thebibliophage2021

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I love Ghosh‘s unique style of environmentally conscious fiction. If a book that‘s part travelogue, part social commentary, and part ecological history, interests you then I heartily recommend The Hungry Tide. And the Irrawaddy dolphins (see above) and Sundarban Islands are both central to the story and wholly unique.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021 #readingasia2021 #bangladesh

Soubhiville Thanks for the recommendation! I‘ll definitely check it out. 3y

Addison_Reads I really enjoyed this when I read it. 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Soubhiville You‘re welcome! Ghosh would make a good addition to your Author a Month too. He‘s got a big backlist and is just so good. 3y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Addison_Reads Awesome! He is such a good writer. 3y

Soubhiville @BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘ll add him to the suggestion list. Thanks! 3y

shawnmooney This sounds great! I just DM‘d you on Goodreads about having another bite-size chat about this one. 😀 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @shawnmooney Yay!! I will message you back really soon! 3y

77 likes3 stack adds7 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

Secret Santa | Andrew Shaffer

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I‘m a holiday reading #rebel. Reading schmaltzy books doesn‘t do it for me. But this little horror novella gave me the holiday vibes along with plenty of weird and creepy elements. Also includes some commentary on the 1980s greed culture and publishing in general.

Perfect palate cleanser!!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021

melissanorr There was an anthology called Never Fear - Christmas Terrors with 20+ holiday horror short stories published a few years ago. In case anyone is looking for that sort of thing. 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @melissanorr Cool! I‘ll have to look for it! 3y

67 likes2 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone | Diana Gabaldon

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Claire, Jamie, and the whole crew face down the political and practical complexities of the Revolutionary War in this addition to the series. So much detail and emotion. Gabaldon invests time in even more characters this time. Sometimes this makes the story feel fractured. And the story occasionally drags a bit. But, ultimately, I loved my slow read (almost a full month to finish).

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021

TrishB Just about to start this one 👍🏻 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @TrishB Enjoy!! 3y

71 likes2 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage | Anne Lamott

pan

I liked some moments, and truly appreciated one essay about various kinds of love. But overall, it was entirely too spiritual, Jesus-based, and biblically focused for me. I appreciate her ability to tell a story and her skillful writing. But Lamott just isn‘t for me. (Except Bird by Bird, which I loved.)

#thebibliophage2021 #whenbookclubbooksgowrong #unpopularopinion

67 likes

BarbaraTheBibliophage

Proyecto Hail Mary / Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir

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This story alternates between barreling forward with thrills and buckets of scientific explanations. Mix it together with wry and witty characters with a lot of heart. Add amazing (truly!) narration. And you‘ve got an SF book worthy of its place on *so* many Best of 2021 lists. I loved every moment and am still thinking about it days later. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021

BarbaraTheBibliophage I could‘ve used a generic space pic here. Read the book and understand why I used the pic I did! 3y

JacqMac Loved your review. I‘m moving this one up on the TBR stack. 3y

Dragon Great book 👍 3y

74 likes2 stack adds3 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria | Wendy Pearlman

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This is a strong and impactful oral history with voices from #Syria during the period of Arab Spring (2011). Pearlman combines history with these true stories. Important perspective as we think about today‘s refugee crisis news stories. This is one piece of how it started.

I wish my #readingasia2021 choices were less depressing, but we must face the truth of authoritarianism.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021

Librarybelle, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB You have chosen a lot of hard ones indeed. Then again, reading about Syria without acknowledging the war seems a bit unrealistic as well. There‘s no escaping it. 3y

Librarybelle This sounds very impactful ❤️ 3y

59 likes2 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector�s Story | Hyeonseo Lee

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A harrowing memoir of all the complexities of escaping an authoritarian regime for another. And persistently pursuing a more complete defection and freedom. Lee‘s story is well-told and propulsive. Every time I thought she was settled in, there was a gut punch and a “plot twist.” Inspired by her resilience.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021 #readingasia2021 #northkorea #notchristmas-ey #rebelreader

Librarybelle, BarbaraBB

Librarybelle This does indeed sound harrowing! 3y

alysonimagines I‘ve read this and can attest it is both harrowing and riveting, just as you described. What the author had to go through was a severe test of her resilience. 3y

BarbaraBB You are steady reading your way through Asia 🤍! 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @BarbaraBB I am … just got Iran, North Korea, and Syria ✔️ off my list! Still super behind and need a break from authoritarian regimes for a bit. 3y

BarbaraBB Haha yes that can get too much 😉 3y

79 likes2 stack adds5 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

All of Us Warriors: Cancer Stories of Survival and Loss | Rebecca Whitehead Munn

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This compilation of stories from cancer patients is both moving and informative. The editor gathered people from her extended circles of friends and asked each person to share their diagnosis, treatment choices, and some advice for both patients and others. Well done overall. I have two caveats, though. These patients are privileged financially. And also very connected to their Christian faith.

https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021

BarbaraTheBibliophage Many thanks to the author and Books Forward publicists for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. **also note that I realize my caveats may encourage you to read the book … or not** In my longer review I suggest that it might be too raw for a current patient to read. But if you‘re adjacent to a patient who‘s struggling, it could be helpful. 3y

51 likes1 comment

BarbaraTheBibliophage

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | Isabel Wilkerson

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Worth five solid and fascinating stars. Wilkerson follows three people who leave the South and chase a brighter day. She tells about their dreams, many of which don‘t come to fruition the way the dreamer hoped. The migrants land in Chicago, NYC, and Los Angeles. So Wilkerson discusses life in all those areas during the turbulence of the 20th century. Highly recommend!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021 #OtherSuns

Prairiegirl_reading I loved the way this was set up. I honestly wasn‘t expecting it to be what it was. I loved it too! 3y

Graywacke One of my favorite books. 3y

Amiable Such a phenomenal read. 3y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Prairiegirl_reading I agree. So much heart in the midst of all the historical information. Lot of heartbreak also. 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Graywacke Yes! And she is an automatic buy author for me from now on. 3y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Amiable 💯 3y

92 likes2 stack adds6 comments

BarbaraTheBibliophage

The Best of Me | David Sedaris

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Sedaris may not have worked in front of audiences in 2020, but he did manage to publish this excellent compilation of essays and short stories. I‘m the only person in the universe who hasn‘t read him before. But now I have the whole Sedaris catalog to anticipate! Thanks to my IRL book group for picking this one.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021

64 likes

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