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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:40

20 Questions: What book did Shahnaz pick?!

Okay. So it's been a little while since we did 20 questions here, but I have to start this because Shanaz, aka Bookish Podcast, aka Madam Coldhearted, has led me to this point. We had a conversation that started in my review of the historic fiction novel Lilac Girls, and it has now turned into a guessing game in which I am trying to figure out the book that she now has picked for her April Books Code. So here we go

Help me figure out what book @bookishpodcast chose for her April book club!

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@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:27

NOT from the United States! @bowie

Hello. Hello, Bowie. Sounds really desperate to me, but I'm so glad we're playing this. Okay. This is Madam Coldhearted reporting that the author is not from the United States. That would be Question One. Alrighty. Your turn
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:23

@bookishpodcast Afghanistan?

Okay, I'll just put it out there and admit that I am desperate. I do not like that. I don't know what this is. And I don't have patience to wait for an ex book club. So interesting, not from the United States. Is this author from Afghanistan
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:06

Not Afghanistan @bowie

Sorry, Bowie. Not from Afghanistan
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:09

@bookishpodcast Pakistan?

Okay. But like, what about Pakistan? Also, they're doing an incredible amount of construction right outside my window. So it's very loud
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:42

@bowie Do NOT want to frustrate you!

Oh, and Bowie, it is not my intention to frustrate you at all. If you ever want to just stop and be like I'm done, just let me know. And I'll tell you, I just thought, you know, originally I was just going to send you the name. And then I just thought of this idea. And I thought, Bowie loves challenges and you're such a geek. And I thought she may like this
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@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:04

No to Pakistan! @bowie

Pakistan is a no
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:19

@bookishpodcast Sweet Shahnaz!

Oh, my gosh, you're so sweet. Suddenly, Madam Coldhearted disappeared and Sweet Shenan appeared. No, this is so fun. I'm not actually frustrated at all. I think it's great. And you're right. I'm so such a geek. I could do this all day. So fun. Yeah
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:05

@bookishpodcast Middle East?

Is the writer from a country in the Middle East
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:07

NOT from the Middle East. @bowie

The author is not from the Middle East
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:05

@bookishpodcast Europe?

Okay. Is the author from somewhere in Europe
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@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:12

YES! The author is from somewhere in Europe! @bowie

Okay. I think we're hitting a spot now. Yes. The author is from somewhere in Europe
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:04

@bookishpodcast Italy?

Okay. Is this author from Italy
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:10

@bowie NOT from Italy

No. Now I'm wondering what book you are thinking about. Now I'm kind of like what authors from Italy. But the answer is no
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:09

@bookishpodcast Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Okay. So I doubt very much that it's this. But is this writer from Bosnia and Hertze covinia
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:22

@bowie NO. Not Bosnia and that other place you mentioned! 😂

Now I'm curious. Bosnia. And his what is that? Okay. I haven't even heard of that one. The answer is no. This author is not from Bosnia and had gone Nova
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:11

@bookishpodcast Spain?

I thought you would appreciate that one. So what about is this author from Spain
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:09

Not from Spain @bowie

Oh, Bowie, no, the author is not from Spain. Sorry
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:25

@bookishpodcast Are you including the UK?

Okay. So I'm literally sitting in front of a map right now looking at Europe. And I realized, are you one of those people that considers the UK part of Europe or no? Because I have not been including the UK when thinking about Europe. But I know that some people do. So I feel like this is an important differentiation
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:14

Yes! Absolutely consider the UK as part of Europe!! 😂😂 @bowie

I absolutely consider the United Kingdom, part of Europe. Just FYI alright, that answers your question. There
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:11

@bookishpodcast ENGLAND!?

Shanaz, I could totally hear you resisting laughter. Because it has to be England. It's England, is it not
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:43

Hahaha! Yes the author is from England. @bowie

Ha ha ha. Fine. Fine. I'll give you England. Yes, the author is from England, whatever that means. But anyway, yes. But I will tell you that you asked United Kingdom. Technically, I do consider Ireland as part of Europe. Also, just FYI. Now that we know the authors from England, you know, I mean, that gives away Ireland, but just FYI just thought I would add that
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:42

@bookishpodcast Female!?

