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Sorrowland
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
51 posts | 40 read | 75 to read
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review
JacintaMCarter
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

#2023Book59
The writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous and the plot and characters were original and extremely interesting. I wish I had read the book, though, instead of listening to the audiobook, because there were several times I realized I wasn‘t really following what was happening in the story.

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HeyT
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this enough to read it in one day. It covers some heavy topics but in a way that never quite had you feeling like there was no hope. Bad things happen but you don't feel like tragedy is inevitable.

24 likes1 stack add
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HeyT
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Enjoying a little side yard reading while the breeze is out and the sun is not too high. Rolo is enjoying the nice weather as well.
#DogsOfLitsy

dabbe Hello, Riveting Rolo! 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
24 likes1 comment
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IndoorDame
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Last day of the #TransRightsReadathon and I managed to finish 1 more book. Rivers Solomon is definitely going to be an autoread author for me from now on. I‘ve read 3 of their books now, all of which have been completely different, but equally imaginative, thought provoking, and affecting. #20in4 @Andrew65

ChaoticMissAdventures Yes! I love that all of their books are so different and yet all so good in different ways! 12mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 12mo
55 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Kenyazero
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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In celebration of the #TransRightsReadathon, I'm highlighting openly trans and nonbinary authors this week. Rivers Solomon's work explores life on the margins, and they don't pull any punches as they explore gender, autistic experiences, race, and marginalization.

Please consider donating to organizations that support our trans and nonbinary communities, such as Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund at https://www.transgenderlegal.org/

Addison_Reads One of my favourite authors. 💚 12mo
Bookzombie I loved An Unkindness of Ghosts and really need to pick up their other works. 12mo
31 likes2 comments
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IndoorDame
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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The child gushed out from twixt Verne‘s legs ragged and smelling of salt. #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Cinfhen Intriguing 😊 12mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Such a fantastic book! 12mo
40 likes2 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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#TransRightsReadathon
Author spotlight on agender writer Rivers Solomon

Solomon's writing is atmospheric and their characters are vivid and interesting.
Sorrowland is a dark story of a pregnant woman who escapes a cult and births and raises her twins in the woods. Things are not what they seem, and mom Vern is getting hunted. This book is a fierce and haunting story. So good!

33 likes2 stack adds
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rachelsbrittain
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Anyone else obsessed with the first season of The Last of Us and looking for some readalikes? I've got you!

bookriot.com/best-books-like-the-last-of-us/

mdemanatee Should have known this was yours when I saw saw it w/out the byline 😊 13mo
rachelsbrittain @mdemanatee awwwwww 😂🥰 13mo
5feet.of.fury ❤️ The Last of Us 13mo
Christine YES!! So obsessed. Can‘t wait to read your article. 13mo
37 likes4 comments
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HeyT
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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HAPPY #BOOKSPIN DAY to all who celebrate!

I am so happy with this month's picks because I'm starting to believe my chunkster curse is passing. My DoubleSpin this month is the anti-chunky Time Machine at 141 pages! Plus my BookSpin is under 400 pages.

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BookmarkTavern
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Mehso-so

Vern is fifteen, pregnant, & escaping from the cult that raised her. But she has more to deal with when her body begins to mutate.

This book deals with the seductive power of cultism, racism, & human experimentation. So it‘s easy to get a little lost sometimes.

One of the things that I appreciated was so many women were portrayed in this story, all with unique drives and ambitions and characters. But the ending left me unsatisfied. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

63 likes1 comment
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DavidDiamond
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Vern, a pregnant 15 year old, escapes from a cult leaving her family behind. She gives birth, survives in the woods and then...things start to get really weird. To say anymore, would spoil the story.
While I didn't love this book as much as I was hoping to, I was drawn into Vern's journey of self-discovery and the utterly bizarre world in which she inhabits.

AkashaVampie @ElizaMarie not sure if this is ur cup of tea, but I know u like cult type of things. 2y
ElizaMarie @AkashaVampie It might be interesting. I like more true/crime cults but.. this might be interesting (edited) 2y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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JGadz11
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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I had to go ahead and bail on this book, which is very rare for me. Kept trying to slog through, and gave up around 75%. Is it magical realism? Is it a coming out story? Is it a cult story? Too much going on here, and none of it done very well; I couldn‘t discern even a clear plot. Vern is busting through her skin due to a fungus implanted by a cult, and she goes home and takes a naproxen? Give me a break.🤦🏻‍♀️

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JGadz11
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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hooked.

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Twainy
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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#Audible $5 sale 😁 No buy January? February will be better.

