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bates_barb

bates_barb

Joined September 2016

Wisconsinite, biochemist, catstaff, and general homebody
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Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
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bates_barb
Mehso-so

I wanted to love this book. The story itself is both fascinating and infuriating, and, as far as I know, hasn't been told in this level of detail. But, the writing style was so full of over the top nakedly manipulative manufactured outrage, I found it really off-putting. The facts and the quotes and stories of the women themselves are compelling enough. There was no need to gild the lilly.

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I didn't get anywhere near 24 hrs this weekend, but that's not much of a surprise. It turns out traveling 500 miles to help your best friend throw a birthday party for her 4 year old daughter and 10 of her friends (along with at least that many adults), while also taking care of her 15 month old little sister doesn't leave a lot of time and energy for reading. There was another 45 min that didn't survive my phone restarting. #24in48 @24in48

24in48 That's a lot in one weekend! 7y
LauraJ You are a good friend!!! 7y
28 likes2 comments
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Zelda would like me to know that she thinks a scratchathon would be a much better use of #24in48 than a readathon. Especially since I abandoned her for 2 1/2 days to go spend time with people who have a dog! The horror! #catsoflitsy @24in48

8little_paws Poor Zelda 7y
CareBear She's so pretty! 😻😻😻 7y
tapgurl A scratchahon haha my cat would love that! 7y
rubyslippersreads @tapgurl My cats would be torn between whether that means I scratch them, or they scratch the furniture! 😹 7y
tapgurl My darling uses his scratcher like a good boy haha! 7y
31 likes5 comments
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bates_barb
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I'm in a hotel room 250 miles from home, so this is the closest thing to a #shelfie I have right now. Other than my library book, everything I brough is either on audiobook or ebook. I know some people clutch their pearls about how digital books will be the end of 'real' reading, but man, does it make travel easier. #24in48

TrishB I travel a lot with work and that's when I'm really grateful for the kindle! Loads of books on it and weighs nothing. I save it especially for travelling. 7y
22 likes1 comment
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I'm starting my #24in48 by trying to finish up an embarrassingly overdue library book, and looking like something out of a horror movie. Good times.

emilyhaldi Good idea!! I might pull out a face mask here in a second 7y
MinDea LOVE this pic!! 7y
26 likes2 comments
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Joy of Cooking: Joy of Cooking | Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker
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This was a 17th birthday present from my folks (many, many years ago), and it was more or less how I kept myself fed through undergrad. @Liberty #Liberthday

Crystalblu I think I got mine when I graduated high school. My mom might have been telling me something ;) 7y
CouronneDhiver I bought my copy around the time we got married and... it didn't help. Great cookbook, but I'm still an awful cook. Lol 7y
30 likes2 comments
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Roses and Rot | Kat Howard
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Things have finally slowed down enough that I can carve out some time for audiobook knitting. This is the shawl that never ends (mostly because I don't actually put any time into it).

julesG Hitchhiker? The yarn cake looks interesting, I'm sure the result will be gorgeous. 7y
23 likes1 comment
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Anno Dracula | Kim Newman
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I stole a couple of hours yesterday to take a break from unpacking and try out my new reading nook. Both of the Zs are feeling recovered enough from all the upheval that they came to hang out on my lap. Zelda didn't fit in the photo, though. #catsoflitsy #littenkitten

rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 7y
31 likes1 comment
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Bloodline | Claudia Gray
Mehso-so

I think I would have liked this book more if I'd read it as text, rather than listening to the Audio. The Star Wars audiobook style (somewhere between a full dramatization and a regular audiobook) only served to pull me out of the story. It seemed to emphasize that there was a whole lot of telling and not much showing going on here. I love Senator Organa enough that I stuck with it, but it wasn't satisfying.

annkuch13 I agree that I prefer the Star Wars books in physical instead of audio. I just don't jive as well with audio books that are more like dramatizations. 8y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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bates_barb
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Instead of doing any of the cleaning my place desperately needs, I'm lazing around with #littenkitten the elder and my coffee, reading about it. It is Sunday morning, after all.

