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The Friend
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
A moving story of love, friendship, grief, healing, and the magical bond between a woman and her dog. When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master, and by the threat of eviction: dogs are prohibited in her apartment building. While others worry that grief has made her a victim of magical thinking, the woman refuses to be separated from the dog except for brief periods of time. Isolated from the rest of the world, increasingly obsessed with the dog's care, determined to read its mind and fathom its heart, she comes dangerously close to unraveling. But while troubles abound, rich and surprising rewards lie in store for both of them. Elegiac and searching, The Friend is both a meditation on loss and a celebration of human-canine devotion.
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ManyWordsLater
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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“Between religion and knowledge, he said, one must choose knowledge.
What a preposterous thing for anyone who knows anything about Jewish history to say, one comment read.”

Hilarious.

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Sapphire
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Link for the graphic is at the end of The NY Times article after you mark your choices.

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ManyWordsLater
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Just three TBR piles randomly stacked.

What should I read next?

Ruthiella The Oliver Sacks title! 👍 4mo
ManyWordsLater @Ruthiella if you say so! 4mo
43 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Mehso-so

I still have no idea if I liked this. The narrator is caring for a depressed Great Dane while dealing with her friend's suicide. Basically. It is full of literary references. Many about dogs.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Intriguing cover, though. 8mo
51 likes1 comment
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Suet624
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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From the Times: “It was a cloudless morning in mid-August in Middlebury, Vt., & I had gone to meet Nunez, a petite woman of almost suspicious good cheer, to talk about her half-century-long writing career. She had come up from her home in New York City to give a reading from her new, 9th novel, “The Vulnerables,” which appears this week — at the Bread Loaf Writers‘ Conference.” If I‘d known she was an hour away I would have crashed that reading.

Suet624 Great article. Elizabeth Hardwick is highlighted as well. Anyone should be read able to read it with this link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/magazine/sigrid-nunez.html?unlocked_article_c...
(edited) 12mo
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Soubhiville
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

It‘s a little hard to describe this book, as what it was shifted several times. Mostly it‘s a woman writing to her deceased best friend, who died of suicide. But it‘s also about how she took in his Great Dane Apollo and fell in love with him. It‘s about grief and about being a writer and about being a loner.

Though it‘s fiction, it very much feels like memoir. I liked it.

Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks this was my #doublespin 😁📚🐶 1y
CatLass007 This looks like it would be illuminating. I have added it to my Audible wish list. It is the 6,134th book added. Yep, I‘m never going to buy or listen to a fraction of the books on the list. Not in this lifetime, anyway. But since I envision the afterlife as a future where I‘ll be able to read for all eternity while cuddling with every kitty I want, I see the list as preparation for the future. 1y
Soubhiville @CatLass007 I‘m all in for that afterlife! 1y
See All 6 Comments
CatLass007 @Soubhiville I think all the books are going to be in whichever format one desires, print, ebook, audiobook. We can drink our beverages of choice, wine, coffee, hot chocolate, tea. We can eat what we want and not get fat. We will be our best selves. And Star Trek. All new episodes of TOS starring the original cast. 😇 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
Megabooks Right on the nose review! Fantastic! 1y
83 likes6 comments
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charl08
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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tpixie 0! 1y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Zero for me too 😝 1y
See All 9 Comments
batsy Only Tipping the Velvet! 1y
RaeLovesToRead 2 - living dolls and tipping the velvet... omg I want these books now!! 😍😍 1y
Soubhiville Just Tipping the Velvet for me too (an all time favorite!) 1y
AlaMich Tipping the Velvet for me too. Loved it! 1y
charl08 I can recommend The Friend if anyone needs an excuse to buy..🤣🤣🤣. @batsy @RaeLovesToRead @Soubhiville @AlaMich @LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @tpixie 1y
tpixie @charl08 💙💙💙 1y
47 likes1 stack add9 comments
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steph_phanie
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / More Pick than So-So

I understand the mixed reviews. This is largely a meditation on grief, animal companionship, & writing. The narrator is unreliable, the reflections seem a bit disjointed (though, I don't believe they are), and some sections deserve a TW.*

