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The Books of Jacob
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
47 posts | 13 read | 23 to read
The much-anticipated English translation of Olga Tokarczuks magnum opus
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Graywacke
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Mehso-so

A highly praised book I just didn‘t take to on audio. Jacob Frank, a false Jewish messiah, is nonfictional. Tracing his life gives Tokarczuk a chance to look at Poland in the late 1700‘s (when it was dissolved) from a nationally disinterested perspective. And a chance to look on how many different characters change over time. I somehow found them all a little too evasive.

Suet624 I feel as though I have yet to find a book by this author that I like. 3mo
Graywacke @Suet624 I really enjoyed Plow Your Field. It had slow parts, but was so playful. I wonder if reading this instead of listening would have helped 3mo
Suet624 i tried Plow Your Field but must not have been in the mood. 3mo
See All 7 Comments
Graywacke @Suet624 how far did you get? It definitely lags in places. 3mo
Suet624 I don‘t think I got very far, but my recollection is that I had a lot of library books, and I felt pressure to read as many as I could in the time I had. I could always give it another shot. 3mo
Graywacke @Suet624 it‘s slow, lags in places. But Plow is fun overall with a terrific ending 3mo
Suet624 @Graywacke thanks. I‘ll check it out again. 3mo
45 likes7 comments
blurb
Graywacke
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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New audiobook, merely 35 hours of it. I was told this was an especially well done audio production and so far (30 minutes in) that seems true.

The_Penniless_Author They've discussed this one on Backlisted. I'm tempted to give it a go, but given that I currently have 17 books in the on-deck circle and that it's taken me a month to get halfway through Portnoy's Complaint, maybe now isn't the best time to embark on a thousand-page odyssey. 😂 6mo
Crazeedi I started this book, never finished, don't know if I could do 35 hrs, but a good narrator may make it a possibility! 6mo
sarahbarnes I started this in print and still haven‘t finished it… 6mo
See All 6 Comments
Graywacke @The_Penniless_Author sorry, missed all these. That‘s funny. Maybe for the next time you need a 35 hour audiobook… 🙂 5mo
Graywacke @Crazeedi it feels slow for me so far, but i‘m just a little ways in. 5mo
Graywacke @sarahbarnes how far along are you?! 5mo
49 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
andrew61
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Pickpick

I plunged into this fascinating book 4w ago + was absorbed in the world of an E European Jewish messiah who creates a cultist group who convert to Catholicism. The themes of anti semitism, charismatic abusive leaders, nation states, + the power of religion echo across the centuries with the final pages bringing us to the 20th century.Jacob Frank is unlikeable as we view him through multiple viewers eyes. Daunting, dense, but worth the effort

sarahbarnes I started this a couple of years ago and didn‘t finish it. I do want to pick it back up at some point. 6mo
Anna40 Great review! 6mo
Aimeesue Great review! I love this author and must get to this one. 6mo
44 likes1 stack add3 comments
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shawnmooney
Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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review
Jen2
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Pickpick

Liked it

44 likes1 stack add
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GatheringBooks
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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#MarchMagic Day 8: bought these beauties roughly a year ago which makes them technically #OnTBRListFor1Year

Eggs 🖤📚🧡 2y
52 likes1 comment
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Leftcoastzen
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Wow😳I was determined to get to this soon , but when it arrived ….#chunkster

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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I put together my annual reading stats, which are available on my blog: https://lindypratch.blogspot.com/2022/12/annual-reading-stats-2022.html?m=1
Or, if you prefer, on YouTube in my latest video: Looking back on 2022, my first year on booktube … plus pie charts!
https://youtu.be/8CzLzgIxYlE

Reggie Happy New Year, Lindy! As always, you are reading goals. 2y
Lindy @Reggie Thank you! I wish you all good things in 2023. 🍀 2y
31 likes2 comments
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rockpools
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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March. March is International Booker month. Along with some brilliant books, I read some serious 🐴💩. Including some questionable🦞🍆 choices

The standout, though, was Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft - not my favourite book, but easily my reading experience of the year. Epic, unexpected & brilliant. Did I mention it was 900 PAGES?

Polish first ed pictured, cos Fitzcarraldo don‘t make graphics easy!