#catsoflitsy

WordWaller Me too! 8y
LauraBrook Me three! 8y
45 likes2 comments
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Pickpick

I've never been much of a DC comics fan, and don't really know a whole lot about Wonder Woman, but this was a fascinating history of the creators and the particular early 20th century social and political sub-cultures that spawned one of the most iconic female superheroes ever.

brownekr If your interest was whetted by this, I highly recommend Tim Hanley's book from the same year, which starts in the same place but focuses much more on WW as a character and feminism as a thing: 8y
moranadatter If you'd like to check out some of the comics, this is my favorite Wonder Woman origin story: 8y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Pickpick

Oh man, this is one of the best audiobooks I've encountered in a while. Lindy is hilarious, smart, and incredibly open about her life.

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The Magpie Lord | KJ Charles
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Pickpick

This is a fun, very fast paced book. Pretty much every night I had to bully myself into putting it down to go to sleep, rather tha just staying up all night to finish it. I finished it this morning accompanied by a #littenkitten who would really like to point out that she, too, enjoys milk, and would be happy to dispose of any cereal milk I didn't want. #catsoflitsy

ReadingVampire 😻😻😻 8y
Suzze 🐱💕 My Tink hates people food, but cereal milk makes her one happy kitty. 8y
bates_barb @Suzze Sadly I keep her eternally frustrated on her milk quest. She's lactose intolerant, so, if I gave her the milk, she'd promptly throw it back up. Cleaning up kitty vomit is not high on my list of most enjoyable activities, so I just don't give it to her. It doesn't stop her from showing up every morning to try to convince me to give it to her today. 8y
Suzze @bates_barb Tink only laps up a tiny bit and luckily hasn't had any problems with it. 8y
39 likes4 comments
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bates_barb
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Pickpick

You guys, this book! It's just a wonderful packet of joy. If you like rag-tag explorers, this is for you. If you like workplace dramas involving people who take their job seriously, and respect each other as professionals, this is for you. If you like queer folks in space, this is for you. Basically, if you like great writing, fully realized characters, and adventure this is for you.

sprainedbrain Yes! Loved this book so much. ❤️ 8y
35 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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A couple days late, but here are my April book stats. Not too shabby for a very busy month.

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Binti | Nnedi Okorafor
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I'm trying to cut back on bookbuying (what with being broke and about to move), so I didn't let myself go too wild for indie bookstore day. I'm pretty happy with what I picked up, though.

Laney1733 I've read and enjoyed the top two and the bottom two are on my TBR, so I think you made great choices!! 8y
bates_barb @Leo1733 I just finished "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet", and just loved it, so the next in the series was a no brainer. The same with the Invisible Library books (although I didn't love the first as passionately as TLWtaSAP). 8y
Laney1733 I LOVED TLWtaSAP, one of my all time favorites! The sequel is just as good but quite different. I'm hoping to get to the Invisible Library in the next month or so. Enjoy! 8y
31 likes3 comments
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I was out running errands, and I stopped at one indie bookstore for bookstore day, then I made a side trip, and stopped at another. Now I'm taking a break to have some lunch (because when given the option to eat bacon, garlic, chile, and Brussels sprout pizza, I'm noy going to say no) and enjoy some of the fruits of my reckless spending.

