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Among the Ten-Thousand Things
Among the Ten-Thousand Things | Julia Pierpont
47 posts | 60 read | 43 to read
Among the Ten-Thousand Things chronicles the breakup of a family in contemporary New York following a devastating extra-marital affair. Jack is a sculptor charming and vain, visionary and vulnerable in equal measure whose controversial work wins him attention from a young admirer. When Jacks spurned lover sends his wife Deb a box of their correspondence to their apartment (and after it is accidentally intercepted by their children), Deb takes refuge with nine-year-old Kay and eleven-year-old Simon on Rhode Island where they become embroiled with a local family that hauntingly reflects their own. At once a mordant moral vision of modern family life and an ironic dissection of our self-deceptions, Julia Pierponts first novel is reminiscent of Jonathan Franzen and Jonathan Dees blistering portraits of post 9/11 American family life. Brimming with lyricism and emotional intelligence, Among the Ten-Thousand Things is an astonishingly original and sure-footed debut that reflects our world back to us with extraordinary force.
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review
PaulaBear
Panpan

this book was so boring. I listened to the audiobook and I could hardly finish it.

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Krystle13
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Onto this book.... sounds good...

britt_brooke Pretty pupper. 💚🐾 5y
Krystle13 @britt_brooke thanks. She is 4 month old Great Dane. Her brother isn't in the picture. Lol 5y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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saritaroth
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Bailedbailed

I was not able to finish this book, mostly because of the coarse language used. I'm usually not a prude, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. From what I read, I know that the children in the book accidentally intercept a package intended for the father that contains a bunch of sexually explicit letters. I guess this book was just not for me. The rating I am giving it is only because what I read was well-written. 🌟🌟

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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

This book is, in a word, pointless. Ostensibly about a betrayal and the subsequent dissolution of a marriage, it has little plot and almost no character development. I need at least one of those things. The only reason it gets a so-so instead of a pan is that some of the writing is terrific.

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Krystle13
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Panpan

Hmmm. I was alittle confused, it bounced around SOOO much that it seemed to make the story very poorly written. It was actually very boring. I cant start a book and not finish, I wont be recommending this book to others.

Megabooks Oh yeah. This book sucks. 6y
17 likes1 comment
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Krystle13
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I have never read a book by this author, let's hope it is as good as it sounds!!!!

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Dolly
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1. Dr Seuss
2. Among the Ten Thousand Things - I loved the writing
3. 4‘10”
4. Coffee: Half caff. with half & half - not half the time but always, tea plain

#Sundaysurvey. @alisonrose

alisonrose Hi fellow short person! 😬 thanks for playing! 6y
Dolly @alisonrose When I climb one step on a stepladder I look around and think I wouldn‘t like to be this tall😂- that is until I need to reach something 6y
alisonrose @Dolly Saaaaame. I‘m fine with being short until I remember that the world is not designed for us ... and definitely not grocery stores! 6y
37 likes3 comments
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Suet624
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Panpan

Do yourself a favor. Just don‘t bother. Jonathan Safran Foer says it‘s one of the funniest books he‘s read. Nothing funny in this uninspired novel. It‘s just kind of a mess.

AmyG Thanks for saving me some precious time. This is on my pile somewhere. 7y
Suet624 @AmyG Happy to help. A disappointing first read of 2018. 😩😩😩 7y
Dolly Read your review and remembered that I read it a year ago. I looked back at my review because I couldn‘t remember what I thought about it and, oh dear, I see that you stacked this on my review that was quite positive 😬😢. Looks like it‘s a love it or hate it kind of book. Sorry you didn‘t like it. Maybe we should play opposites? 😩 7y
Suet624 @Dolly it‘s Interesting because it was highly recommended by some and disparaged by others. I think it really is a love it or hate it book. 7y
67 likes1 stack add4 comments
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GripLitGrl
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#4 On My Shelf All Year from #jingleshelves
I downloaded this read begining of year for nook book deals. I have never gotten around to reading it. I forgot i downloaded it till i just went through my library. Sorta why i always try to work off my TBR list sometimes i just forget about random book deals i download
@bookloo @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I forget too!!! There‘s so many!! 🤣😂 7y
19 likes1 comment
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LittlePixels
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"...liking her father required treason against her mother."
I had to put the book down for a few minutes and reflect on this. It perfectly describes how I felt when I was the same age as this character, and my own father cheated on my mother. #closetohome

