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Oval
Oval | Elvia Wilk
15 posts | 15 read | 18 to read
Bizarre weather. Unprecedented economic disparity. Artists employed by corporations as consultants. And the ultimate work of art: Oval, a pill that increases generosity. This unforgettable debut novel asks questions of empathy and power on every scale--from bodies to bureaucracies--to create an unsettling portrait of the future of Berlin.
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review
Hooked_on_books
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Mehso-so

A couple in Berlin takes part in an experiment living in a sustainable home while working on projects intended to improve humanity. This book has really lovely writing, but I feel like it either didn‘t quite get to where it wanted to go or I didn‘t get something. I did enjoy it, though.

#ReadingEurope2020 #Germany

Librarybelle Glad you enjoyed it! 4y
Cinfhen Are you still shipping your orchids?? I wanted to send something to a friend in NJ. LMK what‘s available or possible xx 4y
BarbaraBB I read this one for Germany too. 4y
Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen Anthuriums, and yes, we can ship, but I‘ll need to check in with the USDA inspection office to see if they‘ll be remaining open. The state goes under lockdown tomorrow for 6 WEEKS, so it‘s a little up in the air at the moment. I‘ll let you know what I find out. 4y
47 likes4 comments
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Readerann
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Halfway through #StayHome24in48. I‘m only at 4 hr 28 min so far, but I‘m happy I‘ve been able to concentrate that much. Looking to improve on that tomorrow. Hope everyone is enjoying lots of ‘book comfort‘! 🥰 (Oval is typical #ToB fare in that it‘s unique - not quite sure what I think yet.)

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Readerann
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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I‘m having a hard time focusing, but I‘m going to give #StayHome24in48 a shot this weekend. Just to top things off, we were shaken out of bed this morning by a 5.7 earthquake (in Utah). Really?! I‘m trying to finish the #ToB shortlist up, so will be reading Oval - not sure what else. I know a reading binge would make me feel better. Thank God for all you Littens! I find reading your posts very comforting (like life is kind of normal). ❤️

BarbaraBB I feel the same. And I liked Oval. Take care 💚🍀 4y
18 likes1 comment
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Soscha
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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I‘m a dog lover & YES, this is only too true.

review
Redwritinghood
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Mehso-so

An interesting near-future setting, but not a lot happens directly in the book. We learn of corporate manipulation and social upheaval, but don‘t witness it directly. More of the focus is on the oxymoron of a corporate-designed “natural” environment called the Berg and the relationship of two of its inhabitants. I felt like this book was edging around some big topics, but never getting at them head on. For me, this was a little slow. 3⭐️ #tob2020

BarbaraBB Great review. The dialogues made up for the lack of plot for me. 4y
thebluestocking Hmm. I keep debating about reading this, and then don‘t because it‘s not easily accessible. I wish there was not a play in round! 💙 4y
Suet624 I‘m skipping this one as well as Overthrow. Just not much love for them. 4y
66 likes1 stack add3 comments
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azulaco
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Yay! E-book now available on Scribd! I started this last night, and I think I‘m going to like it. I should stop reading dystopian fiction because it‘s bad for my mood, but I like reading dystopian fiction because it reflects my mood. 🤷🏻‍♀️#ToB #ToB2020

Smrloomis I think I know what you mean 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y
BkClubCare Oh the challenge is real. 4y
thebluestocking This may tip the scales on me getting Scribd! 💙 4y
azulaco @thebluestocking I‘d definitely give Scribd a try. I don‘t love that a lot of times, newer books are only available on audio, but I‘ve still been able to find plenty of the books I wanted. I tend to be a back catalog reader anyway, rather than a new bestseller reader, so it works well for me. I‘ve saved a lot of money in the long run. And if they do have a title, no waiting in the hold line at the library. 4y
20 likes4 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Pickpick

