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Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading | Nina Sankovitch
34 posts | 40 read | 42 to read
Caught up in grief after the death of her sister, Nina Sankovitch decided to stop running and start reading. For once in her life she would put all other obligations on hold and devote herself to reading a book a day: one year of magical reading in which she found joy, healing, and wisdom.With grace and deep insight, Sankovitch weaves together poignant family memories with the unforgettable lives of the characters she reads about. She finds a lesson in each book, ultimately realizing the ability of a good story to console, inspire, and open our lives to new places and experiences. A moving story of recovery, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair is also a resonant reminder of the all-encompassing power and delight of reading.
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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My new reading chair in my bedroom. The best part was it was free from a friend!

Avanders 🤩🤩 2y
Gissy Looks very comfy! 📚🙌 2y
Graciouswarriorprincess @Avanders @Gissy Thanks. It is very comfy! 2y
sprainedbrain Love it! 2y
53 likes5 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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My new reading chair. Living in a small apartment doesn‘t allow me to set up a reading nook or library, but there is space for a comfortable reading chair.

rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 3y
Mitch That‘s beautiful and the footstool will really help you cosy up 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
Graciouswarriorprincess @rubyslippersreads @Mitch Thanks! Ideally I am trying to get to a tiny house someday but I will honestly need to have a shed with heat so that I can turn it into my library. (edited) 3y
See All 13 Comments
LibrarianRyan Love that bold print. 3y
Mrs_B Gorgeous! 3y
VanderAnna This is so pretty! 3y
SheReadsAndWrites So beautiful! 3y
TNbookworm Pretty💕 3y
68 likes13 comments
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kspenmoll
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Texreader Gorgeous photo 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 💜💜 4y
OriginalCyn620 Love the cover! 💜 4y
kspenmoll @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Texreader Thank you.the book was a good one. 💜 4y
58 likes4 comments
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Kshakal
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Eggs Gorgeous color 💜💜💜 4y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Blueberry
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monalyisha
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I‘m on the hunt for a reading chair.

I have some important specifications:
1) It can‘t break the bank.
2) I‘m looking for something that is cozy but will provide some back support/encourage good (read: just not *terrible*) posture.
3) It has to fit in a certain spot.
4) We‘re looking at a pretty dark couch so it‘s gotta add some light (or be a good neutral for a crazy throw pillow/blanket sitch).

Do any sing to you? Or scream “not it!”?

Redwritinghood I like the upper right corner, but it looks like it‘ll need a pillow for back support. 5y
Drocchio03 Middle center! Looks like you may be able to tuck your legs. 5y
monalyisha @Drocchio03 I think that‘s my top pick at the moment. But it changes hourly. 😅 5y
See All 20 Comments
sudi Middle center and bottom center. 5y
sebrittainclark Middle right looks big enough to curl up in! Honestly, all of these make need want to go shop for a reading chair 5y
Oryx Bottom centre - modern but cosy 5y
RavenLovelyReads Where‘s the middle center from? I‘m on the hunt too! I saw an affordable one (around $250) at Home Gods- thought about it for 2 days- when I returned to buy, the store had sold it! 😩 (edited) 5y
Soubhiville I like the middle top and bottom right. I like tall arms, because I often curl my legs into the chair too and lean on the arm. Or sit sideways with my legs over one arm. I hope you find the perfect one! 5y
JulAnna The one in the center looks cozy to me! 5y
BekahB Awesome selection! I‘m trying to create a little reading nook in my bedroom so I‘m on the hunt for a comfy reading chair too. I once passed up a wonderful chair at Marshall‘s so I could take a day to “think about it,” but when I went back the next day it was gone. I feel like I‘m constantly on a quest for that chair. 😂 5y
monalyisha @RavenLovelyReads Crazily enough, it‘s from Target! It‘s about $265 after you apply the 4th of July 15% off discount code (AMERICA). https://www.target.com/p/anastasia-tufted-chair---gray---christopher-knight-home... 5y
monalyisha @BekahB @RavenLovely I passed up the perfect chair once, too — probably about 2 years ago at this point. I was on a long-weekend trip at the time & didn‘t want to figure out shipping details. It haunts me. 5y
monalyisha @Soubhiville Middle top is a *strong* contender! (It‘s from Urban Outfitters, though, so it‘s kinda pricey.) And I don‘t love the legs on bottom-right, so they‘re holding me back. Ugh! Such hard decisions! (edited) 5y
staci.reads I like a high back and a wide base so I can tuck my feel up next to me, so I'm thinking the middle one. 5y
staci.reads I really like the slanted sides of the bottom middle, but the back looks short. 5y
BookwormAHN I think the middle or bottom middle look the most comfy. 5y
Clare-Dragonfly I‘d go for the first or last. I like to be enveloped! 5y
tealatte Second row left 5y
Ddzmini Bottom middle looks so comfy 🙏😍📖😋 5y
rather_be_reading second row- middle. i know im late lol 5y
69 likes20 comments
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howjessicareads
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Day 14 of #30junebooks - U is for #unread. I‘m a huge library user, so I very rarely buy physical books I haven‘t read. (I do buy #audiobooks though, since sadly my library‘s digital audio selection is lacking.)

