Telephone | Litsy

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

A father who loves his daughter more than anything and has to deal with his own helplessness in the face of that love looks towards the mystery of messages found in the pockets of items of clothing he recently purchased on line. Everett‘s books are all so different outside of all being well written and deeply smart. This book was all of that and also sharply moving with its main character who is lost and looking for something he can control.

Liz_M

Jas16 #14books14weeks book 6 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures Which version do you have? I think everyone loves it no matter which one they got but I am always curious. 1w

Jas16 @ChaoticMissAdventures the ISBN ends in b on my edition. I still need to discover the other endings. 1w

See All 7 Comments

Amiable @Jas16 How did version B end? I read C and @BarbaraJean read A —you can fill in the missing gap! (With a spoiler tag, of course. 😀) 1w

BarbaraJean Yes, I'd love to hear what the ending was like in your version! 1w

Rissreadswithcats You have re peaked my interest in this. I‘d love to pick it for book club but only if I could make sure all the different endings were represented! Not an easy thing to do. I did think about trying to buy everyone a copy to make sure this was accomplished! 1w

Jas16 @BarbaraJean @Amiable My version ends with his attempting to halfheartedly mercy kill his daughter but being stopped by a nurse. He then goes back to rescue the women and is able to get them safely to Mexico. The last page is about him sitting with his daughter and still watching for a bear or a lion 1w

43 likes1 stack add7 comments

BarbaraJean

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

I‘ve been wanting to read more by Percival Everett (having read James last year), so I took the #AuthoraMonth inspiration to squeeze this into my May reading. It‘s so good, and so different from James. The narrative shifts between Zach‘s family and his job as a professor, and his efforts to unravel the mysterious pleas for help he‘s found in clothes ordered from eBay—two very different plot lines, yet the book doesn‘t feel uneven. ⤵️

Soubhiville

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Following Zach as he processes grief and impending loss—and also avoids it—is an interesting study in control and letting go, and in the human need to effect change in the face of helplessness.

Everett‘s technique of publishing three different versions, with three different endings, fascinates me. I read version A, and I initially liked the ending until I thought about it a bit more. I felt like it dropped some major threads, leaving ⤵️ 1mo

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) them unresolved and causing me to wonder a lot about how that particular plotline was (or wasn‘t) resolved in the other versions. I‘ll put my thoughts on the ending under a spoiler tag! ⤵️ @Amiable Would love to hear how your version ended! (edited) 1mo

BarbaraJean My version ended with Zach reaching the border with the women, seeing Lt. Deocampo on the other side, then the women being waved through the checkpoint back into Mexico. The narrative leaves Sarah (and Meg) behind, with Sarah in a care facility and no real resolution to the family side of the plot. It‘s of course fairly clear what will happen to Sarah, but I wanted some resolution to how Zach would navigate his marriage in the wake of that loss. 1mo

See All 9 Comments

willaful Oh man! That sounds so interesting but having to choose which ending to read would make me a bit nuts I think. 1mo

BarbaraJean @willaful I just put a copy on hold and took what my library gave me 😂 I had to look up how to tell which one I had—there are subtle variations in the cover and an A, B, or C next to the ISBN. Unless you know where to look it‘s not easy to tell which one you‘ve got. I‘d have loved a choose-your-own-adventure style ending, with all three possibilities in the same copy! 1mo

willaful @BarbaraJean yes, I think my brain won't be able to read it until there is one. 😂 1mo

Amiable @BarbaraJean I didn‘t see this until now! I never got a notification that you‘d tagged me. 😬 My version (C) ended with Zach piloting the bus within sight of the border. But one of the Mexican women had been shot when gunfire erupted as they were escaping, and she was bleeding out. So the entire group brought her to a medical clinic on the U.S. side. Ended with Zach looking over at the border that they hadn‘t managed to cross. 1w

Amiable And yes, the choose-your-own-adventure version is a brilliant idea!! 1w

BarbaraJean @Amiable Oh no! I've had that happen (or rather, not happen) randomly, too. 🙁 Thanks for sharing the ending from your version! The different-ending idea is so fascinating to me, especially with a character who is searching for something he can control...even the ending of the book is unstable. I'd really love to compare the three side by side to see just where and how they diverge (but choose-your-own adventure style would be the best way!!). 1w

42 likes1 stack add9 comments

BarbaraJean

Telephone | Percival Everett

“People, and by people I mean *them,* never look for truth, they look for satisfaction. There is nothing worse, certain painful and deadly diseases notwithstanding, than an unsatisfactory, piss-poor truth, whereas a satisfactory lie is all too easy to accept, even embrace, get cozy with.”

Now that‘s an opening line!!

31 likes

Amiable

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

This #AuthorAMonth book wrecked me. It‘s the 5th Everett I‘ve read; every one has been an incredible experience. He published 3 versions of this book, where the stories diverge at 3 different fulcrum points — where thoughts either do/do not lead to actions and plans that are/are not followed to completion. The differences seem minor, but tiny choices have big impacts on the outcome. My version was C: If you‘ve read A or B, tell me your thoughts.

