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My Volcano
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
37 posts | 20 read | 12 to read
On June 2, 2016, a protrusion of rock is spotted by a jogger growing from the Central Park Reservoir. Three weeks later, when it finally stops growing, it's nearly two-and-a-half miles tall, and has been determined to be an active volcano. As the volcano grows and then looms over New York, an eight-year-old boy in Mexico City finds himself transported 500 years into the past, where he witnesses the fall of the Aztec Empire; a Nigerian scholar in Tokyo studies a folktale about a woman of fire who descends a mountain and destroys an entire village; a white trans writer in Jersey City struggles to write a sci-fi novel about a thriving civilization on an impossible planet; a nurse tends to Syrian refugees in Greece while grappling with the trauma of living through the bombing of a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan; a nomadic farmer in Mongolia is stung by a bee, magically transforming him into a green, thorned, flowering creature that aspires to connect every living thing into its consciousness. With its riveting and audacious vision, My Volcano is a tapestry on fire, a distorted and cinematic new work from the fiercely talented John Elizabeth Stintzi.
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Liz_M
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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#12Booksof2023 April

Definitely the strangest 🦇💩🍌👖book I read all year, which also made it the most intriguing and fun. And I luuuurve the cover.

@Andrew65

Andrew65 It does look intriguing. 3mo
Ruthiella This was pretty🍌 👖! 3mo
25 likes2 comments
review
Soubhiville
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Mehso-so

I‘m afraid I‘m not in the right mind space to enjoy this very strange book. It was too convoluted for me just now. There are so many characters and storylines, I‘m just not really sure what happened.

There were parts I really liked, especially the bee/pollen mutation and hive mind infestation that developed from that.

Overall, 🍌👖 and downright strange.

Hooked_on_books This is one that I absolutely loved and at the same time saw it would absolutely not work for everyone. Too bad it didn‘t end up working for you! 5mo
60 likes1 comment
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Soubhiville
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Airport reading. ✈️ Headed to Colorado to visit family.

This is a strange one! Not sure yet if I‘m enjoying it or not. I‘ll let you know 🙂📚

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Great cover! Happy travels! ✈️ 6mo
bthegood safe travels - 6mo
Hooked_on_books I loved this one! It‘s definitely 🍌 👖 6mo
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
psalva
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

A genre-defying novel full of memorably surreal occurrences. It was a wild reading experience, with moments of terror and laugh-out-loud funny satire that made our own reality scarier and more stark, but not entirely hopeless. In the end, I‘m not sure what else to say beyond praising its existence. Thank you again @Lindy for putting Stintzi on my radar.
P.S.- The cover depicts not a hawk as I thought originally, but a myna bird.

Lindy I am so pleased to hear you praise its existence 🏳️‍⚧️ 7mo
18 likes1 comment
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BarbaraBB
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Finally, we‘re on. The #ToB23 has started!

Today was the Play-In and right from the start we‘re choosing another book than the judge in the official tournament. Their winner is, not surprisingly, My Volcano, a book that was very popular among us too. It was a close call between My Volcano and An Island. The latter however won with one more vote! An Island will enter the #LitsyToB 23 against The Rabbit Hutch. Thoughts?

