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A Children's Bible
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
17 posts | 19 read | 19 to read
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Sweettartlaura
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

This book is …
How I feel about the generation before me.
How I feel about the people who gave up trying to stop COVID after the first couple weeks.
How I feel myself separating from our current status quo. I would love to ditch 99% of the world and start over with the few who get it.
It‘s a breakthrough in the relationship between science & faith.
It‘s disturbing, and unsettling, and hopeful all at once. Just like every great Millet novel.

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vlwelser
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

This was really good even if it does sort of fizzle out at the end. This is sort of a post-apocalyptic climate disaster tale with the bible as inspiration. That sounds dreadful but it's really well done. It was on Roxane Gay's recommendation list for books that came out in 2020. I generally like the books she picks so I gave this a shot though I normally would have passed.

#BookSpin done!
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
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Kazzie
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
Pickpick

This was weird but good. Modern day parallels to biblical stories (Noah‘s Ark, birth in a barn). Odd dynamic between children and parents

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BarbaraBB
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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#BookReport 07/21

It was a week filled with #ToB21 books (and yes, a #ReadingAsia2021 one). The shortlist really is so good this year, all books feel unique even if I don‘t like all of them as much. My favorite this week and probably of the Tournament is Transcendent Kingdom. I can‘t wait to see with what Yaa Gyasi will come up next 💜

squirrelbrain A good week! 3y
Cinfhen Fabulous week 💜 3y
Megabooks Great week! TK is my second favorite of the field! 3y
See All 19 Comments
Kalalalatja What a week! 🙌 3y
vivastory @Megabooks What's your first favorite? Memorial & TK are currently tied for first for me 3y
Megabooks @vivastory I voted for Breasts and Eggs and TK for the zombie round. I bailed on Tender (although Cindy filled me in. I just didn‘t want to own it and had no way to borrow) and Deacon (may try again). Funny they‘re going against each other! I loved IC as well, but it already won the NBA. Honestly, I think TK has a real shot. That, and The Vanishing Half, which I though was on the good side of mediocre, so I‘d rather have TK. What are you thinking? 3y
Megabooks @vivastory as far as realistic winners Memorial was a disappointment for me because I loved Lot so much. I may try Memorial again. I‘ve kept it, but I think I need to be more in the right mindset. 3y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I didn‘t know of the existence of Lot. On the wishlist it goes! (edited) 3y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks And I agree on Vanishing. Mediocre. I loved B&E too but somehow it didn‘t stick with me after I read it. I‘m now rooting for TK and IC. 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I really enjoyed Lot. Half the stories were stand alone and half were part of a larger narrative. Waugh (a stand alone) was beyond excellent! 3y
vivastory I was def. disappointed by Vanishing Half. The longer that passes since I've read it, the less I remember it. Deacon is still probably my least favorite.. as far as the ones I'm currently rooting for the most: Transcendent Kingdom, Memorial & Piranesi. I liked Shuggie & IC more than Piranesi, but since they both won awards I'm rooting for one that hasn't. My top 2 are definitely TK & Memorial. But I still need to read Telephone & Breasts & Eggs 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB B&E, TK, and IC were all best of the month choices for me last year. I‘d love it if any of them won! I‘d have to look more carefully at the list to do an exact order, but those are at the top. Sharks, Piranesi, and Bible (possibly Shuggie - too soon too tell) are second tier for me, only because they have stuck with me more. The others are the bottom half. 3y
vivastory I wasn't aware that half of Lot is linked stories. Def adding to my TBR! 3y
vivastory @Megabooks @BarbaraBB Honestly the list is so strong this year that there's only I think 3 books that could win that would really disappoint me 3y
Megabooks @vivastory I thought Piranesi was great. The more time goes by, the more I appreciate it. Definitely a solid top half choice for me. Creative, very memorable book. See last answer ⬆️ for other thoughts. 3y
Megabooks @vivastory it is strong! For sure one of their best years! Most years I don‘t want to read all the main picks, but so glad I (almost) have this time! I hope you enjoy Lot!! 3y
vivastory I 💯 agree with you on your second tier choices 👏👏 3y
Megabooks @vivastory 👍🏻👍🏻 awesome! 3y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks @vivastory The shortlist is extremely strong indeed. I have to ‘kill some darlings‘ which I definitely would have voted for in any other year. Memorial and Telephone come to mind. And Tender is the Flesh. I loved all three of them. Oh and Piranesi of course. Too many! Such luxury. The only ones disappointed for me were Vanishing and Leave the World Behind. I still have Sticks to read though. 3y
73 likes19 comments
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BookishTrish
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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So far loving the way Evie luxuriates in cynicism and parental neglect #audiostitching

