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BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB

Joined June 2017

Books | Travel | Art | Music
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Liars: A Novel by Sarah Manguso
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Road Ends: A Novel by Mary Lawson
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Yom Ehad B'October by Yair Agmon, Oriya Mevorach
review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

I loved Mr Ripley years ago, and I‘ve wanted to read more by Patricia Highsmith ever since.

This one reminds me of Ripley in its setting: rich ruthless people living a lazy life and hating each other.

Melinda and Vic are married but she‘s having lovers on the side all the time. It‘s a matter of time until Vic is fed up with the situation.
I wanted to know what happened but it wasn‘t such a rewarding read as Ripley. A light pick.

ChaoticMissAdventures This is on my shortlist for as soon as I get done with these dang longlist prizes. I read Price of Salt in 23 and the first Ripley last year and I want to read everything she has written now. This one is sitting on my nightstand. 21h
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘ll be looking forward to what you‘ll think and will add Price of Salt to my wishlist! 13h
ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB they made Price of Salt into a movie with Cate Blanchett, they renamed it Carol. I really liked it, great to read around Christmas time. 13h
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks, I‘ll remember that. I was scrolling through reviews of the book and saw this one mentioned a lot too (edited) 13h
eeclayton @BarbaraBB I definitely recommend Strangers on a Train if you enjoyed Ripley! 2h
65 likes5 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
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Quite the spontaneous idea but tomorrow I‘ll be traveling to Tenerife (one of Spain‘s Canary Islands) with a friend. She‘s in need of some sunshine and I thought why not join her?!

I haven‘t had much time to curate what books to take with me but I hope these will do for the week!

Ruthiella Bon voyage! 🛫 1d
Cathythoughts Sounds great. Enjoy ❤️ 1d
Librarybelle Have fun! 1d
See All 21 Comments
kspenmoll Enjoy! Sounds wonderful! 1d
Jas16 Have a great time and safe travels! 1d
TheLudicReader One of the lovely advantages of living on that side of the world. Have fun! 1d
squirrelbrain Oh, have a lovely time! Which resort are you going to? 1d
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Have you been to Tenerife? We‘re staying in a b&b near the national park. We want to do some hiking: https://www.bedandbreakfast.eu/en/a/VczgH6Yn4Wbz/ecoverode-hotel-emblematico-veg... (edited) 1d
Bookwormjillk Sounds great! Enjoy! Looking forward to your reviews. 1d
Lesliereadsalot Have a great time in the sun! Start with Liars 1d
Chelsea.Poole Have a lovely time! I‘ll echo @Lesliereadsalot — I loved Liars. 24h
squirrelbrain Yes, I‘ve probably been 7 or 8 times, but not recently. We stayed in the coastal resorts, although I‘ve been up Mount Teide a couple of times. We took a boat to La Gomera once, which was lovely, although it was a completely different climate at the top of the volcano - foggy and snowing! 24h
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Thank you! We are between Mount Teida and the coast I think, to enjoy a bit of both too. A daytrip to La Gomera sounds like a good idea too! 22h
BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot @Chelsea.Poole Thanks! I was still thinking of what book to start with, but I‘ll gladly follow your advice 💕 22h
TrishB Have fun 😁 21h
Lindy ❤️ Gliff ❤️ 21h
CarolynM Enjoy the sunshine! 17h
LoverOfLearning Incredible! Enjoy! 16h
BarbaraBB @Lindy Is it good? 13h
youneverarrived Enjoy! A spontaneous trip is always a good idea 🩷 look forward to seeing what you think of Liars. 7h
74 likes21 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Miniaturist | Jessie Burton
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Pickpick

This book had been on my shelves for years and I now finally picked it up. It‘s set in Amsterdam, where I live, in the 17th century, when we sailed the oceans and colonized countries and were a very wealthy trading country. That background is interesting to me, more interesting than the plot to be honest. But all in all a fairly good read and a light pick.

Suet624 Great to finally get it off your shelf! 2d
Lesliereadsalot You live in Amsterdam!? I was there once at tulip time on a small boat cruise around all the waterways. Lucky you to live in such a cool city! 2d
TheBookHippie I liked this light read. I‘m with you the background was the best part. 2d
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie we obviously feel the same. An enjoyable read! 2d
BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot It is a good place to live. Let‘s hope it stays that way in this world going crazy. 2d
77 likes3 stack adds5 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

I didn‘t hate this book. At all. It‘s an easy read about an Oblomow kind of guy who fails to make something of his life and just accepts that. That makes him annoying but that‘s what the author aims at I think. At least as annoying are the women who tolerate, facilitate and even justify his behaviour and deeds. A fun read with a deeper message. Just not worth to be shortlisted for the #ToB25.

📷 Groningen, Netherlands

Suet624 That would be a nope for me. 3d
BarbaraBB @Suet624 you‘re not missing out on much! 3d
sarahbarnes Thanks for reading this one. 😆 Great review and great photo. I feel like that‘s the theme of the shortlist this year. 3d
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Right? So many okay-ish books but they don‘t do anything for me personally. I forgot most about them already. 3d
squirrelbrain Yes, I was just as annoyed by his Mum / girlfriend 🤷‍♀️ 3d
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain They were both incredible. I couldn‘t relate at all. Even the sister forgave him everything 3d
CarolynM I‘m glad I didn‘t waste any more time on it. 3d
67 likes7 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 08/25

I am reading George for the #ToB25. So far so good. On audio I am listening to The Miniaturist, which is set in my city. That‘s always nice. The tagged will be my next read. I‘ve been wanting to read more Highsmith ever since Mr Ripley.

sarahbarnes Happy reading! I can‘t quite bring myself to read George…. 4d
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Thanks. So far it‘s an easy read and rather amusing imo. But I am only a hundred pages in 4d
62 likes2 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Poor Deer: A Novel | Claire Oshetsky
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#WeeklyFavorites

I had to choose this as this week‘s favorite. It is so authentic and refreshing. I am interested in what Claire Oshetsky will write next!