But I like a wandering reflection on life & art. What does it mean to be human? To be a creator? What are your responsibilities to each other, to animals, to truth, & to your art?

steph_phanie TW=Trigger Warning. This book discusses suicide, grief, physical abuse, sex trafficking, animal abuse, & pet euthanasia, among other things. I definitely found myself crying mid-flight during the description of a cat at the end of its life. Totally forgot that I knew such a passage was included & that it had been the reason I was delaying reading this. Had to put my kitty down last October. So, take these topics into consideration before reading. 1y
14 likes1 comment
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CarolynM
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Well, @BarbaraBB the mail between our countries is obviously moving freely again😆 Not one, but two, parcels from you! I will keep the second one for opening in February. Thank you so much my lovely friend 😘

LapReader Another lovely Litsy Lady! 2y
BarbaraBB They arrived both at the same time? That is ridiculous, I sent the second a month after the other 🤣 Well, never mind. I am glad they made it in the end! The second one is for your birthday 🎉 ❤️ 2y
batsy How lovely! ❤️ 2y
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain How odd that they were sent a month apart! 🤷‍♀️ 2y
CarolynM @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I think the second one arrived a few days after the first. Just shows how much the Christmas mail clogs up the system. (edited) 2y
erzascarletbookgasm International post can be weird😅 2y
74 likes6 comments
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Megabooks
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

This book is endlessly interesting, but I hardly know what to say. Nunez takes a story about suicide and turn it into a larger piece about the arts and our place in the universe.

An author‘s dear friend has committed suicide and his third wife begged her to take his rescue Great Dane. As she processes his death and her new addition, she reflects on works of literature, film, and visual arts that depict dogs and/or loss and suffering.

Cinfhen Hmmmmm 🤔im not sure this one‘s for me!!?? 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m not sure either, but I‘m guessing no. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
Cinfhen I trust your instincts xx 2y
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BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB it was really interesting! 2y
CarolynM It does sound interesting. Stacked🙂 2y
Megabooks @CarolynM I hope you enjoy it! 😁💜 2y
Suet624 I really liked this one. So many subjects were touched on. I see you @barbarabb. 😍 (edited) 2y
82 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Megabooks
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Molly and I headed down to the river today. She had a great time sniffing, but every time I stopped to read I got THAT look. 🤨 Lovely morning even if I only got 20 pages in. 💜🐶🍁

EKonrad Those leaves are gorgeous! We don‘t get ones like that in Los Angeles! Lol 2y
sarahbellum That face! 😂 2y
Cinfhen Nice 😁 2y
See All 13 Comments
BarbaraBB She still is The Friend though 😉. LOVE your downtown 🍁🍂 2y
squirrelbrain Hi Molly! 👋 Gorgeous pics! 2y
kspenmoll How lovely! 2y
Megabooks @EKonrad thanks! I feel really lucky that my town prioritizes nice outdoor spaces (and that we have 4 season. 😉) 2y
Megabooks @sarahbellum she was not a fan of the swing. (My town has metal porch swings on the park riverfront instead of benches.) (edited) 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen it was a good morning 💜 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB she‘s definitely my bestie! 😉💜 2y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain thank you!! She‘s posting a gift to Henry soon! 😘 2y
squirrelbrain I‘ve told Henry and he‘s very excited! 😘 2y
88 likes13 comments
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cariashley
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

I loved this more than I thought I would - am always skeptical of award winners. The writing on pets and animals was especially moving. I zoomed through it in only 2 days but this kind of meditative book probably deserves a little slowing down and introspection.

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kspenmoll
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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1. Tagged book
2.William Faulkner
3. Fargo
4. Foo Fighters
#manicmonday #letterF

CBee Thanks for playing 😊 2y
33 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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#alphabetgame #LetterF

The Friend is a book that grows on you. I loved it. Fresh Water for Flowers was sent to me as a gift but I have yet to read it. It‘s on my list for this month or September.

