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Patria / Homeland is a novel by Fernando Aramburu. The story takes place in the Basque Country - Spain at the time of ETA’s declared disbandment. The novel delves into the world of murderers, their victims and centers around two families.  The story begins when ETA definitively abandons its armed struggle. A widow, Bittori, goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her husband who had been killed by ETA. Given the new situation, she decides to return to the house and the town where they had lived before the attack. Also you can watch it on HBO. Happy holidays! 

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Patria / Homeland is a novel by Fernando Aramburu. The story takes place in the Basque Country - Spain at the time of ETA’s declared disbandment. The novel delves into the world of murderers, their victims and centers around two families.  The story begins when ETA definitively abandons its armed struggle. A widow, Bittori, goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her husband who had been killed by ETA. Given the new situation, she decides to return to the house and the town where they had lived before the attack. Also you can watch it on HBO. Happy holidays! 

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El maestro del Prado y las pinturas proféticas                  de Javier Sierra 

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El maestro del Prado y las pinturas proféticas                  de Javier Sierra 

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Al más puro estilo de los relatos de enigmas de Javier Sierra. El maestro del Prado presenta un apasionante recorrido por las historias más desconocidas y secretas de una de las pinacotecas más importantes del mundo, el Museo del Prado.

Una historia fascinante de cómo un aprendiz de escritor aprendió a mirar cuadros y a entender unos mensajes ocultos que difieren de la ortodoxia de la Iglesia católica, una institución que en el Renacimiento era visto más como opresores que como espiritual.

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Patria / Homeland is a novel by  Fernando aramburu. The story takes place in the Basque Country, at the time of ETA's declared disbandment. The novel delves into the world of murderers, their victims and centers around two families.  The story begins when ETA definitively abandons its armed struggle. A widow, Bittori, goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her husband who had been killed by ETA. Given the new situation, she decides to return to the house and the town where they had lived before the attack.

Also you can watch it on HBO.

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Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, we had to postpone our "Blind date with a Book Event".
We will hopefully do our book swap in January when we get back to school.
Please use this padlet instead to add book recommendations for the holiday season. Any recommendation is welcome!
Choose your favorite book from the year 2020 and share a short synopsis with everyone. You may add a picture of the cover.
If you cannot decide which one has been your favorite, you may share your Top 3 from this year and a brief sentence to describe them. Thank you for contributing to this padlet. Happy Holiday Season everyone from the Sunshine Committee!

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1. "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I loved this book. It's about a Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates to the US, and the books is all about her experiences and what's pulling her back home.

2. "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson - compiles the history and origins of the English language and its various quirks. (Or really anything by Bill Byrson. He  has a book called "Down Under" which gave me a chuckle, and his book, "One Summer: America, 1927" was really interesting too.)

3. "Sand Talk: How Indiegnous Thinking Can Save the World" by Tyson Yunkaporta, who is an indigenous Australian author. - this book talks about the process of "yarning" (storytelling) and the ways Indigenous thinking can be applied in everyday life. I really enjoyed it!

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"Magical Disinformation" by Lachlan Page

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"Magical Disinformation" by Lachlan Page

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I need to admit first that I haven't read this book YET, but I thought that I'd give it a bit of a plug as I'm planning to read it over the break and it was written by a old high school friend of mine - the book is called, "Magical Disinformation" by Lachlan Page, and it's his first novel.

"Oliver Jardine is a spy in Colombia, enamoured with local woman Veronica Velasco. As the Colombia government signs a peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla, Her Majesty's government decides to transfer is in order to focus on more pertinent theatres of operation.  In a desperate attempt to remain in Colombia, Jardine begins to fabricate his intelligence reports. But the consequences soon take on a life of their own."