Cathythoughts I loved Poor Deer too ❤️ 5d
Read4life Stacked!! 💙🩷💙 5d
Lesliereadsalot Picked it up in between snow storms! 5d
53 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Point Zero | Seicho Matsumoto
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Pickpick

A great crime story for everyone interested in Japan and Japanese culture. Written in 1958 it‘s right after WWII and Japan is dealing with a dark past. A woman marries but within a month her husband goes missing. She travels by train through the country, looking for clues. Everyone is polite, everyone is calm but oh, beneath the surface! Loved it - especially for its atmosphere!
#Roll100 #FictionalTraveler #APlaceYouLove

📷 Vondelpark, Amsterdam

TheKidUpstairs Ooh, sounds good! Stacking 6d
squirrelbrain Sounds fabulous! Stacking. 6d
squirrelbrain Ha ha @TheKidUpstairs - I think we posted at the *exact* same time! #booktwins 👯 6d
See All 14 Comments
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain Your kind of book, booktwins! And yours too @sarahbarnes 🇯🇵 6d
LeahBergen Stacked! 6d
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain 🤣🤣 always happy to follow suggestions from @BarbaraBB with you! 6d
Gleefulreader Great review! Definitely going to look for this one! 6d
julieclair This sounds great! Stacked! 6d
sarahbarnes Oh this sounds very good. Stacking of course! ♥️ 6d
kspenmoll Sounds intriguing! Stacked! 6d
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Yes! Your kind of book too, I should‘ve thought of that! 6d
BarbaraBB @Gleefulreader @julieclair @kspenmoll It‘s a welcome variation on books filled with violence and cursing - so typical Japanese and just what I need at times! 6d
Cathythoughts Great review! Stacking immediately ❤️ 5d
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts It‘s such a satisfying read Cathy, I think you‘ll enjoy it too! 4d
87 likes12 stack adds14 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Poor Deer: A Novel | Claire Oshetsky
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Pickpick

Such a lovely read. After her best friend dies, little Margaret turns inwards and creates her own reality. She is a wonderful unreliable narrator, surrounded by people who have a big impact on who she becomes.

Years later she writes the story of het life, trying to stay close to the truth.
A worthy #ToB25Longlist read!

ImperfectCJ I liked this one, too. "Lovely" is a good word to describe it. It's one of those books where the writing itself is a vibe...I felt immersed in it. 1w
LeahBergen Great review! 1w
Hooked_on_books This one was a bit weird, but it worked for me. And there are things about it that suggest it shouldn‘t have. I love when that happens. 1w
See All 14 Comments
Bookwormjillk I think I‘ll read this one next. I could use something lovely. 1w
RowReads1 I just got this one. It‘s your fault 😉. 1w
ChaoticMissAdventures I really enjoyed this too. Like @Hooked_on_books I kept thinking this shouldn't work for me, but it totally did. I am sad it isn't on the short list. 1w
Suet624 If I hadn‘t stacked it already you‘d have convinced me. 1w
sarahbarnes I‘m so glad you liked it! Like @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘m disappointed this one isn‘t on the short list. 1w
Cathythoughts Yes such a worthy read. I loved this one. 1w
squirrelbrain I‘m glad you loved it too! And, yes, it should have been on the shortlist. 1w
Lesliereadsalot Ordering from my library right now. 1w
BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I was thinking the same of your most recent read. We seem to be liking the same kind of books! 1w
Lesliereadsalot I have 9 library books sitting here, but I‘m still picking up Poor Deer tomorrow! (edited) 7d
78 likes6 stack adds14 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Wayward | Dana Spiotta
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Mehso-so

Another menopause oriented book, a subject I am not really interested in. It‘s an important subject but it mostly isn‘t that interesting to me. I didn‘t like Sandwich much either. All Fours is an exception of course!

Anyhow this one is about a woman who leaves her husband and daughter to get caught up in working out and feminism. And there is the shooting of an innocent black boy of course. And cancer. A lot of subjects. Not much told.

sarahbarnes I think I read this awhile back and liked it okay - is this the one where she buys the old house? I think at the time I read it that felt like a tempting idea. 😆 1w
Lesliereadsalot I‘m with you on Sandwich and All Fours! 1w
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Yes it is! The book and the tempting idea 😉 1w
BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot Really? Most people prefer Sandwich to All Fours! 1w
76 likes4 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Point Zero | Seicho Matsumoto
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#WeeklyForecast 07/25

I am about to start Poor Deer of which I‘ve heard so many good things. The tagged one is a classic Japanese murder mystery. I‘ve been curious about that one!

squirrelbrain I hope you like Poor Deer as much as I did. 🤞 2w
sarahbarnes Omg! I‘m so excited for you! 2w
80 likes2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Daddy's Gone A-hunting | Penelope Mortimer, Valerie Grove
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Pickpick

It‘s the 1950s and Ruth has a dull and unsatisfying life. Her husband is in town during the weeks and with her sons at boarding school and her daughter in Oxford, she leads an empty and lonely life. On the verge of a breakdown her daughter comes home with a secret. This makes her reflect on her marriage and being a mother. My heart broke for Ruth.

TheBookHippie Ah. I‘ve stacked it! Sounds good. 2w
Jas16 If I didn‘t already have this one stacked, your review would convince me to do it. 2w
LeahBergen I really enjoyed this one (and I‘m liking the look of your snacks 😆). 2w
See All 10 Comments
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Jas16 So many good reviews here made me stack it as well. And they were right! 2w
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Not really healthy but I so felt like it 🤣 2w
sarahbarnes I have this one stacked based on reviews here too - glad to see you liked it! And weekends are not for healthy. 😆 2w
CarolynM Loved this one, even though it made me furiously angry. 1w
BarbaraBB @CarolynM That husband is horrible. And I think it was quite realistic at the time! 1w
CarolynM Yes, it made me think differently about John Mortimer😡 The thing I got angriest about was the letter the boyfriend wrote, weaseling out of responsibility. What a pathetic little sh*t! 1w
BarbaraBB @CarolynM Yes!! Exactly that 🤯 1w
89 likes7 stack adds10 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

You know I love Japan and Japanese fiction but these short stories often didn‘t work for me.
It took me a long time to read them all and although some stories and authors are super good mostly I am glad I finally finished it.

Cathythoughts I‘ll be passing on this Japanese one. Great photo ♥️ 2w
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Thank you! My big son came home. Always so happy to have him with me 2w
71 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

The speculative tale of Yewon, a young woman adrift, and of the relationship between the Koreas. At first it is rather realistic, with Yewon wondering about her life while driving a North Korean woman to her long lost brother in prison and while worrying about her mom, who keeps and daily washes the bones of family members. Yewon doesn‘t eat and dreams of an invisible hotel. And are the Koreas heading for peace or war?Very weird. #ToB25Longlist

squirrelbrain I‘m not really drawn to this one 🤷‍♀️ 2w
GatheringBooks Speculative fiction is a hit or miss for me too. 2w
73 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Weather Underwater | Kaisa Saarinen
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Pickpick

The UK is sinking and to make sure the people who matter stay dry, the government takes far fetching measures against people who are not a 💯 English. In these circumstances two old friends meet again. An interesting premise, well worked out. Good choice, @TrishB!

sarahbarnes Sounds intriguing! Funny because I‘m reading a book right now about the world drowning. 2w
TrishB Glad it was a good read 👍🏻 2w
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I‘ve been interested in that one. I‘ll be waiting for your review. 2w
See All 6 Comments
sarahbarnes It‘s really good so far! Even better than her first I think. 2w
tpixie Wow! 🤩 What a premise! 2w
76 likes3 stack adds6 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
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With 4 weeks until the #ToB starts I‘ve made a form to vote for your winners in the opening round. Also, vote for 2 zombies: https://forms.gle/jKTvVdCaRPVy16RL7

You can change this form until March 6. After recording your votes you‘ll get a copy in your inbox (check junkmail!) with a link to make changes.