Cinfhen Not surprised we are already veering from the official tournament!! Also I‘d be SHOCKED if Rabbit Hutch doesn‘t advance in both tournaments!!!!! 13mo
Ruthiella Interesting! I liked both but for me An Island has the edge: shorter, lovely writing and easier to follow. 13mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I was just thinking it‘s just like the ToB to make My Volcano the winner of that match! 13mo
See All 36 Comments
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I loved The Island and voted for it but I must say that My Volcano keeps lingering in my mind. So many themes in that book. 13mo
kwmg40 I liked My Volcano better but reading the comments of other Littens has made me want to re-examine my views on An Island. So this is the best of both worlds for me, where both books advance and I get to see further discussion on them. 13mo
sarahbarnes Interesting! Yes not surprised at all that Volcano was their pick. Here we go!! 13mo
rmaclean4 I read An Island when it was up for The Booker, and it has stayed with me. Happy it won our Play In round. 13mo
jlhammar Wow, only one vote making the difference for us! Happy My Volcano won the official tournament. Enjoyed the judgement, especially this bit “I loved the bombast of the book, the feeling that I was tearing through time and space while reading it, the mystery of how all the pieces fit together, the remarkable and unrelenting presence of each rendered moment.“ 13mo
BkClubCare I am thrilled with both winning LOL - An Island seems like a book that will be taught in HS - it is tight and literary. My Volcano is a wild ride and has many great elements, but too many “huh?”s 😝 13mo
Deblovestoread As a newbie, I am just excited about my vote winning in our tournament 😀 13mo
batsy I only read An Island and was really surprised by it—a lot of it is still playing in my mind. But Volcano sounds super intriguing so it's kinda cool that it won, too. I'm off to read the judgment! 13mo
Jas16 I was so excited waking up today knowing the tournament was starting! I was happy with the judgement although none of these books were ones I felt especially strongly about. I do think it is interesting that only one vote determined our winner and I love how varied our opinions are. 13mo
BarbaraBB @jlhammar That is a great quote indeed. I think the judge really said good things about all three books. She did it hem justice - and we only just started. Looking forward to all discussions! 13mo
Larkken @BkClubCare I agree with your thoughts on Island! I've not finished yet but it has lots of interesting themes and they're presented in a digestible way which would be nice for schools. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around My Volcano! 13mo
BarbaraBB @Larkken I can see why. I remember @Hooked_on_books saw the volcanoes as a metaphor for gun violence, and @Megabooks for climate change. We had a great discussion about it in the comment below my review - if you‘re interested! 13mo
BkClubCare @batsy - it is a lovely ruling 💕 A great start to the tourney. (edited) 13mo
Megabooks Great ruling! I‘ve got to say I agree with most of her observations. She pinged right on what I thought about both An Island and My Volcano. I‘m a bit disappointed that MV won‘t advance here, but I think in both tournaments, Rabbit will likely be the next winner in this bracket. And @Larkken I hope you check out that discussion Barbara mentioned because it was really interesting that @Hooked_on_books and I saw different things. 13mo
squirrelbrain I loved the judge‘s comment that all 3 of the books felt like they were in conversation with each other. I‘m pleased for both winners - ours and the official one but I agree with you @Cinfhen about The Rabbit Hutch proceeding in both. 13mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I am glad that My Volcano advances in the ToB for now. There is really so much to say about it! 13mo
Hooked_on_books I am THRILLED with today‘s judge! I just loved My Volcano and am so happy to see it advance. For me, it was the clear winner of the play-in round (boo on us for picking something else! 😝). And it should totally beat Rabbit Hutch. 😉 13mo
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books It might! It‘s the TOB 😉 13mo
Chelsea.Poole I voted for Island because I hadn‘t yet finished Volcano but I was enjoying it, even if I maybe didn‘t get everything the author was trying to do. I haven‘t read the judge‘s comments yet so I‘m anxious to see what they say. 13mo
merelybookish I hadnt read any of them and kind of picked An Island randomly. So my vote and input don't count for much. 😁🙈 13mo
Well-ReadNeck Lol. I picked 2am. 😝 13mo
RebelReader I picked My Volcano 13mo
RebelReader @squirrelbrain Where do you go to read the judges comments? 13mo
Suet624 I had a rare DNF with My Volcano. Because of my work schedule it was overwhelming for me. I hope to go back to it when things settle down. Reading An Island now. :) 13mo
squirrelbrain Thanks for posting the link! @Suet624 I hope you enjoy reading the judges‘ comments @RebelReader (edited) 13mo
batsy @BkClubCare Yes. This struck me: "I loved that the book felt like an explosive device injected into our current era—and into history itself—and detonated." That is some recommendation! I hope My Volcano is available on Kindle soon or in a more affordable version for the international market. 13mo
BarbaraBB @merelybookish Haha! Well it would have been a draw without your vote so this is better 😉 13mo
BarbaraBB @Well-ReadNeck Only you and @Cinfhen did. It didn‘t stand a chance! 13mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 An Island is just your kind of book I think. And I think you‘ll love My Volcano @batsy 13mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB I'm glad to hear you think it's my kind of book. Now that the March 7th election is done I'm looking forward to having the time to really sink into An Island. Hoping also to get back to My Volcano eventually. 13mo
cariashley Finally catching up on TOB after a busy week of work travel! Honestly I didn‘t love any of these but My Volcano had its moments for me. I agree it‘ll probably be moot in a Rabbit Hutch showdown anyway (and I‘m only halfway through that one!) 13mo
Addison_Reads I am glad My Volcano won in the official #ToB23. An Island is the only book on the shortlist I haven't read yet. With so many people voting for it though maybe I need to read it now. 13mo
57 likes36 comments
review
Ruthiella
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

🤯What did I just read? This is (I think) simultaneously four alternate version of what happens after a volcano bizarrely appears in Central Park NYC. I know I didn‘t keep it all straight. But I enjoyed the journey. The back of the book says “part parable, myth, science fiction, and eco-horror”. Yes, yes, yes. And more.

