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Radio Free Vermont
Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance | Bill McKibben
24 posts | 18 read | 21 to read
A book that's also the beginning of a movement, Bill McKibben's debut novel Radio Free Vermont follows a band of Vermont patriots who decide that their state might be better off as its own republic. As the host of Radio Free Vermont--"underground, underpowered, and underfoot"--seventy-two-year-old Vern Barclay is currently broadcasting from an "undisclosed and double-secret location." With the help of a young computer prodigy named Perry Alterson, Vern uses his radio show to advocate for a simple yet radical idea: an independent Vermont, one where the state secedes from the United States and operates under a free local economy. But for now, he and his radio show must remain untraceable, because in addition to being a lifelong Vermonter and concerned citizen, Vern Barclay is also a fugitive from the law. In Radio Free Vermont, Bill McKibben entertains and expands upon an idea that's become more popular than ever--seceding from the United States. Along with Vern and Perry, McKibben imagines an eccentric group of activists who carry out their own version of guerilla warfare, which includes dismissing local middle school children early in honor of 'Ethan Allen Day' and hijacking a Coors Light truck and replacing the stock with local brew. Witty, biting, and terrifyingly timely, Radio Free Vermont is Bill McKibben's fictional response to the burgeoning resistance movement.
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

This book, about a fictional underground podcast that advocates for “a simple yet radical idea: an independent Vermont…separate from the United States, operating under a free local economy”, is McKibben‘s first novel. I read The End of Nature by him a long time ago (in high school, I think!), about the environmental crisis (the 10th anniversary edition was published in *1997*). And, I went to college in VT. So, I was primed to like this book.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/3: But the quote on the back from Bernie really closed the deal for me. I laughed out loud. Of course, I *know* how it is that people don‘t like him, but anytime I read or see something he‘s said, I always think, “How could anyone not like him?!” God, he‘s endearing. (edited) 2y
monalyisha 2/3: ANYWAY, the text inside this novel didn‘t disappoint me OR Bernie; it‘s full of beer, trees, and music; civil disobedience, close-knit neighbors, and earnest relationships. It‘s also *very* funny (if a little on-the-nose sometimes; McKibben is 61…he gets a pass for being a little “cheesy” — in more ways than one 🧀). (edited) 2y
monalyisha 3/3: Strongly recommended to anyone (okay, okay…any liberal 🙈 — edit: liberal who can deal with a little hunting (even if it‘s begrudgingly) — because that‘s part of Vermont, too) who‘s looking for a fast read. 2y
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monalyisha Note: There‘s a little bit of fat-shaming (when a former Olympic athlete has to stay in-hiding and is denied her regular exercise schedule) but it‘s not superlatively awful. (edited) 2y
IndoorDame I went to college in VT and on a road-trip to Big Bend my bff and I met a group of rough Texans camping near us who - charmingly but seriously - brought up and advocated for this VT secession plan. (We refrained from suggesting that TX be the one to go) 2y
monalyisha @IndoorDame What a bizarre interaction! 2y
Suet624 I chuckled through the whole thing. 2mo
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monalyisha
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I‘m happy to see the arrival of September…but Summer‘s not over yet, baby! 🌞🌻

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Leftcoastzen
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A holiday gift from a friend,McKibbens first fiction book didn‘t disappoint. A fable for our times ! You have got to love a state that has a mud season & food for thought about resistance, community,& craft beer !Local , of course!Great characters!

Magpiegem That‘s a great cover! 3y
DrexEdit @Magpiegem I agree! Really terrific! 3y
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beaconhillbooks
Pickpick

Loved this.

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saresmoore
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I had the pleasure of hearing Bill McKibben share his wisdom on climate change and his humble, yet globally powerful activist strategies last night. The talk was bleak, as is the pressing reality, but there‘s a hope in him that is more igniting than all the CO2 we‘ve pumped into our atmosphere. What an amazing human! I went with my environmentalist dad (pictured) and Bill was kind enough to sign my copy of his happiest book.

