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The Flamethrowers
The Flamethrowers: A Novel | Rachel Kushner
34 posts | 57 read | 44 to read
Arriving in New York to pursue a creative career in the raucous 1970s art scene, Reno joins a group of dreamers and raconteurs before falling in love with the estranged son of an Italian motorcycle scion and succumbing to a radical social movement in 1977 Italy. By the National Book Award-nominated author of Telex from Cuba.
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review
BarbaraBB
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Bailedbailed

I‘ve been listening to this book for a few days but after a strong beginning I kind of lost what the book was about and couldn‘t make myself really care. So I am bailing. The good news is that I started another audiobook (I Have Some Questions For You) and that one is able to hold my attention so far! #1001books

squirrelbrain I can imagine that Questions might be good as an audiobook as it meanders along (that‘s the kind of audio I like anyway!) 6mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain and Barbara I read questions on audio and agree that part is well done even if I didn‘t enjoy the plot. Hope it‘s working for you B! 💜 6mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks I thought it would be better to do it audio because it is so long and many Littens were disappointed by it in the end 6mo
66 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Daisey
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Mehso-so

I seem to feel much the same as many other Litsy reviewers about this book. There were descriptive parts I thoroughly enjoyed, like the section about riding a motorcycle on the salt flats, but overall it was a long listen that often lost my full attention. I‘m not sure what I was supposed to get from it, and it definitely jumped around confusingly at times.

#audiobook #1001books #Reading1001
#TBRTakedown September 2023

Daisey 📷: Photo from my #audiowalk a few days ago with Luthien 7mo
Ruthiella I love Rachel Kushner, but I can‘t put my finger on why she works for me and not for others. 7mo
dabbe Hello there, Lovely Luthien! 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
46 likes3 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
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Mehso-so

7-2-22: My 64th finished book of 2022! It‘s 1975 and Reno, a motorcycle riding artist is living in NYC. This story was a bit hard to follow and took me awhile to get through. Reno meets a group of artists, travels to Italy during a time of protests, comes back to NYC to start over after a break up and never gets her art going. The men all treat her poorly, as do most of the women. The 70s in NYC were a weird time of unrest. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣4️⃣

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Kazzie
Mehso-so

She is an excellent writer, however the story was complicated to follow at times and I found myself loosing interest in the secondary story - book would have been shorter and more enjoyable without

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Ruthiella
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#FallFinds #Flames

Kushner‘s books often divide readers, but I love her writing. 🔥 🔥🔥

Eggs Brilliant 👏🏻📚👏🏻 4y
KVanRead Loved this one! 4y
BarbaraBB @KVanRead That is good to know, that both of you loved it. I bailed on it but might try again. It‘s still on my shelves! 4y
See All 10 Comments
Cathythoughts I‘ve never read her. Stacking 4y
KVanRead @BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Her writing is quite different but I like that! 4y
Ruthiella @KVanRead @BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Agree! She has a roundabout way of telling a story. I like it but can see where others don‘t. I‘ve read all three of her novels. But this was the first. (edited) 4y
KVanRead I‘ve only read this one. Do you have a favorite? 4y
Ruthiella @KVanRead The Flamethrowers is probably my favorite. 😀 4y
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella @KVanRead Thanks for the shoutout. I only read this one and didn‘t enjoy it much 4y
KVanRead @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB Good to know, thanks! 4y
36 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Kristelh
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Currently reading Flamethrowers. The rest isn‘t April stack.

BarbaraBB Do you enjoy it? 4y
Kristelh @BarbarraBB, I find it hard to engage with it. No doubt she is able to write great statements but.,, 4y
13 likes2 comments
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Shemac77
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Bailedbailed

Beautiful writing but I couldn‘t for the life of me engage with the story.

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Shemac77
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Straight into the next.

LauraJ Great shelves! 🖤 4y
Shemac77 Thank you! @LauraJ 4y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Califlamingo
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Bailedbailed

It just wasn't my style and I had a hard time following it.

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charl08
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...instead of a bottle they used a little stovetop espresso maker...

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charl08
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...The big inheritance question was who would get the guns....

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charl08
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None of it could be recreated. We'd eaten the lotus paste buns on a cold, damp November day...

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charl08
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One I've had on the shelf, from the library, for ages. 40 pages in and I've no idea where it's going...

45 likes1 stack add
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everlocalwest
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Mehso-so

A novel about class and belonging populated by a bunch of people pretending to be...I dunno, imagined versions of themselves. The writing is good, the language is good, but I got mired in this and have no real idea about what Kushner was trying to say. This one was so hyped (been on my TBR for years) and it did nothing for me.

charl08 Yup, that sums up what I thought too! 5y
38 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Henrik_Madsen
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Pickpick

Overall I enjoyed this book. Some parts were beautiful and fascinating - especially the motorcycle parts - and Kushner generally writes well. The parts about the New York art scene got a little long in the tooth, however.

Liz_M I loved the description of the race on the salt flats, too. 5y
8 likes1 comment
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night_shift
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@hermyknee - it arrived! I love opening stuff, so that was much fun, thank you!

😍 to all the coffee and that mug! The bookmark is really cool, too. I'm so super curious on that strawberry infused coffee.. like I want to try it now, but I'm going to force myself to wait until morning.