#12booksof2022

Andrew65 Wow, that‘s a real chunkster. 2y
55 likes1 comment
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Mitch
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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I have three of these on my shelf looking longingly at me to rise up the TBR with great speed! But the tagged looks good - so I‘ve shown restraint and stacked it until my TBR subsides a little! 😅

https://bookmarks.reviews/the-best-reviewed-books-of-2022-fiction/

charl08 I have the Book of Jacob on the shelf (it's enormous) - still reading and enjoying Flights, so figure I'll get to it next? 😀 2y
rockpools I did really enjoy BoJ - it was surprisingly page-turnery, despite really not being obviously my thing. And being HUGE! It didn‘t feel (quite) as long as it was 😁 (not sure that helps any! @mitch @charl08 2y
DGRachel I have Books of Jacob on my shelf, too I‘m really hoping to make time for it next year. 2y
Mitch @rockpools 👍🏼👍🏼 2y
Mitch @DGRachel 2023 for me is shaping up as another year of chunksters! 👍🏼 2y
63 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Yossarian
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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“There are four types of readers…The sponge absorbs everything it comes into contact with... But he is not able to filter out what is most important. The funnel takes in what he reads at one end while at the other, everything he reads pour out of him. The strainer let‘s through the wine and keeps the sediment…The sieve, on the other hand, separates out the chaff to give a result of only the finest grain.”

What kind of reader are you?

Ruthiella All four at different times depending on what I read I think. 🤔 2y
LKK526 @Yossarian @Ruthiella Agree with @Ruthiella. I once picked out a paperback by an author I liked and was griping because all her plots seemed the same. It took me half-way thru to realize I had already read it. LOL. That‘s on me🙄🤭 2y
29 likes2 comments
review
Floresj
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Pickpick

This was a 1000 page beast. It took awhile to get started and I contemplated giving up…but then something interesting occurred that sucked me back in. The book chronicles a religious sect in Eastern Europe in the 1700s through a lot of characters and points of view. Slow motion train wreck but well written, just crazy long.

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Oryx
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Look what you made me do @rockpools - bad influence! 😄

It's soooo long.

rockpools Oops. How did that happen?! It doesn‘t *feel* quite that long… honest! 😁 (I really hope you like it now!) 3y
68 likes1 comment
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Simona
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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I finished #InternationalBookerPrize2022 longlist and here is my shortlist selection/prediction. It is interesting, thematically diverse longlist, with surprisingly number of short stories collections. Reading longlist was exhausting, but at the same time - it is rewarding experience.

LeahBergen Wow! Nicely done. 👏👏 3y
rockpools Oh, interesting! I swapped out Paradais for Tomb of Sand, and Book of Mother for Phenotypes. I haven‘t read BoM, Phenotypes or More than I Love My Life yet - one of them is bound to be on the list! 3y
Simona @rockpools This is my selection based only on the books that I really liked, without any combinations/calculations around political correctness, diversity … I highly doubt that the jury will pick three books from Fitzcarraldo Editions … and I agree with you - I also expect to see on official shortlist Tomb of Sand and Phenotypes. Can you imagine shortlist without Books of Jacob? Shocking thoughts 😱😘 3y
See All 8 Comments
Simona @LeahBergen Thank you 😊 It was fun race against time ⏱⏰🕰⏳⌛️ 3y
BarbaraBB So impressive that you managed to read them all again. Looking forward to the shortlist. I have bought a few books that I haven‘t read yet so I hope they‘ll make the shortlist (Paradais and Mother) 3y
Simona @BarbaraBB Both of them are good, so even if they aren‘t on the shortlist, they are worth to reading. My only “regret” is, that I didn‘t have enough time to read first and second Septology book … 3y
batsy Well done, you! 🙌🏽 Also, intriguing shortlist. I would love to see Elena and Bunny on the actual list but I feel like I'm hoping for too much! 3y
Simona @batsy Your hopes have been heard😘 3y
57 likes8 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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In my latest Friday Reads, I talk about picture books, graphic novels, middle grade fiction AND a novel about a bisexual Palestinian woman with a love addition. https://youtu.be/fULro9HR9zM

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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March stats... I doubt I will ever have another month with this many books! Granted, many of them were picture books and graphic novels. I've tagged my favourite book of this month, and it's a chunskster.
#chunksterchallenge2022 #readingstats

