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jillrhudy

jillrhudy

Joined March 2018

Librarian. Appalachian. Anglophile. LibraryReads and NetGalley reviewer.
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jillrhudy
Last Mrs. Summers | Rhys Bowen
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If you know the “Her Royal Spyness” series, you‘ll know that a luncheon managed by Queenie would be enough entertainment for the whole installment. #arc #Netgalley

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jillrhudy
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Could someone tell me who this chick is on the cover, because I've been reading about Mary Russell, detective, for 26 years and this is definitely NOT HER. It can't be a young Mrs. Hudson either (long story) because this is 1920's clothing. Fixed her as much as I could with books and glasses. Mary is no longer glam enough for her own series apparently. Coming out June 9. Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/23708455/reviews/184023733

robinb 🤣🤣🤣 2y
robinb I think I need to check this series out. 2y
29 likes2 comments
review
jillrhudy
The Year of the Witching | Alexis Henderson
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Mehso-so

Imagine “The Handmaid's Tale“ world run by an aging Jeffrey Epstein with a messiah complex and a yen for torture and you've got the general setting. Ick factor: very high. Main character Immanuelle realistically overcomes mind control; may or may not be a witch/cause or stop plagues. Plus: lesbian zombie spirit witches in the woods! Friends. . .or foes? #Netgalley #arc https://www.librarything.com/work/24073810/reviews/183956413

34 likes1 stack add
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jillrhudy
Atomic Love | Jennie Fields
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Pickpick

Recommended for readers who like smart historical fiction with romance and intrigue. ⭐⭐⭐1/2 because while I enjoyed the story a lot, I didn't fall in love with the characters, even though I really wanted to. Out August 18. Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/24666469/reviews/183525760
#Netgalley #arc

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jillrhudy
Atomic Love | Jennie Fields
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Just started. Pretty good so far! The main character is a genius in physics 👍🏻 . Who started this weird women-pictured-from-the-back cover design trend? It‘s ubiquitous, and it erases the distinction between total fluff and more serious women‘s fiction (as does the cartoonish romance cover). #arc

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jillrhudy
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Mehso-so

Mediocre. The cover makes me mad given who she is, (hint: NOT that Magnolia woman, whatever her name is) but I managed to leave that out of the review. This is the world we live in. Barely ⭐⭐⭐ Full review at https://t.co/32EwOYuscJ?amp=1 #Netgalley #arc

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jillrhudy
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This #arc says “Lesson One of the Scholomance” so I might have the beginning of a new SERIES here by Naomi Novik whom I LOVE ❤️!!! #Netgalley

28 likes4 stack adds
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jillrhudy
Untitled | Unknown
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1. Topsail Island, NC
2. “Moon Meets the Sun” by Our Native Daughters (on Youtube! Look it up for a lift!)
3. I love anise flavors like black jellybeans and craft root beer.
@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs Thanks for joining in 👏🏻🎶🌺 2y
Eyelit Omg for 3 - same!!! 2y
Megabooks Love Topsail! Nice choice! 2y
21 likes3 comments
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jillrhudy
The King of Crows | Libba Bray
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Pickpick

Just finished this series. It‘s historical fantasy fiction, and it can be a bit much at times but it‘s fun. VERY much coming from a left-wing perspective so if you‘re a right-winger you may not enjoy. Some of the most diverse and lovable characters ever. January Lavoy is a heck of a good narrator. #series #fantasy

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jillrhudy
Highfire | Eoin Colfer
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Pickpick

Delightful from page 1 to Acknowledgements and hilariously funny. Should have been an #arc but it‘s very late getting to me. 🐉 ❤️ Not for children: it‘s profane and violent. Loved it anyway.

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jillrhudy
How Lulu Lost Her Mind | Rachel Gibson
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Books I have read and recommend, with dates on which they will be released. Watch out for these! #arc #netgalley

Aimeesue I hadn't read your caption, so I thought the 5/5 was 5 out of 5 stars. I was very confused by the time I got to Stephen Fry! 😂😂😂 2y
23 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
Hillbilly Hustle | Wesley Browne
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Came highly recommended as hilarious “Appalachian gothic.” That‘s a thing? Count me ALL in!