BookwormM Loved Sorrowland 2y
Twainy @BookwormM 3 were books I hadn‘t heard of from authors I like, 2 are physical books I own so maybe the audio will motivate me to get through them …. and then there‘s Sorrowland, I took a chance on a BookTuber recommendation! YESSS! 😁🤞🏻 2y
24 likes2 comments
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BookwormM
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
Andrew65 Looks good. 2y
29 likes1 comment
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MegCaldwell
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

In love with this story telling and the vibes and the love.

BookwormM I loved this one completely different kind of story 3y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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vlwelser
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

This book is very different. Even the author is unusual. I'm not sure I can do this justice in a little blurb. But I definitely liked it a lot.

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broughtyoubooks
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

I wasn't sure where this was going for a while; it's tagged fantasy, but it took a while to get to that. Its not disappointing in the build up at all though; you are confronted with a lot almost immediately, and that never really ease, following beautiful, haunting writing the whole way.
I kind of found myself wishing it would just finish at the end of the second part, but that also wouldn't have completed the overarching message of the novel.

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kat.hinton
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
Pickpick

This book was beautiful and terrifying and insightful and sexy and it's amazing that Solomon was able to do everything that they did with such success. I love how much Sorrowland doesn't fit into any one genre.
It wasn't quite perfect, but damn it was a good read.

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ElleMNOpe
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Mehso-so

Seriously weird. The underlying references & lessons presented are good points, but the delivery was just a strange fever dream. This was my first read from Rivers Solomon & their prose reminds me a lot of Toni Morrison. Lyrical & gauzy with a bit of a dreamlike feel. A slow build dystopian/horror mix that took a hard left turn in the last third. It took me on a ride like a bad acid trip, dragging & becoming beyond the feel of natural flow.

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kat.hinton
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon

There was more to life than Cainland, more to earth than its collected sorrows. There was wonder and awe and the allure of nothingness. No one had figured everything out, but there were people who'd made their home in the searching. If they could dwell there, so could Vern.

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Pedrocamacho
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

I really loved Verns journey of self-discovery. This was the second book that I‘ve read by Rivers Solomon and the second that I‘ve enjoyed.

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Soubhiville
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

I was hesitant about reading this, since I didn‘t care for Solomon‘s last book, The Deep. But Jenny Lawson chose it for the #FantasticStrangelings bookclub pick a few months ago, and I usually like her choices.

Then I really really liked it. It‘s strange and creepy, but also tender. It‘s an escape from a cult and a tale of motherhood and a monster story and a somewhat warped sexy romance… and a thriller. There‘s a lot here, good stuff!

Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks this was my #doublespin for this month. 3y
Gissy Lovely cover! 3y
See All 6 Comments
BookwormM Loved this one 3y
Hooked_on_books I approached this one with a lot of side-eye, but I ended up really liking it. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
66 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Addison_Reads
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

#LittenListen @aperfectmjk

This book was wonderful and haunting. I'm not quite sure how to review it without giving too much away. I loved the unique weirdness of this story, and the underlying tale of a cult recruiting only certain individuals added a complex element I wasn't expecting.

This was my first book by this author but I definitely want to read more now.

Kenyazero I'm excited to read this one! It's been fun to see reviews about it! I love hearing that it's hard to describe without giving much away. 3y
28 likes1 comment
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ElleSkel
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

This was so strange and so good. Dark sci-fi with a strong voice on social issues.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

26 likes2 stack adds
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Soubhiville
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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My July #Bookspin and #BookspinBingo list is all #ShadesOfBlue (except my #lmpbc book at the end). Also, other than my 5 free spaces I usually use for library audiobooks, I‘ll be concentrating on #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks! 🤣. I‘m giving myself a month long book buying ban. Let‘s see how many of these I can read off the TBR. 📚💙

As always, thanks for hosting @TheAromaofBooks !

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love the hashtag #️⃣ 📚❤️ 3y
Soubhiville @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘ve been borrowing a bunch lately from the library and from friends, and I bought quite a few over the last few months. Time to take a big bite out of the physical TBR! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Love your color coordinating!!! 3y
See All 6 Comments
Hooked_on_books I won‘t go so far as a book buying ban (I hate setting myself up for failure 😂), but I‘ve definitely worked on cutting back. Plus, I‘ve been using bookspinbingo to work on reading my own books. It‘s been pretty successful and a lot of fun! 3y
Soubhiville @Hooked_on_books yes Bookspin has helped me focus a bit more on my TBR too. I really love seeing which two get chosen each month, it‘s always fun. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Soubhiville good luck!!! 👍🏻🍀 3y
66 likes1 stack add6 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Another incredible novel from Rivers Solomon-- did I really expect anything less? A sci-fi survivalist thriller that swings from genre to genre with ease as each new twist is revealed. Solomon's prose is at times lush and others biting, & I loved every moment of it. Vern escapes the cult compound she was raised on just as she's giving birth to her babies, but the horrors done to her begin to manifest in strange and terrifying ways.

