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mrsthilkey

mrsthilkey

Joined October 2016

mama to 3 princesses 👑 Ravenclaw
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mrsthilkey
Burnt Sugar | Avni Doshi
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Pickpick

I've been so deep in a couple things for several months now, that I've gotten way behind on sharing my reads.

This was a surprising one for me. I usually shy away from books that make the Booker lists, but I found this one very readable. I actually can't believe so many people gave this bad reviews. I could see myself rereading this, which is unusual for me! Interesting characters, nice writing, and not too long.

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mrsthilkey
The Book of Cold Cases | Simone St. James
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Excited for something creepy and my free birthday pick. 🎉🎉

#botm #marchtbr

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mrsthilkey
Pedro Pramo | Juan Rulfo, Margaret Sayers Peden
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Pickpick

There are so many themes packed into this compact little novel I know I will reread it one day. Haunting and mysterious, this is a classic of Mexican literature that lovers of magical realism will not want to miss.

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#mexicanliterature #magicalrealism #booksintranslation

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mrsthilkey
Disappearing Earth | Julia Phillips
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Pickpick

I wish I could do justice to books with my reviews, but I am not good with words. Suffice to say this book has everything I love in novels; it is atmospheric, the writing pristine, and has an ending that almost left me breathless.

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

SamAnne I loved this one too. And learned so much about Kamchatka. 3y
25 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
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Surprised myself by choosing a #botm for the second month in a row!

Excited to hear how everyone likes July's selections. 🌞🌈

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mrsthilkey
Aura | Carlos Fuentes
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Pickpick

I just realized I never made a post about one of my favorite reads of the year.

Aura by Carlos Fuentes gave me major Shirley Jackson vibes from the beginning, so I had a feeling I was going to love it. There's a great little twist at the end that I never saw coming. This is a book I will be rereading for sure. (and hopefully in Spanish next time 😊)

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#mexicanliterature #booksintranslation

19 likes1 stack add
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mrsthilkey
Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Can't wait 'til my TJR arrives!! 😍
I also got a free add-on this month, I've been eyeing The History of Love for a while. ❣️

I've skipped a lot of #botm this year so I'm extra excited for this box! What did you all choose?

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mrsthilkey
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Welp, it's my birthday month, so I did this! 🎉🎈

What did you choose?

#botm

brittanyreads Happy birthday! It's my birthday month too!! 🎂 4y
The_Heeler_Booklife Happy Birthday! I chose The Lost Apothecary, To Good To Be True, and The Push. 4y
31 likes2 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Just wanted to share two of the best books I read in 2020. I highly, highly recommend them both!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#nonfiction

Chelsea.Poole I love both of these!! 4y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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mrsthilkey
Normal People | Sally Rooney
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Second year in a row that I loved my first read of the year!

5 stars, hands down 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I know people either love or hate this one, what did you think??

#botm #normalpeople

swishandflick I was also in the "love" camp! ❤️ 4y
KarenUK Loved it💕 4y
Leftcoastzen ❤️👏 4y
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Jerdencon Liked it but LOVED the tv show - and I never say that! 4y
mrsthilkey I didn't know there was a show 😂 4y
readordierachel Loved ❤ 4y
32 likes1 stack add6 comments
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mrsthilkey
Aftershocks: A Memoir | Nadia Owusu
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I was really hoping Aftershocks would be a main pick this month, but I've always enjoyed Jane Harper, so here I am with two picks and my freebie!

I can't wait to hear what you all think about these January books, they all sound so interesting! 🤓🎉

#botm

Twainy I enjoyed The Guest List, a little predictable but a fun read. 😁 4y
mrsthilkey @Twainy I haven't read a thriller in a long time bc I find them irritating, but since this was the best one of the year I am looking forward to it! (I don't like Backman's writing and I already have the other three favorites) 4y
24 likes2 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Pickpick

5 glowing stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I love memoirs, and once in a while one takes my breath away. I'm in awe of both the compassion the author has in telling her story and the form she tells it in.

Among the hard stuff- drug addiction, trauma, loss- there is so much grace and humor and love.

I have a forever space on my bookshelf for this incredible book. 💛

Megabooks This is a fantastic book! Agree! 4y
23 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
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Wow, it's my 4 year Litsyversary. 😁 That's fun to know. 🎉🎈

#litsyversary

readordierachel 🎉🎉🎉 4y
14 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
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Beautiful writing and an unforgettable story, I'm glad this #botm selection did not disappoint.

