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Intimacies
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
79 posts | 77 read | 43 to read
From the author of A Separation, a taut and electrifying story about a woman caught between many truths. An interpreter has come to The Hague to escape New York and work at the International Court. A woman of many languages and identities, she is looking for a place to finally call home. She's drawn into simmering personal dramas: her lover, Adriaan, is separated from his wife but still entangled in his marriage. Her friend Jana witnesses a seemingly random act of violence, a crime the interpreter becomes increasingly obsessed with as she befriends the victim's sister. And she's pulled into explosive political fires: her work interpreting for a former president accused of war crimes becomes precarious as their relationship is unbound by shifting language and meaning. This woman is the voice in the ear of many, but what command does that give her, and how vulnerable does that leave her? Her coolly impassioned views on power, love, and violence, are tested, both in her personal intimacies and in her role at the Court. She is soon pushed to the precipice, where betrayal and heartbreak threaten to overwhelm her; it is her drive towards truth, and love, that throws into stark relief what she wants from her life.
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review
Taylor
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I loved this. A thriller (or at least it has the mood of a thriller) that interrogates language and the practice of interpreting. It‘s one of those books where to be honest not much happens, but it‘s written in a way that manages to maintain tension, and crafted idiosyncratically, unafraid of making classic grammatical errors.

I wish more stuff was this free and risky…. Kitamura is unique!

BarbaraBB Such a good read indeed. 6mo
11 likes1 comment
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rachelk
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I could not put this slim novel with gorgeous prose down — though I admit to wrongly thinking that more was tying together the character driven story than the interior life of the unnamed interpreter. In any case, I enjoyed it. If there‘s a theme I‘d say it‘s the complexity of communicating with and understanding others…the male/female dynamics are especially unsettling.

36 likes1 stack add
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mjtwo
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

26-30 Oct 23
I cannot recall what led me to purchase this short novel about truth told by a young interpreter at the International Court in The Hague. It is sparse and restrained, highlighting the brutal work of the court and necessary dissociation and loneliness of those working there. The unnamed narrator appears to have few relationships outside of her current lover and Jana, both of whom subject her to periods of non-contact and ambiguity.

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BaBaBaBillyAndTheBooks
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Mehso-so

Despite the title, an interpreter for The Hague is close with no one. The nameless language-expert‘s mind is frequently manipulated by men who know how to talk. Her life gets worse when she takes people at their word and ignores the warning signs present in the rooms they strut through—feelings that are impossible to record but somehow need to be taken into account when it‘s time for judgment.

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Blaire
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

4.5 stars. I think this book is probably divisive but I liked it a lot. From the perspective of an interpreter at The Hague ICC it is a very interior book consistently mostly of her thoughts as she navigates living in a new city and her job as an interpreter. Her thoughts about the interpreter role were really fascinating. Lots of tension in a little package including a trial, a love affair, and a friendship, all of which she is navigating.

Lindy I was impressed with this novel too. 1y
sarahbarnes I loved this one, too! 1y
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Blaire
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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A little airport reading. This book has drawn me in immediately. I love the writing and the way she describes The Hague and the job of an interpreter.

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Magpiegem
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Another episode of Books I Wasn‘t Supposed to Buy in the Charity shop

TrishB You were giving to charity 😁 the books were a by product! 2y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Centique
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

In this novel a young woman, newly arrived in her job (a translator at The Hague)and a new city, seems lost and disconnected. Her job requires her to be impartial and to repeat the words of others - almost invisible - it almost seems this has carried over into the rest of her life. A quiet, thoughtful book that questions our ability to connect and find roots.

BarbaraBB Wonderful review. Such a special read. 2y
rmaclean4 Loved this quiet book! 2y
Jas16 Great review. 2y
See All 6 Comments
Ruthiella Fantastic review. I also really admired this. 2y
AlaMich This is on my TBR because I‘m always interested in books that feature translators. 2y
72 likes1 stack add6 comments
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S3V3N
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Interesting and enjoyable.

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HeatherBookNerd
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Panpan

I really had trouble connecting with this book. The characters just felt flat. I guess it‘s just not for me.