kyraleseberg Oooh stacking! 2y
Scochrane26 I really should have gone to meet the author when I had a chance. 2y
jillrhudy @Scochrane26 is he cool? Seems like he'd be cool. 2y
Scochrane26 He‘s a local author, the restaurant he is writing about is about 45 min from me. I thought about going to the signing because Silas House was also there, but I didn‘t go for various reasons. A friend went & enjoyed the talk. I may still read the book at some point & will maybe have another chance to meet him. 2y
35 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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jillrhudy
Big Summer: A Novel | Jennifer Weiner
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Pickpick

Of the three prepubs I just read for #Netgalley, the tagged one was the best! A surprisingly deep chick lit diversion for summer. I actually gave “The Willoughbys Return“ 2 1/2 stars on Librarything. Not a patch on the original. #arc Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/24192111/reviews/181401760

30 likes1 stack add
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jillrhudy
Dear Ann | Bobbie Ann Mason
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Mehso-so

A woman in her golden years, Ann, re-imagines the sixties of her graduate school days, relocating them to California, the romantic heart of the sixties. Ann might have taken one seminar at Stanford; again, the whole framing thing is so weird that I‘m not really sure. Either leave out the dream aspect, or spell out what‘s true, or make the narrator clearly unreliable. #arc #netgalley

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jillrhudy
Heroes | Stephen Fry
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As with Mythos, simply *adored* Heroes. Need to get the audio of both like my pal @aimeesue so I can hear Fry read them! You can hear him read the beginning of the Theseus story on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh2jHkmWBrQ
My ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review is at https://www.librarything.com/work/22368433/reviews/180546646

review
jillrhudy
How Lulu Lost Her Mind | Rachel Gibson
Pickpick

Lulu was flying high as the Love Guru, a major influencer around the art and science of romance, when her mother Patricia began, um, let‘s just say *misbehaving* in yet another nursing home. Patricia has Alzheimer‘s and might say or do just about anything. When Patricia demands to be “taken home” to the family‘s run-down estate in Louisiana Lulu lands herself in a crazy, unrecognizable life, like many of us right now. A great diversion! May 19.

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jillrhudy
The Courtesan's Revenge | Frances Wilson
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Another one I stacked from Litsy. Here is the titular Courtesan; how and upon whom she will get her revenge remains to be seen, since there is no dust jacket for clues. It‘s an ILL from SWEM, the university library of William & Mary.

29 likes1 stack add
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jillrhudy
Untitled | Unknown
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AUDIBLE STORIES free streaming for children and teens until this coronavirus crisis is over. Don‘t even need an Amazon account. Some Audible exclusive classics that I had on my Wish List! http://stories.audible.com

Tamra Thank you for posting! 2y
27 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy

Tagged my current read, but this is really about public libraries. Threading using the comments. Things have moved fast with the COVID-19 crisis. Thurs: we were planning to stay open and maybe offer curbside holds pickup. Fri: we cancelled all programs but planned to stay open. Sat: we decided to close to the public, but come in and work. Sun: someone in VA has died and the governor will make a special announcement on Mon. which was ⬇️

jillrhudy to have been our first “in-service” day but Gov. Northram is supposed to make an announcement now that there‘s been a COVID-19 death in our state and one of the easiest things he can do is to shut all public buildings. ⬇️ 2y
jillrhudy We have seen in the past day or two the tremendous strain on the public library when it is the only free place open and when people are lonely, scared, possessed of misinformation and determined not to practice social distancing. We feel important, but also exhausted and threatened. Our society is unwell. ⬇️ (edited) 2y
jillrhudy We would love to keep serving the public in some capacity but we can‘t be the only public agency doing so. This virus is exposing the cracks in our society. If you‘re ill but also ill-informed, broke, and the only thing you can do is drive to the library and watch Youtube, you will. We have always served this broken society but now we have to close to keep people from dying. It‘s hard. 😭 ⬇️ (edited) 2y
See All 13 Comments
jillrhudy Whoever your librarians are, whatever choice they have made or had made for them, please know that they served as well as they could for as long as they could. 2y
DrexEdit My husband and brothers all work in libraries. I've seen how stressed they have always been trying to provide social support that really should be coming from other agencies or better civic plans. I'm worried about the librarians & staff. I think closing the libraries is the right way to go for now. We haven't had any deaths here yet but a few cases. Our city libraries remain open for now. Stay safe. Take care. 2y
ScientistSam 😢 2y
Lcsmcat Stay safe and try to stay sane. Virtual hugs. 🤗 2y
Librarybelle Thanks for posting this! It‘s a weird thing, knowing that you‘re a public librarian and yet when I go into the library tomorrow, I won‘t be serving the public. Though, that could change. We‘re closed for the next two weeks, after a mandate that came out after 5pm on Friday. We had just told the public we‘d be open, but no programs. So, basically no warning. I‘m in PA, and I‘m watching the governor lock down counties near Philly (not mine). 2y
LibrarianRyan We have various libraries doing various things. Nothing is coming from our state library (where I work) on what they should be doing. They did cancel or postpone all events, and said there would be no penalties in grants if libraries did not host programs for which grants were given. But still no word. I am highly doubtful they close us down, but I could be wrong. We shall see.
2y
802Librarian Well said! We made the hard decision to close today as well and of course the first phone call I got was from someone needing a computer to file for benefits 😣. 2y
Johanna414 I‘m a school librarian, so I am blessed not to have to make these decisions. I work closely with our public library though and they‘ve always had a policy to close when the school closes for bad weather and such. That made it easier for our library board and director to close today. 2y
jillrhudy @NHLibrarian oh how sad 😢 2y
jillrhudy Update: we‘re closed to the public but as of right now unless the governor says otherwise we can still be in the building to work. Our county has given us leeway to telework too or for our director to put us on varied schedules. 2y
22 likes13 comments
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jillrhudy
Pickpick

