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Such Small Hands
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
30 posts | 25 read | 32 to read
Shirley Jackson meets The Virgin Suicides, set at an all-girls orphanage.
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GatheringBooks
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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#OminousOctober Day 7: I have a feeling there‘s a #Monster somewhere in this horror story. Recent book haul.

Bookwormjillk That looks so creepy! 2y
Eggs Spooky 👻 2y
48 likes2 comments
review
Jilly6183
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

I don‘t know what to say about this short read. It‘s devastating and haunting, and yet it captures something familiar about childhood and the outsized way we process our emotions when we are young. So many emotions captured in under 100 pages.

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Avanders
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

2 more swaps! See @sprainedbrain & @Chrissyreadit for #springequinoxswap
See @ShelleyBooksie & @DinoMom for #litsylovesanimalsswap

& I‘ve read 3 more books! The tagged was quick, creepy, wicked, & even a little surprising. â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸

Pride.. is a YA retelling w a 17-year-old protagonist pursuing a legal career… I liked it more than I expected! â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸ðŸ’«

And Spells & Caramels — not terribly original or surprising, but thoroughly enjoyed. â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸

Chrissyreadit I am stacking 2/3 â¤ï¸ 3y
Chrissyreadit And thanks for sharing 😘 3y
sprainedbrain Thank you for sharing! 3y
See All 6 Comments
ShelleyBooksie Thank you for sharing 3y
merelybookish The cover for Little Hands is striking. And creepy 3y
Avanders @Chrissyreadit @sprainedbrain @ShelleyBooksie 😘😘😘 @merelybookish I know… and it wasn‘t even a cover-buy for me! It came recommended â˜ºï¸ (edited) 3y
64 likes6 comments
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Tattooedteacher
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Bailedbailed

This book got decent reviews but I just couldn‘t do. Maybe it was the writing style, the translation, or it just wasn‘t my cup of tea. It‘s on my ereader, so maybe we‘ll be a good fit at another time. #bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes you just gotta cut a book loose! 4y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Tattooedteacher
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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My #bookspinbingo card is ready. Honestly this is better than designer purse bingo.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks great!! 4y
19 likes1 comment
quote
Tattooedteacher
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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“But the girl doesn‘t cry, doesn‘t erupt, doesn‘t react. The girl still inhabits the suburbs of the words. Or perhaps it was just that creative thinking disassociated what it had no possible way of assimilating. The words were still polished and clean and superficial like the adults‘ black shoes.†Only the first chapter and I love the way the author describes feelings and evens so perfectly precise. This one has me.

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Bertha_Mason
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba

"The house made Marina feel afraid, as though the two of them—she and the house—were actually two people forced to live under the same cruel tyrant."

review
monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

“Such Small Hands†is a tiny, darkly sparkling gem, deftly translated from the original Spanish. The plot is “reputedly based†on a real incident that took place at an orphanage in Brazil in the 1960‘s, but the language could be based on a dream; it feels like it comes from the subconscious, which defies what language actually *is.* Barba explores themes such as: poverty & privilege, absence & loss, cruelty & desire.

Review cont‘d below👇ðŸ»

monalyisha 1/2: He somehow understands the power of individual words, especially as they relate to girls & women (e.g. “pretty†& “bitchâ€); he intricately captures the damage that girls can do to one another (how it can mimic the damage that men do, or be entirely its own, violent beast). If I hadn‘t already known a man had written this, I *never* would have guessed. 6y
monalyisha 2/2: Another strong thread is about conformity, fear of difference, & mob mentality, which will speak loudly to an American audience right now. 6y
ErikasMindfulShelf I found it on #Hoopla. Sounds interesting. 6y
monalyisha @irre I‘ll be interested to see what you think! 6y
68 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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🤯

68 likes1 stack add
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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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“Then, very gently, she closed her eyes, and we watched her eyeballs dart behind her eyelids. Where before there had been eyes, now there was a very fine skin, closed, silent, trapped by an eyelid that you could touch with your finger, and when you touched it, it twitched, a tiny shudder, and her eyebrows crinkled up; it was like a baby summer, and inside it, a sun, all in miniature. We always liked little things.â€

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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This book contains some of the strangest writing in some of the shortest space I‘ve encountered in quite some time.

I‘m not saying it doesn‘t make sense. It makes TOTAL sense.

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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“Marina awoke with the vague feeling that there was something she had to do, that she had some obligation she hadn‘t met to the doctors who came to see her every morning & every afternoon. Maybe it was the obligation to be human, to cry & stamp her feet, to suffer... It was only right before the doctors came that she felt her parents‘ absence, but in such an abstract way that it never showed, like when you almost grasp a concept & then don‘t.â€

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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If only every day could be Sunday. 🦋☕ï¸ðŸ“–

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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I chose wisely.

25 pages read & I‘m already super into it. 👌ðŸ»

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Well, that‘s an ominous epigraph.

In other news, stay tuned for the launch of my new hardcore band, “Ominous Epigraphâ€!

ItsAnotherJen 🤔 6y
Pricel101 🤣 6y
Johanna414 Well, that made me want to read the book! Also, great band name! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Billypar I can picture it: "I love OE shows- so foreboding and full of dread..." ? 6y
monalyisha @Billypar “I dunno. I don‘t really like OE. Their music just makes me nervous.†6y
Billypar @monalyisha Lol- now I want to see them! 6y
71 likes1 stack add6 comments
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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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How can I be expected to choose?