Soubhiville

Ruthiella I read version C too. I wonder if there‘s a website that gives the endings for versions A and B? 🤔 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures Goodness. This man, he really is just brilliant. I love the idea of getting them all and reading each version. 1mo

BarbaraJean I have this out from the library, planning to read this week! I just checked and mine is version A. I‘ll let you know what I think when I finish it! 1mo

See All 8 Comments

Amiable @BarbaraJean Yes! 🙌🏼 I‘m going to check our local used bookstore to see if I can find B. (edited) 1mo

Amiable @Ruthiella I‘ve been searching but haven‘t found one yet … 1mo

Amiable @ChaoticMissAdventures I know! I want to be a tourist inside his brain —it must be a fascinating place! And I also want to do a side-by-side-by-side comparison to see where and when the narratives veer or shift. 1mo

Avanders I didn‘t know! Now {grabby hands} 1mo

sarahbarnes Mine is version C, too! I loved this one. I wonder what happens in the other versions. 1mo

64 likes1 stack add8 comments

DHill

Telephone | Percival Everett

May‘s #AuthorAMonth is one of my favorite authors. I‘m all in for Telephone.

@Soubhiville

48 likes

Hooked_on_books

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Most of the Everett books I‘ve read are somewhat steeped in the madcap, as though you can see the author with a manic glee in his eye while writing. This one is quieter, following a professor who seems to feel stunted in his work and marriage having to deal with a slow motion tragedy at home. I found it devastatingly sad. #ReadYourEbooks

Liz_M Which of the three versions did you read? I wanted to make this a book club book, without spoiling the secret, but there was not enough interest in the story itself.

https://lithub.com/on-percival-everetts-almost-secret-experiment-in-a-novel-in-t... 3mo

Hooked_on_books @Liz_M I got the one where he takes the women to urgent care after running out of gas. I had to dig through Litsy threads to find the other endings; I‘m sure they‘re elsewhere online, but I couldn‘t find them. An interesting experiment on his part! 3mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo

49 likes3 comments

CBee

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Just finished this odd book and honestly, I really liked it. Confusing? Yes. Occasionally hard to follow? Yup. Brain bending? Oh yeah. But it came together and I found the ending more satisfying than others (I got the “good” ending though so that helped 😂). Percival Everett is just 🤯

BarbaraBB Great review and so true! I just read the article you referred to. So cool! 1y

The_Penniless_Author I've never read a single Percival Everett novel, but I'm convinced I would love his stuff. Where would you recommend I start? 1y

Tamra I love how he makes the reader stretch! 1y

See All 10 Comments

CBee @The_Penniless_Author I think you‘d like him! Honestly, I‘ve only read The Trees and Telephone thus far, but I HAVE to recommend The Trees. He also has a new one called James, which reimagines Huck Finn from Jim‘s perspective. Can‘t wait to read that one! 1y

CBee @BarbaraBB thank you! The article helped me understand more about why he wrote it the way he did (thanks @SamAnne 😊). 1y

CBee @Tamra yes! And it somehow still makes sense in an odd way. 1y

SamAnne @cbee reading James right now and loving it. 1y

Billypar I'm reading Dr. No now - almost finished but yeah, I'm having a similar reaction as you. Very, very odd but I like it! 1y

CBee @SamAnne so happy to hear that! Can‘t wait to get to it. 1y

CBee @Billypar I think it‘s par for the course with him - odd, but good 😂 1y

75 likes1 stack add10 comments

notreallyelaine

Telephone | Percival Everett

I amused myself with the thought that people often make a point of declaring their uselessness in order to be helpful. I can‘t do anything, but I‘m here for you.

1 stack add

SamAnne

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

So different than The Trees. A professor struggles to come to terms with a young daughter dying of a progressive dementia disease. Ends up heading to New Mexico to save some Mexican women imprisoned in a sweat shop. It‘s about falling short for our loved ones, perhaps doing the best we can, are equipped to do. And looking for redemption. Everett‘s novels seem so wildly different from one another. I look forward to reading more.

Liz_M Now you have to figure out which version of Telephone you read! 2y

SamAnne @Liz_M wait— what??? 2y

SamAnne @Liz_M Hah! I just had to go look it up. I did not know about the 3 versions. https://lithub.com/on-percival-everetts-almost-secret-experiment-in-a-novel-in-t... 2y

See All 6 Comments

Liz_M 😁 I really tried to make this a book club book just to see if there was an effect on discussion.... 2y

LiteraryinPA Whoa, I had no idea! 2y

Tamra @SamAnne wow, so imaginative! 2y

62 likes6 comments

SamAnne

Telephone | Percival Everett

“People, and by people I mean them, never look for truth, they look for satisfaction. There is nothing worse, certain painful and deadly diseases not withstanding, than an unsatisfactory, piss-poor truth, whereas a satisfactory lie is all too easy to accept, even embrace, get cozy with, is a bit of all right.” Loving my next Percival Everett novel! #Firstlinefridays

Tamra I‘ve had this TBR for too long now! 2y

shadows In Iran almost every book face with censorship,of course if they could understand book's content...propaganda ( excuse me,my English language is not good) 2y

SamAnne @shadows yes, books get banned by people who have not read them. 2y

See All 6 Comments

SamAnne @Tamra I am engrossed in this one. I LOVED The Trees. This one is completely different. So far, a very poignant, beautiful novel, the main character a husband struggling with his daughter's terminal diagnosis. I want to read more Percival Everett. 2y

Tamra @SamAnne that does sound very different. I‘ve read he is a diverse writer. 2y

shadows Of course, but in Iran books banned by government more than people...many books will not republication because this books potentially could change people's minds...excuse me my comments not about this book. 2y

57 likes1 stack add6 comments

SamAnne

Telephone | Percival Everett

Next up! My craft whiskey sour kind of matches the book cover! A good omen.