The characters in this series, set in NYC during Prohibition, are very lovable and Bray has a real gift with dialogue. I‘m switching back and forth between print and audio. The narration is superb. On to the third in the series.

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jillrhudy
The Diviners | Libba Bray
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Pickpick

So wonderful I immediately downloaded the second book in the series the instant I finished. Set in #nyc during Prohibition. What a great fantasy. 👍🏻 #magic #fantasy #ya

31 likes2 stack adds
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jillrhudy
How Lulu Lost Her Mind | Rachel Gibson
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I have a really good feeling about this #arc

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jillrhudy
The Sisters Grimm | Menna van Praag
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Bailedbailed

Bailed and gave two stars on Netgalley halfway through. I know you‘re supposed to finish a book if you review it, but it was soooo much work just getting to the middle. Time leaps. Perspective leaps. Narrative style switches. Reorienting yourself on every page. Whole premise is cheesy but I was hopeful. It will probably become a stupid TV series. #fantasy #fairytale

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jillrhudy
Heroes | Stephen Fry
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In my book this is THE arc to have right now. #arc #netgalley #prepub #anglophilesoflitsy #mythology

Graywacke Curious how it is 2y
jillrhudy @Graywacke Just because I love Stephen Fry so much and Mythos was so great. You also can't get it on Kindle, or in any way except on a PDF through Adobe Editions with a watermark on every page. (edited) 2y
Aimeesue @jillrhudy Yeah, that watermark thing is weird. 2y
33 likes3 comments
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jillrhudy
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This book on free speech begins by challenging the reader to adopt a VERY high standard of self-policing for considerate, appropriate, and current terminology, which I appreciate. The fact that language changes is irrelevant, and the burden of effective speech is rightly assigned to the speaker. It doesn‘t cost anything to choose the least offensive terms, so why go around offending people? #culture #law #communication

Aimeesue In general, I agree. The issue I have is when people tone police others in order to avoid dealing with the point being made, i.e., pearl clutching over "vulgar" language, or diverting the discussion to "Calm down, no one wants to hear that kind of thing." That's a power play, and it's used frequently against women, POC, and other minorities. Boo. (edited) 2y
24 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
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Mehso-so

I admire Howe‘s principled stance but found the book to be pretty mediocre. More history of the religious right movement might have been interesting if he were a more compelling writer. Heard some names I‘d forgotten ages ago such as Mike Farris and Ralph Reed who did a lot of my thinking for me in my 20s. #politics #religion #culture

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jillrhudy
Green Glass Sea | Ellen Klages
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I have an acquaintance who‘s a huge name in the fantasy genre. His recs are infallible and he and his wife gave me some at a party last night. Ellen Klages and Libba Bray: their Gordon Family Saga and Diviners series, respectively; “Portable Childhoods” stories by Klages; the old book “A Black Fox Running;” and the newish “The Ten Thousand Doors of January.” #recommended #recommendedreading #tbr

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jillrhudy
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THIS IS SO GOOD IT KILLED ME TO COME TO WORK TODAY. I read 200 pages last night. 😍😍😍