LauraBrook I would like everything in this photo, please and thank you. 8y
Aswenson That looks AMAZING! 8y
bates_barb @LauraBrook @Aswenson it was delicious! If you ever find yourself in Madison, WI Pizza Bruta makes amazing food. 8y
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LauraBrook I'm only 80ish minutes away on the west side of Milwaukee! Making a note to visit here next time I'm in Madison. 8y
bates_barb @LauraBrook I didn't know we were neighbours! It's on Monroe St near the Zoo and near the UW Football stadium. 8y
LauraBrook @bates_barb Me either! Thanks, I've got it on my Madison list (which, TBH, was just "visit bookstores")! 8y
bates_barb @LauraBrook If you're doing a bookstore run, it's about a block down from the Mystery to Me bookstore (that's more or less how I wound up there today in the first place). 8y
29 likes7 comments
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Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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So, someone on the BR insiders slack mentioned the new edition of The Parable of the Sower that Seven Stories Press put out (and that they were 40% off). So, like an idiot, I went to look at them, and couldn't resist. For someone who just bought a house, what could possibly be more reasonable than spending money I don't have on books I'll have to move. But, so pretty!

Cinfhen They are gorgeous and congrats on new house 😊😍 8y
rach_simone Just finished Parable of the Talents, so I can safely say you made the right choice! Also, yay house! 8y
26 likes2 comments
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The Invisible Library | Genevieve Cogman
Pickpick

Once I got away from the terrible audiobook narrator, and read this on kindle, I had a great time. Kick-ass librarian spies, alternate worlds, intrigue, and people who are not what they seem. What's not to love? I'll definitely seek out the rest of the series.

19 likes1 stack add
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The Magpie Lord | KJ Charles
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My #littenkitten companions for a wild night of reading and sleep. It's been a long week. #catsoflitsy

29 likes2 stack adds
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Cat Napping: A Cat's Guide to Slowing Down | David Cuschieri, Heidi Cuschieri
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The Zs were super unhelpful in my motivation to actually do much of anything today. Such lazy #littenkitten companions really do exude a 'how about you just take a nap instead?' vibe. #catsoflitsy.

annkuch13 So precious!! 😻😻 8y
rubyslippersreads My cats often talk me into taking a nap! 😸💤 8y
KaatjeH 😸😻 8y
35 likes3 comments
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After spending yesterday protesting, then working in the lab, I should have spent today doing real adult chores. Instead, I spent it reading at the coffee shop and creating a catalogue of all the books I own (paper, ebook, and audiobook) with libib. I guess I'll have to do whithout clean clothes, fresh food, or more than 2 square inches of floor not covered in cat fur. Happy #worldbookday

Literaryunicorn Books and reading > everything else. 8y
26 likes1 comment
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The Invisible Library | Genevieve Cogman
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I have a tendency to complain about the degree to which my neighbourhood is overrun with overpriced hipster-y coffee/wine bars, but it does come in handy. I can think of worse ways to spend a lazy Sunday than with a ridiculously decadent pastry and a giant latte out on the terrace of the coffee shop reading and enjoying the arrival of spring.

DebinHawaii Sounds pretty perfect!! ☕️🍩📚 8y
Literaryunicorn One of my favorite things! No shame there. Let the hipsters provide. ☕️☕️☕️ 8y
Lmstraubie Sounds like a perfect day! 8y
34 likes3 comments
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I'm pretty sure the Library at Mount Char takes the cake for the weirdest novel I've read. At least, it's the weirdest one I can think of off the top of my head. #comeoneileen @Liberty

Reviewsbylola This was the first one that popped into my head too. 8y
Literaryunicorn I couldn't do this one. Stopped about 1/3 of the way through. It exhausted me. 8y
30 likes2 comments
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Shadowshaper | Daniel Jos Older
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I loved the Bone St Rumba series, so I'm definitely looking forward to what Older will do with YA. #YAYAY2 @Liberty

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This isn't really a standard true crime book (it doesn't focus on a single criminal, but an entire county), but it's incredibly well done. #seewhatihavewon @Liberty

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It turns out I have amazingly few orange books. Clearly this is a chance to fix that, and up my bookish photography game. 😊 #orangeyouglad @Liberty

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This is probably my favorite book beginning with A I've read recently. #alexgiveaway @Liberty

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Pickpick

This is an incredibly touching story of two latino teens growing up, dealing with family secrets, discovering their sexuality. It's emotionally intense without being non stop tragedy. It's just wonderful. Keep tissues nearby, though.

