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Today, Tara Westover's 'Educated' holds me in its grip. Last month Janet Frame, one of New Zealand's best from years gone by enthralled me with her 'Owls do Cry' and then there was Donna's Tartt's 'The secret History', as well as several from Murakami, including 'Kafka by the shore' and last on my recent list, George Saunders wonderful 'Lincoln in the Bardo'. So many wonderful books to read. How will we ever get through them all?

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I’m currently reading Perma Red. Alice Walker’s Temple of My Familiar and Braiding Sweetgrass were my favorite reads of the year. Had a blast with little known writer CT Rwizi’s Scarlet Odyssey trilogy.

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Oh, Elizabeth! I read Raising a Rare Girl in the last couple of days. It is an extraordinary book! I did not want it to end. Thank you for telling about it. Much love as we approach the New Year!

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I'm reading "The Long Goodbye, A Memoir" by Megan O'Rourke, a good writer. I also liked "Jameela Green Ruins Everything", a dark satire by Zarqa Nawax in which ISIS has an new acronym DICK.

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I too enjoyed Also a Poet.

How to do the Work by Nicole LaPera. Glad to have read Giovanni’s Room. Will in the World puts me to sleep at night.

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Why Didn’t You Tell Me: A Memoir

Carmen Rita Wong

Chouette

Claire Oshetsky

Two top faves!

I look forward to your list and always pick a few to read. Last year ? Hamnet by Maggie O Farrell and now reading her new one !

Happy reading ! 💕

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Why Didn’t You Tell Me: A Memoir

Carmen Rita Wong

Chouette

Claire Oshetsky

Two top faves!

I look forward to your list and always pick a few to read. Last year ? Hamnet by Maggie O Farrell and now reading her new one !

Happy reading ! 💕

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I'm rereading Kindred by Octavia Butler, as I watched the new Hulu series based on the book, and it didn't really track with my recollection of the book, which seemed to me far superior in the storytelling. Thank you for this extraordinary list. I shall go on to Matrix by Groff next, since it was your favorite book of the year. That's quite a recommendation from a reader like you!

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What a list -- I’m so glad you read Perma Red! A friend and I were talking about rereading it since we both got the new Milkweed addition.

2021 was the only year I’ve ever kept track of my book reads and I don’t think I’ll do it again. Some that come to mind from this year: I recently reread Tyson Yunkaporta’s “Sand Talk,” and read Sandra Cisneros’s new book of poetry “Woman Without Shame,” recommended by a friend. I think this was the year I read David Wengrow and David Graeber’s “The Dawn of Everything,” which I found wonderful on many levels. Got into Arundhati Roy’s nonfiction for the first time and enjoyed the YA “A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking,” though it wasn’t my favorite YA fantasy.

Happy reading!

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I loved Groff's Matrix as well . . .

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