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The Slap
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
34 posts | 48 read | 33 to read
Soon to be an NBC event series directed by Lisa Cholodenko and starring Uma Thurman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Zachary Quinto. In this powerful and riveting novel, literary phenomenon Christos Tsiolkas unflinchingly exposes the inner workings of domestic life, friendship, and parenthood in the twenty-first century, and reminds us of the passions and malice that family loyalty can provoke. When a man slaps another couples child at a neighborhood barbecue, the event send unforeseeable shock waves through the lives of all who are witness to it. Told from the points of view of eight people who were present, The Slap shows how a single action can change the way people think about how they live, what they want, and what they believe forever.
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LapReader
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Pickpick

Out for breaky while the cleaner is at my place. These soufflé pancakes were delicious. Going to try and finish this book so I can watch the tv series these holidays.

BarbaraBB I enjoyed this book a lot! 1y
43 likes1 comment
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Clwojick
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Here is my April #BookSpinBingo list for now… I may still update it before the end of the month. I haven‘t chosen specific books for some of my monthly challenges yet, but I‘ll pick those as the month progresses. Once all the books are chosen I‘ll add their titles into my bullet journal spread. 😄

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
63 likes1 comment
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magyklyXdelish
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Panpan

The only reason I‘m giving this book a 2 instead of a 1 is because the Australian version of the show was really good and gave more substance to the characters. This book is filled with mid life crises and racism and none of the characters were likable. I‘m surprised I liked the show (not the us one, yuck) considering how true to the book it stayed.

#Booked2021 - set in Australia

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Sarz
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Panpan

Trigger warnings for just about everything - family violence, child abuse, sexual assault, drug misuse, sexist, racism, infidelity... The list goes on. And I'm okay with all that, as long as there is some sort of redemption or even just a point to it all.

But no.

This is my pick for #BookClubWorthy for #booked2020 because it was my pick for book club. There was definitely a lot to discuss but I'm sorry for making people read it.

Cinfhen Ha!! We read it for #BookClub too!! Very good discussion 😄we all agreed these were really AWFUL people 4y
LibrarianRyan Isn't this the book they made the TV show on. It was an interesting TV show. I remember it was based on a book. It was quite controversial, and only lasted one season (it should of, it kind of sucked). 4y
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Reagan I hated this book. Awful. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I hate when I pick an #unpopular book for book club. But, like you said, there's lots to discuss. 4y
CarolynM My book group read this a few years ago. I refused to read it because I'd read one of his earlier books. Subsequently I have read another one (tagged) - I think he writes quite well, but he writes ugly stories about uniformly awful people. I think that's just as unrealistic as lovely stories about uniformly nice people, but I know which I prefer to spend time on. 4y
23 likes6 comments
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Cinfhen
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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#TimbitTunes This book takes place in #TheSuburbs of Australia 🇦🇺 At a family bbq a man slaps another man‘s child and that action causes friction between all the family members. I loved the premise but the people involved were really sanctimonious and difficult to care for, even the 4 yr old was irksome 😉 (I get why he got slapped) Told in multiple POV‘s we learn more about the family & their long-standing conflicts.

Cathythoughts This one sounds interesting ♥️👍🏻 5y
TrishB I hated everyone in this book! I finished it but don‘t know why 🤷‍♀️ 5y
squirrelbrain They were all horrid weren‘t they?! @TrishB 5y
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TrishB @squirrelbrain truly horrid! 5y
BarbaraBB I really liked this book, despite the horrible characters 💕 5y
Cinfhen I‘m not sure if I “liked” this book but I did feel compelled to keep reading @BarbaraBB @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts 5y
JennyM I disliked all the characters in this book. They made me very cranky! 5y
Tex2Flo This was an excellent book for our book club discussion. I‘m with @Cinfhen in that “like” isn‘t exactly what I feel. Glad to have read it and have it under my belt is more like it. (edited) 5y
Cinfhen I could see how this would make for a good book club choice @Tex2Flo 5y
TheKidUpstairs I've been on the fence about reading this one, but I think it would make for some great discussions. 5y
LibrarianRyan This was made into a tv show 📺 in the US. Josh and I watched it. It had one season (maybe two but I don‘t think so). It was interesting and horrible at the same time. I believe in spanking but we were a household raised on military discipline. 5y
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Amiable
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Mehso-so

