tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19293694245887000112024-02-21T12:25:29.530-06:00Book Bloggers InternationalA listing by, for, and about book bloggers.Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02706544792110129160noreply@blogger.comBlogger411125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-15916964665324597882018-04-06T06:00:00.000-05:002018-04-06T06:00:28.757-05:00Let's Travel to MEXICO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are traveling to MEXICO all the month of April here at Book Bloggers International! During February, I thought it would be fun to read a book in honor of our travels, and chose to read a book in line with the country. I would like to do the same this month for MEXICO, but I need your help in deciding what to read! So, here's what I need from you . . .<br />
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<li>Book recommendations listed in the comment section below of what books you would suggest that I read that are related to MEXICO. I will review them, then choose a book to read before the end of the month.</li>
<li>Guest articles related to all things MEXICO: book lists featuring books set in Mexico, favorite Mexican authors, recommended books with Mexican characters, etc. If it is related to MEXICO, then I want to hear from you!</li>
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Feel free to contact me (Tif) via email at bookbloggersintl (at) gmail (dot) com to chat ideas. I would love to hear from you!</div>
Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-41084046062255247492018-02-28T06:00:00.000-06:002018-03-03T07:57:28.466-06:00CHINA: Let's Discuss CHINA DOLLS by Lisa See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the beginning of the month, I announced that I would be reading CHINA DOLLS by Lisa See in honor of Reading the World here at Book Bloggers International. I listened to this book all. month. long. because of the craziness of the month, but I did enjoy the story overall. If you have read the book, this month or previously, let's chat about the story in order to wrap up our month of travels to China. Feel free to answer any or all of the questions in the comment section below, or just leave general comments. It's your choice!</div>
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Lisa See begins her novel with this poem . . .<br />
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<i>“Only three things cannot be long hidden:<br />the sun<br />the moon<br />and the truth.”</i></blockquote>
Secrets are frequently revealed throughout the story, some very late in the tale. Which secret surprised you the most? Were there any that upset you? Why?<br />
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The story begins from Grace's point of view; her leaving Plain City, Ohio, to escape the abuse of her father. We eventually learn the truth behind her father's behavior. Did you feel this truth was sufficient for forgiveness? How did the abuse affect Grace's relationships with men after she left?<br />
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Ruby is a character very different from Grace, yet they became friends. What was your initial reactions to Ruby? Did they change as the story continued? How were Ruby and Grace similar, despite their differences?<br />
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Helen was raised a traditional Chinese woman, and she frequently was heard to be sharing traditional Chinese sayings. Is there one that stands out to you? How does her friendship differ from Grace and Ruby? How did sharing her past change the friendship, or even the reader's perspective on Helen?<br />
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Overall, what were your thoughts about the novel? Would you recommend it to a friend?<br />
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Despite our travels to China this month, CHINA DOLLS keeps us here in the United States. We get the perspective of China (and Japan) from those within American culture. What novels do you recommend that take place in China, whether written by Lisa See or not?Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-88008538916528791142018-02-12T08:00:00.000-06:002018-02-12T08:00:26.552-06:00CHINA: Karen Recommends . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I would like to welcome <a href="https://bookertalk.com/">Karen of BookerTalk</a>. She is here to share her personal recommendations of Chinese literature.<br />
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<b><u>KAREN RECOMMENDS</u></b></div>
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<li><b><i>Wild Swans</i> by Jung Chang.</b> Sheer brilliance and provides a good overview of the cultural revolution. Genre - memoir </li>
<li><b><i>Do Not Say We Have Nothing</i> by Madeleine Thien.</b> This is a stunning novel which looks at the impact of the cultural revolution in musicians and the Tianneman Square protest which laid the seeds of China's emergence on the world stage. Genre - fiction </li>
<li><b><i>Mao’s Last Dancer</i></b> is the autobiography of Li Cunxin, a boy who was plucked from a peasant family in rural China to become a trainee ballet dancer in Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy. He and another student got a a chance to study abroad in America as an exchange student – there he discovered that everything he had been told about America was a lie. The book recounts his desire for freedom and determination to perfect his talent under a regime that did not value individual talent and freedom of expression. Genre - autobiography </li>
<li><b><i>Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress</i> by Dai Saijie.</b> The Maoist regime in the 1970s tried to ‘re-educate’ the cultural elite by sending them off to live with the peasants in the countryside. Saijie’s novel follows two young boys dispatched to a remote village where instead of being cleansed of all tainted ideas, they instead discover new ones through the novels of Balzac, Hugo and Flaubert that they have to hide from the authorities. Genre - fiction
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<li><b>Inspector Chen Cao Series.</b> For something lighter there is a good detective series written by Qiu Xiaolong. The books are set in Shanghai in the 1990s – the decade when the country began its momentous change into a world class economic powerhouse. All nine titles feature Chief Inspector Chen Cao, a poetry-quoting cop who has high levels of integrity which often bring him into conflict with the Party machinery and his bosses.</li>
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Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-49189583977521552642018-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:002018-02-08T06:00:36.714-06:00Let's Travel to CHINA!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to February and the month we are all going to be traveling to CHINA right here at Book Bloggers International! <br />
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In honor of our month of traveling, I will personally be reading CHINA DOLLS by Lisa See. At the end of the month, I will share a discussion post for anyone else willing to participate. See is one of my own personal favorite authors, and many know her for her novel, SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN. She was one who taught me that reading can really be for more than entertainment. I could learn about history and the world, all from the comfort of my own home. I think I "got this" from earlier books that I read, but it was See that cemented it for me. I look forward to reading this novel, or rather listening to it because I currently have it checked out on audio. Here's a quick peek for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18404427-china-dolls">CHINA DOLLS courtesy of Goodreads</a> . . . </div>
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<i>In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco's exclusive "Oriental" nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American-born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco's Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese. At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then, everything changes in a heartbeat with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?</i></blockquote>
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I will also be sharing some guest articles from bloggers around the world, connecting books and China in some way. Guest spots are still available. If you are interested in contributing, email Tif at bookbloggersintl (at) gmail (dot) com. <br />
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Let's pack our bags, grab our books, and get ready to travel to China!</div>
Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-66483582556750977292018-01-15T07:00:00.000-06:002018-01-15T07:00:45.894-06:0015 Recommended Books About South Africa | Reading the World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to 2018 and our first Reading the World list! This month we're focusing on the country of South Africa, one of Africa's most economically prosperous nations with a remarkably diverse population and vibrant culture.<br />
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<b>South Africa fast facts! </b>(via CIA's <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html" target="_blank">World Factbook</a>)<br />
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<li>Population: Approx. 55 million</li>
<li>Languages: 11 official</li>
<li>Founded: 1910, official title the Union of South Africa</li>
<li>Landscape: About 2x the size of Texas, with 2798 km of coastline and an interior plateau rimmed with hills and mountains.</li>