It could have been a smidge shorter, but we don't get a lot of stand alone fantasy novels, so I'll take it.

4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

I have a full review on GR for anyone interested. What did you all think?! 🥀

Edit: I'd like to add a trigger warning for emotional abuse. Just FYI, it's there.

That-Bookish-Hiker I really enjoyed this book! I read a review that said they were disappointed it wasn‘t more of a romance and I was so confused. I didn‘t even know people thought it was a romance even though the author herself said it wasn‘t. 4y
mrsthilkey @That-Bookish-Hiker You know, I think I had heard that as well! I wasn't blown away, but I really liked it and I loved the ending! Not a happy ending, but it's smart. I love Schwab's writing and imagination, now I can't wait to read her Shades of Magic trilogy-- it's already on my bookshelf! 4y
That-Bookish-Hiker @mrsthilkey I agree. I love her writing too. Her Shades of Magic trilogy is awesome. Hope you enjoy it! 4y
38 likes3 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Yeessssss! Can't wait for this. Happy October y'all!

#botm

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mrsthilkey
The Comeback | Ella Berman
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I skipped #botm in July AND August so I'm super excited about the Sept box!! What did you all choose?

27 likes1 stack add
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mrsthilkey
Disappearing Earth | Julia Phillips
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I came back from a trip and the hubby surprised me with a new book. 😍

I'm really excited to read this, I've had my eye on it for a long time!

Megabooks Great choice! 4y
27 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
Northanger Abbey | Jane Austen
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I'm working my way through NA, my last of Austen's six main novels!!

I'm loving Catherine Morland as a heroine- in fact, after Elizabeth Bennet, she might be my favorite! Anyone agree? 💐

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mrsthilkey
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Super bummmmmed. Second month in a row I skipped #botm . I was really hoping for The Comeback. Maybe I can add it on next month! Hope y'all enjoy your picks this month, happy reading! 🤓

( if you're still on the fence, The Vanishing Half is SUPERB. 💜)

TheBookStacker Wasn‘t The Comeback an add on this month? 4y
mrsthilkey Yes but I didn't care for the five main picks. If I like the Sept picks I'll def add on The Comeback! 4y
38 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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mrsthilkey
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I'm so glad my brother and I decided to buddy read this in June-- it's been on my tbr for a long time!
We both really liked it, and now that I told him that I think Towles first novel Rules of Civility is even better, he's ready to borrow my copy. If you want beautiful writing and imagery, and fully developed characters, pick of one of his novels.
What's your favorite of his?

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mrsthilkey
A Burning: A novel | Megha Majumdar
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After skipping the month of May, I am *thrilled* with the June choices!!

What did y'all choose??

#botm

ValerieAndBooks Looking forward to mine ! The Vanishing Half and the add-on 4y
The_Heeler_Booklife Home Before Dark and I preordered The Last Flight on Amazon since I have a gift card. 4y
20 likes3 comments
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mrsthilkey
Writers & Lovers | Lily King
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I loved this!! I went in with realistic expectations- I read and loved her previous novel, Euphoria, but heard this one was a very different novel from that.
Turns out Ms King can write a gorgeous novel about anything! I couldn't put it down. 5 stars.
What did you guys think? 🍊

#botm

KarenUK Loved it too💕 4y
29 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
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I liked this a lot. But there were some things I didn't like. I'm torn on this. For now I'm giving it 3.5 stars but I may go to 4 after some more reflection.
Full review is on my Goodreads if anyone would like to be friends and discuss it!
What did y'all think?? ☕

#botm

SaraFair Have not read yet, was it very French/Parisy? 4y
mrsthilkey Umm somewhat. There were a lot of well known people we met- Proust, Ravel, Hemingway, Josephine Baker, Gertrude Stein. I feel very 'meh' about the last third of the book. His writing is great though, I still recommend reading it. 4y
24 likes2 comments
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mrsthilkey
A Ladder to the Sky | John Boyne
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🌈 Wrap-up! 🌈
Well, February was fantastic!

Lethal White- Galbraith- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Ladder to the Sky- Boyne- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Becoming- Obama- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Sign of Four- Conan Doyle- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Song of Achilles- Miller- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What was your favorite read this month?!