DivineDiana You win! 😲📚🥳 3y
Lindy @DivineDiana Thanks… even though it‘s not a competition. 🤗 3y
DivineDiana So true! I‘m in awe! 🤗 3y
26 likes3 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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This will take some time but I cannot NOT give it a try. @Simona convinced me to read it, it is nominated for the #InternationalBookerPrize2022 and I loved Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead so… I can do this! I just finished the first of the seven books. In between each of the books I‘ll read another, “lighter” book 🤞🏽

Cathythoughts Good luck ! Enjoy ❤️ 3y
squirrelbrain That *is* a chunkster - good luck! 3y
BiblioLitten I loved Drive Your … too💕 3y
See All 11 Comments
Addison_Reads I look forward to seeing what you think. I have a copy on hold at my library. This is one I have high hopes for. 3y
vivastory I like your strategy!! I might tackle it the same way 3y
BarbaraBB @vivastory I am actually looking forward to continuing but it‘s nice too to read something easy in between. 3y
Simona I hope that you are enjoying in reading it 🤞 3y
sarahbarnes I‘m using this strategy, too! What do you think so far? 3y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I have a hard time with remembering all the names and some chapters are more engaging than others but I am willing to go on. How about you? 3y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I‘m halfway through Book 2 by the way, so not very far! 3y
sarahbarnes Same, and I‘ve been at it longer than you, I think! And yes, I lose track of some of the characters and am more engaged in some chapters. But I agree, it‘s keeping me interested. 3y
65 likes1 stack add11 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Bailedbailed

I‘ve enjoyed previous books from Tokarczuk, but I‘m a quarter of the way through this beast and not at all invested in it. So, I‘m out. It‘s not worth 24 more hours of audio booking to me.

TrishB Interesting 👍🏻 been deciding whether to buy and I think yours is the first bail! 3y
BarbaraBB Interesting indeed. I just started! 3y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB Hopefully you fare better than I did! (edited) 3y
See All 6 Comments
Hooked_on_books @TrishB I‘ll be interested to see what you think if you end up giving it a try! 3y
Megabooks That‘s what I‘m worried about. Not 💯 sold on this one. 3y
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks I‘d say definitely borrow don‘t buy it you want to give it a try. But people are swooning over it, so it could just be me. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y
58 likes6 comments
review
Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Pickpick

A completely immersive novel, like stepping into mid-18th century Europe, the start of the Enlightenment… & the dark shadows it created. It‘s based on a real historical figure who lead a strange Jewish-Christian cult; we see Jacob Frank from many viewpoints but never within his own. Just as well, since I would have shuddered to be inside his head. It‘s a very feminist tale and the writing is stupendous, beautifully translated by Jennifer Croft.

BarbaraBB Your review is very encouraging! I just started it. 3y
Lindy @BarbaraBB 😊Enjoy! 3y
39 likes2 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Another weekly roundup of what I‘ve been reading is on my channel, plus my new puppy: https://youtu.be/ROTDablv1ZU

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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But it isn‘t Frank‘s looks that give him his power. Asher knows such people. Many magnates have it, the nobly born: that inexplicable self confidence, founded in nothing, or perhaps in the existence of some internal centre of gravity, that makes a person feel like a king in any situation.
(Internet image of Jacob Frank)

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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The Bogamils didn‘t eat meat, just plant foods, occasionally cheese when someone had given them some. They were disgusted by eggs, just the same as they were by meat. Of the vegetables, they did not eat broad beans since they believed that souls might reside there before being born, in those little grains laid out there like in some coffer. ⬇️

Lindy (Continued) On this we agreed: some plants contain more light than others, the most light being held by the cucumber & also the eggplant & all types of long melons. 3y
35 likes1 comment
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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The plaintive rumble of the sea is a lament, and all of nature is taking part in this process, of mourning those gods of whom the world has been in such desperate need. There is no one here. God created the world and the effort of doing so killed him.

charl08 Looking forward to reading this one. 3y
Lindy @charl08 I found it an immersive experience. 👍 3y
34 likes2 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Graves are in fact altogether pointless, since the dead ignore them and roam.