LauraBeth What a great picture! 😍 6y
merelybookish Great pic! 6y
saresmoore @LauraBeth @merelybookish Not a bit of family resemblance, is there? 😅 6y
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AlaMich Holy cow, you guys look sooo much alike!! 😊 6y
batsy Beautiful photo 💕 6y
saresmoore @AlaMich Weird, huh? I‘m just glad I didn‘t inherit his hairline. 💁‍♀️ 6y
Leftcoastzen Nice photo!sounds like it was a great event! 6y
saresmoore @Leftcoastzen To be honest, it was devastating. But very motivational. Now is the time to unite and fight...so we don‘t all literally die in natural disasters in 20 years... 😬😟🌎 6y
Suet624 Wow, two peas in a pod. 6y
LeahBergen I could immediately tell this was your Dad! ❤️❤️ 6y
britt_brooke Love this photo! 6y
RohitSawant Wonderful picture! 6y
85 likes13 comments
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saresmoore
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I have the opportunity to see Bill McKibben speak on Thursday evening, so I picked up his latest book today. It‘s a fun premise, but the writing is frustrating. This stylistic punctuating of statements with a question mark thing is my pet peeve! I understand the intent, but it just doesn‘t work for me.

Suet624 I chuckled a lot throughout the book but I understand your comment. I also wonder if I forgave him more because he‘s a a Vermonter and there were a lot of inside jokes. 6y
saresmoore @Suet624 The beer truck scene made me snort laugh! I think I will end up liking the book (if only because it makes me think of you) and I‘m most certainly looking forward to hearing Mr. McKibben speak. 6y
Suet624 I loved the beer truck scene. 😂😂 6y
saresmoore @Suet624 I think I sold four people on the book on the merits of that scene, alone! 6y
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Chiperskee
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Pickpick

Great read. Lots of interesting politics rolled into an exciting story.

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Chiperskee
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Pickpick

Great read. Lots of interesting politics rolled into an exciting story.

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TheWildCard
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Pickpick

I love this. The characters are great (Perry is my favorite—love his music choices), the satire is great, and I‘m all for the ideas about tight-knit communities and local economies. Recommended.

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Expandingbookshelf
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Mehso-so

I really wanted to like this book-it‘s about encouraging civil resistance and commitment to our values in the age of Trump! And there‘s a biathlon chase! But man was this book frustrating. The dialogue was stiff and clunky and the plot was annoying and too cute. I appreciate what the author was trying to do but this was not for me.

charl08 Disappointing. Taken one for the team there, I think. 7y
5 likes1 comment
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Expandingbookshelf
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🙄🙄🙄

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Suet624
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Pickpick

The call for Vermont‘s secession and what that would mean (would we still get our social security checks?), Trump, climate change, info on Vermont‘s unique history, all wrapped up in a goofy fable. I needed goofy. Some great pranks and a fun biathlon chase. Glad McKibben was able to dabble in fiction for a change. The librarian covered up Bernie Sanders‘ praise of the book with a bar code. Not sure if that was a political statement. 😀 #Vermont

minkyb Hope not! 7y
Suet624 This particular librarian is humorless so I can‘t even ask her. 😀 7y
LibrarianToujours @Suet624 Wow, a humorless librarian is such a rare thing that I kind of want to meet her 😆 7y
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Suet624 @NHLibrarian 😂😂😂 come on up. I‘ll introduce you. Although I actually have been wondering if she started taking anti-depressants because I actually heard her laugh the other day. 7y
Librariana I was gonna call "Shade!" on the barcode placement... But then you said she was humorless and I was like "Oh ok, so she's not clever then..." But I DO like the idea of librarians being slightly shady ? 7y
Suet624 @Librariana “She‘s not clever then...”. Love that. 7y
Librariana @Suet624 - 😁 Oopsie 😄😊 I'm glad you didn't take offense to my own shady-ness. 7y
56 likes7 comments
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catiewithac
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Pickpick

A timely read of a timely novel! The first novel of the Trump presidency to address climate change and governmental autonomy. And McKibben writes in such a fun, easy way that you hardly notice the big ideas. I loved the historical Vermont wisdom and really loved the biathlon chase! ⛷

