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Life Among the Savages
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
59 posts | 56 read | 92 to read
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review
andrew61
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

In last weeks irl grp we read this memoir by Shirley Jackson of bringing up her 3 very young children. I laughed from the opening chapter and continued to chuckle throughout as the author manages to rise above the madness. Wonderful writing this was a joyful treat from a writer who normally has me listening out for creaks on the stairs as I pull the duvet up around me.

LeahBergen Great review, Andrew! I‘ve been meaning to read this one for ages. 4d
Cathythoughts This sounds great , stacked ! 3d
andrew61 @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yes, I'd highly recommend that, although I could have done with reading it after reading Emmeline so I am gathering my thoughts for the review. 3d
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merelybookish
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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My stack of books from NYC. Sarah and I had so much fun! ❤️
The top one with faded spine is a collection of short stories by Cora Sandal (not in the database). Especially pleased with the 1st edition Laurie Colwin. (And grateful to @sarahbarnes for climbing the ladder to retrieve it at Westsider Books.)
Proud to report I've already read tagged book courtesy of a prolonged travel day home. So well done me! 😁

sarahbarnes We did do a great job finding some good books! 📚😁🩵 5mo
Ruthiella Awesome haul! I‘ve read either that or the other Shirley Jackson collection of women‘s magazine essays and they are interesting. Another window into a fascinating author. 5mo
squirrelbrain Great haul - sounds like you had a fabulous time! ❤️ 5mo
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vivastory I have only one Jackson novel left to read, so I will be reading her nonfiction soon. I have heard great things about Life etc. Sounds like a great time with Sarah! (edited) 5mo
merelybookish @Ruthiella I really enjoyed it! It made me Lol which I needed as my flights kept getting delayed. 5mo
merelybookish @squirrelbrain Thanks! Such a treat to shop with another book lover who gets it! 😁 5mo
merelybookish @vivastory We had a ball! And it is very different from the one novel I've read by Jackson, although arguably they both spend a lot of time on the house and domestic relationships. Just minus the creepiness. 5mo
66 likes7 comments
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Centique
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Been in a book slump and this provided a delightful change of pace. Shirley Jackson writes anecdotes from her befuddled and slightly chaotic family life, with precocious children and tired parents. Its published in 1953 and while there‘s traditional gender roles etc this family is on their own trajectory and not entirely buying into anything thats expected of them. Laughed out loud at least four times 😂😂

BarbaraBB I hope this helped to get rid of that slump! (edited) 1y
Centique @BarbaraBB yes i hope so too! 1y
Cathythoughts Sounds great. I hate those slumps 🙄😡. Hopefully you‘re on the way out. Stacking 👍🏻❤️ 1y
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Centique @Cathythoughts thanks Cathy! I think you will get a few laughs from this ☺️ 1y
squirrelbrain Sounds great - stacking! 1y
Clare-Dragonfly Shirley Jackson is great for defeating a reading slump! 1y
Rissreads It‘s hard to find books that make you laugh out loud. 1y
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Eggs
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

This was a hidden gem! A captivating memoir about Shirley and husband, and their 4 children who live in a big old house in rural Vermont. The actions and dialogues are so amusing and realistic, it‘s hard to put down. The sequel is called “Raising Demons” 🤗

#Pantone2023 @Clwojick
#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

Andrew65 Sounds good 👏👏👏 2y
TheSpineView Fantastic!📖📘📚 2y
Eggs @Andrew65 It was delightful! 2y
Eggs @TheSpineView Thanks 🙏🏻 2y
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Clare-Dragonfly
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

And finished with a breakfast 😆 Just as delightful as the second one. I found the part about having a third child especially hilarious and shared it with my moms group chat—someone has just found out she is unexpectedly pregnant with her third!

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Clare-Dragonfly
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Starting this with dinner!