BarbaraBB I loved that part too, the wittiness and sarcasm! 3y
47 likes1 comment
review
BarbaraBB
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Mehso-so

During a multi family vacation a bunch of kids is frustrated by their extremely self centered parents. Parents who have ruined the planet and don‘t care at all about the well-being of their kids. With a lot of humor Millet writes about the kids creating their separate reality until an environmental disaster reaches them. Millet seems to get lost in her own story. ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB New people and situations are introduced halfheartedly and leave me with many questions and a bit disappointed. #ToB21 3y
Ruthiella Agree. The first half felt like an intense YA novel and then the second half had me scratching my head... Who was the old woman-deus ex machina-? Where‘d the adults go? Some sort of rapture? Why is Jack sick and in bed at the end? 3y
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Yes! And why that Governor? And what about the baby‘s father? And especially that owner of the house indeed. Who was she? Such a mess! 3y
See All 16 Comments
Readerann Yeah, I think I‘ll give this one a miss. 3y
Kalalalatja Completely agree! 3y
BarbaraBB @Readerann How many have you read so far? 3y
Reggie I think the owner of the house was supposed to be God. She comes and collects her angels. There‘s a lot of biblical reference in here. And I‘m pretty sure I missed a lot of them. The main characters name was Eve. I ended up liking it. 3y
BarbaraBB @Reggie I didn‘t think of that, but you‘re right I think. I tag @Ruthiella because she was wondering too. Any idea who the Governor was? A biblical reference too? 3y
sarahbarnes Thanks for this review. I‘ve been unsure about reading this one, and you are assuring me that I‘m probably not missing anything major. 😂 3y
Reggie I have no idea. It almost made me want to take a Bible as literature class, though, lol. 3y
Reggie I was also with @Ruthiella wondering why Jack was sick and dying in the end. 3y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I did really like it but the last 25 percent or so was a mess. All fell apart. Still it makes for a good discussion! 3y
BarbaraBB @Reggie Yes, that ending was too sudden and too vague. I tried to find a biblical association but couldn‘t. 3y
emilyhaldi Hot mess indeed! 3y
Readerann @BarbaraBB I‘m only on my 3rd, but have also read a few from the longlist that didn‘t make the cut. What about you? 3y
BarbaraBB @Readerann I‘ve read 14 of the shortlist! Almost going with Transcedent Kingdom and then only one more to go. I am definitely going to read more of the longlisted books too! 3y
78 likes16 comments
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emilyhaldi
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Panpan

Nope 🙅🏻‍♀️
If I had known the premise of this book I would never have picked it up at all... just doesn‘t work for me!
#tofb

Lindy Too bad. I thought it was great! To each her own… 3y
emilyhaldi I know so many loved it! @Lindy but I know what I like and this ain‘t it 😆 I‘m glad you enjoyed! 3y
Kalalalatja I wouldn‘t have picked it up if it wasn‘t for the #ToB21, either 3y
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB It‘ll probably be my next read #ToB21 book but your review is another one quite discouraging. 3y
BarbaraBB By the way those playlists are awesome 💃 3y
emilyhaldi So many people loved this one @BarbaraBB so it could just be me... The Bible references just didn‘t help me get past the outlandish premise 😏 I‘m glad you‘re enjoying the playlists!!! 🎶🎶🎶 3y
Reviewsbylola I do like post apocalyptic novels a lot but this sounds a bit preachy. 3y
Cinfhen This was weird AF and it DID get preachy @Reviewsbylola / at least it was short 3y
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cariashley
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

I don‘t know whether I really liked this book but I definitely appreciated it. The apathetic tone keeps the traumatic events at arm‘s length, and the pace moves so swiftly it‘s hard to take it all in. But that‘s all clearly intentional, and it somehow works. Worth reading, but bleak. #TOB21 book 9 done! And impulsively decided to do #24in48 - it can only help with getting me through the rest of these TOB books! 😅

BarbaraBB This one I hope to read this week too! 3y
cariashley @BarbaraBB definitely interested to hear what you think! 3y
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Jilly6183
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

This is my second “end of days” book this month. Climate change predictably fucks us over. Simply put, the parents are depressed and self-medicating and the kids are pissed. At their parents for being crappy parents, but also at their parents‘ generation (and the ones before) for ruining the planet. It was very oversimplified in so many ways (like this review, TBH), but it was a fast read and I enjoyed it well enough.