Suet624 Yes to everything you said. 7y
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Suet624
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Apparently the Vermont library patrons have differing opinions on this book.

saresmoore Every time I see this book, I wonder what YOUR opinion will be. 7y
DivineDiana Does this info come in all the books? So nice. 7y
AmyG Ha! Agree. Dump him! 7y
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Suet624 @saresmoore It‘s goofy and I need goofy right now. He highlights what I love most about Vermont and tells a great story about our desire to stay small and independent. I wasn‘t planning on reading it, but the differing opinions enticed me. 7y
Suet624 @DivineDiana at that particular library, yes. 7y
Suet624 @AmyG I know! I loved that. 7y
LibrarianToujours We tried these comment forms at my library and nobody wrote anything 😕 7y
Suet624 @NHLibrarian I have to admit I never write anything. But I love reading what others write. I guess I should probably add my voice to the conversation. 7y
62 likes8 comments
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shendrix413
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OK Littens! I had 12 people comment on my #giveaway of the extra copy I have of the tagged book, so I had my 7 year old draw a name and @melyndarae YOU WON! send me your address at shendrix413@yahoo.com and I'll get in the mail to you!

melyndarae Yay!! Emailing you now!! Thank you!! 7y
66 likes1 comment
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shendrix413
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Hey Littens! I've ended up with 2 annotated copies of this book from @Pagehabit boxes, so I'm going to #giveaway one! Just comment below if you want it! If more than one person comments then I'll draw a name on Friday!

LA_Mead Cool! I‘d be into that... 7y
monalyisha Me too! (I went to college in VT & have a book club filled with fellow once (& current) Vermonters 🤗⛰🌲) 7y
AmyG I have wanted to read this! Thank you. 7y
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TheKidUpstairs If you're open to shipping to Canada, I'd love to throw my name into the hat! Sounds like a great read. 7y
2BR02B I've heard good things about this one! Thanks for the giveaway! 😁 7y
saresmoore Oh, how cool! I would love to read this! 7y
TheWordJar This looks good! Thanks for giveaway! 7y
minkyb Very generous offer. i would love to read this! 7y
Velvetsun Count me in. Thanks for the giveaway. 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Thanks! Would love this! 7y
melyndarae Sounds interesting. Would love to read this! 7y
Bklover Count me in! Thank you! 7y
63 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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Jana
Pickpick

This is a fable about resistance and politics and the big power of small people and media and a social commentary on government and big business. It‘s funny, weird, and makes really good points within the absurd and it‘s worth pointing out that it really only works because of our current political climate (the skewering of Rex Tillerson was funny). It‘s short, one for an afternoon or a couple of hours even though it took me longer than that.

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DVGessner
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It's not nearly as cold here as it is in my native VT, but I'm trying to be there in books ❤️ One of my resolutions for 2018 is to read at least 50 pages a day in between all that needs to get done. So far so good!

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Aims42
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A poopy day at work (a long weekend off + last week of the month at a mortgage company 🤢😵) is instantly forgotten with some beautiful surprise flowers from the hubs & some #bookmail 😋 4 days until the weekend!!!

Aims42 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks LOL! Yes shout out to all the #husbandsoflitsy 🙌🏻👏🏻🙏🏼👍🏻 7y
CatLass007 He is a keeper! 7y
Aims42 @CatLass007 he is ☺️ 7y
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AJandHerBooks
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Pickpick

I was provided a free egalley of this book through PRH‘s First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a funny and timely novel that makes you really think about our current political climate and how to handle it. The main theme is to remind you that your voice matters and anyone can cause change. It‘s a short novel that packs a big punch.

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AJandHerBooks
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That is one of the most Vermont things I‘ve ever read.

Suet624 I had to laugh because I live in VT and we have an Airbnb downstairs. I clean when folks leave. It doesn‘t matter how many instructions we provide and pictures as examples, folks from out of state don‘t understand recycling. And Vermont recycles practically everything, including food scraps. 7y
Suet624 I end up being like a bag lady trying to separate things. 7y
10 likes2 comments