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monalyisha
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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My husband‘s band has a show tonight. I finally embraced who I really am and brought two books with me, set myself up in the corner, grabbed a bunch of wine, & am currently praying that no one talks to me. 🙈

mandarchy You have my full support. 2y
Bookzombie I love this! I hope you are left to enjoy your books and wine. 🙂 2y
Amandajoy Hope you had a great night! That‘s how I‘d roll too. 2y
monalyisha @mandarchy @Bookzombie @Amandajoy Thank you! I was glad I went; he was unexpectedly the last-minute frontman, which was nerve-wracking for him, so I was happy to be there to support him! I did have another glass of wine (not pictured), however…and 3 *may* have been one too many. 😅 It‘s a slow morning. 2y
Amiable This is the best! We all need to do this more often and normalize it to the rest of extroverted society. 😀 2y
82 likes5 comments
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EmilieGR
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Witty and insightful, Shirley Jackson is a master and understanding people‘s hidden thoughts, loves, and fears. For a woman who is known for her amazing imagination, her life is relatively quiet and very representative of many women of her generation. I laughed my way through this book.

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GidgetsTreasures75
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

2-22-22: My 17th finished book of 2022! Shirley Jackson, author of The Haunting of Hill House and The Lottery, takes a different turn here writing about her family, mainly her 3 small children. Very cute stories about her life taking care of them and watching them grow up in rural Vermont. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣7️⃣

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Aaronlisa
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Another 4 ⭐️ read. I read this one between Dec 19 & 26. It was an enjoyable read about Jackson‘s life when her children were very young. It‘s written more as vignettes and some have inspired her short stories. I will definitely try to read more Jackson in 2021.

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Christine
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Finally finished this gem that was kindly given to me by @bookish_wookish for the #jolabokaflodswap . How adorable that back in December 2019 I called it “a gift perfectly timed, as I‘ll be home with my kids for the remaining two weeks of their winter break...” - if only I knew that would soon become six months...😂😭😂 Great book, so wry and well-written, and I loved the focus on the mundanities of motherhood.

bookish_wookish Glad you enjoyed it! 4y
ImperfectCJ I love this one and Jackson's Raising Demons, too! At the time I only knew Jackson from The Lottery and Hill House, and her domestic stuff really surprised me. 4y
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Booksnchill
Life Among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Momma and pa and the 4 children in Vermont- the children are little savages- there is a vignette where the narrator (mom) recounts one night, 3 children, 2 adults, 4 beds 4 pillows 4 blankets 1 dog and 2 cats and, after many changes in rooms, blankets, juice, beds, all over one night all she wants to know is “what became of the baby‘s blanket- as you know we are short of blankets” She is a consumate woman who gets it done, with stoic humor. Fun!

Butterfinger I loved this book. 4y
Booksnchill 🥰 4y
CaramelLunacy Loved the story of the oscillant chipmunk 🐿 4y
Booksnchill @CaramelLunacy bet the airgun is still on top of the cupboard! 4y
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JoyBlue
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Bailedbailed

Bailing @ 61% / 3:58:11—There have been a couple mildly amusing parts. Mostly, it's uninteresting and repetitive. Would I care if I was a fan of her writing (horror)? I don't think so.

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Autumnscribe
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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And now for something completely different...

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Christine
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Thank you so much for the very generous and so delightful #jolabokaflodswap package, @bookish_wookish !! I‘m thrilled about the book you selected (a gift perfectly timed, as I‘ll be home with my kids for the remaining two weeks of their winter break 😜). The Poe Lover‘s Christmas card is brilliant. 😂❤️ And all of that lovely chocolate. 😍 Thanks again, Amy (and @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting) - wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

bookish_wookish Yay! Im glad you like it! 5y
MaleficentBookDragon 🎅 🤶🎁🎄🍫 📚 Happy #Jolakabodflod 5y
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Lola
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

This was my follow-up read to Hill House. I loved reading about SJ raising kids in rural Vermont in the 40s and 50s. I was surprised by how relatable I found it, raising my own kids 60 years later and in a new century-and of course, some things are very different-10 days in the hospital after a normal uncomplicated birth?! (And the reason, per SJ, why some opted for baby #3- all that uninterrupted rest! 😂) I ordered the sequel, Raising Demons.

