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Black Chalk
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
"This is the smart summer thriller you've been waiting for."--NPR's All Things ConsideredNAMED A MUST READ BY THE BOSTON GLOBE, BBC.COM, AND NEW YORK POSTNAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR A compulsively readable psychological thriller set in New York and at Oxford University in which a group of six students play an elaborate game of dares and consequences with tragic resultIt was only ever meant to be a game played by six best friends in their first year at Oxford University; a game of consequences, silly forfeits, and childish dares. But then the game changed: The stakes grew higher and the dares more personal and more humiliating, finally evolving into a vicious struggle with unpredictable and tragic results. Now, fourteen years later, the remaining players must meet again for the final round. Who knows better than your best friends what would break you? A gripping psychological thriller partly inspired by the author's own time at Oxford University, Black Chalk is perfect for fans of the high tension and expert pacing of The Secret History and The Bellwether Revivals. Christopher J. Yates' background in puzzle writing and setting can clearly be seen in the plotting of this clever, tricky book that will keep you guessing to the very end.
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mollyrotondo
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Panpan

⭐️ I finally made it through my March 2022 No.19 #bookspin pick. This was not thrilling or suspenseful at all. I even tried to listen to it and it did not grip me. I am learning that college set stories are just not my thing. I almost bailed on this multiple times but I kept hoping something would excite me. I read another by this author and also didn‘t like it so this author just isn‘t more me.

TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!! 2y
mollyrotondo @TheAromaofBooks thank goodness 😅 lol 2y
39 likes2 comments
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keithlafo
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Panpan

Didn‘t connect with this one unfortunately. Didn‘t love the characters & didn‘t find much interest in the game itself.

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Victoria6
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Book #30: Another dark academic recommend because quarantine is making me miss my days spent on a college campus surrounded by friends!

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Pconnell93
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Panpan

I loved the premise but was very disappointed. I won‘t give away spoilers. The idea is pretty recognizable - a game in which players are meant to partake in increasingly humiliating and/or difficult challenges and, if you fail to do so, you lose and are removed form the game. Going in, you expect to read about challenges, but you don‘t. Instead you get a series of one dimensional characters and dissatisfying reveals. Don‘t waste your time.

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MicheleinPhilly
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I‘m struggling with this one. The setting is right in my wheelhouse but so far this is reading like a poor man‘s Secret History. So far I find the game silly and stupid and who the heck names their kid Jolyon????

Kalalalatja I wouldn‘t even know how to begin pronouncing that name 😳 6y
Kalalalatja I now I just realized it is probably jo-lyon. I read it as jol-yon 😂 6y
MicheleinPhilly @Kalalalatja They say it‘s like Julian with an O. 🙄 6y
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Kalalalatja That was NOT what I expected! 😮 6y
Kalalalatja That was NOT what I expected! 😮 6y
56 likes6 comments
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Breanne1
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Pickpick

I finished these two books over my week off. I really enjoyed both but wound up loving Eleanor. The theme of small acts of kindness making large impacts really resonated and is one that‘s always good to be reminded of. I plan to recommend it to all my friends. Black Chalk ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Eleanor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Reita325
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
Mehso-so

Interesting yet ultimately disappointing.

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Nitpickyabouttrains
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Mehso-so

This book seemed like it would be right up my alley - teens play a game that turns deadly at school. But it was a long read for me, I had to keep remembering to go back to it and push on. It just never really pulled me in.

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MrBook
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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#TBRtemptation post 8! This has been described as intense, taut, and eye-opening by reviewers. It was only meant as a game between 6 best friends during their first year at Oxford U, a game of forfeits and dares. But stakes escalated and dares became more humiliating, other tragic results. 14 years later, the remaining players meet again for the final round. Who knows better how to break you than your best friends? #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Zelma That sounds quite intriguing. And I love a good campus novel! 7y
AmyG This sounds wonderful. 7y
75 likes12 stack adds2 comments
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MDodge
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Mehso-so

Whew finished this one at hour 14 of #24in48! Not totally sure how I feel about it... parts of it remind me of Ruth Rendell in really good ways , but the ending just didn‘t quite tie up all the loose threads. @24in48

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ReadingSusan
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Mehso-so

I finally finished this book. I really loved the premise and about 2/3rds of the book. But it ended up being a chore to finish. It just didn‘t live up to the potential. I am happy I got to read a little bit in bed. Vacation so far hasn‘t been much reading. Just socializing with important people I don‘t know. Every introverts nightmare 🤣

Lyn-Mara Agreed. I was slightly disappointed as well. 7y
94 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MDodge
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Getting started for the morning with #24in48. Hoping to get most of my reading done today! @24in48