32 likes1 stack add
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GatheringBooks
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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#OminousOctober Day 13: Lots of #Orange here including the #Orange(y) palabok from one of the famous Filipino restaurants in Dubai. Yum is an understatement.

Eggs 🧡🍊🧡 2y
BarbaraBB It looks delicious! 2y
kspenmoll Looks so good! 2y
56 likes3 comments
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Booksandtea23
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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GatheringBooks
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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#IndelibleMoments Day 26: There is #Reconciliation in this story - whether between the protagonist and her lover, or the lover and his wife, I shall leave for you to discover. What a riveting story. 💕

Eggs Looks so inviting and delicious 🤤 😋 2y
47 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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#IndelibleMoments Day 21: There is an impending #Divorce in this book, leaving the protagonist hanging in-between. This story takes on a different resonance for me having just visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Eggs Brilliant! 2y
50 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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#IndelibleMoments Day 18: There is #Betrayal in this novel - both personal and political. Special shout out to @charl08 @BarbaraBB and @Leftcoastzen for recommending this title - I immediately bumped it up my reading stack - mainly because part of me has not left The Netherlands.

charl08 Wow, that looks an amazing dish! 2y
BarbaraBB Glad you liked it. Right book at the right time I think! And your dish looks amazing indeed! 2y
Eggs Awesome photo! 2y
50 likes4 comments
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charl08
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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It was the job of the interpreter not simply to state or perform but to repeat the unspeakable. Perhaps that was the real anxiety within the Court, and among the interpreters. The fact that our daily activity hinged on the repeated description-description, elaboration, and delineation of matters that were, outside, generally subject to euphemism and elision.

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Lesliereadsalot
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

This short book is about a slice of life of an interpreter in The Hague, her job interpreting for war criminals, her friends and her love life. I liked it, although I felt like I never really got to know the main character.

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staci.reads
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Finished this up on a trip home from a conference. Not sure how I feel about this one. I enjoyed parts of it, but I'm also not sure I'm fully clear on the point of it. Also, I cannot get behind authors who choose not to use quotation marks around dialogue. I find it greatly distracting and it makes everything feel detached, like it's a summary of what was said, not a conversation. This was my May #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

LiteraryinPA Yes! Exactly! Hard to really connect. 2y
TheAromaofBooks I'm so confused about why eliminating quotation marks is even a thing that authors do! Are they trying to be artsy?? I find it so hard to read! 2y
63 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinPA
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Mehso-so

I read this short book quickly but didn‘t necessarily like it. I expected something more or different, I guess. I didn‘t connect to the writing style, which felt so minimalist it was lazy. Here and there there were powerful sentences but as a whole it fell flat for me. Disappointing because I think a more in depth story about these themes would be really engaging. As a language person, I would like to read about an interpreter.

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Sapphire
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Understated and direct are the words that first come to mind. That may be an affect of the narrator. This is a tournament of books title that I likely would not have otherwise discovered and I really enjoyed. It‘s an odd tone. A very simple approach to describing the complexity of life in all its darkness and intermittent light.

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LiteraryinPA
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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This is how I spent most of my bookstore gift cards! All of these are #blameitonLitsy reads and I‘m probably most intrigued by the tagged book.

Ericalambbrown I really liked Intimacies. It was the most unique book I read last year. 3y
Ruthiella Great stack! 🤩 3y
vlwelser 😍😍😍 3y
Megabooks Awesome stack! 3y
100 likes4 comments
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emmaturi
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this story, the setting which I liked The Hague and the International Criminal Court were all really interesting. This is more about the characters and their lives and feelings and some political situations.

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Sophronisba
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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The semifinals of the Morning News Tournament of Books begin today with a match between Intimacies and The Trees. Intimacies is my favorite book in the tournament, but I know how much people are loving The Trees so I don't have a great feeling about this one.

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Jas16
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

A slim book that left me much to mull over about A translator who doesn‘t seem to speak much herself trying to find her place in a new country and a new relationship. She has to interpret what those around her truly think and feel in her personal life even as she works to translate during a war crimes trial. The mood of this book lingered long after I finished it.

