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Doxology
Doxology | Nell Zink
8 posts | 7 read | 1 reading | 6 to read
Two generations of an American family come of age - one before 9/11, one after - in this moving and original novel from the "intellectually restless, uniquely funny" (New York Times Book Review) mind of Nell Zink Pam, Daniel, and Joe might be the worst punk band on the Lower East Side. Struggling to scrape together enough cash and musical talent to make it, they are waylaid by surprising arrivals - a daughter for Pam and Daniel, a solo hit single for Joe. As the '90s wane, the three friends share in one another's successes, working together to elevate Joe's superstardom and raise baby Flora. On September 11, 2001, the city's unfathomable devastation coincides with a shattering personal loss for the trio. In the aftermath, Flora comes of age, navigating a charged political landscape and discovering a love of the natural world. Joining the ranks of those fighting for ecological conservation, Flora works to bridge the wide gap between powerful strategists and ordinary Americans, becoming entangled ever more intimately with her fellow activists along the way. And when the country faces an astonishing new threat, Flora's family will have no choice but to look to the past - both to examine wounds that have never healed, and to rediscover strengths they have long forgotten. At once an elegiac takedown of today's political climate and a touching invocation of humanity's goodness, Doxology offers daring revelations about America's past and possible future that could only come from Nell Zink, one of the sharpest novelists of our time.
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review
AlizaApp
Doxology | Nell Zink
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Pickpick

A quirky, enjoyable novel. The members of a 90s punk band are affected by 9/11, and the daughter of two band members grows up to become a member of the Green Party, wanting to do something good for the planet but becoming disillusioned at every possible turn.

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dxmy
Doxology | Nell Zink
Mehso-so

3/5⭐

I don't exactly know how I feel about thia book. I enjoyed it, but it was slow. The part about 9/11 really hit me hard and I loved the first half of the book, but I'm just not sure I really liked the rest of it. Some bits I really enjoyed, others not that much. 3/5 just feels fair for this one, that's the best explanation I've got

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Tonton
Doxology | Nell Zink
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Mehso-so

I was so excited about this story of friends who start an indie band in NYC and their lives before and after 9/11; the times and places (Tribeca, Upper West Side, Williamsburg)I lived through. I even managed a band, and my friends were very similar people, as artists with day jobs, rehearsing and recording for that elusive hit.The first half was spot on. The second half was...meh. See further in comments below:

Tonton As the friends ‘grow up‘ and take on adult responsibilities, they face different paths and worry about different problems. I just got bored - my friends evolved into much more interesting lives and decisions. I soldiered on to finish but it was a slog at the end. Couldn‘t care less about the characters, sadly. Joe was the only one who stood out to me, but things happen to him. Not a pan because the writing style is good. A bit too privileged. 5y
Tonton Meaning trust fund/startup buyouts for some in the story. I‘m like, OK Boomer, ( even if I‘m in the late boomer cohort.) But Zink got the music part right and true. I guess so-so for me; though others may find it better to their liking. 5y
37 likes2 comments
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dxmy
Doxology | Nell Zink
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My current read! Got this copy from our supplier at work because I mentioned my curiosity about it 🤭 Luckyyyy

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merelybookish
Doxology | Nell Zink
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I decided to #cherish my time and bail halfway through Nell Zink's Doxology. This big picture, multigenerational novel started out strong but time was moving too fast, historical events were piling up, and I lost interest in the characters. Still points for the Sassy magazine reference. 😉
I'm sure Madonna would support my life is too short decision!
And I LOVED this video back in the day!
#movember @cinfhen

vivastory Have you read any other Zink? I've been meaning to check out her books for awhile 5y
merelybookish @vivastory No first one. I think this is larger scale than her previous works so I might like her earlier work better. She is very good at dialogue and setting a quirky scene. But she was trying to make some kind of meaning out of the about generational shift between Gen X and now. And her characters were sacrificed to that and it just kind of lost me. 5y
Lindy @vivastory I really enjoyed 5y
See All 10 Comments
vivastory @Lindy I see that has been described as "mordantly funny" Right up my alley 5y
vivastory @merelybookish That can be really tough to pull off for sure. Rushdie manages it, & a few others, but I think it's really hard to maintain memorable characters & engage in grand generational/cultural arguments. 5y
merelybookish @vivastory Agreed! And my own taste runs more "small moments in a life"than to larger sweeping saga. So maybe this book would suit others. The 90s nostalgia was fun, especially the indie music scene she describes. But once we were into 2008 and soil protection in Ethiopia, I was ? 5y
merelybookish @Lindy Thanks! One of my IRL reading pals really like that one as well! So I may give her another chance. 🙂 5y
BarbaraBB I bailed on the tagged book by her for just those reasons. I think she‘s just not for me! 5y
merelybookish @BarbaraBB Good to know! I feel we have similar taste. I might give Mislaid a try sometime. But she may not be for me either. :)
5y
BarbaraBB @merelybookish I think we have similar taste too. I‘d say don‘t bother with Mislaid. It was just okay for me. ☺️ 5y
68 likes1 stack add10 comments
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merelybookish
Doxology | Nell Zink
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Next up on audiobook. First time reading Nell Zink. I hope I like it better than Frankissstein

GingerAntics This sounds interesting. Can‘t wait to see what you think. 5y
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rather_be_reading
Doxology | Nell Zink
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Oprahs picks this month! O magazine

SW-T Haben sounds intriguing! 5y
46 likes1 comment