Ruthiella I‘ll be interested to hear what you make of this one! The four books I have read have all been so different. 🤔 2y

SamAnne @Ruthiella I've only read The Trees, which gave me a total book hangover. I'm only 20 pages in, and I can tell I have no idea what ride I'm on! 2y

Tamra I‘ve wanted to read this for so long! 2y

72 likes1 stack add3 comments

CSeydel

Telephone | Percival Everett

Happy birthday @wanderinglynn !! And congratulations on your 300K, what an accomplishment 😃

#300Kbirthdaygiveaway

wanderinglynn Thank you! 😘 And thanks for entering! 2y

28 likes1 comment

KT1432

Telephone | Percival Everett

Eeeek!! I am SO excited about my #FallingForFallSwap box, thank you @rsteve388!! These are the perfect books that I‘ve had my eye on!! I‘m going to make some of the coffee in the morning before my meeting, the bookmark and magnet are awesome, and I‘ve never seen page pointers before but I love them already! Litsy friends find the coolest gadgets! Thank you for sharing a bit of Denver with the comfy socks that I will wear tonight! 💃🏽 #FFFS

Avanders

rsteve388 I am glad you like it. 3y

Avanders 🍁🍂♥️🫶🏽 love those socks!! 3y

34 likes2 comments

Qpri

Telephone | Percival Everett

so-so

Beautiful pieces of writing… but poorly strung together.
I‘d try another book by Percival Everett, so pls feel free to drop recommendations in the comments 😬

21 likes

cdreincarnate

Telephone | Percival Everett

so-so

A sad and frustrating book with an unsatisfying ending.

6 likes

Elias1

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Perfect!

3 likes

cdreincarnate

Telephone | Percival Everett

Ah, Sundays ☕️📖🌿🌞

2 likes

Pinta

Telephone | Percival Everett

“Selfishly, I saw my world as illusory, fragile, existing only because others allowed it to exist. I realized that I was ever awaiting such a moment of loss, that I was in fact daily resigned to death but had never resigned to life.”

Parental anxiety.

Protagonist Zach is indeed selfish but questioning, attempts a selfless grand gesture (or dreams it?).

Some great language play, even silly phrases like ”pack rat middens,” fun on the tongue.

4 likes

Pinta

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Percival Everett plays w/ form again, this time w/ three different possible endings & interstitial passages relating to art, geology, chess—like blips of character‘s interior monologue. Curmudgeonly prof Zach Wells fiercely loves his daughter who is dying of genetic neurological disease. Other female characters mostly stereotypes. Wells‘ pain & helplessness=precisely rendered, crushing. The inwardness of grief, guilt. Odd plot, but memorable. 2020

5 likes

kwmg40

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Loved this book from the #TournamentOfBooks, even though the ending (one of 3, apparently) was unexpected and abrupt. #tob21

I‘m finishing off this month‘s #20in4 readathon with a total of 13 hours and 40 minutes. Not as much as I hoped, but I did finish a few books! Thanks to @Andrew65 for the encouragement!

Andrew65 Fantastic 👏👏👏🙌🙌🍾🥂🍾🥂🥳🎉😊 4y

35 likes1 comment

sarahbarnes

Telephone | Percival Everett

So glad I‘m finally reading this book! 😊 ☀️

BarbaraBB Hope you‘ll enjoy it 🤍 4y

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I really love it! 4y

Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to this one too ❤️👍🏻 4y

See All 7 Comments

vivastory Hope that you're doing well! 4y

sarahbarnes Thank you @vivastory! I definitely feel like I‘ve hit a wall lately. But spring is here and I finally got a vax appointment. So things are looking up. 😃 Hope you‘re doing well! 4y

vivastory Happy to hear about the vaccine appointment! 👏👏I understand about hitting a wall. I hear you about spring. It seems like the weather here can't make up it's mind. 4y

sarahbarnes @vivastory so true about the weather! We‘ve had some nice days but next week more snow. It‘s par for the course this time of year here, too. 4y

29 likes1 stack add7 comments

Well-ReadNeck

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Percival Everett wrote and published three versions of this novel. Such an interesting idea. I enjoyed my version ... but now I want to read the other two! 😫

BarbaraBB If you scroll to @Cinfhen ‘s review of the book we‘ve discussed all three endings in the comments below it. (edited) 4y

Cathythoughts Three endings !! Oh no 🤦🏼‍♀️, I want to read this one , didn‘t realize this little detail 4y

Well-ReadNeck @BarbaraBB Thanks! I‘ll check that out! 4y

86 likes1 stack add3 comments

Readerann

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

I did like this, but it left me wanting...something. #ToB

BkClubCare Great discussion in the Tournament of Books. Look for The Morning News links. 😊📚 4y

Readerann @BkClubCare Yes, now that I‘ve finished I definitely want to read the ToB discussion! 4y

BarbaraBB If you scroll to @Cinfhen ‘s review of the book we‘ve discussed all three endings in the comments below it. 4y

Readerann @BarbaraBB Thank you! I was wondering how to find out what the other endings were. 🙏 4y

13 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

Telephone | Percival Everett

This is the #ToB21 at its best again, always surprising! The judge prefers Telephone over Shuggie Bain! In our #LitsyToB21 Shuggie is the winner, although some of us will be happy to see Telephone at least make it to the next round of the official Tournament: @vivastory @BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books and I voted for Percival Everett.