Texreader Excellent review 3y
LeahBergen Happy Birthday!! 📚❤️📚❤️ 3y
Jas16 @LeahBergen thank you so much! 3y
52 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Readerann
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this unique little novel. It was fascinating getting a glimpse into the life of an interpreter at The Hague (although that‘s not really what the book is ‘about‘). To echo what my friend, @BarbaraBB said, I love the ‘atmosphere‘.
#ToB2022

Ruthiella I really loved this too. I particularly remember the scene with the painting and think that‘s kind of one of the themes of the novel: how our perspective of something can change upon closer viewing. 3y
BarbaraBB Lovely review and picture. I keep remembering the scenes in court vividly too, how everyone behaved towards one another. 🤍 3y
sarahbarnes I loved this one, too! 3y
Readerann @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Yes, so many interesting things about this one and scenes that will stay with me for a while. I also like how she did NOT tie things up in a neat little bow at the end. 3y
18 likes4 comments
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BarbaraBB
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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In the first of the quarter finals Intimacies has been up to In Concrete in the real #ToB22, which it won.

In ours Intimacies is the winner too. It is Gayla‘s favorite this year, so she‘ll be happy. Intimacies beats Beautiful World with most votes, solely Helen and Chelsea were in favor of the Rooney.

What a great tournament, to have a book like Intimacies make it so far!

BkClubCare Woot!! 🎉 I think I keep appreciating Intimacies as time continues. The judge really captured what I loved abt the book. 3y
Megabooks This was in my top 5 so I‘m happy!! 3y
squirrelbrain Interesting! I didn‘t love either book, so it was difficult to pick between our choices. TBH, I was surprised to hear I‘d picked the Rooney! 🤣 Different day…. Different opinion! 3y
See All 20 Comments
ImperfectCJ I love Intimacies (currently reading Kitamura's Separation because I want more of her writing), so I'm happy. The judge's comments captured my feelings about In Concrete well. The story of the translation would be a very interesting book, I think. Garréta seems like a character, even though I found her book a bit of a chore to read. 3y
Cinfhen Yay!! Today feels like a double victory ✌🏽 so glad Intimacies is advancing in both tournaments 💕💕 3y
Well-ReadNeck 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Intimacies was definitely one of my favorites of the tournament, so extra excited about the double win! 3y
Ruthiella Intimacies is at the top of my list of the 2022 TOB. I‘m happy to see it advance. 👍 3y
Chelsea.Poole I agree with the judge's comments, I felt the same way with both of the books which is interesting because I didn't enjoy either novel.. “If Intimacies was deliberately bloodless, Anne Garréta‘s In Concrete is all viscera“ -- Concrete --> over the top and childish (if inventive! -- I just couldn't stand it)! And the opposite is true of Intimacies, which on paper I should enjoy but it actually did nothing for me. 3y
Chelsea.Poole And so interesting that these two were paired up! Really exaggerated each's extreme style. 3y
Hooked_on_books I didn‘t love either of these, so it was a bit of a coin toss for me. I am glad to see Intimacies best In Concrete in the official TOB, since I liked that one less. 3y
sarahbarnes I am happy with this outcome in both worlds today! I l really loved Intimacies. ❤️ 3y
kwmg40 Very happy with the outcomes in both tournaments. I really liked this book. 3y
Readerann I‘m hoping to finish Intimacies tomorrow, so haven‘t read the comments here yet. I‘m really liking it so far, especially the author‘s style. One of my favorite sentences: “We were converted into women admiring a man‘s competence, an absurd and appalling situation.” 3y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I know what you mean 🤣 I checked again to see if I was wrong but you did vote for Rooney! 3y
BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ I you won‘t be disappointed by A Separation. I read it during an earlier ToB (longlist?) and was underwhelmed. 3y
BarbaraBB @Readerann That is a great sentence. I loved the atmosphere of the book. 3y
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - it‘s the zombie selections that really blow out all my (different) bracket submissions- and I didn‘t keep records, either. 🥴😆 3y
Readerann @BarbaraBB Ahhh - thank you! I was struggling to define what I love about this book. ‘Atmosphere‘ is the exact word I was looking for! 3y
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare I love the 🧟‍♀️ especially since I don‘t remember either which I voted for back in December! 3y
69 likes20 comments
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Sophronisba
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Today in the Morning News Tournament of Books, my favorite -- Intimacies -- meets my least favorite -- In Concrete. In a just world, this _should_ be an easy win for Intimacies, a nuanced and complex character study of a translator at the Hague, over a 150-page book that nonetheless managed to wear out its welcome by page ten. But I haven't been on the same wavelength as the judges this year, so who knows.

