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The Spare Room
The Spare Room: A Novel | Helen Garner
A powerful, witty, and taut novel about a complex friendship between two womenone dying, the other called to care for herfrom an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author How much of ourselves must we give up to help a friend in need? Helen has little idea what lies aheadand what strength she must musterwhen she offers her spare room to an old friend, Nicola, who has arrived in the city for cancer treatment. Skeptical of the medical establishment, and placing all her faith in an alternative health center, Nicola is determined to find her own way to deal with her illness, regardless of the advice Helen offers. In the weeks that follow, Nicola's battle for survival will turn not only her own life upside down but also those of everyone around her. The Spare Room is a magical gem of a bookgripping, moving, and unexpectedly funnythat packs a huge punch, charting a friendship as it is tested by the threat of death.
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merelybookish
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Spent my Saturday puttering away at a puzzle and house hold chores while listening to this beautiful honest heartbreaking book about friends facing (or not facing) death and dying. It's short but packs a wallop. A reminder to hug your friends, even when they're pissing you off.

vivastory The older I get the more relatable I find the word “puttering.“ The book sounds great. I know Garner has been mentioned a few times on Backlisted. 13mo
merelybookish @vivastory I heard about her on another podcast. Apparently her journals are good. 13mo
CarolynM Garner is an amazing writer. Her fiction is mostly closely based on events in her life (including this book) and it‘s fabulous. She‘s also written nonfiction in the form of journal articles and a couple of true crime books as well as a very controversial book about a sexual harassment case. Her journals are her most recent publication. She‘s such a good writer, she really is worth seeking out. @vivastory 13mo
BarbaraBB Your review and the comments make me stack ❤️ 13mo
68 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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Someday I want a spare room, with an antique wardrobe and a lantern just in case.
( @BriannaT your post reminded me of this wish)
Anyone else have an oddly bookish “Someday” to share or post about? I wish I had my grandmas wardrobe- I used to check it all the time….

Allylu I have a wardrobe in my bedroom, but it isn't nearly as lovely as this one - and there is no back door to Narnia there, sadly. 2y
ravenlee My kiddo is reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and said she wants to start checking closets. I told her generations of kids have gone exploring in closets and wardrobes and her eyes got really big, like she couldn‘t believe anyone else had ever thought of it. 😆 2y
RaeLovesToRead Feet floofs 😍😺 2y
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BriannaT I love the Narnia wardrobe! I always wanted a bookshelf that had one book that would trigger a secret door, Scooby-Doo style. 2y
Ruthiella Ooh, I‘m with @BriannaT ! I‘d love a library with a bookshelf that leads to a secret passageway. The house where I took piano lessons had a cupboard that was a secret door to one of the bedrooms, which I thought was super cool as a kid. 2y
Richryan52 Holmes fan? I hope 2y
80 likes6 comments
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CindiB
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Pickpick

There is so much here in this novella - love, fear, anger, desperation, guilt, & horror. What we give, what we take, & the results these leave. This book is about friendship, cancer, & caring for a friend. The prose is lovely & vivid. It throbs with life & tension. Helen Garner is an Australian writer & I chose her as part of my ABC Countries reading project. A=Australia. Garner is a find & I will search for more of her writing. 4/5

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LapReader
The Spare Room | Helen Garner
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Pickpick

More op shop finds. While I‘m not a huge fan of Marilynne‘s writing I can‘t resist a book named after my niece. I‘m giving Kate Grenville another go too as I‘m still not sure about her either.

CarolynM I'm not a fan of Kate Grenville. I've tried two of her books but couldn't make it through either of them . 4y
LapReader Which ones @CarolynM 4y
CarolynM The Idea of Perfection and The Secret River. Very different subject matter. I think I just don't like her writing. 4y
Rissreads I have not read any of Kate Grenville. I have The secret river on my tbr shelf. I will get to it one day! 4y
41 likes4 comments
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mimsickle
Panpan

An uncomfortable predicament. I felt for the friends in this, both of them, we all have friends like this but the bitterness in it made it a difficult one to be sympathetic to

Rissreads I liked this one. Difficult subject matter. 4y
1 like1 comment
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erzascarletbookgasm
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I saw good reviews on Litsy for this book and stacked it. Now a lovely Litten has gifted me this for my birthday. 😊
What a pleasant surprise, Carolyn! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 😙❤️
#littensarethebest

Crazeedi This sounds good! Adding! 5y
TrishB Lovely 💕 5y
CarolynM Glad it has reached you. I'm always happy to spread the love for Helen Garner - hope you enjoy the book😘 5y
erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM 🤗thank you for introducing a new-to-me Australian author. 5y
tammysue Aww how sweet of her! 💕Added 5y
78 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Joanne1
Pickpick

This is Avery short book (or audiobook) but true to Garner‘s style is full on humanity and the flaws that come with being human. It kept me occupied for a while on my 16 hour flight which was good because I definitely didn‘t sleep.

CarolynM Enjoy your travels. I look forward to seeing some photos and hearing what you are doing🙂 5y
35 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

Garner writes with brutal honesty about what it‘s like to care for a friend who is dying and in denial about death. She paints the love and the rage, the helplessness and the guilt - all the emotions. And she does it without brutalizing the reader. I need to check out her other books.

