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I highlighted this quote from the tagged book. The best way to describe this book is that it‘s intense and heartbreaking to read. I‘ve read books set during WWII but not anything like this book. This book showed the uglier side of WWII whereas other fiction books I‘ve read set during WWII didn‘t focus on the war as much and they were never set in Italy. This one is based on a true story so this book is different.

Maybe I was a little disappointed with this novel but it was related with my expectations as a reader. I was expecting a story similar to Three Souls, which I loved, expecting same tone but it was different. Don‘t like much how that fantasy parts were integrated. But I still like this author writing style. 3.5/3.75⭐️

Narrated in two time lines. In present, Roya is in her 70s living in US. In the past, is almost 20 living in Tehran. She was happy, in love, engaged. But she was not accepted by her fiancée‘s mother and the political situation in the country was dangerous. What happened to Roya is related with family situation, drama, secrets, guilty debts that lead in betrayal, deception. A sad novel that shows that an emotional closure could be part ⬇️

This was my second Cleeton book, but definitely won‘t be my last. I love the way she uses historical events as a backdrop to individual stories - I‘ve actually learned quite a bit from her.
Made Spanish Fideua for #FoodandLit #Spain. It was okay, but I think I‘ll definitely be asking Santa for a paella pan for Christmas.

This was a bit of a different love story. Eloise and Sir Phillip write letters back and forth for about a year. Phillip says that perhaps he could arrange for a chaperone for Eloise to visit, and if they get along well enough, perhaps they could marry. Chaos (and love, of course) ensues from there. #SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

My final late review of May, I read this one for my bimonthly virtual foodie bookclub. It was my pick & I chose it because I have a #OnceUponABookClub box for it but I ended up reading it on Kindle Unlimited & haven‘t opened the box yet. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Fun cozy set in France after WWII with Julia Child as the friend of the MC, Tabitha, a recent expat from Detroit living with her grandfather & his partner. I enjoyed it & ⬇️

I really enjoyed this series of novellas about Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. These women were strong of faith and character and stood fast in their convictions when many around them were filled with doubt (about everything not just their belief in God). Ruth's story was my favorite.

There was a lot of bible study at the end of each story that I skipped. But as a historical fiction read--Worthy! I learned a lot.

34/62

#BookedInTime

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow

This one is heavy, bother literally and figuratively, at >700 pages, but it‘s worth it. But I loved it as I loved his last novel, Cutting for Stone.

This reminds me a bit of A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, an epic tail of loss and life. Which was written by my English teachers husband, and is fantastic if you get a chance to read it.

This novel follows 3 generations of an Indian family following their life‘s ups and downs.

The only requirement of any friendship is loyalty once that‘s lost through betrayal lack of sense prejudice jealousy misunderstanding or misguided friendship with another that friendship is doomed and enemies are created , who was it that said you can never trust a friend who is friends with your enemy . Wonderful second instalment to what has become one of my favourite series so far , I can‘t wait to jump into the last of the trilogy .

Love how she's portrayed as "old..." she's 20. ?

Times sure were different back then. Between reading this and Clan of the Cave Bear, I'm pretty damn grateful to be around in this day and age and not when it was normal for 11-13 year olds to have children/get married. #yikes
Also, guy calling her "old" looks to be in his 70s, which makes absolutely no sense ?

Side note: the artwork is absolutely stunning.

#mangaweekly #justmythoughts