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Happiest When Reading

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Book Reviews

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I think the controversy that surrounded this book made me nervous to pick it up, but I’m so sad that I allowed it to keep me away for so long. I absolutely enjoyed this book about The Pack Horse Library. This was a project set up in the 1930s to help promote literacy to rural communities, and female librarians would travel by horseback to deliver these books to the folks.
I really enjoyed Lee’s book, Pachinko, so I wanted to give this, her debut novel, a try as well. It took me awhile to build up my stamina (this book is 680 pages long!), but I reminded myself that tome books usually end up being some of my favorites! That was enough to encourage me to finally dive in.
This incredible debut reads just like a memoir; I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't Nguyen's personal story about immigrating to the United States. In 1979, a young mother leaves Vietnam with her two youngs sons. They arrive in New Orleans homeless, jobless, and alone. With the same grit and determination that accompanies any immigrant trying to make it in a foreign land, Things We Lost in the Water was a gripping read.
#bookreviewsneedlovetoo ✨I absolutely fell head over heels for this book – the story, the characters, the cover, the writing. All of it blew my expectations out of the water – and I’m thoroughly impressed this is a debut novel. Vijay really takes her readers and sinks them into this deeply layered, deeply complex story. I felt transformed to India and the story Vijay tells weaved itself right into the fibers of my being. I know will think of Shalani many, many times in the future – both with happiness and frustration.
Omg…Casey McQuiston does it again! One Last Stop was a truly delightful audiobook experience (thank you for my free copy, @librofm!).
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