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The Golden Notebook
The Golden Notebook: A Novel | Doris Lessing
180 posts | 74 read | 4 reading | 119 to read
Anna is a writer, author of one very successful novel, who now keeps four notebooks. In one, with a black cover, she reviews the African experience of her earlier years. In a red one she records her political life, her disillusionment with communism. In a yellow one she writes a novel in which the heroine relives part of her own experience. And in a blue one she keeps a personal diary. Finally, in love with an American writer and threatened with insanity, Anna resolves to bring the threads of all four books together in a golden notebook. Doris Lessing's best-known and most influential novel, The Golden Notebook retains its extraordinary power and relevance decades after its initial publication.
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IndoorDame
The Golden Notebook | Doris May Lessing
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CBee Yes! Love this word 😊 1d
35 likes1 comment
review
quietlycuriouskate
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Panpan

Thank God that's over! It pains me to pan a book but I did not enjoy this one little bit.

Anna is going round the bend with writer's block and keeps multiple concurrent notebooks whilst sleeping with a succession of increasingly dreadful men and agonising over whether to leave the communist party or not. Maybe it's an insightful document of its time but I was in WTF?! mode for most of it.

#sundaybuddyread @TheBookHippie

Balibee146 Read it at uni..... 🤮🤮🤮 2d
quietlycuriouskate And then, the Golden Notebook itself, that was supposed to somehow pull everything together? She gave it to that monstrous man-child to write a successful novella in! (Consider the camel's back definitively broken.) 2d
quietlycuriouskate @Balibee146 You have my sympathies! At least I wasn't required to write essays about it. 2d
AmyG YOU DID IT! 👊🏻 2d
BarbaraBB Love your review though. And I‘ll donate my unread copy to a free library 😀 2d
32 likes5 comments
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IndoorDame
The Golden Notebook | Doris May Lessing
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Phew, done! I‘m guessing no one will find it spoilery if I say I found the ending unsatisfying 😂. I have no idea how to rate this — there were enough nuggets along the way to keep me reading, but the further I got the more infuriating I found it. There were so many places I wanted the author to take this that she stubbornly refused to go & the questions I found most interesting stay unanswered. 😅😵‍💫🤬😬🤷🏻‍♀️ See you Sunday! #sundaybuddyread

AmyG I am so happy I read this as I truly believe that I have officially perfected the art of skimming. The end? Whatever. 2d
IndoorDame @AmyG such a good skill! Wish I‘d known how to do that back in school when I needed it the most desperately 🤣 2d
vlwelser 😂❤ 2d
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2d
48 likes4 comments
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TheBookHippie
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

If this is in your book read it. Super helpful.

🤐🤫🤐

See you SUNDAY 🤐🤫🙃

mollyrotondo Uh I don‘t have this in my copy 😒 3d
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo trying to find it online to share 😵‍💫 3d
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie thank you for looking! 3d
IndoorDame You‘re right, that was helpful. I usually skip those things so I appreciate the heads up! 2d
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AmyG
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DONE! If you are looking for me, I will be home patting myself on the back for reading this insufferable beast in its entirety.

#SundayBuddyRead @TheBookHippie

Ruthiella 👏👏👏Well done! 4d
Balibee146 Well done.... I was forced to study this for my degree.... 30 years ago and I still remember the toil of wading through it, then trying to write essays like I cared afterwards. 4d
IndoorDame Good going! 👏👏👏 4d
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dabbe Okay, I‘m staying far away from this one. KARMAZOV is barely all I can do right now. Excellent job! 🤩🤩🤩 4d
Gissy @Balibee146 it‘s that bad???😳 4d
Balibee146 @gissy as far as I remember it had some good passages but interspersed with long stretches of tedium... Probably made worse that I was reading with a view to essay and exam answers. My main memory was that, even as a young woman, I found it a bit try hard intellectually elitist.... Wonder what I'd think of it now that I've mellowed somewhat (but not enough for a re read 🤣😉) 4d
mcctrish 🤣🤣🤣👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4d
mcctrish @Balibee146 the only thing worse than reading this would be having to write about it too 😬 4d
mcctrish @dabbe it‘s been a HELL of a month with this and #Thebros 4d
AmyG @Gissy Yes, it‘s 85% insufferable. There were some good passages, yes. @Balibee146 is correct and if she read it today she‘d still be bored and confused. (edited) 4d
AmyG Thank you @Ruthiella @Chelsea.Poole @IndoorDame @dabbe and @mcctrish Yes, yes it has…and I am not even reading about the brothers K ( been there done that). 4d
vlwelser 🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊 you deserve a medal. You might be the first one done. I needed a bit of a break. 4d
dabbe @mcctrish #doubleyikes 😳😃😍 4d
Lesliereadsalot Haha. Congratulations! 4d
Balibee146 @mcctrish my tutor loved it too and he was quite a sulky man baby lol... It was back in the day when you had weekly one to one tutorials too.... Absolute hell having to pretend I liked it for the weeks and weeks he spent on it, so he wouldn't go in a huff 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 4d
mcctrish OMG @Balibee146 I am so proud of you for surviving that #sulkymanbaby is the perfect description ( imagine if you‘d used him as a real life example in your essays 🤣🤣🤣) 4d
BkClubCare I read this years ago for a buddy-read. I don‘t recall a thing abt the plot now, only the relief that I could say, “I did it!” Lol 3d
AmyG @BkClubCare There was a plot????? 🤣 3d
UwannaPublishme 🤣🤣🤣👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3d
70 likes20 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

So. Who is still here with me 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

I think I‘m speechless.

We get to finish now.

I promise I love you all. 🤣♥️🙃

This is um … some book.