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The modern history of South Africa is marked by apartheid, and many of the books from the country still address the issue, either directly or through the lens of social commentary. For this list I tried to include as many viewpoints and types of books as possible.<br />
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Read one of these books? Have a South African book you love that's not on the list? Let us know about it in the comments!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9UGOEkwKjeL7zQgpU6nNVd9lV-PSs6cz3clpnHEyuzbY5BRta5I-sukvUTqpWMStA4OegzEJDrZQxJ_AyRthJzao2vdkd6flY1inlSgDcFu4n7wSVus43jOt2rEue0jenyMaSEkAPzU/s1600/born+a+crime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="born a crime" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9UGOEkwKjeL7zQgpU6nNVd9lV-PSs6cz3clpnHEyuzbY5BRta5I-sukvUTqpWMStA4OegzEJDrZQxJ_AyRthJzao2vdkd6flY1inlSgDcFu4n7wSVus43jOt2rEue0jenyMaSEkAPzU/s200/born+a+crime.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<i>Born a Crime</i> by Trevor Noah<br />
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This was one of our <a href="https://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/02/introducing-born-crime-by-trevor-noah.html">readalong books in 2017</a>, and wound up being one of my favorite reads of the year. Through a series of stories, Noah describes his experiences growing up in South Africa both pre- and post-Apartheid. I laughed, I cried... I think there's something in this book for everyone.<br />
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<i>The Woman Next Door</i> by Yewande Omotoso<br />
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Speaking of favorite reads of 2017, this was one of <a href="http://readingtheend.com/2018/01/01/2017-reading-review/">Gin Jenny's from Reading the End</a>. She describes it as a quiet novel where two women–one white, one black–move in next door to one another and go from enemies to friends.<br />
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<i>Long Walk to Freedom</i> by Nelson Mandela<br />
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The most important book by the most important figure in recent South African history, <i>Long Walk to Freedom</i> is essential for understanding apartheid and modern South Africa. Random factoid: it's also the book most stolen from South African libraries.<br />
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<i>Invictus</i> by John Carlin<br />
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An appropriate follow-up to <i>Long Walk to Freedom</i>, describing how Mandela set out to heal the country in post-apartheid by reaching out to his enemies, through the specific lens of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. <br />
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If reading a book about rugby doesn't sound like your cuppa, maybe just <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/">watch the movie</a>.<br />
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<i>The Power of One</i> by Bryce Courtenay<br />
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This is one of my all-time favorite reading assignments from high school. It's a fantastic coming of age story set in the 1930s and '40s that goes from Boer boarding schools to prisons to diamond mines. There isn't even a hint of a romance in it and I still loved it. And if you know me that should tell you a lot about how good this book is.<br />
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<i>Cry, the Beloved Country</i> by Alan Paton<br />
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<i>Cry, the Beloved Country</i> is also set in South Africa! I actually don't remember much about this book from back in the day when I read it, but it's a classic of South African fiction and <a href="http://www.oprah.com/book/Cry-The-Beloved-Country-by-Alan-Paton?editors_pick_id=27205" target="_blank">Oprah loves it</a>.<br />
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<i>Zoo City</i> by Lauren Beukes<br />
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An intriguing-sounding science fiction novel set in an alt-world Johannesburg, where people who commit a crime are magically attached to a spirit animal, or "animalled." <i>Zoo City</i> won the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke Award and was shortlisted by the BSFAs for best novel.<br />
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<i>Welcome to Our Hillbrow</i> by Phaswane Mpe<br />
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An example of a South African genre known as "Jim Comes to Joburg," where a rural man–or woman, I presume–ventures into the big city for a new and better life. <i>Welcome to Our Hillbrow </i>was shortlisted for the 2002 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and takes place in the same neighborhood Trevor Noah's mother lived in when she met his father. <i>Zoo City</i> largely takes place there as well.<br />
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<i>Dinosaurs, Diamonds & Democracy: A Short, Short History of South Africa</i> by Francis Wilson<br />
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At only 144 pages, this introduction to South African history is the perfect place for people who don't know anything about the country to start. Wilson takes readers from the crashing of an asteroid to the first humans, to mining and post-apartheid, painting a picture of a vibrant land with constantly shifting demographics.<br />
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<i>Disgrace</i> by JM Coetzee<br />
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Coetzee is arguably South Africa's most famous writer, so he's always included on lists like this. HOWEVER, it seems as though no one actually enjoys reading his books, which are more bleak and depressing than a Christmas spent alone. In fact, several commenters have said they wished they *hadn't* read <i>Disgraced</i>. Pick up at your own risk.<br />
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<i>My Traitor's Heart</i> by Rian Malan<br />
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A classic memoir where white-guy liberal Malan struggles to come to terms with his Afrikaner and racist heritage. Another not-cheery book, with many disturbing tales of apartheid atrocities.<br />
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<i>Transfer</i> by Ingrid de Kok<br />
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A sensitive and lyrical volume of poetry by a Cape Town native.<br />
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<i>The Heart of Redness</i> by Zakes Mda<br />
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A novel that goes back and forth between post-apartheid and pre-colonial periods, contrasting modern South Africa against its tribal past. It was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the cover copy describes it as, "the first great novel of the new South Africa -- a triumph of imaginative and historical writing."<br />
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<i>Between Two Worlds</i> by Miriam Tlali<br />
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Tlali was the first black South African woman to publish a novel, and it wasn't that long ago: 1975. The government banned the book in 1979, but it was published internationally under this title.<br />
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<i>The 30th Candle</i> by Angela Makholwa<br />
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Makholwa holds the title of another first, this time of South Africa's first black mystery writer. <i>The 30th Candle</i> is described as a hip and fast-paced suspense novel that centers around the lives and friendship of three young women. Makholwa also wrote an intriguing-sounding mystery about a secret society made up of black businesswomen who "liberate" wives from abusive relationships, but that doesn't appear to be available in the States.<br />
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<i><b>What are some of your favorite books about South Africa?</b></i><br />
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-78585451599628408212017-11-23T23:40:00.000-06:002017-11-23T23:40:15.449-06:00Read With Us: AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFkMUES3cVn6k4f-622oxCFGWx0RglS7IWeM_MnA2Trk2Zpavw5ZSr5GEBL8xycXBvbpcwkxRqCr18sEvyvyDFMU0WFPaJkKoBNkI1m47jw-Lo31F1JkUWWm0ap2Epw9iuYKowJ54_m4/s1600/American+Born+Chinese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFkMUES3cVn6k4f-622oxCFGWx0RglS7IWeM_MnA2Trk2Zpavw5ZSr5GEBL8xycXBvbpcwkxRqCr18sEvyvyDFMU0WFPaJkKoBNkI1m47jw-Lo31F1JkUWWm0ap2Epw9iuYKowJ54_m4/s320/American+Born+Chinese.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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November's selection for #12mos12rals is AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang, and what better time to read it than the <a href="http://www.jennsbookshelves.com/2017/11/14/2017-thankfully-reading-weekend/">Thankfully Reading Weekend</a>. I will be live chatting as I read it this weekend over in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/258272-book-bloggers-international-12mos12rals">our Goodreads group</a>, and I would love it if you joined me. If you can't read it with me this weekend, no worries! You can join in when you finish right here on the blog or within the Goodreads group. I will be checking both!<br />
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AMERICAN BORN CHINESE is a re-read for me. I originally read this book in March 2015, and have not been able to get this book out of my head since. I felt it was a great time to revisit the story that has stayed with me for so long! So, let's do this!!
Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-42619463313828717692017-10-01T00:00:00.000-05:002017-10-03T21:01:53.821-05:00Join us for THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE Readalong #12mos12rals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to October, the spookiest month of the year! We thought it would be appropriate to read something scary this month, both in honor of Halloween and for all of you joining the <a href="https://estellasrevenge.blogspot.com/2017/08/readers-imbibing-peril-xii-ripxii-sign.html" target="_blank">RIP XII Challenge</a>. The book we settled on? Shirley Jackson's modern horror classic, <i>The Haunting of Hill House</i>.<br />
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Here's the summary from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89717.The_Haunting_of_Hill_House" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>:<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The Haunting of Hill House</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.</span></blockquote>
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You can probably find this book at your library or on streaming services like Hoopla.<br />
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Tasha will be hosting <i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> discussion over on Goodreads. Join <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/258272-book-bloggers-international-12mos12rals" target="_blank">our #12mos12rals discussion group</a> any time this month and jump in!<br />
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-68098376996373137192017-09-30T11:00:00.000-05:002017-09-30T11:00:07.027-05:00QUIET: Question Seven #Quietalong @12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today is our final day of discussion for QUIET by Susan Cain. Thank you all so much for joining in the conversation, even despite the delay in some of the questions. Be sure to check back next month for our next selection for our year of readalongs! Now, the final question . . .<br />
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<b><i>How would you rate this book on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest, 5 the highest)? Would you recommend it to others? What would be your elevator pitch for the book?</i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-66917508348962996522017-09-29T11:00:00.000-05:002017-09-29T11:00:24.712-05:00QUIET: Question Six #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGyj0QudCs4gWKUuaBmXfbylukK76eH4KQvbdPsoRDEUKF6h5GEXA6pxI0dBEF0qM9w-fI7S5WXwLTeJ-qqxgWMX3Vdf0TwQCCa_hNbmizJuSkhl65QkYrsoURh2Dwc-jMtmwY5Ifnrk/s1600/quiet+the+power+of+introverts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGyj0QudCs4gWKUuaBmXfbylukK76eH4KQvbdPsoRDEUKF6h5GEXA6pxI0dBEF0qM9w-fI7S5WXwLTeJ-qqxgWMX3Vdf0TwQCCa_hNbmizJuSkhl65QkYrsoURh2Dwc-jMtmwY5Ifnrk/s320/quiet+the+power+of+introverts.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
Two days, two more questions!<br />
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<b><i>What did you learn from reading QUIET? Did certain parts of the book intrigue you more than others? </i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-10945920864987060222017-09-28T23:28:00.000-05:002017-09-28T23:28:30.119-05:00QUIET: Question Five #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The month has flown by, and we only have three days left. That means three questions left. Let's get to today's!<br />
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<b><i>What are the advantages of being an introvert? What are the advantages of an extrovert? What about the disadvantages to both?</i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-81251449305645315972017-09-27T12:00:00.000-05:002017-09-28T23:20:26.702-05:00QUIET: Question Four #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGyj0QudCs4gWKUuaBmXfbylukK76eH4KQvbdPsoRDEUKF6h5GEXA6pxI0dBEF0qM9w-fI7S5WXwLTeJ-qqxgWMX3Vdf0TwQCCa_hNbmizJuSkhl65QkYrsoURh2Dwc-jMtmwY5Ifnrk/s1600/quiet+the+power+of+introverts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGyj0QudCs4gWKUuaBmXfbylukK76eH4KQvbdPsoRDEUKF6h5GEXA6pxI0dBEF0qM9w-fI7S5WXwLTeJ-qqxgWMX3Vdf0TwQCCa_hNbmizJuSkhl65QkYrsoURh2Dwc-jMtmwY5Ifnrk/s320/quiet+the+power+of+introverts.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
I'm so sorry for being away again. My family has recently experienced another death of a loved one that is near and dear to our hearts. I have not had the chance to do much reading and I got a bit behind in the reading. But, I'm back and I'm hoping to post new questions throughout the rest of the week/month, and wrap up this conversation. Let's do it!<br />
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<b><i>The author shared her own example of using the power of introversion to work through a negotiation. Though many of those in this field tend to be extroverted, she discovered that she too had much to contribute. Have you ever seen your own personal power of introversion win, whether it be at home or at work? Share your own example, and what you learned from the experience. </i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-63905153759784079012017-09-19T08:00:00.000-05:002017-09-26T23:34:45.300-05:00QUIET: Question Three #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm back and ready to really get to chatting with you about QUIET by Susan Cain! I'm done organizing the big event that has swallowed up my life the last couple of months, and I'm ready to get back into the books, especially this one!<br />
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<b><i>We have previously talked about if we are introverted or extroverted, as well as those around us. Now, let's take a look at a bit larger circle in our lives. Do you remember any introverted role models that have been in your life? What about them do you remember or inspired you? </i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-24354765974607702332017-09-13T12:00:00.000-05:002017-09-18T23:18:17.683-05:00QUIET: Question Two #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to our conversation about QUIET by Susan Cain. I apologize for being away for so long, but I promise to get better at posting regular questions this month. I am currently in the midst of planning a big event for this weekend, so you will see more questions coming the second half of the month. In the meantime, I have another question for you!<br />
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<b><i>Let's look at those around for a moment ... spouse, children, siblings, parents, etc. Do you find that you are surrounded by fellow introverts or extroverts or a mix of the two? How about your friends?</i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-33157675574317186602017-09-07T12:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T23:37:57.469-05:00QUIET: Question One #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to our conversation about QUIET: THE POWER OF INTROVERTS IN A WORLD THAT CAN'T STOP TALKING by Susan Cain. I'm keeping it short and sweet today with an easy question that will help in understanding where we are for the rest of the conversation.<br />
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<b><i>In the INTRODUCTION, an informal assessment to determine if you are introverted or extroverted is found on pages 13-14. Using that assessment, how did you score? Are you introverted or are you extroverted or is your score pretty even? Before doing the assessment, how would you have categorized yourself?</i></b>Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-19218199918450142742017-09-04T12:00:00.000-05:002017-09-04T12:24:46.844-05:00It's QUIET Time! #Quietalong #12mos12rals<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Welcome to September, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and a new readalong here at Book Bloggers International! </i></b></div>
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I am very excited to announce that this month we will be reading <b>QUIET: THE POWER OF INTROVERTS IN A WORLD THAT CAN'T STOP TALKING by Susan Cain</b>. During our previous readalongs this year, we have done weekly or monthly discussions. This month is going to look a little different because only one question will be posted at a time, and questions will be shared multiple times a week. I'm hoping it will help to generate more conversation and dialogue on the topic throughout the month. You can expect questions anywhere from 2-4 times per week, depending on content.</div>
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I have listed a general reading schedule below for those who prefer the scheduled reading, but please keep in mind that questions will be thrown out throughout the week and you may or may not have had to read the chapters to answer the questions.</div>
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<b><u>WEEK ONE: SEPTEMBER 4-8</u></b></div>
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<i>Chapters 1 & 2</i></div>
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<b><u>WEEK TWO: SEPTEMBER 11-15</u></b></div>
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<i>Chapters 3-6</i></div>
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<b><u>WEEK THREE: SEPTEMBER 18-22</u></b></div>
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<i>Chapters 7-8</i></div>
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<b><u>WEEK FOUR: SEPTEMBER 25-29</u></b></div>