Katja I loved this book so much. I couldn‘t stop laughing 😂 5y
Lola @Katja What a talented writer! She can scare the s!$t out of you with one book and make you pee your pants with another. This is just so good! 5y
Lcsmcat I need to read this! 5y
Lola @Lcsmcat You do! It‘s a fun quick read. I‘m looking to forward to reading the sequel, which picks up right where this one leaves off 5y
25 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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erinreads
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Since I‘ve moved, I‘ve been spared having to deal with the metro most days since a coworker lives close by and we now commute to and from work together. However, it really cuts into the time I‘ve always had on weekdays to read during my commute, so today I wasn‘t even annoyed I had to take the metro home. Almost done with this and it‘s amazingly delightful! 👌🏻

Tamra Sounds great! Makes me feel like I have a normal life, minus 18 children. 😜 5y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads I have been wanting to read this 5y
Susannah I have this but haven‘t read it yet. For a long time, it confused me that Shirley Jackson wrote a book called Life Among the Savages that was a *humorous memoir*. 🤔😉 5y
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erinreads
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Minus the children, I feel like my husband and I both feel like we now own a whole house that is just waiting to be filled with more books! Also, I just picked this up to flip through a little and next thing I know I‘m 84 pages deep. Shirley Jackson is a gem.

sprainedbrain I just adored this book! ❤️ 5y
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LizzieLou
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Shirley Jackson's memoir is amazing.

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sprainedbrain
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

I adored this family life memoir from the great Shirley Jackson. It‘s hilarious...I just giggled through so many long passages. As a mom of 5, I thought her stories were relatable, despite the fact that she was raising her kids in the 1940s. I found myself reading parts of it out loud to whichever kids happened through the room at the time. So fun!

Great choice for #LMPBC, Tammy! Sorry to all that so many of my marks were just ‘lol‘ or ‘ha!‘ 😂

CSeydel I love her family essays. 6y
Susannah I‘ve heard great things about her memoirs! 6y
ohyeahthatgirl I love her range! Her biography was pretty interesting as well. 6y
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zsuzsanna_reads This is apparently out of print in the UK but penguin is republishing it in August. I pre-ordered a copy. Thanks for the suggestion! 😘 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Stacking! 6y
sprainedbrain @CSeydel I‘m definitely going to look for 6y
sprainedbrain @Susannah I plan to read the others! 6y
sprainedbrain @ohyeahthatgirl I will check that out. Such an interesting woman. 6y
sprainedbrain @zsuzsanna_reads @erzascarletbookgasm I hope you enjoy it! 😃 (edited) 6y
Peddler410 I‘m reminded of Cheaper by the Dozen reading your post ... I loved Cheaper by the Dozen. I‘m adding this to my TBR. 6y
arubabookwoman Looking forward to receiving it. At the rate I'm reading Labyrinths, I may finish it before I get half-way through Labyrinths! ETA I didn't know you had 5 kids. Me too- mine are age 28 to 40. Yours? @Butterfinger @jmofo (edited) 6y
sprainedbrain @arubabookwoman it‘s going to be heading your way tomorrow, if the post office is open. 🥶 My kids are 19, 17, 15, 14, and 7. 🤪 6y
Butterfinger I'm so glad you liked it. I have really enjoyed this swap. 6y
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sprainedbrain
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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I just love the first lines of this book... I can totally relate, except that there won‘t be more children (or a husband) when I leave this house. 😂

Bonus for this #whatyourbookstartswith challenge entry: this is Tammy‘s selection for our group for #LMPBC, so you can also see some comments from the illustrious members of Group F. 😃

#24in48

Butterfinger I loved this book. 6y
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CaramelLunacy
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
Pickpick

An enjoyable anecdotal memoir about keeping the house and observing (and occasionally attempting to manage) the savages that are her children. I very much enjoyed her turns of phrase and couldn't help but sympathize when she allowed herself the occasional snide remark when the children were too obnoxious or condescending.

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CaramelLunacy
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Oscillant chipmunk!! Shirley Jackson's way with words amuses me to no end.

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jmofo
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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#24B42018 I did all right, finishing three books before the new year. It helps to visit a friend who is an avid reader too.
This was the last book I‘ll be able to finish before the end of the year, just in time to mail off for #LMPBC
Thank you @Butterfinger for picking this read!