mcctrish I‘m still here, planning a bonfire 4d
vlwelser Still here. Looking forward to deleting this off my kindle soon. 4d
IndoorDame @mcctrish bonfire sounds super satisfying!!! 🔥🔥🔥 4d
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Librarybelle Still playing catch up! I am determined to finish this in time for the final discussion. 4d
Kimberlone lol I missed the boat this month but based on the posts I‘ve seen maybe for the best on this book…? 4d
mcctrish @vlwelser this would have killed me on kindle! I needed to see how much I had to read and how much farther I had to go at every sitting. An absolute rage read 4d
mcctrish @IndoorDame I am against burning books but I feel like this book misled me 🤣🤣 and it needs to pay (edited) 4d
IndoorDame @mcctrish I‘m against burning books too, but I‘ve rarely felt so misled! This book needs to be refilled under something like upsetting quirky history not actual feminism. 4d
vlwelser @mcctrish I also have the physical copy from the library but it was too heavy to carry around. I'm rarely at my house. I wouldn't be anything like on schedule without the kindle version also. 4d
TheBookHippie @Kimberlone It is something.I‘m walking away with that there is some prose that is so dead on its mind blowing. It‘s given me some insight or thought to people who are just die hard followers of horrific people and “religions”. It‘s shown how women are vilified and with no rights it‘s very easy to fall into these troupes to survive. Now when I see it mentioned in other books or studies, I have a frame of reference. But boy what a struggle to read (edited) 4d
mcctrish @TheBookHippie there is that ⬆️ going forward when I‘m having a bad day I can always say “at least I‘m not Anna!” 4d
AmyG @mcctrish Ha! There‘s an idea! @Kimberlone Consider yourself lucky. I am glad I read this. So now I can say I did. But wow, women during that time. They sure are a glutton for punishment. These men were absolutely awful. 4d
quietlycuriouskate Still here, staggering towards the finish line. 4d
mollyrotondo I‘m here. I will be gladly returning this to the library as soon as I read our last section. I get it‘s showing women and circumstance from that era and was written in that era, but my major problem is I‘m reading the same thing over and over with no lessons learned on Anna‘s part. If that‘s her story with nothing more then it should not have been 600 pages of it. I also would be okay if this was an allegory for members of the communist party… 4d
mollyrotondo …Using women making terrible choices with men as a mirror to how badly members of the communist party remain blinded by the destructiveness of their communist leaders. But that‘s me really stretching for more meaning to this book 😂 4d
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo RIGHT?! OY TO THE VEY. We have been MISLED. Going to try to read the last bit tomorrow! 4d
36 likes17 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

BLUE NOTEBOOK

Janet to boarding school

“THE GAME”

New tenant lover craziness Saul Green

Anna is a mess

Mother Sugar is ridiculous

SHE HAS PURCHASED A GOLDEN NOTEBOOK

The notebook is defaced by a child, I mean Saul

😵‍💫

mcctrish How has DL created an even more toxic male?! Both my son and my husband came to see me while I was reading this because I was muttering so much (much cursing) - gaslighting, narcissist, schizophrenic, sociopath? 4d
vlwelser These characters are all fictional and the author is crazy. 4d
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IndoorDame I almost stopped reading so many times during the Saul section! 🤬🤬🤬🤬 Every time she doesn‘t throw him out of the house and he just gets crazier, BOOK THROW! But I also noticed how many times she literally writes some variation on: that she has to go to him, that she can‘t say no… I‘m thinking maybe this is the message we‘re supposed to see, and it‘s intended to read as insane and unreasonable on both their parts. 4d
AmyG Saul. Oh lord. She loves him, she hates him, she is leaving him, she is not. Every damn feeling at every damn moment. This woman doesn‘t know what the hell she wants. 4d
quietlycuriouskate Saul Green?! I am soooo exasperated with Anna! She pretty much talks herself into "being in love" with this appalling man. Like she can't think how else she might relate to him (and the others). I'd gladly give her a few pointers! ? 4d
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate @IndoorDame @AmyG I just want to shake her!!! 😝 4d
mollyrotondo Saul Green is definitely Anna‘s rock bottom. He‘s extremely emotionally abusive. And Anna keeps going back to him even when she tells herself he‘s not good for her. She keeps getting involved with married men and now this! Okay. I‘ll accept it (even though I‘m so over her right now) if it‘s to show how far women dig themselves into bad relationship patterns for we get ourselves out of the hole and GROW! I have little hope in these last 20 pages 4d
8 likes8 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

YELLOW NOTEBOOK

The short stories 19 of them pure utter sadness for women. Did this help women in 1962? Did it help them feel seen? Say this is not for me ? Say this isn‘t for me anymore? WHAT?!?

So so sad. And ridiculous 😫 these were the only choices?!

mcctrish I have to think this was so women would feel seen but holy shit this just read as madness 4d
IndoorDame I have to believe that as terrible as things are right now for women, the fact that none of us relate to this section means we‘ve made progress. Because all the articles I read about why she won a Nobel for this 🤯. Basically say it‘s this aspect. That she changed the way the public saw relationships between men and women. 4d
vlwelser I thought they were short story ideas. The whole book needed a better editor. 4d
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IndoorDame @vlwelser I‘ve been thinking that about everything I‘m reading this month! The Bros K. and this would both be like 300pgs tops if I were in charge 😂😂😂 4d
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame same I have to believe this plus all my research into what women were living with in these times , awful. So it was a magnifying glass. 4d
AmyG Women were able to express their sadness as opposed to pretending they were happy. Success for women! 4d
TheBookHippie @AmyG yes. I have to keep reminding myself. 4d
mollyrotondo It‘s incredible that writing this down in a published book was so phenomenal and eye opening. Women were extremely suppressed. It‘s just frustrating for me as a reader to get through 600 pages with no growth. These last 20 pages better show growth or else I‘d say this should have been 250 pages. If she grows and the point is to show how long it can take for women to get out of the pattern of picking men that treat us badly, fine. But need growth!! 4d
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo If there is no growth you will hear my loud scream tomorrow! 4d
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie me too!!! My goal is to finish it Tuesday. I will check your posts then so I retain hope until I finish 😂 4d
9 likes10 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

RED NOTEBOOK

Clippings here as well
1956&57 Violence

Freedom all the talk and references

Harry‘s story … what for????

She finally quit the party?!

🎶🎵So. Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose, Nothin', don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't free, no-no🎶🎵🎶

I got nothing here folks…

mcctrish And I thought The Bros were the pinacle of blah, blah, blah. 4d
TheBookHippie @mcctrish RIGHT??? Why is this a feminist must read?!?! 4d
IndoorDame Leaving the party seems to have had very little impact on anything! She isn‘t more resolute. She doesn‘t attend fewer pointless political meetings. She doesn‘t have a new “job”….. 4d
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vlwelser I have nothing here either. So glad it's almost over. 4d
mcctrish @TheBookHippie do ‘they‘ have a different definition of feminism than me? Cuz this book is just misery 4d
AmyG Feminism because you have many affairs with loathsome men????? As for leaving the party….years she will never get back. All for nothing, apparently. 4d
TheBookHippie @mcctrish @AmyG it‘s 😵‍💫🤪 not feminism -is it what men think it is and look you‘ll be miserable ? 4d
mollyrotondo Yeah I thought she would see things differently once she left the party but she is still making the wrong decisions and still follows the party. This book was interesting in the beginning but just seems to have lost the thread at this point. 4d
7 likes8 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Black Notebook

Clippings of death et all…
1955,6,7
Moshopi Hotel -STILLLLL we are back here
TV dream

Losing accuracy in memory 😵‍💫

A mess. A great big mess.

mcctrish I can‘t even with this 4d
IndoorDame I‘m loosing the thread of this novel. If it ever existed. Or Anna is seriously cracking up. I have NO idea what the point of this section is! 4d
vlwelser I also had trouble following this. I'm totally confused at this point. 4d
AmyG So much of this makes no sense so I just skim. I am so happy to have this over with. 4d
mollyrotondo I mean sometimes we might remember things from our past a bit differently but this is clearly a sign that Anna is hitting some sort of rock bottom. I just don‘t have any faith she‘s going to learn anything by the end and grow. 4d
7 likes5 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD FREE WOMEN