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<i>Chapters 9-Conclusion</i></div>
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Let's start with our first question of the month for QUIET. It's an easy one.</div>
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<i><b>Have you already read QUIET or do you intend to read along with us this month?</b></i></div>
Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-62575706535401929342017-08-01T07:00:00.000-05:002017-08-01T07:00:01.129-05:00August Discussion: DEVILS IN DAYLIGHT by Junichiro Tanizaki<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to our August Readalong discussion of Junichiro Tanizaki's <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30347685-devils-in-daylight" target="_blank">Devils in Daylight</a></i>. Since this book is so short (87 pages not counting the afterword), we will have only one discussion post. Feel free to join in the conversation at any time this month!<br />
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But first, here's the summary from Goodreads:<br />
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One morning, Takahashi, a writer who has just stayed up all night working, is interrupted by a phone call from his old friend Sonomura: barely able to contain his excitement, Sonomura claims that he has cracked a secret cryptographic code based on Edgar Allan Poe’s <i>The Gold-Bug</i> and now knows exactly when and where a murder will take place—and they must hurry if they want to witness the murder, because it’s later that very night! Sonomura has a history of lunacy and playing the amateur detective, so Takahashi is of course reluctant to believe him. Nevertheless, they stake out the secret location, and through tiny peepholes in the knotted wood, become voyeurs at the scene of a shocking crime…<br />
Atmospheric, erotic, and tense, <i>Devils in Daylight</i> is an early work by the master storyteller who “created a lifelong series of ingenious variations on a dominant theme: the power of love to energize and destroy” (Chicago Tribune).</blockquote>
<b>Bonus!</b> This book is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's <i>The Gold-Bug</i>. If you haven't read this story yet (and I think you definitely will want to after reading <i>Devils in Daylight</i>), you can <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2147" target="_blank">download it for free</a> from Project Gutenberg or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1sQ56c9qGk" target="_blank">listen to Vincent Price read it</a> on YouTube.<br />
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<i>Devils in Daylight</i> Discussion</h3>
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<li>First of all! What did you think of the book as a whole? Was it what you expected?</li>
<li>This book feels very modern even though it was written nearly a hundred years ago. Do you agree? What do you think are the modern elements?</li>
<li>What were the most disturbing or creepy parts of the story for you?</li>
<li>As mentioned before, this book not only references but retells Poe's <i>The Gold-Bug</i>. Have you heard of or read this story before? Would you describe <i>Devils in Daylight</i> as "EAP-ic"? What about <i>The Gold-Bug</i> would you say appealed to Tanizaki?</li>
<li>What did you think of the passage of time in this book? Do you think that was deliberate on the author's part, and if so, why?</li>
<li>The book's summary mentions Tanizaki wrote books about "the power of love to energize and destroy." Do you think this book fits into that theme?</li>
<li>Another theme in the book is madness. What do you think the characters mean when they talk about going mad? Do you think Sonomura is actually crazy?</li>
<li>What did you think of the ending? (Since this is spoilerific, I encourage you to respond with a simple substitution cipher like the one from <i>The Gold-Bug</i>. You can make one up/decode the responses on your own or, if you're lazy, use an <a href="http://altamatic.com/crypt" target="_blank">automatic cryptogram program</a>).</li>
<li>Any other things you noticed and want to discuss.</li>
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Respond in the comments or paste in a link back if you responded somewhere else!</div>
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-59985436612928102272017-07-31T12:00:00.000-05:002017-07-31T12:00:00.320-05:00THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas: Week Four Discussion & Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to our final discussion and challenge for THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas! <br />
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CHAPTER 20: Starr and Seven are suspended, but the real surprise is when they arrive home to the Cedar Grove King Lords and Garden Disciples meeting peacefully in their kitchen. How do you think Mav managed this?<br />
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CHAPTER 21: Starr's worlds collide at Seven's graduation and birthday party. How did you think it went? What did she learn from the encounter?<br />
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CHAPTER 22: There is so much pain throughout this chapter. Share what impacts you the most.<br />
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CHAPTER 23: Responses to the grand jury verdict are exploding. Starr feels like she needs to do something, but struggles with her response and what is going down around her. As the reader/spectator, what were your thoughts?<br />
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CHAPTER 24: Starr uses her voice as a weapon, just as Ms. Ofrah tells her to do. Do you think it makes a difference?<br />
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CHAPTER 25: The huge turn of events came when Mav snitched on the King Lord, followed by a multitude of neighbors to support the claim. How did this change the feeling of the story as a whole?<br />
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CHAPTER 26: The ending to this book was powerful in so many ways, but it wouldn't have been as powerful if the journey was not traveled from page one. How has this book changed your life or more simply, opened your eyes to a world different from your own?<br />
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<b>WEEKLY CHALLENGE</b></div>
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After reading this book, what does it inspire you to do out in the real world to make it a better place? How will you continue to challenge yourself?<br />
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ICYMI: </div>
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<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/join-us-for-hate-u-give-and-challenge.html">Introduction Post</a></div>
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<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week.html">Week One</a><br />
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week_17.html">Week Two</a><br />
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week_24.html">Week Three</a></div>
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Thank you so much for joining me on this journey this month! </div>
Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-78484601871037921792017-07-24T12:00:00.000-05:002017-07-30T22:28:47.326-05:00THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas: Week Three Discussion & Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to week three of discussion and challenges for THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas! <br />
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CHAPTER 13: We learn more details on Khalil's decisions and current circumstances. Knowing this extra information, does it change how you view him?<br />
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CHAPTER 14: Comment on this quote.<br />
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<i>"That's the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?"</i> (252)</blockquote>
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CHAPTER 15: Let's talk about the friendship between Starr and Hailey. It seems to be on edge, even before the death of Khalil. Starr's mama recommends she makes a list of pros and cons. What do you think Starr will discover if and when she makes this list?<br />
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CHAPTER 16: Starr is being interviewed for a TV special. The chapter ends with her final blow, and it was the first time her parents have heard some of the details she discloses. What did you think of the interview as well as the potential reactions to those listening?<br />
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CHAPTER 17: The big dance has arrived, but it does not get off on a good foot between Starr and Chris. Comment on the night's events.<br />
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CHAPTER 18: The night before her appearance in front of the grand jury, Starr's home is targeted by a drive-by shooting. Who do you think was behind this violence? Why?<br />
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CHAPTER 19: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Brave doesn't mean you're not scared, Starr," she says. "It means you go on even though you're scared. And you're doing that."</i> (331)</blockquote>