4 stars / ⭐⭐⭐⭐

49 likes4 stack adds
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Moray_Reads
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

One of the most original novels I've read. Surprising, mesmerising, horrifying and very powerful. @TheAromaofBooks #bookspin

saresmoore I‘m looking forward to reading this! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 3y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore it is very strange but very good 3y
30 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Lindy
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Soon after Vern escapes from a black religious cult, she gives birth to twins. She is 15 & raises them in the woods, always hiding from pursuit. Vern is a fierce survivor: scrappy, queer, partially blind & able to see ghosts. She is also undergoing some kind of physical transformation. A riveting eco-thriller that reflects on important issues like unquestioning patriotism & the history of experimentation on black bodies. #LGBTQ #audiobook

Lesliereads Whoa. 3y
Lindy @Lesliereads It‘s full-on and it‘s great! 3y
35 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Vern could clock a manipulation when she saw one. [🤐] presented two choices: run forever or surrender. But this world was full of infinite possibility. And even if it wasn‘t, there was a third option that was such low-hanging fruit, to pretend it didn‘t exist revealed [🤐]‘s hand: to fight.

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Lindy
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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She couldn‘t disown ALL of her upbringing. If she did, there‘d be nothing left of her. People aren‘t born, they‘re made.

36 likes1 stack add
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j9brown
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Really excellent! Haunting and unforgettable, with more layers of themes than I can list.
This author just keeps getting better and better, it's been really neat to see.
And look at that cover 🥰 I want to hang it on my wall.

43 likes1 stack add
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WanderingBookaneer
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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BookmarkTavern Thank you for sharing! ❤️ 3y
55 likes1 comment
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j9brown
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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This book is drawing me in so much that I was late to my other commitments of the day and got sunburn on my feet.
Or maybe I just didn't want to ever leave the beach.
Or both. Definitely both.

Crazeedi 🙃😊 3y
59 likes1 comment
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amma-keep-reading
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
Pickpick

If you need a book to that has hauntingly beautiful prose, this a great example.

I picked up them book on a wim, hoping to like it and ended up loving it. My only regret is reading this before the author's other books just experience to progression of faer's writing.

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mdemanatee
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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What a compelling work. Would make a great book club pick because it made me long for a classroom setting to really dissect the craft at play https://youtu.be/5cw3FuYCous

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mdemanatee
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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It‘s a beautiful day. The Culver‘s I‘ve been waiting to open in my neighborhood for almost two years opened today, and I have a great book (which I even managed to talk about briefly with a worker at Culver‘s 😂).

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Hooked_on_books
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

This is not a book I would have chosen to read were it not a pick for the #fantasticstrangelings book club. I decided to give it a go and it‘s quite good. Weird, way out there (for me), extremely well written. The content isn‘t usually my jam, but their writing is so good I would try their books again.

TheSpineView Your model looks just like one of my models!😂💜🐾 3y
Hooked_on_books @TheSpineView Hooray for cute doggie models! 3y
TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 3y
58 likes1 stack add4 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

Love when I finish ARCs after they are released 🤷‍♀️
This was great. Interesting storyline, well drawn characters, good pacing. I enjoyed and understand this much more then Solomon's other works (which I also liked)

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ChaoticMissAdventures
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Weekly forecast. I have started the tag on my Kobo already.
Hoping to get through at least these 4 last week was a mess at work so not much reading got done.

Librariana Sorry to hear about your messy work week, but that lamp is fabulous! 😆😁😊 3y
15 likes1 comment
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BookwormM
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
Pickpick

#Netgalley #ARC #Sorrowland

Three word reviews OMG! & WTF!

This is one of those books the defies genre it is part survival story, part horror, part historical commentary, part cult fiction, part love story and so much more. To try to describe it would ruin the discoveries the reader makes as the book progresses.

Full review here https://thereadersroom.org/2021/05/16...

Cinfhen Fabulous review 🤗🤗🤗 3y
34 likes1 comment
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Soubhiville
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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#Bookmail! It‘s this month‘s Fantastic Strangelings book!

I loved the concept of The Deep, but the execution fell short for me, so I‘m hoping Rivers Solomon‘s follow up sits better. Gorgeous cover though for sure! 🤞

Jenny Lawson always recommends a second book for if you read more than one per month (um, yeah! 🙋). This month her rec is I am a Girl from Africa, which I started a couple days ago and it‘s good so far.