And with that I am an official #ToB2023 completist! 🥳

merelybookish Well done! 👏 13mo
Ruthiella @merelybookish Thanks 😊 13mo
squirrelbrain Great review - I feel pretty much the same about this one. Well done on completing! 🎉 13mo
See All 26 Comments
jlhammar Right? It is crazy, but kind of cool. And wow to your completist status! I‘m excited for the tournament to begin. 13mo
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain Thanks! I can‘t wait to see if I can find a review on Goodreads that explains it all to me! 😂 13mo
Suet624 Congrats! That's a big accomplishment considering the selection of books this year. 13mo
Hooked_on_books I loved this utterly bananas book. Congrats on completing! 🥳 13mo
Ruthiella @jlhammar Yes, insane but also fun. I‘m excited now too to hear what the judges will make of the shortlisted novels! 13mo
Ruthiella @Suet624 😂😂😂 Yes, this year was a bit of an uphill climb. 13mo
Ruthiella @Hooked_on_books It was completely bananas! 🍌 But so creative. The “otherwise” has to be their own creation, right? 13mo
Chelsea.Poole Great job!! 13mo
Ruthiella @Chelsea.Poole Thanks! 😊 13mo
sarahbarnes Nice work! Glad to see you liked this one too. 13mo
Ruthiella @sarahbarnes It was confusing yet entertaining! 13mo
BarbaraBB Congratulations! So impressive! And you finished on a high 💕 13mo
kwmg40 I felt the same way about this book. Congratulations on finishing the list! 13mo
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB Yes! It was a nice finish to the 18 books. 😃 (edited) 13mo
Ruthiella @kwmg40 Thanks! Looking forward to see how it does in the play-in round! 🤔 13mo
BkClubCare 👏👏👏👏 13mo
batsy Wow, that's really cool. Well done! 🙌🏾 And this one does sound especially unique. I think it was you and I (maybe? 😆) who were hoping for something Jeff VanderMeerish from this—is that what you thought of it? 13mo
batsy *me and you, you and I, something like that 😂 13mo
MicheleinPhilly Well done! 🙌🏼 13mo
Ruthiella @batsy It does sort of wander into VanderMeer territory, but is also very much it‘s own thing. I actually had NO expectations about this one because every one said it was banana pants. 😂 13mo
Ruthiella @batsy PS It was The Echo Wife from last summer where I was disappointed that there was more romance and less weird…maybe that‘s what you were thinking of. 🤔 13mo
Ruthiella @MicheleinPhilly Thanks. 😊 13mo
70 likes1 stack add26 comments
review
jlhammar
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Well, that was a wild ride! Supremely weird, frenetic, polyphonic, impactful—I enjoyed this more than I was expecting to. I especially liked the storylines with Angel and Old Otherwise. Hope this wins the #ToB23 play-in match.

squirrelbrain I (rather surprisingly) really enjoyed this too. 13mo
sarahbarnes Yes! 13mo
batsy I haven't read this though all of the reviews have piqued my interest. I just finished An Island and I'm rooting for that one. It's a quiet, sad book 💔 13mo
69 likes3 comments
review
sarahbarnes
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Wow, I‘m so glad I decided to read this despite my reservations. What a book. Unbounded creativity and an unflinching look at so many things we have to answer for, from climate disasters to transphobia. Sometimes I was definitely in over my head, but I couldn‘t put this one down. Thank you #ToB2023!

Megabooks Great review! Glad you ended up reading it! 13mo
Ruthiella Sounds like a wild ride ! I‘m looking forward to reading this one. 13mo
See All 10 Comments
squirrelbrain Great review! And I agree completely, I‘m so glad I read this. 13mo
Cinfhen Maybe I need to revisit this book before the Tournament 😁awesome review 13mo
kwmg40 Nice review! I felt the same way about this book. 13mo
BkClubCare Woo hoo! I agree!! 👏 There was just an earnestness in this that worked for me. 13mo
Chelsea.Poole Great review. I‘m reading this (slowly) now! 13mo
BarbaraBB Fab review and you are right, if it weren‘t for the ToB we probably wouldn‘t have read it 13mo
Hooked_on_books I loved this, too! And I didn‘t know about it before the tournament, so I don‘t know if I would have found it otherwise. 13mo
47 likes10 comments
review
squirrelbrain
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Now, this was weird and I didn‘t have a clue what was going on most of the time but I really liked it…! Does that make me a bit weird too?! 🤣

I liked some of the story lines better than others and I preferred the earlier parts of all of the stories. I *think* the book as a whole is an allegory of the ‘butterfly effect‘, where what we do, particularly in terms of environmental impact, can have a ripple effect across the world. 🤔