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Invisible Library | Genevieve Cogman
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This is my current nightstand collection. It's getting out of hand, especially when I take into account the dozens of books on my kindle wedged in there. #onthenightstand

Reviewsbylola A couple of those are on my TBR too, including 8y
42 likes1 comment
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Thank You, Jeeves | P G Wodehouse
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Yay for nice round numbers! Thanks to all of the Litsy developers, staff, and all of the littens for such a wonderful community.

Lmstraubie Yay! 🙆🙆🙆 8y
asiriusreader Yay!!! 👏🏻👏🏻 8y
BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
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GypsyKat Congrats! 🎉🍾👏🏼👏🏼 8y
TrishB 👍😀🎉 8y
Sace Yay! 🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏📚📚 8y
Shemac77 Congratulations!! 8y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!!! 🎉👍🎉👍😀 8y
KaatjeH 👍🎉👏 8y
moranadatter Congrats!🎉🎂 8y
46 likes10 comments
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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
Mehso-so

This was a very well paced and absorbing thriller, but I was hoping for something a little more grounded in reality. It also contains my most hated suspense book trope, so that sucked a lot of the joy out of it for me.

bates_barb As someone who has spent a significant amount of time working on advocacy and support for domestic violence victims the whole "evil manipulative woman frames her husband for domestic abuse" trope makes me absolutely livid. I'm not sure if it's just me, but it seems to be appearing more often in things I'm reading all of a sudden.. 8y
brownekr Ughhhhhhh thanks for the spoilers; that is a thing I also really hate! 8y
27 likes2 comments
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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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It's a wild night Saturday night here. I'm in bed with my book before 10pm. The Zs are sitting in the bedroom window busily investing all of the smells of the oncoming storm.

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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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The library gods have smiled upon me. I forgot that I'd placed hold on both the ebook and physical version of this book. By chance, the ebook hold came in last week on the day that the physical book was due back. I was feeling guilty about keeping it past the due date to finish it, and I didn't have to! #bookishluck

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A Discovery of Witches | Deborah E. Harkness
Pickpick

This was between a pick and a so-so for me. There were parts of it I really enjoyed, especially the side characters (Sarah + Em 4 Evah!). There are some serious pacing issues, and a tendency towards infodumps. I respect the amount of historical research that went into this story, but several of the passages had a flavor of "Look at me! Look at all these facts I found!!". I'm not sure if I'll read the sequels or not.

BriKie I read all three and enjoyed them but I think the first one is the strongest. So if you felt ambivalent about it, you definitely may want to stop there. 8y
24 likes1 comment
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A Discovery of Witches | Deborah E. Harkness
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Finishing up this book with a little audiobook knitting time, and a #littenkitten footwarmer.

#catsoflitsy

julesG The yarn bowl! This yarn! And you're making a Hitchhiker!!! 8y
bates_barb @julesG I am making a hitchhiker. 😄 It seemed almost criminal that I've been knitting for 4 years, and never made one. It seemed like this was a yarn that would play nicely with the pattern. 8y
AmandaL I have been eyeing that yarn on KnitPicks! 8y
bates_barb @AmandaL The yarn is actually from knitcircus. They're local to me, and their studio store is essentially a black hole for my money. That particular colorway is from their cat themed subscription. :-) 8y
32 likes4 comments
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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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This is from last weekend. Zora was attempting to use her #littenkitten powers to convince me to put down the book and provide her and Zelda with scratches.