Oh, my gosh. Somehow I missed the notification for this, so I thought you had given up on me. But here we are. I finally guessed the place. My goal now is to just try to guess this before you announce it. Just because I'm stubborn and like that. So let's see. I don't think I already asked this question. Does the author identify as male or female or like, non binary or transit or something like that?
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 1:04

Yes female @bowie

So you have a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday day. Wednesday, Thursday, five days. I could just tell you right. But you're like, no. Okay. All right. I'm not telling you. Your turn. It's
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:04

@bookishpodcast 2021?

Was this book released in 2021
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:14

@bowie No

Ooh Bowie? S going into when the book was released and the answer is no. The book was not released in 2021
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:03

@bookishpodcast Fiction or nonfiction?

Okay. Is it fiction or nonfiction
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:27

Fiction! @bowie

But wait, your clock is ticking, you know, because Book Club is Thursday. So let's see. You have. Well, I guess you have two more days, right? I think you might just get this one because the books is fiction. So there you have it. So how close are you? What do you think
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:03

@bookishpodcast Zadie Smith!?

The book by Zady Smith
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:35

Not Zadie Smith @bowie

I had to look up books by Zatie Smith. I'm like she writes interesting stuff, but no. Sorry. Yeah. Ticktock. Pick Tock your clocks. You you know, I guess you're slowly running out of time, but not completely. I have a feeling you'll get it. I really do. So we're on what, Tuesday night. So you have all day. Wednesday and Thursday. I think you'll get it. I think you'll get it. We'll see
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:04

Kate Atkinson!?

Okay. Is it a book by Kate Atkinson
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:47

Sorry no! 😔 @bowie

All right, you're less than 24 hours away, my dear. Good luck. Well, this is fun, though. This is fun. I don't know. I think you might get it. I believe you will get it. That's all. I just believe it. All right. I'll look for your next question. And if not, I'll see you tomorrow
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:38

The Girl With the Louding Voice

Okay. So I don't know if I fully trust you here, because when you say the writer is from England, I'm assuming that they are born and are from there not immigrated there. But since I feel like feel like that may not be totally the case. I'm going to guess this book, The Girl With the Louding Voice and the author currently lives in England, but emigrated from Nigeria. So I'm going to guess because I'm not confident
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 1:54

No. Not that book!

If an author was not born in England and it migrated there, that would be a trickier question to answer. So I was really looking into this author's history and stuff and this author was born in England. Well, I will tell you that it's my lunchtime here and after this, I'm still teaching this morning, so I don't know if I'll be able to respond. I'll try, but we have a few patients so I may not have the time to respond
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@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 1:24

2020?

This is all that you have shared is that it's a book that reminds you in some way of against the loveless world, which is pretty vague. So there are some things that could maybe be clues there. The book is written by a female British author, and it was not published in 2021, so it's not going to be a new release. Really not a ton to go off there, because that means it could have been published like it could be from any other time
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:59

Yes! 2020 published! @bowie

And yes, the book was published in 2020. And what the heck is going on with Goodreads? It took me forever to find the book. Usually when you ask me a question, I go click, click a quick title of the book, and halfway through it pulls the book up. This time I'm like, I've got the full title on Goodreads, and it's messing up. But anyway, I found it and book was released in 2020. I'll see you at book club
@bowie
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:25

Small Pleasures or The 24 Hour Cafe!?

Okay, we're down to the wire. Here my final guesses. I don't think either of them are right, but I'm gonna try either Small Pleasures by clear Direction Chambers or the let me see here. I have it pulled up the 24 Hours Cafe by Libby page
@bookishpodcast
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:30

No to those two. @bowie

Oh, my goodness, no, no, no, not yet. Come on. You're so close. And actually, I told you I was just leaving the school, right. Well, I literally finished the message in a student voice, walks and goes, there's a patient here. Do you want to see them? And I'm like, so, yeah, I'm here for another 40 minutes before I leave. So there's no to those two. So keep going
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