Bowlaway: A Novel | 
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Popsugar Challenge #28
This was a weird book. I picked it out because I really liked the cover, but then the story didn't match it at all. It was a sprawling story that followed the lives of several people all touched by Bertha Truitt, except her daughter, the person I was really interested in knowing more about.
#novel #fiction #magicalrealism #strange #audio #library #libby
so-soI went back on forth on this one. I almost bailed in the beginning as I wanted less quirk and more substance but I drawn in by curiosity and McCracken‘s writing. By the end I was ready for it to be over. A string of incidents that happen to a family surrounding a bowling alley, some more compelling than others, but I was left wondering what my takeaway was supposed to be. Not everything has to have a point but I found that I wanted one.
pickI enjoyed this weird whimsical tale about a candlepin bowling alley and the generations of family that owned it. It is a tale that is kind of all over the place and there are tons of characters to sort through. I found if i just thought of the location as the main character i was able to follow along. I say 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4 because this took some wonderful imagination to write.
I‘ve been sick so this is my first book I‘m picking up for 2020. The only other book of hers I‘ve read is “An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination” which shredded me and also brought about growth in me that things are not always what they seem. Looking forward to Bowlaway!
Decided to go with Bowlaway first, since I read a little bit of it already. When I tried it before, I had trouble getting into it, but this attempt has been much more successful.
Late-ish lunch. Finding it a bit difficult to get into this one, but that's very possibly on me for trying to read it in a busy office without headphones!
Jeptha Addison said, “That‘s the smartest man I ever met.” But Jeptha was so amiably stupid everybody was the smartest man he ever met. It was a worldwide tie.
pickI have such mixed feelings about this book. I added it to my TBR list based on all the positive reviews. The first few chapters confused me - some nice writing, but I couldn‘t figure out where the story was going or who the main characters were even supposed to be. After hearing that many others had bailed, I came close to dropping the book. I‘m glad I stuck with it - halfway through I finally started appreciating the rhythms of each chapter.
panThis seemed like it would be a fun summer read and it being part of #campToB gave me high hopes but it ultimately disappointed. Early on, I enjoyed the whimsical writing and quirky characters but it was a multi-generational novel and the subsequent characters were uninteresting and there wasn‘t much of a story to hold it together. Unrelated image is of the much needed cocktail on this Friday!
pickThis is a pick, but not a strong pick. I loved the breezy, whimsical writing. This book is often touching and funny and wise. Unfortunately, it got bogged down with too many characters and a lot of the book was focused on characters that weren‘t even the most interesting ones. Overall, though, it was charming and she‘s a great writer. 3.5 ⭐️
This is my soon-to-be-read pile and my little dog.
#dogsandbooks #riotgrams @bookriot #dogsoflitsy
panWasn't for me. It didn't draw me in. I didn't love any of the characters. Maybe you have to be in the right mood to enjoy it?
pickBowlaway is my first Elizabeth McCracken novel. I've heard some great things, but ultimately, I was disappointed. I definitely enjoyed some elements of the novel--the quirky narrative reminded me of John Irving's work, and McCracken's writing has moments of great beauty and terrific humor. I also enjoy multi-generational novels, so this fits right in. Ultimately, I just didn't find Bowlaway compelling *enough*, (continued in comments)
so-soSome people will love this, but I am not one of them. Cute, quirky, nice, for the most part. Too quirky for me, it made it feel like the author was trying too hard to create memorable characters. Ostensibly about a candlepin bowling family, it‘s full of characters who reinvent themselves. I felt the over-the-too quirkiness too away from that. #camptob
pickFirst up for #CampToB and it‘s an interesting place to start. This is a charming, quirky read with enough darkness to weight it a bit. Enjoyable on these long, hot days, but it‘s so plot driven that I‘m not sure it leaves much to discuss.
For any #ToB super fans out there, the #CampToB merch is available and adorable! Subscribers to The Morning News get 50% off: https://teespring.com/shop/camp-tob-
The tagged book is up for discussion first and I‘m about halfway through and am liking it a lot.
This book arrived today for #LMPBC #round5 #GroupA
Both previous readers stopped at page 79. I hope I like it better.
5y
pickI liked this book a lot. The way info was revealed was interesting. It was a little uneven in terms of time passage and how much of the book was spent on which characters.
