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Babbitt
Babbitt: Easyread Large Bold Edition | Sinclair Lewis
24 posts | 37 read | 25 to read
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Pickpick

An extremely overdone literary topic - the life and adventures of a man with the moral fiber of a drain clog. 300 pages about an awful man being awful. How universal. How literary. How worthy of praise.

This one works though. Babbitt is well written and you can relate to him, but not through his awfulness, which is painted as very boring and unattractive.

The point helps too. Lewis wants us all to be better. To not be Babbitt.

52 likes1 stack add
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Settings
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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The hot water bottle is one of the greatest inventions of mankind and no one should be without one. -_-

Settings Notes not mine lol 4y
julesG I just thought something similar about my cherry stones pillow. 😉 4y
ljuliel That‘s an item I don‘t have anyplace in the house. 4y
27 likes3 comments
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CSeydel
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Babbitt‘s logic:

“No one ought to be forced to join a labor union. All labor agitators who try to force men to join a union should be hanged. ... every business man ought to belong to an employers‘ association. In union there is strength. Any selfish hog who doesn‘t join the Chamber of Commerce ought to be forced to!”

CSeydel #SinclairLewis doesn‘t leave any doubts about his political leanings 5y
GingerAntics 🙄 we‘d sure hate for employees to be protected from abuses by their employers. 🙄 The air of this may be why I never really got into Sinclair Lewis. 5y
CSeydel @GingerAntics Yes the satire is pretty smothering in this one. He really hammers home the social message in every single chapter, from Babbitt‘s interactions with his employees, to his social circle, to his family, even his interior monologue reveal the hypocrisy of his whole worldview. I‘m hoping it gets a little more nuanced later on - or at least the plot picks up. 5y
GingerAntics Good luck. Keep us posted. 5y
47 likes4 comments
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JessNevertheless
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Reading Babbitt is reminding me of another Sinclair Lewis book. It can happen here, go vote! #ivoted #showmeyoursticker

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I did it, but we don‘t get cool stickers here...boo! 5y
JessNevertheless @Riveted_Reader_Melissa So sad! They're such a fun addition. But voting is what counts so horray for that! 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JessNevertheless I know, but I always feel just a little bit left out when all the posts of stickers start coming up. 5y
66 likes3 comments
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JessNevertheless
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It's a good day to make some progress on some projects. 💛 #litsyclassics #audiocrocheting

review
overtheedge
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Panpan

I found it hard to relate to Bobbitt. I did not like him. I do love Sinclair Lewis, much prefer Arrowsmith.

Ruthiella I liked this book OK but I LOVED ❤️ Main Street. I have not read Arrowsmith yet😀 6y
overtheedge Definitely need to check out Main Street next! Let me know what u think of Arrowsmith, if u ever do read it. Maybe it's just me. But I love that character !! 6y
50 likes2 comments
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overtheedge
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#1 of 100
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.

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overtheedge
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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PBS Great Reads inspired me to read some of the classics I have not read yet.
I'm challenging myself to read 100 classics I haven't read yet.
I'll start with these

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saresmoore
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I mean, I guess I could have inferred the meaning, but really? Archidiaconal? What a descriptor!

I‘m really enjoying this satire, my first by Sinclair Lewis. What an incredibly talented writer! Some of the domestic observations are so spot-on, it‘s cringeworthy.

LeahBergen Try to drop that one casually into a conversation today. 😆 6y
batsy Ooh! I switched this out for Brave New World. Glad you're enjoying it! 6y
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saresmoore @LeahBergen Challenge accepted! 6y
saresmoore @batsy Brave New World is excellent, imho. Babbitt is grating on me a bit at the moment. So many character introductions and little plot so far, but I‘ll keep at it! 6y
vivastory I read the tagged book before the election & thought it was interesting 6y
saresmoore @vivastory I think I remember you reading that. I‘m impressed by how relevant his observations still are. 6y
batsy I'm so glad to hear that about Brave New World; I've avoided it for so long but I can't even remember why! Here's hoping Babbitt improves soon. The social commentary aspect of his novels is what intrigues me. 6y
ValerieAndBooks I read Babbit such a long time ago (>25 years ago) that I don‘t remember much about it — will watch for more of your thoughts! I picked up It Can‘t Happen Here from the used bookstore recently, I also remember @vivastory reading that! 6y
saresmoore @ValerieAndBooks He‘s a talented writer. The domestic, middle class scenes are so vivid and eerily relatable, even so many years later! 6y
88 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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wanderlustforwords
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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Vacation used bookstore finds 😍 #bookhaul #hawaii

hordner This is one of my primary goals every vacation is finding cool used bookstores! 6y
wanderlustforwords @hordner I‘m with you Helen! One of the best parts of vacation! 6y
Kaye Isn‘t it fun to visit bookstores when you go on a trip? What better souvenirs could you bring home ? 6y
15 likes3 comments
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saresmoore
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Sorry if this is terribly hard to read—here is my list for #LitsyClassics next year. I‘m so looking forward to it! Thank you, @Sarah83 for a great idea!