Starr's mom leaves her with this advice before she enters the grand jury room. Do you think Starr was able to internalize this message?<br />
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<b>WEEKLY CHALLENGE</b></div>
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Reading can help build empathy and take readers into the shoes of those different from themselves. Find a favorite book that will take a reader into a world unbeknownst to them and pass it on to a friend or stranger.<br />
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ICYMI: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/join-us-for-hate-u-give-and-challenge.html">Introduction Post</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week.html">Week One</a><br />
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week_17.html">Week Two</a></div>
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Next week, we will be chatting about the remainder of the book. Don't forget to share your thoughts, comments, and challenges using the hashtag <b><span style="font-size: large;">#12mos12rals</span></b>!Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-40025899485815126592017-07-17T12:00:00.000-05:002017-07-24T11:14:30.437-05:00THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas: Week Two Discussion & Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWeKjq3aLIJKMG2SsulFj4rYo1DEDrbN0WP0TmYP-TjD7UfXtpmDS0AOCc_KWDn6yjsKTVbbzdhE3k_SZBGcpgIVeV-yxZflsmCcnTeV9mAfXG8J7njif5MzVXSv5moQdokoz-wCDVZM/s1600/hate+u+give+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWeKjq3aLIJKMG2SsulFj4rYo1DEDrbN0WP0TmYP-TjD7UfXtpmDS0AOCc_KWDn6yjsKTVbbzdhE3k_SZBGcpgIVeV-yxZflsmCcnTeV9mAfXG8J7njif5MzVXSv5moQdokoz-wCDVZM/s1600/hate+u+give+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
Welcome to week two of discussion and challenges! This book is seriously sending me on a roller coaster ride of emotions, so let's just dive right into the questions today.<br />
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CHAPTER 8: Khalil's funeral celebrates him, until the Lords show up and place a handkerchief on his chest. Starr is shocked. How did this make you feel?<br />
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CHAPTER 9: Choose one quote listed below and comment on it.<br />
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<i>"Bullets don't know where they're supposed to go."</i> (137)</blockquote>
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<i>"I can call Garden Heights the ghetto all I want. Nobody else can."</i> (139)</blockquote>
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<i>"Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right."</i> (154)</blockquote>
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CHAPTER 10: This chapter delves deep into many topics, from Harry Potter as a book about gangbangers to Tupac's music and the Thug Life. Share your thoughts and comments as you read.<br />
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CHAPTER 11: Starr's worlds continue to collide at the beginning of this chapter when a protest breaks out at her school. Share your thoughts on the protest, the reasons behind it, and the characters' reactions. OR, take on the second half of the chapter instead and address the encounter between Starr's dad and the police.<br />
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CHAPTER 12: Starr decided to talk, to ensure that Khalil's life matters. As you read this chapter, what did you think and/or feel?<br />
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<b>WEEKLY CHALLENGE</b></div>
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This week's readings had me writing down so many quotes that really impacted me. Let's run with that this week for our challenge as well. Find your favorite quote addressing social justice and put it out in the world. Share it via social media, create it on an index card and drop it around your community. You decide how you want to share it, spreading your quote and social justice love.<br />
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ICYMI: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/join-us-for-hate-u-give-and-challenge.html">Introduction Post</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomas-week.html">Week One</a></div>
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Next week, we will be chatting about Chapters 13-19. Don't forget to share your thoughts, comments, and challenges using the hashtag <b><span style="font-size: large;">#12mos12rals</span></b>!Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-89798707009114699892017-07-10T12:00:00.000-05:002017-07-17T10:21:38.956-05:00THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas: Week One Discussion & Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to the first week of discussion for THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas! I am so excited to start discussing this one with you, but first I have got to know what your initial thoughts are about the book. Are you enjoying it? Do you feel it is a page-turner? Does it make you have certain feelings or thoughts while reading it?<br />
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Now, for the official discussion questions. This month, I have decided to try something a little different. I have listed one question per chapter. I wanted to break down this book into a little more detail, and it gives the extra added perk of being able to answer questions at your own reading pace. As per the usual chatter, I encourage you to answer any or all of the questions, whichever may strike your discussion fancy.<br />
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CHAPTER 1: Our main character Starr writes, "Funny how it works with white kids though. It's dope to be black until it's hard to be black." (11) What do you think she means with this statement?<br />
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CHAPTER 2: Starr had two talks growing up: the birds and the bees and the other being what to do if she was ever stopped by a cop. She hoped Khalil had that talk too. Comment.<br />
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CHAPTER 3: The day after the shooting, life goes on as usual. How do you find Starr coping? How about those around her?<br />
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CHAPTER 4: Starr wakes to find her Daddy and Uncle Carlos fighting about whether she should report her evidence from the night of Khalil's death. Take one side of this argument and share your own thoughts on what Starr should do.<br />
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CHAPTER 5: We get to see the other side of Starr - Williamson Starr. Out of the blue, both worlds collide as she is talking to her boyfriend, Chris. She has a flashback of the night Khalil dies. Discuss both the separation and the collision of her worlds.<br />
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CHAPTER 6: This chapter ends with "This gonna be some bullshit." What feelings does this incite?<br />
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CHAPTER 7: "Chris didn't pull us over, he didn't shoot Khalil, but am I betraying who I am by dating him?" (106) What thoughts and/or feelings does this quote leave you with?<br />
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<b>WEEKLY CHALLENGE</b></div>
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As I mentioned in <a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/07/join-us-for-hate-u-give-and-challenge.html">the introduction post</a>, each week I am going to leave you with a challenge. Some of these challenges will encourage you to act. Others will simply encourage you to ponder. Hopefully, all of them will challenge you to consider where you are currently at, what you believe, and how you can make this world a little better place.<br />
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This week, share other books addressing social justice topics. You may share by listing titles in the comments. You can share recommendations on social media or give personal recommendations. Then, take it one step further and consider . . . What will you do to take those social justice issues beyond the book?<br />
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Next week, we will be chatting about Chapters 8-12. Don't forget to share your thoughts, comments, and challenges using the hashtag <b><span style="font-size: large;">#12mos12rals</span></b>!Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-15793307757586766032017-07-03T12:00:00.000-05:002017-07-03T12:00:34.255-05:00Join Us For THE HATE U GIVE and a Challenge!<div class="tr_bq">
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<i>Good Morning, and Welcome to July!</i></div>
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This month here at Book Bloggers International, we are going to be chatting about THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas. We are not only going to be chatting about this book this month and how it relates to our current state of the world, but I am also going to be throwing a challenge out there for you each week. But first, let us look at the book we will be reading together (description from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give?from_search=true">Goodreads</a>) . . .<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
</i></blockquote>