AmyG Fesh Wateris so good.i got it as a gift, too. 😘 (edited) 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty ❤️ 2y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mrp27
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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July #wrapup

It was a great reading month! Hard to pick highlights as I enjoyed at least one aspect of each book. Some great graphic novels and picture books this month.

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rmaclean4
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Mehso-so

2 🌟 writing, academia, sexism, suicide and dogs. This was not for me.

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SW-T
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Mehso-so

I like that this was written like a journal, and that it covered grief and loss. While I appreciate those things, the writing style itself wasn‘t for me. Short, but not one I was eager to keep reading.

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HeatherBookNerd
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

This novel is more like reading someone‘s journal, their private thoughts. It is a meditation on loss, grief, and writing. It is also about friendship - both the human and animal kind - and being a writer. Unusual and surprising.

kspenmoll So enjoyed this. 3y
40 likes2 comments
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Reviewsbylola
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Another month, another almost blackout on my bingo card! This time I was only two away. Which is fine, because I think September will be my month. 😂🤞🏻 #bookspinbingo #bookspin #doublebookspin

In other news, I‘m only one prompt away from finishing the summer quarter of #booked2021. 🙌🏻

Cinfhen Love this photo!!!! So many good reads 🥰 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! Fantastic progress!!! 3y
LeahBergen Oh, I need to get to Doreen. 👍 3y
Reviewsbylola You do!! It‘s fantastic. @LeahBergen 3y
62 likes5 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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#ConflictedWorlds Day 23: #PersonVsDestiny - perhaps it was destiny for the main character to inherit her new canine companion after her dear friend committed suicide. Paired with fresh oysters from Seattle. 💕💕💕

Eggs 💙📚❤️ 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful photo ❤️ 3y
45 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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#ConflictedWorlds Day 13: #PersonVsNeighbors - in this case the landlord who refuses to allow dogs in the apartment units. There is beauty in the writing but a bit too random-ruminations for me. Still not done, though. Posting several days in advance as well since we will be traveling back to the UAE in two days‘ time and everything will be crazy hectic.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚👏🏻🙌🏻 3y
Eggs 🧡🍤🍲📖💛 3y
45 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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#ConflictedWorlds Day 10: #PersonVsIllness - more like mental illness, I am sensing suicide/depression here. Still in the first few pages and finding it to be (too) leisurely paced, like the author is getting something out of her system rather than telling an actual story. Paired with mexican food here in Seattle!!!

Eggs Yum 😋 3y
38 likes1 comment
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akfreeborn
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

I have so enjoyed this book, a novel with autobiographical aspects admits Nunez. A bit stream of consciousness with musings on death, suicide, writing, love, teaching and yes the relationship of a human to a devoted pet. It is very literary but it is not pretentious at all. Highly recommend! The dog lives all through to the end!

Erinreadsthebooks I really enjoyed that book as well. Love your picture! 3y
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Kazzie
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
Pickpick

Amazing! I liked the stream of consciousness, reflections on friendship and love and writing. Recommend!

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Centique
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

It‘s autumn! Season of soups and socks and cuddling under blankets right? Well, it is for me in NZ and all the #AussieLittens

This is a lovely little book. I hadn‘t expected that it would be as much about writing and ageing, as it is about grieving and growing attached to a beautiful large dog. It‘s written in a free form style, like listening to the musings or internal dialogue of an intelligent friend. Some amazing thoughts in here. ⬇️