batsy I want to read this one! But looks like I'll have to buy a copy and maybe I need to budget my book-buying for the moment 😂 So I'll probably get to it much later. 13mo
Lindy Helen, I absolutely love this novel and, yes, it‘s weird. 🌋🍋 13mo
BarbaraBB Great review! I enjoyed this one much more than I expected to! 13mo
See All 16 Comments
Cinfhen Love your insight! I just couldn‘t get through it. This is the year I #HailTheBail and don‘t feel guilty about bailing on books that aren‘t speaking to me 13mo
Cathythoughts Interesting review Helen ! Stacked. 13mo
Chelsea.Poole I‘m slowly making my way through this now. “Weird” is a great description for this 😆 It‘s working for me more than I thought it would, I must say! 13mo
Hooked_on_books Hooray! So glad you liked it! I thought it was absolutely fabulous! And I‘ve heard people talking about loving books they don‘t really understand, so I don‘t think that makes you weird. Not on that account, anyway. 😉 13mo
squirrelbrain @batsy -I could send you my copy (that would get round a book-buying ban, right?!) but we‘re still having issues here in the UK with sending international post. If things improve I‘ll let you know. 13mo
squirrelbrain Yes, @Chelsea.Poole I went into this fully expecting not to like it, but I really did, even if a lot of it went over my head. 13mo
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - weird is wonderful, surely?! 13mo
Megabooks Great review!! There was A LOT going on in this one, and great point about the butterfly effect. 💜 13mo
sarahbarnes Great review! I‘m reading this one next and very curious about it! 13mo
batsy @squirrelbrain You're so kind but please don't worry about it! I'm still so behind and I'm hoping that in due time a Kindle version shows up 😁 Thank you for the offer, though 💜 13mo
Librarybelle Great review! 13mo
Suet624 I just got mine from the library. The reviews have intrigued me. 13mo
squirrelbrain @Suet624 @sarahbarnes - I hope you enjoy it! (edited) 13mo
71 likes16 comments
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BkClubCare
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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“And so, just like that, Ash became everything, and nothing, and forever, and never having ever been at all. He became the aching blank that bears the weight of everything.”

36 likes1 stack add
blurb
squirrelbrain
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Sunday afternoon, with a book, a blanket and a dog! ❤️❤️❤️

This book is bonkers; I haven‘t got a clue what‘s going on, but weirdly I‘m rather liking it.

I‘m also reading A Little Life and an ARC of the new Rebecca Makkai (I Have Some Questions For You) and that‘s pretty much my #weeklyforecast too.

(If only I could spend the whole week on the sofa with books, a blanket and the dog!)

Cinfhen Henry looks so comfy!! Like he can‘t imagine a better way to spend the weekend either 😊 14mo
majkia Awww, Henry. 14mo
rockpools Aww, that looks so cosy! 14mo
See All 12 Comments
TrishB Perfect ♥️ 14mo
batsy 😍 14mo
Graywacke Cute pup! 14mo
julesG Those puppy eyes😍😍😍 14mo
LeahBergen Henry! 🥰 14mo
dabbe Those soulful brown eyes, Henry! Whoah! ❣️🐾❣️ 14mo
BarbaraBB Looking so cute. Perfect Sunday. Also I love your edition 😍 14mo
Megabooks That is the most precious face! What a great reading buddy! 😍 13mo
Suet624 What a sweet pup you have there. 13mo
77 likes12 comments
blurb
Chelsea.Poole
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Moving on to My Volcano for #ToB2023 🌋

Mel Just picked this one up at the library! 14mo
73 likes1 comment
review
kwmg40
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Most of the time while I was reading this book, I had no idea what was going on, but honestly, that didn't reduce my enjoyment of the story! It's weird and chaotic but also has beautiful moments and creates very vivid images. #ToB2023

Second book finished for #FabulousFebruary @Andrew65
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 14mo
BkClubCare Vivid! I agree 14mo
Ruthiella I like that cover! This‘ll be the last TOB book I read…so it‘ll be a while before I get to it. 14mo
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB I‘ve not seen that edition before. It is great! 14mo
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 14mo
kwmg40 @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65 Thanks for stopping by! 14mo
kwmg40 @BkClubCare There are so many great images that are staying with me -- stars burning out one at a time, houses walking around on legs .... 14mo
kwmg40 @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I borrowed this edition from my local library. I think it's the original edition from Arsenal Pulp Press, an indie Canadian publisher. They also publish Ivan Coyote, whose books are terrific. 14mo
41 likes8 comments
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BkClubCare
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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So excited that ILL found me this! #ToB2023

