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Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down
Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down: A Novel | Anne Valente
The lives of four teenagers are capsized by a shocking school shooting and its aftermath in this powerful debut novel, a coming-of-age story with the haunting power of Station Eleven and the bittersweet poignancy of Everything I Never Told You. As members of the yearbook committee, Nick, Zola, Matt, and Christina are eager to capture all the memorable moments of their junior year at Lewis and Clark High Schoolthe plays and football games, dances and fund-drives, teachers and classes that are the epicenter of their teenage lives. But how do you document a horrific tragedya deadly school shooting by a classmate? Struggling to comprehend this cataclysmic eventand propelled by a sense of responsibility to the town, their parents, and their schoolthese four "lucky" survivors vow to honor the memories of those lost, and also, the memories forgotten in the shadow of violence. But the shooting is only the first inexplicable trauma to rock their small suburban St. Louis town. A series of mysterious house fires have hit the families of the victims one by one, pushing the grieving town to the edge. Nick, the son of the lead detective investigating the events, plunges into the case on his own, scouring the Internet to uncover what could cause a fire with no evident starting point. As their friend pulls farther away, Matt and Christina battle to save damaged relationships, while Zola fights to keep herself together. A story of grief, community, and family, of the search for understanding and normalcy in the wake of devastating loss, Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down explores profound questions about resiliency, memory, and recovery that brilliantly illuminate the deepest recesses of the human heart.
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Chey12
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He hadn‘t even asked her across the past days what she recalled from inside the school, as if knowing she‘d been in French class was enough. His pain the sun. Everything about him the center always of their orbit

3 likes1 stack add
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

I don't think this book will appeal to everyone, but it worked for me. In the aftermath of yet another school shooting in a town where “things like this don't happen“, the families of the ones lost begin, one by one, to perish by fire. It is an accident? Grief? Something more sinister? Very similar tone to The Virgin Suicides, told from the pov of four student survivors.

57 likes6 stack adds
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MidnightBookGirl
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Porch reading with the pup. #DogsofLitsy

75 likes1 stack add
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abookishbutterfly
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I love going to The Dollar Tree to shop for books! It‘s so much fun to see what you can for $1! Do you ever get books there? Keep a lookout this weekend for a video about my latest haul on my BookTube channel, abookishbutterfly!

mreads I just got there 5y
vivastory I check out the dollar tree by my house about once a month. Last time I went I was especially pleased to find a copy of the following which I want to reread 5y
abookishbutterfly @vivastory Oh, that sounds really good! 5y
vivastory I think you'd enjoy it! 5y
69 likes4 comments
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Becker
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Pickpick

I have read this author‘s short stories and loved them. This book was an entirely different experience but just as good. It takes a look at trauma and the toll it takes on the individual as well as the community. I was really drawn into it. 🔥🔥🔥

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WanderingBookaneer
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Bedroom shelves are messy and disorganized. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #shelfie #riotgrams

Skyrimir SAME! 7y
154 likes1 comment
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blondie
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I've been patiently waiting for this one.
#bookmail

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Beckys_Books
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Pickpick

This book is centered around four teenage friends and their suburban St Louis community dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting. We live in Missouri, my husband is a school administrator and my daughter is a high school junior so I could imagine elements of this story happening in my own life. Scary stuff here. I enjoyed the rhythm and imagery of the author's writing. The last 30 pages was underwhelming but the book is still a pick for me.

Cinfhen Would you consider it YA or general fiction? it sounds good but I'm not a big fan of YA 8y
Beckys_Books @Cinfhen it didn't seem YA at all to me and it was in the adult general fiction section of my library. 8y
49 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Beckys_Books
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My photography skills lack the #bookface ability so I settled for a photo of my face in a book and a cat on my lap.

#ReadJanuary
@RealLifeReading

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Beckys_Books
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#thismonthstbr includes the pictured hardbacks, plus two audiobooks (A Man Called Ove ✔ and Born a Crime) plus one digital book (Search Inside Yourself). I'll be busy!

#ReadJanuary
@RealLifeReading

beagle.mama 💜Ove💜 8y
54 likes1 comment
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Beckys_Books
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Last day of vacation 😓 and lots of errands to finish. Thought I would make myself a delicious breakfast and enjoy it with a book. Hope everyone's new year is off to a promising start.

Marchpane Looks yum! 8y
BookishMarginalia That looks yummy! 8y
KateTheBookworm Looks delicious! 8y
Cinfhen That does look yum 😋 8y
EvieBee Yummy! 8y
65 likes5 comments
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Beckys_Books
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#BookishResolutions for 2017

Read the books I have

Use the library more (pictured book is a library loan!)

Enjoy reading (and an accompanying cocktail when possible)

#ReadJanuary
@RealLifeReading

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Beckys_Books
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Starting my first book of 2017 in the peace and quiet of home while everyone is still sleeping.

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2017. And may all the books you read be enjoyable!

49 likes1 stack add
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Kimberlone
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Embarrassingly behind on my #2016ReadingChallenge! Working to catch up a bit now that it's winter break from teaching, but I doubt I'll hit this year's goal :(

#goodreads #readingchallenge

7 likes1 stack add
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NovelVisits
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Panpan

I felt like this was a book that really didn't know what it wanted to be. Too much going on in the story. I need to think about it some more before doing a full review!

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BooksFootballBeer
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Dinner and a book. And the Cubs.