7 likes1 stack add
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MDodge
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Just started this for my #popsugar reading challenge - a book with your favorite color in the title... is it bad mine is black? 😂
Gonna read a little more for @24in48 before I get some sleep! #24in48

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DebbieGrillo
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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1. Cheesecake
2. Riverdale
3. Tagged
4. 18 months??
5. Love to the newbies

#friYAYintro @jesshowbooks

NikkiKey94 I am addicted to Riverdale! 7y
ReviewsbytheMrs Cheesecake 💜 7y
YouReadMyEyes I loved Riverdale season 1! Not really liking the second season, sadly. 7y
JessClark78 Riverdale! 💙 7y
megt Riverdale! Definitely my newest tv obsession. 7y
86 likes5 comments
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Meganbub
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
This post contains spoilers
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Mehso-so

I don‘t know how I feel about this one. It was very dark and depressing. A lot of gothic-y atmosphere and had a lot of potential. Interesting premise but then fizzled at the end. Game Soc. seemed more like a poorly thrown together afterthought than anything really intriguing.

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ReadingSusan
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Headed off on our road trip! I am so, so excited. We haven‘t been able to go on a trip in four years since my mother in law was so sick we couldn‘t leave her. Now that she has had her transplants and moved back to her apartment we are finally free to go away. It‘s going to be an awesome weekend!

BeckaroniAndCheese Enjoy every second!! 7y
JacqMac Have fun! 7y
DivineDiana Happy Trails! 👏🏻 7y
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MicheleinPhilly Enjoy! 7y
Samplergal Enjoy every second. 7y
DocBrown Where you headed? 7y
ReviewsbytheMrs Enjoy! 💜 7y
rmaclean4 Safe travels...and let us know what you think of the book! 7y
Jemgirl2014 Enjoy! Glad everything is ok with your mother-in-law. 😊 7y
111 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Meganbub
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Dun dun dun 🎶

Alfoster Oh, I need to read this one! I loved Grist Mill Road!😍 7y
Meganbub @Alfoster I debated reading Grist Mill Road first but picked this one up instead. GMR is definitely on my list! 7y
5 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ReadingSusan
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I am taking another day off due to ice. I am way too nervous to drive to work. These are the books I plan on reading today.

tammysue Great choices! 7y
119 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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ReadingSusan
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Taking a quick bath so I needed a “bath book” since the books I am currently reading are all on my ipad. I am starting this one. Hoping it‘s good. It has been an amazing birthday and there is a very small chance we may get snow tomorrow 🤞🏻

Cortg Is it your birthday today??? It‘s mine too! Birthday twins! 💗 7y
Reviewsbylola Happy birthday! Perfect way to end the day. 👌🏻 7y
Jemgirl2014 Happy Birthday! 🎂 7y
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lildeb_8 Happy birthday! 7y
Read.Em.And.Eat Merry Birthmas! I‘ve just rediscovered the joy of reading in the bath myself. Yours looks so luxurious! 😍 7y
Emiller Happy birthday 🎂🎈 7y
dragondrool Happy birthday! 7y
blondie Happy birthday!☺💕💕 7y
DebbieGrillo Happy birthday! I loved Black Chalk. Although reading it gave me that guilty pit in the stomach feeling and I can't exactly explain why. 7y
mabell Happy Birthday! 🎉🎂 7y
SpeculativeFemale Did someone mention a birthday! Happy, happy to you! 🎉🎂 7y
mrp27 Happy Birthday!! 🎂 7y
ReadingSusan @Cortg that‘s awesome! Happy birthday! 7y
Jakaranda Happy birthday! This was my tub book too and was a memorable one. 7y
bentchbites Hey! Happy birthday! *also, this part of your tub looks lovely. :) 7y
flip58 Happy Birthday. I always have a bath book. 7y
154 likes3 stack adds16 comments
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Camille2
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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DebbieGrillo
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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This book made me feel a heaviness in the pit of my stomach, almost like guilt or foreboding. #dark #noteworthynovember @Jess7

TricksyTails You've made me want to bump it up my TBR! 7y
DebbieGrillo @TricksyTails I hated the feeling but was compelled to keep reading. 7y
TricksyTails Would you recommend it? 7y
TricksyTails 😁👍 7y
68 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LeahBergen
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I'm a sucker for a school setting. Let's see what this one's like.