Huge thanks to my AMAZING #litsypenpal! Wow!! This picture keeps cutting things out so that stinks, but you get the idea of the greatness. I‘m so thankful and super excited! I love it all, but when I saw “Just Mercy” I started jumping around. I‘ve had my eye on that one lately. I ❤️ the Kentucky notebook and I am always using and loving Lush! Thanks so much @Litlady 🤗🎉🐶You‘ve made this birthday gal very happy!
so-soI picked this up because I loved the Giants House years ago and the feeling of it stayed with me for decades. This was ok, held my attention, interesting. But not Rock your World like the Giants house. I was younger then, wonder if I would react the same way now. Still good, erudite writer.
I‘m about 25% through this and loving it. I forgot what a wonderful writer McCracken is. This makes me want to read everything else she‘s written even though I‘ve read them before.
OOOOooooo. I think I am going to like this AND be besotted with the author. Quirky! #tob2020 #Oscarassisting #dogsoflitsy #carride #librarybook
so-soIn theory I should have adored this book. It is "sprawling", historical fiction, "quirky", generational. All of my favorite descriptors of a novel. Didn't work out for me, though. ? I should have cared about the characters way more than I did. Something was missing for me, sadly. I did really enjoy the beginning, but it gradually went downhill until I almost regret reading it. ? #audiobook #libby
Each of my boys (almost 2 & almost 4) brought me a daffodil from the yard this afternoon when I got home from work. Oh, my heart ♥️ 🌼
My #currentread is an #audiobook from #libby and I'm loving it! So quirky and unexpected. #readandlisten
Usually I am more of a book-gobbler than a savorer, but Bowlaway is so delightfully, sweetly bossy that it demands to be savored — and I don't mind a bit.
Little Bee is checking out my weekend purchases. I've been waiting and waiting for Bowlaway, but the Iain Reid was an impluse buy.
pickThis was my first Elizabeth McCracken novel, and I really enjoyed it. Her style of writing is so unique. For me it had the feel of magical realism without actually being so. The story was fine but it was her writing that blew me away.
I grew up in New England, so when I saw that this book involves candlepin bowling, I was intrigued. It‘s only a 7-day loan from the library so I‘m busy this weekend...
Hey #LMPBC round 5 group y !!! Any of these sound interesting or like you‘d want to read? I‘m nervous and want to pick a good book lol! I have really broad tastes so I have lots of others to choose from as well.
Hoping I get lucky and none of you have read this yet and think it looks interesting. I‘ve heard GREAT things. What say you, #GroupA? #LMPBC @Erinreadsthebooks @irre @fandom_hellspawn99
As you can see, I LOVED all the books! And all the other goodies! @BlameJennyJane , you spoiled me! Thank you so much!
Books Are Magic seems to be the place all my favorites go to now. Elizabeth McCracken reading from her new book Bowlaway.
Pesto pasta + halloumi + tomatoes with a ton of toasted lemony breadcrumbs + basil.
And new #bookmail!! Excited to add this one to my shelf.
Master of my library‘s new release holds list should be somewhere on my resume.
I didn‘t even remember recommending this! The next email says the loan came in, so I guess I know what I‘m reading next!
pickEnjoyed the history of the family and the small community that surrounded the candle pin bowling alley. Interesting characters full of heart.
pickA beautifully written novel about an American family living through the beginning of the twentieth century and how their lives center around a candlepin bowling alley and the town around it. A deft mixture of humor, sharp storytelling, compelling characters, and sad truths. Highly recommended.
[I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher.]
pickWell, crap man. I knew I was gonna love this, but I haven‘t hoped it would be this much love. Quirky, beautiful, sad, brilliant.
Very excited. Part of my New Years resolutions were to take better care of my mind and body. I now go to indoor cycling 3-4 times a week, and I just signed up to attend this event. Taking strides towards a happier me!
I received a gorgeous finished copy of BOWLAWAY by my idol, Elizabeth McCracken! Oh, and I got kittens. 😝 Littens, meet kittens: This is Zevon and Farrokh. Back to the amazing book: It‘s out February 5th and I can‘t wait for everyone to get it! (Kittens not included.) 🎳❤️📚
pickGreat great book. Brilliantly written, with charming characters and a plot that reads like strange history. It‘s definitely epic in terms of span... but subject matter keeps it so grounded at times it‘s practically mundane. That mix is my favorite kind of thing to read, and I just loved it.
Elizabeth McCraken will be at Porter Square Books in Cambridge in February and I decided I want to read this before her event!
The first book I‘ve started in 2019. (I‘m behind on posting reviews of the last few I finished last year.) I got an advanced readers copy (yay!). I haven‘t read her before but I‘ve heard wonderful things and so far the writing is beautiful.
Happy New Year and happy reading everyone!
More #surprisebookmail! I've never read anything by McCracken but this one sounds like it's a light, funny read. It has me interested!
Thanks for the ARC HarperCollins 😊