Canadian.Reads I like having wine for dinner too!! Unless those gourds are edible 8y
BooksFootballBeer Nope- just the wine for dinner ;) 8y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Today's #bookhaul from fave @TheBookmarkPR #GetIndie 👍🏼🤓

valeriegeary I am mad about the cover of Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down! (The good kind of mad.) 8y
Gleefulreader Fantastic haul! I love the cover for Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down! 8y
raelaschoenherr Just bought Gemina! 8y
See All 6 Comments
kspenmoll These books look like keepers. 8y
cmckinnon I loved Gemina! Can't wait for the third book 📚! 8y
152 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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WilliamMorrowBooks
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I love a good book spine! Particularly this one. Does anyone have any favorites? 📚

valeriegeary This spine is on fire. 😂😂😂 8y
KarenUK 💗💗 8y
Readingrobin Nice stack! 8y
BethFishReads Looking good! 8y
78 likes1 stack add5 comments
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valeriegeary
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New books acquired. My weekend plans are locked down.

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HiddenGemBooks
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As members of the yearbook committee, Nick, Zola, Matt, and Christina are eager to capture all the memorable moments of their junior year at Lewis and Clark High School—the plays and football games, dances and fund-drives, teachers and classes that are the epicenter of their teenage lives. But how do you document a horrific tragedy—a deadly school shooting by a classmate?

#TBR 😱📚

[DELETED] 1409720085 Zola!? That's my daughter's name! I hear/see it so rarely. 8y
57 likes11 stack adds1 comment
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Suetara
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This book is going to break my heart, I just know it.

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bookishkai
Pickpick

This was outstanding, if dark and slightly creepy. I had to put it aside quite a lot, because of how intense it was. The writing style, which abandoned dialogue tags, is normally something I have trouble with, but here it lent immediacy to the telling of the tragedy. The ending felt slightly rushed, but overall a compelling book that I don't think will leave me anytime soon.

63 likes3 stack adds
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TheBookkeepersApprentice
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Starting this tonight!

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WilliamMorrowBooks
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Love it when colleagues and their reading choices match!! 👯‍♂️ Marketing assistants, Lauren and Nate, are reading OUR HEARTS WILL BURN US DOWN.

58 likes5 stack adds
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WilliamMorrowBooks

Love it when colleagues and their reading choices match!! 👯‍♂️ Marketing assistants, Lauren and Nate, are reading OUR HEARTS WILL BURN US DOWN.

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bookishkai
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This book! Not an easy topic at all, but I love the author's writing style. I'm not even 50 pages in and I know this is going to break my heart.

AnnieReads It is a very good book. Glad you're enjoying it. 8y
EnidBiteEm Wow. 8y
Zelma I am really looking forward to this one (with trepidation, of course). 8y
71 likes11 stack adds3 comments
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bookishkai
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Today's #tbrtuesday, which at the rate my day is going is going to be a TBR Wednesday too. Busy day with The Munchkin and she's currently dangling from the side of her crib like a monkey (the inside, thankfully) so I doubt napping is going to be a thing today. Dinner at my mom's after work, then home to bed to sleep off 20 hours of work in the last 36 hours.

83 likes2 stack adds
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ABookGeek
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Pickpick

Overall this was a good read. A bit unusual and a little confusing until I got further into the book. Better than so-so, but not a rave review either.

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WilliamMorrowBooks
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Catch us on Facebook Live today, talking about our favorite Fall reads!

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slipperyredhead
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Pickpick

just one more week!!

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WilliamMorrowBooks
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Weekend reading... less than two weeks away until this fiery and intense debut novel is on sale!

Reviewsbylola Great title. 8y
KarenUK This sounds great 8y
TheBookkeepersApprentice I'm going to be starting this soon too. 8y
67 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

This book was strange. It details the aftermath of a school shooting followed by the burning of family homes. The narrator is "we", four journalism students--it then splinters at times to cover each of the four students' history and issues. Interspersed are scientific facts about fire and the body. Overall, it just felt very disjointed.

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Nebklvr
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Just started.....

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WilliamMorrowBooks
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Pickpick

Starting off Monday with OUR HEARTS WILL BURN US DOWN. This is a gripping and lyrical novel about a tragedy in a small town. We couldn't put it down! It's eerie, mysterious and vibrant all at the same time. On sale 10/4!

ScrappyMags Wait there's a job I can get paid to read?? Sign me up!! #quitteaching 8y
54 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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WilliamMorrowBooks
Pickpick

Starting off Monday with OUR HEARTS WILL BURN US DOWN. This is a gripping and lyrical novel about a tragedy in a small town. We couldn't put it down! It's eerie, mysterious and vibrant all at the same time. On sale 10/4!

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AnnieReads
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My new reading chair was delivered today!!!

BekahB Ohhh that looks super comfy. 😀 8y
AnnieReads @BekahB It's absolutely wonderful. I suspect it will also be a napping chair. 8y
JoeStalksBeck It looks so gorgeous and comfy! 8y
Eyelit Nice! 😃 8y
Carol 😍😍😍 that looks to be the most perfect reading chair! 8y
15 likes1 stack add5 comments
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AnnieReads
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I received this uncorrected proof in the mail yesterday. Excited to start reading it today.

LaurenBusser Glad to hear this was so good! I am really interested in it! 8y
10 likes1 stack add1 comment
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ABookGeek
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Just starting the one.

8 likes2 stack adds