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jmofo
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Awww-yeah! #24B42019 is on! It‘s a bit after midnight here in Colorado and I don‘t have to work tomorrow so I‘m going to get a little time in with one of my favorite authors before passing out!
I‘ll work on my stack in the morning, I just want to get cozy after a day at work.
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

julesG Good Morning from Germany! I'm starting the readathon now with #audioyoga 6y
jmofo @julesG you are a delightful person to know! I hope you have a lovely day! 💜 (edited) 6y
julesG Right back at you! 😘Have a good night! 6y
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Kaye Good luck 🍀 6y
Andrew65 Good luck with the Readathon, enjoy your reading time. 6y
Andrew65 @julesG Enjoy the reading and the yoga. 6y
Butterfinger I hope you like it. 6y
jmofo @Butterfinger Oh, I am! I am so glad you picked it! 👋 6y
34 likes8 comments
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jmofo
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Never fear
@Butterfinger dear
Life Among the Savages is here!
I just checked the mail once I got home from work and the book‘s arrived! Way to use your resources!

Butterfinger @jmofo yay!!! and whew, what a relief. 6y
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AutumnRLS
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Another day; another book.

rather_be_reading Welcome to Litsy!! 📚🎉📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
AutumnRLS Thanks! Happy to be here! 6y
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toastykitten
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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"Age?" She asked. "Sex? Occupation?"
"Writer," I said.
"Housewife," she said.
"Writer," I said.
"I'll just put down housewife," she said.

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toastykitten
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
Pickpick

This was pretty easy and fun reading. Felt like the original in Mommy blogging, but way more entertaining than actual blogs.

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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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I was too distracted by the book discussion last night to remember to post to social media. 😉 Here's my recreation of the Cafe Cubano using the bag of coffee I had to bring home with me from the coffee shop because it was that delicious.

This post includes an open invitation to anyone here on Litsy who lives in Palm Beach County to join my #bookclub! https://facebook.com/PalmBeachCountyBookClub

Samplergal Oh! I might take you up. I live in plantation. It‘s funny. I just hosted my first book club yesterday as well. 7y
KCorter Hi @Samplergal! I grew up near Plantation! It's cool to find another Floridian on here. Maybe we could plan a #LitsyMeetUp? Also, congratulations on starting a book club! How did it go? Which book did you discuss? 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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readordierachel Great quote! 7y
KCorter @ReadOrDieRachel This whole book is full of gems, but this is one of my favorites. 😊 7y
EvieBee Nice! You convinced me to go ahead and buy the Kindle book. Thank you! ♥️ 7y
KCorter @EvieBee If you have an Audible account as well, go for the audiobook! The narrator is so charming. 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Caroline2 😂 yep that's me every day!! 😳 7y
KCorter @Caroline2 Every single day. Haha 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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RaimeyGallant Interesting way of looking at it. 7y
Gezemice I make lists but that‘s because my thinking is totally disorganized. 7y
KCorter Definitely, @RaimeyGallant. 7y
KCorter @Gezemice See, that's how I feel about it as well. If I don't get all of the information out of my head and organized into a logical list, I will just get overwhelmed and simply forget what all needs to be done. 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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My Litsy app was acting up this week, so I wasn't able to post the Shirley Jackson quotes as promised. I can post images again, so get ready for me to flood your feed with some of my favorite anecdotes from Life Among the Savages!

Also, I am rolling my eyes forever at this particular #quoteoftheday.

Zelma I need to read this. Ack, that quote! 😬 7y
KCorter @Zelma Please do! 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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My book club is reading Life Among the Savages in March and I AM SO EXCITED YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

I'll be sharing a #quoteoftheday with my book club until the meeting, so I'll leave them here for y'all as well. 😊

kyraleseberg I read this last month and loved it! 7y
KCorter @kyraleseberg It's so good! Have you read the sequel? 7y
kyraleseberg @KCorter Not yet but it's on my TBR! 7y
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kyraleseberg
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

As a fan of Jackson's work, I was excited to delve into this collection of stories highlighting her everyday life at home with her husband and children.
These gems were funny and still completely relevant today of the chaos that is motherhood and I applaud her for all the incredible writing she accomplished while raising four children and a husband ;)

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reneelyons
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

A comforting must-read for Shirley Jackson fans, I adored this little book!

Full review: https://reneereadsbooks.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/book-review-live-among-the-sava...