“Reality is nothing but the opinion of power.” - old witch‘s proverb

Ruthiella 👍👍👍 14mo
BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll like it! 14mo
Suet624 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 14mo
See All 18 Comments
shortsarahrose Hurrah for ILL! 🎉 📖 14mo
Hooked_on_books Hooray! I loved this and hope you do, too. It‘s pretty bananas! 14mo
BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books - I ♥️🍌 !! Oh, and look, there‘s a 🌋 emjoi 🤣 14mo
BkClubCare @shortsarahrose - I know right? Mine costs $3 but that is fine with me. 14mo
BkClubCare @Suet624 - I don‘t think I am going to be a 100% completist but this is one I felt I needed to get to. 14mo
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - me, too! I have too many books going at the moment; this one is now number 1 priority 1️⃣ 14mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - Have you read it yet?! 😬 14mo
BkClubCare “Reality is nothing but the opinion of power.” - old witch‘s proverb 14mo
BkClubCare “The attendant in the booth yelled emptily to him, knowing he was paid enough to be outraged, but not to take action.“ 14mo
Ruthiella No, not yet. It‘s the only one I had to buy, so I will read it last since library borrows are time limited. 14mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - 👌 I purchased Mouth to Mouth so I‘m saving that. 14mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella P.S. I ordered 2 tee shirts. 😳😱🙄 14mo
Ruthiella @BkClubCare Was one the version with the book covers? I like it a lot. 14mo
Suet624 I won‘t be a completist either but I‘m doing my best. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 14mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella Yes - on royal blue. I also got a long sleeve yellow - might be last year‘s design. 14mo
47 likes18 comments
review
ImperfectCJ
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

I didn't love this one, and I didn't hate it, but I think I get what Stintzi is trying to do, and I appreciate it. The repetition and the multiple realities capture well the feeling of "where do we go from here?" that seems to be pervading life for a lot of us and especially for those in my children's generation (poor GenZ...y'all don't even get the hope of the late 80s/early 90s before you have to face serious crap. At least you have YouTube).

ImperfectCJ This is my January #doublespin, and I'm counting it as finished in January because I finished it before noon on February 1. Also #tob2023 14mo
44 likes1 comment
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RebelReader
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Mehso-so

I didn‘t love it,but I didn‘t hate it either. It doesn‘t get a pick from me because it was hard to follow the story lines at times. I never would have read this if not for #ToBshortlist2023 and even then it took some of you saying good things about it and my library had it.

Megabooks It was a lot to follow. If he had bit off less, it would‘ve been stronger. 14mo
RebelReader @Megabooks I totally agree and then it would have been a pick for me. 14mo
Ruthiella Wow! Your library had a copy? This is the one I had to buy. Probably it will be the last one I read, since I don‘t have to rush to return it. 14mo
RebelReader @Ruthiella I‘m so fortunate that my library is well stocked. I‘m there at least once a week for pickup and I‘ve started using Libby a lot more for audio too. 14mo
48 likes4 comments
review
cariashley
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Mehso-so

Just way too much going on here, which I know was the whole point, but the constant wtf-is-happening feeling made me tired. I really liked certain storylines, especially Ash & Joao, and the early parts of Mackayla‘s thread before it got real weird. I liked this more than 2 AM, but need to read the third play-in round book for #tob23.

BkClubCare I *think* that I requested this via ILL. I hope! Library will charge me $3 and that is just fine 😆 1y
Megabooks I feel like if he had pared down the number of characters or timelines, it could‘ve been stronger. 1y
cariashley @Megabooks completely agree. 1y
54 likes3 comments
review
Megabooks
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

This metaphorical book about climate change and gun violence lands in the top half of #tob23 reads for me. Another great one for discussion! I had trouble keeping track of the multiple timelines at points, but symphony of voices was hard to put down.

Suddenly, a volcano erupts in Central Park. There are links around the world where strange things start happening with animals. Meanwhile, the author notes the escalating toll of gun violence.

Hooked_on_books Yes! It‘s not just in my top half, but one of my top books! Which means it probably won‘t make it out of the play-in round. 😂🤷🏼‍♀️ 1y
BkClubCare If only I could find it! 1y
See All 12 Comments
RebelReader Originally, I thought I would pass on this one, but I‘m reconsidering. 1y
Ruthiella I‘m super curious about this one. @BkClubCare I ended up buying it because no libraries had it. I almost always end up buying one every year and it‘s usually a small press book, so I don‘t mind throwing a little cash their way. 1y
sarahbarnes Okay, I might have to check this one out. 1y
BarbaraBB Great review. A symphony of voices indeed, all calling for my attention but at times too chaotic for me 1y
BarbaraBB Do I spy @squirrelbrain ‘s calendar 😍😍? 1y
Cinfhen Im getting more & more curious about this book 💚 1y
squirrelbrain Right, I‘m just going to bite the bullet and get this one! 1y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB yes you do spy @squirrelbrain ‘s calendar! Thank you Helen! 😘 1y
squirrelbrain 😁…. And I capitulated and ordered the book….! 1y
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review
BarbaraBB
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

A light pick because of its originality. The book is bonkers! A volcano arises in the midst of Central Park and it seems connected to Mount Fuji. All over the world volcanos are acting up and weird things start happening everywhere. Unimaginable things. I don‘t watch many movies but I‘d make an exception if this book would be made into one.