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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This is my second chunkster so far this year. 36 hours in audio. Finished this morning; review to come; I gave it 5 stars and I‘m still formulating further thoughts. #chunksterchallenge2022

Amiable Woo hoo! Excellent! 3y
AmyG Wow 🎉 3y
Lindy @Amiable @AmyG Thanks! ☺️ 3y
See All 11 Comments
wanderinglynn Congrats! 🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
erzascarletbookgasm Wow! 👏💪 3y
Megabooks Congratulations!! 🥳🥳🥳 3y
KatieB I‘ve been wondering if it was worth the effort but sounds so! 3y
Lindy @KatieB The reading experience was, to me, a little like Tolstoy and a little like Wolf Hall. A broad cast of characters, amazing historical period detail, plus philosophy. 3y
MaureenMc 🥳🎉🥳 3y
50 likes11 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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There is a particular kind of science that exists on these sorts of estates: the science of coaxing out blood stains. For centuries, it has been taught to future wives and mothers. If a university for women ever came about, it would be the most important subject.

Lindy Image is from Juni Ba‘s 3y
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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There are four types of money that never bring happiness: writer‘s fees; translator‘s fees; orphan‘s benefits; and money coming from countries overseas.

31 likes1 stack add
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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… they play the greatest tribute to this virgin with her child
… we, too, ought to get under her wings.

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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They say everyone is going to stay 30 forever. This cheers the old and scares the young. But supposedly this is the best age, where health, wisdom and experience are entwined harmoniously.
(Photo: me, age 39)

LeahBergen So cute! 3y
Lindy @LeahBergen ☺️ 3y
Rissreads Awwwwwww ♥️ 3y
See All 11 Comments
Cathythoughts Beautiful 😍 3y
Cathythoughts Interesting, makes me recall my 30‘s. 3y
batsy Lovely! (Also the year I turned 40 was the year the pandemic first broke out, so I can confirm that in retrospect 39 seems to have been a very good year in my life where all of those things were in harmony 🙃) 3y
Lindy @batsy Oh yes, for me too: 2020 will be the year the pandemic started rather than the year I turned 60. 3y
Suet624 Captivating. 3y
DivineDiana I love how you are looking right into the camera with such self assurance! ❤️ 3y
40 likes11 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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The coming-to-be of the world is somehow too poetic, he thinks. For us, it‘s snip, snip, in six days God created the world, like a boss who knows how to get something done, instead of thinking about doing it.

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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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People who write books, he thinks, don‘t want to have their own stories. What would be the point? In comparison with what is written, life will always be boring and bland.

ChaoticMissAdventures I really enjoyed this one,it is so rare to come across an older woman protagonist like her. 3y
Lindy @ChaoticMissAdventures Oh yes! I loved that book too. 👯 3y
Tonton On my TBR and ordered! 3y
See All 7 Comments
Lindy @Tonton 😁👍 3y
Hooked_on_books In my mind, Olga is much older than she appears to be in this picture. Now I‘m even more impressed by her! I‘m next in line at my library for the audio of this beast. 3y
Lindy @Hooked_on_books Olga was born in 1962. Not sure how old she was in the author photo I used. 3y
Hooked_on_books Ok, that makes sense. She‘s amazing any way you slice it! 3y
37 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Lindy
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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In my latest booktube video, I talk about all the readathons in which I plan to participate in March.
https://youtu.be/034aUmIlbNY

Litsy‘s #chunksterchallenge gets a mention too. @Amiable

rabbitprincess Great lineup for March! 😊 3y
Lindy @rabbitprincess Thanks! Are you planning any themed or group reading in March? It might appear that I‘m jumping in with both feet, but many of these readathons have goodreads or discord discussions and I‘m not sure if I am ready for that. 3y
rabbitprincess @Lindy I‘ve developed an accidental theme of crime fiction and thrillers! I also have the third book in Sharon Kay Penman‘s Welsh Princes trilogy on my shelf — maybe this will be its month? 3y
Lindy An accidental theme sounds like it might be mood reading? And, yes, go for that Welsh novel that‘s been on your TBR for ages and blame Dewithon. 😉 https://bookjotter.com/tag/dewithon/ 3y
Amiable Very cool! I love the idea of “March of the Mammoth,“ too! 3y
37 likes5 comments
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rockpools
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Oh, it‘s going to be *that* kind of weekend!