This book is a disaster story waiting to happen. Set in Berlin in a very near future, where people live their life and are suffering of FOMO, where companies pretend to be all focussed on an eco-friendly world. Where artists are consultants, where the streets are filled with the homeless. The Oval pill is just another innovation, another drug, another nothing. This is the story of Anja and it‘s a good one. #ToB2020
⬇️⬇️

zezeki I've been seeing this book lately on Litsy, and I'm really liking this cover. 4y
BarbaraBB @zezeki It‘s an interesting cover indeed. The book is weird! 💕 4y
See All 17 Comments
Librarybelle I‘m seconding the interesting cover! 4y
MrBook Interesting! 😁 4y
Hooked_on_books I love a weird dystopia, so this might be perfect for me. And I also love the trippy cover. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Unique pick! 4y
readordierachel I tried this a while back but it didn't grab me for some reason. Your review makes me want to pick it up again. 4y
Cinfhen Cool 😎 great review/ totally intrigued but don‘t think it‘s my type of book 🤷🏼‍♀️❣️ 4y
BarbaraBB @readordierachel We mostly agree on books but if it didn‘t grab you the first time, I wouldn‘t try again 🤓. Same goes for you @Cinfhen, I think you‘re right about it not being your type of book! 😘 4y
Megabooks I‘m going to finish this soon! I can‘t tell yet if it‘s a pick or so-so, but it‘s definitely interesting and unique!! 4y
batsy This one and Optic Nerve are definitely two of the TOB picks that intrigue me most! Glad you liked it; it's on my TBR. 4y
BarbaraBB @batsy Optic Nerve is eyeing me too! 4y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks That‘s why I decided for a pick in the end! 4y
alisiakae Great review! 4y
thebluestocking Okay. Okay. I might need to read this. You‘ve convinced me. 💙 4y
BarbaraBB @thebluestocking Fingers crossed that you‘ll like it. Although it‘s always good to read one more for the #ToB! 4y
74 likes3 stack adds17 comments
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Megabooks
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Pretty proud of this map just 21 days in to #readingEurope2020!

Read - France, Italy, Sweden, UK, Ukraine
Currently reading - Denmark, Germany (tagged book)
Know that I own - Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Russia
Out from library now - Greece, Lithuania

There are a lot of countries, though!

Marina_h Wow, well done so far! I've only two countries done, so I need to start making some plans soon. 4y
Texreader Fantastic!!! 4y
Megabooks @Marina_h I didn‘t really think about the planning when I signed up! 😂😂 like I just started thinking about it tonight! (edited) 4y
See All 36 Comments
Megabooks @Texreader thanks! And thank you for the lists! I screenshotted a lot of them. 👍🏻👍🏻💜 4y
Texreader @Megabooks Cool!! I‘m still working through the countries. Next up: the Czech Republjc. I‘m recruiting my husband to help now that he‘s home from camping. He has a large international book collection 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Such good progress! 👏 Your map is so cool! 👍 4y
Louise Wow, you are so organized! I‘ve been reading around the world willy-nilly! 😆 4y
Joanne1 What a cool idea. Love the map, you‘ve done so well already. 4y
BarbaraBB Love your map and how well you are doing! 💜 4y
Megabooks @Texreader that‘s fantastic!! 4y
Megabooks @erzascarletbookgasm thank you!! 😊😊😊 4y
Megabooks @Louise I started keeping a reading log and that has helped. 👍🏻👍🏻 4y
Megabooks @Joanne1 thank you!! 4y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB thanks friend!! 😊😘 4y
JaneyWaneyB What a great way to track reads. If you need a read for Spain, highly recommend the tagged book 😁 4y
Megabooks @JaneyWaneyB thank you for the recommendation! It sounds like an exciting book and very popular on Litsy!! 4y
JaneyWaneyB The whole series is wonderful do prepare yourself for a book slump once you've read it as nothing seems to compare for a while. Enjoy, let me know what you think if you do read it 4y
Butterfinger Looks great!! 4y
ljuliel Wow, you‘re doing great ! 4y
Librarybelle That‘s amazing! 4y
JazzFeathers Whaaaaaat????? 😲👏👏👏👏😃 4y
Megabooks @Butterfinger thanks!! 👍🏻 4y
Megabooks @ljuliel thank you!! 😊😁 4y
Megabooks @Librarybelle thanks!! 😊💜 4y
Megabooks @JazzFeathers thank you!! 😂😂😊💕 4y
marleed That‘s impressive! My European armchair travel seems to be keeping me in the U.K. 4y
Megabooks @marleed i wouldn‘t have done it if not for the challenge! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Adding to the suggestion by @JaneyWaneyB , I read Zafon's YA book Marina last year & loved it. For Spain, he'll be an excellent choice and really brings you into old Barcelona. 4y
Megabooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick thank you for the second!! 👍🏻😁 4y
UwannaPublishme Wow! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Crazeedi Look at you go!!👏👏🎉💖 4y
Crazeedi @Texreader you posted countries? Not sure if I saw them , I'll have to look and screenshot for future reference, thanks!! 4y
Megabooks @UwannaPublishme Thanks!! 😊😊😊 (edited) 4y
Megabooks @Crazeedi thank you!! Woo hoo!! 👍🏻👍🏻😘 4y
aperi Wow! That looks great! 4y
Megabooks @aperi thanks!! 4y
105 likes36 comments
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BkClubCare
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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So... silly me, never got around to checking on the library for the #TOB2020 and now it‘s likely NOT gonna happen. Now I am trying to decide which I have the best chances to get! Optic Nerve is available; am going to watch that one super close or I risk having to read too many in too short of time! #ReadingDilemmas

