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The Truth According to Us
The Truth According to Us | Annie Barrows
In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck is forced out of the lap of luxury and sent by her Senator father to work on the Federal Writers' Project, a New Deal jobs program. Assigned to cover the history of the little mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia, Layla envisions a summer of tedium. However, once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is completely drawn into their complex world. At the Romeyn house, twelve-year-old Willa is desperate to acquire her favourite virtues - ferocity and devotion - a search that leads her into a thicket of mysteries, including the questionable business with which her charismatic father is always occupied and the reason her adored aunt Jottie never married. Layla's arrival strikes a match to the family's veneer, bringing to light buried secrets that will tell a different tale about the Romeyns and their deep entanglement in Macedonia's history. As Willa peels back the layers of her family's story, and Layla delves deeper into town legend, everyone involved is transformed - and their personal histories completely rewritten.
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Aims42
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Pickpick

Themes: Family drama, The Great Depression, WPA Projects
This chunkster was good, not great - a soft pick for sure. Annie Barrows does a wonderful job with her characters and the setting, I just wish the plot was more exciting right from the get go, instead of picking up during the last 100 pages. All that said, Jottie, Willa, Bird, everyone (except Felix) felt like people I‘d love to sit and have some ice-tea on a porch with any day of the week.

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Aims42
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Well, this goes in the “You make plans, God laughs” bucket 🤪
Me to my friend: “I can pick up sushi for lunch, I know they open at 11 since I get lunch here all the time when I‘m in the office. I‘ll see you around noon!”
The Universe: “Yeah, no, the restaurant opens at Noon on Saturdays. Good thing you brought your book to read in the parking lot for 45 mins” 🤣🤣🤣

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rather_be_reading
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I didnt know she had another book! Im going to have to look into this

Crazeedi Adding!! 4y
megnews I loved this 4y
50 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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MittenGirlPeach
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Pickpick

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 I loved this book so much I could cry. It‘s bittersweet and funny and so readable it hurts. It‘s a 416 page 8.5 x 11 case-bound chunkster and I read it in two days. If you loved Guernsey Literary Society the storytelling is similar (Burrows finished Guernsey after her aunt died). Depression era, historical fiction set in West Virginia. The first half is slower than the second half but it languidly sucks you in. Like the heat.

BINGO!

TheAromaofBooks Yay bingo!!! 4y
14 likes1 comment
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MittenGirlPeach
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A lovely morning after a tough day. Ahhhh. Eddy Charcoal says hello!

I‘m loving the tagged book. It‘s just what I needed and it‘s FUNNY, in addition to being a terrific story. We finally got lots of needed rain last night, and 57 and sunshine predicted tomorrow, so I‘ll have lots of green updates to post from the yard and gardens!

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MittenGirlPeach
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It‘s my one year #Litsyversary! One year ago today I went looking for a bookish social media site, and I‘m so happy I found Litsy.

I think the tagged book is my next read—it will give me a first ever #BookSpinBingo, and should be a good change before I dive back into mysteries.

I got myself a new toy this week. I LOVE coffee.

Librarybelle Happy Litsyversary! 4y
robinb 🎉Happy Litsyversary! 🎉 4y
Deblovestoread Happy Litsyversary 🎉 4y
See All 6 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yay 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊 4y
Chrissyreadit Happy Litsyversary 🤩💕🥳🎊👏🙌🙌🎉🎉🎉 4y
Lreads Happy Litsyversary! So glad you‘re here! 🎉🥳📚 4y
21 likes6 comments
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megnews
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🎶 on the 8th day of Christmas my reading gave to me, another great 5 star read 🎶

Federal Writers Project set in West Virginia. I knew I was going to love this before I even started. It didn‘t disappoint.

#12booksof2020

Andrew65 Looks good. 4y
Chrissyreadit Nice! 4y
36 likes2 comments
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suvata
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Pickpick

Delightful characters!

From BookRags:
"The Truth According to Us" by Annie Barrows is a Depression-era historical fiction that explores the secrets of the Romeyn family of Macedonia, WV. Twelve-year-old Willa's determination to prove her ferocity and devotion lead her to discover long-hidden family secrets as she strives to protect her father from falling in love with Layla Beck, a writer researching the town's history.

53 likes2 stack adds
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throwmeabook
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Mehso-so

I came to this book having read GLAPPPS, loving it and hoping this book would be just like it. She writes mesmerizing prose, with vivid imagery and captivating descriptions that immerse the reader in the settings she creates. Her characters are quirky and endearing and precocious little Willa Romeyn stole the show. But while the writing is entrancing, the story flounders and stalls under the weight of excessive words. #ReadtheUSA2020 #WestVirginia

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megnews
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Pickpick

Why did I wait so long to read this? Love love love.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ which I don‘t give often.

