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Kate Carter-Brown

@plainsprose

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📍 Kansas City
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Passionate Traveler
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Here they are!

I am struggling with the word favorite this year. Were these my favorites... maybe. Were they standout reads...absolutely.

1. The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder and Redemption in Immigrant LA- Jesse Katz
2. The Hounding- Xenobe Purvis
3. The Correspondent- Virginia Evans
4. Audition-Katie Kitamura
5. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This- Omar El Akkad
6. Endling-Maria Reva
7. The Girls Who Grew Big- Leila Mottley
8. Intermezzo-Sally Rooney
9. There is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America-Brian Goldstone
10. A Family Matter- Claire Lynch
11. The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus- Emma Knight

Here's to many more impactful, moving, educational, consuming and beautiful reading experiences in 2026.

Would love to hear what books you read and loved in 2025

And maybe I'll start posting again consistently in 2026 🫣😂 by @plainsprose

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10 months ago

Really savoring these last few summer days before we teachers report back.

Currently reading and loving Susan Choi's Flashlight

#bookish #books #currentlyreadi̇ng #coffeeandbooks #literary #coffeeshop #readers #readersgonnaread #openbook #readmorebooks by @plainsprose

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a year ago

Now that our pool is selling smoothies I may never leave.

What have you all been reading this summer?

#summer #books #bookstagram #bookish #readers #summerreads #poolside #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #literary by @plainsprose

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a year ago

✨ Dream weekend setup ✨

I visited two bookstores this weekend for independent bookstore day and got some uninterrupted reading time in a few of the best spring spots (even though it was cloudy and drizzly 🤷🏻‍♀️)

What did you pick up this Indie Bookstore Weekend?

#bookish #books #booksbooksbooks #readmorebooks #kansascity #sevenswanscreperie #kc #independentbookstoreday #independentbookstore #coffeeandbooks by @plainsprose

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a year ago

✨ February and March Reads ✨

Hello, Bookstagram... it's been awhile. This has been a slower reading year for me and I fear I am in a very long three star streak. BUT April has been better.

I find when my reading rhythm is off I reach for things that I think may jumpstart my reading. Possibly something I know is a page turner or very outside my wheelhouse, and it basically never works. I find myself getting even more stuck and hate reading to the end of something I should just DNF- looking at you Paris Apartment.

Fortunately, I seem to be finding my stride again this month and am hoping to actually share some reviews soon instead of consistently forgetting until those midnight hours 😂

For inspiration what is the best book you've read lately?

#books #booksbooksbooks #whatiread #readersofinsta #bookish #literary #readmorebooks #readersofinstagram📚📚❤️ by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

CONFESSIONS-Catherine Airey

"'I was at a time in my life where I got to thinking more about people's choices – how everything would be different if just the slightest decision changed."

Unfortunately, I have let this one marinate too long before reviewing and enough has left my memory that a full review feels a bit out of reach.

Bur what I do remember about this is how readable and propulsive I found it. I enjoyed the storylines and puzzling out how the characters were connected in the obvious and secretive ways.

I also remember struggling to suspend my disbelief in the later half of the book. There were loads of coincidences, happenings and connections that felt.. a stretch.

This was a compelling read and my favorite type of generation hopping, family saga, confessional story.

#books #bookstagram #bookish #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #literary #bibliophile by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

✨ January Reads ✨

Custom of the Country and Intermezzo were my shining stars this month.

What did you love in January?

#books #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #readmore #whatiread #bibliophile #bookish by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

BLUE SISTERS-Coco Mellors

"It was easy to love someone in the beginnings and endings; it was all the time in between that was so hard."

I had heard mixed reviews from some very trusted sources on Coco Mellors new book. I ended up waiting until the new read to read this one thinking it may be a good read to get things going, but not book of the year material.

I was right. This was propulsive and very readable. Even as I came to despise some of the characters and their actions I still wanted to keep reading to find out what came next. I loved switching lenses between sisters and hopping across the globe.

I did not love how cliche these characters came across. There is little depth to these women and their actions and struggles felt extremely stereotyped. There is so much to sisterhood, grief, coming of age, etc. etc. etc. all that could be beautifully explored, but it just wasn't done to an inspiring level in this novel.

All that being said if you're looking for a book that keeps you reading and you can get caught up in for a couple of days--even if that reading is fueled by frustration--this is for you.

#booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #readersofig #bibliophile #readmorebooks #whatiread #literature by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

THIS MOTHERLESS LAND-Nikki May

I was excited to dive into another of Nikki May's novels. I was especially intrigued to read her loose retelling of an Austen classic.

I haven't read Mansfield Park, so can't give my take on its connection to the source material (maybe this year!), but I love the lens through which May told this story. A story about colonization, home, racism, acceptance and belonging. I loved all that this story was doing and appreciated deeply the journeys these characters took over their lives and within their relationships.

This is incredibly readable and propulsive. It is also incredibly on the nose. The characters are often caricatures. One aunt/sister is so evil and mean. And yes, of course, those types exist in the "real world" but it didn't feel authentic. I found myself rolling my eyes at the over the top audacity rather than contemplating the brilliant themes and commentary that was there but not to the depth possible.

Overall, this was a solid three stars ⭐️

#bookish #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readers #readersofinstagram #bibliophile #readmorebooks by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

Intermezzo-Sally Rooney

"Sometimes you need people to be perfect and they can’t be and you hate them forever for not being even though it isn’t their fault and it’s not yours either. You just needed something they didn’t have in them to give you."

Thanks to winter storm Blair, winter break was extended a few days and became the perfect time to cross off a couple 2024 reads that came into 2025 unread. First up the latest Sally Rooney.

I ended up really loving this book. It is certainly Rooney at her most mature. The contemplation on sibling hood, expectations, disappointments and growth was done so well. I found the brother's relationship to be so moving and poignant.

As with all of Rooney's previous novels I found the writing sharp and propulsive. Peter's sections had a voice and writing style that did take some time to ease into and at times left me a bit adrift--but I got there.

I do wish more depth and care was given to disability as it felt like a plot point to the brother's story rather than given the care and attention it deserves.

Overall, this was a big win for me at the start of the year, and I will continue to look forward to whatever Rooney does next.

#bookish #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookworm #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #sallyrooney #intermezzo #snow #snowday by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

✨ 2024 Top Ten (11) ✨

2024 wasn't my favorite year in books, but making this list highlighted that there were some really, really excellent reads (or reading experiences) this year. So good in fact that I couldn't narrow it down to a top ten. And another ten or so that I ultimately didn't include but ask me tomorrow and they may be swapped into this top list

My Top Ten (11) Books Read in 2024:

1. James- Percival Everett
2. Martyr!- Kaveh Akbar
3. Piglet-Lottie Hazell
4. Come & Get It-Kiley Reid
5. Clear-Carys Davies
6. The Great Divide- Christina Henríquez
7. Ghostroots- Pemi Aguda
8. The God of the Woods- Liz Moore
9. My Husband- Maud Ventura
10. When Crack was King: A people's history of a misunderstood era- Donovan X. King
11. A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting- Sophie Irwin

***Also JUST realized I didn't include the Neapolitan Novels so add three more (the fourth is still waiting for me)

What did you love this year??

#books #bookish #booklove #bibliophile #booklover #bookstagram #literary #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #read #bookstagram by @plainsprose

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2 years ago

Cozy reading season has to be my favorite...Pairs nicely with the Bonne Maman Advent calendar 😘

What are you reading this season?

#books #bookbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookish #bonnemaman #winter #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #coffeeandbooks #literature by @plainsprose

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2 years ago