Anna- still the roommate drama then the roommates eventually are gone still so homophobic
Marion- Left Richard and her children
Richard- a bad tempered man but anywhere not a Democracy he‘d be shot?!
Molly- “I thought the next generation would marry at 18-forbid divorce-go for strict moral codes-because choice is just too terrifying.” WTF

Control does not equate to safety

Also 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

mcctrish Molly was apparently ahead of her time and off by a few generations. Marion is a seriously odd person - does she have PTSD from Richard? Anna doesn‘t want a house full of women? She‘s not changing the world for good any time soon (edited) 4d
IndoorDame I know I sound like a broken record but these people are insufferable and I hate them all! 4d
vlwelser Anna is truly the worst. 4d
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AmyG @IndoorDame Yes. Insufferable is the word I use too. Marion is an alcoholic. Anna has some serious issues. She is happy one minute, mad the next, forgiving the next, back to miserable…UGH. 4d
mollyrotondo When Molly said that she thought the next generation would ban divorce and live by a more strict moral code my jaw dropped. And then bashed choice. I was like what? What is wrong with these people? No wonder things are going backwards today 🙄 4d
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I have to say reading this has for sure made me see today in new light, that is one thing for certain I have gained from the read. 4d
8 likes6 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD 👀

🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐

IF you‘re still with me, I‘ll see ya SUNDAY 😳

vlwelser Just finished this section. 🤷 1w
quietlycuriouskate I am so cross with Anna! 1w
mcctrish @quietlycuriouskate I have not said WTF so much, so often, so loudly for quite some time #thankgodthatsover 6d
37 likes3 comments
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TheBookHippie
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IndoorDame What a great timeline! I rarely see something quite so global. Thanks for sharing! 1w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame 💚💙🌎🌍🌏🌐 (It was actually difficult to find a concise list!! I read some garbage 🤣🤯🤦🏻‍♀️😵‍💫.) 1w
KadaGul @TheBookHippie The timeline is impressive and thought-provoking. Kudos for finding it!#Womenhistorymonth 1w
47 likes3 comments
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TheBookHippie
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IndoorDame “Soft hands” isn‘t something I‘d heard before! 1w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame it‘s why women slept with lotion on covered by gloves 😵‍💫🤯 1w
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie wow! I mean, I do that from time to time cause my skin is prone to crack, but I‘d be way more incensed about it if I was doing it to avoid demerits 😵‍💫🤯 1w
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheBookHippie
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TheBookHippie
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Um. If you‘re still with me congratulations ..
I don‘t have words. I hate everyone then I read a good quote then I hate everyone.

☘️💚☘️Happy St Pattys day I just spotted a few snowflakes and I‘m off to start prep for my huge dinner of Cottage pie, leek soup, yeast rolls, lime jello of course and mint ice cream and cookies.

I thank you for Sundays and sticking with me!! ♥️

mcctrish I‘m still here, rage reading 🤣 and despite myself a snippet draws me in and I‘m engaged. But I can not wait to be done with this!!! The lime jello sounds so good to me! We are having corned beef, colcannon and homemade shamrock shakes tonight. Maybe a shot of whiskey 🥃 too 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish I‘m thinking Irish coffee tonight as I read .. 2w
vlwelser @mcctrish 💯 every time I lose all hope with this, she throws in an interesting or insightful gem. But it's torture. 2w
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mcctrish @vlwelser torture is correct 2w
AmyG Hahahahahaha. I hate them all, too. And spot on with the random gem. I will finish this Nobel prize in literature if it‘s the last thing I ever do. 2w
Librarybelle I am behind, but really hope to catch up by the end of the month! I‘m not far enough to contribute to this week‘s discussion other than to say I‘m not liking the characters either. 2w
IndoorDame 💯 there with you guys! Rage reading, determined to finish mostly out of spite, but then she‘ll say something genuinely intriguing and I‘ll want to finish for real, at least for another page or two till I hate everyone again.🤣Happy St. Patty‘s Day! ☘️ 2w
quietlycuriouskate Together, we've got this! 2w
BarkingMadRead I 💯 bailed and I‘m not sorry about it 🤣 I couldn‘t get into it and I had too much other stuff going on 🤣 2w
mollyrotondo I was really enjoying this book up until this section lol this section took me the longest to get through. It was just a lot of the same especially with the men and it seemed to move slower. I hope part 4 draws me in more because we are so close to finishing! 1w
42 likes11 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD BLUE NOTEBOOK

Neurotic
What‘s you think of Mother Sugar the therapist ?
Does Anna need to write?
What is up with Anna‘s repulsion of lesbians ?!

Russia was not good to Jews history

ALLL THE MEN 😵‍💫😵‍💫

mcctrish Anna has been fed the patriarchal koolaid 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish Unfortunately so have many others 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 2w
AmyG I can only say that I am so damn tired of everyone‘s feelings at this point. It‘s exhausting. 2w
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vlwelser This entire book is exhausting. I'm with @AmyG 💯 2w
IndoorDame I‘m with you on ALL THE MEN 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫lucky I don‘t care about any of them to hate them half as much as they deserve 2w
mollyrotondo Well I am on board with Mother Sugar in theory but Anna has written all of this and she‘s still making the wrong decisions with men and talks so negatively about certain demographics. Is she reading what she writes? I feel no growth with this character so far. All that talk about how she is a woman who is feeling like no other woman felt before her 🙄 give me a break 1w
9 likes6 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD YELLOW NOTEBOOK

The novel

The third is now Ella
Ella -Dr West finding his next play thing ! OY
Julie/Ella friends because they hate men

The “ MY WIFE IS NOT AN EXHILARATING CONVERSATIONALIST”
“A woman with three small children stuck in the suburbs with a TV has nothing exhilarating to talk about..”

Also LESBIANS ARE NOT LESBIANS BECAUSE THEY HATE MEN .. OMG

Ella and her father

People, I think ELLA NEEDS HELP

mcctrish Dr West 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2w
AmyG More skimming. This was all so absurd. 2w
vlwelser This is one of those gems. Like men were putting women in this position and expecting them to stay there and then complaining that they have nothing to talk about. Which somehow makes it ok to be unfaithful. 2w
IndoorDame It‘s awfully close, but it‘s possible Ella gets the 🏆 for my least favorite character at this point 2w
mollyrotondo I just feel like this part was so repetitive. This guy is the same as the last guy and the guy before that. All married men who want a wife and a mistress to complain to about the wife 🙄 it‘s the same thing over and over. Does Anna/Ella ever feel drawn to any single men?! 🙄 all the men in 1954 cannot be married. 1w
10 likes5 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD RED NOTEBOOK

Molly “The point is oughtnt they to be more intelligent than we were Anna?”