Megabooks, Cinfhen, cariashley, Well-ReadNeck, Kalalalatja, emilyhaldi, Readerann, kwmg40, Ruthiella, sarahbarnes, rsteve388

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books You have a perfect bracket so far! 👌🏽 4y

Cinfhen I‘m really surprised by the judges pick but after reading her verdict/ I totally agree!! I‘m excited to see Telephone advance in the “real” #ToB but kind of excited to see how our version will go. Good stuff 4y

Cinfhen Woohoo @Hooked_on_books 🥳🥳🥳 4y

See All 23 Comments

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I agree, she is so weight when pointing out that reading Shuggie once is ‘more than enough‘ while she can imagine reading Telephone again and keep discovering new things. I‘s sorry to see it go in our #LitsyToB21. I didn‘t even Zombie it! 4y

BarbaraBB Also I had to laugh out loud when someone in the comments came up with the term ‘misery-porn‘ in describing Shuggie. Exactly the word I had been looking for. (edited) 4y

Ruthiella I love it when there are upsets like this in the Tournament ! 😀 4y

vivastory I think that overall SB is a better book in some ways, but when you have won the MB you don't need anymore recognition. I definitely agree that I would probably never reread SB whereas Telephone really tempts me with the different outcomes. It's really in a way the perfect book club book. I really appreciated the adventurous spirit of Everett, even if it didn't always work out 4y

Megabooks I meant to change my vote to telephone. I continue to reflect on telephone in a way I don‘t with SB. 4y

BkClubCare Yes, I appreciate the judge‘s criteria for best book for a reread: Telephone all the way! It was “challenging” on many different levels. SB was challenging just to endure. 4y

Megabooks And yes, SB is definitely misery porn!! 4y

Kalalalatja I have a serious case of FOMO with Telephone, I really need to find it as an audio somewhere! 4y

Readerann Misery porn! Ha ha. I have Shuggie Bain on my desk so I will read it, but I‘m halfway through Telephone and liking it a lot. I‘m definitely not sorry to see it move on. And yay, @Hooked_on_books! 4y

Well-ReadNeck I have to admit, I haven‘t read Telephone, but after this verdict I‘ll definitely read (one version?!) of it before the next round!!!! 4y

BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja @Well-ReadNeck I hope you‘ll like it as much as I did when you get to it! 4y

Cathythoughts I must stack Telephone then 4y

sarahbarnes I‘m irrationally happy about this verdict given that I haven‘t read either one. 😂 But I was very biased toward Telephone and really need to get my hands on it soon! 4y

Hooked_on_books Really??? That‘s cool! I just went for my own preferences and actually would have filled it out differently if I was trying to guess what I thought the judges would pick. Apparently I should trust my own judgment! 😂 Thanks Barbara, @Cinfhen and @Readerann ! 🥳 4y

BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books - woot! 👏 4y

cariashley Wow, really surprised at this one but the judgment was spot on! I fell hard for Shuggie, but would never want to reread it - too painful. Telephone was so unique and while it went over my head a bit, it definitely made me think, so I get it. This really is quite the TOB this year, I‘m loving it. 4y

BarbaraBB @cariashley I love it because it is always unconventional! Like the judge says: Who am I to decide about the Booker winner? And yet she does 👌🏽 4y

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts You must, you‘ve loved Shuggie so much. Keep the judge‘s reasoning in mind though, the books couldn‘t be more different. 4y

kwmg40 Both these books are among the 5 I've not finished yet. I hope that I'll be able to finish at least one of them before the tournament is over. They both sound worthy, and it's nice that they'll both advance, one in the official ToB and one in our parallel ToB. 4y

BarbaraBB @kwmg40 I hope you‘ll get to Telephone 😉 4y

68 likes1 stack add23 comments

vivastory

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

“What if we just walked forever?“ I said.
Sarah turned to look at me.
“What if we never went back to our hotel or back home?“ I stepped forward to hold her hand. “What if we simply walked and walked forever?“
“To the horizon,“ Sarah said.“ “That would be perfect.“
The snow fell a little harder.

Forty-two year old professor of geology & paleobiology & family man, Zach Wells, is our narrator in Everett's latest novel. At the beginning of👇

vivastory Telephone Everett comes across as painfully honest & direct with his colleagues & students, causing minor tensions in his professional life. The real drama is when he discovers a mysterious note inside of a pre-owned jacket that he has purchased off of ebay. At the same time, his beloved daughter Sarah is beginning to have seizures & her vision is starting to fail. I found Telephone to be uneven. There are certain aspects that frankly just 4y

vivastory didn't work for me, esp a very dramatic scene in Paris. At times Telephone seemed to have a lot of moving parts & I'm amazed that Everett managed to resolve all of them in 200 pages. However, I loved the portrait of the relationship between Zach & Sarah. The way Everett portrayed the emotional devastation was memorable & as controversial as the three different endings might be, it felt like an enactment of the loss of memory that occurs during (edited) 4y

vivastory the story. This was my first Everett, it def. won't be my last. #tob21
Link to NY Times Article that speaks about the different endings. Includes images of 3 different covers:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/books/percival-everett-telephone.html (edited) 4y