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mklong
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Pickpick

A heartbreakingly realistic portrayal of a crumbling marriage and all the attending family fall out. You can definitely tell that Pierpont is a former ballerina because her precision and the way she illuminates details could only come from a ballerina. All of that said, at times I could feel the effort of her cleverness which made it feel less natural. Maybe not quite up to the hype, but a worthy read nonetheless.

EvieBee I was listening to an old podcast off WHAT SHOULD I READ NEXT and one of the guests mentioned this one! How it has poor reviews but is an awesome book. Immediately looked for it at my library lol! 7y
mklong @EvieBee It's so weird, critics raved about it, but it has terrible reader reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc... I really felt like it was in between those two extremes. This writer has so much promise, I'm rooting for her. 7y
37 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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mklong
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I'll probably finish Among the Ten Thousand Things today and I want to start another NYC based novel before my trip next week. With some other books that I'm juggling, I probably only have time for one of these. Any advice?

auntie_jenn Bright lines has been on my list for a while. I didn't love ML. my two cents! 7y
mklong @auntie_jenn Thanks! We just signed up for an event at Emma Straub's bookstore next Monday, so I'll read ML before I meet her 7y
31 likes2 comments
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mklong
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Well, I was slightly surprised by this result, but since I have read all but one of these suggestions (and own ALL of them), I guess they really did nail my type! Now I suppose I should get to reading Among the Ten Thousand Things...unless I hear about something else on Morning Edition of course 😉

saresmoore Hahaha! Perfect. 8y
33 likes1 comment
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kaywa
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Great sunny Sunday read.

2 likes1 stack add
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raelaschoenherr
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I've been obsessively refreshing my profile to catch this milestone on the dot, and I'm pretty excited I got it! Love all the book love and book lovers on here 🤓 And thanks to @shanebeth for my ten-thousandth like ❤️

stacybmartin Yay - congrats!! 🎉📚🎉👏🏼 8y
Cinfhen Congrats 😊📚🎉 8y
Jas16 Yay!!🎉👏📚 8y
See All 14 Comments
cathysaid Wahoo!! 🎂 8y
shanebeth haha, you're welcome! 8y
TrishB 👍🎉😀 8y
susanw 🎉📚🏅 8y
LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
CoverToCoverGirl 🎉🎉🎈🎈⭐️⭐️ 8y
moranadatter Congrats!🎉🎂 8y
Dragon 👍😀🎉 8y
MyNamesParadise Yay!! Congrats!! 8y
Natalia Wow, congrants😁🤗 8y
hes7 Yay! 🎉 8y
38 likes14 comments
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Bindrosbookshelf
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Mehso-so

Didn't love it which was a shame because it sounded so good on the What Should I Read Next Podcast! I think I just really detest stories with a self-absorbed husband and I've read too many in a row lately. Interesting concept though - a scorned lover sends personal emails and a letter to his wife in a box, and it ends up in his 11 yr old daughter's and 15 year old son's hands.

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jennw1212
Pickpick

I read very mixed reviews on this and after part 2 I almost stopped reading it( I am not sure I get why the book is structured the way it is...)....But I decided to go on to part three and I ultimately ended up liking this book. I heard lots of people say nothing happens in it and I really don't agree with that at all.