Tagged is everyone who wanted to play along, others are welcome too of course! For more information on the ToB, I‘ll add a link below.

See All 22 Comments
Bookwormjillk Yay! Thanks! 2w
BarbaraBB For more information on the Tournament of Books in general:

https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/about
2w
ChaoticMissAdventures I am so excited! This is my first year, so one quick question, for the Zombie books, are these from the 16 list or are they from the big long list that was like 60 books long? 2w
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures ask any question! The zombies you choose from from the 18 (!) shortlisted books. The most voted for zombies return to the tournament in the zombie round towards the end of the tournament! (edited) 2w
AmyG Yay! Thank you. 2w
GatheringBooks Thank you for the google forms! 💕 until when can we vote? Still going through the titles. :) 2w
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Until March 6 so plenty of time to keep adding your votes! 2w
Jas16 I am so excited! 2w
Megabooks Yay!!! 2w
kwmg40 Thanks! 2w
squirrelbrain Very exciting! 🐓 2w
BkClubCare You are AWESOME 👏 (edited) 2w
Hooked_on_books Woohoo! I‘m just about to get the final book from the library, so I‘ll be holding off on voting until I get it read. 2w
sarahbarnes Thank you!! ♥️ 2w
Chelsea.Poole Thanks for organizing! 📚 2w
Well-ReadNeck Two more to read!! 2w
CarolynM I‘ve only read a very few so far, so too early for me to start voting. Do I have to vote on every match up? Because I‘m not going to get them all read. 2w
BarbaraBB @CarolynM No you don‘t. Just vote for the ones you‘ve read on March 6! 2w
CarolynM Thanks Barbara. Hopefully I will have finished a few more by then🙂 2w
54 likes22 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Oroppa. Roman | Safae el Khannoussi
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Bailedbailed

This book gets high praise in the Netherlands but I didn‘t like it at all. A parade of northern African people travel between Amsterdam and Paris where all of them live and meet and tell stories. Because there are so many of them it all feels kind of disconnected . So after 50%, I bailed.

MrsMalaprop When you‘re not feeling the love…bail! That photo though 😍 2w
squirrelbrain Hope you‘re feeling better. 2w
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Thanks, I feel better! Of course now S has got it and way worse than I did of course 😜 2w
squirrelbrain Of course! And it will be completely your fault! 🤨 2w
83 likes4 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Weather Underwater | Kaisa Saarinen
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#WeeklyForecast 06/25

I am reading Oroppa, which is a Dutch book that has gained much praise and I had to find out what‘s it about. Next will be the tagged, gifted to me by @TrishB during #Gladstones24 which seems so long ago already! The Invisible Hotel is another #ToB25Longlist book that did appeal to me when I purchased it but @sarahbarnes review has made me temper my expectations!

squirrelbrain I got The Invisible Hotel on Audible but I really don‘t fancy it now. 🤷‍♀️ 3w
sarahbarnes Oh I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts on it. It‘s possible it was just the mood I was in when I read it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w
TrishB A long time indeed! 2w
65 likes3 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Bury Your Gays | Chuck Tingle
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Pickpick

Horror meets Hollywood is this #ToB25Longlist book and it was fun reading it. Towards the end it spun a bit out of control and I lost track of what was happening but over all I am always happy to read this kind of books thanks to the #ToB! And I‘ll have nightmares of that worm 😱😱

See @squirrelbrain we‘re in sync again 💕

📷 The flu 🤒

Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon! 3w
Bookwormjillk Oh no! Feel better soon! 3w
squirrelbrain Oh no, not the flu - hope you feel better soon. 😞 Yes, we‘re in sync - I‘m glad! 🤪 I thought it got a bit drawn-out towards the end too. 3w
See All 12 Comments
youneverarrived Hope you feel better soon 🩷 3w
CarolynM Hope you‘re up and about again soon💐 3w
Cathythoughts Lovely picture. Feel better soon. 3w
LeahBergen Oh no, the flu! I hope you‘re on the mend soon. ❤️ 3w
julesG Feel better soon! 3w
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain @youneverarrived @Carolynmary @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @julesG There‘s no escaping it these days, everyone is floored! Where you live as well? 3w
julesG It is going round. I read something about 5.000 new cases this week in North Rhine-Westphalia, not sure what the figures for my city are though. I'm wearing FFP2 masks on public transport and in public spaces inside. That's the positive thing Covid brought, I'm no longer stared at when wearing a mask. 3w
BarbaraBB @julesG That‘s true. And smart to wear one. We should do as the Japanese do: wear one when you‘re ill or coughing to protect others. 3w
kwmg40 Wishing you a speedy recovery! 2w
82 likes12 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
January | Daniel Parker
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#JanuaryWrapUp

5⭐️
Playground

4.75⭐️
Intermezzo

4.5⭐️
Fire
Wounded

4.25⭐️
The Wedding People
Short War
Address Unknown

3.75⭐️
Publieke werken (Dutch)
Zorrie

3.25 ⭐️
Wolf at the Table
Moshi Moshi
No Time for Goodbye

3⭐️
The end of the Moment we Had

2.75⭐️
Random Acts of Heroic Love
The Family Experiment

1.5⭐️
The Fury

DNF
Long Island Compromise

review
BarbaraBB
How We Named the Stars | Andr�s N. Ordorica
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Mehso-so

#ToBLonglist25

I felt ancient reading this book. It‘s about coming out, about first love and first loss during freshman year. Everyone in the book is sooo gentle and good: it was all a bit too cheesy and YA for me.

📷 Zeeland, Netherlands

Gleefulreader I‘m laughing because I feel like I could have written that review about a lot of books recently. It is why I find my reading habits and what I pick up has changed lately. 3w
Kerrbearlib Beautiful picture! 3w
BarbaraBB @Gleefulreader I recognize that. And I was never much into YA anyway! 3w
See All 10 Comments
BarbaraBB @Kerrbearlib Thank you 🙏 3w
Suet624 In this dead of winter I find I‘ve become tempted by any book with that type of colorful cover. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w
BarbaraBB @Suet624 If you‘re in for some sad gay romance too, pick it up 💕 3w
squirrelbrain Oh no, I‘m sorry you didn‘t love it. 😞 3w
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain That‘s no problem of course!! I still trust your recommendations 💯 ❤️ 3w
GatheringBooks Wow! You‘re on a roll! Looove it! 2w
69 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Wounded: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Percival Everett really is a must read.

Wounded is a modern western about John, a black horse trainer who lives with his uncle in Wyoming. He is tolerated but when a gay man is brutally murdered the atmosphere in town turns grimly. John cannot ignore it. In the mean time his life gets busy with guests on his farm, animals and love.
And all his characters are so fabulous again. I am saying it again: I love Everett!