See All 7 Comments

Megabooks What was your ending??? We‘ve all been comparing. 4y

vivastory @Megabooks In my ending Zach makes it to the border with the women, waves to the Mexican detective & it ends with him talking about how he saw the bear 🐻. I admit, for a second it made me think that maybe his rescue was a dream. Dreams played an important part in Telephone & the rescue itself involving a group of poets (when his wife is a poet) seemed to have the logic of dreams. I don't think it was, but I can see someone making a case that 👇 4y

vivastory @Megabooks he dreamt the entire rescue as he sat by his daughters side as she was dying. What was your ending? 4y

Ruthiella In my version, he has to stop at an Urgent Care because one of the rescued women is bleeding from a gunshot wound. He also mercy kills his daughter in mine. I like your idea that the rescue is a dream. For sure the novel is about our helplessness as humans and how it pains us. Fantasies of how we might have done differently helps us work through trauma. 4y

95 likes7 comments

BkClubCare

Telephone | Percival Everett

Second to last of my remaining #TOB21 books (not counting play-in round). I have Tender is the Flesh on order. #DogsofLitsy #EstherAssisting

21 likes1 stack add

vivastory

Telephone | Percival Everett

Thanks for the tag @truthinfiction
1) It's going to be a busy week at work, but I do plan on wrapping up the #tob21 shortlist with the tagged book & Breasts & Eggs.
2) Not at the moment. I've been thinking about adopting a cat.
3) Probably 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories. Several of my favorites could keep me company.
@Cupcake12 #MotivationalMonday
I'm a day late, but if you haven't posted yet, I tag you.

Cupcake12 Thank you for playing x 4y

49 likes1 comment

Cinfhen

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

F@CK!!! That ending 😡😩!!!Total #PetPeeve I can‘t stand #UnfinishedBusiness Damn!!! Not sure what to say/ loved this book until the author pulled that crap 😭 #ToB21 Its a pick with reservations

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Caroline2 Arghhhhhhh!!!! I HATE that!!! 😠 4y

Cinfhen Me too!! Im still pissed @Caroline2 3 hours later 😆 4y

BarbaraBB You‘re so right! The ending didn‘t live up to the rest of the book. I was pissed too. 4y

See All 56 Comments

Cinfhen Im JUST NOW remembering this book was written with three different endings!!! If you‘ve read the book please share your ending below 👇🏽 4y

Cinfhen Which ending did u get @BarbaraBB 4y

Megabooks Yeah my ending dropped it to a so-so. 4y

Cinfhen Did your book end with Zach showing up at an urgent care clinic @Megabooks @BarbaraBB before getting to Mexico?? (edited) 4y

Ruthiella I think the ending is the same in all three versions. The differences are more subtle and are in various places in the book. (edited) 4y

Cinfhen Hmmm @Ruthiella it‘s a cool idea but a little frustrating/ have u read this one?? 4y

Ruthiella Yeah. I read the same version as you, judging by the cover you showed. Barbara has a different version, I remember. I loved So Much Blue by Everett but was a little nonplussed by Telephone. 4y

BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Ruthiella @Cinfhen I have a different edition but as far as I remember the ending is the same. I read some articles about it. I enjoyed this book a lot but you are right Ruthiella about

So Much Blue: A Novel

Cinfhen The difference in the cover @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB is which direction the top compass is pointing/ it‘s very subtle and I had to really stare at each cover intently to see the difference. So perhaps the differences are just as subtle within the story. I‘ll have to read the book you both mentioned

So Much Blue: A Novel

cariashley I read the same version and also didn‘t like the ending - I kept flipping back and forth from that page to the acknowledgments saying what?!!? That‘s it?? I‘ve seen rave reviews about one of the other versions 😒 4y

Cinfhen I feel jipped @cariashley I‘m dying to know the other versions 4y

BkClubCare Oh dear 4y

Cinfhen I need to check out a bookstore @BkClubCare and see if I can find the other endings 😉 4y

BkClubCare @Cinfhen - yes! I will try to remember to do this when my next book order arrives. 🤩 4y

Cinfhen Keep me posted @BkClubCare #CuriousMindsNeedToKnow 😉 4y

BkClubCare @Cinfhen - just finished! I ... need to know how yours ended. ❓ 🧐 4y

Cinfhen @BkClubCare he gets the women into the bus but before he can cross the boarder the one who‘s been shot is in terrible shape so he stops at an urgent care and walks her in. 4y

BkClubCare @Cinfhen - testing, is the poisonous ☠️ invoke spoiler mode? 4y

BkClubCare @Cinfhen - yay! It does. So cool. OK. Whoa!!! I can see why that would be a exasperating. In mine, he makes it across the bridge and waves at the Mexican cop. I thought it a fine ending. I released a breathe I hadn‘t realized I was holding. The last page was odd. Titled “Rain”, the scene is looking out the window of their house, at their CA mountain scenery. But it‘s not raining. Approximately one paragraph. I assumed (?!) he made it home. 4y

Cinfhen Whoa! That‘s sooooooo cool....you had a different ending @BkClubCare I‘m tagging the others, who shared my ending.... by the way, what does that mean??? Rain, but it‘s not raining?! You‘re ending is so much more satisfying 😀 @cariashley @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB @Megabooks check out the above spoiler tag from @BkClubCare 4y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m pretty sure I had @BkClubCare ‘s ending, but I will have to double check when I get home! (edited) 4y