Reviewsbylola This sounds like a very thoughtful book and has a lot of Litsy love. Stacking. ❤️ 5y
CouronneDhiver Would you recommend this to someone who is in early stages of grieving? It might be a good gift for a friend... 5y
CarolynM She is a great writer. 5y
67 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Lcsmcat
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I woke up to as close to a #winterwonderland as we get around here, so I‘m going to read more of the tagged book. #seasonsreadings @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

saresmoore Wow! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful ❄️ 5y
72 likes2 comments
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Lcsmcat
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1. Clean out my closet;
2. Christmas shopping, & prep for job interview;
3. All the cookies!
4. Tagged;
5. @aniriya , come join the fun!
#friyayintro @howjessreads
5

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Lcsmcat
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I started this book today and it‘s a nice change from the fluff I just finished for book club. I picked it up at a library sale and see it‘s got some Litsy love. #currentlyreading

emilyhaldi I loved this one 💔 brutal though 5y
CarolynM Helen Garner is such a good writer and such great and compassionate observer of people. There is a collection of her journalism that is just fabulous (edited) 5y
Lcsmcat @CarolynM That looks interesting! Thanks for sharing. 5y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Rissreads
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#ozfiction
I really enjoyed this book.
It is tough subject matter. I liked how brutally honest it is about caring for loved ones when they are dying. It shows how human we all are in not always thinking and behaving in the expected way.
This is my first Helen Garner book and it won‘t be my last.

MrsMalaprop 👏 Glad you are coming over to the Garner side ☺️. 5y
LapReader I ❤️Helen. 5y
Jeg 👏👏 I love her books , hope you get to also. 😍😍😍 5y
22 likes3 comments
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shawnmooney
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Opening paragraph. Absolutely smitten with this after having just finished chapter 1!

emilyhaldi Ooohhhh this is a good one 💙 5y
JennyM This is most definitely a good read. Enjoy! 5y
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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McFarchie
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Just started this on audio 🤘🏼

JennyM Oh I loved this one! Enjoy 5y
48 likes1 comment
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emilyhaldi
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Pickpick

I loved this short, poignant look at friendship through the lens of a women caring for her sick friend who is in the final stages of her life. Garner explores a lot of tricky / taboo feelings in a very direct manner and her writing is a pleasure to read.
#booked2018
#friendship

Leftcoastzen Sounds interesting and what a lovely cover. 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage A little bit of a sad choice. But still, check another off the list! 🙌🏻 6y
LeeRHarry Aussie legend - great writing! 😊 6y
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BarbaraBB Another one that sounds real good! 6y
Cinfhen This sounds sooooo sad 6y
ephemeralwaltz Sounds great!! Thanks for sharing. 6y
Reviewsbylola Pretty cover. 😍 6y
Mdargusch So nice to check another book off your list! ✅ 6y
CarolynM Helen Garner is pretty special. ❤️ 6y
batsy What a pretty cover. 6y
alisiakae Beautiful cover, and heart-rending description! 💕 6y
118 likes8 stack adds11 comments
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emilyhaldi
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tammysue 💗 6y
SilversReviews GREAT photo!! 6y
Kalalalatja I love your chair! And your pic 👌 6y
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LauraBeth 👏👏👏👏 6y
LeahBergen Ooo! Pretty! 😍 6y
Cinfhen Was getting ready to post a very similar sentiment 💋🙌🏻beautiful photo ~ nice book selections 6y
LeeRHarry Yay Helen Garner! 6y
Reviewsbylola Ooooh Murder in The City looks promising. 🌃 🔪 6y
everlocalwest I love Wolitzer but Belzhar and I did not get along. Very curious to hear your thoughts! 6y
monalyisha @everlocalwest That‘s interesting to hear! It‘s been on my TBR forever & I love her, too! 6y
128 likes10 comments
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emilyhaldi
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I'm not sure whether to celebrate or #cryinshame over my newest #bookoutlet haul 🤦🏻‍♀️ I do feel that I exercised some impressive self control! On the other hand, it could be said that I have a problem...
#marchintooz

Tanisha_A That's a good problem! 😀 6y
britt_brooke 😆 6y
Cinfhen Well done 👍🏻 well played 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
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LeahBergen I was so impressed with myself for avoiding this sale ... and then I ordered 3 books from Book Depository. 😆 6y
Kalalalatja #NoShame 🙅‍♀️💃💃 6y
Reviewsbylola You have a problem for sure. 🤣🤣🤣 6y
92 likes1 stack add6 comments
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EnidBiteEm
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Pickpick

I read everything this woman writes (well, that is published. I'm not a stalker. Although, fortunately for her fans, some of her journal entries were published this year in Everwhere I Look 😍). This is a 'novel' but details the frustrations Helen faces when caring for her terminally-ill friend. Coincidentally, Garner also did this in real-life. This book won three awards 💕#booktober #awardwinning #aussieauthors #australianlit

Zelma Ooh, moving up my TBR. I have had this on my TBR forever and really need to make time for it. 7y
EnidBiteEm @Zelma Great. I'm glad I could twist your rubbery arm 😀 Have you read any of Garner's others? I love her writing style. It is direct and unflinching. I think some writers create worlds, and some write to seek the truth. Garner is definitely a truth-seeker. 7y
Zelma @EnidBiteEm ha, I didn't put up much of a fight on that one! I haven't read anything by her but your review intrigues me immensely. She sounds fantastic. 7y
EnidBiteEm @Zelma She's definitely one of my all-time favourites. 7y
Lindy My book club had a memorable discussion of this some years ago. I've been wanting to read more Helen Garner ever since. 7y
37 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Fernoppy
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Pickpick

She makes telling a story so straight forward - even with such a hard topic. I love her honesty about the anger and exhaustion and frustrations that go along with being a carer, even on a temporary basis.