7 likes1 stack add
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jennw1212
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Impulse library pick

10 likes1 stack add
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My_novel_obsession
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I rarely abandon books but I just couldn't deal with these two... #readjanuary #dnf

Suzze Among the Ten Thousand Things is one of those books that I was going to buy, then didn't, then read a great review and added back to my buy list, then read a really bad review and took it off. In the end I never got it. 8y
Reviewsbylola I have the Pierpont and I agree with @suzze. For every good review, there's a bad one. So who knows if I will ever take the plunge. 8y
My_novel_obsession @Suzze @Reviewsbylola I heard great things about Among the Ten Thousand Things from people so as I was reading it and really not liking it I kept thinking that I was missing something. But you can't love everything I guess 😕 8y
39 likes3 comments
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LauraBeth
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My Favorites of 2016: ❤ Can't Wait To Re-Read: Fates And Furies
❤ So Good I Can't Even Explain It: Among The Ten Thousand Things
❤ Who Knew I'd like opera and a hostage situation? Ann Patchett did
❤ Why Did No One Else Read This: Glory Over Everything
❤ Most Mirrored My Actual Life So I Therefore Loved It: The Knockoff
❤ Reason I Want To Move To Canada: Louise Penny

megnews I read Glory over Everything and liked it a lot. BUT The Kitchen House was better and one of my favorites. 8y
KarenUK Love Fates and Furies so much! 💕 8y
levi How is Bel Canto? I see it pass through the library all the time. 8y
See All 21 Comments
LauraBeth @megnews I still need to read The Kitchen House 😀 8y
LauraBeth @KarenUK me too! I need to read Delicate Edible Birds in 2017 8y
LauraBeth @levipierpont it was one of the best books I read in 2016 - so it's pretty great! I wish I had read it after it was published because it's the kind of book I would have liked to have been carrying around in my heart and head all of these years 8y
Coleen My opinions differ than yours on some of these (which is OK!), but I love your descriptions! 😊 8y
Moonpa Wow excellent list - loved Fates and Furies and i hope Louise Penny writes forever! 8y
Flaneurette I really need to read Bel Canto I've been considering it for years and I don't know why I just resist it. Everyone I know who has read it loves it! Thank you for your thoughts about it!🙂 8y
LauraBeth @coleen I haven't met too many people who like Fates and Furies and Among The Ten Thousand Things and yep - that's okay! I think it's bc I went through a heartbreaking divorce but then later reconciled with my ex-husband and got re-married - I tend to gravitate towards books that examine our small, everyday choices that end up having big impacts and fallout for the rest of our lives. I also like books that ask can we ever really know our spouses😀 8y
emilyhaldi I loved Fates & Furies so much and couldn't believe my mom and sister didn't feel the same! Glad to hear you loved it too and love your thoughts on small every say choices ❤ 8y
LauraBeth @Moonpa ☺️ oh I wish that for Louise Penny (and for us) as well! 8y
LauraBeth @Flaneurette it's SO good! 8y
LauraBeth @emilyhaldi ☺️☺️ 8y
LeslieO @LauraBeth I resisted Bel Canto for so long because opera - then I read HOSTAGES! And I was in. One of my favorite books! 8y
mom2bugnbee Bel Canto is one of my all-time favorites. I still think about that book & I read it years ago. That's the sign of a good book. 8y
jessdean Love all the descriptions!☺️ I couldn't get into Fates & Furies- I think it was bad timing. I need to retry. Among the Ten Thousand Things- I think it's one I have to read a little slower and be patient with, I was trying to read it too quickly & got frustrated. 🙈 8y
LauraBeth @LeslieO I resisted for a long time too (sadly!) 8y
LauraBeth @mom2bugnbee mine too! I need to read it again 😀 8y
LauraBeth @jessdean oh I can see both Fates and Furies and Among The Ten Thousand Things not being ideal due to timing. I'm careful with who I recommend those to. Sometimes it's the wrong book at the wrong time! 8y
194 likes4 stack adds21 comments
review
carissa_ray
Mehso-so

Some lovely writing, but took me six months to finish this.

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Dolly
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Pickpick

This book is not exciting. If you must have fast paced high action, this is probably not a book for you. If you do, however, like a well written book that reads like beautiful music you may like this read. I LOVE the author's descriptions & can see them clearly. "Kay had poured half the syrup on the dark & shining waffles filling them like an ice cube tray." Not the best example, it's hard to backtrack. I will watch for the next Pierpont novel.