Centique Lots of writerly quotes and thoughts about writers and books. A little like H is for Hawk in that way but shorter. Little gems scattered throughout. This is a book I‘ll want to reread. 4y
TrishB Lovely review and great pic ♥️ 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Nice review, and I love this pic 👍 4y
See All 16 Comments
thegreensofa Lol I got my puffer jacket out yesterday it‘s so cold already in Melbourne! Soup and socks here I come! 😁❄️🧦 4y
charl08 Lovely photo. Although I'd like some summer first! 4y
batsy Sounds good! And this photo is 😍 4y
Centique @thegreensofa I got out my merinos and then today turned into a scorcher and I was back in shorts 😂😂 4y
Centique @charl08 fair enough! There have been some cold winters in the Northern hemisphere ❄️💨⛄️ 4y
Centique @batsy thank you Suba. 😘I think you would like this book! 4y
Clare-Dragonfly How lovely! 😍🍂 4y
Megabooks Beautiful picture! 4y
Cathythoughts Looks beautiful! I love Autumn 🍂 4y
Reggie Both review and pic are lovely! 😍 4y
Centique Thank you lovely people 😘😘 @Clare-Dragonfly @Megabooks @Cathythoughts @Reggie 4y
Rissreads Gorgeous photo and review 🌳 4y
78 likes16 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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#LitsySpringBreak Day 8: The author of these two novels I just bought was born and raised in New York to a German mother and a Chinese Panamanian father - hence, fitting the #SouthAmerica prompt with Panama! 💕 Looking forward to reading these lovelies soonest.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💛❤️💚📚💚 4y
TheKidUpstairs ❤❤❤❤📚 Love the bright covers! 4y
52 likes2 comments
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MrBook
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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#BookNDinner! Out supporting a local business tonight, and wishing my friends here a Happy Chinese New Year now in case I don‘t see them on Friday 🙂! Accompaniment this frigid and still night: Mongolian grill stir-fry: noodles, broccoli, zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, chicken, beef, shrimp, salmon, scallops, egg, cilantro, ginger, garlic, and teriyaki sauce; and some nice hot green tea. MMMmmmm 😋! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

Lynnsoprano Yummy! We‘re doing Korean on Friday for Lunar New Year. 4y
Eggs Yum 😋 4y
91 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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asterese
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

This was a joy to read. It's a writer's story, whether written for the self or for other writers. There are plenty of memorable lines here. I'm not quite sure what the ending was about, but nothing a future re-read won't enlighten me on.

⭐: 4.5

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asterese
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid

"You want to know what you should write about. You're afraid that whatever you write about will be trivial, or just another version of something that's already been said. But remember, there is at least one book in you that cannot be written by anyone else but you. My advice is to dig deep and find it."

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asterese
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Really loving this book so far. ?

"Because it's all about the rhythm, you said. Good sentences start with a beat."

Erinreadsthebooks Great book! 4y
7 likes1 comment
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Blaire
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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Pickpick

An unnamed narrator confronts the death of a good friend and how it impacts her life; especially after she ends up adopting his dog. She muses about grief, dogs, writing, teaching, and her relationship with her friend. There is also a lot of fun playing with writing and writing conventions. The plot is driven by her growing attachment to the dog she has adopted and its impact on her as well. Good one to listen to on audio.

Erinreadsthebooks I really enjoyed this one! 4y
kspenmoll Read this & loved it. 4y
Blaire @kspenmoll @Erinreadsthebooks yes, it was surprising and different in really good ways. 4y
65 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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asterese
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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"Consider rereading, how risky it is, especially when the book is one that you loved. Always the chance that it won't hold up, that you might, for whatever reason, not love it as much."

Bumping this up to the top of my TBR for 2021. ??

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MrBook
The Friend | Nunez Sigrid
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#BookNLunch! A late lunch. I shoveled ours and the neighbors‘ driveways. In an unexpected gesture of appreciation, I get a nice, hot Greek lunch ☺️?! Fish, mashed potatoes, homemade bread, sautéed veggies, olives, and sparkling mineral water. MMMmmm ?! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! ???

CoffeeAndABook That‘s so nice!! Of both of you 😊 And yummm, just the bread alone looks divine. Great to have you back 😁😁😁 4y
curiouserandcurioser @MrBook looks yummy:) nice to see you here🙂 4y
Kaylamburson That's so nice of you! This morning I had a thought that it would be a really nice gesture to also clean the car next to me off. But then once I got started, I was way too cold to do more than I had to 😂🤣 4y
MrBook @Kaylamburson 😂🤣 4y
72 likes5 comments
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charl08
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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... they finally find it in themselves to admit they'd really rather just stay home.