Pg 427-428 quote ⬇️

"My dear Comrades. I have been listening to you, amazed at the wells of faith in human beings! What you are saying amounts to this: that you know the leadership of the British C.P. consists of men and women totally corrupted by years of work in the Stalinist atmosphere.⬇️

TheBookHippie You know they will do anything to maintain their position. You know, because you have given a hundred examples of it here this evening, that they suppress resolutions, rig ballots, pack meetings, lie and twist. 2w
TheBookHippie There is no way of getting them out of office by democratic means partly because they are unscrupulous, and partly because half of the Party members are too innocent to believe their leaders are capable of such trickery. 2w
TheBookHippie But every time you reach this point in your deliberations you stop, and instead of drawing the obvious conclusions from what you have said, you go off into some day-dream and talk as if all you have to do is to appeal to the leading comrades to resign all at once because it would be in the best interests of the Party if they did. 2w
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TheBookHippie It is as if you proposed to appeal to a professional burglar to retire because his efficiency was giving his profession a bad name."⬆️ 2w
mcctrish Are the people ‘elected‘ ever more intelligent? Not often 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish HAHAHAHA NOPE. 2w
AmyG @mcctrish Oh, I can think of one very obvious example. In face the best example of all time. 🤣 2w
vlwelser This is the kind of nonsense that makes this book hard to read. 2w
IndoorDame How bored do you think they are that they keep going to these C.P. meetings and listening to this drivel? I can barely read it and that only takes a fraction of the time and only happens once 🤣 2w
mcctrish @AmyG the greatest example? There has never been an example so great? Could be the greatest ever? ( I am legit laughing out loud but crying inside a little ) 2w
AmyG @mcctrish 🤣🤣👊🏻 2w
quietlycuriouskate Oh God, the mental claustrophobia of this! 🥺 2w
mollyrotondo I did not like that guy that is quoted above, but he was right. And this whole quote still applies today. Especially lately in the good ol' U.S. of A. 🙄 1w
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo THE QUOTE IS 🎯 1w
6 likes14 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD BLACK NOTEBOOK

Pigeon Killing
Grasshoppers
Butterflies

The Group AGAIN in Africa

American writer, journalist

Publishing reviews

Church experience agnostic atheist

Blood on the banana leaves

Interesting how the reviews changed year to year?

mcctrish I was eating my breakfast while reading this and I need some time to recover. Will never want to eat pigeon pie 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish I was gleeful finding the photo 😵‍💫🤣🤷🏻‍♀️😳😱🤣🤣🤣🤣 2w
mcctrish @TheBookHippie while I was reading it “best part of this is seeing what Christine posts as a pic!” 🤣🤣🤣🐦🐦🥧 2w
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AmyG I skimmed this part. 🤢 2w
vlwelser They all just seem so out of touch. Like why was this even a thing? And it's part of the book within the book so why is this necessary? Is there some message here? 2w
IndoorDame Amazing photo!!!!! 2w
IndoorDame Another WTF section 2w
quietlycuriouskate My heart sank to be back with the insufferable group in Africa... and that was before they started up their tedious posing again while shooting all those poor birds. What was the point of all that?! Ugh, I can't stand any of them! 2w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser Right?! What is she saying! 2w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame the photo is chefs kiss! So excited when I found it 🤣 2w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate What was the point?! 2w
mollyrotondo This whole part was incredibly boring to me. I did not understand why it had to go on and on. I assume it shows how disjointed the group always was? But why are we being told this now? We got that from reading all about their time in Africa in the beginning. This pigeon hunting scene was in the story Anna was writing? Or it was actual history she is reflecting on? Either way I did not find this intriguing at all. 1w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD FREE WOMEN

Anna is losing it because she lost a man- Michael!?
Also this is her excuse for being mean, etc?!
Ummmm
Wow

Is this book showing us how NOT to be? I‘m lost…

mcctrish It‘s all fine and good to read this after the times have moved forward, although maybe this should be assigned reading for everyone drinking the conservative party koolaid right now. Nobody is happy with anything in this book! 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish RIGHT?! Although for older students to read it and discuss it may actually be good. Could teach. (edited) 2w
AmyG I see it more as a sign of the times. These women are miserable, having horrible sex. No wonder the women‘s movement happened! I kept wondering about my mother as she was around their age during this time. 2w
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vlwelser This book is confusing. How did this become a classic for women's studies? 2w
IndoorDame Is the book showing us how not to be? There‘s that weird section about satire that never really goes anywhere and ends with them saying people don‘t get satire. Is this all satire!!!??? If it is I think they‘re right and it‘s over our heads a bit 😂 2w
mollyrotondo I really thought this book was going to show an upward climb for a woman of that era to go from being a follower of men (like Anna follows Willi around Africa) to independence from men and self-love and understanding before finding real companionship with people who respect you. But instead Anna never learns and is always chasing a married man and cannot seem to break way from Communists and has no sense of self. 😕 1w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD FREE WOMEN

Marion

“ I thought my God for that creature I‘ve ruined my life…he‘s been in love with a type, he never loved me, NONE of it had anything to do with me…”

Pg 381 revelation of hers.

That was a gem.

So what is it with her and Tommy ?!?!

mcctrish Marion and Tommy is creepy AF. This book 🤦🏻‍♀️ Tommy is some master puppeteer just like his father but a different stage. 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish 🎯🎯🎯 2w
AmyG Oh Lord, Marion. Yikes. And @mcctrish Yes, creepy AF. I wonder if it plays out a little later. Marion is some piece of work. They ALL are. 2w
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vlwelser So creepy. But good for her to get away from that awful husband. 2w
IndoorDame I want to think better of Marion, but it reads like she freaks herself out by having a genuine insight that would require her to take control so let‘s Tommy take control instead, and refuses to believe Anna when she points out that Tommy is screwing with her. 2w
quietlycuriouskate Honestly, I'm struggling to understand anyone's motives in this book. 2w
mollyrotondo I agree with @IndoorDame and @quietlycuriouskate about how Marion lets Tommy take control and how I don't understand anyone's motives lol First of all, Marion seems to give so much of herself to men. She cannot find her own autonomy and always gives up control to a man even her very young stepson. And I don't understand Tommy's endgame. Just to screw over his father by convincing his stepmom to leave him? 1w
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I‘m afraid he‘s going to take his stepmom 😵‍💫😫. 1w
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie oh like marry her? Or whatever equivalent? 1w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD FREE WOMEN

AnnA HOMOPHOBIC … just WOW that was hard to read. She is so uniformed as well, just mind blowing. All kinds of wrong 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫YIKES.
She has no open mind either. Also definitely not a feminist. Whew.