24 likes2 stack adds
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Dolly
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Halfway though and I LOVE this woman's writing. It hasn't the best reviews so maybe those readers are looking for something I don't require. Pierpont describes passage of time, casting out of time then reeling back in was very fascinating to me & wasn't the least bit confusing (on audio). So far it's more about the journey than the destination. 💖

LauraBeth I LOVED this book 8y
Lindy I enjoyed this in audio also. 😊 8y
Dolly @LauraBeth Yay! I'm curious about what you loved about the book. Care to share? 8y
See All 7 Comments
Dolly @Lindy yay again! Any particular details you care to share if you remember? 8y
LauraBeth Sure - here is the link from my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1526026410 8y
Lindy I remember the family relationships were very well-done, and, like you, I like the writing style. The image of stray printed email documents turning up around the building has also stuck with me. 8y
Dolly @Lindy Yes, those 📧. I haven't finished the book yet but I'm hoping the author brings those back into the story 😬. I thought it odd in that the action of tossing those literally spread the word of his indiscretions & that he might rather keep them secret & destroy them. 8y
23 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Marchpane
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Heeyyy, it's a Litsy milestone! 🙀😸😽

I'm thrilled to have found this place where it's considered normal to nerd out over books and everyone is beyond lovely!

#litfluence #litsylove

KarenUK Brilliant! 👍 8y
britt_brooke Awesome!! 🙌🏻💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 8y
McFarchie 🍾🍾👏🏾👯🍻 8y
See All 37 Comments
Laura317 Yay!! 🎉👏🏼🎉👏🏼🎉 8y
theshrinkette 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 8y
Crinoline_Laphroaig It's quickly become my new favorite thing. 8y
rubyslippersreads Congratulations! 📚🎉📚🎉📚 8y
Graciouswarriorprincess Congratulations! 8y
Soubhiville Yay! Palindrome! 8y
GoldenGirl Wow! Congratulations! 8y
Lizpixie Congratulations!🎉🎉🎉 8y
PurpleyPumpkin Amazing!🎊🎉🎊🎉 8y
CherylDeFranceschi Congrats! 8y
katedensen Yay!!!!!! 8y
Marchpane @Soubhiville yay for symmetry! 😂 8y
Bookish.Leftist.Auntie Congratulations! 📚🎈 8y
LilMamaMastro 🌠🎆🎇 8y
JulieAnn Congratulations!! 8y
Well-ReadNeck 🎉🎉🎉 8y
BookInMyHands Hooray, good for you! 👏👏👏 8y
pppooraikul Cool! Congrats! 🎉🎉👍😁 8y
Alisnazzy 😘😘😘😘😘😘💖💖💖💖💖 8y
James Congrats! 8y
DuckOfDoom Congrats!! 📚🎉 8y
LeahBergen Yay!! 🎉🎉🎉 8y
GlitteryOtters Woo...! Yay, CONGRATS!🎉🍾 📚✨🎊 8y
bmsddk Congratulations! 🌞☄🎉 That's so exciting!! 8y
Redheadrambles Wow ! 😀 That's very cool, well done you 8y
bookninja Congratulations!! One day I would love to achieve that!! 8y
asiriusreader Wow!! Nicely done!! 🎉🎉 8y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!!! 🎉👍🎉👍🎉 8y
moranadatter Yay!🎉 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Congratulations! 🎉🎉 8y
DivineDiana Wowzer!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
146 likes2 stack adds37 comments
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katelizabee
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Good day at the book swap! Walked away with good-condition hardbacks of Among the Ten Thousand Things, Big Magic, and The Corrections. 📚📚📚🎉

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literarychica
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Mehso-so

Finished this one today over brunch. It was strangely unsatisfying. The first half I was hooked, but slowly I felt myself slipping away from my initial assessment. Not sure why.