📷 The Hague, Netherlands

Christine What a photo and great review! ❤️ 3w
BarbaraBB @Christine Thank you 💕 3w
Suet624 This sounds just up my alley. A horse trainer, a farm, animals, love. Come on, Percival! 3w
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It‘s an oldie (2005) so I guess one of your libraries must have a copy waiting for you! 3w
Suet624 Well, believe it or not, none of them have it. I just ordered a copy from Blackwells. 3w
80 likes2 stack adds5 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
I Spy | Claire Kendal
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I added all my unread books to the #ISpy overview in Storygraph. In the bingo you see the books that for January prompts of which I actually read five.
Love this challenge!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! Looking great!! 3w
sarahbarnes That‘s fun! 3w
CarolynM What a great idea, I‘m going to have a look at it. I‘m looking forward to seeing what you think of Daddy‘s Gone A-Hunting when you get to it🙂 3w
BarbaraBB @CarolynM It‘s a fun challenge indeed. And I will be reading Daddy soon! 3w
57 likes4 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Playground | Richard Powers
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#WeeklyFavorites

The last favorite of January is my favorite of the month too! I can‘t stop thinking of Playground!

Read4life What a great reading month! Thanks for playing along. 💙📚💙 3w
BarbaraBB @Read4life Thank you for organizing! 3w
sarahbarnes You‘re convincing me I need to read this one! 3w
Suet624 I‘m with @sarahbarnes 3w
BarbaraBB @Suet624 @sarahbarnes I think you both need to indeed 😀 3w
61 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

I was blown away by The One and The Passengers by John Marrs and read everything he wrote after that. The fact is, he never was that good again. Entertaining sure, full of twists too but I always end up being a little underwhelmed nevertheless.

This is his most recent speculative book and I am just glad it‘s over even though I liked the dystopian world in which reality shows become next level. 🤷🏻‍♀️
#Roll100

Ruthiella I felt similarly about this one. So far it‘s the only Marr book I‘ve read. 3w
Suet624 I‘m sorry to hear. I know how much you enjoyed those previous books. 3w
BarbaraBB @Suet624 I think I‘ve had an overkill in too short a time! 3w
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 3w
Bookwomble I DNFed this one 😏 3w
80 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Wounded: A Novel | Percival Everett
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#WeeklyForecast 05/25

On this lazy Sunday I started The Family Experiment, John Marrs‘s most recent book. Next will be one from another author whose backlist I am making my way through. I came upon this cheap edition of this Percival Everett so had no choice but to buy it.
Bury Your Gays is another one from the #ToB25Longlist which is excellent this year.

TrishB Enjoy 😁 4w
squirrelbrain I hope you like Bury Your Gays! 🤞 Well, I hope you like all of them - you know what I mean! 🤪 4w
Cathythoughts Lazy Sunday 🥰 4w
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I‘m especially interested in it because of your review! 4w
BarbaraBB @TrishB Thanks 😊 4w
Suet624 Everett…the gift that keeps on giving. There are so many of his I have yet to read. 3w
sarahbarnes Another Everett! I haven‘t even heard of this one. 3w
76 likes7 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Playground | Richard Powers
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Pickpick

I loved this book right up until the end. It‘s probably me but I don‘t get the ending.. I am left with so many questions, it‘s such a thought provoking story.
I loved the friendship between Todd and Rafi, I loved Evelyn‘s diving, her love for the ocean and her marriage, I loved Makatea, its inhabitants, I loved Powers‘ style and love for nature. But I feel like I have to start it again to really get it. All the stars nevertheless! #ToB25Longlist

ImperfectCJ Thank you for tagging me on your review! I still can't quite get over that ending, but the feelings I got with the rest of it are still hanging on and coloring my daily life, too, which really says something for Powers's writing. 4w
BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ I think it will stick with me for some time to come. There‘s so much going on in the book and in my head now! 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, I didn‘t really ‘get‘ the ending either. 🤷‍♀️ 4w
See All 14 Comments
sarahbarnes I‘ve been waffling on whether I want to read this one. Good to know you liked it (except for the ending)! 4w
Suet624 Hmmm… guess I need to find this one. You‘ve got me curious. 4w
Hooked_on_books I had a pretty similar response. I really liked the storylines but not really together as a whole. 4w
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Suet624 It‘s soo good. I didn‘t get the ending, or at least have to give it some more thought, but it‘s still the best book I read this year (which doesn‘t say that much, I admit!) 4w
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I did like them together as well but I didn‘t get the time thing: that Rafi lived on the island as well as died in Illinois? @squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ 4w
ImperfectCJ @BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain I read it as the whole thing was written by Todd's AI as a kind of happy ending for him to listen to as his Lewy Body Dementia progressed. It's similar to "it was all a dream," which feels like a cop-out. 4w
GatheringBooks I‘ve only read tagged book which I found to be quite interesting - love how much you have traveled - and we‘re only in February! ✈️ 2w
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Sometimes I am so fed up with American fiction 🤷🏻‍♀️ and I enjoyed Overstory but this one is way better! 2w
GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB i hear what you‘re saying - fiction from US, Canada, UK - hence the reading challenge. I am aching for stories from elsewhere and everywhere else. Btw, powell‘s made a list of 25 books to read before you die - world edition. I was hoping to get to them this year (and the next), hopefully. 💕 https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/cca42756-6a6c-49de-93ab-cf4f3f7... 2w
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Thanks. That‘s a cool list. I read most of them when reading Boxall‘s #1001books to read before you die 2w
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BarbaraBB
Playground | Richard Powers
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The people of Makatea in French Polynesia have to decide about their future in this book. The mayor‘s wife is mostly quiet but I love that she speaks out about future generations. In real life people in power hardly seem to think of the future of next generations anymore. This quote touches me deeply ❤️‍🩹

TrishB Agreed. What are we leaving for future generations. 4w
BarbaraBB @TrishB Have you read this book? It‘s very good. 4w
BarbaraTheBibliophage I loved Overstory and need to read his more recent books! 4w
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB @BarbaraTheBibliophage I enjoyed Overstory and this one is even better so far. 4w
TrishB No- I‘ve got a couple of his but I‘ve not read any of them yet! 4w
BarbaraBB @TrishB I am not always a fan but this one is excellent 4w
JenP Loved this book 4w
BarbaraBB @JenP Me too. Just finished it. The ending left me with many questions though. 4w
59 likes8 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Fury | Alex Michaelides
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Panpan

Another on audio. A quick read fortunately because I really disliked it. Not the main character although he wants me to but the time I spent listening to the same story from different sides. About a murder at a Greek island where seven annoying people have gathered from London to work some things out.
Don‘t bother reading it I‘d say.

