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Archives for February 6, 2021

Six Degrees of Separation: From Anne Tyler to Jojo Moyes in Six Books

February 6, 2021      milelongtbr      4 Comments

Hi, Friends!

In January I was introduced to the concept of a bookish game of six degrees of separation by Carla @happiestwhenreading .

The concept is simple- make a chain associating the month’s title chosen by Kate at booksaremyfavouriteandbest, and see where you end up by linking it to six other titles.

This month’s title is Anne Tyler’s latest novel, Redhead By the Side of the Road. This month includes a lot of romance- it was mostly unintentional, but by the end I really leaned in to it since it is the month for romance.

It’s a book I haven’t read and know little about, but the synopsis calls it “an intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who finds those around him just out of reach, and a funny, joyful, deeply compassionate story about seeing the world through new eyes.”

That immediately brought to mind another book with a man in similar circumstances, so let’s jump in.

First Degree 

The first book that popped into my head is The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, an absolutely charming read about a grieving widower who owns a struggling bookstore.

Like the blurb for The Redhead at the Side of the Road suggests, A.J. goes through a similar arc and ends up getting a new lease on life when something unexpected brings him more than he could have ever imagined. This is a book that I hold close to my heart and recommend that anyone give it a chance.

Second Degree 

Nina Hill is a kindred spirit and this is another book that instantly became one that I loved.

Not only does the title have the protagonist’s name in it like the above title, but it’s also set in a book shop and the character goes through a major transformation when her family and horizons expand.

Third Degree

Yes, we have more names in the title here, but the main thing that makes me choose Josh + Hazel as the next link is that both books include a scene set at “trivia night” that is one of my favorite parts of each book.

Josh + Hazel is one of my absolute favorite romance novels – I love the quirky Hazel and more reserved Josh and their efforts to find love- with other people.

He’s Korean-American and I love the way the authors incorporated his culture, family, and Korean cooking into the story.

Fourth Degree 

When I think about books that make you hungry with food descriptions Jasmine Guillory is always top of the list. Add in dating with different cultures and a gang of friends and we’re at The Proposal.

I’d still love to get Carlo’s family recipe for enchiladas to try someday!

Fifth Degree

One look at the cover tells you The Proposal deals with romance and baseball and The Bromance Book Club nails both of those topics!

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this one after seeing everyone rave about it!

This is book number one in the series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next books!

Sixth Degree

Thinking about books where I’ve only read the first in the series Me Before You is the obvious choice.

In this case it’s not because I only just discovered the books or because I didn’t love book one.

It’s because I’ve never cried so hard reading a book as I did in Me Before You and it has me a little hesitant to give the next one a go. I definitely will one day, but have to be in the right headspace for such emotional reads!


Well, there you have it! From The Redhead at the Side of the Road to Me Before You in 6 steps! 

If you joined in this challenge please do comment below so I can go see where this title took you!


Next month (March 6, 2021), the challenge starts with Phosphorescence by Julia Baird. I hope you’ll play along and check back to see where the journey takes us.

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milelongtbr

💕Big books in little hands make my heart happy! 💕Big books in little hands make my heart happy! 💕

Do you remember when your love for books began? 

Mine has been going strong for many years. I remember a Disney book version of Bambi was the first book I ever "read." 

Really, I'd only memorized it, but that was definitely the start of me reading on my own and I haven't slowed down since!

P.S. - If you're looking for dino book recommendations. I've got you! 🦖😂🦖 Let me know if you have any we should check out !
Time travel books tend to be some of my favorite r Time travel books tend to be some of my favorite reads, mainly because of their tendency to be thought-provoking and packed with emotions. 

Before The Coffee Gets Cold is such a unique twist on time travel. 

It's set in a tiny, magical Japanese cafe where one seat has the ability to take you to another time to visit someone.. but there are rules. Lots of rules.

You must remain in the seat, you must be meeting someone who has also been to the cafe, and you may only stay for the length of time it takes your coffee to get cold. And nothing in your journet can change the present. 

This book explores a number of different relationships as people take a chance to revisit missed opportunities , despite the limitations. 

The story is nothing short of beautiful. It didn't quite carry the emotional punch I was expecting/hoping for, but it didn't make me love this charming and unique story one bit less. 

The characters are so nuanced- you'll feel for each of them as the go on their journey within thr cafe and within themselves to learn that even if you can't change the course of, the experience will surely shape your future. 

This is a shot read, and one I highly recommend.

I read it in translation from Japanese and love the insight into the  culture it provided. 

Whats the last book you read in translation?
💕Happy Caturday! 💕 It's been getting HOT he 💕Happy Caturday! 💕

It's been getting HOT here lately, so my plan today involves my pink chair, sunshine,  and Concrete Rose, which I'm about halfway through and loving so far.

As always I'm hoping to squeeze just one more book into the month after I finish it! 

Are you trying to finish any books this weekend ? 

Would you rather read outside by the water or inside, cozies up with a blanket ?
💕🌸On Wednesday we read pink! 🌸💕 Altho 💕🌸On Wednesday we read pink! 🌸💕

Although I've been reading A LOT of pink books all month.

