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A Start in Life
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
30 posts | 13 read | 41 to read
Since childhood, Ruth Weiss has been escaping from life into books, from the hothouse attentions of her parents into the warmth of lovers and friends. Now Dr Weiss, at 40, knows that her life has been ruined by literature and that once again she must make a new start.
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EvieBee
The Debut | Anita Brookner
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My next book, and I‘m so excited. I don‘t know why I‘ve been hoarding her books but delaying gratification by avoiding them. I plan on being VERY indulgent these last two months of the year. Muhahaha! #currentlyreading

jlhammar Good plan! I really want to read this one. Sounds so good! 1y
EvieBee @jlhammar Recently someone mentioned the plot loosely and I started rummaging through my stacks because it sounded like JUST what I wanted to read. Might have been a podcast. 1y
MaGoose I've read her books, Hotel du Lac and Dolly, years ago. I'll have to jump back into reading Brookner again. 1y
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batsy I read this as A Start in Life and loved it! 1y
EvieBee @MaGoose I‘ve only read Hotel du Lac and loved it so much. I‘d love to read all her works at some point. 1y
EvieBee @batsy Oh! So that makes sense now. There are two working titles. I am so enjoying it at the moment! 1y
MaGoose @EvieBee Me too 1y
58 likes4 stack adds7 comments
review
sisilia
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Pickpick

4⭐️ My first Brookner! 😍 I love her clean prose, and sharp observations! And yes, I am in trouble because I will now hunt for her other 23 novels

batsy Yes! I loved this. I've been meaning to get to her other novels; got distracted along the way 😆 3y
sisilia @batsy I still have 16 Zola to read hahahah..and 23 Brookners... and those NYRBs... why do we all have the same problem? 🤣 3y
MaureenMc I love Brookner, too! 😊 3y
See All 9 Comments
readordierachel 23 other novels! She was quite prolific! 3y
sisilia @readordierachel Yes, and she started at age 53! 🙀 3y
Lauram I was just staring at Hotel du Lac on my bookshelf thinking that I needed to pass it on! 3y
sisilia @Lauram Awww she won the Booker Prize for that 3y
readordierachel Oh, that's even better! 3y
58 likes4 stack adds9 comments
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sisilia
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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I love her style 😻

Cathythoughts I love her style too ... 👌🏻 3y
MamaGina Read my first Brookner this year and it was delightful (Excellent Women) Will definitely read more of her this year🤓 3y
50 likes3 comments
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MargaretPinardAuthor
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Anybody want to hear about how a #litfest gets up and running? I‘ll be chatting with Rachel on her IGTV channel tmw at 2pmET/ 11amPT.
Would love to field questions too so get those knives ready 😅😝
Rachel‘s handle: @ BarenbaumRachel
Mine, just for kicks: @ margaretpinard
Hope to talk indie author books with y‘all soon!

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Kshakal
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻❤️👍🏻 4y
OriginalCyn620 Love that! 😊 4y
42 likes2 comments
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Simona
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Day 6 #7covers7days

No explanation needed, just post a new cover each day for a week and each day tag some new Litten. Would you like to join in the #CoverCrush @Tianarose ?

merelybookish Love this! 5y
Cinfhen That‘s a great cover 🤩 5y
Simona @merelybookish @Cinfhen It is from Penguin Essentials collection, and almost all covers are beautiful or at least different/unique. https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/peness/penguin-essentials.2.html 5y
Caroline2 😍 5y
72 likes1 stack add4 comments
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ReadingEnvy
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Reading Envy Podcast Episode 144: For the Fans!