#ToB23 #ReadingTheAmericas2023 #Mexico 🇲🇽 #52Booksclub23 #FirstWordIsThe #pop23 #FirstTimeAuthor

Cinfhen Hoping to pick this up over the weekend!! Awesome photo 😁looks like a gorgeous sunny day 😎 1y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen sunny but cold! Curious what you‘ll think about this one 🌋 1y
squirrelbrain I can see I may have to get this one soon! 🤔 1y
See All 26 Comments
Megabooks I finished this up last night and agree. It started out a strong pick but got a little too fantastical to stay one. I still enjoyed it though. I‘m also using it for #booked2023 #transcharacter. 👍🏻👍🏻 (edited) 1y
Hooked_on_books A movie made out of this would be like an acid trip! But, frankly, the book kinda is, too. I really responded to the volcano as metaphor for gun violence. It‘s this huge thing staring us in the face and we just shrug and look away (in my country, that is). I really liked that message, as it‘s so true. 1y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I already used another one for that prompt 1y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I never thought of gun violence but I never do in real life either. I agree that it is different when you live in the US and guns are everywhere. You might be right about the volcanos being a metaphor. What do you think @Megabooks ? (edited) 1y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I love the cover. 1y
Megabooks Barbara @Hooked_on_books I read it as climate change. That was what has popped up everywhere and can have multiple outcomes depending on how we react. (I kinda liked how the book had multiple outcomes for the characters, but it was a bit confusing!) I can see gun violence too. This was an interesting one. (I forgot you read manhunt this year, not last, B. 👍🏻) 1y
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks @BarbaraBB I think there are many metaphors in this book and climate change is one as well. Every so often in the book, there‘s a date, a name, and how the person or people died, and all but one are deaths by gun violence. The names are otherwise unconnected to the rest of the story in the book, so that‘s how the metaphor revealed itself to me. 1y
Ruthiella I like bonkers! I‘m looking forward to this one. 😜 1y
LaraReads Gorgeous photo! And what I wild sounding book. Love the cover too. 1y
Librarybelle Gorgeous photo! 1y
batsy Great review and excellent photo, as always! 🙂 1y
AshleyHoss820 Now I know why this has been on my TBR! Sounds awesome! Love this review! 1y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I read it as climate change too and how we look away while the sighs are everywhere. I kept wondering about the mentions of real people killed by gun violence. I thought they were killed due to gender or sexuality. I think I made that up because almost all narrators are lgbtqi+ 1y
BarbaraBB @AshleyHoss820 @squirrelbrain @Ruthiella I can‘t foresee if you‘ll like it or not, I guess you probably will 1y
BarbaraBB @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @LaraReads It‘s a gorgeous edition too, format and paper quality are 👌🏽 (edited) 1y
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle @batsy Thank you. The church tower Anne Frank could see and listen to is in the background (edited) 1y
Cinfhen I love this sidebar conversation- it‘ll help me as I start the book @Megabooks @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB And I agree, the physical quality of this book feels really special. I love the size & format. And how cool about the church tower. 1y
squirrelbrain I agree @Cinfhen - this book sounds rather bonkers so understanding the metaphors before one starts may be rather useful and insightful. Thank you @Hooked_on_books @Megabooks @BarbaraBB 1y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I do see a focus on LGBTQ+ people killed being mentioned, but I think Philando Castile was included and as far as I know, he was not queer. But of course I could be wrong about that. And I do think the author intended the volcano to be a metaphor for many of the ills of society that we simply choose to ignore, which is part of why I thought this book was so good. It has a lot of depth. 1y
Cortg Sounds like a fun read! I may have to check it out! 1y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books It‘s a very powerful message and metaphor, and brought to us by the author in a complete new and original way. It‘s very good, I agree. I now appreciate it more thanks to our discussion! 1y
kwmg40 I have this out from the library and looking forward to it, especially after reading the discussion here. 1y
BarbaraBB @kwmg40 I‘ll be very interested to hear your thoughts about it 1y
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review
Hooked_on_books
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

In a relatively lackluster #tob2023 year, I‘m delighted to say I LOVED this! It‘s completely bananas and won‘t be for everyone, but the volcano in Central Park, temporal anomalies, and metaphors galore really worked for me. I‘m so glad the tourney put this one on my radar.