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare @cariashley @Ruthiella @Megabooks In mine he sees the Mexican cop at last, who talks to the border police and waves the women into their country. He stays behind, watching them and he remembers having seen a bear (last sentence)! (edited) 4y

Ruthiella @BkClubCare @BarbaraBB @cariashley @Megabooks @Cinfhen SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT ENDINGS? I like the other two better than mine and Cindy‘s. I would love to see the other version of the books, but don‘t want to buy them. But my library has no copy (yet at least). 4y

Cinfhen That is SO CRAZZZY @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella @BkClubCare @cariashley @Megabooks I wonder what the bear signifies??? And the rain???? What was the author trying to tell us!?!??? 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB @BkClubCare @cariashley @Ruthiella Mine is the one where she makes it across the bridge to the cop and they nod at each other. Then the last chapter is called Rain. It is raining AND they are looking for bears. @Cinfhen can you go into more detail about yours?? (edited) 4y

Cinfhen My book has him rescuing the girls @Megabooks but one gets shot while they are trying to flee, as he‘s driving the bus towards Mexico the women is getting weaker. He calls the cop to say he‘s going to be later than he hoped then he pulls up to an urgent care and enters with the women. That‘s literally how it ends. Am I right @Ruthiella The nurse at urgent care asks women‘s occupation and he states slave. I think that‘s the last line 4y

Cinfhen Actually the last line is “I looked across the parking lot. It was raining again.” @Megabooks 4y

Megabooks @Cinfhen fuck! That‘s terrible!!! I‘d be so pissed if I had that ending!! Your anger is justified!!! I much prefer bears and rain. Didn‘t know how good I had it. 😂 4y

Megabooks What is his hard on for rain? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

Ruthiella @Megabooks @Cinfhen Yes. But also interesting to note, it‘s raining too! Last line, “The clerk stared at me. I looked away, out the window, at the parking lot, at the moving cars. It was raining again.” 4y

Cinfhen I‘m not sure I get the rain reference at all??? Do you @Ruthiella @Megabooks @BkClubCare @BarbaraBB (edited) 4y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @Megabooks @BkClubCare @Ruthiella I don‘t have the rain reference. Just the bear which I don‘t get at all. But I am happy with the bear in relation to your ending Cindy. That really sucks. 4y

Ruthiella @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @BkClubCare @Megabooks Well, it could symbolize tears/sadness. Or maybe rejuvenation. But also sometimes a pipe is just a pipe. 🤔 4y

BkClubCare @Megabooks - right? I really enjoyed this but what really is the point of different endings? (And if it is to have a small group of dedicated readers have THIS discussion - I am good with that 🤣) 4y

BkClubCare Bears signify a challenge that you must deal with (in dreams) and rain can symbolize sadness. 4y

BkClubCare When Zach sees the bear at the care facility but his daughter cannot see/process the bear and share in the experience of seeing the bear, Zach realizes (or wants) it just to be over. It is a challenge to keep “living”. 4y

BkClubCare Rain: the Rain title but no rain in the scene (but looking for rain AND BEARS?) means that “Life” is learning to deal with and realizing that life will always have rain and bears. Maybe? 4y

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare I think you‘re on to something with these explanations, they are quite plausible. Like you I‘m not sure what Everett wanted to accomplish with these different endings, but I like this discussion! One more question: why the title Telephone?? @Megabooks @Ruthiella @Cinfhen (edited) 4y

Cinfhen I think the title Telephone signifies that children‘s game where you whisper a secret in someone‘s ear and it‘s then passed down a line each person whispering what they thought they heard until the last person repeats the “secret” out loud. The object is to see if words get changed in the process. So perhaps the point of the novel and the multiple endings is to see how/where things can get muddled or become lost @BarbaraBB @BkClubCare @Ruthiella 4y

Cinfhen See above @Megabooks ♥️ 4y

Cinfhen I love your ideas @BkClubCare @Ruthiella about bears and rain ~ I had forgotten his daughter‘s inability to see the bear @Megabooks @BarbaraBB 4y

Cinfhen When Zach leaves to rescue the women it seems to indicate his daughter is still alive but she doesn‘t recognize her parents any longer / right?? See, im forgetting already!!@BkClubCare @Megabooks @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB 4y

Megabooks First, y‘all remember a lot more than I do! This is 60 books ago to me. 😂 Second I think both @BkClubCare and @Cinfhen are on to something with the symbolism and title!! I had not though about that with the title, Cindy!! 👍🏻 @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella 4y

Cinfhen I‘d love a sit down with the author @Megabooks @Ruthiella @BkClubCare @BarbaraBB there‘s a lot going on in this slim little book 4y

BarbaraBB Very good thought Cindy and it explains the different endings ☎️ I‘d love that sir down too! 4y

BkClubCare @Cinfhen - oh yea. I forgot to wonder about the book title. ☎️📞 4y

kwmg40 I just finished Telephone and thought I‘d come here to read about the other endings. My copy had the ending that most readers seemed to hate, but I loved the book all the same! 4y

Cinfhen The different endings definitely makes for interesting discussions @kwmg40 I wish Telephone would‘ve gone further in the #ToB21 4y

Suet624 I just finished reading this novel and really enjoyed all of the discussion in this post. ❤️ 3y