Yes, there is more than one choice for some letters. Fear of commitment?

I made a Goodreads shelf, too: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/58321492-sara?shelf=classics-a-to-z

JenP Great list 6y
LeahBergen Oh, I love it! 6y
Moray_Reads Some excellent choices here! I think I've read about half of them 🙄 6y
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saresmoore @Moray_Reads Only half?! Haha! A few will be rereads because I didn‘t care nearly enough the first time around, but most I haven‘t read yet. Do any stand out as particularly unbearable? 6y
saresmoore @JenP @LeahBergen I think this will be my favorite challenge yet! 6y
rubyslippersreads I picked Villette for V too. 😊 6y
saresmoore @Moray_Reads Also, The Odyssey is a new translation, the first by a woman. That‘s an old favorite, but I‘m particularly looking forward to Emily Wilson‘s take. Here‘s an article if you‘re interested: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/magazine/the-first-woman-to-translate-the-... 6y
saresmoore @rubyslippersreads Yay! If you want to, I would love to do a buddy read. I‘m very flexible about timing. 😊 6y
rubyslippersreads @saresmoore That sounds great! 😊 6y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore I read about this, mad that she's the first woman. I found the Iliad such a slog I've never read the Odyssey 🙈 and I'm not a fan of Agnes Grey but there are lots I love, Daniel Deronda, I Capture the Castle, Heart of Dog, Rebecca, Vilette, The Waves... 6y
saresmoore @Moray_Reads I appreciate the forewarning about Agnes Grey. I find I either love it or hate it when it comes to the Brontës. I really enjoyed Robert Fagles‘ translation of The Odyssey, but never managed to read The Iliad. Some day... 6y
Sarah83 Great choices 😎 6y
saresmoore @Sarah83 Thanks! And thank you again for organizing a really fun challenge! 6y
vivastory I really enjoyed the Iliad. There's an interesting version by Christopher Logue. It focuses on the dramatic conflicts & battles. It's very cinematic. I'm curious about the new translation 6y
saresmoore @vivastory That sounds pretty fantastic. I‘m interested to see what threads get pulled as I do this classics challenge next year. 6y
andrew61 Great choices, it's taken me ages to sort a list but will soon post. 6y
saresmoore @andrew61 Thanks! It was fun compiling the list, I think. I will keep my eye out for yours! 6y
78 likes17 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Midlifecrisis in the 1920s. But not another cynical middle aged man. George Babbitt really believes in the American dream and possibilities and behaves exactly as society expects. Still there is this doubt and uncertainty. He tries his best but in the end he stands up for himself, which costs him a lot. Back in his old life, its habits and rituals, he wishes for his son to make the choices he never dared. #1001books Picture: Onsen in Beppu, Japan

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zsuzsanna_reads
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There's nothing new in public opinion...

ValerieAndBooks Sounds so much like how Trump would say it! I read this years and years ago...maybe time for a re-read soon! 7y
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GoneFishing

The game (baseball)was a custom of his clan, and it gave outlet for the homicidal and sides-taking instincts which Babbitt called “patriotism” and “love of sport.

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Megabooks
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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Maybe she's not impressed because she's a fly chicken! 😒 What is that anyway? Maybe I'm one...🤔 #biblioweekend #serialreader