Ruthiella Sounds fun! This is the one I had to buy, so I‘ll probably get to it last, only because no one will be waiting for it from the library! 😅 1y
batsy This sounds intriguing! Something fresh and different, so I'm looking forward to it. 1y
squirrelbrain Gah! This one is silly-expensive over here so I was hoping it would be no good and I could skip it… 🤣 1y
See All 29 Comments
Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville I think you‘d like this one! 1y
BarbaraBB I am reading it now too and not fully into it yet but I hope I‘ll feel like you! 1y
Cinfhen I‘m hoping to pick it up this week and I‘m happy to send you my copy @squirrelbrain xxx 1y
Cinfhen I started Babel on audio last night @Ruthiella @batsy @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I‘m actually REALLY ENJOYING! Im surprising myself and probably @TrishB and @julesG 😘🤓 1y
julesG Glad you're enjoying Babel! The audio was good. I started Babel on audio, then wanted the physical copy because of the footnotes and Chinese characters. I ended up doing immersion reading. I'm not saying it's a bad book, the last part just didn't sit well with me. 1y
Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen I actually didn‘t like it much at all. I found the messaging heavy handed and never really connected with the story. 1y
Hooked_on_books @julesG The last part didn‘t sit well with me either. The constant barrage of “violence is the only way,” which I don‘t agree with at all, was disturbing. 1y
julesG Yep, that was my issue, too. 1y
Cinfhen Ohhhh, I forgot you read this one 🤦🏼‍♀️right now im still enjoying the setting & world building but we‘ll see… still 8 + hours to go 🙄 1y
batsy @squirrelbrain I know! I just saw that there doesn't seem to be an affordable Kindle version, either. 1y
Hooked_on_books @batsy @squirrelbrain The publisher is a really small press in the US, so they may not have the reach for good deals on foreign distribution rights, which is a bummer but understandable. 1y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I hope you like it, too, but part of me thinks this may not be a book for you. I hope I‘m wrong! 1y
Megabooks I just started it this morning and couldn‘t agree more!! 👍🏻👍🏻 1y
Soubhiville Thanks for the recommendation, I‘ll see if my library has it 😁🌋 1y
MicheleinPhilly This is one I‘m skipping. It just sounds way too weird for my tastes. Glad you enjoyed it! 1y
sarahbarnes Oh nice! I might give this one a try based on your review! 1y
BkClubCare YAY!!! 🎉 Certainly one I wouldn‘t have found if not for the TOB. 1y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I am listening to Babel on audio. Kind of enjoying it too. I certainly learn a lot about translating! 1y
BarbaraBB So far I am enjoying My Volcano Holly 🤞🏽 1y
Cinfhen Oh how fun that you have both these books going @BarbaraBB 1y
squirrelbrain You‘re so kind @Cinfhen - in fact you‘re a one-woman ToB bookshop! However, it‘s probably the same cost for me to buy it as it is for you to post it, so don‘t worry for now and I‘ll keep an eye out for it…. 1y
Cinfhen If you change your mind lmk @squirrelbrain 😘 1y
Hooked_on_books @MicheleinPhilly It‘s for sure not for everyone, so I get your response! 1y
MicheleinPhilly My local indie picked this for book club a few months ago and not a single person showed up. 😬 1y
Hooked_on_books @MicheleinPhilly That‘s so sad! It‘s a niche book for sure, but for someone like me, it‘s so good. I‘m sorry people missed out on it. 1y
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BarbaraBB
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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#weeklyforecast 03/23

I am reading The Lover‘s Dictionary, a wonderful little book sent to me by the lovely @KarenUK . Next will be the tagged one for #ToB23 (just like you Cindy!) and I hope there‘ll be time to start American War!

TrishB Good week ahead 👍🏻 1y
Cinfhen Can‘t wait to see what we make of 1y
Ruthiella I bought a copy of My Volcano in print since it was the only ToB book I couldn‘t get from my library. I hear it is a trip! 🤪 1y
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella It is a beautiful published edition. I hope the content is as good 😉 1y
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Sophronisba
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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The jogger, the first person to see the peak of the volcano sprouting from the middle of the reservoir in Central Park, in the early hours of June 2, thought the volcano was a breaching humpback whale. . . . She stared at it for a full minute--stretching all the while--before continuing her run. She couldn't afford to stop any longer because she didn't want her heart rate to drop.

#SundaySentence

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Cinfhen
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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First #BookMail of 2023🎉🎉🎉 I‘ve seen lots of MIXED reviews… so keeping expectations low 😉

Megabooks This is up for me too! 1y
Cinfhen I love the print and size of the book!!! @Megabooks 1y
britt_brooke Striking cover! 1y
51 likes3 comments
review
Jas16
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Mehso-so

This is the type of novel I would usually avoid and only picked it up because of #TOB23. I still really hoped that I would like it and become the kind of reader who would embrace this style of writing but as things progressed I found myself skimming more and more. I wanted to see where it would all go and now I know.

BarbaraBB That doesn‘t sound hopeful! 1y
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review
Addison_Reads
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Wow! This book is weird but the message behind it packs quite a punch. We follow several different outcomes, through different POV's, all surrounding what happens when a volcano suddenly emerges in Central Park.

I love the diversity of characters and the author's ability to address social injustices and climate change all within this pre-apocalyptic world. This book isn't going to be for everyone, but it certainly leaves a lot to talk about.