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Each week, we will read a select group of chapters and then discuss the content in those chapters. Some may feel that they need to fly through the book without sticking to the schedule. That is okay. The only thing I ask is that we do not share spoilers for the parts of the book that we have not yet discussed. In other words, you can read ahead, but don't discuss ahead of the schedule!<br />
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<b>July 3: Introductions & Reading Schedule </b><br />
<b>July 10: Chapters 1-7 </b><br />
<b>July 17: Chapters 8-12 </b><br />
<b>July 24: Chapters 13-19 </b><br />
<b>July 31: Chapters 20-26</b><br />
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Before we close out, there are two additional items we need to address . . . introductions and our weekly challenge.<br />
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<b>INTRODUCE YOURSELF:</b> If you will be reading and/or discussing along with us, chime in on the comments below. Or, post about it on your own blog and share the link in the comments. Tell us where you will be sharing any additional thoughts in the social media world as you read (i.e., Twitter, Instagram, etc.).<br />
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<b>WEEKLY CHALLENGE:</b> As the name of the title implies, we are going to be addressing HATE. Let's start out our month and our readalong with a little bit of LOVE. I challenge you to perform one random act of kindness this week, then check in below in the comments section and let us know if you completed it. You do not need to share details because that kind of defeats the purpose of the random act of kindness, but do let us know that you performed an act of some sort and your own personal response.<br />
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Happy Reading! I look forward to reading this one with you all this month!Tif Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015299390676538748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-85266111137116564412017-06-26T00:00:00.000-05:002017-06-26T00:00:06.453-05:00A TRIFLE DEAD Week 4 Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This week marks the end of our <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18195431-a-trifle-dead" target="_blank">A Trifle Dead</a></i> readalong. I hope you all had fun with this quirky mystery! I'll share some concluding thoughts on the book at the end of this post. Don't forget about Tif's readalong of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a></i> coming in July.<br />
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This final discussion post contains SPOILERS. I tried to be as vague as possible as to the identity of the Trapper, but it's impossible to discuss what happened without a few major plot reveals, so if you haven't finished the book yet you may want to avert your eyes. In the meantime, you can read the discussion posts for chapters <a href="https://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-1-discussion.html" target="_blank">1-8</a>, <a href="https://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-2-discussion.html" target="_blank">9-14</a>, and <a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-3-discussion.html" target="_blank">15-20</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens in Hobart<br />
Photo by Sally Cummings via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sallysetsforth/3606377237/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></td></tr>
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I thought the conclusion of <i>A Trifle Dead</i> was really well-done, even though I had guessed the identity of the Trapper about halfway through the book. I think if there's one thing we've learned from this novel, it's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/notes/18195431-a-trifle-dead/2366373-tasha" target="_blank">not to trust people who eat their side salads</a>.<br />
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One of the funniest scenes in this section is when Tabitha gets cranky about the sandwich her kidnapper makes for her:<br />
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<blockquote>
He came back a while later with a doorstop dark rye sandwich on a plate, looking pleased with himself. ‘I know you like pesto, and smoked salmon, and semi-dried tomatoes, not sun-dried. There’s some baby spinach in there, too.’ Hipster food. My stomach gurgled anyway. Talking about murder raises an appetite... Best not mention that I hate the combination of smoked salmon and semi-dried tomato. Could have been worse. Could have been capers.</blockquote>
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Whatevs, girl, capers and salmon are a god-given combo. Tabitha also takes issue with her tea:<br />
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<blockquote>
He had put sugar in it, which annoyed me. I only take sugar in coffee. For a stalker, he sure hadn’t been paying much attention to my actual likes and dislikes.</blockquote>
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Ha! How inconsiderate of him. Wth is hipster food, though, I wondered. Naturally <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/hipster-food?utm_term=.pmRXDOPyE#.csR7aWJz0" target="_blank">Buzzfeed is here to give us (me) the answer</a>, with a supes-helpful listical showing "regular food" versus "hipster food." Including hipster sandwiches! After reading that Buzzfeed post, I don't think Tabitha has ANY room to complain about hipster food, considering what she serves at her café. Miss ‘tofu and ricotta salad roll, deconstructed.’<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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I told the waitress, ripping the piss, that she forgot to give me the brush. Ripping the piss, she brought me one. <a href="https://t.co/OoX496S3pW">pic.twitter.com/OoX496S3pW</a></div>
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossOCK/status/711927279761362944">March 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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Moving on, do you guys have any idea what a "blueberry syrup cake," the cake Tabitha made for Bishop before she was kidnapped, is? When I googled it I mainly got recipes for blueberry syrup. Is it like <a href="http://www.thewholesomedish.com/blueberry-lemon-poke-cake/" target="_blank">a poke cake with blueberry syrup poured in the holes</a>, or more like <a href="http://www.everythingispoetry.com/2015/05/blueberry-syrup-cake.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> where the syrup is mixed into the batter before baking? Or just <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/07/blueberry-cake-with-blueberry-sauce-recipe.html" target="_blank">cake covered in blueberry syrup</a>? It sounded more unstable than that.<br />
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But in positive news, we FINALLY get Tabitha's trifle recipe in the final chapter. Her recipe for espresso cup mocha trifles is:<br />
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<blockquote>
Chocolate jelly. Coffee custard. A dash of sour cherry curd, for contrast. Tiny specks of tiramisu sponge dotted throughout, and whole marinated cherries sitting fat and juicy on top of the cups.</blockquote>
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There were also some more trifle recipes at the end of the book, although I have no idea where they came from. Day's readers? Friends and family? It would have been nice to have an introduction to that section, but maybe I missed it. What I do know is those recipes sounded like a lot of work.<br />
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Personally I enjoyed <i>A Trifle Dead</i> more than a trifle (see what I did there?). It was really fun, fast-paced, super quirky, and I loved the setting and the food talk. I also appreciated that there were other mysteries about the characters outside of the central mystery of who the Trapper was. I didn't care a ton about those mysteries, but they added layers to the book that made it more than a silly mystery.<br />
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One frustrating aspect of the novel was the whole Bishop/Stewart situation. I cooled on Bishop during the second half of the book for various reasons, but I'm not really feeling Stewart either. Meanwhile, Tabitha seems to be feeling both of them equally. PICK A SIDE!<br />
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What did you think of <i>A Trifle Dead</i>? Did you try any of the trifle recipes? Notice anything I missed? Let us know in the comments and thanks for reading along with me this month!<br />
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-59632160521941853752017-06-19T00:00:00.000-05:002017-06-19T00:00:07.681-05:00A TRIFLE DEAD Week 3 Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We're nearing the end of our June readalong of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18195431-a-trifle-dead" target="_blank">A Trifle Dead</a></i> by Livia Day. I hope you're enjoying this quirky book! Today we'll be discussing the food and happenings of chapters 15-20. You can check out the entire readalong schedule in our <a href="http://mailchi.mp/f19dfcbd89ce/spring-readalong-of-course-you-may-1314065?e=234f8fd62f" target="_blank">June newsletter</a>, and read our previous discussions for <a href="https://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-1-discussion.html" target="_blank">weeks 1</a> and <a href="http://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-2-discussion.html" target="_blank">2</a> on this blog.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Milk Bar, 1946<br />