I've also been playing around with designing and printing some bookish products and am loving how they turned out!

Do you like collecting any bookish stuff like bookmarks, mugs, or tees? Let me know in the comments!
"It's part of the reason Jessica Darling continues "It's part of the reason Jessica Darling continues to appeal to adults- some of us, now,  on the better side of thirty." - Rebecca Serle on The Sloppy Firsts Series

Just popping in before I start my new Friday Night routine of starting a YA novel and opening a bottle of wine. 

I LOVED Megan McCafferty Jessica Darling books as a teen, but hadn't thought about them much until I learned they're being re-released this year with adorable new cover art.

I relate way too much to the forward by the lovely @rebecca_serle and am excited to start reading Sloppy Firsts tonight!

Do you remember these books from your younger days? 

What did you love reading as a teen? 

Have a lovely Friday night and let me know in the comments!
Samantha Irby @bitchesgottaeat is quickly becoming Samantha Irby @bitchesgottaeat is quickly becoming a go-to author for funny essays. 

I read Irby's most recent collection in November and decided this was the perfect time to check out another one.

The content is similar and the authors voice shines through in these personal essays. I definitely recommend these books if you're looking for a good quick read with lots of laugh (but prepared for lots of bathroom and sexual humor.) 

Are you reading any nonfiction for Black History Month ?

I have a couple other hopefuls in this category, but as always it's a struggle fitting them all in - especially in this short month!
A million years ago Vicki @antipodeanbookclub tagg A million years ago Vicki @antipodeanbookclub tagged me in her fun #bookstagramvirtualtravel challenge. I’ve posted some pics in my stories of my past travels, but I’m just now getting around to a post featuring this pic from Valentine’s Day in 2019.  
 
I don’t think I’l EVER be over this view from my Air BnB on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala or the absolute perfection that was this trip. 
 
Travel is one of the things I’ve missed the most over this past year, but thankfully escaping into my reading has helped fill that void. 
 
Last year my reading took me to over 23 different countries. 
 
So far in the first few weeks of 2021, my books have taken me to England, Scotland, Afghanistan, Australia, France, Canada, The Netherlands, France, and all over the United States. 
 
I’m hoping for many more in the coming months - with a focus on Own Voice Stories and so I made a little reading passport to keep track of all the places I get to go. 
 
I’ll have a highlight for the challenge and have been making some cool stickers and graphics to go along with it. 
 
If anyone wants to joing my #readingpassportchallenge let me know and I’d be happy to share resources for templates as well as book recomendations for different countries. 
 
What’s a place you’d love to visit once it’s safe? Have you read a book that takes place there?
💕💕Happy Valentine's Day, Lovelies!!💕💕 💕💕Happy Valentine's Day, Lovelies!!💕💕

Hope your day is filled with all kinds of love and hopefully some time to read too!

 Tell me your favorite type of flower in the comments! 💐

I love peonies ! 😍🌸
THIS BOOK!   I took a quick snap of my pizza last THIS BOOK!
 
I took a quick snap of my pizza last night since I missed National Pizza Day earlier in the week. I planned on posting last night but after some debate decided to start Instructions for Dancing and time got away from me.

Basically, I spent every waking minute reading until I was done, save for the break I took when the book gave me literal goosebumps and made my hair stand on end. 
 
The Sun is Also A Star is one of my all-time favorite YA books, so I requested Instructions for Dancing knowing little about it other than it was by Nicola Yoon.
 
About 3/4 of the way through the book I thought it was a solid read- a romance-reading teen loses her love of reading in the wake of her parents’ divorce. Then she finds a book that will change her life in more ways than she could have imagined. It was fun and enjoyable but didn't quite pack the punch of her other books. 
 
Then suddenly Yoon worked her heart-wrenching magic and it became clear that this was going to be so much more than a sweet romance or a coming of age story. (Although it is both of those things as well.)
 
If you’re lucky enough to have an ARC of this one please go read it ASAP because I have thoughts… and all the feels for this book. 
 
If you don’t go preorder it!  The book comes out 01 June 2021. I’ll have a full review closer to Pup Day but definitely add this to your TBR if you loved  In Five Years, Oona Out of Order, or The Sun is Also A Star.

Whats one of your favorite YA reads ?
Finlay Donovan is many things. She's a writer, a m Finlay Donovan is many things. She's a writer, a mother, a divorcee, and... a killer?

This book is a delightful and hilarious account of a struggling romance writer and single mother who gets solicited to commit murder after a slight misunderstanding at a Panera. 

There's no way she would ever do something like that, though?

 Right?

Though she initially thinks she wouldn't the $50,000 payout is enough to get her thinking about it- and before she knows it Finlay is deep into a world of Russian mobsters and cops. 
This book was such a fun read from start to finish. 

It's a little campier than your average thriller but Finlay is such an honest and relatable heroine you won't mind if the storyline is a wild ride. 

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
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