Suet624 Larson is just so good. 2y
Amiable Ah! I'm going to an author event with Erik Larson at the end of March and will get my signed copy then -- can't wait! 2y
jillrhudy @Amiable wow! 👏🏻 2y
See All 9 Comments
jillrhudy @Suet624 he is. Nonfiction, meticulously researched, that reads like fiction is my jam 2y
Suet624 I‘m sure you read the tagged book? Enthralling. 2y
jillrhudy No! Just stacked 2y
Crazeedi I cant wait , I have on my kindle from Net galley. Must get to it! I've loved his books 2y
Crazeedi @Suet624 that is probably my favorite of his 2y
Suet624 @Crazeedi 👍👍👍 so good. 2y
43 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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jillrhudy
My Life as a Villainess | Laura Lippman
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Mehso-so

Started strong and very funny but lost momentum somewhere in the middle. Books of essays are tough. The author and publisher cobble together old and new material, and the result can be uneven and underwhelming. #arc #netgalley

Joyfulmimi Good point 2y
33 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
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Seeing what this one is like! It has good Litsy reviews and is kinda #gothic so giving it a shot. Hopefully I haven‘t read it already and forgot! I can‘t remember very well this week!

28 likes1 stack add
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jillrhudy
Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo
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When the bookcase stopped rattling, Alex gripped its right side and pulled. It swung out from the wall like a door, revealing a two story chamber lined with bookshelves. . . . The glass dome above her glowed. . . .

Aimeesue ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 2y
37 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
Oona Out of Order | Margarita Montimore
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1. Just English
2. Oona‘s out this upcoming week & she is superb!
3. At the Shoney‘s buffet so red, orange, yellow, green, purple and a whole bunch of browns & tans
4😭🙏🙄 it‘s been a week
5. Hey y‘all if you see this jump in! 👋🏻
@4thhouseontheleft @howjessreads #friyayintro

4thhouseontheleft Buffets are great for a ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍🤎🖤 of colors! 2y
22 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
Little Family | Ishmael Beah
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Current NetGalley shelf. Need to get these babies read and reviewed! #arc #tbr

Aimeesue Hahaha! I have 11 to review. But that's with release dates up to September. 😋 2y
xxjenadanxx I'm way behind on mine! 2y
jillrhudy @Aimeesue you are completely outta control! 2y
jillrhudy @xxjenadanxx I‘m trying to rein myself in! 2y
Aimeesue @jillrhudy Strangely enough, they're actually nicely staggered. I won't have read more than one every two weeks. And I'm pretty consistent with the ARC reading. 2y
26 likes5 comments
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jillrhudy
Bezonomics | Brian Dumaine
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Mehso-so

The dudebro book of 2020 probably, out May 5. A guide to what Amazon is up to (a lot) and what people say about them (a lot, mostly bad) and the author‘s confidence that they will just keep “disrupting” stuff but didn‘t we think that about Walmart? My fave part was about Sephora ❤️ which is a far more effective online retailer. #internet #business #nonfiction

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jillrhudy
Ordinary Girls | Jaquira Diaz
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I was going to read something romantic for Valentine‘s Day but I read one paragraph of this and was instantly hooked. These biographical essays of a Puerto Rican woman, who grew up raising hell while dealing with tremendous trauma in Miami Beach, are “a whole mood.” How Díaz made it with all these strikes against her is beyond me. Stellar writing. Wow. #latinaauthor #blackauthor #lgbtq #memoir #strongwomen

Aimeesue @SamAnne The ebook's on sale in US stores today for $1 99 2y
SamAnne @Aimeesue Thanks for the heads up! 2y
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jillrhudy
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Pickpick

Cute! And in places LOL funny. Another one recommended by Littens. #booksaboutbooks #bookstore

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jillrhudy
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I had already decided this book was pretty mediocre. Then I misplaced it. I had decided NOT to take it back to the library but to finish it in order to learn what became of one particular character. I looked for it all over my house for 20 minutes. Then I found it in my bag of library returns. Being a woman in your early 50s is nonstop fun. 🙄

Scochrane26 😂😂 2y
flying_monkeys If it makes you feel any better (or at least not alone in the journey) I spent 30 minutes searching for a library return when I looked in my left hand and saw the second of two books I was carrying was the one I had been looking for 🙃 Laughed at myself/ about it for a good 15 minutes 🤣 2y
jillrhudy @flying_monkeys that‘s truly terrific. 2y
Aimeesue 😂😂😂 2y
38 likes1 stack add4 comments
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jillrhudy
Writers & Lovers | Lily King
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Pickpick