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BarbaraBB
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Today we had an obvious winner again and, for the first time, we are in sync with the real #ToB22. What a raving plea for Intimacies by judge Jennifer Murphy.
Except for Holly, Chelsea and Margot, all of us voted for Intimacies too.

Suet624 Phew! Happy to finally agree with the judge. 3y
squirrelbrain This wasn‘t one of my favourites, but still better than Libertie, so I‘m quite happy with the result! 3y
Well-ReadNeck Yay! I adored Intimacies and have recommended it several times. Libertie, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment to me, especially after having loved Charlie Freeman so much. 3y
See All 27 Comments
BarbaraBB @Well-ReadNeck @squirrelbrain Libertie was so disappointing indeed. I enjoyed Intimacies a lot, which was a pleasant surprise because I had low expectations after 3y
Readerann I just started Intimacies, but am pretty sure I‘ll like it better than Libertie so I am happy with this decision! 3y
merelybookish I hadn't read Intimacies. But I also think I liked Libertie better than most people on here seem to. 3y
Addison_Reads Libertie disappointed me, but I think I went in with high expectations for it. I think the judge today described it perfectly because when I started that book, the first part had me in love with the story and the characters and the looming questions of “what death means,“ but then the second half just never regained the same momentum that the book started with. I am pleased to see Intimacies move on. 3y
sarahbarnes I actually didn‘t read Libertie, but I did love Intimacies and was happy to see the verdict today! 3y
Ruthiella Excellent! I love Kitamura‘s unsettlingly and low key writing style. Glad it is advancing. 3y
Cinfhen I agreed with the judges decision & endorsement too. And I think we got a sneak peak on how tomorrow‘s vote will go 😉 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen A sneak peak? Tell me more! 3y
Cinfhen There was a segment on the bottom of the page asking a random reader what they thought of today‘s decision & she said “I‘ve found it harder, over the past few years, to find books that can compete with the noise from the world. Recent novels that have succeeded have been Maggie Shipstead‘s Great Circle and Lauren Groff‘s Matrix. And I felt that way about Intimacies as well.” She‘s judging tomorrow‘s match - matrix vs Subdivision 3y
Cinfhen So I‘m guessing she‘ll vote in favor of matrix 😌 3y
BkClubCare I am pleased. 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I missed that, Sherlock 🕵️! You are probably right. I keep hoping for Subsivision against all odds 😉 3y
Addison_Reads @Cinfhen I saw that she said that about Matrix but didn't realize she's tomorrow's judge. Tomorrow's the first judging day I'm really anxious about. @BarbaraBB I'm hoping for Subdivision too. It's my second favorite in the tournament. 3y
thebluestocking @Cinfhen Didn‘t the reader commentary person today, Laura, say that in her chat with Andrew? Was the commenter quoting? 3y
Hooked_on_books I am not at all surprised by today‘s result in either tournament. So many people rave about Intimacies, but for me it was just ok. And it hasn‘t stuck with me at all. I didn‘t love Libertie either, but I did like it better. I knew I‘d be in the minority. 3y
thebluestocking Intimacies has really stuck with me, while Libertie, which was disappointing at the time I read, has all but disappeared. I‘m happy about this decision in both places! 3y
BkClubCare @thebluestocking - I can‘t imagine they would let this spoiler through, if indeed it is!! In fact, I don‘t like that she is a commentator before her judgement is revealed. For some reason, I am really bugged 🐜 by this! 3y
Addison_Reads @BkClubCare unless I'm confused, the commentator today is named Laura and the judge for tomorrow is Carole V. Bell, so I'm thinking it's two different people. Otherwise, like you, this really bugs me. 3y
BkClubCare @Addison_Reads - oh. Good on you! I know some people really investigate the judges to see how they might vote… and I am thinking WOW that is a lot of work. 3y
Well-ReadNeck It bugs me only if she picks The Matrix 😂😂😂😂 like @BarbaraBB I thought The Subsivision was great! 3y
cariashley Yay, very happy with this decision! I loved Intimacies and would be fine if it won the Rooster. 3y
kwmg40 I'm happy with the decision as I really liked Intimacies. I've not read Libertie so I can't compare. 3y
Cinfhen Did I read it wrong??? I may have 😬 @thebluestocking @Addison @BkClubCare sorry if I gave anyone a mini fright xx 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You were right about the outcome anyhow 😉 3y
71 likes27 comments
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Sophronisba
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Day 3 of the Morning News Tournament of Books! Today is going to be a heartbreaker, because I enjoyed both Libertie and Intimacies quite a bit, and I hate to see either of them exit the tournament so early.