batsy Oh no! 3y
TrishB ☹️ oh dear! A back to bed weekend definitely! 3y
Cathythoughts Oh no ! It can only get better 👍🏻 3y
See All 13 Comments
rockpools @Cathythoughts Indeed! (Currently cleaning up a plant pot that got knocked over 😬) 3y
rockpools @TrishB This is where I‘m going wrong! 3y
rockpools @batsy 😂😂 It wouldn‘t be so bad if I could remember how to restart my kindle without having to Google every time! 3y
julesG Urgh!!! Keep the on/off button pressed until it restarts - that's about 30 seconds. 3y
BkClubCare I don‘t use my kindle enough and always have to charge it. I suppose I need to google how to turn it off!? 3y
Soubhiville Yikes! Hope you worked it out! 3y
rockpools @julesG Thank you - got it. When my old Kindle died I was having to do factory resets every couple of weeks which was a right faff - I couldn‘t remember if holding the off key would just restart the thing or reset everything 😱 3y
rockpools @BkClubCare It‘s crazy, isn‘t it? We should automatically know these things… but I have no idea how to turn off a kindle! 3y
rockpools @Soubhiville Thank you! Got there eventually- it‘s always a “gaah! Have I lost everything forever” moment when these things start playing up! 3y
CarolynM ☹ Glad you got it fixed. 3y
63 likes13 comments
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charl08
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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This rave review has convinced me.

"Storytelling, The Books of Jacob seems to suggest, is not altogether unlike virtuoso tricksterism or alchemy. Reaching the end of this dazzling book, I also felt like a devoted disciple, of Olga Tokarczuk, impatient for her to return and lead me to new imaginary realms."
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/books-of-jacob-olga-tokarczuk-book-review-ada...

56 likes2 stack adds
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Yossarian
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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I went to the bookstore today fully intending to buy this 900+ page behemoth, but when I opened it up, the PAGE NUMBERS WENT BACKWARDS.

I was not mentally prepared to read a book that was counting down, so I made an alternate selection.

wanderinglynn That‘s wild! 3y
LiteraryinPA That would really throw me off! 3y
BkClubCare Oooo my 3y
See All 9 Comments
DGRachel I thought it was a misprint until I looked at the table of contents. I have some book club dates I have to meet first, but I can‘t wait to dive into this one. 3y
Simona I love this book! It was my favourite book from two years ago, it is still on my all time favourites list, and I expect to be this year International Booker winner … 3y
Simona … and welcome back 😘 3y
rockpools Welcome back! And that‘s intriguingly weird - I guess I‘m going to have to try it @Simona ! 3y
Simona Think ahead @rockpools - one big book ✅ from the dozen (or +one if the judges feel like it) 😘 3y
sarahbarnes I just started this one today…and suddenly noticed about 5 pages in that this was happening. 😂 3y
61 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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DGRachel
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Took a lunch trip to Park Road Books to pick up a couple of recent releases. I had no idea The Books of Jacob was such a door stopper. 😱 Super excited about all of these, though. New books make me happy.

TracyReadsBooks That‘s a super exciting stack of books. Enjoy! 3y
54 likes1 comment
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jlhammar
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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#bookmail A tad intimidated by this beast (nearly 1000 pages!), but mostly just excited.

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sarahbarnes
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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“The usefulness of Latin is debated, gout is suffered, colds are caught, large breasts are fetishized, fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice quaffed. At a key moment, a character might wander off and weed the oregano. It‘s that kind of book.” Quote from review in the NYT. I‘m excited to dive into this book! Thanks @vivastory for the tip!

Suet624 Wow! It's the entire kitchen sink!!! And quite the challenge. Enjoy! 3y
readordierachel That is a chunkster! 3y
cariashley Wow that‘s a big guy!!! 3y
See All 8 Comments
vivastory I received my copy last week. Looking forward to it 👏 3y
Ruthiella Enjoy! 3y
merelybookish Gosh, it's like another 3y
sarahbarnes @merelybookish it truly is! 3y
BkClubCare Hmmmm. I adored (and exasperated?!) by Ducks Newburyport 🤣 Maybe I should attempt this. 3y
36 likes8 comments
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Emilymdxn
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Once again, my capacity to attempt retail therapy knows no bounds, but I didn‘t really know what to do with myself the morning of the funeral so I took myself out to Waterstones to kill some time. Being around all the books really did make me feel a bit better and I enjoyed picking them up and choosing. I‘ve been wanting the books of Jacob ever since it came out and decided today was the day.