Cathythoughts Oh dear 😬 (edited) 4w
TrishB I thought The Silent Patient was very over rated so I haven‘t bothered with any others. 4w
CSeydel I‘ve read two of his books (The Silent Patient, The Maidens) and found them both severely lacking. I can‘t understand how he keeps selling books :/ 4w
See All 17 Comments
CSeydel @TrishB same! I only read The Maidens because my book club picked it and I felt generous. Mistake. It was very weak. 4w
BarbaraBB @CSeydel @TrishB I haven‘t read those and won‘t. Glad you think his books are lacking too. 4w
squirrelbrain I haven‘t read any by this author and now I won‘t! 4w
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Good decision. A bit of a waste of time 😀 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @TrishB @CSeydel @BarbaraBB we need a club! I read his earlier 2 and hated them. The Maidens made me legit angry. I will never pick another up. 4w
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures I am a bit angry too! And I wonder why I have missed your warnings and listened to this anyway! 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB there are so many terrible authors out there it is hard to keep up. I got fooled 2x by this guy, never again! He has a fan base, we are just not it. Because he is an idiot and we don't stand for that 😂 4w
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures The Silent Patient was hyped so much. He must have a lot of fans! 4w
CarolynM I thought The Silent Patient was terrible. No more Michaelides for me 🤣 4w
BarbaraBB @CarolynM I should have known. How can I have missed your opinions on this writer?! 4w
TrishB @ChaoticMissAdventures @CarolynM @CSeydel I felt like everyone loved it at the time so good to hear! 4w
TrishB @squirrelbrain @Suet624 wise decisions! 4w
BarbaraBB @TrishB I thought so too! 4w
76 likes17 comments
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BarbaraBB
Address Unknown | Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
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Pickpick

An epistolary novella about how anti-semitism was raised and Hitler praised in the 1930s in Germany.
Looking for excuses (the poverty in the country in the aftermath of WWI), denying the truth, hiding behind the ambition of the Gentle Leader as they call him, choosing not to see what‘s happening.
It‘s horrible and haunting and feels painfully timely today. How we got to this point again is beyond me.

AmyG There is so much hate in the world. I truly believe the internet has alot to do with it. 4w
BarbaraBB @AmyG Definitely, social media especially I guess. And I feel like the pandemic was a trigger as well: so much polarization and looking for scapegoats all the time. 4w
LeeRHarry This was a good one and as you say still relevant today which is just plain sad and anger inducing. 4w
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB @LeeRHarry so true! 4w
AmyG Definitely the pandemic. That led to people finding socialization on the internet and not always in the best places. Not every place is Litsy!!! (edited) 4w
Suet624 Shoot. I have this on my shelf and forgot to read it! 4w
CarolynM It‘s scary. 4w
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It‘s short and very much worth reading 3w
78 likes6 stack adds8 comments
review
BarbaraBB
No Time for Goodbye | Linwood Barclay
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Mehso-so

To me thrillers are often a good audio choice because they keep me focused. This one is good, not great. A girl wakes up one day and finds her parents and brother gone without a trace. Have they left her? Were they kidnapped? Murdered? Twentyfive years later she still has no answers and decides to go actively looking for them.

review
BarbaraBB
Moshi-Moshi: A Novel | Banana Yoshimoto
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Pickpick

Yoshie‘s father dies along with his mistress and Yoshie and her mother have come to terms with both having a death and the circumstances.
And they do, after moving to an old neighborhood in Tokyo, where they live and work and eat. Again, food plays in important role in a Japanese story!
It‘s a very Japanese novel, quiet and melancholic. A light pick.

#ReadTheWorld2025 Book 3 #Japan 🇯🇵#ATY25 #IntriguingTitle

GatheringBooks I love banana yoshimoto‘s writing. The last book of her i‘ve read is 1mo
GatheringBooks So glad you traveled to Japan through #ReadTheWorld2025 challenge. Awesome! 1mo
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks I only had read Kitchen, so good! 1mo
93 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BarbaraBB
Short War | Lily Meyer
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Pickpick

Yes this is an excellent book. 16 years old Gabriel grows up in Chile with his American parents. He is ashamed of his capitalist parents and his imperialist motherland, infiltrating the world with propaganda. He is a Chilean communist and a supporter of Allende‘s socialist politics. He falls in love in the days leading up to the coup against Allende in 1973.
In 3 parts we read about this period in time and its aftermath. And about Gabriel‘s life.

sarahbarnes Great review. I‘m interested in this one! 1mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Have you read@Megabooks review? To her it‘s one of the best books the ever read!! (edited) 1mo
See All 9 Comments
Megabooks So glad you enjoyed this too!!! 👍🏻💜 1mo
Kerrbearlib This sounds really good! Stacked! 1mo
Suet624 Okey doke. I stacked it after reading yours and Meg‘s review. 😊 1mo
Singout If you‘re interested in that period in Chile‘s history, try Carmen Aguirre‘s 1mo
GatheringBooks Oh wow, haven‘t heard of this book at all. Thank you for adding it to #ReadTheWorld2025. Stacked! 💕 1mo
BarbaraBB @Singout Thank you that is good to know! 1mo
77 likes3 stack adds9 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Playground | Richard Powers
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#WeeklyForecast 04/25

I didn‘t get to Moshi Moshi last week because I had to read Short War first. I still haven‘t finished it because I went hiking this weekend with my girlfriends (cold!!!).

So that one will be next and also I can‘t wait to start Playground, where I‘ve heard such good things of!

squirrelbrain Bbrr- chilly for hiking! 🥶 1mo
68 likes1 comment
review
BarbaraBB
Long Island Compromise: A Novel | Taffy Brodesser-Akner
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Bailedbailed

SUCH an annoying bunch of people who keep ignoring their telephones and keep making stupid, hysterical decisions. All because of the kidnapping of their father decades earlier? I don‘t even want to know. I feel as irritated as I did when reading Fleishman. Although I managed to finish that one.
Note to self: ignore future works by this author!!

#ToB25Longlist

TheBookHippie I felt exactly the same. Bamboozled. 1mo
ShyBookOwl 😅 1mo
Ruthiella It‘s a relief for me to know there‘s an author I can skip because we aren‘t ever going to get along. It makes that enormous pile of potential titles just a little bit smaller. 1mo
See All 16 Comments
squirrelbrain At least you tried! 😬 1mo
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie Glad to know that!! 1mo
TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB if we both don‘t like it 🫣😵‍💫🤪 that says A LOT 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣♥️ 1mo
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie Definitely! 1mo
Magpiegem I felt like this about her last book 😂 1mo
Reggie Nooooooo don‘t say that. I bought this the other day. But I did like her other book. So there‘s that. 1mo
BarbaraBB @Magpiegem You mean Fleishman? I hated that one too. And It‘s practically the same. Rich people nagging 😩 1mo
BarbaraBB @Reggie Then you‘ll probably like this one. It‘s basically the same book 🤣 1mo
Magpiegem @BarbaraBB yes! I had really high hopes for it, but I was so glad when it was over 😂 1mo
CarolynM I didn‘t hate Fleishman but I didn‘t like it enough to want to read anything else she might write 😆 1mo
sarahbarnes Oh boy - I have this one on hold right now. I haven‘t read Fleishman but this doesn‘t make me want to read this one… 1mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I am not very subtle and many people like it but I‘d say forget about it. So many better books out there! 1mo
Suet624 Wow! Taking a stand! 😂😂 I‘ve been shying away from this one even though I liked Fleischman. So I‘m glad to hear your opinion. 1mo
69 likes16 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Random Acts of Heroic Love | Danny Scheinmann
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Mehso-so

This book is a bit of a mess. I have no idea why I bought it in the first place but that was in 2008 so a few years ago 😀

It is about grief and the First World War and quantum physica and animal sex and traveling in Latin America. Well, it fits the #SomePlaceCold prompt for #FictionalTraveler2025!