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the slap. The idea was better than the execution.

andrew61 That's how i felt about it as well. 5y
53 likes1 comment
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Erofan
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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A grown man slapped a kid at a picnic. 😱This act differently reflected at the present people! The narrative comes in the form of separate stories each of the characters. The reader sees the world and thoughts of the characters, and their relationship to the act (#TheSlap). The book is filmed in the form of a series that I will definitely watch! 📺 #ChristosTsiolkas

CarolynM Interesting to see this #ozfiction in translation🙂 5y
RadicalReader @Erofan cool book cover wondering if the author is Greek 5y
Erofan @RadicalReader The author was born in a family of Greek immigrants in Melbourne. 5y
39 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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JennyM
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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22 | #SeptemberDanes

Talk about #BestDay gone wrong. While at a bbq birthday party, Harry slaps a 4 year old who is not his son. What unfolds in the aftermath is horrible, and I detested EVERY SINGLE ONE of these characters.

LeeRHarry I couldn‘t bear to finish the book - but I watched the TV series which I thought was well done. 6y
JennyM @LeeRHarry we are clearly synced! I was about to add I enjoyed the tv drama. Great minds and all that 😊 6y
TrishB I hated them all too! 6y
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MrsMalaprop Ha ha! I really liked this book, whilst simultaneously disliking most/all of the characters. Certainly generated a feisty book club discussion at the time! @LeeRHarry @TrishB 6y
Kalalalatja Stacked! It sounds so dramatic 😄 6y
LeeRHarry I didn‘t realise there was a US series, I only saw the Aussie one. 6y
JennyM @LeeRHarry me, too. 6y
Cinfhen I read this book a few years back and it really stayed with me!! I agree, all the parents were awful 😖 6y
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BarbaraBB
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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This is a novel about the fissures that result from a man who, in a moment of #weak ness, strikes somebody else's child at a barbecue. The slap sets in motion much more than anyone could ever have foreseen. A great book, that makes you choose sides. #heatofjuly

Cinfhen I liked this book too!! Even though all the characters were pretty nasty 6y
Kalalalatja That sounds like one hell of a situation! 😱 6y
JennyM Great pick - the characters were all ugh. But a really good read. 6y
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Tashreads I couldn‘t get into it, probably not in the right head space. Will have to try again sometime. 6y
RadicalReader I love when books have you choose between sides adds so much more depth to the novel and the plot 5y
BarbaraBB Yes me too, especially when you side with the not correct one! 5y
61 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Lizstarks
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
Bailedbailed

I waited for the buzz around this book to die down.

I waited for the buzz around the miniseries to die down.

Finally, I put it on my audiobook reserve list through my public library app and one month later it was mine to listen to. Not 45 minutes into it and I had to abandon it.

I'm no prude, but hearing the C word used to describe how the 1st character thinks of women in the opening paragraph made me feel like shit. No thanks, Christos.

TheWintergarden Yes felt the same way about this one when it was included on a uni reading list. Had issues with creepy comments harry makes. He lusts after a young female much younger than he. It seemed to celebrate a misogyny of patriarchal culture. This could be educational if it is demonstrating the hideous male privilege that undoubtedly exists in our culture but unfortunately the scene was going to be glossed over as nothing. Not acceptable. 6y
Lizstarks I would have failed the unit this book was assigned to as reading material... Kudos to you for getting through it! 6y
3 likes2 comments
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melsimpson
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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So, I know I'm late to the party here, but I'm feeling conflicted about The Slap. I love novels with numerous perspectives and I really like the premise of this one but I really hate the two male characters whose points of view I've read so far: Hector and Harry. I feel little, if any, sympathy for them. Surely men aren't really so coarse and vile? I'm sticking with it but I am repulsed by the men I've read about so far though...