mcctrish I was reading and rereading this section. Thinking “wait do you just dislike Ronnie or ?” Then the comment about ‘real‘ men 🤯 the ‘real‘ men in this book SUCK. But yay for Anna, a racist and a homophobe. So is Doris these too? 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish 🤷🏻‍♀️ She is or trying to show us how horrible it is???? 2w
IndoorDame This section was so painful to read! 2w
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IndoorDame @mcctrish @TheBookHippie I came down on the she actually is homophobic side because she tries to make Anna genuinely sympathetic with all that back and forth about deserving to feel at peace in her own home but understanding that these tenants will have a much harder time getting another decent room 🤮 2w
mcctrish @IndoorDame she doth protest too much for sure 🎯 2w
AmyG Back then…hard to hide your racism and homophobia? Or just more acceptable to say it? That part was hugely cringeworthy. 2w
vlwelser This Ronnie part was terrible. And then she doesn't get why the other dude goes back to being distant. 2w
quietlycuriouskate "Real" men?! Like those shining paragons of manhood that she hooks up with? 2w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate The definition of real men is 😵‍💫. I‘m just astounded. 2w
mollyrotondo This whole section has been my least favorite far so and one of the major reasons is because of all the “real men“ talk. She went on and on with this homophobic remark about “real men“ that it really turned my interest off. I assume this is another aspect of people of the era that Doris Lessing is criticizing, but this late in the book I hoped for more growth from Anna. 1w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD FREE WOMEN

So TOMMY - BLIND NOT DEAD 😳
Apparently he‘s happy now
Manipulative ? Abusive?
I‘m not a fan

📷 https://988lifeline.org/

Also. The light always returns. I promise. One of the bravest things I ever did was stay here. Please reach out if you need help.

mcctrish That was a cliffhanger ending to the last section! It feels like he‘s become a new character, that I still dislike 🤣 I am so happy you are here ❤️❤️❤️ 2w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish Me too. ♥️ 2w
IndoorDame What does it say about this novel (about Lessing) that the new WAY less likeable Tommy is now at peace with himself 🤔😂😟 2w
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TheBookHippie @IndoorDame Tommy 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 2w
mcctrish @IndoorDame 🤣🤣 absolutely 💯 has a transformative experience becomes a worse person 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2w
AmyG I was surprised by that. But IS he at peace with himself? It feels off. But then alot of this book does. 2w
vlwelser I am thankful always that you are here. ❤ 2w
vlwelser Tommy somehow manages to become less likeable. I thought it was sort of anticlimactic that he survives. Because this is fiction and it's ok to root against the dreadful characters. 2w
mollyrotondo I was shocked that Tommy survived. But I agree with everyone, I still cannot stand Tommy. He is still unlikeable. He does seem more content now, but he still hasn't grown as a character. I'm not sure what Tommy is supposed to show us in this story. But I am glad we are all here! ❤ 1w
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AmyG
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Are we done yet???? 🤣

@TheBookHippie #SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie Your leader probs gonna send little prizes to alll the people who actually finish…. 👀🤣😵‍💫😅💛📔💛😮‍💨 2w
AmyG @TheBookHippie Hahahahaha. Please don‘t send a notebook. 📔 2w
TheBookHippie @AmyG OMG that‘d be funny🤣😵‍💫😮‍💨 2w
vlwelser 💯 trying to keep myself motivated.... We're at 74%. Do you feel better? 2w
AmyG @vlwelser Ha, maybe a little. Keep on skimming 👊🏻 2w
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vlwelser
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Made it. Took a weird selfie to celebrate.

#SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie 😅😮‍💨💛📔 2w
TheBookHippie I got the FLORIDA POSTCARD!!!!! 🧡 2w
vlwelser @TheBookHippie perfect. Much faster than Spain. 😂 😘 2w
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vlwelser
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I cannot even with this book. It's never going to end....

AmyG 😩That‘s tomorrows reading for me. 2w
mcctrish I like to put it off for as long as possible 2w
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TheBookHippie
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See you SUNDAY #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD PEEPS

Free Women Three discussion 😵‍💫😝🤣👀🤐🤫

vlwelser Omfg this book. I got less than an hour left of this section. According to the kindle. 2w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser 🤦🏻‍♀️😵‍💫🤦🏻‍♀️ 2w
vlwelser 🤗😘 2w
mcctrish @vlwelser 🤣🤣 I‘m not sure we‘ve ever been so unanimous in our “omfg, this book” 2w
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TheBookHippie
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AmyG Yes! I don‘t like any of them! 3w
IndoorDame A million characters, one of them seriously ought to be likeable! 3w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame one would think… 3w
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mcctrish They are all miserable 3w
vlwelser I'm not really digging this book. But we're well past the halfway mark. So on we go. 3w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser It still intrigues me. However, whew😅😵‍💫. 3w
vlwelser There's something very 1950s about this. Like that Mary McCarthy book. 3w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser YAS!!!!! The Group. 3w
DebinHawaii OK, I never made it past the 125-ish page mark so I am calling it DNF for me. 😔 I just needed her to get to the point… some point…any point at all. Probably just not the right time for me & a sloggy chunkster. As much as I love our Sunday discussions, I‘ll still have Saturdays & #ChloeGongReadAlong this month! 🤗 I do admire all of you for tackling it & will be cheering you on! 🎉 3w
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii No worries!!! See you on Saturdays and April 🙃♥️. 3w
DebinHawaii @TheBookHippie Of course! I have Zorrie ready to go! 🤗 3w
AllDebooks Thanks for the interesting links. It is fascinating, but the characters seem awful. 3w
AllDebooks @TheBookHippie I'm so behind as I'm just not enjoying reading about these people at all. Usually, there's some redeeming quality to be found. Maybe that comes later in the book, but I just don't have the interest to find out. Sorry, I have to bail. 😅 2w
TheBookHippie @AllDebooks no worries. 🙃 2w
mollyrotondo I don‘t like anyone either 😂 but still really intrigued by everything being said and the (slow) progress of this character. I still want to see where she lands. 2w
quietlycuriouskate Maybe I'm labouring under a delusion but I'm hanging in there for the golden notebook (much as I slogged through Ulysses for the sake of "earning" Molly's soliloquy). 2w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate BEST ANALOGY yet. Agree. 2w
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#sundaybuddyread

Quote from pg 343 in my book seems to sum up this portion of reading.

“The point as it seems to me that my mind is a mass of totally contradictory attitudes about everything”

AmyG Hahahahaha YEP 3w
IndoorDame 💯🤣 3w
mcctrish All over the place for sure. I‘m sure it‘s why people think women are insane - but if misogynistic, patriarchal hogwash is constantly shoved down our throats ( Katie Britt comes to mind forcing this narrative ) it‘s no wonder. Women have to think way harder than men imo (edited) 3w
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vlwelser 💯 all over the place. 3w
mollyrotondo @mcctrish agree!!! 🎯 2w
mollyrotondo I love this quote. It‘s honest 😂 2w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

1954

“The housewives disease”
The relationship with Michael & it ENDS
Also, all these men. Not a good one in the bunch.