LeahBergen 😆😆 I have books on my shelf like that, too! 1mo
sarahbarnes I also have books like that I bought years ago and never read, and then I don‘t enjoy them much when I finally do. 😆 1mo
julieclair I must admit I‘m intrigued as to how all those topics fit into one book… 🤔 1mo
Suet624 @sarahbarnes yes, exactly. 1mo
76 likes4 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

What a delightful read!

Phoebe incidentally becomes mixed up in a wedding party at a hotel in Rhode Island where she herself booked a room to end her life. However, meeting and talking to the wedding people who are so different from her is refreshing and makes her reflect on her life in a new way.
Without getting cheesy this story is addictive and filled with romance, humor, depth and sadness.

WHY is it in the play-in round of the #ToB25?!!

BarbaraBB I loved it @Megabooks just like you thought I would. Thank you for sending it to me 💕 1mo
squirrelbrain I loved it too - such a surprise! 1mo
Megabooks yay!! You‘re so welcome!! 💜💜💜💜💜 1mo
See All 12 Comments
TrishB I‘m definitely the outlier on this one! 1mo
kwmg40 Glad to hear you liked it too! I really enjoyed this one. 1mo
Julsmarshall I loved it too, and your artwork on the wall behind it :) 1mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB Yes I saw your review! Funny how these thinks work! 1mo
BarbaraBB @Julsmarshall Thanks 🙏 It‘s not my own home unfortunately 😉 (edited) 1mo
CarolynM Great review. I‘m about halfway through and really enjoying it. 1mo
BarbaraBB @CarolynM It‘s such a comfort read don‘t you think? 1mo
Suet624 I remember picking up the book rather reluctantly for some reason. Assuming it was fluff. I was so pleasantly surprised by it! 1mo
sarahbarnes I‘m nearing the end of this one on audio and am really enjoying it. I agree with your take - it manages not to be cheesy somehow. 1mo
87 likes2 stack adds12 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Random Acts of Heroic Love | Danny Scheinmann
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#WeeklyForecast 03/25

I am reading the unputdownable The Wedding People. Super curious to find out where the story goes. Next will be the oldest book on my tbr (the tagged one) for #FictionalTraveler. Maybe there‘s time for another Banana Yoshimoto as well 🤞🏽

Melismatic The Wedding People was just chosen for my next in person book club. Glad to hear you‘re enjoying it! 1mo
BarbaraBB @Melismatic It seems like everyone is reading it at the moment! Enjoy! 1mo
KarenUK Just started this too! 1mo
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB @KarenUK and are you unable to stop reading too?! 1mo
GinaKButler I am halfway through listening to The Wedding People and I love it! 1mo
AmyG Enjoy! This book took me by surprise in the most wonderful way. 1mo
BarbaraBB @GinaKButler You too! It‘s really popular and I hope to finish it today! 1mo
BarbaraBB @AmyG I have a 100 pages left and can‘t wait to see how it ends! 1mo
72 likes8 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Zorrie | Laird Hunt
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Pickpick

So much love for this book during #12Booksof2024 that I had to find out for myself!

It‘s the quiet story of Zorrie, a woman living in Indiana in the 20th century. Her life is a bittersweet one but she makes the most of it in her own way.

I kept waiting for something to happen during the first half, then surrendered to the gorgeous writing style and rhythm during the second half. That turned out to be a good idea! A pick for sure.

📸 Shiatsu

Texreader Oh that‘s so cool! I‘ve got it on my tbr for the #letterZ for #litsyatoz 1mo
Librarybelle I‘m so glad you liked this! It‘s a beautifully written story that kind of meanders through Zorrie‘s life. 1mo
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes I‘ve been curious about this one too! Glad to see you liked it. 1mo
AmyG I loved that not lot “happens”. It happens, just at a snails pace. So is life sometimes. 1mo
Cathythoughts Lovely review ♥️ Stacking 1mo
Catsandbooks Good to know! 🇳🇱 1mo
Suet624 I think I‘ve had this one stacked on the TBR for ages. 1mo
78 likes5 stack adds8 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Publieke Werken | Thomas Rosenboom
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Pickpick

Amsterdam, 1888. Violin maker Vedder learns that a large hotel is to be built on the site of his house. At the same time rural pharmacist Anijs, is concerned about the local peat cutters, who suffer from abject poverty and have no future in the Netherlands. But emigration costs a fortune – exactly the amount that Vedder thinks he can get for the sale of his house to the hotel company. The men become involved in an oppressive adventure. Great HF!

GatheringBooks Very nice! Netherlands! We are traveling around the world in books! 1mo
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks This was the easiest for me although I mostly read English books. 1mo
Texreader Beautiful photo!! Thank you for posting!! 1mo
Catsandbooks 👏🏼🇳🇱❤️ 1mo
73 likes5 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Fire | John Boyne
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Pickpick

Unputdownable again, the third book in Boyne‘s Elements series. We met Freya shortly in Earth, where she sat in a jury. Now it‘s her by herself. A doctor at the burn unit. You wonder why she chose this specialization.

It‘s so dark. I can‘t say much more. Just read it. And be prepared.