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InBooksILive
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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@MrsMalaprop congrats on the milestone! And thanks for making me look up all the incredible #ozfiction posts and I've added a ton of books to my TBR list! Haha The one I've tagged sounds so good. Thanks also for doing this #ozfictiongiveaway 😊

MrsMalaprop The Slap is one of my favourites. It seems to be a book that people love or hate. Thanks for entering 😊. 6y
50 likes1 comment
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ElishaLovesBooks
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Dollar store #BookHaul from last week. Of course I checked litsy reviews before purchasing! 😄

tammysue Nice! 👏🏻 6y
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ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen Good to know! It looks promising! 😊That cover though 🤢😡. 6y
BarbaraBB Echoing @Cinfhen on The Slap 6y
Cinfhen For a dollar, who cares!?! Good find!!! 6y
Caroline2 I‘ve seen the series of The Slap and it was really good! 👍🏻 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @BarbaraBB @Caroline2 Yay! 😀 @Cinfhen I know! You‘re right!!😁 6y
77 likes8 comments
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Bitchezwhobrunchwithbookz
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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At a #backyard barbecue party in suburban Melbourne, a four-year-old boy is slapped by a man for throwing a massive tantrum. This event leads to family tensions, racial prejudice and hurt feelings, told from the perspectives of eight main characters.
#sizzlinsummerbooks @Tiffy_Reads

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MrsMalaprop
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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After considerable shelf-searching I found not one but two books with #onomatopoeia in the title. And both of them happen to be Australian. #JubilantJuly

The Slap created a bit of a sensation & a mini-series followed. I read it and vividly recall the animated & fiery Christmas book club discussion the month it was chosen.

I've yet to read Shiver by another well-known Australian author Nikki Gemmell.

LazyOwl My sister bought me shiver for xmas, I'm yet to read it. 7y
34 likes2 comments
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Dragon
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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#awardedbook #sparklingmaybookishdreams here's a trio of award winning books by Commonwealth writers. All still on my massive tbr pile. I watched the American tv show The Slap so I picked the book up at a used booksale, Fifteen Dogs recently won Canada Reads and I've heard good things about Miriam Toews book

Moray_Reads All My Puny Sorrows is unbelievably good, so honest and unsentimental. It broke my heart 💔 7y
Dragon Thanks @moray_reads I listened to her other book and I have been meaning to read this one 7y
LeeRHarry I didn't know they did a US version of The Slap - the Aus version was good too but I couldn't stand the book weirdly enough! 7y
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maich Nice choice 7y
Dragon Thanks @LeeRHarry the book definitely had mixed reviews as did the US tv show. 7y
Dragon Thanks @maich I'm enjoying your prompts 😀👍 7y
49 likes6 comments
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Cinfhen
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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#MarchintoReading Another learning day for me, thanks @RealLifeReading 🤓 I was not familiar with the term #CommonwealthAuthors nor did I know there is a literary prize. Here are a few novels I read, which were awarded regional and Commonwealth awards. I recall 4/6 novels pretty clearly (which is impressive for me because I don't always retain my reading). Favorites; Slap & Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

LeahBergen A Fine Balance is one of my faves. ❤ 7y
Cinfhen Almost everyone in my bookclub loved that one too @LeahBergen but I couldn't get into it ☹️ 7y
Abailliekaras Curious Incident is great! 7y
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KarenUK I loved The Slap! One of the most polarizing books we've ever had in my book club, and one of the best discussions as a result.... 7y
Cinfhen Same @KarenUK 😉😉It got REAL UGLY at my bookclub over 7y
LauraBeth Ooohhh - how have I never even heard of The Slap? 📚 7y
MicheleinPhilly @LauraBeth I just weeded my shelves and was going to part with my copy of The Slap. I'm happy to send it to you if you're interested. 7y
LauraBeth @Micheleinphilly Oh that would be wonderful! Let me know what I can do for you 😀 familyramos1209@gmail.com 7y
minkyb These comments make me happy! 7y
Cinfhen Me too @minkyb love all the joy and sharing that goes on in the Litsyverse @LauraBeth @MicheleinPhilly 🌼🌸🌻 7y
LeahBergen @Cinfhen It was a "pick or a pan" with all of my sisters-in-law and me, too. ? 7y
MicheleinPhilly @LauraBeth Email sent! ☺ 7y
110 likes5 stack adds12 comments
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Onioons
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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I read this when I was on holidays in Australia a few years ago and I felt compelled to finish. I thought a moment would come to make it worth it, but it didn't 😕#marchintoreading #didntlikeitstillfinished