I really loved this. A young woman is trying to find her way in Boston on many levels, and is torn between two men, but mostly it‘s about the craft of writing. Lily King can really drop an exquisite sentence on you, leaving you reeling. #arc #Netgalley

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jillrhudy
The Glass Hotel | Emily St. John Mandel
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Pickpick

Some flaws in the denouement, but I enjoyed the spell the author cast throughout the novel of slipping into the shadowy and perilous margins between intertwined lives and destinies, which was quite brilliantly done. #arc #netgalley #literaryfiction #surreal #ghosts #Canada
Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/21588436/reviews/178509154

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jillrhudy
Little Family | Ishmael Beah
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I love this cover. Isn‘t it cute? After “Writers and Lovers” by Lily King this is my next galley #tbr. Kind of intrigued by the premise. #NewYearWhoDis #Netgalley

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jillrhudy
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Pickpick

Victorian true crime is really interesting. Another TBR from Litsy—ex library from Lancashire! #truecrime #england #anglophilesoflitsy

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jillrhudy
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#januarywrapup Interesting reading month. Almost everything either new or upcoming. No audio. #arc and #Netgalley account for a bunch! I‘m addicted! My VERY favorite is tagged. #bookreport

rubyslippersreads I just put Oona on hold at the library. 2y
jillrhudy @rubyslippersreads I enjoyed Oona throughout! Great chick lit! 2y
31 likes2 comments
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jillrhudy
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Saw the third book in the Teahouse Detective mystery series on Netgalley and was intrigued. I knew that Baroness Orczy was at least partly in the public domain and sure enough, you can get the first in this series (published in 1908) for free at Project Gutenberg if you want to try out the Teahouse Detective. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10556/10556-h/10556-h.htm

Litsi Loved the Scarlet Pimpernel that I also read on Guttenberg (edited) 2y
jillrhudy @Litsi it‘s great! That‘s what makes me want to try this series! 2y
24 likes2 comments
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jillrhudy
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Pickpick

Anybody else married to a raconteur? This book is very funny. Love Roz Chast illustrations. #humor #comics #relationships #love #valentinesday

LeahBergen I may need this book. 😆😆 2y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jillrhudy
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I have a book to read and another book to read and two ARCs from the publisher that I‘m supposed to read so WHY AM I CHECKING THESE OUT? #willpower #nonexistent

rachelm I am the same way 😭 2y
Crazeedi Should it be any different?? Lol, then we have choices! Simple!! Haha 2y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jillrhudy
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Pickpick

In Gish Jen‘s explosive new speculative fiction novel, “The Resisters,” underclass parents risk everything in a stifling technocracy just so that their kids can play baseball. Endlessly entertaining, with an “aha” of disturbing recognition on every page. The Cannon-Chastenet family will melt your heart. Five stars! Released February 7. #arc #speculativefiction #scifi Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/23666364/reviews/178166578

DrexEdit I'm trying to resist adding more books to my massive TBR, but your review makes me want to read this book! 😊👍 2y
jillrhudy @DrexEdit It has mixed reviews on NetGalley, but I thought it was just fantastic. It was a quick read for me! 2y
28 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jillrhudy
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Knocked my socks off. Ann Patchett does not exaggerate. Review of #arc coming soon as soon as I get a chance to write it.

32 likes2 stack adds
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jillrhudy
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1. Lately, e- format.
2. Publishers! Which is the reason why all the e-books. And the library. Being a librarian, they will sometimes call to you and can be hard to resist.
3. I do! Haven‘t for a few months though.
4. On my iPhone using Libby.
5. Tagged. @laurenslibrary
#ThursdaySurvey

blank Thanks for playing! 2y
20 likes1 comment
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jillrhudy
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Cool so far. Early in the book, he makes the argument that machine learning is still light years from human learning. “[M]achines are data hungry, but humans are data efficient.” Geeks pour a staggering amount of data into a neural network to get it to do a few things. We are the opposite: with a few pieces of data we can conclude, and do, a staggering number of things. #neuroscience #education #arc #Netgalley

24 likes1 stack add
review
jillrhudy
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Pickpick

Essays about “Peanuts.” Writers & artists write about the strip, the history, Schultz as a cartoonist, and the Peanuts characters they love and why. Jonathan Lethem mashes up lines from the strip with Allan Ginsburg in an ugly long-form poem—the only bad contribution. #comics #essays #writers
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