MicheleinPhilly My local bookshop picked this as a book club selection a few months ago and no one showed up. 😬 It just sounds way too weird for my tastes. 1y
Addison_Reads @MicheleinPhilly It is definitely weird, but I tend to enjoy books that fit that category. I can completely understand others not being interested though. 1y
See All 11 Comments
squirrelbrain This is one I can‘t get hold of in the UK, but I‘m not sure if it‘s for me, anyway. Great review though! 1y
Ruthiella I have a fairly high tolerance for weird! 😂 This one intrigues me. 1y
Suet624 I‘m excited to read that you liked it. Stacked. 1y
BarbaraBB Sounds like a typical TOB read! 1y
Megabooks Huh! I didn‘t have this on my list, but I‘ll definitely check it out now. Thanks! 1y
Hooked_on_books I‘m really looking forward to this one. It stood out to me when I read the longlist. 1y
sarahbarnes Great review! This one definitely sounds intriguing… 1y
Cinfhen This one really caught my eye too but it‘s still expensive!!! It‘s a very interesting longlist this year!! Lots of titles fall under the weird banner😂 1y
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review
Robotswithpersonality
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

Honestly, the message is so important, I'll forgive the strata of icky bizarre that might otherwise edge towards aggravating rather engaging. I will continue to look for slightly more fluffy FUCKIN' WEIRD books - this one is definitely more Library at Mount Char than Kaiju Preservation Society on that spectrum. Diverse representation, multiple transgender characters; does relate deaths of real black, trans, queer people. By a non-binary author.

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Robotswithpersonality
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Ouch. 😔 I'll keep my unreasonable optimism, thank you.

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Robotswithpersonality
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Doomscroll, anyone? 🙄 Oh algorithm, you were just trying to help!

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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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July has been a great reading month. Lots of queer authors and Canadian writing.

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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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What I‘ve been reading over the past week:

I‘m all about the 5-star books in today's Friday Reads… + a 2-star flop
#queer #retellings #ramayana
https://youtu.be/g35Ck1C2ws0

shawnmooney 🥳👏💕 2y
yasha_anand nice video, ive subscribed :) 2y
Lindy @yasha_anand Hi Yasha! Thanks for subscribing and commenting. 😊 2y
yasha_anand @Lindy you're most welcome, have a good day ahead :) 2y
43 likes4 comments
review
Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Pickpick

Weird, wonderful, pre-apocalyptic, kaleidoscopic, with a large cast of mostly queer characters who live in places across the globe. Set during alternate reality summers of 2016, when a volcano rose out of Central Park in NYC. Imagine a mash-up of works by Emily St John Mandel, Kafka, David Mitchell, Yan Ge, Sequoia Nagamatsu, & Baba Yaga tales… & throw in 16th c Mexico. I felt buoyed by the vast vision & hope for the future. #LGBTQ #Canadian

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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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There‘s a certain amount of whimsy in this novel, and there are also pages like this one, set apart from the story, containing the name and death information of a real person who died as a result of violent racism, homophobia, or transphobia.

Karisa Sounds like a powerful juxtaposition of fact and fiction 2y
Lindy @Karisa yes, indeed. The theme of community, the recognition that we are interconnected, makes these death notice pages even more poignant. 2y
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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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They stood & watched group after group of marchers pass. Marchers in leather, in rainbows, on foot or on bikes. Advertisements. Organizations. Politicians waving from the back of banner-laden trucks. So many queer bodies, watching & marching alongside so many other non-queer bodies. The parade was supposed to make the white trans writer feel included but they didn‘t feel it. They knew what they looked like to the people on the street. They felt ⬇️

Lindy (Continued) so far from belonging. 2y
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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [ @shawnmooney ‘s hometown], a craft brewmaster talked about his inspiration to swiftly rebrand their bock as the Prairie Bock-cano, the new label an illustration of Saskatoon‘s modest skyline interrupted by an erupting peak.

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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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As he carried the drink out to the patio, Susan Sontag‘s Regarding the Pain of Others under his arm, Ash felt his image of New York shift with the knowledge that a volcano was emerging in Central Park.

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Lindy
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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The urban spaces Dzhambul‘s greenness overwhelmed grew over with his mutant thistle and other plant life. The green‘s cells grew quickly with his guidance, and huge organisms spread effectively and efficiently. Giant hives of green bees occupied skyscrapers along their path. The air he liberated grew clean again. He wanted nothing but for the world to be one endless wave, and sanitized.

Lynnsoprano Love your photo! 2y
Lindy @Lynnsoprano Thanks, Lynn. Echinops won‘t be blooming in my garden for another month, but it‘s interesting at this stage too. 2y
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Tonton
My Volcano | John Elizabeth Stintzi
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Arrived today! An erupting volcano in Central Park starts things off…getting ready for a kaleidoscopic ride tonight.😎