CherylDeFranceschi Maybe all of us are? 8y
Megabooks @CherylDeFranceschi I really don't know!! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi I couldn't even hazard a guess! 8y
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BookishFeminist Lol what even is this? 🐓🐓 8y
Megabooks @BookishFeminist @CherylDeFranceschi Related to the funky chicken or the chicken dance? Early predecessors? People doing the above mentioned dances? 8y
BookishFeminist I have no idea! I couldn't even find reference to this slang online, but I'll just take it as a compliment 😉 8y
BookishFeminist Also no wonder his wife wasn't impressed with that "moral indignation with which males rule the world" if that indignation means they go around calling women various poultry that aren't even known for their flying skills ?? 8y
Megabooks @BookishFeminist Babbit is a misogynist ass****. He just made his wife's sister cry by belittling her just so he could go to Maine with her husband! But I am enjoying it as a portrait of a man in 1920. (Who is a selfish, racist, misogynist, classist, anti-Semite) 🙄😒 8y
BookishFeminist @Ebooksandcooks 😒😒 indeed. No doubt many of Sinclair Lewis' own views are portrayed in it too. Sounds like an interesting read though. 8y
Megabooks @BookishFeminist It is. It's good for serial reader. 8y
59 likes10 comments
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Megabooks
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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Well, I'm reading about eating in Babbit on @SerialReader ! #somethingforsept #septphotochallenge #biblioweekend

I had a friend in vet school who dipped her Wendy's chicken nuggets in salt!! 😖😖

BkClubCare I made an apple pie today. 8y
Megabooks @BkClubCare I love apple pie, but I'm going to have to come up with an alternate crust now that I've been diagnosed with celiac disease. 8y
BkClubCare There are many palatable gf pie pastry recipes and by that I mean they are quite tasty. Just try them and don't assume gf means yucky. I have many gf friends and have made lots of gf pie crusts in my time that were wonderful. 😊 8y
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Gezemice @Ebooksandcooks Sorry to hear that! I have been gluten-free for a couple years now (my symptoms are headaches, brain fog and fatigue), helps a lot! Gluten free can actually taste a lot better, but you have to try a lot of products and recipes to find what you like. Muffins and cakes taste a lot better gluten free, but bread is problematic. I have found great recipes at glutenfreegoddes's blog. 8y
Megabooks Thank you @BkClubCare and @Gezemice ! I'm doing well gf. My mom is more of a baker and I'm more of a cook. I'm enjoying making gf dinners and lunches, but I usually come to my mom's house for baked goods. 😉 8y
Gezemice Great to hear you are doing well. I am more of a cook than a baker, too - we sometimes use some mixes. My daughter likes to bake cookies! She is gf, too - headaches for her as well. 8y
Megabooks @Gezemice I'm sorry about you and your daughter! Fortunately there are a lot of mixes out there. 😃👍🏻 8y
72 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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DreesReads
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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My 3 favorite high school assigned reads. I have reread all three at least once. And I am pretty sure these were all assigned in sophomore English! We read a lot that year. It was awesome. #funfridayphoto

DreesReads I found a @Litsy typo! "Babbitt" has two T's, not one. No idea how to correct or put in for correction... 8y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Megabooks
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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@SerialReader insults FTW!! 1920 was a good year for insults. 😉😂😂😂

OSChamberlain 😂😂😂 8y
Letmetakeashelfie So what exactly is a "four-flusher?" 8y
Megabooks @Letmetakeashelfie I have no idea! 8y
62 likes4 comments
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Megabooks
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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I've jumped on the @SerialReader bandwagon! Woo hoo!! 📖🎉🎉

Suelizbeth I've finished 3 shorter serials and am working on a longer one. I love it! 8y
jessdean 😃 8y
TheNextBook Yes! I'm not going to try to read more than one at a time though. Which means my "read later" stack is going to get long. #serialreadertbr 8y
readingonarainyday I have been thinking about trying this but I wanted to finish my current read first. Which I did last night, so I'm going to install this app today! 8y
83 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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SerialReader
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Just added to Serial Reader: a scathing satire of the materialism and conformity of American middle class life. Businessman George Babbitt realizes he is more in love with the trappings of his comfortable life than with his wife.

DreesReads One of my favorite books of all time! 8y
20 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Oblomov26
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis

“He was thinking. It was coming to him that perhaps all life as he knew it and vigorously practised it was futile; that heaven as portrayed by the Reverend Dr. John Jennison Drew was neither probable nor very interesting that he hadn't much pleasure out of making money; "

Oblomov26 Contd "that it was of doubtful worth to rear children merely that they might rear children who would rear children. What was it all about? What did he want?” 8y
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review
Oblomov26
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
Pickpick

A biting social satire from 1920's. Babbit is a successful real estate agent in a prosperous mid west city with a wife, three children member of all the right lodges and clubs, who in moments of quiet reflection has started to question the purpose of it all.

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Oblomov26
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis
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One of the current reads - reminder that human nature never changes

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Oblomov26
Babbit | Sinclair Lewis

"He believed that the earth is flat, that the English are the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, and that the United States is a democracy.”