Image by State Record Authority of NSW via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Central_Station_milk_bar,_1946_(4009463159).jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></td></tr>
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Not a lot of noshing or cooking going on in this section of the book, since Tabitha shuts her café down in the hopes it will flush out her absentee landlord. But she does go to a catered party and immediately starts hating on the hors d’oeuvres. There's "sushi made with semi-dried tomatoes and pine nuts," which admittedly does sound pretty disgusting; and vegetarian sausage rolls (seems like an oxymoron) that "looked like something had died inside them." Yum. Tabitha also has issues with "toothpick food," I guess because people put the used toothpicks back on the platter and then they roll around and touch the uneaten food? The aesthetic and sanitary implications of eating food with toothpicks isn't something I've ever considered, to be honest. Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to catering?<br />
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In addition to investigating the Trapper, some personal revelations came out in these last few chapters that makes this passage particularly poignant:<br />
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When I was a little girl, Dad used to take me out to his favourite milk bar near the station (probably the last place in Hobart that called itself a ‘milk bar’) and order me lime spiders in glasses so tall I had to stand up to drink them through the straw. It’s basically lime syrup, ice cream and lemonade, thoroughly disgusting, and they never fail to cheer me up.</blockquote>
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A "milk bar" is an Australian store that serves as a corner store-cum-delicatessen and serves things like fish and chips, milk shakes, etc. They're not as popular as they used to be, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_bar" target="_blank">according to Wikipedia</a> they're still a common sight in most Australian suburbs.<br />
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A post shared by Cassie 🇦🇺 (@cassie_atbraemarstation_nsw) on <time datetime="2017-03-17T03:48:38+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 16, 2017 at 8:48pm PDT</time></div>
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As for lime spiders, these things look incredible! I don't even care if they're disgusting, I want to try one based on looks alone. For a more adult version of the drink, you can <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/lime-spider/b813e0e1-7722-4d2b-9355-b3fb0e2daa3f" target="_blank">use lime cordial in place of lime syrup</a>.<br />
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And now for a more serious topic: Tabitha's choice of pizza. Apparently she's a fan of pineapple pizza. I know this is a divisive topic and there are a bunch of people who think pizza with pineapple isn't "real pizza." I've never had a chance or desire to try it. What do you think? Real pizza or no? (As an aside: Speaking of weird pizza–and weird sushi–I saw a <a href="http://www.onthewater.com/sashimi-pizza/" target="_blank">sushi pizza</a> on TV the other day that actually looked pretty good.)<br />
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What do you think of the mystery so far? To be honest, I found the last few chapters fatiguing because it seems like Tabitha's dashing about with no solid clues or logical train of thought. I have a suspect in mind, but only because s/he seems the least likely person, not because there's any evidence pointing to them.<br />
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It is curious how the Trapper stuffed Tabitha's fridge with ping pong balls, though. I'm thinking s/he filled a giant trash bag with ping pongs, put the bag in the empty fridge upside down with the top loosely twisted closed, then shut the door just enough that the balls wouldn't roll out, but they'd still be able to pull the bag away as the balls slid out. Any other ideas? You could also get a large sheet of plastic or cardboard, use it to cover the open fridge with space at the top to pour in the balls, then shut the door and pull away the board.<br />
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Obviously I've put a lot of thought into this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY0tBMqlfZ1Xy0nzrIlKcCf6hyphenhyphen9OSbu_W7yDAaCt3X0tQLb_N686cvypgQv0czPM8ZMCGYdDl8wPlZvX39erdMeDGYnn5iFp6myNROiJMAP5ULyw0tw5WgpHs7_FwuMHgTIdSSNOUTQk/s1600/herb+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="herb soup" border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY0tBMqlfZ1Xy0nzrIlKcCf6hyphenhyphen9OSbu_W7yDAaCt3X0tQLb_N686cvypgQv0czPM8ZMCGYdDl8wPlZvX39erdMeDGYnn5iFp6myNROiJMAP5ULyw0tw5WgpHs7_FwuMHgTIdSSNOUTQk/s320/herb+soup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German herb soup</td></tr>
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Back to the food! Some other foods Tabitha mentions are <a href="https://sortedfood.com/recipe/meringueroulade" target="_blank">peach meringue roulade</a>, another dessert like pav that's usually served during the holidays; friands, <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/mini-raspberry-friands/2a41d658-d11a-4fb4-9b5d-e35a4aa2f0f2" target="_blank">small almond cakes similar to financiers</a>; and Bavarian herb soup. The herb soup really caught my attention because I love soup (who doesn't?), but I've never seen it made entirely with herbs before. It looks absolutely delicious. In Germany, <a href="https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/german-seven-herb-soup/" target="_blank">it's traditionally served on Holy Thursday, or the Thursday before Easter</a>, which is also called green Thursday. This super green soup is perfect for that holiday, no? I really want to try it. For a Mediterranean-style version, see <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/22/herb-soup-recipe-yotam-ottolenghi" target="_blank">Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe</a>.<br />
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What did you think of the book this past week? Have any ideas who Tabitha's mysterious tormentor is? Spotted any foods I didn't mention? Tell us in the comments or paste your link into the linky below!<br />
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Next week will be our final discussion, when all will be revealed!<br />
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-24054011034177162262017-06-12T00:00:00.000-05:002017-06-12T00:00:03.262-05:00A TRIFLE DEAD Week 2 Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnLJ687f7Srp_Y1LE8e3PM9VmiNSqK9sjOvexjsq4dCPvsRNqRi9OysshAOZCPc3ENE_9qiVTqFGTrHEkBj0r9muA3rxiq1Y987umchNSuC6rVnffEBMSHO3mHRelT7dccC726JVezWs/s1600/TrifleDead-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="a trifle dead by livia day" border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnLJ687f7Srp_Y1LE8e3PM9VmiNSqK9sjOvexjsq4dCPvsRNqRi9OysshAOZCPc3ENE_9qiVTqFGTrHEkBj0r9muA3rxiq1Y987umchNSuC6rVnffEBMSHO3mHRelT7dccC726JVezWs/s400/TrifleDead-Cover.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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It's time to kick off our second discussion for our June readalong book, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18195431-a-trifle-dead" target="_blank">A Trifle Dead</a></i>. We're discussing this culinary mystery through food! Today we'll cover chapters 9-14. To see the full schedule, check out our <a href="http://mailchi.mp/f19dfcbd89ce/spring-readalong-of-course-you-may-1314065?e=234f8fd62f" target="_blank">June newsletter</a>. You can find the previous week's discussion post <a href="https://bookbloggersintl.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-trifle-dead-week-1-discussion.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZsOG5jmCc6KcexG_9ywNfkv1Kok0t4FIj4sQ9QWsOv7wBwps7LBb1-ACebajETgM78gczhDBzrc5h9iIwIbIf9cBd1PkEpveHZ_8jmZqyPbVudkIpYPRwd4C0NQZY1qOejJGR30OcPU/s1600/Mellifont_Street_West_Hobart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="west hobart" border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZsOG5jmCc6KcexG_9ywNfkv1Kok0t4FIj4sQ9QWsOv7wBwps7LBb1-ACebajETgM78gczhDBzrc5h9iIwIbIf9cBd1PkEpveHZ_8jmZqyPbVudkIpYPRwd4C0NQZY1qOejJGR30OcPU/s320/Mellifont_Street_West_Hobart.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mellifont Street West Hobart" by Graeme Bartlett<br />
via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mellifont_Street_West_Hobart.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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This segment of <i>A Trifle Dead</i> was light on the foodstuffs, since Tabitha spent most of the time going to parties with Stewart, the slightly sketchy Scots reporter, and Ceege, her cross-dressing flatmate (OF COURSE Tabitha's roomie is a cross dresser. See: quirky). I was super jeals of her Oscar party, though – I've always wanted to throw an Oscar viewing party like that! Have you ever thrown an Oscar party and was it up to Tabitha and Ceege's standards?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFVuwratIDqyh7oxwEa9H9DetLDL4-ZiUJi03-gIewcuztQRFYcSYKH3U-zBnDQpRNTdLoyyoPUr2wD9YhAzc04UTFXZ8yIVVFRL0Lj4SIPMM_dflnXNyvNRev-tYg8BJtkcLJAEMNZY/s1600/tim+tam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tim tam" border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFVuwratIDqyh7oxwEa9H9DetLDL4-ZiUJi03-gIewcuztQRFYcSYKH3U-zBnDQpRNTdLoyyoPUr2wD9YhAzc04UTFXZ8yIVVFRL0Lj4SIPMM_dflnXNyvNRev-tYg8BJtkcLJAEMNZY/s320/tim+tam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by slgckgc via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/slgc/23127254919" target="_blank">Flickr</a></td></tr>
