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The Raw and The Cooked

Simple Meals + Honest Book Reviews + Practical Living

Was Listening to The Goldfinch for 32+ Hours Worth It?

Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Book Review by Dara Boxer at Peonies and Bees

A few weeks ago, I drove from DC to Durham to visit one of my close friends for the weekend. With stops and small bouts of traffic, it’s about a four and a half hour drive each way. I wanted to listen to something engaging for the road, and everything I’ve heard about Donna Tartt, led me to download The Goldfinch — hoping her most popular novel would fit the bill. And then I noticed it was a 32+ hour audiobook…

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Five BOTM Reviews

Five BOTM Reviews | Dara Boxer at Peonies and Bees
Earlier this summer, I received a massive shipment from Book of the Month when I put my account on a temporary hold. I had about five credits stored up and wanted to cash it out before my hiatus. I posted about the five books I said I was pumped to read. Well, a few months later, I’ve read all five, and dying to share my thoughts on each of them! I’m going to list them in order from LOVED to Meh…. my GR rating, and whether or not I’d recommend it to you.
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Five Stars for Wonder by R.J. Palacio!

I loved everything about Wonder by R.J. Palacio. If you’re looking for something heartwarming, sweet, and will make you want to hug all of the characters in a book, Wonder should be your next read. Oh my gosh, I cried way too many times to count.

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Hello Third Trimester!

Hello Third Trimester | Dara Boxer at Peonies and Bees
I always envisioned myself blogging throughout my pregnancy, you know, weekly recaps with photos, symptoms, and fun stories alike. But then something shifted during my first trimester. I no longer felt the desire to share every little thing about this journey with the internets. It feels super personal and private, and I want to save it all for my husband and our close friends. And also, this is a book blog — no room for babies on here! BUT…
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