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Another fine newsletter, Betsy. Thanks for taking us on your walks with the dogs & books. I love those Little Free Libraries and sometimes on my walks, carry a few books from my shelves (not my own books) to leave as I wander the neighborhood.

My favorite books so far this year are: "Bewilderment," another fine one by Richard Powers. I think I have about 7 more of his to read. And I will. Also, a reread of "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisnaros, which I probably would not have picked up again (so many books; so little time), but needed to read it for a project. And "Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary," by Laura Stanfill, a delightful book that includes the making of serinettes and a bit of magic.

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I read "Mango Street" for the first time nearly 20 years ago when I was active with the Juvenile Court Book Club and loved it. Powers is another writer I keep meaning to read but so far haven't. I need to, it's clear. The Stanfill book piques my curiosity. Thank you, Judy!

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I have left copies of my anthology of short stories, entitled: "Through the Windshield, Drive-by Lives" in coffee shops. It was mostly on a whim, but it has catalyzed a couple reviews/sales.

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Coffee shops are great. I have left copies of mine in coffee shops, airport terminals, and of course little free libraries.

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Oh, I love how you stumble upon great books while on your walks! I’m obsessed with little free libraries, but only have two in my neighborhood, and they’re both by schools, so mostly kids books.

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I understand! I live within walking distance of ten Little free libraries and realize now I must be in some kind of LFL heaven.

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That is so lovely! The town I used to live in had new ones popping up literally every week and it certainly felt like heaven.

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I haven't left copies of my book anywhere yet, but will now. So many Little Free Libraries! As for best books so far this year: One True Thing by Anna Quindlen. This is a book for writers to study for its rich detail that is so accessible as to make one think they could easily have written it themselves. The truth is not many have the skill of Quindlen; Razor Blade Tears by S. A. Cosby (a thriller by a black author with a black protagonist); and No Stopping Us Now by Lucy Jane Bledsoe. A gripping story of a young woman’s evolution from a basketball enthusiast to an activist to created change in Portland, Oregon. It is a thrill to read this novel based on an actual story.

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I enjoyed Cosby's "Razor Blade Tears" a lot -- even more than the book that followed, "Blacktop Wasteland." I read Quindlen's novel a long time ago and remember liking it.

Thanks for the other recommendations, too!

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My favorite Amor Towles book is also "A Gentleman in Moscow" and "Rules of Civility" is next. "The Lincoln Highway" is very good, but there's just so many boys and men. Sally is fine but...

My favorite books this year so far would have to include "The Blue Butterfly: a Novel of Marion Davies." Read one page and you'll be hooked.

I really loved Lily King's "Writers and Lovers" (maybe because I waited tables so long?) and I fell for the quirky main charcter in "The Dictionary of Stolen Words."

(I think "I Came All This Way to Meet You," by Jami Attenberg of #1000wordsofsummer might have made the cut, but I'm not finished with it!)

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Ha. So many boys -- but I think that's what I liked about it. I hit on that when I read your comment. It read a little like a descendant of Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn. I thought of my son often while I read it. On the other hand, that was the limitation for me, too. It felt a bit like a throwback to an older time when white male boys and men dominated all the good adventure stories.

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And great book recs, by the way. I'm going to spread the word about Leslie Nack's great book about Marian Davies. I've only read the opening pages but they are wonderful.

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They had a take a book, leave a book library at a bar & grill in Hawaii.

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Oh, I love the Daring Book for Girls. I bought it for my daughter when she was young. It harks back to innocent times. She was reading a lot of Nancy Drew back then as well. I will have to revisit it. I kept it along with all of her fav books. She goes through them when she visits from College. Some sneak back with her I have noticed. Books are so important.

I love the Little Free Libraries and stop by them often. I don’t have as many as you do. I’m jealous!

I am currently reading Beach Music by Pat Conroy as my summer read. It will take me some time to get through it, but it’s so well written. As for A Gentleman in Moscow, I’m afraid I put it aside, but I really should try again. I did love Rules of Civility and recently repurchased it at a library sale.

I am also re-reading The Stone Diaries after your blog post last week. Thanks for that!

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I often plant my books in the Little Free Libraries, hoping they'll find interested readers who might even Google me and find Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com

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Thanks!

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I have tried several times to read A Gentleman in Moscow and I just can't get through it. I admire the readers that do and say they enjoy it. I do have both of Towles other novels but I haven't started either yet. I'm almost afraid to because of my lack of success with Gentleman.

I've been reading a lot of suspense/mystery/thriller and while they are enjoyable and keep me turning the pages, they aren't anything special. The two that were the best and stayed with me for a while are Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys and The Ones We Choose by Julie Clark. I am reading two books now that if they hold up, they will move to the top of my list. Those books are True Biz by Sara Novic and Search by Michelle Huneven. Both of these books are really good so far and unique in their own way. I've had many people recommend both of these books as great books and they were left with a book hangover. That's my kind of books. :)

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Gayla, I’ve had that experience with books. Would you believe that I could not get past the first few pages of Ann Patchet’’s “Bel Canto” forever and then, one day, without planning it, I picked up the book and could not put it down until I finished it. Sometimes the book isn’t right. Sometimes the time isn’t right. Sounds as though you found some good ones!

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happy to go on the walk with you. i love that you found that book and and i love leaving books in our publlc parks for others to enjoy. i'm currently reading 'all the ways we say goodbye,' a book set in wartime europe, involving 3 women who all find themselves connected at the paris ritz hotel - i'm really enjoying it

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And happy to have you on that walk with me. I’m interested in “All The Ways We Say Goodbye” - it sounds like another period piece but with women at the center.

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My favorite 3 books read so far this year are: The Change by Kirsten Miller; The Paperbacks from Hell : the twisted history of '70s and '80s horror fiction by Grady Hendrix; and On Mexican time : a new life in San Miguel by Tony Cohan.

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These books sound great and I kind of love the title, “The Paperbacks from Hell.” Thank you for these.

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Top books: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. I chose it for our book club to read in September, so this is one that I will reread! The Buried Giant by Kagoshima Ishiguro. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. All have a bit of a mystical element.

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June 12, 2022
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I can send it to you when I'm done . Why not look at it as a little free library by mail?

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