#catsoflitsy

Suzze Looks like she has hypnotized herself. 🐱💙 8y
MrBook 😻😻😻 8y
CouronneDhiver Very pretty eyes! 8y
See All 11 Comments
DebinHawaii Love those gorgeous eyes! 🐱❤️ 8y
AlaMich Awwww! Did it work? 8y
Louise That's a serious "come hither" expression! ?? 8y
KaatjeH 😸😻 8y
Lmstraubie Sweet 😻 8y
Sace So beautiful! 8y
kspenmoll Those intense eyes! 8y
bitterbear I love those names... 💖💖💖💖💖 8y
48 likes11 comments
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Today was the first day this year I commuted by bike. Thanks to the screwy spring weather, I got to bike into the wind both on the way into work, and on the way home. It did give me a chance to listen to more of my current audiobook. The furry hot water bottles when I got home helped too 😻

#catsoflitsy
#littenkitten

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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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I'm home from errands and a bike ride, and just sneaking in a bit of #litsypartyofone time (with a #littenkitten for support) before my next round of errands and social commitments.

#catsoflitsy

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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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I can definitely think of worse ways to spend a few minutes while I wait for the dryer to finish. Windows open to a warm, breezy day, a comfy couch, and a good book. I finally got my bike out of storage, and I head out for a ride and some errands in a bit, but now it's time for a bit of laziness.

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Behind Her Eyes | Sarah Pinborough
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Well, I'm finally done with my day, showered, in fresh jammies, and ready to settle in with this book and rejoin #litsypartyofone . We'll see of I can finish it before it's due back at the library in 3 days. I have a feeling I may be racking up some late fines on this one. 😳

38 likes1 stack add
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Battle Hill Bolero | Daniel Jos Older
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Pickpick

I found this one a little less suspenseful than the first two novels, but I was still completely drawn into the setting and the characters. Everyone is so fully fleshed out (no pun intended) that I just want to spend time with them and know that they're going to be ok.

melrailey I love this series. 8y
21 likes1 comment
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Battle Hill Bolero | Daniel Jos Older
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"Hit 'em quick, get out fast." I see what you did there. Good to know that we're getting far enough out that Hamilton references are popping up in regular books.

Lmstraubie I love your bookmark ☺ 8y
Books88 BB8!!! 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Chik-a-plow! 8y
22 likes3 comments
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Battle Hill Bolero | Daniel Jos Older
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I'm sneaking in a little time to unwind and join #litsypartyofone before I go to sleep. I was hoping to finish this book in time to take it back to the library tomorrow, but I don't think that's going to happen.

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I was super grumpy this evening about a long week of frustrating work and a weekend overfilled with social commitments that I can't gracefully back out of. Then I came home to find my #BOTM package and stickers! This almost makes up for the fact that I'll barely be able to join #litsypartyofone this weekend.

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I haven't actually read this one yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. #readathonblob @Liberty

Centique I read this a few months ago and loved it so much. The sequel is great too! 8y
30 likes1 comment
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The first thing that came to mind when I thought of books I'm looking forward to in 2017 is the conclusion of the Broken Earth trilogy. I need to know what happens! #readathon2017 @Liberty

Laney1733 I'm waiting for this one too. It's been on pre-order for a while now! 8y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Battle Hill Bolero | Daniel Jos Older
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"Being near him is like drinking a whole glass of milk and realizing there was a dead mouse at the bottom. And then the dead mouse looks up at you and smiles". WTF is happening inside Daniel Jose Older's head? I'm simultaneously amazed and horrified by this turn of phrase. That is a suspiciously specific simile.

merelybookish That feels complicated. Good, gross, happy? 8y
23 likes1 comment
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TFW you have to stop halfway through washing the dishes because you're crying too hard to see what you're doing. I get that I'm particularly vaulerable to stories about family, secrets, and acceptance (especially right now), but man, this book is just ripping me to shreds (in the best way possible).

julesG Forgive me, I had to laugh - because of the dishes, nit your emotional reaction to the story. 8y
bates_barb @julesG I posted it mostly because I was laughing at myself. It's a completely ridiculous situation. You are entirely forgiven. 8y
28 likes2 comments
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I'm so excited for this!!! My body is not ready, but I'll go ahead anyway.

Lmstraubie Just start where you are ☺ You are ready! 8y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment