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Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Devil in the White City,a true story of love, murder, and the end of the worlds great hushIn Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two menHawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communicationwhose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time.Set in Edwardian London and on the stormy coasts of Cornwall, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia, Thunderstruck evokes the dynamism of those years when great shipping companies competed to build the biggest, fastest ocean liners; scientific advances dazzled the public with visions of a world transformed; and the rich outdid one another with ostentatious displays of wealth. Against this background, Marconi races against incredible odds and relentless skepticism to perfect his invention: the wireless, a prime catalyst for the emergence of the world we know today. Meanwhile, Crippen, the kindest of men, nearly commits the perfect murder.With hisunparalleled narrative skills, Erik Larson guides us through a relentlessly suspenseful chaseover the waters of the North Atlantic. Along the way, he tells of a sad and tragic love affair that was described on the front pages of newspapers around the world, a chief inspector who found himself strangely sympathetic to the killer and his lover, and a driven and compelling inventor who transformed the way we communicate.
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review
youneverarrived
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

Kept forgetting to post this for last months #authoramonth but what an intriguing read! Non fiction at its best for me; I loved all the historical detail so you can imagine just how things would have been. I‘m with the majority of people in finding the Marconi bits less compelling than the Crippen but brilliantly done in bringing them together. #nonfiction2023 (rolling in the deep)

emz711 How cute is that reader? Which is it? 1y
Cathythoughts Sounds great ! Stacked. 1y
Amiable Oh, that‘s a great one for this prompt! I love seeing how creative people are getting with the prompts this year. 🙂 1y
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youneverarrived @emz711 it‘s just a paperwhite 😁 1y
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts hope you like it if you get to it! 💕 1y
youneverarrived @Amiable I love seeing what people choose! I‘ve planned my books out just stuck on 3 of the prompts 🤔 1y
Amiable @youneverarrived Which ones are you stuck on? I have 4 more to read and then I‘ve filled the card. 1y
Amiable I lied —I have 5 more (forgot about the Free space! 😀) 1y
youneverarrived @Amiable almost complete 😁 I‘ve still got 10 to go. I‘m stuck on Just a girl, Running up that hill and All about that bass 1y
49 likes1 stack add9 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed John Boyne‘s fictionalised story of Dr. Crippen and I wanted to read a true crime book about it. This is well researched, and easy to read, the two connected stories of Dr. Crippen‘s life and Marconi‘s life and his passion. It was rather gripping in parts, but I skimmed over some of Marconi‘s part which I got lost. My introduction to Larson, who writes such good historical non-fiction, thanks to #AuthorAMonth for May.

AmyG Ha, I did the same. I loved the murder story, Marconi not so much. (edited) 1y
youneverarrived My exact thoughts on this too! Which Boyne book has a fictionalised Dr.Crippen? Would like to read it 😄 1y
erzascarletbookgasm @youneverarrived Katie, this! I hope you get to read it. 😘 @AmyG if you haven‘t read it, check it out too 😊 1y
AmyG Thank you! I have it stacked. Love Boyne. 1y
youneverarrived Thank you 🥰 1y
62 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Bookwormjillk
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Mehso-so

I expected to like this because Marconi Beach is one of my favorite places on Earth. It just never sunk in with me though and I ended up listening to end ending at 1.5 speed just so I could finish. The same thing happened to me with his Churchill book so maybe I am just not a Larson fan. #AuthorAMonth

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staci.reads
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I will always read an Erik Larson book! Devil in the White City is still my favorite, but he doesn't write bad books. This one was a little harder for me to get into, especially the details of Marconi's quest to perfect the wireless, but it was still an engaging, insightful look at history through a unique angle. This was May's #AuthorAMonth. @Soubhiville

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Julsmarshall
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Bailedbailed

So, I usually love Larson‘s books but I just can‘t get into this one. Maybe the start is too slow, maybe the narration since I‘m listening on #audio, maybe my mood but I‘m 32% in and I‘m just done. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