#PalateCleanser

BookishFeminist Let me know how you like this one! I've been wanting to read it 7y
LeahBergen @BookishFeminist Will do! I like the feel of it so far. 👍🏻 7y
LeslieO Oooh! That sound good! 7y
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batsy Love a good school story too! I stacked it when someone else mentioned it here I think. Look forward to your thoughts. 7y
8leagueboot I keep meaning to pick this up. It's creepy! 7y
LeahBergen @LeslieO @batsy @8leagueboot I'm about 80 pages into it and it is FUN. 👍🏻 7y
LeahBergen @RachelO Do you notice the bookmark? 😄 7y
rockpools It matches!! 😂😂😂 7y
LeahBergen @RachelO I'll keep sneakily adding them to posts and see if you notice. 😂 7y
rockpools @LeahBergen I'll keep my eyes peeled 👀 7y
100 likes15 stack adds10 comments
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Hestapleton
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
Pickpick

This book was gripping from the very beginning and started getting twisty within the first 100 pages. However, it started losing momentum in the last third, when I would have liked to see it pick up. Still a pick for me due to the sheer originality of plot. 4/5

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Hestapleton
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Soaking up my last few weeks of summer by reading on my deck every single chance I get.

LeahBergen I liked The Miniaturist. 👍🏻 7y
Hestapleton @LeahBergen good to know! One of my friends hated it so I've been apprehensive. 7y
35 likes2 comments
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Viji
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Had a hard time choosing my next book this morning. The blurb on the front calls Yates "Stephen King with a British accent" so giving it a shot!

TheWordJar You had me at "Stephen King with a British accent," and then I saw it was also compared to A Secret History. I'm in! 7y
batsy A psychological thriller in academia? Yes please 7y
LeahBergen I have this on my TBR shelf. I hope it's good! 7y
MimiLovesToRead I've had this on my kindle for awhile. Hopefully soon... 7y
97 likes12 stack adds4 comments
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Chelsie_shot
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Pickpick
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Chelsie_shot
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Reviewsbylola This looks good! 8y
31 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Housegiffindor
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Panpan

Okay so I'm not entirely sure why I didn't like this book. Maybe it's because psychological thrillers aren't my thing. Maybe because I found it to be a little slower than I thought. Maybe the gimicky aspects of the book (the entire premise, unreliable narrator, hateable characters) just weren't pulled off well enough. Whatever it was, I didn't care for this book. But others might! If psychological thrillers are your thing, go ahead.

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TheLudicReader
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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The rest of my Book Outlet books came. #bookpalooza

Canadian.Reads 😄 what a haul! 8y
LeahBergen 😮😮😮 8y
slhbooks I only got 9! Should be here any day now📚📚📚 8y
18 likes3 comments
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jessicaesquire
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Today's library haul. Genre fiction sounds perfect right now. Both have been in my to-read list for ages.

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LibrarianToujours
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Pickpick

Read this on vacation last week. If you loved The Secret History, check this out. Six friends at an English university devise a game of simple embarrassments that quickly get personal. Lots of twists, can't say much more without spoilers. With friends like these, you don't need enemies.

BethFishReads This has been on my radar but I never got to Jr. Glad to know it's good 8y
11 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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GinaAnderson
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I was wracking my brain to come up with a book set at college that hadn't already been mentioned and then remembered this crazy book. It's set at Oxford and centers around six students who devise and play and ever-more-elaborate game. #funfridayphoto

LeahBergen This sounds good! 8y
38 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Beckys_Books
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
Pickpick

Six college friends playing a cruel psychological game of Truth or Dare, minus Truth. The ending fizzled a little for me, but still a satisfying read.

17 likes1 stack add
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Beckys_Books
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates

It's challenging to have a weekend at the lake and participate in the #24in48 readathon but we decided to go home early. Now I can focus just on reading. 😊

18 likes1 stack add
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Beckys_Books
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Time to pick a random book from my library shelf. Passed up Swiss Family Robinson and two doorstops by Herman Wouk. Maybe next time.

17 likes1 stack add
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StephBengtson
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Pickpick

I really liked the concept of the story and the characters, but I wouldn't exactly call it a page turner. This book was a little slow to build, but overall, I enjoyed it.

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AliReads
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
Mehso-so

I have mixed emotions - slow build, compelling middle, and a meh ending. The characters aren't that memorable, but it's a quick read and an interesting concept. Just found the execution lacking for my tastes! Read if you like thrillers, unreliable narration, multiple timelines.

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Mariliel
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Airport reading is generally kind of miserable, but this is proving to be exactly the right book for it. Quick, engaging plot and characters, and short chapters for frequent flight status checks.

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AliReads
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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"I was raised by books, a pack of writers weaned me, like Mowgli brought up by his wolves." I've been all over the place with this book, but it's bits like this that have me ?

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AliReads
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I suppose you could say my reading mood is a bit dark / glum this weekend.

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AliReads
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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I was so excited to pick this up from the library that I'm multitasking at the commercial breaks. Stephen King-esque? What. A. Cover. Blurb.

1 like1 stack add
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StephBengtson
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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One dark, one light.

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KevinHall
Black Chalk | Christopher J. Yates
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Pickpick

Smart intelligent book. Learned to hate the characters which is why I loved the book