Thank you, again! Awesome box and looking forward to this read 😁

madamereadsalot1 Love that mug! 6y
night_shift @madamereadsalot1 I know, isn't it great?! 6y
LeahBergen Nice!! 😍 6y
See All 7 Comments
hermyknee Yay! I‘m so glad you like everything! The woodmark is by inkandwonder designs - you can follow her on Instagram. She‘s great! 6y
night_shift @hermyknee cool! I found her and followed - cool stuff! I tried the love portion. It's bizarre, but great! 6y
monalyisha Inquiring minds need to know: how was the strawberry coffee?! 5y
night_shift @monalyisha it smelled faintly of strawberry, but it didn't really come through at all in the taste. It was some dang good coffee though! 5y
71 likes7 comments
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Robothugs
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My current read. I received this along with The Mars Room and this one intrigued me a bit more, so it was up first!

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Confession time: I always think of your handle as Robo Thugs, but I assume it's Robot Hugs. I just think it's funny, thought you might get a kick of it. 🤣 6y
Robothugs @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego it‘s actually meant to be both! Whichever you fancy, or whichever mood I‘m in. 😏😜 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @Robothugs ok good! Now I don't feel so dumb. Lol. 6y
80 likes3 comments
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Brooke_H
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Thank you, @Suet624 ! ❤️

Suet624 Wow! That was fast! And you‘re welcome. 😀 6y
15 likes1 comment
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Suet624
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So many critics loved this book. I have a huge book hangover from my last read and the words she writes are just words. I‘m not getting any feeling from it or even any desire to know more. You get the picture. With that glowing recommendation, if anyone wants to try it, I‘m happy to mail it to you.

Brooke_H Has anyone taken you up on your offer? If not, I will! I‘ve been wanting to read this one. ☺️ 6y
Cinfhen I bailed on this one and was not impressed with her newest 6y
Suet624 @Brooke_H it‘s all yours. Send your mailing info to me @ Suet624 (at) gmail.com. Happy to send it along. 6y
See All 12 Comments
kspenmoll I just tried this recently & could not get i to it either. In a giveaway box! 6y
Brooke_H Thank you!! 6y
DivineDiana Did not enjoy this, even with the New York art scene which I love. 🙁 6y
ValerieAndBooks I‘m interested 🙋‍♀️!! 6y
ValerieAndBooks Never mind, I see you have a taker already 😊. 6y
Suet624 @ValerieAndBooks maybe @Brooke_H can pass it along to you when she‘s done! 6y
Brooke_H Yes, definitely! 6y
ValerieAndBooks No hurry to get it to me @Brooke_H and if you happen to love this so much you can‘t bear to part with it, no worries there either 😊 6y
59 likes12 comments
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jenniferw88
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Cinfhen Clever pick🔥🔥🔥 6y
76 likes1 comment
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Geo1
Pickpick

Great

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erzascarletbookgasm
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“The year is 1975 and Reno has come to New York intent on turning her fascination with motorcycles and speed into art. Her arrival coincides with an explosion of activity in the art world... Reno begins an affair with the son of a motorcycle magnate. Her relationship takes her to Italy where she falls in with a radical political group.”
#juneitselectrifying #coolrider

Cinfhen I just read The Mars Room also very gritty! She‘s a good writer but I do t think I care for her writing style and subject matter. I‘m not sure I‘ll be reading more from her (edited) 6y
2BR02B I really want to read this author. I hear she's quite polarizing but I think I'd like her. 6y
vkois88 Sounds interesting 6y
79 likes1 stack add3 comments
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taycseal
Pickpick

Pick

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ShariEstaLeando
Mehso-so

Interesting, but jarring. I don‘t think I knew enough about any of the cultural topics or incidents to make this book meaningful for me.

2 likes1 stack add
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kendrastephaniekaryn
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A little mini #bookhaul from my local used bookstore!

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rachellayown
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I've been horrible about the photo challenges, but here's my pick for a title that would make a great band name. #marchintoreading

48 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Jokila
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This was #myfirstlitsypost two months ago! (Thanks to @Ebooksandcooks for liking!) #firsteverlitsypost

Megabooks You're welcome! 8y
MrBook 😎👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻! Glad you've stayed with us 😊👍🏻!!! 8y
13 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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erinreads
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Today's #bookhaul from the library bookstore. Got everything for only $12! My husband made me leave and said I had to save some for next time.

LastSplash I've been wanting to read "Wolf Hall" for the longest time! 8y
erinreads @LastSplash Me too! Finding a like new copy for only $2 was exciting. 8y
EliseWhitmore @LastSplash @erinreads Loved Wolf Hall ❣ 8y
18 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Jokila
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Megabooks Great picture!! 8y
1 like2 comments
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KVanRead
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Pickpick

And for my belated #WCW, posting from Vegas about Rachel Kushner who wrote about a woman named Reno. I loved this book especially the strong and female characters of Reno and Giddle trying to make it in the male dominated art world of 1970's New York. @BookishFeminist

BookishFeminist I still need to read this! It's been sitting on my shelf for way too long now. I loved this one though 8y
KVanRead And I still need to read that one! Sounds good! 8y
21 likes2 comments
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Jompa
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Christine89
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"The man looked up at us. In his face I saw confusion and misery, and I understood that we had interrupted him. He'd been trying to kill himself. He looked up, helplessly alive, swaddled in his drenched clothes."

6 likes1 stack add
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BookLoverCarly
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Feeling the need for speed this morning!

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SwayBug
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Pickpick

The writing is magic.