Anna‘s social party work

Anna‘s refusal to write book two or inability

For a feminist novel this sure is I need a man centered…

Anna resting on her laurels- too much time to think

Anna obsessing over her period et all

Anna worried about motherhood

AmyG I am surprised how much crap the women take from these men. 🤣 That one guy…who was so awful and thought she was amazing. He gave her not one second of physical pleasure…yet she stuck with it. 😳 (edited) 3w
TheBookHippie @AmyG RIGHT?! 😱 3w
IndoorDame I was disappointed that she sort of started to think about her daughter taking on all the same stresses in just a few years, and then abandoned that thought as, I don‘t know… inevitable? 3w
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IndoorDame Also the obsession with her period seemed insane 😂😅. Is there a generational thing I‘m just missing here? 3w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame Yes a little bit. The products we had to use were horrific and didn‘t help much with odor or even accidents. It was way more difficult to hide. And that was my experience. This is far earlier. 3w
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie that makes sense 3w
mcctrish @IndoorDame this obsession made me think of (recent to me knowledge) that women are often left out of medical trials and no studies are done on exclusive to women medical issues. I don‘t think the ‘obsession‘ is insane, there is still so much shame tied into menstruation like women are broken and dirty 3w
AmyG @mcctrish Yes…shame. All a bit “hush hush”. 3w
IndoorDame @mcctrish the medical trials thing is maddening! 3w
vlwelser Maybe this was sort of feminist in the 1950s. But maybe just because she's kind of calling some of this stuff out. 3w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser That is my only thought. 3w
mollyrotondo @vlwelser you are right. It‘s because she is pointing it out. Not making the women strong and ready to speak up to a man but just the writing about these issues women face and feel. Yeah. 2w
mollyrotondo I think her obsession with her period is relatable because I dwell on jt too when I have my period. Not the odor thing which seemed to be her real issue but just always needing to tend to it. 2w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The Shadow of the Third

Ella to Paris

The “I definitely do not want to be married” quote the hypocrite?

Ella & Cy

Interesting her ideas of what is sex and intimacy ..

AmyG Alot of thoughts and feelings in this book. And yet…not so much action….except perhaps sex. (edited) 3w
IndoorDame Her ideas of sex and intimacy really make my skin crawl. (and the men are even worse!) But I see her possibly on the brink of realizing that she doesn‘t actually want these relationships, she‘s just been conditioned to define herself by them so she doesn‘t know how to break free… And it‘s hard to dismiss that completely when 70 years later women still have the same internal conflicts over things like going to restaurants alone. 3w
mcctrish If I hear the phrase “oh boy” once more in my lifetime IT WILL BE TOO SOON! Also if Cy is what sex was, I‘d be a lesbian not the mom to 5 boys 3w
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TheBookHippie @mcctrish celibate looks good when reading about him. Just YIKES. 3w
vlwelser This got sort of boring. Like who cares? 3w
mollyrotondo @IndoorDame she‘s so closing to realizing that this is not what she wants but it‘s taking her forever!!! The Cy affair was the worst!! At first I hoped Cy was going to be a gentleman (why I thought that I do not know) but then he was like yes I want to have sex with you but didn‘t know how to say it 🙄 and then he talks so rudely about his wife but thinks she has the life 🤯 and then he gives nothing in bed and thinks he‘s the man?! I wish she… 2w
mollyrotondo …would have told him wow you suck in bed in order to take ownership of herself and her sex life because he‘s a stranger so who cares about his feelings! But instead she strokes his ego. Uhh again where is the feminist story?!! 2w
quietlycuriouskate I don't understand why she is consenting to so much crap sex with these awful men. What @IndoorDame said makes sense of it, though. 2w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame still thinking on this. If you aren‘t shown, witness foot even read about… you‘d, I assume, be seeking for an unnamed thing you believe can be out there? A lot of “this cannot be it”. Much to ponder on. 2w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate optimistic ? 🤦🏻‍♀️😫😝🫨😵‍💫😞 2w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

1954 Always talk of leaving the party.

Happiness and Michael..

1952 The peeps are delusional. Whew.
Stalin was horrific.
All the talk and dreaming without action of any kind…

😵‍💫

AmyG Yes. I thought the same. Leave the Communist party and DONE. It was all so odd. 3w
IndoorDame At this point the delusion is almost funny. Everyone speaking in jargon, but using it to mean slightly different things, no one actually communicating… 3w
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mcctrish Nothing gets done AT ALL! #alltalknoaction why was anyone afraid of communism?! 🤣🤣 3w
vlwelser They definitely get nothing done. Maybe the women should have been in charge. Then the guys leave before the girls. 3w
mollyrotondo How many times was it said that someone was going to leave the party?! And they‘d talk and talk about it and they‘d do nothing! They wouldn‘t make changes to the party and they wouldn‘t leave the party. The Molly character in the fictional story (Julia?) stopped participating in whatever party service they were required to do but still didn‘t actually leave the party lol oh and the Michael stuff 🙄 very realistic but also he‘s a jerk! Dump in! 2w
quietlycuriouskate I imagine them having meetings about what biscuits to have at the next meeting and never reaching a decision because then they would actually have to do something, rather than content themselves with slinging words like "praxis" around. 2w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Anna

Edwina/Reginald people that want to make the book a movie or a play but not really, all the changes.

Anna‘s obsession with how she looks and dresses to present herself.

Just OY

AmyG Anna‘s dressing….reminded me of my mother and that time. All the woman took time to dress. Ha…my Mom wouldn‘t walk to the driveway to get the paper in the morning without a full face of makeup. 3w
IndoorDame Fascinating that she thinks of dressing as putting on costumes to embody different women. Makes total sense with the fractured structure of the novel. But also such an unhealthy embodiment of playing roles for men and society. 3w
mcctrish I keep thinking while reading this “where the fuck is the feminism?” Or is this just a miserable cry for it? The whole dialogue about the book to a play or a movie or a translation but cut this, add that, made me want to scream ( I think I missed the whole dressing thing) 3w
vlwelser This seemed a bit drawn out with nothing happening. Maybe the whole point is they want to change her story so they're not getting it at all. 3w
mollyrotondo @vlwelser that‘s what I got out of it. They want to fit the story to be relatable to people in the UK so change the setting and make it a love story. I feel like that‘s what happens to a lot of books to screen nowadays. They break it down to its most simple plot and cut out the depth of a book. But I thought it was funny how the American woman knew she wasn‘t going to get a deal she was just there to meet up with her fling. Uhh everyone is so fake 2w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Free Women

I was reminded while reading this first bit of the saying “A Republican refuses aid to anyone in case one person abuses it, A Democrat gives knowing people may abuse it but with the hope of helping just one.”

(Although nowadays cruelty power control.)

There was also questioning of love, what‘s the goal, why are we alive… The summation of the real things happen in the ordinary.

Then the suicide of Tommy.

Whew.

AmyG Tommy‘s suicide was a shock. I am curious how it‘s addressed further. (edited) 3w
IndoorDame @AmyG same! Shocking, but I actually really want to circle back to this point and see how everyone responds. 3w
mcctrish I was having serious The Bros vibes, it was all blah, blah, blah ( could Marion be any more painful) and then BANG ( literally) and I gasped out loud. Poor Tommy. Actually poor everyone. This book is just sheer misery 3w
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TheBookHippie @mcctrish the blah blahs is a theme 😝 3w
TheBookHippie @AmyG @IndoorDame I assume we get more in the next section? 3w
vlwelser That Tommy thing was very unexpected. 3w
AmyG @TheBookHippie I hope so. 3w
mollyrotondo So as I was reading this second Free Women section, I found Tommy more and more annoying. He reminds me of a friend I had in college who challenged every little thing you believed but had no real opinions himself and just talked in circles most of the time. Tommy was irritating me. And then he commits suicide and I felt awful for not liking him. He seems so lost and maybe it‘s because his parents and adult figures are so hypercritical? 2w
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo CANNOT STAND HIM. It‘s always a choice of how you are, no matter what. 😝 2w
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie 😅 I‘m glad it wasn‘t just me. He was so annoying and judgmental but had no point of view on anything to justify being so judgmental. He wanted to point out how their politics would say don‘t help one if it won‘t help many but when he had the chance to go somewhere to help many he said ehh it‘s a waste because it‘s only so many. The most annoying conversation so far. 2w
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mcctrish
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Living my best life, reading in a king sized hotel bed with take out coffee on a Sunday morning ( I could handle a better book 🤣)

AmyG Hahahaha…I get it. Enjoy! 3w
dabbe Nice nails! 🤩😍😃 3w
mcctrish @dabbe OPI off my lawn I think 💚💚 3w
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mcctrish @AmyG traveling with The Bros AND The Golden Notebook #masochist 3w
AmyG Good times! 😬🤣 3w
marleed Good for you! 3w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD peeps

I do NOT do well with the time change 😵‍💫😩😅

I‘ll see ya when I wake and get coffee in 😝

AmyG I‘m with you. See you when we see you. 3w
Bookwormjillk For today I‘m just pretending this isn‘t going to happen tonight. 3w
JenniferEgnor I really wish they‘d stop passing terrible laws we don‘t want, and instead get rid of this nonsense we call ‘daylight savings time‘! 3w
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TheBookHippie @JenniferEgnor It‘s so very hard on the body and mind. Even my poor English Bulldog Winifred suffers. 3w
quietlycuriouskate Oh, goodness, ours (UK) doesn't happen for another two or three weeks yet. I don't like it at all! 3w
IMASLOWREADER i dont either…especially when losing 1hr lol 3w
mcctrish Take all the time you need. I wish we could just stop with the time change already. I‘m no where near done my reading and in Toronto for the weekend - I may join the commentary and skip the reading or do the reading and get on here someday in the future when I‘m finally done 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish why we continue the time change is barbaric. I figure everyone will stop in as they read. So far that‘s been the way. Plus I gave us an extra week to get it allll done if we wish😅 3w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate It‘s just awful. 3w
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kspenmoll
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Perfect image/ feel of “ mood reading”—The exhilaration I feel when wandering through library bookshelves & come upon a book that calls to me—bookstores now seem to have less of a selection.Libraries have always been part of my life,deserving of my support & respect.As children, my mom would take us every Saturday to get the next week‘s books. My husband & I always took my son for story time & book selections. #sundaybuddyread

IndoorDame 💜💜💜 3w
Tamra Yay for mood reading! 👍🏾👍🏾 3w
LiteraryinLawrence 💗💗💗 3w
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TheBookHippie 💛💛💛💛💛 3w
BeeCurious 👍📚💗 Great advice which I wish I had heeded decades ago. That's part of the reason I feel relieved not to be involved with in-person monthly book clubs anymore. 3w
dabbe Yes! Never feel bad to #hailthebail or be a #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 3w
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kspenmoll
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This is why when I read history, I enjoy reading historical novels of the same time period, or those that allude to that time period.
I just started this novel today. Quite behind…I read it decades ago- wonder if I remember anything?! #sundaybuddyread

IndoorDame I‘ve really been noticing how much more of this flavor she captures than any historical fiction book ever does! It‘s completely of its time. And I think maybe the “matrix of emotion” is one of her best skills as a novelist. 3w
TheBookHippie 💛💛💛💛 3w
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Librarybelle
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Celebrating International Women‘s Day by playing catch up on this month‘s #SundayBuddyRead .

There‘s a lot of info, but Lessing has a way of presenting the story as if the reader is there. I won‘t have section 2 complete by Sunday‘s discussion, but at least I‘m making progress!

Xander is my reading buddy tonight. #Xander #CatsOfLitsy

TheBookHippie 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛 3w
Velvetfur Aaawww Xander is so pretty! 🥰 3w
Librarybelle Thank you, @Velvetfur ! ❤️ 3w
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kspenmoll I am behind too. Hi Xander! 😻 3w
Librarybelle @kspenmoll Glad I‘m not the only one! 3w
batsy Great book and perfect IWD-themed read! 3w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3w
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TheBookHippie
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quietlycuriouskate Ugh, don't start me on British politics! 🤬 3w
TheBookHippie @quietlycuriouskate I get that. Here in USA it‘s 😵‍💫 3w
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TheBookHippie
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

If you made it this far BRAVO!!!!!
Shorter sections here on out.
So far I hate everyone and I‘m intrigued. I find passages that hit and that spurs me on.

How are you doing?

Massive thanks for Sundays and going on this challenge with me!!

BarkingMadRead I am still catching up, but so far I am not really fond of anyone 🤣🤣 4w
vlwelser It's possible that I also hate them all. I'm rewarding myself with a break from this today. The next section is only about 100 pages. That's better, right? 4w
mcctrish Absolutely hate these people but yes some sections do grab me. I still want the golden notebook that just sums it all up and isn‘t a slog 4w
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Billypar "So far I hate everyone and I'm intrigued" -- that sounds about right from what I remember ? 4w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser 🙂 my thoughts exactly. 4w
TheBookHippie @Billypar 😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 4w
IndoorDame I‘m not sure I‘ve found characters I like and am rooting for, but I‘ve definitely found ideas and questions I‘m interested in and want to see play out 4w
Kimberlone Sorry I didn‘t get started to be ready for the first week, but I plan on joining in for the rest! 4w
TheBookHippie @Kimberlone no worries. It isn‘t as difficult a read as I was dreading so that‘s a relief! Many of us behind a bit. 4w
DebinHawaii I only made it through about 100 pages (including) so far & I‘m struggling with its endlessness. I‘m going to try some more today & see how it goes. Knowing that the next sections are shorter may make it easier.🤷🏻‍♀️ 4w
quietlycuriouskate Not sure *what* I am reading, and I can't stand any of the characters but, hey ho, that's the biggest chunk done now so... 🤷 4w
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii 😅🫠 I GET IT. Also hope you‘re feeling better! 4w
CatLass007 I‘ve decided to skip The Golden Notebook. Please don‘t take me off your tag list because I‘ll jump back in with Zorrie. 3w
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 🙃 see you in April. 3w
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie Absolutely! 3w
mollyrotondo I‘m glad this the was the longest section because I did have to break it down and real small sections each day. I like this book, hate all the characters so far, but also can‘t sit with it for longer than 40 pages at a time. The long windedness gets to me if I sit for longer than that. But I like it and I like the ideas it‘s discussing and the time period it‘s focusing on. I‘m excited to see how she unfolds all these struggles. 3w
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I figured once we got through this first bit we‘d be okay. I pick it up and set it down as well. It‘s a lot to take in. 3w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Anna& Paul & et all
What Anna lost in the 5 years was the power to create through naivety..
So far I don‘t see feminism just narcissistic controlling men
Men thinking they know our bodies and how they work is nothing new under the sun and not all sex is hetero 🫠

Whew 😑

vlwelser It's like she points out the problems. But there are no solutions. 4w
mcctrish Dr West telling Ella about his letter from Paul saying he had to get away from the flighty piece WTF! ! ! Two men being condescending pricks towards her and basically in cahoots. Paul gets a witness to his bastard behaviour and Dr West gets to live vicariously through Paul‘s womanizing SO MUCH UGH 4w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish RIGHT?!?!?!?! Ughhhhhhhh. Made me so mad. 4w
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IndoorDame Agreed! I guess it‘s still the 1950s so on some level pointing out the problems, seeing your worth outside of men and marriage, affairs, divorce, raising kids alone, etc are feminist acts for the time, but it still doesn‘t really resonate in light of the behavior of the men that they‘re just putting up with. I‘m hoping something changes! 4w
Billypar Yeah, totally agree - there's no limit to the toxicity on display. Sometimes when historical fiction (and especially movies) depict sexism or racism from the period, it seems sanitized - i.e., just give those lines to the villain and side characters, but the leads are all perfectly noble. So reading a novel from that time really resets your perspective on how bad it was (and still is, I imagine, depending on where you live!) 4w
TheBookHippie @Billypar it‘s seems white washed for sure. 4w
mollyrotondo @mcctrish uhhh this part was awful!! No one ever tells Paul you are awful! Dr West just goes oh yeah that lady seems crazy but good luck Paul!? What?! Paul gets a pass from a fellow man and the woman he strung along gets deemed the crazy one. 3w
mollyrotondo I definitely don‘t see feminist at the moment. Some comments like Molly and Anna telling Richard he abuses his wife and no you are not putting her in a sanitarium. But the book is mostly political with some feminist thoughts scattered about. But the women so far do not live as feminists. I think Anna sees these things while reflecting back on the men in her past and how she should have reacted to them. 3w
mcctrish @mollyrotondo that Molly and Anna aren‘t married/divorced and are happy single/unmarried is that the pinnacle of feminism they are achieving? Both are one step from poverty according to Richard. This is not Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern (edited) 3w
TheBookHippie @mcctrish THIS IS NOT MARY AND RHODA 🎯🎉 3w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Janet
Dreams
Seeing a therapist
The world is a mess
Korean War
Communism
Red Scare
HBomb
Wars
Etc etc

😅

vlwelser It's telling that her journal devolves into just news headlines. This character is a bit of a mess. 4w
IndoorDame The analyst is annoying. I doubt I would have put up with her as my doctor for several years… 😂 4w
IndoorDame The news headlines are an interesting record, but I‘m not sure what I‘m supposed to take from them yet? 4w
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TheBookHippie @IndoorDame it‘s the dooms day scrolling of the day 🤷🏻‍♀️ or focusing on all the bad instead of good? I‘m waiting to see as well. 4w
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame the analyst just NO. 4w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser A HOT MESS. 4w
mollyrotondo I thought this part was interesting. The analyst was not my favorite and I‘m surprised she saw her for a few years lol but I thought it was so telling that she stops trying to work on herself and instead puts devastating news articles in her journal. She defines herself by the sad world events. It‘s so interesting and makes me wonder if she ever works on herself not in relation to the horrible world around her. 3w
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Ella-“ I can‘t understand how anyone can see what‘s happening to this country and not hate it, on the surface everything is fine -all quiet and tame and stubborn, but underneath it‘s poisonous it‘s full of hatred and envy and people being lonely.”

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

vlwelser Doris really is spot on with a lot of things. Great example. 4w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser She truly is. 4w
IndoorDame That was such a telling argument! Both sides really stood out! 4w
mollyrotondo Exactly. It‘s like that in a lot of places. The loneliness and the restrictions. She‘s talking about the UK but it happens here to in the U.S. 3w
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The shadow of the Third

Julia(Molly) Ella(Anna)

Think all writers write truth in different veins in novels?

About all the sex talk in all the books including this one all I can say is GAMES GAMES GAMES.

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 you?

vlwelser 💯 games for sure. 4w
IndoorDame The sex in this section made me especially 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 4w
mollyrotondo I definitely think writers write truth in different veins. Take their real life or someone they know and put it on the page. Again another way to help make sense of choices. 3w
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“My dear Anna, the human soul,sitting in the kitchen, or for that matter in a double bed, is quite complicated enough. We don‘t understand the first thing about it. Yet you‘re worrying sitting there because you can‘t make sense of the human soul in the middle of a world revolution?”

People desperate to make sense of things want to control it all so it does yes? Or thoughts ?

mcctrish Trying to make sense of things explains the conservatives of canada #justgobackwards 4w
vlwelser So the thing that stuck out to me here in the red notebook (😂 re the color) is when she does the canvassing or whatever it was and finds young housewives that are bored out of their freaking minds. 4w
TheBookHippie @vlwelser right ?! 🫠 4w
IndoorDame @vlwelser same! And the men in the office don‘t notice, ugh, the other women finds it too depressing to go canvassing anymore, and she‘s fascinated and wants to forget politics and focus on that but doesn‘t cause she‘s stuck in this role 4w
mollyrotondo We always want to find sense amongst the chaos. How else do you cope? 3w
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