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mrsthilkey
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••January Wrap-up••
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Woman is No Man
Sex and Rage
Long Bright River
Persepolis
Persepolis 2

Lots of #botm in January, and it was a great month for quality! What was your favorite read?! #januarywrapup

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"It was a dare- he dared you not to laugh with him. He dared you to despair...he dared you to believe you were going to die- when you at that moment knew, just as he did, that you were immortal, you were among the gods."

-Eve Babitz

readordierachel Ooh. I need to pull this off my shelf! 5y
mrsthilkey @readordierachel I really enjoyed it! I need to read more from that decade/genre. 5y
28 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mrsthilkey
American Dirt | Jeanine Cummins
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Bummer. Bad move Oprah. This is the time to listen to critics. I won't be reading the tagged book-- life is just too short to read literature that inaccurately portrays people and their culture. Try some of these selections instead. I can vouch that the Luis Alberto Urrea is gorgeous and phenomenal!
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/21/american-dirt-controversy-trauma-j...
Pic cred: @ lupita.reads on insta

JamieArc I was really excited to read this before I knew anything about it. I second Urrea‘s writing. Beautiful storyteller, and fantastic human being. 5y
mrsthilkey Yeah, and I'm not saying everyone should boycott it, or the author, and I don't think she deserves hurtful words directed at her. But I completely lost interest after finding out the voice of this story isn't authentic, and hurtful stereotypes abound. I just don't have time for that! I'm excited to add a few of these other books to my tbr!! 5y
35 likes3 comments
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mrsthilkey
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I cannot in good conscience give this anything less than 5 stars. I will never forget these characters.

Who else is chipping away at their #botm stash this month??

Aswenson Trying, but failing!! 5y
JenlovesJT47 Me! 🙋🏻‍♀️ my goal is to read as many BOTM books as possible this month and I‘ve already read 8! I only read 4 total last year 😳 5y
mrsthilkey @JenlovesJT47 nice!! I'm on my second botm for January but I read a lot of them in Nov and Dec! 5y
JenlovesJT47 Awesome! 🙌🏻 5y
28 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mrsthilkey
Ask Again, Yes: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Eeeeek! Here's to reading great books in 2020 my Litsy friends! 🎉🥂

#botm #bookofthemonth

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mrsthilkey
The House of Broken Angels | Luis Alberto Urrea
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My favorite post every year-- my top reads!! I'm bringing you my Top 6 favs of 2019. The first three are the outstanding, best-of-the-best!

🧡 The House of Broken Angels- Luis Alberto Urrea
🧡 Rules of Civility- Amor Towles
🧡 Commonwealth- Ann Patchett

💙 Half of a Yellow Sun- Adichie
💙 The Guernsey Literary & PPPS- Barrows & Shaffer
💙 Home Fire- Kamila Shamsie

Best series- Shadow and Bone- Bardugo

See any of your favorites??

BarbaraBB Great choices! I loved Broken Angels, Home Fire and Yellow Sun too. Now I‘m sure I‘ll love Rules of Civility which I have sitting on my shelves ❤️ 5y
12 likes1 comment
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mrsthilkey
Long Bright River | Liz Moore
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I've been doing #botm for about 3 years and I feel like they've really stepped it up this year in terms of having extra "classics" and YA every month. I'm a picky reader so I really appreciate the great variety of choices now!

What did y'all pick this month??

Sace None of the titles really appealed to me so I skipped this week. 5y
mrsthilkey @Sace 👍🏻 I've skipped many times myself. 5y
Sace @mrsthilkey and look at me... "skipped this week" ? I meant month. 5y
Reviewsbylola I got The Wives and Dear Edward. The Alienist is great! 5y
LeslieO I skipped also. Then I read about everybody‘s picks on Litsy and I‘m sorry I did! 5y
26 likes5 comments
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mrsthilkey
The Rules of Magic | Alice Hoffman
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Yay, I reached my Goodreads reading goal!! I'll be finishing out the year with lots of Leigh Bardugo, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Michelle Obama's memoir.
What are you all hoping to finish in 2019?? ☃️

#botm This was my second Alice Hoffman and it was really beautiful. I'll definitely be picking up her newest novel!