Bookbuyingaddict Ooohhhh Iv just finished water and earth in 2 days and blinking loved 🥰 them can‘t wait to start this one 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s *very* dark isn‘t it? 1mo
AmyG Oops…I am reading this now (before Land). Dark is an understatement. But very good. 1mo
See All 16 Comments
thecheckoutstack My library doesn‘t carry any of them!!! I‘m going to have to buy Water, I loved The Hearts Invisible Furies from John Boyne 1mo
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻 I‘m looking forward to it. 1mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @AmyG What is a superlative of “dark” because indeed, that would fit better! 1mo
BarbaraBB @thecheckoutstack I hope you‘re able to pick them up somehow. They are so good and I too loved 1mo
BarbaraBB @Bookbuyingaddict I hope you‘ll read it soon, I was sorry I didn‘t remeber Evan‘s story clearly, which is referred to 1mo
squirrelbrain Sinister maybe, but even that‘s not ‘enough‘ 🤷‍♀️ 1mo
Suet624 Looking forward to it… I think. 1mo
Bookbuyingaddict Oh my goodness 😱Iv literally just finished this - wow 🤩 it was fantastic writing , again a disturbing 😳 topic (I am so lucky 🍀 Iv never met any characters like this in my lovely life ! ) I‘m sooo glad I read the 3 published already back to back as each story is linked and now we have to wait until May for Aaron‘s story - I do hope he is a good guy ! And blimey Rebecca from book one his girlfriend that was a shocker ! Happy reading x x 1mo
BarbaraBB @Bookbuyingaddict That is much better, to read them back to back. I didn‘t remember Rebecca from Water. Did you @squirrelbrain @AmyG ?? 1mo
AmyG I did remember Rebecca. I like the connections. I am going to start Earth and I just hope that I don‘t regret reading them out of order. 1mo
AmyG @Bookbuyingaddict Yes. Rebecca was a nice shock! 1mo
squirrelbrain No I didn‘t remember Rebecca either! 😬 1mo
Megabooks I can‘t wait for Cindy to send me this one!! 1mo
91 likes4 stack adds16 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Long Island Compromise: A Novel | Taffy Brodesser-Akner
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#weeklyforecast 02/25

After the fabulous Intermezzo I like to stay in Ireland a bit longer and am starting the third John Boyne in his Elements series. It‘s supposed to be very dark but I‘m sure I‘ll love it. It‘s short so I‘ll soon start the tagged book too, which is another from the #ToB25Longlist.
I kind of hated Fleishman so my hopes are not too high!

Leftcoastzen I kinda hated Fleishman too ! I did like the TV adaptation though . Curious what you think of her new one. Haven‘t even started elements series yet. 2mo
BarbaraBB @Leftcoastzen Glad I am not the only one! Hopefully this is less about complaining rich people 😊. The Elements series is fantastic, you should give them a try 🤍 2mo
suvata I finished the first book in the element series. I can‘t wait to read the other three I‘m a huge John Boyne fan. 2mo
See All 9 Comments
AmyG I am curious what you think of LI Compromise. 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘m afraid it *is* about complaining rich people. 😬 I liked Fleishman, but this was much better. 2mo
BarbaraBB @suvata yeah me too. He never disappoints 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain 😱😱 oh well, if you say it‘s better than Fleishman 😉 2mo
BarbaraBB @AmyG Have you read it yet? 2mo
AmyG @BarbaraBB No. I have only read Fleishman….which I found good, not great. 2mo
76 likes9 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Untitled | Unknown
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Pickpick

My Dutch teacher in high school has been a major influence on my life. For although I already loved reading, he learned me about motives and messages and all that was told that wasn‘t literally on the pages.

He must be around 80 by now but he just wrote this poetry collection and I adored it.

#FoodAndLit #Netherlands 🇳🇱

(In the background a very Dutch view of dirty snow 😉)

squirrelbrain How lovely that‘s he‘s still writing! 2mo
sarahbarnes That‘s so lovely! ♥️ 2mo
Cathythoughts That‘s wonderful ❤️ 2mo
See All 11 Comments
Texreader I love this!! And I love seeing a snapshot of Netherlands! 2mo
youneverarrived Love this ♥️ 2mo
Ruthiella That‘s such a sweet tribute. ❤️ 2mo
Catsandbooks So wonderful! 🇳🇱 2mo
Chelsea.Poole I‘m sure he‘d be happy to know he left an impact on you! 2mo
Suet624 That's wonderful! 2mo
CarolynM ❤️ 1mo
Megabooks That‘s so beautiful!! Teachers make such a difference! 1mo
86 likes11 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Intermezzo | Sally Rooney
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Pickpick

On my last day before work starts again I treated myself to this one. And I couldn‘t stop reading. I loved all characters and spending time with them. I wished for their happiness and felt their disappointments, helplessness, uncertainties and anger. I wanted to help out with the misunderstandings and things unsaid. That‘s what Sally Rooney is such a master in: creating characters who feel so real, having the most terrific dialogues. ⬇️

BarbaraBB The only thing missing for me is Sylvia‘s pov. She‘s an extremely interesting and intelligent character and I agree with @Megabooks that she should have a voice of her own too, not just the one in dialogues. 2mo
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts You were so right about this book. I loved it! 2mo
See All 19 Comments
squirrelbrain Great review! This didn‘t quite work on audio so I recently bought a physical copy and will get to it soon. 2mo
Megabooks Great review!! I really missed Sylvia‘s perspective as a disabled person myself. She deserved more! 2mo
youneverarrived Your review makes me want to read it sooner rather than later 🤍 2mo
Ruthiella Back to work tomorrow for me too. Glad you enjoyed a great read as a consolation! 😊 (edited) 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain did you finish it on audio? 2mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks Yes that was disappointing and she seemed such a wonderful person, I‘d loved to have her pov especially since she behaved so sensible (edited) 2mo
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella It will take some getting used to, working all day again! 2mo
BarbaraBB @youneverarrived O you‘ll love it too! 2mo
squirrelbrain No, I only listened to about 25% - not the right style of book for audio - I found my attention wandering. 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain That‘s good, so it‘s not the plot. You‘ll love it in print! 2mo
Suet624 I'm so glad you liked this. It really was special. All of the characters were so detailed and I cared about all of them. 2mo
Chelsea.Poole Great review. I agree, these characters were so vivid and real to me as well. 2mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole I rooted so hard for Peter and Ivan to get together and really talk!! (edited) 1mo
CarolynM Great review. I have a copy here, I will have to get to it soon. (edited) 1mo
KarenUK Loved this one so much. Easily my favorite of last year… ❤️ 1mo
BarbaraBB @KarenUK She writes so so good about what‘s going on in people‘s minds 1mo
83 likes1 stack add19 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

One of my new year‘s resolutions is to read a Japanese novel each month. This is my first and it wasn‘t great.
It‘s two short stories. The first is about a couple having sex for 4 days in a so called Love Hotel on the brink of the Iraq War. That one is pretty good although I don‘t get it completely.
The second is about a woman who stays in bed for a whole day, thinking of her home and her husband. That one I didn‘t get at all 🤷🏻‍♀️

lauraisntwilder I read this in 2020, but I apparently never posted about it on Litsty. I gave it a lukewarm rating on StoryGraph at the time. However, I vividly remembered it when I read your review, so it must've made an impression. 2mo
squirrelbrain Hopefully the next ones will be better! 2mo
tpixie Double check, but I think this was Japanese I really enjoyed it 2mo
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB @lauraisntwilder I can imagine that it‘ll have a lasting impression indeed, which is an accomplishment as we both didn‘t like it that much! 2mo
BarbaraBB @tpixie Thanks! I read that one and indeed, I LOVED it! 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I‘m sure they will be😊 (edited) 2mo
tpixie @BarbaraBB 🩵🩵🩵 2mo
69 likes7 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Wolf at the Table | Adam Rapp
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Mehso-so

Mixed feelings about my first 2025 read. The writing, the ingredients, this strange family: all was there to create a great story. But we only follow two of the siblings and we don‘t even get to know them that well, let alone the other family members. There are no real answers and while this may resemble real life, it‘s not what I expect after almost 500 pages. #ToB25Longlist

CBee Happy New Year, my friend ♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
Cathythoughts Oh I bailed early on this one. I just didn‘t like the whole vibe of it. 2mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I should‘ve known! 2mo
See All 11 Comments
BarbaraBB @CBee Thank you! You too my friend! 🩷🤍 2mo
Cathythoughts But there was some good writing, it was promising…. Except for some characters 🙄 2mo
Megabooks Yes!! Thank you!! You took the words out of my mouth!! Happy new year dear B! 2mo
Hooked_on_books I‘m waffling on whether or not to read this one. My library doesn‘t have it, so I have it saved in my Libro wishlist in case I decide to use a credit and go for it. We shall see. 2mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I read your review and feel exactly the same. It didn‘t deliver - while it absolutely could have. 2mo
CarolynM Crossing this off my list, then🙂 2mo
BarbaraBB @CarolynM Many people loved it so maybe you would too! 2mo
Lesliereadsalot I‘ve had this book out of the library twice and couldn‘t seem to get into it. Now I know why! Thanks for your review and I‘ll forgo a third try. 1mo
67 likes11 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 01/25

I am reading Wolf at the Table, which I am enjoying. Next will be the tagged book. In 2025 I want to read at least one Japanese book a month.
And because I am still off work I hope I‘ll find the time to start the Rooney, a good beginning of the new year I hope!

AmyG I just started Intermezzo on audio. Seems to be a well-liked book. 🤞🏻 2mo
Ruthiella I also like to start the new year off with a positive reading experience ! 2mo
sarahbarnes I love the Japanese novel goal! 2mo
See All 13 Comments
squirrelbrain I started Intermezzo on audio @amyg but it didn‘t work for me (not the book, more that I struggled to hear the narrator over road noise 🤷‍♀️). I saw it was half-price on Amazon *and* I had a voucher, so guess what arrived today?! ☺️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I always love them so much, I thought I should read them more regularly 🤓 2mo
sarahbarnes I feel the same way! 2mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I know! I just replied to your #Top24Of24… we‘re real book 👯 twins!! 2mo
sarahbarnes Truly! ♥️ 👯‍♀️ I just put a hold on this one at the library after seeing the review from @Night_Reader 2mo
Suet624 I think you‘ll like the experience of reading Intermezzo. 2mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes That‘s a nice one! 2mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 I‘ve saved it a bit because I have such high expectations! 2mo
Cathythoughts I loved Intermezzo ❤️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts That‘s why I have such high expectations, because you did and @Suet624 and @sarahbarnes ! 2mo
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blurb
BarbaraBB
The Night Guest | Hildur Knutsdottir
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#WeeklyFavorites

All my books were strange and good this week, love that. This one is my favorite though, I even added it to my #Top24of24 list!

Read4life Fantastic!!! ❄️📚❄️ 2mo
DebinHawaii I checked The Night Guest out from the library a couple of weeks ago. Glad to know it was so good! 2mo
sarahbarnes Can‘t wait to read Night Guest! And Blue Sisters! 2mo
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BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii It‘s short. I hope you‘ll get to it 2mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes both are good and I think most would prefer Blue Sisters but I prefer The Night Guest. Interesting to learn what you‘ll think of both. 2mo
Suet624 Wow. Night Guest just snuck right in there as the winner! 2mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It‘s short and refreshingly different from my usual reads! 2mo
CBee I ordered The Night Guest based on your review! 2mo
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review
BarbaraBB
If Only | Vigdis Hjorth
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Mehso-so

Ida and Arnold are both working in the Norwegian literary world when they meet and fall in love. Both are married however and have kids.
What follows are over 300 pages about an all consuming destructive love affair.
Very well written, I could feel their unhappiness, feel for Ida and their wish to be together but it was also hard and frustrating to read.

Not as good as Is Mother Dead.

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 2mo
Cathythoughts Good to read this review, I‘m halfway through Is Mother Dead, and I really like it. I‘m not sure I‘d like the story of this other one. 🤔 2mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I really liked Is Mother Dead too. She‘s a fab writer but this story is getting a bit repetitive (exactly what she means I am sure). 2mo
sarahbarnes This makes me feel better, as I tried to read this one a few months ago and gave up. I definitely liked Is Mother Dead better. 2mo
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review
BarbaraBB
The Night Guest | Hildur Knutsdottir
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Pickpick

Iōunn‘s story pulled me in from the first page and didn‘t let go until I finished it some hours later.

Iōunn wakes up exhausted every morning. She has no idea what causes this until her fancy new pedometer watch reveals that she‘s walking over forty thousand steps at night. From there things start spiraling in her life which seems so ordinary but isn‘t.

I am not sure about the ending but I loved this contemporary and atmospheric creepy story.

Megabooks 💯💯💯 agree! Glad you loved it, too. Very thought-provoking. 2mo
jhod Sounds great and wonderful scenery! 2mo
sarahbarnes Ohhh, great review! Can‘t wait to read this one! 2mo
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julesG I really loved this. It's among my favourite books in '24 2mo
Hooked_on_books Oooo, that sounds interesting! 2mo
BarbaraBB @julesG I am going to add it to my #Top24of24 too! (edited) 2mo
BarbaraBB @jhod @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books It‘s refreshingly different from the books I‘ve been reading lately. The setting in Iceland adds to that probably! 2mo
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review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Amy is a chambermaid but that‘s just temporarily: she‘ll become an EMT. When things don‘t really work out she decides to speed things up a bit by using a placebo method. In a whirlwind of a summer Amy becomes acquainted with a bunch of people, among whom her landlord who‘s about to get married. We learn about her dark backstory while Amy keeps making wrong decisions. ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB It‘s all so sad yet tragicomic and I kept hoping for Amy‘s personal development to be like the title implies.

A great read with Moshfegh vibes. Thank you @Megabooks for sending me this book! 🩷
2mo
Megabooks You‘re welcome! I‘ll put a bit about what I think about the title in a spoiler. 2mo
Megabooks I've read this a couple of times, and here's what I think about the title. She feels like a nobody when she's just working as a chambermaid and has not passed EMT. But then she's a somebody when she's helping her landlord and finds purpose. Then as she boards the ship at the end, I think there is an actual line that talks about how she could be anybody now. She's stepping into a new life that's not connected to her old one. 2mo
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Megabooks And that trauma with the professor that seems to have set her on such a crazy course. It looks like you are all having such a good time. Sending love and Christmas wishes! 2mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I thought the same and I am glad for the anybody-future that opens for her! That professor is interesting too, I just didn‘t exactly get what happened when her mother died. 2mo
LeahBergen What a great photo! Merry Christmas! 🎄 2mo
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