Cinfhen Did u enjoy the book @Suet624 ?? Which ending did you get?? 3y

Suet624 I did enjoy it. My version was @BarbaraBB‘s version. 3y

CBee @BarbaraBB @megabooks and anyone else interested (don‘t have time to tag all of you at moment), @SamAnne shared this article and it helped me: https://lithub.com/on-percival-everetts-almost-secret-experiment-in-a-novel-in-t... Just finished this and luckily didn‘t get the infuriating ending 😂😂 1y

BarbaraBB That is a super interesting article @CBee @SamAnne I didn‘t know there was more to it than the three different endings! 1y

89 likes1 stack add56 comments

Cinfhen

Telephone | Percival Everett

Just read the first chapter! Im totally in 💯 #ToB21 I‘m sad it‘s up against Shuggie Bain 😩

Megabooks, vivastory, BarbaraBB

Kalalalatja Some of the pairings in #ToB are so tough 😫 4y

Cinfhen Have you read this one @Kalalalatja ?? I know/ I‘m so sad that some of my favorites are up against each other... are u planning on reading the play-ins?? I wasn‘t going to but maybe I will if I can #BorrowNotBuy 4y

Kalalalatja I haven‘t, I can‘t find it on audio, and libraries are still closed here 😫 I have read The Resisters, and really liked it, but haven‘t read the other two. I have found them on audio, though, so I might give them a go 4y

See All 6 Comments

Cinfhen I had to buy the kindle version @Kalalalatja it was my ONLY option 4y

vivastory I'm *really* looking forward to reading this one. I plan on reading Down Days next. Afterwards I believe the only ones I'll have left are Breasts & Eggs & Telephone. 4y

Cinfhen Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on both books @vivastory 4y

87 likes1 stack add6 comments

cariashley

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Was not prepared for how devastatingly sad this was. How is this author so under-read? I liked this a lot but can‘t help but wonder if I would have felt more satisfied if I‘d read a different version (there are three versions, each with a different ending - fascinating publishing concept in itself). Book 8 of 18 for this year‘s #TOB21 done.

Cinfhen What a cool concept. Definitely intrigued #stacked 4y

58 likes2 stack adds1 comment

emilyhaldi

Telephone | Percival Everett

This really speaks to me 😆

LeahBergen Yep. 😆 4y

Reviewsbylola 😂😂 I can‘t tell whether I agree or find it a tad too pessimistic. 4y

Megabooks Great quote! I‘m still thinking about this book. 4y

See All 9 Comments

batsy Same 😂 4y

BarbaraBB I hope you like the book. I did enjoy it a lot although the ending felt a bit hasty. 4y

LeahBergen Happy Birthday, my friend! I hope you have a lovely day! 📚❤️📚❤️ 4y

batsy Happy birthday! Have a fabulous one 🎈🧁📚📚 4y

emilyhaldi Thank you both sweet friends!!! ❤️ @LeahBergen @batsy 4y

cariashley I just started this and SAME. Happy belated! 4y

81 likes9 comments

KatieB

Telephone | Percival Everett

so-so

I loved the writing (how have I not heard of this author?) and felt very connected to the characters but the story was just a so-so for me. This is not the book I wanted for those characters. The ending was also disappointed. One of the 2 storylines was wrapped up but not the one I wanted. I have heard that different versions of this book have different endings so maybe I was just unlucky?! I will definitely read another book from this author

BarbaraBB I felt the same, I loved the characters but the wrap up was a bit disappointing. I thought only the covers differed but I am not sure. 4y

13 likes1 comment

Megabooks

Telephone | Percival Everett

so-so

At its heart, this novel is about a father who wants to save someone, anyone while daughter dies from a genetic disease. He can‘t face his own reality, so he intrudes, welcome or unwelcome, on others. However, the author left some unresolved characters scattershot through MC Zach‘s wake. That was frustrating. A lot of underdeveloped potential here. Still, I‘m glad I read it. Just under a pick. #tob

Cinfhen, Kalalalatja, vivastory, BarbaraBB

Megabooks #bookspinbingo sq 4 @TheAromaofBooks this is my #doublespin 🎉🥳 4y

Cinfhen I think I‘m gonna take a pass 🙄too many other books I‘d rather read 4y

BarbaraBB Great review. I see what you mean regarding the plot but I am willing to forgive Everett anything because of the way he writes 😊 4y

See All 13 Comments

Megabooks @Cinfhen I can see that but you‘ve been a reading machine so far this year!! Great job!! 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB true. There were so many wonderful details, especially those touches between sections. It‘s such a well planned book in some ways that I originally thought 3.5⭐️, but on reflection, the details made the unresolved issues more frustrating. I understand it could be, and probably is, purposeful, but that doesn‘t mean I have to like it. 4y

Cinfhen Now I‘m curious as you and @BarbaraBB discuss the merits... I‘ll keep my eyes out for it as a #BorrowNotBuy 😂 4y

Megabooks @Cinfhen it would be a good one to watch for borrowing or a kindle deal. I can see both my and Barbara‘s perspectives. It‘s a thoughtful book in a lot of ways. 4y

Kalalalatja Interesting review. I‘m not rushing to read it, but I‘ll definitely try to get to it before March 👍 4y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y

Megabooks @Kalalalatja yeah, I think read Barbara‘s review for a counterpoint. She is correct that after 30 books there are things he is a master at. 4y

Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks yesssss!! 👍🏻👍🏻 4y

vivastory Thanks for tagging me! I definitely plan on reading this one soon. I haven't read Everett yet & am curious 4y