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Leftcoastzen
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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It‘s Shirley Jackson‘s birthday. I read a biography of her this year , amazed with the kids and having a man baby for a husband how she got any writing done .And of course, she could not have written a book like “Life among the savages” if she didn‘t have a family.The biography:Shirley Jackson A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin.

batsy I'm astounded about how she got so much of good writing done, as well. Need to read that bio! 7y
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KCorter
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Confession time: This stay-at-home-parent gig has been wearing me down lately. As a introverted woman diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and migraines, every single day I don't just stay in bed and cry feels like a success. The isolation and redundancy sometimes feels like it is all too much. @acorter is wonderful and I have very supportive friends. Books have always been a solace to me though. Can anyone relate?
(Continued below)

KCorter (cont.) Which books have you found to be a comfort? I think I need something quiet and sweet. That's so opposite of my usual selection that I need help knowing where to start! The #LWreadalong has been so timely and this Shirley Jackson also feels like the right story at the right time. What else would you suggest? I'll take advice as well as book recommendations, if you've got it. You are all such a lovely community that I welcome the help. 7y
Notafraidofwords This is tough. I get it. Have you tried the flavia du Luce serious. It's worked for me. 7y
LeahBergen "Quiet and sweet" is perfect for times like this. Have you read 7y
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Natasha.C.Barnes I'll think on this question for sure. Sending love your way--I deal with similar issues and though I'm not a parent, I have imagined just this sort of situation as a possibility if I ever become one. It seems almost inevitable when you mix certain things together...but things can almost always be made a little bit better so I hope I can think of some good books for you. 7y
KCorter @Notafraidofwords I love Flavia! I am all caught up and already have the next book on pre-order. That is a great suggestion though. Maybe it is time for a reread. 😉 7y
EvieBee I‘m not a mother but I totally feel you. I recently married and left the workforce and it almost broke me. I thought what I needed was less pressure, but the redundancy of each day almost drove me to drink (Well I do drink lol). But now I‘m doing a lot of volunteer work and reading more. It‘s been my lifeline! And Litsy! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
KCorter @LeahBergen I haven't, but I remember when you posted about it a little while ago. I will add it to my TBR now! 7y
Natasha.C.Barnes One of my favorite books is The Interestings because it's all about characters and how they grow up and deal with their lives and the way she writes time/memory feels so natural, but it does have a lot of people being dissatisfied or comparing their lives to others when they shouldn't...but you feel for them. 7y
Natasha.C.Barnes Another thing I've found I like to read when I need comforting is YA romance (so long as the characters aren't annoying) because there is something so pure and sweet about it. So for that I'd recommend 7y
Natasha.C.Barnes Another one like E&P is 7y
DebReads4fun Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan was an enjoyable read. 7y
KCorter Thank you, @Natasha.C.Barnes. You are so right, this isn't just a parent problem. I used to be able to balance my need for solitude with my need for adult interaction to get me out of my own head. Now that I have too much solitude and taking young children in public is so exhaustingly chaotic, I find myself just hiding in books. Litsy has been a perfect way to stay connected with people who "get me" and still obsess over books. Like you! ? 7y
KCorter @Natasha.C.Barnes p.s. I will add those books to the list! Thanks for the recommendations. 😊 7y
Natasha.C.Barnes @KCorter Yeah, I just feel like even if I can kinda get a handle on things when it's just me, it would get a million times harder as a parent, so I just feel for you. ❤️ 7y
Kitty_Rochsmith Yes, darling girl. ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
ErikasMindfulShelf 💕💕 7y
Jas16 Sending ❤️ 7y
AmyG Parenting is hard on it‘s own...without the other stuff. My kids are grown, but I had 3 kids in 2 1/2 years (twins). You do the best you can with what you got. Sending a big hug. Thank goodness for books. They still help me to this day. I was into Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine (mysteries) when my twins were little....I had a babysitter for 2 hours each afternoon. I would lock myself in my room and read. 7y
TheKidUpstairs I can very much relate to you. I'm a stay at home mom, too. I have good days and bad days. Sometimes the bad outnumber the good, unfortunately. It's always a battle When that happens, I force myself to get outside - walk to the grocery store, the park, the library, anywhere I have to get outside the house and have brief interactions with adults. For quiet and sweet reads, I'd recommend 7y
cobwebmoth I can totally relate. Big hugs! 7y
HeatherBookNerd I totally get it. Mine are 18, 21, and 23 now, and I was a SAH mom for most of that. And the anxiety and depression came for me too now and then. It is such a hard job, and some seasons are tougher than others. Books were, and still are, my refuge. Get away a bit when you are able, and absolutely get professional help if you need to - counseling, meds, etc. as far as lighter fare reading recommendations, 7y
HeatherBookNerd This one actually 7y
xicanti Have you read THE BLUE CASTLE by L.M. Montgomery? It's lovely, in large part because the protagonist starts off in a bad place and makes a lot of changes purely for her own happiness, which I find cathartic. Kiyohiko Azuma's YOTSUBA&! is also lovely and good-hearted, with an emphasis on girls supporting one another. 7y
