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Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1, the Pox Party
Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1, the Pox Party | M T Anderson
13 posts | 20 read | 17 to read
Now in paperback, this deeply provocative novel reimagines the past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today. Young Octavian is being raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers -- but it is only after he opens a forbidden door that learns the hideous nature of their experiments, and his own chilling role them. Set in Revolutionary Boston, M. T. Anderson s mesmerizing novel takes place at a time when Patriots battled to win liberty while African slaves were entreated to risk their lives for a freedom they would never claim. The first of two parts, this deeply provocative novel reimagines past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today. "Anderson s imaginative and highly intelligent exploration of . . . the ambiguous history of America s origins will leave readers impatient for the sequel." -- THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW"
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wideeyedreader
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️ This was... dull. I almost fell asleep a couple times while reading, that‘s how dull it was. I found this book to be incredibly detached and lacking emption, despite the horrible things the protagonist goes through.

hes7 I didn‘t love this one either. 4y
17 likes1 comment
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saltwaterlit
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Thanks for your suggestions, guys! I decided the only way to get over this slump is to force myself to read until I‘m doing it naturally again. So...no more social media (with the exception of Litsy) until I finish these library books. This is twofold: I want to read more, and I want to waste less time on Instagram. Wish me luck!

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Johanna414
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Mehso-so

I really liked this - I thought the writing was amazing and the whole book was very well done. That being said, I just don‘t see any but a few ambitious students liking it. I listened to some of it on audio and found it a little hard to follow that way; I enjoyed it more when I was reading the physical book.

LibrarianRyan I completely agree. I never made it to the end. It seemed too old for who it was written for. The ideas were interesting, but it was a slough. Very dense and weighty. 4y
Johanna414 @LibrarianRyan exactly! I‘m not sure why this was marketed to teens... 4y
LibrarianRyan @Johanna414 When it came out it was marketed as MG. I was reading it as a possibility for the 5-8th book club. Um NOPE. 4y
emtobiasz Agreed. I remember reading it when younger (I must have been in college, based on the release date, but I still felt at home in the YA section). I didn‘t particularly like it, but it‘s stuck with me in a way few books of that era have. 4y
21 likes4 comments
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Johanna414
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I‘m having a quiet day in the library and not feeling super ambitious, so I‘m making new bookmarks and listening to an #audiobook
This will be another title crossed off my Michael Printz award list

Balibee146 I have this on my TBR shelves... Interested to hear what you think 4y
merelybookish My son liked this! 4y
32 likes2 comments
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Auntynanny
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this. The “logic“ of the anti-abolishment movement was so infuriating. I've forgotten much of the storyline from the second book, so I may have to reread it.

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Auntynanny
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I got an ARC for the sequel to this about 10 years ago and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to finally reading the first book!

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Auntynanny
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I went to Fair's Fair, a local used bookstore, a few weeks ago. I'm so excited to read all of these!

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Balibee146
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Had this a while too... Intrigued - has anyone read it? #TBRsomeday

18 likes1 stack add
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Abby2
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Pickpick

I found this fascinating. A young man during the revolutionary war tells of his experiences as a slave and a soldier. I will be reading the next one. It is meant for middle graders.

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Megara
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Pickpick

Young adult books that I appreciate are few and far between. This one I loved.

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

This book was fascinating, sometimes gruesome. When I have to break out the tape flags, I know Im reading something worthwhile. Narrative of a highly educated slave in the 18th century during the Revolutionary War. Words and language also very 18th century. Definite pick!

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kathleens_library
The Pox Party | M. T. Anderson
Mehso-so

Enjoyed it. The author almost lost me with the change in writing style in the middle section (in the form of letters). But, I understood the purpose. I'll pick up the next book in the series to check out.