rubyslippersreads This was my pick too. 7y
LeeRHarry A lot of the locations were familiar to me as I'm a Melburnian - but I managed about 2 chapters and gave it away - the TV series I managed though 😊 7y
Onioons @LeeRHarry I know, I really wanted to love it because I was having such a good holiday 🇦🇺 7y
LeeRHarry @Onioons Glad you had a good holiday regardless! 😊 7y
40 likes4 comments
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rubyslippersreads
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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This may have won lots of awards, but I wanted to slap everyone in it. I only finished because it was for a book club. #didntlikeitstillfinished #marchintoreading

Suzze I started this one a few years ago. I'm sure I didn't finish it. 7y
MyNamesParadise I remember them making this into a short lived NBC show 7y
Zelma @Suzze I didn't finish it either. Hated it, hated all the characters. 7y
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Suzze @MyNamesParadise Oh, that's right! I think I watched the first one. DNF that either. 😁 7y
rubyslippersreads @Suzze @MyNamesParadise @Zelma Glad I'm not the only one who hated it. I forgot about the TV show (which of course I skipped). 7y
Arbol I loathed this book. I just did not understand why these people were forcing themselves to play out relationships that had no value or meaning. It WAS edifying though. It is largely in part why I evaluate my friendships and feel ok about moving on if something isn't working. Shit like this doesn't help anybody. 7y
MandaChittles Question - are you guys who disliked it from Melbourne? I found that my Melbourne-based friends hated it more than those who lived elsewhere. I think they are just passionate about their city and hated the idea of these characters living there... 7y
rubyslippersreads @MandaChittles I'm in the U.S., but I just couldn't stand any of the characters. 7y
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MrsMalaprop
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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So, so many #Australianauthors on my shelves, both fiction and non fiction. Books on the top shelf in this pic are all Aboriginal Australian books, mostly written by Aboriginal writers. Non fiction reads on the bottom left, and the shelves on the right are all #ozfiction reads. ❤ #Feistyfeb

RealLifeReading Wow what a collection. Sadly my library here in Northern California doesn't have much of an Australian collection! 7y
Cinfhen ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Abailliekaras Great collection! 7y
erzascarletbookgasm That's a lot of books by Australian authors! :) 7y
MrsMalaprop @RealLifeReading @erzascarletbookgasm Well, I am Australian & living here. I have a lot more than are shown here too! 7y
30 likes5 comments
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MariettaSG
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
Panpan

The Slap, complete crap! Poorly written, did not enlighten me in any way, not a single new idea or emotion, and so terribly written.

#LitsyAToZ s
#ReadHarder S

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ManyWordsLater
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Bailedbailed

These characters are despicable. Intentionally so. But during these trying times, I need all the positivity and love I can get. It's not you, it's me.

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MariettaSG
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Book 5 for #24in48, @ 22 hours of reading.
4.5 hrs til midnight here and I'm spent. A great experience. 3.5 books read and one started. Thanks for organising.😀 All best to everyone for the rest of the day, wherever you are, 💋🌏🌎🌍

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Cinfhen
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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#Lisygram #Novemberland Day 8 challenge: Time ~books written in multiple points of view. I LOVE stories that alternate POV...there are so many great ones, but these were the first few that came to mind.