Penny_LiteraryHoarders Yes! Loved it too! 5y
SaturnDoo I have this book sitting on my shelf...maybe I should bump it up😊 thanks for sharing 5y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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megnews
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megnews
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megnews
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I recall this feeling when I was young and especially when we‘d be down South with family.

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megnews
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❣️❣️❣️

Loving this book so much. Why‘d it take me so long to get to it when I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society so much?

Crazeedi I loved Guernsey too, is this by same author? I'll be putting this one on my tbr 5y
megnews Annie Barrows‘s aunt wrote Guernsey. She got sick while writing it and Annie finished it for her. I don‘t know how much is whose but the style & great place and character building present in both. 5y
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megnews
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MelKelsey
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Pickpick

This audiobook has excellent voice acting, which made it very engaging. I loved the obstinate Willa character. The story is not really my style, set in early 1900s small town USA, an upper class woman arrives to write the town's history and the resolution to town mystery unfolds. I believe it's the well-crafted writing that really makes this book, excellent perspective from multiple characters and the timing being spot on.

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thea-block
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Pickpick

I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I‘d seen many good reviews. This was a story of a small town in WV during the 1930s, but ultimately it was about what defines history and truth. It was clever and nuanced, humorous and serious. It dealt with control, family, identity, truth, perception, and loyalty. “Ferocity and devotion.” Not a perfect story but a human one.

Similar read: And the Ladies of the Club

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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Chrissyreadit
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True Story- I live in a state #wherethestreetshavenoname -and have had to follow many directions to homes solely by landmark. There are still areas that not only have no street names, but no internet or cell phone service. I‘m always nervous driving through them. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/01/where-the-streets-have-no-n...
#wanderingjune

BarbaraBB Oh I didn‘t know. It sounds kind of romantic though it probably isn‘t... 5y
Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB it‘s not. Often scary. Dangerous. The switch was called “changing to 911” because 911 literally could not reach people. 5y
Cinfhen Oh wow!!! That sounds pretty rural. How do people send mail??? 5y
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Chrissyreadit @Cinfhen they use the post office. 5y
Chrissyreadit @Cinfhen when I moved here my father in law had an address that was rr... (rural route) and his name on the box at the end of the road. He lived 10 minutes from town. 5y
Cinfhen No!!!how do you as a resident receive mail? How does someone address mail to somebody who doesn‘t have a street or an address?? 5y
BarbaraBB But things are changing now I think, according to the article? 5y
Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB in some places. WV is a very quirky star. The elected leaders do not work for or represent the people. There are still pockets with places that do not have running water, street names, or bathrooms (use outhouses). No joke. It‘s very frustrating. 5y
BarbaraBB I am really shocked. The richest country in the world! I‘m not American, so I obviously don‘t know much about it and I don‘t want to judge, but a lack of basic infrastructure? What are the elected leaders for if not representant the people? 5y
Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB corruption is real, and there are books written about it. This is only the tip of the iceberg. WV is at times it‘s own worst enemy. 5y
BarbaraBB Thank you for enlighting me. I must read about it. Do you have a suggestion (preferably fiction) for a ‘beginner‘? 5y
Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB The Rocket Boys is not fiction but reads well- I think it describes some of this. The movie Winters Bone is based on a book- and takes place in Appalachia but not West Virginia. When I watched it I was shocked by the similarities though. It is brutal (warning). I‘m not sure of other books- I do not read a lot of WV fiction - I work here -5yrs as a teacher, 12 as early intervention, last 4 in a clinic that includes services for addiction 5y
Chrissyreadit @BarbaraBB I will see what I can find if I search too. There are a lot of articles though, I think. 5y
BarbaraBB Thank you so much! I‘m gonna check those books! 5y
77 likes4 stack adds14 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Busy week for work and kid activities. I needed to abandon my current non-fiction audiobook for something lighter. This one is fun so far, and the narrator has a West Virginia accent that I‘m enjoying.

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aquariusnat
Truth According to Us | Annie Barrows
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Pickpick

This was a wonderful historical fiction ! Set in 1938 and early 20th century West Virginia . Several good characters to cheer for and it keeps you guessing as to who the real "villian" is in the mystery subplot . Highly recommended !

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aquariusnat
Truth According to Us | Annie Barrows
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Started my next novel ! Loved her last one , Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Hope this is just as good .

rubyslippersreads I loved this book! 😊 7y
13 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JenlovesJT47
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Guernsey is one of my favorite books and I just came across this on sale right now on kindle. It looks good, don't know why I haven't heard of it! Just a heads up to grab it while it's on sale!