Liatrek Congrats 🎉🎉 5y
Redwritinghood 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Reviewsbylola 🥳🥳🥳 5y
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ImperfectCJ Congratulations! 5y
intothehallofbooks Yay!! Congratulations!! 🎉🎈 5y
youneverarrived 🎉🎉 5y
sprainedbrain Woohoo!! 🎉🎉🎉 5y
mrsthilkey Thank you all 💙 5y
35 likes8 comments
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mrsthilkey
Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo
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This was my favorite read of October. I'm thrilled that I really liked it, and now I have all kinds of Bardugo on my library holds. I also chose Ninth House for my BOTM. 🎃

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mrsthilkey
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Really excited for this month!!! I also really want The Beautiful....any November spoilers yet?? 🤪🥀

#botm

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mrsthilkey
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
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*July Wrap-Up*
July was awesome both in quality and quantity! Moms with 3 kids ages 5 & under don't get much time to read- but thanks to audiobooks I did great!

Guernsey... 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧
The Last Romantics 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐💫
Home Fire 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The House of Broken Angels 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen... 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

See any of your favorites??

#julystats #julywrapup

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mrsthilkey
The Reckless Oath We Made | Bryn Greenwood
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I had three credits to use up since I don't need two #botm accounts anymore.
I'm really excited about these!! 😍 What did you choose for August?

Sace I picked the same one! Plus I added one. 5y
Reviewsbylola All the Ugly is SO good! 5y
mrsthilkey @Reviewsbylola I avoided it forever b/c of the hype, but it seems to have stood the test of time! I'm excited for both of hers. 5y
29 likes3 comments
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mrsthilkey
The Lost Man | Jane Harper
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This is a slow burn of a novel- a family drama with some suspense, centered around the death (murder? suicide?) of Cam.
I still love Harper's first novel, The Dry, best of all her works. But I definitely recommend this- it's atmospheric, intriguing, and well written. I will absolutely pick up her next book!
⭐⭐⭐💫
Do you have a favorite Jane Harper? 😃🌾

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mrsthilkey
Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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I missed June #botm spoilers, where are they?? 🤩

I hope to reread Evelyn Hugo soon (my favorite book of 2017) and then follow it with Daisy Jones! 🌼

hes7 @felinesandfiction has them posted. 5y
Eggs 💗Daisy! 5y
40 likes2 comments
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mrsthilkey
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I'm excited, I usually don't choose more than one book a month!! What did you all pick? 🌷🌼
#botm

LeslieO I picked those two PLUS How Not to Die Alone. And the tote, what a bonus! 6y
mrsthilkey @LeslieO I love bags! 6y
29 likes2 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Pickpick

What can I say that hasn't already been said? An unbelievable story; you won't be able to put it down.
A young female entrepreneur fools hundreds/thousands of people, puts patient's lives in danger, fires dozens of employees for perceived wrongs, and to this day feels zero remorse or responsibility for any of it.
This should be required reading for students in business, technology, and healthcare.
4.5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

31 likes3 stack adds
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mrsthilkey
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Posting an orange book stack because I'm in the middle of The Priory of the Orange Tree right now and it's soooo good!!
Anybody finish it yet?? 🍊🧡🌓

CouronneDhiver 🙌🏽🙌🏽 6y
Ashley_Nicoletto I have less than 300 pages left and it is so good. 6y
mrsthilkey @Ashley_Nicoletto that's about where I am!! 6y
32 likes3 comments
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mrsthilkey
Kingdom of Copper | S A Chakraborty
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I love my picks this month!! (A Woman is No Man, and The Kingdom of Copper) What did you guys choose?

Buuut, why no logo #botm ? Now my Daevabad books don't match. 😭😭 #bookworm problems

stuck.in.the.stacks Ugh that's why I haven't gotten it yet because I wanted them to match. 😥 6y
mrsthilkey @felinesandfiction I didn't know they weren't going to match 😢 6y
stuck.in.the.stacks @mrsthilkey all they had to do was put an orange #botm logo on it. It would have looked awesome! 6y
44 likes1 stack add3 comments
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mrsthilkey
The Dream Thieves | Maggie Stiefvater
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January was all about the fantasy since I didn't get to read much last year! I reread some Laini Taylor and now I'm in the middle of the Raven Cycle.
What should be after that? I have City of Brass and Children of Blood and Bone, but I'd like to finally read some V.E. Schwab...🤔
🦇💋