We have around 1200 books in our house... but I think these are the only 3 “grown-up” books I haven‘t read. And I‘ve read a significant number of the kids‘ books too! 🙂📖

How about you? Are you a book buyer?

JanuarieTimewalker13 Yes!! I‘m a book buyer and a steady library patron! 5y
TrishB Yes, not many days I don‘t buy a book. Probably read 1 buy 3 🤷‍♀️ 5y
Kaila-ann I‘ve put myself on book buying ban for a little while though I may have to make an exception for a local book club that I just joined. I usually share my books once I‘ve read them, the amount of books that I will keep/love forever is pretty small. 5y
See All 6 Comments
MayAprilShower i definently want to start buying more books. I intend to dedicate an entire room to it. Hopefully have my own books in it one day.
Please check out my audio story.
https://youtu.be/c9WNB6_xGPQ
5y
BooknerdsLife I used to buy books for my kid only since she rereads all her books & I got most of mine from library, but now that she‘s in Uni/college I started buying more books for myself ...I might have bought more than I can read 😆🙈 but I‘m hoping to build up a library for her future read...😁so...good excuse right? 🤣👍🏼 5y
CarolynM Clever👏👏👏 I am very much a book buyer, almost to the point of addiction. @TrishB I wish I read as many as 1 in 3.😳 (edited) 5y
86 likes6 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

This was a quick, thoughtful (though slightly repetitive) read about how the author learned to move on after her sister‘s death by reading a book a day and writing a daily review for an entire year. Part family memoir, meditation on grief, blog on books, and exhortation to be kind and to read, it‘s worth reading.

127 likes14 stack adds
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megnews
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 💜💜 5y
vkois88 Beautiful 5y
TheBookHippie Yellow Crocus! I loved that book. 4y
38 likes3 comments
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megnews
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#Currentlyreading about this author‘s year of #magical reading after her sister died.

#LiteraryLuck

vkois88 Sounds like a beautiful journey ❤ 5y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Wow! You and I certainly have the same interests. I have this book and have been saving it for just the right time to read it. @megnews (edited) 5y
31 likes3 comments
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megnews
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kspenmoll So enjoyed her musings about books, loss, life. ❤️ 5y
17 likes1 comment
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megnews
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I searched my goodreads shelves for #purplebooks for #riotgrams and was reminded of this book about the #readinglife. I really want to read this SOON. Just put it on hold for March.

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t aware upon picking this book up that it would be a challenge brought about by grief. This was a beautiful book and a wonderful homage to a well-loved sister.

leslieseidel I loved this book, despite the overall sadness of the author losing her sister. But what an interesting way she chose to channel her grief. I can't even imagine slowing life down enough to read a book a day! 6y
Nebklvr @leslieseidel I read a lot but a book a day? That is pretty extreme and yet she gained so much beauty and peace from the endeavor. The nonessentials were pared out and the important things were kept. 6y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads I have this book. Have not read it yet. Would love to be able to read a book a day 6y
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leslieseidel Exactly! What a great way to put it! Also the process allowed her to feel and honor the grief in a positive way. 6y
Nebklvr @Joyfulmimi Oh, I hope you enjoy it!! 6y
Nebklvr @leslieseidel Yes!! I love that! She did honor her sister in the act of remembering. This book has one of the most beautiful quotes about sorrow and remembrance. 6y
MaureenMc I loved this one, too! ☺️ 6y
74 likes5 stack adds8 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Check out today‘s fun #manicmonday #colorcollage
Lavender ice cream 🍦😋
Purple unicorn 🦄
Purple ankle boots
Book TBR
👌

JoScho Love all the purples! Thanks for playing! 💜💜💜 6y
Kaye 💟☮️✝️☪️🕎🔯✡️☸️🕎🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮 6y
84 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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HannaPolkadots
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Mehso-so

Every now and then I like to read about other people reading, and Nina Sankovitch's year of reading a book a day for a year. Sort of envious of that. It was a nice, easy listen, but a bit too repetitive.

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Crystallinegirl
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I'm reading this for the PopSugar 2018 prompt "favorite color in the title" (and to find a "book mentioned in another book" for another prompt) and this jumped out at me. The weird world rolls on. It does indeed.