Libby1 Interesting. I wonder if a person can marry and have children and still be a stray? 4y
charl08 @Libby1 Given the cash, I would happily sit on a beach somewhere sunny with a book every Xmas! 4y
Libby1 Me too, @charl08 ! 4y
39 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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charl08
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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There's another kind of person who is worried that not being that certain kind of person (despite wishing for a furry friend) makes me A Bad Person...

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derr.liz
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Am I the only person who didn't get a quarantine puppy?

#quarantinereads

Clwojick I wish I did! 4y
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Queerbeetleserin
Der Freund: Roman | Sigrid Nunez
Pickpick

Kann man mehr als fünf Sterne geben? Das Buch strotzt vor weisheiten und Poesie. Ich wollte einige Passagen zeigen, aber dann wurdevnir bewusst dass ich das ganze Buch abfotografieren müsste. Ein Buch zu lesen in einer Nacht....grandios

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Clwojick
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

Here are my final stats for #NutsInMay! Better than I thought, considering I‘ve worked more than I was expecting. Just finished The Friend, and now it‘s time to head to bed.

Thanks for another fun reading event Andrew! Keep em coming! 😉You know I can never resist 🤓

Clwojick @Andrew65 🌟🎉 4y
Andrew65 Fantastic, well done. Thanks for playing along. 🍾🥂👏👏👏🙌🥳🥳🥳 4y
70 likes2 comments
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quietjenn
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Knocked out by a cold the last few days, where I only read in my Kindle, so I didn't need any lights. Today managing paper books and electricity, so progress!

readordierachel Hope you feel better soon! 5y
56 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Tanisha_A
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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+
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

FriYAY! 🥳

cariashley Nice! 5y
readordierachel Yay! Loving the selection there! 5y
Tanisha_A @cariashley @readordierachel After all we never fall back on not having enough to read. 😁 5y
57 likes3 comments
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cariashley
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Oops, this just fell into my hands at Barnes and Noble today. My boss needed to exchange something so of course I went for moral support! Only one day in to the new year and I‘m already failing on buying new books... or winning? 😅

BookishMarginalia Winning. Definitely winning! 5y
cariashley @BookishMarginalia yes! That‘s definitely the right attitude! 5y
Zelma Winning, and I heard that was a great book. 5y
Tanisha_A I just bought it on Kindle. 😁 5y
65 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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JenDR
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Confession - I am not a huge animal person. I don‘t dislike them just never felt the need to keep one as a pet. I am not sure what made me pick up this book. I am enjoying it, even the parts about the dog.

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kbuggle
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

Grief and the power of having a pup by your side. I‘d avoided reading this for a while because of all the buzz and awards, but it I should have read it sooner. Not as much about the plot, but the conversation.

monalyisha Who needs plot? 😅 (Really, though. It‘s so secondary. Tertiary, even.) 5y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KarenUK
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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#Movember #rescueme
Had to go with the best kind of rescue today!
Tagged book is from my #TBR -I think it fits perfectly.

“A moving story of love, friendship, grief, healing, and the magical bond between a woman and her dog.
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. But while troubles abound, rich and surprising rewards lie in store for both of them.”

Cinfhen That T-shirt is fabulous 🐾 (edited) 5y
TheSpineView Rescues are the best! 5y
Sleepswithbooks Rescue Glitter 💖💖 5y
britt_brooke 💚🐾 5y
DGRachel Rescue Glitter! I love that and am totally stealing that. 💖😍 5y
52 likes5 comments
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MsLeah8417
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Panpan

⭐️
Tough book to read. Lots of trigger warnings for many reasons. Whoa, just, whoa!

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shaynarae
The Friend | Sigrid Nunez
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Pickpick

I put off this book because everyone was like 🤔 when it won the National Book Award, and I don‘t like books about dogs because that often means they‘re sad or boring. But, you guys, this book is BEAUTIFUL!! It‘s an exploration of heartache and pain, primarily through the experience of a close friend‘s suicide. Trigger warnings, for sure, but it‘s so wonderfully done. For those who need to know about the dog, check the spoiler comment.

shaynarae Spoiler for those who need to know: the dog does not die. 5y
26 likes1 comment