Megabooks @vivastory I hope you enjoy it. It was well written but I found it frustrating. Still trying to decide if that‘s good or bad. Have a nice week. 4y

107 likes13 comments

Megabooks

Telephone | Percival Everett

My new headlamp for reading at night with paperbacks. I swear it‘s not as disturbingly bright as it appears! Night everyone, unless it‘s morning or afternoon where you are, then I wish you a happy Saturday. ❤️

BarbaraBB I am sorry you are sleeping so little lately. I know the view though, I often read by the light of a flashlight app on my phone. Listening to podcasts also helps me to fall asleep 😴 4y

Cathythoughts Happy Saturday 😘 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB I‘m sleeping a lot during the day, unfortunately. 4y

See All 7 Comments

Megabooks @Cathythoughts Thanks! 4y

Anna40 Where did you buy it? Was it expensive? 4y

Megabooks @Anna40 Amazon. They had 2 for $14. It isn‘t fancy, but it‘s lightweight, works well, is rechargeable, and has an adjustable spotlight. I just checked and this exact one is no longer available, but there are similar ones there now. 4y

Anna40 Great! Thanks 4y

112 likes7 comments

Megabooks

Telephone | Percival Everett

I had a long day out, but it‘s always good to come home to some blame-it-on- @BarbaraBB #bookmail! ❤️😘

Now to finish We Ride Upon Sticks...

#tob #tob2021

BarbaraBB It‘s another good one! 5y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I started some nonfiction atm, but I think I‘m going to start the year with fiction. Still finalizing my bookspin list, though! 4y

BarbaraBB Looking forward to it! 4y

94 likes1 stack add3 comments

BarbaraBB

Telephone | Percival Everett

#BookReport 51/20

It has been the week that I wished for. So much time to read. The highlights were both the #ToB21 books. Another week of reading ahead.

Cinfhen

Cinfhen Ohhhhhh, one of those books looks #SuperChunky 😱 I‘m excited to read

Interior Chinatown: A Novel

squirrelbrain A great week! I also have Interior Chinatown on my TBR.... 5y

Kalalalatja Glad you had a good week! 5y

See All 7 Comments

TrishB A good week definitely 👍🏻 5y

Megabooks Fantastic week!! 5y

rockpools Wonderful! You might have thrown me slightly though - I had no idea it was Saturday 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5y

BarbaraBB It is, isn‘t it @rockpools ? I start to doubt it now 🤣 5y

65 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Part western, part campus novel, but mostly a heartbreaking book of a father losing his daughter. Reproaching himself for not being able to safe her, professor Zach Wells is determined to safe some Mexican women kept hostage in a clothing warehouse in New Mexico.
I am becoming a real fan of Everett and this book is my favorite of the #ToB21 shortlist so far. ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB Also it is interesting that Everett published three versions of the novel (the covers vary slightly). I am eager to know the differences! 5y

Kalalalatja Okay, that does sound pretty cool! 5y

Ruthiella We will have to compare notes when I read it. The difference is in the position of the compass in the red/brown circle on the cover. My copy is different from yours I noticed! 5y

See All 15 Comments

LeahBergen Oh, that sounds cool! I want to know how they differ now. 🤔 5y

vivastory I should be getting this in the next few days. Will definitely be making it a priority after this review! 5y

Megabooks Okay, you‘ve convinced me. #stacked! 5y

BarbaraBB @Ruthiella @LeahBergen @Kalalalatja It is intriguing! I see that @CindyE09 (review below mine) has a different cover too if you compare the upper compasses. (edited) 5y

BarbaraBB @vivastory I think it‘s your kind of book too but keep in mind it‘s only my fourth book of the shortlist so far! (edited) 5y

BarbaraBB @Megabooks It‘s the least I could do 😉. Have you read any of his books? He write so good. 5y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB no I have not! I‘m interested to see what I think of my first. 👍🏻 5y

batsy So glad for your positive review! I really want to read this and didn't know that it has several different variations. That's so cool; he's an amazing writer. 5y

BarbaraBB @batsy He really is, he gets under my skin in a positive way. I haven‘t read much of him though. Do you have a recommendation except for So Much Blue - that I read and loved? (edited) 5y

batsy @BarbaraBB Haha, no! That's the only one I've read, too, and I've deemed him an amazing writer just based on that one 🙈 5y

BarbaraBB @batsy Me too and I was afraid I‘d have too high expectations for this one but he easily lived up to them! 5y

sarahbarnes This is one on the shortlist that I‘m really intrigued by. Your review makes me even more excited to read it! 4y

80 likes3 stack adds15 comments

CindyE09

Telephone | Percival Everett

pick

Super sad but moving novel about a university professor whose 12 year old daughter is diagnosed with a terminal neurological degenerative disorder. This is the second novel I have read from Everett and I think he is a really underrated author. His writing is beautiful and poignant and I want to start to read some of his immense backlog. Highly recommend this one, be prepared to cry a little.

BarbaraBB I read another Everett that I loved and ever since meant to read more by him. Thanks for bringing this up! #stacked

So Much Blue: A Novel

(edited) 5y

CindyE09 @BarbaraBB That is the other novel of his that I read and really enjoyed. I liked this one even better though. 5y

BarbaraBB That is quite a recommendation! Thanks! 5y

96 likes8 stack adds3 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books