But. Although I enjoyed Libertie and would recommend it, I thought it suffered from some pacing issue and in particular, the second half was uneven. . . .

Sophronisba Meanwhile, I adored Intimacies: a quiet, subtle novel that really rewards a close read. No big plot twists, no huge dramatic moments, but several scenes that still manage to crackle with tension. My test of a truly great book is this: do I want to read it again immediately after finishing it? Intimacies passes that test. 3y
BarbaraBB Well said! 3y
Addison_Reads I'm hoping Intimacies moves forward in both. I still think about it whereas with Libertie, I just vaguely remember even reading it. 3y
9 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JackieGreco
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
Mehso-so

This was a page turner “thriller” but the ideas in the book were never resolved. I liked the story but am frustrated that so much of it was not tied up.

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cariashley
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Loved the style and punch of this quietly stunning novel. I‘ve seen lots of criticisms about how nothing really happens but I found it surprisingly hard to put down - it was almost hypnotic. There‘s so much seething between the lines here and the tone really worked for me. Excited to read more of Kitamura.

Book 15 of #tob22 and my second favorite behind The Sentence.

Professional_Book_Dragon I just borrowed it from the library! I‘m excited to start it! 3y
BarbaraBB Great review and glad you loved it so much. I found it a bit hypnotizing too. 3y
Readerann I‘m 2nd in line at the library for this one! 3y
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Megabooks Great review! Totally agree 3y
cariashley @BarbaraBB thank you! I kept thinking of you while reading it given the Dutch setting ☺️ 3y
cariashley @Megabooks thank you! 3y
BarbaraBB The book felt really authentic, except for that neighborhood in The Hague where her friend lives. She describes some kind of ghetto, which don‘t exist in The Hague, a small and wealthy city. I think I know which neighborhood she‘s referring too and there are crimes there for sure but it‘s not like it‘s permanently unsafe there, not at all. Other than that I kept wondering if she might have lived here! 3y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - but, -if I may-, “bad” neighborhoods are often a matter of perception! I thought it very understandable how it was presented 3y
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare Of course you may! I just don‘t think there even are neighborhoods in The Hague that you can describe as “bad”. It is a small wealthy city. But of course it is a matter of perception, you‘re absolute right about that! 3y
45 likes10 comments
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Sophronisba
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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That was, I thought, the prospect offered by a new relationship, the opportunity to be someone other than yourself.

#SundaySentence

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Tamra
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Mehso-so

Here‘s the deal….(my husband‘s favorite phrase 😆)….the writing is good, but I don‘t usually enjoy romantic relationship angst. I stuck with it because I wanted more from The Hague trial & translation aspect of the novel, which is such an intriguing premise for a story! I wish it had centered more on that angle.

quietlycuriouskate I'd prefer the book you wanted it to be, too. 3y
Cathythoughts I couldn‘t get going with this one ... tried a few times but it‘s back on the shelf .. I just found it a dull read ( love husbands fave expression 👏 ) ... (edited) 3y
Tamra @Cathythoughts I sure was drawn to the potential. Oh well. 💁🏾‍♀️ 3y
64 likes3 comments
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ImperfectCJ
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I like the light touch Kitamura uses, the slight remove of language and culture that helps the reader feel the main character's alienation. Although it's a specific situation, a literal difference in language and culture for the character as an American living in The Netherlands, it seems familiar and perhaps universal, as if there's always something lost in translation whenever two people interact. Like life, it leaves me wanting. #ToB2022