Thomas, who many know from his former stint on The Readers podcast, joins Jenny in the pub to chat books. The number of books both of us have read makes the discussion deep and well-considered, although Jenny never admits to reading the postman-haiku book. Jenny also shares a little about her experience on the ALA Over the Rainbow Booklist Committee.
https://tinyurl.com/ReadingEnvy144

LeahBergen I can‘t wait! 👏🏻👏🏻 5y
LauraBeth I had to pause it to pop in here to say that I‘ve shed some tears over Deb‘s Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread - until - I finally sprayed my bundt pan with Baker‘s Joy. No more tears! 🙌 It plates like a dream now. 5y
ReadingEnvy @LauraBeth it's so worth it! I once made a trifle with it because it was such a mess, but the tastiest mess. 5y
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LauraBeth Making a trifle with it is the most genius thing ever! I wish I thought of that as opposed to telling the family to just “stick a fork in the pan and eat it!” 😂 5y
ReadingEnvy @LauraBeth let's just say it's not the first cake/brownies I've had to do that with 😆 5y
Lindy @ReadingEnvy @LauraBeth That trifle exists to absorb failures is what keeps me fearless in my cake-baking adventures. Most recently: as the white cake for my first Battenberg was going into the oven I was thinking “this batter seems very loose…” and realized I had halved everything except the milk. Surprisingly, it turned out fine; it just needed longer to bake. 5y
LauraBeth @lindy @readingenvy my grandmother used to make Battenberg - she called it Domino Cake - and I just realized I‘ve never made one! I‘m glad it still turned out well. On another baking note, I took this tip and have been using it and much to my surprise - it really has made my cakes better: https://food52.com/blog/23706-whipped-cream-in-cakes-one-ingredient-hack-change-... 5y
Lindy @LauraBeth Thanks for the link. Food52 is great! I‘m definitely trying the whipped cream trick and I also want to read BakeWise. 5y
Centique Just listened to this. So good to hear from Thomas again, makes me want to go and read some more Brookner immediately! 😂 5y
ReadingEnvy @Centique he talks far more in depth about Brookner on his blog. A lot of blogs just repeat social media content but not his, which I find impressive. 5y
andrew61 A really enjoyable episode jenny, great to hear Thomas's voice again - much missed. 5y
ReadingEnvy @andrew61 thank you for listening! Hopefully more with Thomas soon. 5y
56 likes12 comments
review
ReadingEnvy
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Pickpick

This was somehow the perfect book to read while my Mom stayed with me a few days because Ruth, at 40, is reflecting on her journey away from home and a strange parental situation. (I am also 40.) How responsible are we for our parents? How invested are our parents in our success, or are they more self-motivated than that?

readordierachel Sounds like a topic that would resonate with many! 5y
ReadingEnvy @readordierachel and Anita is so observant about people, makes for a thoughtful read 5y
saresmoore These are things I‘ve been thinking about a lot lately. I wonder how many used bookshops I‘ll need to visit before I luck out on a copy. 5y
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saresmoore Nope, I just realized this is one that I already purchased from a used bookshop. 😂 5y
ReadingEnvy @saresmoore heh me too, I had a business card in this one from an Oregon beach used bookstore! 5y
LeahBergen @saresmoore That made me laugh. 😆 5y
LeslieO @saresmoore I have to keep a “Brookers I need” list with me at all times. Just in case I pass a used bookstore. 5y
ReadingEnvy @LeslieO this is a great idea! 5y
64 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Simona
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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The book has found its way back to home and I‘m glad that you liked the story. I just briefly flipped true notes, but for more accurate reading, I‘ll take the time over the weekend #lmpbc

@ephemeralwaltz My pick for round 002 was sent yesterday, so the book should arrived in time😘

ephemeralwaltz Can't wait!😍 6y
78 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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ephemeralwaltz
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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I'm so sorry for posting so much about this book but THAT COVER. And it fits perfectly with today's #ReadingResolutions's prompt, #flowers. I love flowery covers. Looking forward to seeing everyone's posts today!

@Jess7

Simona It‘s beautiful cover😍 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I like this cover! 6y
Christine11 Beautiful! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Kalalalatja 👏😍👏😍👏 6y
BarbaraBB Gorgeous 😍 6y
70 likes6 comments
review
ephemeralwaltz
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Pickpick

That's a wrap on round 1! Will be sending this back to you soon @Simona - it was a pleasure to read all your notes @julesG and @ju.ca.no. I thought this was a very entertaining read. Thank you again for your beautiful bookmarks!📚