AmyG I‘m reading this. It is a slow start. And there are two parts….Marconi and a murder. Marconi doesn‘t thrill me but the murder part is very good. 2y
Julsmarshall It is, @AmyG and usually I‘m cool with that so I‘ll try it again, just not on audio. I look forward to seeing what you think! 2y
AmyG I skim alot of the Marconi stuff….hard to do on audio. I will let you know how it is when I am done. 2y
41 likes3 comments
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Read4life
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Mehso-so

I think The Devil in the White City has my expectations for Larson really high. This was ok but I just kept thinking I‘d rather be rereading White City. I‘m also planning to read Dead Wake. I‘ll probably start it this weekend.
#AuthorAMonth #BookSpinBingo

CoverToCoverGirl I haven‘t read this one but Dead Wake and The Splendid and The Vile are both excellent. 📖 2y
JenReadsAlot I'm just starting In the Garden of Beasts and comparing to Devil in the white city too! 2y
Amiable This was my least-favorite Larson. 2y
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RamsFan1963 This is also my least favorite book by Larson. The two storylines never came together in a satisfactory ending to me. 2y
rubyslippersreads Dead Wake is fascinating. I have The Splendid and the Vile on my TBR list. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
Read4life @amiable & @RamsFan1963 I‘m glad it wasn‘t just me 🤓 2y
Read4life @JenReadsAlot I‘m hoping Dead Wake is engaging enough I won‘t be comparing them the whole time! 2y
Read4life @CoverToCoverGirl & @rubyslippersreads Thank you for letting me know! I‘m planning to start Dead Wake tomorrow. 2y
56 likes9 comments
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Lexeegee
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I always like Larson‘s books. 🚤🚤🚤🚤

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EadieB
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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@DarkMina Mailed these to you today!

DarkMina @EadieB Thank you! I will keep an eye out for them. 3y
EadieB @DarkMina I‘ll let you know when they get close! 3y
EadieB @DarkMina Did you receive the audiobook, The Passenger by Lisa Lutz yet? 3y
DarkMina @EadieB Yes I did. 3y
EadieB @DarkMina ok thanks! I‘ll mark it received! 3y
50 likes1 stack add5 comments
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EadieB
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

#Thunderstruck #ErikLarson #BookSpinBingo

In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men; Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of wireless means of communication; whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time. There is fascinating detail of Edwardian London which causes the story to start out slowly.

EadieB I'm not sure everyone will enjoy this book as much as The Devil in the White City but mid-point Larsen merges these subjects and the story finally takes off. Larson's ability to make the 1890's come alive through his research is no small fete and proves Larson to be the great writer that he is. I have read all of his books and have enjoyed all of them. If you love historical accounts of true events then you should read his books. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
kspenmoll I enjoy his books as well but have not read this one. Sounds good. 3y
42 likes1 stack add4 comments
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EadieB
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Thanks for the tag!

1. Sometimes the title makes me curious.

2. Doing the audio of this book soon.

Can you play? @MariSands @DarkMina @Elizabeth2 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @eanderson @Butterfinger

MariSands @DarkMina @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @EadieB

Sometimes the title of a book makes me curious to read it

Can't think of a book at the moment

What makes me more interested is the blurb on the back or the paper cover when they write a little excerpt from the inside of the book. If that doesn't give me a spark I will put it down.
3y
EadieB @MariSands Good answers! Thanks for playing! Did you get my message about reading with a group this book 3y
TheSpineView You're welcome and Thanks for playing! Happy Tuesday! 🤩🤩🤩 3y
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Butterfinger Thanks for thinking of me. 3y
EadieB @Butterfinger You‘re welcome! 3y
MariSands I am going to find it and read it too @MariSands 3y
MariSands @EadieB I found the book on the website you sent me 3y
37 likes9 comments
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QBub
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

Another Larson gem. He masterfully weaves Marconi‘s development of wireless, the murder of an English wife and police hunt to identify and apprehend the murderer into a living, breathing history worthy of a major motion picture. If you didn‘t know it was true, you wouldn‘t believe how these stories mesh together. As I wrote before, Larson writes history like a mystery novel.

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TheRiehlDeal
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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#ManicMonday #LetterT @JoScho

📖 Tagged. (OverDrive wishlist)
👨 Neil DeGrasse Tyson ⬆️
🎥 Titanic
📺 That 70's Show
🎸 Three Days Grace (Adam Gontier)
🎤 Trust Fall by Spiritbox

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WeAreLegion
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Mehso-so

I‘ve only given this book a medium rating because this author has written better novels, specifically ‘The Devil in the White City‘, which is brilliant. Mr. Larson has an amazing ability to weave interesting narratives from historical records, making the characters feel alive. Definitely worth reading, if not necessarily the authors best.

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BubotheReader
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson

...the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem. An asylum for the insane, its name shrunk through popular usage to Bedlam, which eventually entered dictionaries as a lowercase word used to describe scenes of chaos and confusion.

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Lauren_reading
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

In Victorian London Crippen, a doctor and seemingly gentle man, commits an almost perfect crime. At the same time Marconi is trying to improve his wireless communication tools to send messages for ever longer distances- and steps on a few toes along the way. Then these 2 lives intersect. Not my favorite Larson book, but still a good one and about people I knew nothing about.

62 likes2 stack adds
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TobyBon
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

This was a fantastic book and I have to be honest I learnt a lot more than I imagined I was going to not just about Macaroni but also abou Crippen. I recommend this as a book to be read by everyone👍👍

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wideeyedreader
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love this! Larson is so good at what he does; both books I‘ve read by him are well-researched and written in such a way that I almost forget it‘s true events.

jillrhudy His next is about Churchill. 5y
wideeyedreader @jillrhudy Oh, that should be interesting! 5y
9 likes2 comments
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sprainedbrain
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I am not a nonfiction kind of girl, but Erik Larson, with his nonfiction that reads like fiction, has a way of grabbing my attention and keeping it. While this book wasn‘t my favorite of his (they can‘t all be Dead Wake), it was still a good listen. I really liked the story of Dr. Crippen, but the Marconi parts bored me at times. I get that it all comes together, but Marconi seems like a jerk and I just didn‘t care. 🤷🏻‍♀️

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

114 likes4 stack adds
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sprainedbrain
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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I timed my #audiowalk tonight so that I could see both the sunset and the rise of the big, beautiful, waning-but-still-pretty-darn-full moon. 🌝

Walking at night means I have to stay closer to home, but I love it this time of year.

Listening to this book, which isn‘t scary, but I managed to freak myself out anyway... I walk near a lot of cornfields and they get creepy at night. 😂

The moon is in Aries, and I‘m feeling energized. 🙌🏻

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Beautiful pictures! 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa But be careful out there at night....especially with your headphones/earbuds on. 5y
sprainedbrain @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I only use one earbud at a time. 😃 5y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @sprainedbrain Smart Lady! 🤜🤛 5y
Izai.Amorim I'm Aries too! 5y
LauraBeth Those are beautiful pics! That‘s definitely the best time to walk! 5y
103 likes6 comments
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Aseleener
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Wine + fire + new book = 😊

Aims42 A perfect combination! Enjoy ❤️🍷📚 5y
18 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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I always hear AC/DC when I see the word thunder. I don't even love this song but Thunderstruck is such an ear worm. #Thunder #AMonthofSongs

OriginalCyn620 Agree. I don‘t like it either but it is an ear worm. 5y
22 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this!!! 🖤🖤🖤 5y
OriginalCyn620 Love it! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
27 likes2 comments
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EmilieGR
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

Maybe my favorite of his books- absolutely fascinating

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Aims42
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

Once again, Erik Larson hit a home run with me! The first 50ish pages kinda drag as you try to figure out the connection between two separate stories of history. Then BAM! You see the connection and cannot put the book down. He‘s proven himself as an insta-buy author for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

KathyWheeler He is one of my favorite writers. 6y
Aims42 @KathyWheeler I‘ve read ‘Garden of the Beasts‘ and ‘Dead Wake‘, both were excellent 👍🏻 6y
KathyWheeler @Aims42 I liked Garden of Beasts, but I haven‘t read Dead Wake yet. My absolute favorite though is Devil in the White City. 6y
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Aims42 @KathyWheeler My dad loves it too! I need to read it ASAP 6y
KathyWheeler @Aims42 since you like his other books, you should definitely read this one. Weirdly I bought it for the serial killer part but found the architecture part just as, if nor more, fascinating. 6y
Aims42 @KathyWheeler Ah good to know! I live about a half-hour from Chicago, I really should move it up my TBR list lol 6y
24 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Aims42
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Bathroom cleaned ✅
Grocery Shopping ✅
Vacuuming ✅
Starting my next book and humming AC/DC‘s ‘Thunderstruck‘ ✅✅

