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The Never-Open Desert Diner
The Never-Open Desert Diner: A Novel | James Anderson
27 posts | 21 read | 45 to read
A singularly compelling debut novel, about a desert where people go to escape their past, and a truck driver who finds himself at risk when he falls in love with a mysterious woman. Ben Jones lives a quiet, hardscrabble life, working as a trucker on Route 117, a little-travelled road in a remote region of the Utah desert which serves as a haven for fugitives and others looking to hide from the world. For many of the deserts inhabitants, Ben's visits are their only contact with the outside world, and the only landmark worth noting is a once-famous roadside diner that hasnt opened in years. Bens routine is turned upside down when he stumbles across a beautiful woman named Claire playing a cello in an abandoned housing development. He can tell that shes fleeing something in her pasta dark secret that pushed her to the end of the earthbut despite his better judgment he is inexorably drawn to her. As Ben and Claire fall in love, specters from her past begin to resurface, with serious and life-threatening consequences not only for them both, but for others who have made this desert their sanctuary. Dangerous men come looking for her, and as they turn Route 117 upside down in their search, the long-buried secrets of those whove laid claim to this desert come to light, bringing Ben and the other locals into deadly conflict with Claires pursuers. Ultimately, the answers they all seek are connected to the deserts greatest mysterywhat really happened all those years ago at the never-open desert diner?In this unforgettable story of love and loss, Ben learns the enduring truth that some violent crimes renew themselves across generations. At turns funny, heartbreaking and thrilling, The Never-Open Desert Diner powerfully evokes an unforgettable setting and introduces readers to a cast of characters who will linger long after the last page.
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Sweettartlaura
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Pickpick

It takes a while, but once this takes off, it‘s a great read. Not life-changing, earth-shattering, the type of book you shove in people‘s faces and yell, “Read this!” But a good, solid story, with interesting characters who have tales to tell.

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CoffeeNBooks
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#JulyJourneys #Desert
When I bought this book, my mind read it as the dessert 🥧🎂🍰🧁🍦🍨 diner. Yes, I'm an English teacher who knows the difference between desert and dessert, but my brain apparently wanted the book to be about a little roadside diner that was supposed to serve apple pie and ice cream, but was never open! 🤣 Once I read it, I realized that was definitely not the case. 😳
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

MayJasper 😂 3y
AmyG Ha! 3y
Eggs I get my merds wixed up a lot too-love this cover!! Sounds like a compelling setting and story👏🏻👏🏻 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚👍🏻 3y
75 likes1 stack add4 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
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BarbaraBB Great title! Is it good? 6y
CoffeeNBooks @BarbaraBB I haven't read it yet- it's on my TBR stack. 6y
BarbaraBB It does sound good! 6y
Cinfhen You have an impressive #TBR 😜😘 6y
76 likes4 comments
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Jolynne
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Pickpick

Secrets on a lonely desert highway.

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Pasteluniverse
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Picked this up at Goodwill last week and it looks great! Reading a couple other books right now, but it might be my next pick. Anyone else read this book? Thumbs up or down?

gradcat I haven‘t read it, but it sounds good enough for me to add to my TBR stack! 6y
Pasteluniverse @gradcat yeah, it looks really interesting! 6y
SleepyDragon I don't remember doing it, but somehow I already have this one stacked. Lol 6y
Ruthiella I‘ve heard good things about it!😀 6y
Scott_BookInvasion I‘ve been waiting to check this out on Audio. This looks good too- nice find! 6y
97 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
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I can't even go to the grocery store without buying a book, lol! I couldn't help it- the cover caught my attention, and it was only $3! 😂

SexyCajun I seem to have the same impulse buy with books! Even if it‘s 99 cents on Amazon! Lol 6y
mcipher It sounds really good, too! I applaud your purchase. 👏 6y
See All 6 Comments
Lola This is so me 😂 6y
CoffeeNBooks @mcipher See, this is why I love this community so much- we're so supportive of each other's book-buying habits! 😁 6y
zzz 🤣 the hubby and I are guilty of that too👻 6y
111 likes7 stack adds6 comments
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RealLifeReading
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Whee! My Book Outlet haul arrived.
And why yes I still haven‘t read any of the books I ordered during that last sale...

Suzze Mine came too and I‘m in the same boat. At least we‘ll have books to read while we float along. 6y
2BR02B Some great picks here. Sudden Death has been on my TBR for ages. 6y
chapter_fifty2017 I completely understand as it is coming up to the time for another annual book fair and l brought so many last year and posted about it, a year on have l read any ?🙈 No! but am l going this year , well yes 😉 6y
118 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Chronic_Reader
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#QuotsyMay18 • May 9|Orphan • I‘m all for optimism, but I believe that it sometimes looks like bracing for the worst and celebrating any outcome above it.

Eggs The anxiety of waiting for the doom 😫😱 7y
8 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
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Flying home today and starting with this one.

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ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

Really liked this one from the ToB longlist, I hadn't heard of it and think is great! Interesting characters and landscape.

@shawnmooney I wish I'd finished THIS one a day early!!

ValerieAndBooks I have that same mug 😍! 8y
ReadingEnvy @ValerieAndBooks it's so pretty!! 8y
BraveNewBooks I hadn't heard of it either, glad to hear you recommend. 8y
shawnmooney Too bad, but regardless, I very much want to read this! :-) 8y
75 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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thebookwheel
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The perfect setting for this book! #GreatSandDunes

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Coffeymuse
Mehso-so

Good but the middle drug on and on and on. Loved the western setting and the mystery but was too slow paced for me.

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Coffeymuse
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lunch and this never ending book. Seriously just want to finish this thing 100 pages to go.

MrBook Mmmm 😋! 8y
1 like1 comment
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Coffeymuse
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reached the point I'm just tired of reading this...bet I'll do a big push tonight to get it done. Good but such a slow read.

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Coffeymuse
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I'm enjoying this book but it's reading slow. Got a few more pages read at lunch today.

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Coffeymuse
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crawling into bed and doing some reading. I had a migraine on Saturday and worked on the DVR today. Good weekend, just no reading time.

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Coffeymuse
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quick work break with this beautiful book.

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AceRender
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I am enjoying this book so much!!! I am so thankful for GoodReads and the author, James Anderson for taking the time to sign a copy for me. A different type of twist on a love story and I absolutely love it, I'm a sucker for love though! I am on page 200 now, about to lay down and finish!

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whatsjennareading
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Pickpick

Anderson is an incredible story teller. This book is full of memorable characters. I loved every minute of it until the very end. Part of the conclusion was great, but other parts hurt me in my heart parts.

MrBook Cool cover and nice pic! 😊 8y
15 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Bogbobler-wwwbogboblerdk
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This book had me at the title alone. The cover is so fine as well. And then: "Part love story, part mystery, part meditation on place, James Anderson's The Never Open Desert Diner is peopled with quirky characters and peppered with fine prose that has the taste of truth." - Roland Merullo

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whatsjennareading
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My 3rd Blogging for Books selection. I'm really looking forward to this one!

2 likes1 stack add
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Kd_reads
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Pickpick

A truck driver delivers to route 117 for the 10 or so people who live out there in the middle of the desert. So hauntingly wonderful!! Little bit of mystery, crime, life and just all around great book! I highly recommend!

5 likes2 stack adds
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Victoria
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Couldn't help thinking about this book while I was hiking today.

4 likes1 stack add
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Victoria
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I walked around the house. There was no sign anyone lived there, or had ever lived there. In the backyard I paused and took in the unhindered view all the way west...