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Darkmans
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
19 posts | 15 read | 31 to read
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Darkmans is an exhilarating, extraordinary examination of the ways in which history can play jokes on us all... If History is just a sick joke which keeps on repeating itself, then who exactly might be telling it, and why? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's infamous court jester, whose favorite pastime was to burn people alive - for a laugh? Or could it be Andrew Boarde, Henry VIII's physician, who kindly wrote John Scogin's biography? Or could it be a tiny Kurd called Gaffar whose days are blighted by an unspeakable terror of - uh - salad? Or a beautiful, bulimic harpy with ridiculously weak bones? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? Darkmans is a very modern book, set in Ashford [a ridiculously modern town], about two very old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. It's also a book about invasion, obsession, displacement and possession, about comedy, art, prescription drugs and chiropody. And the main character? The past, which creeps up on the present and whispers something quite dark - quite unspeakable - into its ear. The third of Nicola Barker's narratives of the Thames Gateway, Darkmans is an epic novel of startling originality.
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Oryx
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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This has been on my shelf for 14 years. Today I decide if I'll ever read it. I have no idea why I bought it, it doesn't really seem like my thing. I've also brought Flamingo out for in case I hate Darkmans. But I've got to give it 50 pages at least before deciding... Let's see.

squirrelbrain It all sounds a bit serious to me… but you‘ll love Flamingo if Darkmans doesn‘t work out! 😁 2y
MicheleinPhilly I loved Flamingo too! 2y
Oryx @squirrelbrain Darkmans is in the charity shop pile and I'm enjoying Flamingo instead 😃 2y
squirrelbrain There was a reason why it was on your shelf for 14 years then! 🤣 2y
Oryx @squirrelbrain now there's a lovely space open, just waiting to be filled ... 2y
64 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Minervasbutler
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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Pickpick

Sometimes baffling, though largely readable and often very funny experimental novel concerning a motley cast of characters in modern-day Kent and their possible possession by a medieval court jester. Maybe not totally successful but by and large I enjoyed it.

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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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Time for the #2030SomethingLongReadsBookClub 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!! This 900-page tome was this meeting's selection. Mixed reviews, mixed reviews. This shall be a fun discussion! Yes, that's a very big bacon cheeseburger 😉👍🏻.

hyacinth 2030! 😮 8y
Zelma Is this a monthly meeting or do you have longer to read door stoppers like that? 8y
MrBook @hyacinth 20- and 30-somethings 😊. @Zelma lol, our regular bookclubs meets once a month, and the longreads bookclub meets once every 2 months 😊. 8y
See All 6 Comments
hyacinth ohhh I thought it was in preparation for the 2030s... 8y
SaraFair Especially need to discuss that title. What kind of situation uses the wrong plural and doesn't make it possessive? 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
99 likes6 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNLunch! Library edition 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! Another present @BookBabe got for me was this maaahhhvelous Lunch Box Book 😎👌🏻! It. Is. Awesome! Everyone here at work wants one now 😂👏🏻. I'm working an extra shift tonight *Happy Dance*, which will be my second at Circulation. So, I go from Reference to Circulation. A jack-of-all-trades. Anyway, happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻 #LitsyLovesLibraries

tapgurl How fun when you are excited to work an extra shift!! 8y
freyaheart I need that lunchbox 8y
MemoirsForMe Best lunchbox ever! 😊👍🏻 8y
See All 7 Comments
minkyb Fabulous gift! 8y
LeahBergen This is awesome. 👍🏼 8y
Merethebookgal How cool! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
141 likes7 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! Tonight's accompaniment: teriyaki salmon, jasmine rice, broccoli, and sparkling mineral water. MMMmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

Ruri_kaichou This was my dinner the past week! Brown sugar soy glazed Salmon with rice and veggies. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
104 likes2 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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I'm reading while @BookBabe runs her #TheArtistsWay reading group! Snickerdoodle hot chocolate & a Valentine's cookie 😋☺️! Sorry for the lack of #TBRtemptation posts so far today. They will be posted later 👍🏻.

BookishMarginalia The Artist's Way! 💜 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
100 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookBabe
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#Coale is keeping me company while I read Darkmans. 😸 This book just gets weirder and weirder! #CatsofLitsy

Lindy Weird might be Barker's middle name. 😉 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍😻😻😻 8y
132 likes2 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment this humidly chilly evening: pepperoni pizza, lemon pepper wings with ranch, and sparkling mineral water. MMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

CocoReads That looks way tastier than the cottage cheese I'm having for my dinner... 8y
Little_Reader @CocoReads 😂 That's what I had for dinner, too! 8y
LeslieO Being from Buffalo I'm kind of a wing purist. But lemon pepper wings sound amazing. 8y
Zelma Poking was not in the cards for me tonight so I had Sonic. With tots! 😂 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
107 likes5 comments
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BookBabe
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! I let @MrBook talk me into #BurgerNight tonight. Angus beef burger with cheese, tomato, and onions strips on a sesame bun, with extra-crispy tater tots. 😋 This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats!

MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
ReadingSusan Looks delicious! 8y
See All 7 Comments
kspenmoll Yum! 8y
MyNamesParadise Good! Some tater tots! 8y
rustoryhuf Looks like he also talked you into Tots. 8y
Icewineanne Delish but needs pickles &🍷. 😉 8y
145 likes7 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment this chilled evening: broccoli rabe stuffed shells in a chunky marinara sauce, warm freshly-baked peasant bread, and sparkling mineral water. MMMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats. 😎👌🏻

TheBookStacker Omg yum that sounds amazing! 8y
kspenmoll Delish! 8y
MrBook @TheBookStacker Amazing yum 😁👏🏻👏🏻! @kspenmoll Indubitably 😉👍🏻! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
108 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookBabe
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! A simple, comforting meal of boiled potatoes, cabbage, and pork tenderloin for this frigid evening. @MrBook and I are reading the same book! This one is almost 900 pages long, so we couldn't share a copy for our LongReads book club next month. This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😋

TNbooklover66 Is this a standalone book? It's listed on GR as 3rd in a series. I really want to buy it for the cover alone 😊 8y
Bookzombie I love boiled cabbage. Strange comment, I know! 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
MrBook @TNbooklover66 It says it's #3, but I can't find the first 2 anywhere. I'm thinking it's incorrect. 8y
111 likes4 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment in this icy night: boneless pork cutlets, golden potatoes, smokehouse green beans, corn, and sparkling mineral water. MMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
108 likes1 comment
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment this cold yet humid evening: stuffed shells in marinara sauce, peasant bread, and sparkling mineral water. MMMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

RealLifeReading Mmmmmmm!!! 8y
MrBook @RealLifeReading Mmmmhmm 😋! 8y
132 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNDinner! #SunBasket edition. Accompaniment this freezing evening: shrimp skewers, spiced blood orange-jicama salad with herbs, salsa verde, jasmine rice, and sparkling mineral water. MMMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

britt_brooke Love that book's cover! 8y
MrBook @britt_brooke @vivastory 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! 8y
102 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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BookBabe
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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Omg, you guys. I can't believe what just happened. I was reading Darkmans on my Kindle, and I wanted to see what font was used for this particular part in the print book...so I picked up @MrBook 's thus-unread paper copy, and opened it to the EXACT PAGE I was looking for! How is that even possible? 😳😮

beagle.mama I love stuff like this! So cool. 💜 8y
MrBook 😂👏🏻😍😍😍 8y
LaurenAsh Ha! It kind of fits with the strangeness of this book though, right? 8y
See All 8 Comments
ReadosaurusText An MLK Day book miracle!!! 😉 8y
Shvonne You are definitely meant for each other. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute Literary serendipity for sure. But I'd probably work up some lottery numbers off of the page/location numbers. 8y
BookBabe @LaurenAsh it's true! This book is SO strange. 😳 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
140 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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BookBabe
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#BookNBrunch! Healthy edition. I made an extravagant meal for @MrBook , and a healthy one for me. Poached egg whites with asparagus. Yum! 😋

KVanRead That looks so yummy! 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
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TNbooklover66 Looks yum! I have been eyeing that book for ages because the cover is so awesome. Hope you enjoy it. 8y
CherylDeFranceschi You have been being such a good partner for cooking all the tots and eating so well. Go you!!!!! ✊️✊️✊️ (edited) 8y
kristina_with_a_k Looks delish! Kudos to you for eating healthier! 8y
BookBabe @CherylDeFranceschi thank you! It isn't easy! 👊🏻 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
115 likes9 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#Bookmail is the best mail! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!! I love finding books off the beaten trail. A lot of my college professors said some of the best insights in their fields came from such books, so I keep an eye out for worthy selections. 3 out of 4 of these are such books. History and religion are 2 subjects that have always fascinated me 😊. And I love learning about all the arguments from all sides about the fields' various issues. I love books ☺.

JSW That In Defense of Miracles looks good. 8y
LibrarianJen Ha! I have BA's in both history and religious studies. I'm very critical about what I read on the subjects though, especially religion. It's hard to find unbiased texts on the subject and I don't like being preached to. 8y
LauraBeth I agree with @LibrarianJen - as someone who loves to read about both history and religion - I choose carefully because there are a LOT of misinformed people writing on both subjects. That being said - I ❤ finding off the beaten path books too. I just make sure they pass my smell test before I read them 😀 8y
MrBook @JSW Looking forward to it 😊👍🏻! @LibrarianJen @LauraBeth #KindredSpirits 😎👌🏻🙌🏻!!! 8y
122 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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MrBook
Darkmans | Nicola Barker
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#LitsyQuiz Round 3, Title 3. You're 2/2, Litsyans! Unbelievable. You've done better than the book industry pros. Time to start our own company 😂👏🏻🙌🏻😎👌🏻! Okay, this title was short-listed for the Booker, but a few years ago, and one of the less well-known titles in its annals. Have you read/bought/seen/heard of this book before? 😊

SaturnDoo I also bought this one and it is on my tbr shelf 😊 8y
ValerieAndBooks This is the first I've heard of it! 8y
Peddler410 Not known to me. Bring on the YA titles. 8y
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lynneamch Oh no. So sorry Mr. Book. No clue about this one. And I was feeling so good about myself on the last two. 😞 8y
LuLeeBelle I know it!! Ding ding ding! 8y
LaurenAsh Yes! Read it, loved it, but it was so crazy! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi I own it but haven't read it yet. 8y
LeahBergen I know it but haven't read it! 8y
BeckyRoy Not familiar with this one 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
kspenmoll Sorry-sounds wildly intriguing but don't recognize it 🙁 8y
Mjk20a I own it but have never tried to read it. Was in London last spring and thought of bringing it but it looked too involved for a vacation book. 8y
Brimful I loved it when I read it a couple of years ago. Truly wild but genius. And if you have ever been to Ashford it makes a bit more sense. 3y
67 likes7 stack adds13 comments