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Alex Reis Valente
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The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
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My highest complements to a book series are as follows: 1. I text my sisters that it’s required reading and 2. If I’m reading on Kindle, I order physical copies immediately. I did both as I was reading The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. My party line about this series is that it’s a grown up Junie B. Jones (but British and set in the 1800s). I say this because Emma is clever and charming, and finds herself in all sorts of precarious situations. Each volume contains two months of Emma’s diaries. We meet Emma upon her 1883 return to St. Crispian’s, a quirky fictional neighborhood in London. She’s an orphan returning home to claim her birthright: Lapis Lazuli House. Upon her return she finds that her abhorrent cousin who resides at Lapis Lazuli has put them in dire financial straights. No matter—Emma is our plucky heroine, made of stronger stuff. She turns the garret (where she’s been banished by said cousin) into her lovely little home, starts straightening out their household finances, and settles back into life in St. Crispian’s, where there’s Roman ghosts, handsome and mysterious vicars, sweet and naive cooks, surprising Dukes, infuriating aunts, disappearing (and re-appearing) items, and a tenant who swirls into Emma’s life like a summer storm. I was SO sad to leave the world of St. Crispian’s when I finished Vol 8, but Vol 9 is on the way for 2026, and apparently there’s over 20 volumes planned. I can’t wait.
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10w
The Bear Season 5, Episode 7 "Caramel" and Episode 8 "The Original Beef of Chicagoland"
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Two beautiful episodes of television. Episode 7, reminiscent of Season 2, Episode 6 "Fishes." A perfectly choreographed dance of chaos and heart. Episode 8, the encore. The liminal space where we must say goodbye to our characters, close out their arcs, leave each door cracked, so that we might imagine all the places their lives might go without us.
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