And thank you again @suvata for organizing - this was so much fun!🎉

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Simona After reading this one I was intrigued by Eugenie Grandet ... it was interesting to compare them. 6y
julesG @Simona This book was a good choice for #LMPBC. It was something I'd not picked otherwise. 6y
Simona @julesG After I read it I was a little worried, because I know that you have to be in the right mood for such a slow paced stories ... 6y
julesG @Simona it was quite good, something slow in our fast paced world 6y
60 likes4 comments
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ephemeralwaltz
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Getting some reading done before school. I'm really enjoying this one, ladies! #LMPBC @Simona @julesG @ju.ca.no

#CurrentlyReading #MarchinBooks @maich

Cinfhen That cover ❤️ 6y
saresmoore Yes! Love the cover! 6y
ephemeralwaltz @Cinfhen @saresmoore I know!😍 I can't take enough photos of it. 6y
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maich Interesting cover😊 6y
BekaReid Agreed, fun cover! 6y
Kalalalatja That cover 😍😍 6y
Simona Ooo, glad to hear that ❤️ 6y
AlaMich What are you studying? 😊 6y
ephemeralwaltz @AlaMich English Studies! Graduating in July :) 6y
AlaMich @ephemeralwaltz I‘m actually a (former) ESL teacher and I never realized you weren‘t a native speaker until I saw the book cover of your last post. Your English is excellent! (edited) 6y
ephemeralwaltz @AlaMich oh that's lovely! I tutor for pocket money and have a hard time teaching English to kids - I don't think it's for me. Maybe I'd enjoy it more with adults. Thank you!! I was actually born in the US and spent a big part of my childhood there, so that might have a little something to do with it 😜 I luckily didn't lose the language or my accent. 6y
AlaMich @ephemeralwaltz I taught adults and you might very well enjoy it. It‘s about the teaching and not about behavior management. 6y
Nute This book was a cover buy for me.😆 6y
ephemeralwaltz @AlaMich ugh, that sounds like such a relief! 6y
ephemeralwaltz @Nute it is SO gorgeous!😍 6y
70 likes15 comments
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ephemeralwaltz
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Finally some reading time after a long day. I love this cover 🌸❤
#LMPBC

readordierachel Love that cover! 6y
LeahBergen Me, too! 😍 6y
Kaye Thank you for the follow ♥️ 6y
erzascarletbookgasm The cover is pretty! 6y
ephemeralwaltz @Kaye of course!❤ 6y
58 likes1 stack add5 comments
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saresmoore
Debut | Anita Brookner
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I found a (mostly disappointing) used bookstore in town today. I, of course, bought the only Brookner. Lucy, of course, found some books, too.

LeahBergen And the Brookner streak continues. 😀 6y
ReadingEnvy yessss I have this one too! 6y
saresmoore @LeahBergen @ReadingEnvy I love the cover art! I wonder how many I‘ll acquire before I get around to reading one. 6y
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ReadingEnvy @saresmoore I wonder this too ... I did read hotel du lac but that was before I stumbled into this phenomenon. 6y
LeahBergen @ReadingEnvy @saresmoore One of these days the three of us are going to have to crack into one for a buddy read. 6y
saresmoore @LeahBergen That sounds like a lovely idea! 6y
81 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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ephemeralwaltz
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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1. 22
2. A younger brother!
3. No, not yet (thankfully!)
4. Finishing Atonement and just started A Start in Life by Anita Brookner!
5. I could never have just one..
6. 😂 & 😍
7. ephemeral
8. I have no interest in learning how to drive, atm.
9. 🐶🐶🐶
10. Gimme all the coffee *inhales all the coffee*
11. Finishing college, the tagged book pretty much describes me at the moment!
12. @ju.ca.no @kamoorephoto

#HalloWhoAreYou @Gyldholm
@Kalalalatja

Rachel.Rencher We're the same age! 😊 6y
ephemeralwaltz @Rachel.Rencher aww that's great - I haven't "met" many Littens around our age!? 6y
Rachel.Rencher @ephemeralwaltz Me either! @allthingskayla is also our age. Definitely cool since I feel like many of my friends in person don't read very much! 6y
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ephemeralwaltz @Rachel.Rencher aww nice! @allthingskayla nice to meet you!! @ju.ca.no is also very close 👏👏 6y
The_Heeler_Booklife Hello, nice to meet you! 😀 6y
Kalalalatja Number 10 😂😂 6y
cleoh @Rachel.Rencher @allthingskayla @ephemeralwaltz yay people the same age! 😘 6y
61 likes9 comments
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ju.ca.no
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Sports for my Boyfriend means reading time for me! We‘re having a Spa weekend starting tomorrow morning, and even though I actually have no time for it, I am so much looking foward to two days (and tonight) of not thinking about the million things I have to do for next week... very much needed! 😍

