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Graywacke
Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel
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Pickpick

#booker #booker2024 #longlist

My last longlist book. This is an interesting narrative style, a series of snapshots from each fighter‘s past, future, and rather violent present. The 8 girls fighting for the u-18 boxing championship in-front of 12 fans in a neglected arena. But the narrative is doing a lot more than just following our neglected lady gladiators.

My full longlist summary will go in the comments.

Graywacke Some thoughts: 2024 was not my favorite Booker list. Four terrific books. And three others that I found rewarding reading. But that leaves six of thirteen that didn't really work for me. Seems like a lot. What was unique this year is that last September I joined the Booker Prize Book Club on Facebook and got really involved. So I had a different and much higher level of excitement around the list than ever before. That was rewarding. 8h
Graywacke Here's my breakdown, a personal list

My top two:
- Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
- James by Percival Everett

Other books I really took to and that are really well done:
- Orbital by Samantha Harvey
- Held by Anne Michaels

The book that was just too cautious to be great
-My Friends by Hisham Matar

The imperfect but with terrific elements
-Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
-Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
8h
Graywacke The interesting ones that didn't quite work for me
-Playground by Richard Powers
-Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

The book that never quite took off and overcame itself
-This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

The ones that I didn't like (although I can talk about some of their strengths)
-The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
-Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
-Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
8h
See All 7 Comments
BkClubCare Just wanted to say…. Cool post. I am not a Booker follower other than being interested in which book wins. So with all the overlap of lists I *do* follow, I like to see other opinions. I appreciated Safekeep but didn‘t enjoy it; will look for the Charlotte Wood (the only one I don‘t recognize). 🌟 8h
Suet624 I never think that facebook is consistent enough to include me in a reading group. I‘m glad you got a lot out of it. I primarily agree with how you‘ve rated the books, but I liked My Friends more than you apparently. It‘s true that Booker was a bit disappointing this year. 7h
BarbaraBB Very interesting post! It‘s been great following your progression. Overall I was a bit more positive about the list although I haven‘t read all of them. I am looking forward to Playground and will skip Creation Lake. now
27 likes7 comments
review
Gleefulreader
Sisters | Lily Tuck
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Pickpick

This was a fast read - a novella really - about a woman who is a second wife, and her obsession with her husband‘s former wife. She is also step-mother to his two older children. The book rips along - the husband is a bit of a blow hard, the former wife seems faultless, the step children have a good relationship with the new wife, and yet the new wife cannot seem to control her impulses leading to a wild ending.

review
BarbaraBB
Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors
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Pickpick

Three sisters are destroyed by the death of their fourth sister. All three deal (or don‘t) in their own way, not looking out for each other because being together makes them feel so incomplete without Nicky. Their stories make a raw and tender portrait of grief and unconditional love.

#ToB25Longlist
📸 Frankfurt, Germany

Suet624 Lovely photo!! 2d
julesG Not sure how long you're staying in Frankfurt but I remember a large bookshop (one of the chain stores, Hugendubel or Meyersche probably) with a very good selection of English books on the main shopping mile. 2d
BarbaraBB @julesG Thanks, I‘ll share that with my host, who‘s an avid reader as well. However, we‘re just passing through and will continue to Lausanne today (before the snow hopefully!)😘 (edited) 2d
See All 6 Comments
julesG Enjoy!!! Are you staying in Lausanne for the holidays? 2d
BarbaraBB @julesG thanks! Just for the night as well, tomorrow to the French side of Lake Geneva where we‘ll stay for the holidays! Have good ones too Julia 🤍 2d
sarahbarnes Beautiful picture and review! I‘m on the hold list for this one and looking forward to it. Enjoy your holiday travels! 🩵 1d
77 likes6 comments
review
Julsmarshall
The Christmas Fix | Lucy Score
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Pickpick

Funny, festive, and fiesta, this novella available on KU was a great holiday mood read. Pretty spicy, I especially enjoyed the HGTV show goes to a small town set up. #BookspinBingo #readyourkindle

review
TrishB
Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors
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Pickpick

Loved this. Dysfunctional family. Sad and probably not recommended if you‘re still looking for your Christmas smiles.

squirrelbrain One of my favourites of this year ❤️ 3d
AmyG It was one of my favorites too. That ending had me in tears. (edited) 3d
TrishB @squirrelbrain @AmyG I‘d just finished my books of the year list and this has now leaped frogged onto it! I was in tears at a couple of points ♥️ 3d
See All 9 Comments
Deblovestoread Loved this one. Will be on my #Top24in24 list. 2d
LeeRHarry I think this is the one book I‘m sad I haven‘t got to this year - the holds list at the library is looong. But it‘ll be worth the wait! 😊 2d
BarbaraBB I finished it too today. Loved the sisters but the book didn‘t make my top list 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2d
TrishB @BarbaraBB it‘s definitely a late addition to mine! 2d
TrishB @Deblovestoread mine too! 2d
TrishB @LeeRHarry hope you love when you get to it. 2d
71 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
BkClubCare
Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel
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Pickpick

Posing Copper with the🎄has been a challenge this season! Or maybe he only cooperates when I tell him it is for Litsy?! 😂

Audio 🎧 was a good way to experience this and I give kudos to the narrator Cassandra Campbell 🌟 Her voice was perfect for the present tense and the repetition. We get such interesting insight into a broad view of the female psyche; how diverse our wants and needs might be. We are fighters all.

BkClubCare #Dec2024 Book114 #ToBShortList (edited) 1w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1w
42 likes2 comments
blurb
GinaKButler
Expiration Dates | Rebecca Serle
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Up next…our book club pick!

#bookspinbingo

Amor4Libros I enjoyed this one! 😊 1w
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
BkClubCare
Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel
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“Her head feels like it is filled with undercooked pie”

#LitPie #PieinBooks #iLovePie #CaresPieShow #ToBShortList #ChocPearPie 🥧

review
mariaku21
Expiration Dates | Rebecca Serle
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Panpan

I don't know how to start this review.
I picked up the book because 1) it was all over the place and 2) once I looked at it, the premise sounded interesting but this one wasn't for me.
The FMC came across as flat, a bit one dimensional as the book in her POV talks about her outfits, her apartment, these pieces of paper, and high scale restaurants and bars in L.A., which I didn't care.
A booktok raved book has failed me again.

ChaoticMissAdventures I read her In Five Years a while back and cannot for the life of me tell you anything about it. 2w
mariaku21 @ChaoticMissAdventures I've had that happen with other authors. I was tempted by that one too but after this one, I'm on the fence. 😂 2w
20 likes2 comments