SRWCF Being around books always makes me feel better, too. I totally get it. 3y
LiteraryinPA I think in this situation, you just do anything that brings you a little comfort. Hope today goes ok. Hugs. 💗 3y
CarolynM I'm sorry for your loss. Hugs. 3y
75 likes3 comments
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Simona
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Late, but still - summary of my reading year: In 2019 I read 134 books (41,117 pages), my average rating is 3,4 ⭐️, and 11 books have 5 ⭐️, but only 3 made it to my favorite list. Books of Jacob by O.Tokarczuk (rich historical novel set in Poland in the 18th Century about controversial historical man Jacob Frank). I will be very disappointed if this book doesn‘t win this year Booker International Prize. Lucy Ellmann‘s Ducks, Newburyport ... 👇

Simona ... (dense and so relatable stream of consciousness about everything that is wrong in today‘s society and world). Yes, I was disappointed that this book didn‘t win the Booker Prize ... and short story, retelling the myth of Pygmalion, Galatea by M.Miller (a painfully beautiful and dark story about disobedient wife). Three very different stories, but with one common thing - they are masterpieces.😁 5y
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing your 3 highlights 🧡🧡🧡 5y
BarbaraBB I‘ll check them out, thanks! 5y
See All 7 Comments
Simona @Cinfhen Thank YOU for being so kind:) 5y
Simona @BarbaraBB Ellman and Tokarczuk are time consuming, but Miller's Galatea is really short, short story ... just a hint 😉 5y
BarbaraBB I know but it‘s about time I start reading Tokarczuk. I was thinking of the one I tag but Jacob is definitely a good alternative 5y
Simona @BarbaraBB Drive Your Plow was just ok for me (not worthy the Booker nomination, but otherwise - interesting topic), but if you are craving for some rich (plot and language-wise) then my recommendation is Jacob. I think that the English translation will be released in March. 5y
58 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Simona
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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It isn‘t just my favorite #BFC read so far, it is also my favorite book of the year. Historical novel about charismatic man - Jacob, leader of the Jewish group that converted to Islam and Catholicism. Rich, complex and definitely masterpiece.
I reached my reading goals, 1 audio and 1 print book ➡️ finished 2 audio and 1 print book. Fitness goals: walking 25 km ➡️ 29,3 km, workout 4 hours ➡️ 3 hours 45 minutes, and I was on 2 hours long yoga class.

dariazeoli Great work! 👍 5y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 A great week 4! And thanks for sharing. 5y
BookwormAHN Great job 👏🏻 5y
51 likes5 comments
review
Simona
The Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk
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Pickpick

This complex, stylistic and content-rich historical novel takes place in the second half of the 18th century, when a group of Jews led by Jacob Frank, decided for religious conversion into Catholicism. A story, based on real events and persons, is a picturesque display of social, especially religious flows that shaped the European continent, incredibly subtle and thoughtful look at the dark side of the history - antisemitism. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

batsy This sounds amazing. Nice review ❤️ 5y
Simona It‘s amazing! My favorite from this year (so far) and definitely on the all time favorite list. English translation will be published in September 2020 and my prediction is that this book will win Booker International Prize in 2021. It is comparable with the Mantel‘s first Cromwell book. Same richness and density in cast of characters, story and language, but more diverse in narration technique. @batsy (edited) 5y
Chrissyreadit Is it in Polish? 5y
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Simona @Chrissyreadit Originally yes, but book on the picture is Slovenian translation, in English - it will be published next year in September. 5y
Chrissyreadit @Simona thanks! I‘m interested in reading this when it is available in English. 5y
Simona @Chrissyreadit It‘s 900 pages long doorstopper which demands commitment, but well worth the time. 5y
rockpools Oh wow, your all-time favourite! I‘ve reserved it from the library, but suspect I‘ll have to buy it if I want it before May. And the combination of forward planning, 900pp and historical/religious figures worries me a little 😱 (edited) 3y
Simona @rockpools Don‘t worry, it is exhausting read, but in the good way. If you appreciate in the books more than just the storyline you will like it. 🤞 I‘m very exciting to see, FINALLY, others reviews, and the funny thing is that I already know what the readers will complain about … 3y
rockpools Oh look! It made the list! 👏👏 3y
Simona @rockpools It would be strange, if it didn‘t! That book is the winner 😘😘 3y
rockpools @Simona Of course! How silly of me 😉. I have 3 days leave now. I may well need to devote that to Jacob! 3y
Simona Enjoy in those free days @rockpools ❣️ 3y
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