Mollyanna Enjoy your Spa time! 6y
ju.ca.no @Mollyanna thank you🤗 I will😍 6y
ephemeralwaltz Enjoy!😍😍 That sounds perfect! 6y
ephemeralwaltz @ju.ca.no I received the book!👍👍😘 6y
71 likes1 stack add5 comments
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ju.ca.no
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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This week I had almost no reading time (and next week won‘t be any better😭) but I‘ve started this book for #LMPBC and will try to finish it until next week so I can mail it out in time! Hopefully this one will arrive for a change 🙄 @ephemeralwaltz @Simona @julesG

Kalalalatja Love that cover! 😍 6y
julesG Then I am doubly glad I haven't sent off the next book yet. Don't want to swamp you with books. 6y
ju.ca.no @julesG after surviving next week I will have plenty of reading time again😊 6y
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Christine11 Beautiful cover 😊 6y
julesG Will pop it into the post next week. 6y
ephemeralwaltz I love the cover!😍 6y
ju.ca.no @julesG perfect😊 6y
ju.ca.no @Kalalalatja @Christine11 @ephemeralwaltz I am also very fond the cover, it is really pretty😊 6y
Simona Enjoy! 😘 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 I feel you in reading my family and I have been sick and this mom has pulled double duty! No reading for a week 😣 6y
ju.ca.no @ForeverNerdy oh no! Hopefully you‘re all better now and the next week will be better again!! All the best to all your family! 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Oh thank you! We are on the mend just have nasty coughs 6y
ju.ca.no @ForeverNerdy urgh, those are annoying... hopefully you‘ll get rid of them soon😊 6y
58 likes13 comments
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ju.ca.no
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Bookmail is always the best mail 😊 thanks to @julesG for #LMPBC #GroupU as well as thanks to @Simona for the book! More thanks go out to @Louise and @diovival for #litsypostcardexchange cards 😍😍

Louise ❤️ 6y
diovival 😁 6y
Simona #litsymail is the best kind of mail. Enjoy in the book 😘 6y
ju.ca.no @Simona indeed😍 I‘m already looking foward to it😊 6y
65 likes4 comments
review
julesG
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Mehso-so

This is a slow book. The story is carried by the characters.

I liked it, not a lot, but I liked it. Although the end felt a bit rushed.

#LMPBC #GroupU @Simona @ephemeralwaltz @ju.ca.no @suvata

charl08 Gorgeous cover. 6y
CarolynM I read a few Anita Brookner novels some years ago. I enjoyed the writing, but I found the passivity of the female characters incredibly frustrating. I wanted to slap them! 6y
Cinfhen Im still loving the cover 6y
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Simona The end is strange... 6y
julesG @CarolynM I had the impression most characters were passive. 6y
julesG @Simona Yes. Very strange. It felt rushed and then ended very suddenly. 6y
DivineDiana Such a beautiful cover! 6y
80 likes7 comments
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julesG
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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#teaandbooks but it was more like #teaandlitsy.

I should go and pack up the Christmas present for my nephew (he gets books, of course) and do some exercises physio therapist and ergo therapist have given me, but Ghost 🙀has just fallen asleep on my lap.

Cinfhen That‘s a beautiful book cover 6y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
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julesG
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Now which one to read first? I'm going to flip a coin!

#FiligreeFriends
#LMPBC #GroupU

Tamra I just love the covers for the Pulley books! 6y
julesG @Tamra I bought both her books because of the covers. Bedlam Stacks did not disappoint. 6y
ju.ca.no @Tamra @julesG the covers were also my reason to buy them :D and I am so glad I did! 6y
mhillis I started reading for #filigreefriends and couldn‘t stop until I finished part one!! 6y
julesG @mhillis Goody! I've just brought it to bed with me. Will need matchsticks tomorrow. 😁😁 6y
55 likes1 stack add5 comments
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julesG
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Thank you @Simona - that was the mystery parcel I had to fetch from the post office. So it arrived yesterday.