Cinfhen Invention of Wings and The Mountains Echoed sort of got cut off 😐 7y
LeeRHarry Some great choices there, but I couldn't STAND The Slap....the book that is, didn't mind the TV series - which is a bit weird 😏 7y
Cinfhen @LeeRHarry it was a book club read and I recall a VERY HEATED discussion between two ladies...one NEVER returned to book club 🙊🙈🙉The slap wasn't perfect but it gave us plenty to talk about...before & after book club 😉 7y
See All 8 Comments
LeeRHarry @Cinfhen Wow love a bit of drama at book club!!! 😊 7y
KarenUK Heated book club discussion at mine too! 7y
Reviewsbylola I love alternating POVs too! 7y
Cinfhen @LeeRHarry @KarenUK hehe 😂 I know...I secretly relish when book club turns evil 😈 7y
Linsy I LOVED Big Little Lies! It's what got me on the Liane Moriarty train. 7y
51 likes1 stack add8 comments
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EnidBiteEm
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Pickpick

Australian #bookrainbow. Wanting is incredible, and an old favourite, so it deserves its own photo for a review. The Slap: I felt the author felt as hostile towards the characters as I did. The main event (a boy is slapped at a bbq by someone who is not his parent) raises interesting questions about morals, ethics, the law, & generational & class differences. As a side issue, the one-sided presentation of drug use bothered me. Read and be annoyed!

KarenUK The Slap is so great.... 8y
KarenUK Though I agree about the drug use... 8y
See All 7 Comments
Keryntalia Oh, A Child's Book of True Crime! I wrote my Honours thesis on that book. Seeing the hardback just gave me such a strong sense reaction. 8y
EnidBiteEm @KarenUK I'm glad you agree ... I was very conflicted about how to rate it. @Keryntalia Interesting!What was your thesis titled? 8y
Keryntalia @EnidBiteEm It was on Tasmanian gothic, true crime and the politics of disclosure. #quiteamouthful 8y
EnidBiteEm @Keryntalia that sounds like a thesis worth reading 😀 8y
32 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Sumus
Lussingen | Christos Tsiolkas
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Pickpick

Det er sjældent, jeg falder over en australsk roman, men denne er bestemt værd at læse. En voksen mand giver et barn en lussing ved en havefest, og partier og anti-partier sætter venskaber, familierelationer og forhold på prøve. Lidt som sommerfuglens vingeslag, der starter en tsunami.

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Bookgirl
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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Pickpick

I went back and forth on liking this. Parts dragged. Parts were extremely interesting. Character development was both well done and poorly done. Plot was thin yet compelling. I'm not sure I've ever been so conflicted on determining if a book is good or not.

Mimi Totally agree with that assessment! 8y
Bookgirl @Mimi This would be a great book club pick - plenty to discuss! 8y
steph_hashes_tags Haven't read the book, but watched the mini-series on TV last year, and I have to say, your critique is spot-on for the show as well! 8y
13 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Bookgirl
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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On page 33 and already not sure I want to read this...I'm hanging in for the shifting viewpoints because Hector, so far, is a real d-bag

bookloversnevergotobedalone I have this on my bookshelf. Interested to hear if it's worth reading. 8y
MyBookLife @bookloversnevergotobedalone I also have this on my bookshelf 😄 8y
bbbbecky Haven't read it, but my husband tried and gave up. He said he just couldn't get into it. Curious to hear your thoughts! 8y
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Mimi I read it and finished it so it was good enough to get me to the end but I almost gave up on it a few times. I found the characters completely unlikeable and the writing somewhat crass. 8y
aliax97 I thought it was one of those books that hooked me in even though there was no one I particularly related with. It's a bit like people-watching...but in a book, still a really interesting read though imo! 8y
Bookgirl @Mimi and @ilia I agree with both of you! A difficult book but with a lot of worthwhile themes 8y
15 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Sillyduck79
The Slap: A Novel | Christos Tsiolkas
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I am loving this book! I'm sad because I'm almost done.

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