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One food item mentioned in this section are Tim Tams. I'd heard of Tim Tams, but never bothered to find out exactly what they are. UNTIL NOW. It turns a Tim Tam consists of two biscuits with a cream layer in the middle, covered by chocolate. And as of 2017 you can actually find them in the US!<br />
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Another junk food Tabitha has a weakness for are jaffas. They're candy-coated chocolates, kind of like M&Ms, except the coating is orange-flavored. The name jaffa comes from the jaffa orange. They're hugely popular in both Australia and New Zealand.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Echidnas on the march"<br />
Photo by Cazz via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/cazzjj/29993566392" target="_blank">Flickr</a></td></tr>
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Finally, when Tabitha and Stewart go to the Hobart Coffee Festival in Salamanca Market–a non-existent festival, by the way–Tabitha mentions in passing seeing "chocolate-coffee-bean echidnas." What is an echidna? It's not a food, it's an adorable animal native to Australia and New Guinea that's distantly related to the platypus. They look a bit like a hedgehog and are sometimes called spiny anteaters.<br />
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That's all I have for this section, except that I loved this description of one of Hobart's suburbs:<br />
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West Hobart is a steep, multi-hill suburb between our little city and the first bushy slopes of the mountain. Most days, it’s green, leafy and cheerful, despite the freezing wind that cuts straight from Antarctica.</blockquote>
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What did you think of the food in this section? Have you had a chance to try jaffas, Tim Tams, or anything else? Let us know in the comments or paste your link into the Mr. Linky!<br />
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Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1929369424588700011.post-10189903453617577212017-06-05T00:00:00.000-05:002017-06-05T00:00:01.251-05:00A TRIFLE DEAD Week 1 Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to our first discussion for <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18195431-a-trifle-dead" target="_blank">A Trifle Dead</a></i> by Livia Day! Today we'll be covering Chapters 1-8, focusing on the delicious foods we read about this past week. To see the full schedule, check out our <a href="http://mailchi.mp/f19dfcbd89ce/spring-readalong-of-course-you-may-1314065?e=234f8fd62f" target="_blank">June newsletter</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ89dgVX3nkFOtaV1DuOAVe-dGv9g0GE5o310cIE_hFa22DXyAxHyYIOl_DoRDK02zfQHDS8jV51WWCd02uS4uvj_LUHfbDLMiQp9F-3frZ7Zgt-6u1GC2V6MWl7n6TizUua82F0wc8E/s1600/Salamanca_Market_Hobart_Tasmania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="salamanca market hobart tasmania" border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ89dgVX3nkFOtaV1DuOAVe-dGv9g0GE5o310cIE_hFa22DXyAxHyYIOl_DoRDK02zfQHDS8jV51WWCd02uS4uvj_LUHfbDLMiQp9F-3frZ7Zgt-6u1GC2V6MWl7n6TizUua82F0wc8E/s320/Salamanca_Market_Hobart_Tasmania.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Salamanca Market at Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania"<br />
Image by Jes via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salamanca_Market_Hobart_Tasmania.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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The first few chapters of <i>A Trifle Dead</i> have been fun and very fast-paced, with short chapters and a ton of quirky characters. And I mean **QUIRKY**.<br />
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Tabitha Darling is the owner of a café in Hobart, Tasmania, that serves updated and hip versions of classic desserts. This is much to the consternation of her parents' friends, a bacon-and-eggs crowd who continue to crave Tabitha's mom's cooking. When a dead body is found in the flat above the café, Tabitha's Nancy Drew instincts kick in and she starts poking around, with a little help from a cute Scots blogger and more than little discouragement from Sergeant Bishop, her high school crush.<br />
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So! Onto the food. One of the first things Tabitha mentions are salad rolls. In the US, "salad rolls" are <a href="http://eatwithinyourmeans.com/easy-vegan-salad-rolls/" target="_blank">basically Thai spring rolls</a>, but it seems in Australia they're just, like, a sandwich?<br />
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When I was growing up, a salad roll was a confection-like sticky bun filled with cheese, tomato, lettuce, beetroot and sliced egg, all glued together with a mock-mayonnaise.</blockquote>
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Sounds like a sandwich to me. The Food Pornographer has photos of a salad roll <a href="http://thefoodpornographer.com/2011/07/the-supermarket-barbecue-chook/" target="_blank">that looks similar to Tabitha's description</a>, or if you want to check out a more modern version of the salad roll, there are some yummy pics of <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499666-d9796939-r373263395-Sweet_Gossip-Kuranda_Queensland.html#photos;geo=499666&detail=9796939&ff=259002951&albumViewMode=hero&aggregationId=101&albumid=101&baseMediaId=259002951&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-1&filter=7https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499666-d9796939-r373263395-Sweet_Gossip-Kuranda_Queensland.html#photos;geo=499666&detail=9796939&ff=259002951&albumViewMode=hero&aggregationId=101&albumid=101&baseMediaId=259002951&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-1&filter=7" target="_blank">Sweet Gossip's salad rolls</a>, supposedly the "best in Australia."<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GutUd0Rk2JNHIBh-HcWoX6AzoAABcle-v6Hp7Nssqn1SvVDPqkZuoCJw2Z7-SeXdp6GCVFfuULNPj-lIWhZ85WI9qaLZWjo2-R_4h6oM2-_i8Uws2LBmOOgi0WKwDp-jtf9Qm9cmRzE/s1600/humming+bird+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="humming bird cake" border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="500" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GutUd0Rk2JNHIBh-HcWoX6AzoAABcle-v6Hp7Nssqn1SvVDPqkZuoCJw2Z7-SeXdp6GCVFfuULNPj-lIWhZ85WI9qaLZWjo2-R_4h6oM2-_i8Uws2LBmOOgi0WKwDp-jtf9Qm9cmRzE/s320/humming+bird+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hummingbird cake"<br />
Photo by ulterior epicure via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulteriorepicure/94601989" target="_blank">Flickr</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another dessert that made me reach for The Google was hummingbird cake. I'd never heard of hummingbird cake and thought it was a weird Australian thing, but turns out <a href="http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2014/05/hummingbird-cake-history-recipe/" target="_blank">it's a spice cake that originated in the good ol' US of A!</a> It's especially popular in the South and is made with banana, pineapple, cinnamon, pecans, and vanilla. Think carrot cake but with bananas.<br />
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Speaking of cake, what did you all think of the muffins Tabitha brought Crushed Velvet, the up-and-coming band that's only eating blue food as a publicity stunt? The parmesan and onion savory cupcakes sounded soooo good, and I love the idea of blue velvet cupcakes. <a href="https://www.marilynstreats.com/blue-velvet-cupcakes/" target="_blank">This recipe</a> from Marilyn's Treats looks almost exactly like Tabitha's.<br />
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But the real culinary stars of this section were Bev's pav nude sculptures. LITERALLY FOOD PORN. Fortunately, thanks to <a href="https://thenarrativecausality.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mandy</a>, I already knew what a "pav" was and didn't have to google it. Pav is Aussie for pavlova, a meringue-based treat covered in fruit that was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)" target="_blank">named for the ballerina Anna Pavlova</a>. It's one of Australia's and New Zealand's national dishes and is usually served during the holidays.<br />
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Here's the always delightful Mary Berry to show us how to make it!<br />
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Have you had any of the desserts or sandwiches mentioned so far in <i>A Trifle Dead</i>? Find some recipes you want to try? Let us know in the comments or paste your link into the Mr Linky below!<br />
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Also, bonus question: Are you Team Bishop or Team Stewart?<br />
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