P.S. I reallllly can't wait until the movie of Guernsey comes out! 🤗❤️

#sale
#kindle
#historicalfiction

82 likes2 stack adds
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rubyslippersreads
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It's not #recommendsday, but I'm recommending this one anyway. 😊

EvieBee Ive had his on the Kindle for a long time, along with...I really need to read those. Thanks for the recommendations! 7y
Jess7 I bought this one earlier today too! @britt_brooke did you see this? 7y
britt_brooke @Jess7 No, I miss it - thanks! 7y
82 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JulAnna
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Water, always water 😊
Hmm, does the new season of Survivor count?
The tagged book, 37% of the way, not sure, may bail, it is not holding my interest. Has anyone read it?
Today‘s weather was the winter storm that missed us. We just had a little snow ❄️
Ear piercings, that‘s it for now 😊
@MinDea #humpdaypost

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Foragingfantasy
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A friend gave me $66 in bookstore credit for my birthday. This is what $30 of that credit snagged me today. 😍

britt_brooke Awesome!!! 7y
hes7 Fun! 7y
45 likes2 comments
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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 2! In the Summer of '38 Layla's father, a US senator, as her find employment with the Federal Writers' Program. She finds herself writing the history of isolated Macedonia, West Virginia. Boarding in the Romeyn family's house, she begins uncovering their thorny past. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Willa looks for answers to her family's past. Everyone will be transformed. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

GirlMeetsBook This one is excellent. And it's also a great audio! 7y
Mdargusch That looks good. Stacking. I loved the GLAPPS! 7y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders This is a great one!! 💖 7y
65 likes10 stack adds3 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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The ones that did not make it home with me. So sad have to leave them behind. Another time, perhaps, my loves. 😔 #wishlist

Lizpixie I got an SMS today saying your #letshyggeswap package is finally in your country! About damn time😠 7y
70 likes1 comment
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MaureenMc
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Mehso-so

I had high expectations for this book but, unfortunately, it didn't quite meet them. The story involved family secrets, loyalty, forgiveness, and growing up. I had a difficult time getting into it, and it ended up being a bit of a slog to finish. Some of the characters were too caricaturey with little nuance. Sometimes that doesn't bother me, but it just didn't work for me here.

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melissajayne
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Pickpick

Took a while to get into the book. Enjoyable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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melissajayne
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Trying to read this this fine Sunday afternoon #sundayreads

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melissajayne
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16 likes1 stack add
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melissajayne
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Sigritona
In Liebe, Layla: Roman | Annie Barrows
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rubyslippersreads
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I highly recommend this book, on sale for Kindle today. #ebooks #deals

MMenefee I second your recommendation. 8y
42 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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stacybmartin
Pickpick

I love when the setting of a story becomes another character in the book - I was fully immersed in this West Virginia town of Macedonia through the descriptive writing. The story mostly revolves around secrets and lies, forgiveness and redemption, and how holding onto hate harms you most of all - although if Felix was my brother, I'd want to punch him right in his face. 👊🏻

MMenefee This is a great read! 8y
MMenefee And, an appropriate title for this book ... and everything. 8y
stacybmartin @MMenefee I think so too! 💙📚 8y
19 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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stacybmartin
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Today's #labsoundtrack for report writing!

16 likes3 stack adds
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Sigritona
In Liebe, Layla: Roman | Annie Barrows
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Neues Buch, #InLiebeLayla Libro nuevo, que todavía no ha sido traducido al español #TheTruthAccordingtoUs #AnnieBarrows

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ddavisson82
Pickpick

We had a great discussion of this one at our book club. Lots of comments about sibling relationships, forgiveness, evil, etc. A good read but unsatisfying end.

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ReaderbirdAR
Mehso-so

Well...it was a good read but not earth shattering...

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BookswithTea
Mehso-so

I really wanted to love this book, but it's left me with a sort of "meh" feeling. Lovely writing, characters worth caring about, but a bit draggy getting to the point, and by then I'd pretty much figured out the "mystery." Overall, good but not great. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

readinginthedark So nothing like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society? That's too bad. :/ 8y
BookswithTea @readinginthedark No, and I absolutely loved that one!! 8y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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stephsbuck
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"I've learned that history is the autobiography of the historian, that ignoring the past is the act of a fool, and that loyalty does not mean falling into line, but stepped by out of it for the people you love."

MrBook Yep. Good quote 😊. 8y
5 likes1 comment
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stephsbuck
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Purfect reading companion. Loving this story as the characters come alive.

MrBook 😻👍🏻 8y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookswithTea
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Love this girl already!

BookBabe 😍! 8y
10 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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SuzanneR
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Chuquizuta
Truth According to Us | Annie Barrows
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Just started reading this!!

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CareBear
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This is what I do at the end of the day when I don't feel like working anymore.

5 likes1 stack add
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Alisea91
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Hate de le terminer. Plus que 100 pages...