sherryvdh I can totally relate! I am also a SAHM, and the first few years for me were a rollercoaster. I've found a couple of programs close by (we live rurally, so the isolation factor is a big one for us,) where we can go and he can play and be social, and I can talk with some other moms (or read). Books have gotten me through too. I can't think of a light read ATM, but wanted you to know you're not alone! 7y
JillR I‘m a mum & I am back at work now but I relate entirely to the feelings of isolation & of being overwhelmed when caring for small children ❤️. It might not be what you are looking for or needing in terms of reading but I just wanted to mention the tagged book. I haven‘t read it but have heard such good things about it :) 7y
minkyb I wish I had some advice but I am sending hugs! 7y
Smartypants Lots of love and hugs! I often find comfort in books from my childhood. Lately, Shel Silverstein has been my go to. 7y
Eyelit 💜💚💜 7y
Smartypants One more suggestion: check out the app called Headspace. It's a mindfulness app and it guides you through the process of practicing mindfulness. There are 2-3 minute videos and audio to help you. 7y
ValerieAndBooks The early years are hard as a SAHM. I‘ve been there💖. I read a lot of non-fiction back then, because for me it was easier to pick up and down. With fiction I would have to keep backtracking. Taking it one day at a time helped 💓 7y
Sarah83 I read at last the first part of it. They are sometimes a bit funny and they are set in the 1930, which was a time where everything was a bit slower. 7y
Sarah83 I also read a few ones written by him, they help to relax and low down my stress a bit. Even if I am not at SAHM but a working woman, but maybe stress at work can be as frustrating as at home. 😘 7y
Sarah83 These one I really liked. You can read them easily and they are quite entertaining. There are several books, but you should start with this one. 7y
batsy Sending much love. I'm not a parent but deal with similar issues with anxiety, depression and being an introvert and so I just want to say that you're not alone and I hope it helps to share. 💜 I read a lot of cozy mysteries to help with anxiety and to relax. Something light and sweet might be this one... 7y
batsy (To clarify, the Godden book is not a cozy mystery but it might fit the bill of something light yet satisfying :) 7y
megt Sending love and hugs your way! My go to comfort reads are usually cozy mysteries. Around this time each year I‘ll pick up a book in the Home Repair is Homicide series by Sarah Graves. The first in that series is 7y
KCorter @EvieBee Ugh, same here. 🍻 I plan to start volunteering in the local library as soon as both boys are in school. Litsy is my lifeline too. Oh, and reading of course. 😉 7y
KCorter Thank you all for your kindness! Sometimes it helps just to know you're not alone. 💞 @Kitty_Rochsmith @irre @Jas16 @cobwebmoth @minkyb @Eyelit 7y
KCorter @AmyG Oh man, you must have been exhausted. You are so right; all you can do is your best. I love mysteries, and will definitely check those out! 7y
KCorter @TheKidUpstairs Those bad days... At least the good ones make up for them. 😊 I think you have found something there though. I'm going to try to be more proactive and leave the house even when I don't feel like it. A change of scenery can help give a new perspective. I love that books are a way to go somewhere new without leaving the house, but books also can't talk back when I need human interaction. 😉 7y
KCorter @HeatherBookNerd You are so right. This too shall pass. 😊 Thanks for the advice and book recommendation! 7y
KCorter @xicanti I haven't! I love the Anne series, though. Both of those recommendations sound good. I'll definitely check them out! Thank you! 7y
KCorter @sherryvdh I bet! I don't know what I would do if we didn't have the library and playgrounds just around the corner. Thank you for reaching out! 😊 7y
KCorter @JillR That is a great recommendation! It looks like just what I need right now. The summary of What Mothers Do seems to be similar to what I enjoyed so much about this Shirley Jackson memoir. She made the absurdity and frustration​ of "housewifery" seem charming and hilarious while remaining authentic. I highly recommend both LAtS and 7y
KCorter @Smartypants Same here. 😊 I have been reading all my old favorites comfort reads this year. Maybe I should revisit Silverstein as well. 7y
KCorter @Smartypants Thanks for the app recommendation! I just downloaded it. I have tried so many times to meditate and I just can't seem to get the hang of it. Hopefully this will help! 7y
KCorter @ValerieAndBooks I have found myself reading lots of short stories and comics for the same reason. I have to take all the reading time I can get, no matter how short! 7y
KCorter @Sarah83 I totally get that. Little Women has been a nice escape because of how different it all seems to how we live now. I'll add both of those books to my list! Thanks for the recommendations. I agree that you don't have to be a mother to feel like you are losing yourself in all that is required of you. Work of all types can exhausting and frustrating. Maybe I should take a note from the Marches and try to find satisfaction in hard work. 😉 7y
KCorter @batsy Thank you for sharing. I totally agree with you. I think it is more than a "mom problem". We can all feel so overwhelmed with all that is required of us without adding the extra pressure we put on ourselves! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite things to read! I will definitely add this one to my list. ? 7y
KCorter Thank you, @Lmstraubie! I always prioritize your recommendations. We should do another readalong soon! It was so fun. ☺ 7y
KCorter @megt Cozy mysteries are perfect for this time of year! I will check that one out! With all the projects we are doing around the house, it seems pretty timely subject matter as well. 😉 7y
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Brie
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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"Our house is old, noisy, and full. When we moved into it we had two children and about five thousand books; I expect that when we finally overflow and move out again we will have perhaps twenty children and easily half a million books."