BkClubCare I thought this quietly powerful. 3y
ImperfectCJ @BkClubCare That's a good way of putting it. 3y
57 likes2 comments
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janeycanuck
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Not my typical fare but there is a lot going on in this slim volume. It has a sort of dark, unsettling overtone that was compelling, even when the story seemed to be stuck. In the end, it wasn‘t what happened that kept me interested but how it happened

EvieBee I agree. That‘s what kept me reading. 3y
janeycanuck @EvieBee Glad I‘m not the only one! 3y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AnneCecilie
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

A woman has moved to The Hague after her father passed away and her mother moved to Singapore, to work as a translator at the Court. She is trying to make new friends and establish a new log for herself.

A book about about finding your way and feeling like an outsider

#tob22

79 likes1 stack add
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kwmg40
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I liked the quiet intensity of this #ToB22 novel and found the courtroom scenes especially gripping. I also liked the Den Haag setting, as this was one of the last cities I visited with my family before the pandemic hit.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraBB Wonderful review. How he looked at her in court. And then that lawyer. Very intense indeed. 3y
Ruthiella Quiet intensity is a perfect description. I also really admired this. 3y
Sophronisba Yes, this was another book that made me want to travel to where it was set! Just a wonderful quiet novel. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
kwmg40 @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Glad to see others appreciated these qualities. I was surprised by how much the novel drew me in.

@Sophronisba We were in Den Haag for only a couple of days so didn't see nearly as much of it as I would have liked, but Kitamura's descriptions were very vivid and brought back memories of the visit.

@TheAromaofBooks Thanks for stopping by!
3y
40 likes5 comments
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AnneCecilie
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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I turned back to the canvas, and it occurred to me then that only a woman could have made this image. This was not a painting of temptation, but rather one of harassment and intimidation, a scene that could be taking place right now in nearly anyplace in the world. […] the man, who believed the scene to be one of ardor and seduction, and the woman, who had been plunged into a state of fear and humiliation.

AnneCecilie The painting is called Man Offering Money to a Young Woman by Judith Leyster painted in 1631. 3y
Ruthiella I also looked up the painting when I read this. I agree with the unnamed narrator‘s perspective. 3y
BarbaraBB I also looked it up and agree with this point of view. 3y
55 likes3 comments
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NovelNancyM
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book as it was a quick read and I was able to read it in an afternoon. The relatively few characters are well developed and though everything is not tied up in a neat bow at the end, it is hopeful.

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Lindy
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I was enjoying the prose style without noticing how the first-person narrator was quietly getting under my skin in the best possible way. She‘s Asian, feeling rootless in her temporary job in a new country—the Netherlands—& unsure of where her new romantic relationship is headed. She‘s an interpreter at the International Court of Justice, repeating the words of people accused of war crimes. Belonging & morality in a nuanced character study.

Lindy Audiobook read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama 3y
43 likes1 comment
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Lindy
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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January reading report: ongoing vision problems from my brain injury, so lots of audiobooks. Some really GREAT audiobooks, including the tagged one. Still having some cognitive issues too, so reviews are a challenge. I'm doing better each day, happy to be able to spend more time on Litsy.

LeahBergen The graphic novels are probably much easier to read, too, I would imagine? 3y
Lindy @LeahBergen Yes, because it‘s still a struggle for me to resolve printed text, image-heavy graphic novels and picture books are satisfying my need for story AND my cravings for surprise and delight. 3y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders Gah!! I hope your struggles disappear!! 😢 3y
Lindy @Penny_LiteraryHoarders Thanks. I‘m confident that I will heal. 🥰 3y
38 likes4 comments
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Lindy
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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I no longer believed that equanimity was either tenable or desirable. It corroded everything inside.