12 likes1 stack add
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monalyisha
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Guys, I visited a home goods store while on a short getaway in Vermont last weekend. They had the reading chair of my dreams. I can‘t get it out of my head! Plenty of room to fold my legs & cozy up, supportive arms, & it rocked *and* swiveled! IS it better to have loved & lost? 😩

theresidentromantic Omg now I want to go after it! That looks perfect. 6y
BookishTrish You deserve this chair and it‘s practically a necessity 6y
CareBear It‘s so perfect!! 6y
See All 11 Comments
Jadams89 That is a perfect chair!!! 6y
Craftylikefox That chair is a requirement. 6y
britt_brooke So cushy! 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I love it and want one too! 6y
mrp27 😍😍 6y
TheFunkyBookworm Omg you didn‘t happen to get a pic of the tag did you? I NEED this in my life! 😍😍😍 6y
monalyisha @TheFunkyBookworm Actually... I did! It‘s from a store called HomePort. It‘s the “Zsa Zsa Swivel Glider” - in “Putty,” I believe. 6y
TheFunkyBookworm @monalyisha you are awesome! Thank you! 💜💜💜 6y
72 likes1 stack add11 comments
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Lcsmcat
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A book whose title I liked better than the book. But perfect for the prompt #chairs! #readingResolutions @Jess7

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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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Mehso-so

I downloaded this audiobook because I was cleaning my house and wanted something short & easy & available on Overdrive. It was moderately interesting but never really captured me. It's about a project of reading one book a day for a year as a way of coping with her sister's early death; cool concept that would have made a great personal essay but didn't result in a coherent memoir narrative. Plus her unexamined privilege annoyed me after a while.

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Sapphire
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Your body will keep explaining to you...This is your first and final chance. . . The bowl of your life's soup.

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Sapphire
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"I am at peace at last. I fear nothing . I yearn for nothing."

Smangela I really enjoyed this one :) I would love to read a book every day for a year! 7y
vivastory I loved this book 7y
Sapphire It's moody, but good. And of course it's adding to my tbr as I read! 7y
24 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Sapphire
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My bookshelves are starting to get unpacked.

Texreader Gorgeous!!! 7y
minkyb Sweet! 7y
Lcsmcat Lovely! 7y
Zelma Very nice looking! 👍 7y
28 likes4 comments
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kmell33
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My favorite read of 2017. I don't know what is with me and grief memoirs but it gave me all the feels. #TGIFGIVEAWAY @Liberty

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Thanks! I have this book and now can't wait to read it. 7y
14 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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dariazeoli
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this memoir on the author's year of reading a book a day and working through the loss of her sister. I connected more with the first half of the book, and added a few of her reads to my already huge TBR.

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feministtexican
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Reading this for #ReadHarder2017 (book about books)

Why are men so gross? 😐

alisonrose Or just: Why are men. 😒 7y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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smilingshelves
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3 likes1 stack add
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smilingshelves
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She reads a book every day for a year? Me, too! Me, too! Please?

BucklingBookshelves I know, right? Well, if picture books counted... I'd be excellent at this - haha! 7y
4 likes1 comment
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kmell33
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Because grief memoirs are in my wheelhouse and there can still be a bright side. #currentlyreading #books #areadinglife #reading

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Lcsmcat
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I read any and everywhere, but this is my favorite place. #riotgrams #whereiread The referenced book's title is better than its contents, I'm sorry to say. I love books about reading, but this one didn't live up to my expectations.

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asiriusreader
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Thought I'd join the crowd and share my Goodreads stats. May have one more to add to the total before the evening is done (clearly I am partying like a true book nerd!). I am still mulling over my goals and possible reading challenges for next year...but more on that come 2017! 😉 Happy New Year to you all!!🎉🥂

Joybishoptx Awesome!💕❤😻🎉🍾 7y
Eyelit Excellent! 👏📚🎉👍 7y
26 likes2 comments
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Smangela
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Jen2 Loved this book!!! 7y
Smangela @Jen2 it's been on my TBR for so long and I finally checked out; I'm loving it so far! 7y
17 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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kspenmoll
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Wonderful read: the author lost her sister to cancer & decided to try to connect with her through a year of deliberate reading. Heartbreaking & uplifting.

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Daaave
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I'm getting a similar vibe that I got from The End of Your Life Book Club. That's a good thing. Liking it so far

Demanda I tried listening to the audio of this and the narrator made me want to cut off my ears. It's probably so much better in book form! 8y
1 like1 comment
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janeycanuck
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Panpan

I've never lost a sister but I just don't understand why three years after her sister's passing, Nina decides the way to deal with her grief is to read a book a day for a year. To me, it looked like an excuse to be selfish. I only kept listening because of the stories about her parents.

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