I love Jackson's chilling stories, but this is a more lighthearted #family memoir filled with wry humor. #jubilantjuly

RealBooks4ever Oh gosh, I forgot about this book! I read the 1972 Scholastic edition so long ago I don't remember when! I do remember that I enjoyed it! 😆 7y
Brie @RealBooks4ever I enjoyed it too. Still haven't read her other memoir. 7y
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Mindyrecycles
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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A widdle kitty. #animalcovers #riotgrams

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Dorianna
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

Shirley Jackson is a delightfully sarcastic non-fiction writer. I really enjoyed reading this funny and quietly insightful memoir of day-to-day family life. #readathon.

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Dorianna
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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So is "My kid ate my lease." like "The dog ate my homework." for adults? ?? #readathon.

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Dorianna
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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About to take a snack break then start reading a Shirley Jackson memoir. I can't wait to see how Jackson writes non-fiction. #readathon.

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malloryomeara
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

My girl never disappoints. This memoir about raising her family is delightful and hilarious. I couldn't stop reading it.

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Books_Wine_Repeat
Life among the Savages | Shirley Jackson
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Pickpick

I love this book so much. Shirley Jackson hilariously details her day-to-day life with her family. I love her horror novels and now I love her more for her motherly struggles that are completely relatable. Her savages and my savages are so much alike. Thanks again @Imagineannie for the book. It's perfect! 💗

tpixie You've got cute savages!!! The Lottery really moved me in high school and stayed with me. I'll have to try this book out!- Fans of Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Cheaper by the Dozen, and anything Erma Bombeck ever wrote- that's me!! 8y
Imagineannie I'm glad you liked it and OMG they're adorable!!!!!! 8y
Books_Wine_Repeat @tpixie Thank you! 😊 I've read a couple of hers including The Lottery and The Haunting of Hill House. I'll have to read the rest. This one really surprised me, she was so funny!! 8y
Books_Wine_Repeat @Imagineannie Thank you! 😊 8y
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