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PNWBookseller85
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I keep refreshing the page. 😂

I love reconnecting with the book world through Litsy. I especially love all the #getindie love. I've been an indie bookseller in Amazon's hometown. I know how hard indies work to stay relevant, to stay in business. It makes my heart happy to see everyone's posts about their local bookstores. This community is 👌🏻.

Books_Wine_Repeat 👏👏🎉 8y
BookishFeminist 🎉🎉🎉 8y
Texreader 🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍 8y
See All 24 Comments
Texreader Keep up the good fight! 📚 8y
Eyelit 👏🎉👏 8y
Cinfhen Congrats 🎀 8y
pppooraikul Amazing number! Congrats! 🎉🎉😁👍🍾 8y
KkarenkK Congrats🎉🎉 8y
LeahBergen Woo hoo! 🎉🎉🎉 8y
erzascarletbookgasm 😮 woohoo! Congrats! I'm relatively new here, it will be a looong time for me to get there. 8y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!!! 🎉👍🎉👍🎉 8y
megt Congrats!!! 8y
LitHousewife 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
britt_brooke 🙌🏻🙌🏻💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 8y
quirkyreader Whoopie for Becky. 🐸🐙 8y
BekahB Congrats!! 😃 8y
PurpleyPumpkin Fantastic!🎉🎊🎉🎊 8y
Posemn Congratulations! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi Awesome! 🎉📚! 8y
jessdean Yay!👏🏽🎉💃🏽📚💚 8y
Suzze I kept refreshing the page when I was near 5000, still missed it. Captured 5001. Congrats of being so litfluential! 8y
Dragon 👍🎉 8y
pitterpainter ❤️!!! 8y
moranadatter Yay!🎉 8y
134 likes24 comments
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SheilaChew
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"What do you want a child for? You will never again know when it is safe to feel happy."

Sometimes it feels that way. Being a happy parent takes a good deal of faith.

scripturient True words. 8y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Abailliekaras
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Pickpick

Starts with infidelity & shows the family, Franzen-esque, coping as best they can. Great, lucid writing - like a series of vivid snapshots - not necessarily a beginning, middle & end. As the affair has happened already, it's a jumping-off point for them to examine their lives, lacking somewhat in suspense. But the writing is so clear & true, I flew through it.

katedensen I'm so glad you liked it! The history of religion teacher (Mr. Donadio?) is based on an actual teacher and the Short Stop diner existed just as Julia describes it ☺️ 8y
Abailliekaras @katedfisher fantastic, I love hearing the behind-the-scenes.. the details feel spot-on (even without knowing that)... Two of my favourite characters were jack's mum Phyllis and Charles, who appear near the end - I'm sure they must be based on real people also! 8y
katedensen @Abailliekaras I would imagine so. I keep meaning to dig up a Polaroid of me and Julia in costume for our production of "Our Town" (also mentioned in the book, but Julia actually did get the part of Emily in real life) to tweet to her ☺️ 8y
Abailliekaras @katedfisher always inspiring to know that so-called ordinary lives can be turned into a compelling book! 8y
16 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Abailliekaras
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I bought this for book club and ... Oops. 🙈📚

Marchpane So many highly anticipated titles here! Can't wait to see what you think of them. 8y
Abailliekaras @Marchpane I don't know where to start! Excited about all of them ... 8y
13 likes2 comments
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Abailliekaras
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Our book club book this month, so I must track down a copy and get reading! #septphotochallenge #numbersintitle

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MariaCristina
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Mehso-so

First book I've read entirely on my phone. Maybe that's why I was so surprised to have reached the end. And not I-devoured-it-in-a-breathless-rush surprise. Nope. It was that-can't-be-all surprise. Yet I get the feeling the pacing with which I'm so dissatisfied is exactly what the author was going for. Good for her?