33 likes1 stack add
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Sophronisba
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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This morning I was very taken with the description of a painting in Intimacies, and ended up going down a bit of a Judith Leyster rabbithole. The woman did not get credit for her work until 1893 -- after her death every single painting she'd made was attributed either to her husband or to Frans Hals. #morningreads #JusticeForJudithLeyster

BarbaraBB Yea! I‘ve been googling this too! 3y
12 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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“One day you are living an ordinary life with its ordinary ups and downs, and then that life is ripped apart and you can never feel entirely secure again.”

BarbaraBB Beautiful quote 🥰 3y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - not sure how beautiful it is, exactly, but it sure stabbed me in my heart. 3y
BarbaraBB Beautiful is not the word indeed 😀, but it‘s very true 3y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - yes, we agree! 👏 3y
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review
Chelsea.Poole
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Mehso-so

I‘m disappointed. I didn‘t make a connection with the main character, plus there‘s not much of a plot so I was left to meander through. And I fear it‘s forgettable. The positive: it did feel like a glimpse into a real life.
#ToB22

Susanita Beautiful cover 3y
BarbaraBB Great review. I see what you mean though I appreciated it more than you did. 3y
Megabooks Definitely character driven, so if you don‘t connect with her I can see how it would disappoint. 3y
Ruthiella @Megabooks is right. The reader is in the narrator‘s head all the time, and if that/she doesn‘t click with you, it‘s no fun. 3y
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review
squirrelbrain
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I had really high hopes for this, following others‘ reviews but it didn‘t quite live up to them. I still liked it, but not one of my #tob faves, maybe top half though.

It really reminded me of Lahiri‘s Whereabouts, which I loved, and I think suffered in comparison. It was more outwardly-focused, less introspective, and a lot more uncomfortable, which I didn‘t enjoy.

Hooked_on_books I enjoyed reading this book but suspected it wouldn‘t stick to me at all, and that‘s been true. And I often prefer the UK covers of books, but I love the US one for this one. 3y
BarbaraBB This is the kind of book you should go in without any expectations I think. After all the praise it has been given you might have gone in expecting too much - I know I would. I enjoyed it a lot but it‘s not my favorite either! 3y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Is this the US one? I prefer this one to my purple/pink one. 3y
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Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB No, the US one is the pink one. 😆 3y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Ha! So we disagree on this one 😀. 3y
cariashley Good to know, I was looking forward to this one but will manage my expectations. @BarbaraBB that‘s great advice! 3y
squirrelbrain Yes, you‘re right @BarbaraBB - I clearly expected too much from this. I don‘t think it will hang around in my brain for too long either! @Hooked_on_books 3y
Chelsea.Poole I just finished this and I was underwhelmed. I loved Whereabouts and I can see the reasons for the comparison but Intimacies didn‘t have nearly the impact Whereabouts did on me. I think I expected too much as @BarbaraBB mentioned. 3y
Megabooks I still think of this often, but maybe it‘s that I was in the mood for a quieter book at that time. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
Ruthiella I‘m the opposite re the comparison to Lahiri. I was lukewarm about Whereabouts whereas Intimacies really struck a chord with me. (edited) 3y
Caroline2 What‘s ToB stand for?? 🤔 3y
squirrelbrain @Caroline2 #ToB is Tournament of Books. It‘s kind of a knockout competition for books; Littens play along and see if they agree with the judges. It‘s my first year taking part. 3y
Caroline2 Ahhh, sounds fun. 😁 3y
Cathythoughts Interesting review, I‘ve made a few false starts , and I‘ll try again, but for a book called ‘ Intimacies‘ it feels very distant to me 🤷‍♀️ (edited) 3y
squirrelbrain YES! @Cathythoughts That‘s it - you‘ve hit the nail on the head! If you‘ve tried a few times I‘d give up - it‘s just more of the same…. 3y
73 likes15 comments
review
thebluestocking
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

This book exists in the space between words. We quietly follow a young woman who has taken a job as an interpreter in The Hague. It explores violence and the power of men, displacement and love. I enjoyed the experience of reading it and many images will stay with me. (The former leader in court, the painting of the man and the woman, etc.)