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mrsthilkey
The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern
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What new releases are you all most anticipating in 2019?? I just found out Erin Morgenstern has a new novel coming out?! 🤗🎪 And hopefully Saga 10 🤗 (I assume.) AND I just remembered the new Elizabeth Gilbert. 💚💜
Talk to me, what else do I need to know about??

mrsthilkey Ahhh @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks yes, the new TJR! 6y
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thebluestocking What!! I‘m off to order the new Morgenstern! 6y
mrsthilkey @thebluestocking that's what I said! 6y
33 likes6 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Well I've just realized I haven't read ANY classics this year- every single book I've read is less than 15 years old, and most are very new. I'm such a classics girl, this is nuts! 🥜 I am making a firm, reasonable goal of 2 classics by Dec 31st.
What's the oldest book you read this year?? Mine was The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (pub 2004). 🤓

KarenUK 1935 -The box of delights by John Masefield was my oldest... 6y
saresmoore I don‘t know if I‘ve ever had a classics-free reading year! Hmm, I think the oldest for me this year was Villette (1853), followed closely by Middlemarch and The Brothers Karamazov. (edited) 6y
mrsthilkey @KarenUK I've not heard of that one! @saresmoore I own Villette and Middlemarch! I think they'll have to wait until next year. 🤣 6y
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saresmoore Good call. They‘re both pretty massive, but really excellent reads...for next year. 😅 6y
ferskner I think Remains of the Day came out in the early 90s...at least that's what the movie came out! You may be in better shape than you think! 6y
Dragon Oh maybe the Georgette Heyer novels are older? 🙊 6y
kspenmoll I think The Age of Innocence was my oldest. 6y
mrsthilkey @ferskner Oh! Fantastic. 6y
30 likes9 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Pickpick

I loved the way this story was told through many viewpoints. It was well done and kept me interested in the story. The characters felt real and the magical realism was nicely done.
3.5 🌟🌟🌟
#botm

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved this one!!! ❤️✨💫 6y
CoffeeK8 Beautiful plants! 6y
mrsthilkey @CoffeeK8 thank you! 6y
55 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Mehso-so

Meh. Mostly one-dimensional, unlikeable, characters, and plots all over the place made this a not great read for me. I give it ⭐⭐⭐ stars because Ng *is* a beautiful writer. Maybe I'll like it more as time passes. I much prefer Everything I Never Told You.
🔥
Any other littens out there who didn't think this was the best book of 2017? 🤣

LitLogophile Agreed on all points 6y
Liatrek Currently reading but haven‘t formed an opinion yet. 6y
mrsthilkey @Liatrek make sure to let me know what you think! 6y
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EllieDottie I only thought it was so so too! 6y
Liatrek @mrsthilkey I just finished and I totally understand your Meh rating. It was good for me but not a book I loved or would run and recommend to friends. 6y
mrsthilkey @Liatrek yes, that's a good way to put it. I've read several books lately that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. I'll still keep an eye out for Ng's next novel though! 6y
36 likes6 comments
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mrsthilkey
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Fun!!
1. 16
2. 35
3. Killers of the Flower Moon- Grann; The Great Alone- Hannah; The Story of the Lost Child- Ferrante
4. Circe 😉 and the new Kate Atkinson

#2018checkin

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mrsthilkey
Circe | Madeline Miller
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Easiest #botm choice to date!! 😍😍
What did y'all choose for April?? 🌼🌱🌻

#bookofthemonthclub

The_Heeler_Booklife The Oracle Year, Circe, and Then She Was Gone. 7y
Rachel.Rencher I got Circe too! 😍 7y
mklong Same one! Easy choice for me too ☺️ 7y
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Megabooks The Oracle Year 👍🏻 7y
Beachesnbooks Same! Really looking forward to Circe! 7y
thebluestocking For me too! I ❤️ Madeline Miller. 7y
Redwritinghood I got the same book as you. 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
saguarosally This is the only choice I‘m almost certain that I would not read. Can‘t decide between two others though. 7y
40 likes8 comments
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mrsthilkey
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March was so fun!! I read 4 physical books and 1 ebook. What were your favorite March reads??
#bestofmarch #marchwrapup