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Magical Disinformation: A Spy Thriller a book by Lachlan Page

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Discover Lachlan Page’s Magical Disinformation a spy action-thriller with a satirical edge set amongst the Colombian peace process. Described by one reviewer as “Our Man in Havana meets A Clear and Present Danger.” Oliver Jardine is a spy in Colombia, enamoured with local woman Veronica Velasco. As…

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Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend - the first of a series of 4 books that follows two girls growing up in Naples Italy, with all that entails. The girls life paths take them down very different roads and experiences

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Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend - the first of a series of 4 books that follows two girls growing up in Naples Italy, with all that entails. The girls life paths take them down very different roads and experiences

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“Children don’t know the meaning of yesterday, of the day before yesterday, or even of tomorrow, everything is this, now: the street is this, the doorway is this, the stairs are this, this is Mamma, this is Papa, this is the day, this the night.”⁠⠀ ― Elena Ferrante⁠⠀ ⁠⠀

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Falcó, un thriller de Arturo Perez Reverte

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Falcó, un thriller de Arturo Perez Reverte

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Para los amantes de las novelas históricas, Perez Reverte vuelve con un libro que muestra la perspectiva de un sicario que se vende al mejor postor. Con este primer libro de la trilogía de Falcó, Reverte narra las aventuras de este espía, un tipo duro, al que sus misiones lo llevan allí donde la vida y la muerte caminan tan a la par, que tendrá que hacer equilibrios continuos para no caer del lado equivocado.
Estas navidades me voy a leer los otros dos libros, Eva y Sabotaje pero para el book swap, esta sera mi elección en español. Espero que le guste a quién lo lea.
Si te interesa leer libros en español, en los comentarios dejo un blog en el que participa mi hermana y donde hacen reseñas de libros actuales.

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For all fans of fantasy of sci fi, Red Rising is Game of Thrones in space.

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Only read this if you're willing to have novels wrecked for you forever. Nothing else will ever match up.

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One of the series that carried me through the early months of the pandemic was the "Phyrne Fisher Murder Mysteries" (as well as the incredible tv adaption!). These primarily take place in Melbourne, Australia in the 1920's and follow the glamorous life of an aristocratic detective who challenges the societal norms of the era.

Another recommended novel is not quite as fun, as it covers highly sensitive topics, but is an incredible read and gives insight into a strained relationship between countries and the lasting implications this had. This is "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee and is a generational saga that follows a Korean family throughout the late 19th century up until the 1980's. Not the most cheerful holiday read, but impactful and thought-provoking.

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I just finished Elaine's recommendation and I agree, The Guest List is a great page turner!

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Or any of the other novels from the Dublin Murder Squad Series. You can read the books as stand-alone or as a series.
They are murder mystery/crime thrillers that follow a different lead detective and vastly different crimes in each book. I highly recommend any of them if you are into murder mysteries!

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It was such a great read! A truly delightful book perfect for when you are lounging in carpet slippers and a bath robe. The story is set in a small liberal arts college in the midwest with a fascinating cast of characters which include a "Moby Dick" obsessed college president, a confused baseball phenom, the wayward daughter of the president, and a resentful best friend. One moment changes all their lives...

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The 2 books I had wrapped and ready for the swap were:
1) The Guest List by Lucy Foley - an easy Murder Mystery page turner set in Ireland.
2) This is how it always is by Laurie Frankel - the story of a family who have a secret to keep.
These are wrapped and waiting for anyone who wants them on return to school.

A book I haven't read but am super excited to get from Santa is Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. It won the 2020 Booker Prize, is set in Glasgow and it is getting rave reviews.
Hope you are seeing this and have it on your radar, Virgina Whitelaw!

A final recommendation for your nightstand is David Seraris: The Best of Me or anything else by D.S. Light, funny and sometimes scandalous. Sorry I'm not willing to give up my copy for the swap.

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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This is probably the best book I've read all year! Genre: Fantasy.

It's actually hard to explain the plot, but it left me smiling from ear to ear and with all the warm & fuzzy feelings.

In the spirit of our cocktail making party on Thursday, I recommend pairing it with the Fire & Brimstone cocktail: https://www.hangrywhitemale.com/fire-and-brimstone-cocktail/ because (not a spoiler) one of the character, Luci, is the son of Satan (but also a very sweet boy!)