Megabooks Great review! 3y
squirrelbrain Great review! Looking forward to reading this soon…once I‘ve finished To Paradise! 3y
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BarbaraBB Lovely review. It has stuck with me too in various images. 3y
Ruthiella Yes! “The space between words”. This book was so good and thought provoking. 3y
mklong Great review! I‘m reading this one now 3y
Tamra I heard about this and am anxious to read it! 3y
BkClubCare Can I say that I love the cover? 💕 3y
ReadingEnvy You are trucking! 3y
Cinfhen Wonderful review. It‘s a quiet book, but it says a lot. It reminded me of 3y
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review
sarahbarnes
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

This book is quiet and beautiful and subtly intense. I loved the way the story illustrated the ways we seek connections and try to understand other people. It was a good time for me to read this book as I grapple with loss in my family. #ToB2022

Sophronisba I'm really looking forward to this one. (And sorry about the loss in your family.) 3y
vivastory I've heard a lot of great things about this. Will definitely be checking it out. I'm so sorry about the loss in your family 💙 3y
BarbaraBB You‘re having a loss in your family too? I‘m so sorry to hear that. Wishing you strength to deal with it and happy memories 💕 3y
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squirrelbrain Looking forward to this, hopefully this week but it depends how much of To Paradise I get through. Sorry to hear about your loss. 3y
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB yes, my sister. And thank you so much. Wishing the same for you right now. ❤️❤️ 3y
batsy I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 3y
thebluestocking Lovely review, Sarah. I‘m so sorry to hear about your sister. 💙 3y
BkClubCare Sorry for your loss {{{hugs}}} 3y
readordierachel I'm so sorry for your loss 3y
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review
rmaclean4
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

Loved this sparce novel about the meaning between words and the unsaid language between men and women. Highly recommend. 4.5 🌟

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review
Cinfhen
Intimacies | Katie Kitamura
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Pickpick

I was immediately swept up in this slim but gripping story of an unnamed interpreter who takes a job at The Hague. Similar to Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahore, we are treated to musings and snippets of our narrator‘s days as she drifts untethered in an unfamiliar city. Thanks for this wonderful gift of a book @BarbaraBB #ToB22 #Pop22 #ProtagonistUsesAMobilityAid

thebluestocking I can‘t wait for this one! I‘m glad you enjoyed it. What do you think it‘s chances are in the tournament? 3y
Ruthiella This is my second favorite behind The Trees, so far. I wonder if it is matched to do battle with a “louder” book, if it‘s subtleties will be drowned out. 🤔 3y
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Suet624 I‘m so glad you liked it too. I went in cautiously because I didn‘t much like her previous book, but this one I really enjoyed. 3y
Cinfhen I‘m not sure it has enough HEFT to make it all the way but I‘d like it to advance @Suet624 @Ruthiella @thebluestocking however my favorite is STILL (edited) 3y
Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic ! I‘ve started this a few times ... one of these days 😃🤞 3y
Cinfhen @Ruthiella interesting thought!! I think a lot of the books are quieter this year, but I agree - it could get lost and that would be a shame. The list continues to surprise me. 3y
Cinfhen Thanks @Cathythoughts interesting- it grabbed me from the first line! Hopefully you find your stride with it. 3y
KarenUK I loved this too 💕 3y
squirrelbrain Looking forward to this when it *eventually* comes in at the library…. 3y
Cinfhen How many do u have left @squirrelbrain ?? 3y
Cinfhen This felt very much like a Karen book @KarenUK 💗 3y
BarbaraBB Happy you liked it. Perfect book to fill a weekend day I think! And I agree I‘d think you like it too @KarenUK 🤍 3y
Chelsea.Poole I have this checked out from the library but keep putting it aside 😑 and it‘s a double duty because it is on Obama‘s list, as well as #ToB. I‘m kind of waiting for an audiobook copy to come available to have the option to do both. Glad it‘s been a favorable title so far around here 😊 3y
Chelsea.Poole Also, loved Whereabouts so I appreciate the comparison! 3y
Cinfhen I think you‘re gonna be pleased @Chelsea.Poole regardless if you go print or audio 🤞🏽💖 3y
Megabooks This was really good for me as well. Right below 5⭐️. I hope it makes it out of the first round! 3y
Cinfhen It‘s in my top 3 @Megabooks 3y
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