#LMPBC Group U

@suvata

julesG Forgot to say, Thank you for the bookmark! @Simona 6y
ephemeralwaltz Pretty!! I'll be getting this last :( 6y
julesG @ephemeralwaltz But you'll see all of our notes! 6y
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ephemeralwaltz @julesG true!😍 6y
julesG Tagging @EvieBee - it has a wonderful cover. 6y
EvieBee That is gorgeous!!!! 6y
Simona Happy reading @julesG 😘 6y
59 likes7 comments
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RobinGustafson
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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US title of Brookner‘s novel “A Start in Life” Awesome cover

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Simona
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Late to the party, but this is my start for #LitsyPartyOfOne Comfort food in a bowl and slow pacing story.

63 likes1 stack add
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Simona
Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Extravaganza on sunny Sunday morning: breakfast in bed and a new book for #LMPBC 😁

batsy How delightful! Have a wonderful breakfast. I enjoyed that book and definitely need to get that edition 😍 6y
merelybookish Lovely!! 6y
Simona @batsy I‘m just few pages in, and so far, I like it. 🤞 6y
Simona @merelybookish It was cozy, easy ... perfect Sunday morning for me❣️ 6y
89 likes4 comments
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LauraBrook
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Some cheery #bookmail to brighten a cold and drizzly Monday. (V happy with the bookmark too - almost like a matching set!) #blameitonbatsy 😘

mcipher Beautiful cover. 6y
Moray_Reads What a beautiful cover 😍 I've never read this Brookner 6y
rubyslippersreads ❤️❤️❤️ that cover! 6y
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batsy That's a beautiful edition! I need it 😍 6y
diovival Love that cover 😍 6y
LeahBergen Gasp! I love this edition. Did they do more of her books in this series? 6y
LauraBrook @batsy @LeahBergen it‘s a UK edition and it‘s part of a series called Penguin Essentials. Not sure if it‘s all her work, or a lot of authors, haven‘t checked into it yet. I need to, though, because I love this cover! 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Beautiful cover! 6y
ValerieAndBooks I agree that the cover and bookmark go well together!! Looks like I‘ve already stacked this but can‘t remember when or who from 😂 6y
87 likes1 stack add10 comments
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batsy
A Start in Life | Anita Brookner
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Most novels about someone's early years are kind of like #thefinalcountdown for the character before Real Life begins. Part of the pleasure of reading these novels is seeing the character realise what all adults eventually come to know: there's no one big start; there are multiple starts. This is the only Brookner I've read & it has the best opening: "Dr Weiss, at forty, knew her life had been ruined by literature." #Rocktober @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Cool cover illustration 💖 6y
LauraBrook And just with your review...#stacked (edited) 6y
batsy @LauraBrook ☺️ Hope you like it. I want to gradually make my way through all of her books! 6y
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BarbaraBB Love the quote 😍. Stacked! 6y
Centique Best opening line! Stacked for sure. 😍 6y
readinginthedark I love this cover! 6y
68 likes10 stack adds6 comments
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ReadingEnvy
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Further proof that every used bookstore is in possession of at least one Anita Brookner novel.

CherylDeFranceschi 😂😂 7y
saresmoore 😏 7y
LeahBergen It is so true! 7y
69 likes3 comments
review
SusanInTiburon
Debut | Anita Brookner
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Pickpick

"Dr. Weiss, at forty, knew that her life had been ruined by literature." In truth, it looks like her parents are the real culprits; either way, Ruth Weiss is being suffocated by the role she has been assigned. Literature weaves pleasingly through this piercing and understated character study.

BookBabe Sounds good! 8y
MrBook What @BookBabe said 😊👍🏻. 8y
RebeccaH I love Anita Brookner! 8y
LeahBergen And I like that cover! 8y
56 likes5 stack adds4 comments