38 likes2 stack adds
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mlzbthc
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Sirius Black (the puppy, not the falsely accused convict) and (one of my )my current read(s) #booksandpets #day20 #riotgrams

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Aims42
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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My Christmas books my family gave me this year. Can‘t wait to dive in!! (My Mom didn‘t buy Amy Stewart‘s newest book because it was only in hardcover and I only have paperbacks and she knew the importance to me that they all match. That‘s love 💗💗💗💗) 🤓📚🎄

Crazeedi Awesome! 6y
36 likes1 comment
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Applecinnamon
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

Not going to lie, I‘m a huge fan of pretty much anything Erik Larson, and so loved this book. If you enjoyed “Devil in the White City”, you‘ll like this one too. I‘ll admit, the Marconi story, albeit interesting, droned on a bit but the interesting tale of Dr.Crippin, made up for it. Another great read by Larson i couldn‘t put down!

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REPollock
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Congratulations @LaurenReads on your #hundredgrand Litfluence!

I loved the tagged book, it‘s about Marconi & the invention of wireless radio & how it helped to apprehend a murderer—reads like a thriller!

Thanks for this #giveaway opportunity! 🎉🍾🥂🍰

Cinfhen I think Erik Larson is brilliant ~ can‘t wait to read this one 6y
14 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GripLitGrl
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Cinfhen I almost bought this from Barnes & Noble yesterday!!! 6y
LeslieO I love an Erik Larson! 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘ve been wanting to read this. 6y
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Mdargusch I have to say I bailed on this one @Cinfhen and @Reviewsbylola but it was two years ago, so I don‘t remember why. 🤔 6y
Cinfhen I like Erik Larson too @LeslieO but I passed on this book because the reviews weren‘t great @Mdargusch @Reviewsbylola I would still read it or attempt to if I can find a library copy! He usually makes history interesting. 6y
RamsFan1963 I don't think it's his best book, Dead Wake and The Devil in The White City are much better, but it was still entertaining and informative. 6y
GripLitGrl @Cinfhen @LeslieO @Reviewsbylola @Mdargusch @RamsFan1963 i still have to get around to reading devil in the white city I've heard so many great things about the author. I think it says a lot about an author when a post strikes up a nice convo 😁 💛 6y
LeslieO @GripLitGrl @Cinfhen @Reviewsbylola @Mdargusch @RamsFan1963 My favorite is Isaac's Storm. Maybe because it's the first of his I read. 6y
RamsFan1963 In The Garden of Beasts is the only Larson book I never finished. Honestly, so much has been written about Hitler and the Nazis, I just couldn't plow through another one. I know Decaprio and Scorsese are making a movie out of The Devil in The White City. I'd like to say I'm excited but I expect them to play up the serial killer part and down play the building of the World's Fair, which for me was the most interesting part. 6y
Cinfhen I agree, I love all these comments @LeslieO @GripLitGrl and I‘m looking forward to reading more Larson 6y
79 likes4 stack adds10 comments
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GatheringBooks
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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#GetMovin Day 13: First novel that came to mind with #Thunderstruck. Husband has also sent me a photo he took yesterday - which I thought I‘d share here with the rainbow peeking through the clouds, but thunder-shaped too.

Cinfhen Amazing photo!!!! And such a great pick! I hear the book is really good too!!! 6y
Cathythoughts Great post. I love hubbys picture 💫💫💫 6y
Blueberry Wow, I love the photo. 6y
SledgeReader My husband and I love listening to Larson. Great for car rides! 6y
92 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Lea
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Panpan

I bailed on this once before. The only reason I picked it up was for the #readharder category of an assigned book (book club) you hated. This is 400 pages that could have been condensed in half. The two stories barely connect and there is so much needless info. #libraryreads

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Lea
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Dinner and a book

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DMC_run8
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Just a lazy reading day to kick off a 3 day weekend.