I mean, I know I need to read the Shirley Jackson. I‘ve *loved* everything else I‘ve read by her, & I‘m dying to watch the Netflix adaptation. But on the other hand (leg), look at that cover! ðŸ˜

LeahBergen You need them both! 6y
monalyisha @LeahBergen Fortunately, they both belong to me. 😈 But which do I read first? 6y
LeahBergen Ah, perfect! Well, I‘ve only read The Haunting of Hill House (and loved it!) but Such Small Hands is on my “to buy†list. 😄 6y
Pricel101 Such Small Hands (#stacked) and save H of HH to watch on Netflix, which I loved. 👻 Sooo creepy! 6y
Patchshank I loved the series. Wasn't as entertained by the book. But I did really like we have always lived in the castle. So, I guess I'm 50/50 when it comes to Jackson. 6y
81 likes1 stack add5 comments
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shawnmooney
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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34 likes2 stack adds
review
BookishRedhead
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

Not as creepy as I expected. Different little book that a nice one sitting read.

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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Congratulations on your milestones, @Ingerella & @Madamereginald ! I love that you‘re doing a #sistersgiveaway. I‘m on a weekend getaway with my mom right now, so I‘m really feeling the #girlpower!

💪ðŸ»ðŸŒ¸âœŠðŸ»

The top 2 books on my TBR list are “Such Small Hands†& “Little Fires Everywhere.†A snack that always makes my mouth water is Sour Patch Watermelon. ðŸ‰

Thanks for hosting!

Meeko93 Those are so good! ⤠7y
Ingerella Hope you have a great weekend with your mom! 7y
70 likes2 comments
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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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@eanderson is offering the #oneofthreegiveaway! The winner will receive 1/3 titles of their choosing.

I went with:

1) “Such Small Handsâ€, billed as a mash-up of “The Virgin Suicides†& Shirley Jackson.

2)â€Little Fires Everywhere,†which everyone‘s heard of & which I‘ve had checked out of the library for way too long.🙈

3) “An Unkindness of Ghostsâ€, which has a gorgeous cover & is sci-fi that‘s been called “harrowingâ€, “beautiful†& “feminist.â€

eanderson Thank you for entering and your name is in the hat! 😊 7y
55 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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monalyisha
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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My local bookstore (Riffraff) is the best - not only because it doubles as a bar, but also because the owners make such an effort to feature unsung works of art, often from indie presses. I consider myself to be pretty immersed in the culture, & I still hadn‘t heard of 90% of the books I added to my TBR today after staring, goo-goo eyed, at their displays.

Holler if you‘ve read any of these!

ohyeahthatgirl The Argonauts was great! 7y
monalyisha @ohyeahthatgirl Awesome! I‘m thinking about trying it out on audio. 7y
56 likes2 comments
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LauraJ
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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If you like #creepykids, lithub has a few suggestions. Some of these are new to me.
https://lithub.com/15-of-the-creepiest-children-in-literature/

Gezemice I just finished The Lord of the Flies, so I am feeling the vibe. And wonder how I will sleep.... 7y
LauraJ @Gezemice Well, are there children in the home? 7y
Gezemice @LauraJ Teenagers... scary 😱 7y
LauraJ @Gezemice Oh hell, you should just start drinking coffee now! 7y
35 likes4 comments
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Beanbot
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

This very short (under 100 pages) book skilfully paints a picture of what it is like to be a child faced with conflicting and disturbing emotions and little help to make sense of them. How close are admiration and jealousy, loving desire and the ravenous desire to destroy? The writing style captures the minds of children who have not yet learned the answer and are observers of themselves and the world in a way adults often are not.

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JanuarieTimewalker13
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Pickpick

This one is tough to rate. It's a pick for being well written and haunting, but a so-so for me bc I like something more hopeful.

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Lola
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Excellent creepy book. Perfect for the October #readathon This was a hand-sell (see what I did there? 😛) from @RoscoeBooks When I saw that it was a Lisa Dillman translation, it was a must-read for me. #30DaysofReadathon #shortbook @DeweysReadathon

Natasha.C.Barnes Sounds weird and awesome. 7y
Lola @Natasha.C.Barnes So weird. So awesome. 7y
35 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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BooksForYears
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Book 2 of my @24in48 TBR is completed. What a dark, convincing, beautiful exploration into the psyche of young girls - especially considering the author was a 30-something year old man. And another captivating translation by Lisa Dillman.

Lola Wasn't this great? I bought in part because it was a Lisa Dillman translation. She is just fabulous. And this is so perfect for #24in48. I read it in one sitting. Have you gotten to this one yet? 7y
BooksForYears @Lola I devoured all 3 of his translated novels last month! So great 😠7y
Lola @BooksForYears Loved them all too!!! I want MOOOORRRRE!!! 7y
80 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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BooksForYears
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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Next up for #24in48 is this mystery thriller. Breakfast is tea and mini almond croissants, the perfect size for (such) small hands ðŸ–

cathysaid â¤ï¸ the mug! 7y
mom2bugnbee The mug! Love Grumpy! 7y
90 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Lola
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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While our daughter is on the coast of #Spain, 4400 miles from home, my husband and decided to have dinner tonight at a restaurant just up the street from us that serves the cuisine of...coastal Spain. Delicious food and a beautiful evening to dine outside here in #Chicago. Now it's time for another glass of wine and a dive into this little book set in....Spain. 🇪🇸

MrBook Mmm, love Spanish cuisine! 😎👌🻠7y
Tamra Yum! 😋 7y
ReadingEnvy Yum Spanish food is the best. 7y
49 likes3 comments
review
Lettters
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
Pickpick

Another slim, innovative book, but this one has some psychological heft to it. Read it in a sitting but it'll linger for sure.

27 likes1 stack add
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BooksForYears
Such Small Hands | Andrés Barba
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May the 4th be with you, no matter the size of your hands!

Beckys_Books 😂😂 8y
122 likes1 comment