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Meganbub
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"I probably shouldn't buy books every time I see some" - No One Ever

4 likes1 comment
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Tav
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Sometimes I get early copies of books from other publishing houses. I suppose they hope I'll read them and be a "big mouth" for them. Here's my stack of books I've gotten over the last year or so.

ebookrecs Spinster was really good! :-) 8y
5 likes2 comments
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Cpokrzywa
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Mehso-so

Buried in this ordinary story of ordinary people with disappointingly ordinary flaws, there are sharp observations and finely crafted sentences. However, the opening premise (the package from an ex-lover) opens with a bang but then seems disconnected from the rest of the story. So-so.

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katrrosee
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Very belated thank-you post for @LauraBeth 's fantastic recommendations - I enjoyed both and sad to return them to the library, might have to purchase for myself!

LauraBeth Glad you like them @katrinarose4 😀 I checked out Spool Of Blue Thread from the library. It's next up for me! 8y
38 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Viji
Mehso-so

There are several points in the book where it seems something important is about to happen, then it's on to the next scene. The children are the most believable characters. Jack and Deb are so bland I had a hard time deciding whether to like or dislike them.

Megabooks Yup! 8y
Megabooks And I hated how the end was revealed in the middle. 8y
Cinfhen Agree, really unlikeable characters with little to like 8y
See All 8 Comments
Coleen Yup, yup, yup! 8y
Lola Completely agree. It started out so strong and then it just fell flat. I did like the structure, which I know some complained about-that part did work well for me. 8y
LauraBeth I really liked it 😀 8y
LizzyM Totally agree! I was really excited about this book when it came out and it just fell flat for me! 8y
Gleefulreader I read this book last year, and just realized I remembered nothing at all about. What that says about the book, or me, I'm not sure 🤔 8y
39 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Cinfhen
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Panpan

Sorry, this one did not work for me! Ugh!!! After a really good start the book was a dud. One dimensional unlikeable characters, no action, no substance. I kept hoping for some redemption but it never came😕

Coleen I agree with you on this one. 😔 9y
Suet624 I just finished this and wow, I couldn‘t agree with you more. (edited) 7y
Cinfhen Ha! I totally forgot about this book @Suet624 😖it was so depressing & such unlikeable characters 7y
10 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
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Lunchtime read...so glad I'm not a teenager any longer! It's a tough world to navigate these days!!!This book is a little dark for my liking but my Litsy friends recommended it & they are a pretty trusty bunch💞

6 likes1 stack add
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Viji

"What do you want a child for? You will never again know when it is safe to feel happy."
"Like having your heart walk around outside your body the rest of your life."

Victoriahoperose This book was vey good! Hope you enjoy it!! 9y
37 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Viji

I think my next book needs a heroic male character. The last few books I've read have featured guys who are less than stellar human beings. Suggestions?

BookMusings These may sound random, but apparently I too need to read some books like this because my Read list from the last six months is very short on strong male leads. You could always just go with Harry Potter 😜 9y
Viji Thanks for the recommendations @BookMusings! 9y
misswendyd Yeah, the douchery in this book is extreme. You picked a good hero with TOTC; you might also enjoy THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, which is also on Serial Reader! It's less widely read in schools, and I think it's because teachers didn't want you to know classics could be fun. 😉 9y
readinginthedark I second @misswendyd! So fun! I'm still searching for the second one, out-of-print and hard-to-find. :/ 8y
19 likes5 comments
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Viji
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This starts with a bang!

Megabooks I found the structure of it weird. Interested to see what you think. 9y
Coleen I thought the beginning was the best part of the book. Overall, not one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it more. 8y
Viji I'm about halfway through, waiting for something to happen. 8y
32 likes7 stack adds3 comments
review
Hreynolds
Pickpick

Really good read. Funny, smart, sad, real.

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literarychica
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Started this one yesterday as I was lying down to get my calf tattooed, and it was a good distraction from the needles digging into my flesh! On Page 45 so far...

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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This was an interesting idea and I think the author captures her characters well. However, the pacing was off and made the story feel rushed and disjointed. Overall, I liked it and would say to give it a shot!

5 likes2 stack adds
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Victoriahoperose
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We thought we were living in between-time, after this and that, but it's the between-time that lasted.