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ReadingEnvy
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Mehso-so

This novel starts with a multi-family vacation on the coast, with parents that are a bit absentee and children who talk like they have PhDs. A storm comes and along the way it starts to become clear that these are not normal times or circumstances, and it rolls over into an apocalypse journey/survival tale. If the tone of this post comes across as unimpressed, that is an accurate interpretation. ↘️

ReadingEnvy Add the wandering tropes to heavy handed allegory (a girl named Eve, saving animals, a flood, a discussion of knowledge) and this was just not a great read for me. 3y
Erinreadsthebooks Same here 🙋‍♀️ 3y
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vivastory
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

As far as authors that are new to me in 2020, there is nobody I have more conflicting feelings about than Lydia Millet. Children's Bible is my second Millet, my first in June was Sweet Lamb of Heaven. A group of pre-adolescent & adolescents are on summer vacation with their parents. The children, largely ignored by their parents, are left to fend for themselves. A hurricane & its aftermath causes several of the children, including the narrator👇

vivastory to separate from their parents. There's much I loved about this novel about generational conflict; especially the anger of the younger generation towards their parents for their culpability in environmental destruction. Children's Bible begins in a memorably quirky way & I wasn't really sure what direction Millet would take the narrative after the ominous beginning. There is humor throughout the book from the dialogue & some of the observations (edited) 3y
vivastory Yet, yet...just as she did in Sweet Lamb of Heaven there is a plot line that is extremely jarring. It'd be like getting a soda refill three quarters of a way through a movie while at a theater & mistakenly wandering into the wrong movie. I've heard from other readers that this occurs in her other books as well. The rest of her work has plenty to recommend, although I do have an issue with the lack of character development with any of the parental 3y
vivastory characters. A decidedly mixed bag, made all the more frustrating by the flashes of brilliance it contains. 3y
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Eggs Great review 3y
vivastory @Eggs Thanks! I think it's worth reading. I was just incredibly frustrated while reading it for a bit 3y
Reggie Which plot line was it? 3y
Reggie Also great review. 3y
vivastory @Reggie The "governor" & the armed men taking the supplies. I almost threw the book across the room. 3y
Cinfhen Great review!! I wasn‘t sure if I liked or disliked this book after I was through with it. It does linger/ ALWAYS a good sign for me!! It‘s easily a book worth discussing...another good sign for me 😉 3y
vivastory @Cinfhen Yeah, I think this would be a good book club selection. A lot to discuss in it 3y
readordierachel I love your movie theater analogy :) 3y
vivastory @readordierachel Thanks! I always have strange experiences with her books. 3y
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vivastory
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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sarahbarnes I‘ll be interested to hear what you think of this one! 3y
Reggie Ohhhh, this book is great. 3y
Megabooks I‘m in the middle of the audio! 3y
See All 7 Comments
vivastory @sarahbarnes I just posted my review. Just like with Sweet Lamb of Heaven I have mixed feelings 3y
vivastory @Reggie Millet is such a frustrating author for me. I thought about posting a pic of giving her a thumbs up & a thumbs down. 😂 3y
vivastory @Megabooks I'll be interested to see your thoughts when you finish 3y
Reggie I know what you mean. Have you read the Mermaid one? Cause there is something that gets said in the last five pages that if I had food in my mouth would have made me spew it all over. And then there was one I bailed on and there‘s some people on here saying it was her best one. 🤷🏽‍♂️lol so whatevs I guess. 3y
53 likes7 comments
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Hooked_on_books
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Pickpick

I don‘t really know what to say about this book. I‘m not sure if it‘s brilliant or a complete mess, though certainly both are present. It‘s a allegory about how past and current generations have focused on greed and self-indulgence at the expense of the planet, a debt that will shortly come due for the children and grandchildren. But it‘s weird. I‘m giving it a pick as I think it‘s thought provoking and certainly the topic is important.

GingerAntics That is not at all what I was expecting from that title. It sounds interesting. 3y
56 likes1 comment
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VanessaCW
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
Pickpick

An unusual and imaginative story, maybe a fable or parable. The writing style is in keeping with the storyline. It‘s succinct and portrays very well the horror of what is happening with some great imagery. There are a host of interesting characters, the parents being horrifying and the children scarily self sufficient. A dark and thought provoking read. It‘s a story with a warning for our times but it is left on a ray of hope, thankfully.

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VanessaCW
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Just about to start this one!

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QuintusMarcus
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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Mehso-so

I wish I had a better sense of what the author was trying to accomplish here: is this book supposed to be some sort of allegory, a commentary on modern families, or culture, or something else? Whatever she was trying to do, I don‘t think she was terribly successful, as the book, though fun to read, is a bit murky and confusing. Some great characters among the kids, though, and Millet‘s portrayal of the parents is both brutal and hilarious.

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RowReads1
A Children's Bible | Lydia Millet
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