#fantasticstrangelings

Copwithabook This is on my TBR. Can‘t wait to see what you think of it. I‘m thinking of buying a copy just bc I love the cover art 3y
BookwormM Just finished this it is definitely out there but I really enjoyed it 3y
61 likes2 comments
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saresmoore
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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We made a fully vaccinated, socially distanced trip to Greensboro, NC this weekend and I discovered a lovely independent bookstore. I was delighted to find a new book by an author I love, Rivers Solomon, and to learn that they would be presenting at the (virtual) Greensboro Bound Literary Festival on my birthday!

saresmoore For more info on the festival, visit greensborobound.com. 3y
ncsufoxes I love Greensboro, they have so many neat places/shops. I‘m a UNCG alumni, great school & great city 3y
saresmoore @ncsufoxes Cool! We were so impressed with the city and the commitment to diversity. It‘s a stark contrast to Wilmington, which seems to still think it can sweep a sordid history of racism and a present state of inequality under the rug. 😕 3y
See All 16 Comments
Leftcoastzen Wow , very cool ! 3y
Palimpsest I was not familiar with this author, but saw a write up about this gothic thriller in the latest Pages book review and added it to my to read list. It looks good! 3y
Palimpsest @saresmoore Thank you! 😊 3y
BarbaraBB I just read Everything Inside and loved it! I think you will too 💚 3y
ncsufoxes @saresmoore yes, one of the things that I loved about UNCG was their commitment to diversity & inclusion (I graduated in 2003 & this was the way it was then). They really work hard as a university to make a difference in the community & students are expected to be active in the community. I have heard things haven‘t been great in Wilmington (we live in CA now but we‘re from NC). 3y
saresmoore @BarbaraBB Lovely! I‘m sure I will, then! 3y
saresmoore @ncsufoxes Whereabouts in CA? We lived in Pasadena and Ventura for a few years and loved it there. 3y
ncsufoxes San Diego, we moved here for my husband to do his fellowship & have stayed since the research he does is here. We like SD just hate the cost of housing, not like NC at all 3y
LeahBergen Happy Birthday, my friend! ❤️📚❤️📚 3y
saresmoore @LeahBergen Thank you! 🥰 3y
Centique Happy birthday Sara! Hope you are having a lovely day 💕 3y
Suet624 Happy birthday!! 3y
90 likes16 comments
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sebrittainclark
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

5/5

This book is incredible! Vern has escaped the cult she grew up in. Free from its influence and alone in the wilderness with her children, her body begins to transform into something new, and she begins to realize the cult was hiding much bigger secrets than she realized.

#netgalley

rachelsbrittain So excited to read this one! 3y
58 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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SoManyBooksNotEnoughTime
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

It starts off with 15 year old Vern giving birth in the woods not long after escaping from Cainland, the cult she was raised in. Part survival story, part gothic horror, part reckoning, Rivers Solomon has expertly blurred genre boundaries yet again.

I actually enjoyed Sorrowland more than The Deep. I couldn't put this book down. I kept telling myself "alright just one more chapter" then Vern would pull me back in for more...

48 likes4 stack adds
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StuckOnChapter13
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Thank you for the tag @DarkMina! Sorry, I'm late!

#ThoughtfulThursday

1) Yes, I have reread books but it isn't a common occurrence. Some that I have reread are Finding Audrey and They Both Die at the End.

2) Covers have more of an impact than I like to admit. 😅

3) Sorrowland

DarkMina You‘re welcome! 3y
MoonWitch94 Same about covers! I‘ve been known to ignore an ugly cover 😁 Thanks for playing ☺️🌿📚 3y
6 likes2 comments
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StuckOnChapter13
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
Pickpick

I have never read anything like this. It's critical yet lyrical of society and the lack of changes we have done to our life-style. Vern's story is not only an action pact adventure but one of a character that has been wronged by society. Facing sexism, racism, homophobia, and more this protagonist, faced social issues after social issues that society burdened her with (which you will most likely see yourself in).

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StuckOnChapter13
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon

I wish I had a physical copy of the book so I could annotate it because some of the sentences are blunt but poetic at the same time?..

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StuckOnChapter13
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon

I have gotten the marvelous opportunity to review this book. I'm really excited about this story!

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underground_bks
Sorrowland | Rivers Solomon
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Pickpick

When Vern, the differently-abled pregnant albino teen heroine of this newest novel from Rivers Solomon, escapes her religious compound, she emerges from the toxic swamp of America past and present as a vital force for healing and resurrection. Thrilling, strange, incisive, and historically and politically informed, Sorrowland is the rightful heir and a powerful successor to the sci-fi and speculative works of Octavia Butler and Margaret Atwood.

28 likes4 stack adds