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alisahar
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Mehso-so

FINALLY finished a #nonfictionbookabouttechnology for #readharder. This uses the same narrative device as The Devil in the White City — a crime juxtaposed with a historical event (the invention of wireless messaging by sea)— but it wasn‘t as good. The connection between the two was pretty flimsy and the technology part was dull. I fell asleep listening to the ending three times and had to rewind & relisten. 🤦‍♀️

Cinfhen ☹️at least it put you to sleep 😴 7y
alisahar @Cinfhen granted, I was listening to it on four hours of sleep while riding trains and buses for hours so it might not have been totally the book‘s fault.. 7y
Lea I‘m reading it for an assigned book you hated - it was a book club pick a few years ago I never finished, and now I remember why 😫 7y
16 likes1 stack add3 comments
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tracy.anne8
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Not the first book I thought of when I thought #ocean but since I can't find the other book, this will work! #sizzlinsummerbooks

15 likes4 stack adds
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Coleen
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but Larson has become one of my favorites. His books read like fiction. This wasn't my favorite of his, but still quite enjoyable.

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erinnhill
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

I have been horrible about using Litsy lately, but let's hope I can turn my act around! Anyway, I recently read Thunderstruck, and I absolutely loved it. I actually prefer this book to Devil in the White City, and I was totally absorbed in both narratives. Definitely would recommend.

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BeththeBookDragon
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Pickpick

Not as good as The Devil in the White City, but very similar. Worth the listen!!

94 likes2 stack adds
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HeatherBookNerd
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Hoping to get to this book in 2017. #riotgram #onewordtitle @bookriot

18 likes1 stack add
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silentrequiem
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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A friend wanted to show me the FOL book sale in Albuquerque today. And it was happened to be their giant monthly sale. Here was my haul. (Not pictured: two books for my #CupidGoesPostal, which will hopefully go out this week!)

26 likes1 stack add
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heidisreads
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Mehso-so

The blanket and the hot chocolate are the best parts of this photo. #requiredreading

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Librarylady3
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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"But I have lived a thousand lives and I‘ve loved a thousand loves. I‘ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read." George R.R. Martin. Currently, I'm living the life of an obsessed inventor and also that of a sea captain and walking through the world of the early 1900s.

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Librarylady3
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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"Instead of reading, we should snuggle, mom." #dogsoflitsy

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Leelee08
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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Y'all, I literally CAN'T be allowed in a used bookstore. 📚📚📚 #damnitlitsy #husbandisgonnakillme 😂

BethFishReads 😄😄😄😄 8y
LeahBergen But it's such a great pile!!! 8y
Leelee08 @BethFishReads @LeahBergen I know, right?! I can't help it!! 8y
See All 11 Comments
BethFishReads Me neither 8y
LiteraryinPA I love Billy Collins! 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Ooo! What is Whale Hunt?! I must check on this! 8y
Zelma Ooh, Longbourn 😍. Wait, were you looking for a more responsible answer? 😂 8y
Leelee08 @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com It's the true story of a whaling expedition in the 1840s🤓 8y
Leelee08 @Zelma lmao! Not at all! I love that y'all are on my side!😍 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Want. That. !! 8y
91 likes1 stack add11 comments
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kellygeorge
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
Pickpick

Because I will read and be fascinated by anything Erik Larson writes. Anything.

MrBook Larson is magnificent 😊👍🏻. 8y
2 likes1 comment
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HeatherBookNerd
Thunderstruck | Erik Larson
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There are always #usedbooks around our house as I steward a Little Free Library. This is my LFL shelfie this morning, full of used and donated books. Book sharing makes me happy. I love knowing they are finding new homes and being enjoyed. #augustphotochallenge @TheSpinecrackersBookClub

Zelma The unicorn mug makes it perfect in my opinion. Winning! 8y
DianeDeMasi Thunderstruck is great! 8y
DianeDeMasi And I hear great things about "If I Stay." 8y
HeatherBookNerd @DianeDeMasi I have not read Thunderstruck yet, although I loved Larson's Devil in the White City. If I Stay is very good. 8y
DianeDeMasi @HeatherBookNerd I loved Devil in the White City! That's the book that got me hooked on Larson's writing. 🌺 8y
31 likes5 comments