Velvetfur Fingers crossed that you get what you want from the library! I posted another letter to you, by the way (which includes the returned one in the same envelope!), I posted it on Thursday so I'll keep an eye on the tracking this time 😊 4y
Velvetfur Update - "your item has reached the Sorting Office in the destination country", looks like that's as far as I can track it ? 4y
BkClubCare @Velvetfur - OK! Thank you. 📬📥📨 Looking forward to it 4y
See All 7 Comments
Ruthiella You should put your name in the queue anyway! You never know when holds come in. I return books right away when I know other patrons are waiting. (edited) 4y
BkClubCare I did - these are only 4 visible ones! I have to go to a separate page to hold print copies (plus, I can try for Large Print, too. I will get em how I can! 4y
BkClubCare @Ruthiella see 👆👆 4y
thebluestocking Oh man! That‘s a bummer. I hope the library gods smile on you. 💙 4y
33 likes7 comments
review
BookNAround
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Mehso-so

The world of Oval is one of dissolute human beings, secretive companies, and impending disaster. It is creepy and disturbing and probably great for those who love dystopias. For me, it was slow to start and just exposed a world I‘d never want to live in. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-oval-by-elvia-wilk.html

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Eggs
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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TheSpineView 😍😍😍 5y
41 likes1 comment
review
alisahar
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Mehso-so

In a near-future neoliberal nightmare, Anja and Louis live on a mountain in Berlin, in an experimental carbon-neutral house that‘s also falling to pieces. Anja is worried about Louis, whose mother just died, and Louis is obsessed with a work project he hopes will restore generosity with a pharmacological cure-all. There were a lot of interesting threads in this book but I‘m not sure the author pulled them together into something cohesive.

review
Thndrstd
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Pickpick

In the future, the economy of Berlin focuses on sustainability, and Anja and Louis take a house on the Berg, a new eco-friendly development, but the house is becoming less habitable. Meanwhile, Louis has an idea for Oval, a drug that makes people more generous; he's convinced it is the solution to growing income inequality. A smart, brilliant novel that feels eerily like real life. It is the best book I've read this year. Highest recommendation.

35 likes4 stack adds
review
Bookalong
Oval | Elvia Wilk
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Pickpick

5🌟 Available June 4th!!
This book blew my mind! I thought it was a brilliant dystopian story. It takes place in the near furure but touched on so much that seems so close to our reality it was frightening! It was also funny, fast paced and very engrossing! I will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Elvia Wilk does next.
Thank You to the publisher for sending me this #ARC.
#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagram

CouronneDhiver Really like the simple cover 5y
Bookalong @CouronneDhiver Me too!👌 5y
15 likes2 stack adds2 comments