh great thanks for the input! I am trying decide between kindle and hard copy now lol 2d
Kitta @AmyG great to hear! 2d
Kitta @Ruthiella Yes I‘ll probably do the same. Just need to decide hardback or kindle! 2d
squirrelbrain It is *such* a good book - and did you see how many Littens included it on their ‘best of 2025‘ lists?! Me included. 😊 2d
Hooked_on_books I had to bite the bullet and buy it. I got the hardback because I figure with this amount of interest it will have resale value and I don‘t live too far from a great used bookstore. 2d
Kitta @squirrelbrain yes I noticed!! I‘m excited to read it. 2d
Kitta @Hooked_on_books ooh great idea. I don‘t often do that but there is a great used bookstore nearby. 2d
BarbaraBB I‘d buy the kindle book. It‘s money worth spent if you ask me 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2d
rockpools Wow! Those numbers! You must be part of a HUGE library system. (We very occasionally get up to a queue of 200, but 1200 is something else altogether!!) 1d
kspenmoll Wow! Omg! My copy was a Christmas present so I lucked out! 3h
Kitta @rockpools I just moved to Chicago! I was in NYC before and the queues were long but this is crazy. 29m
Kitta @kspenmoll oooo nice! 29m
33 likes17 comments
review
Sapphire
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Pickpick

My first #auldlangspine, the first book I read from the list was my first of the year and my favorite of the year. I suspect it will be the same in 2026. I admit I started The Correspondent on Christmas but I loved it so much I am counting it. I loved it so much I have already passed on my copy to a friend who turned 91 yesterday. The pacing, the relationships, the voices and motives. I loved it all. #auldlangspine2026. Keeping going on this list

Lesliereadsalot Such a good book! 2d
AmyG All these books are wonderful. Have fun! I love @Lesliereads taste in books. And she knows it. 🤣 2d
34 likes2 comments
review
vonnie862
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Pickpick

My first 5 star read for the year. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Sybil but she quickly grew on me. Her story being told through letters and emails was fun and and heartwarming. Many emotions were brought out in me, especially at the end. This was a beautiful story of personal growth and relationships.

I can't wait to discuss with #wintercamplitsy

britt_brooke So good!! ♥️ 3d
squirrelbrain Looking forward to our discussions! 3d
46 likes2 comments