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OutAndAbout

OutAndAbout

Joined September 2020

Lisa B. On Storygraph as OutAndAbout. || #bizbooks challenge loaded at https://tinyurl.com/1md7vkcl.
review
OutAndAbout
Mehso-so

A solid quick mystery read. Seemed to drag in many places, most of the twists were predictable but aligned well. Not sure I‘d recommend to anyone unless they are a fan of the author or needed a simple beach read.

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OutAndAbout
The Arrival | Shaun Tan
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Pickpick

This has been on my TBR forever. Finally picked it up and am so glad I did. The drawings are incredible. They convey a sense of emotion with no words. The way they show time passing is unique. The story is touching and shows how immigrants have to feel their way through all new situations. I highly recommend for the strong emotional imagery.

35 likes2 stack adds
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OutAndAbout
The September House | Carissa Orlando
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Pickpick

Wow! What an amazing ride. Steady pace but relaxed for a haunted house book. Good characters, gripping scenes. Not your typical ending. A strong recommend.

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OutAndAbout
River We Remember | William Kent Krueger
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Pickpick

Awesome read. Something about his style is so comfortable, like reading on a blanket under a big oak tree in the middle of summer with a pitcher of iced tea. The plot unfolds steadily and ends with a big finale. Characters you want to spend time with and meet again. Highly recommended.

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OutAndAbout
The Women: A Novel | Kristin Hannah
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Pickpick

Audiobook. A story about the women of the Vietnam war, at a time when women weren‘t know to go to war. About 2/3 was dedicated to the war, and yes they were as near to the front lines as possible without actually doing the shooting. The other third was about how difficult the reentry was for these women. Incredibly sad and yet somehow too compelling to stop reading. Binged it in three days.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️💛❤️ 1mo
29 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
Starter Villain | John Scalzi
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Pickpick

Fun and crazy ride about an heir to a super villain and his exploits with sentient cats and dolphins. Plenty of gunfire and adventure, with a heavy does of humor. Loved it!

Ruthiella This was a fun read! 👍 🐈 🐬 💥 1mo
32 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
After Death | Dean Koontz
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Pickpick

Always a fun ride, Koontz novels are simple and quick to read. No monsters in this one which is unusual, but enough suspense to make it a good story.

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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

It‘s unusual that I think the second half of a book is better than the first. This book opens calmly and comfortably. The second half turns into a more dramatic mystery although still a bit of a cozy mystery. I appreciated the feel of the novel as much as the plot. The plot got a bit confusing at points but all made sense at the end. Would recommend for someone looking for a warm family mystery.

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Pickpick

Fantastic listen! Great characters, fast moving intricate plot, great writing and a good narrator.

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OutAndAbout
The Secret: A Jack Reacher Novel | Lee Child, Andrew Child
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Pickpick

Fast paced. Good plot. Back to the basics Jack Reacher. Less intricately plotted than some other spy novels but always a reliable listen for a long car trip.

30 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
Goodnight Beautiful | Aimee Molloy
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Pickpick

A quick fun read with a mystery, a few sharp pointy twists that I didn‘t see coming, a thread of King‘s Misery, and an ending that wasn‘t predictable.

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OutAndAbout
Stationary Bike | Stephen King
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Pickpick

Another story out of Just After Sunset. Middle aged man starts fitness routine after a lecture from his doctor. As you probably expect, things do not go as planned. So far, these stories are such typical vignettes of life, told untypically and almost lyrically. It was fun to watch King stretch his literary muscles with this one.

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OutAndAbout
Just After Sunset | Stephen King
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Harvey‘s Dream. Story 3. Read by Stephen King. Not a great narration, but interesting to hear it as if it were coming directly from his brain. The story was a simple but foreboding morning coffee conversation between an old married couple. A simple real life vignette, if your real life is created in Stephen Kings brain. Four stars.

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OutAndAbout
Just After Sunset | Stephen King
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Pickpick

A book of Stephen King stories to prepare for Halloween. Each story read by different narrators. The second, called The Gingerbread Girl, starts when a woman out for her morning run sees blond hair hanging from a car trunk and just has to take a look, and is predictably abducted by the killer. What follows is her harrowing experience at the hands of the man. A truely scary “curiosity and the cat” tale. A little over an hour listening time.

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OutAndAbout
Holly: A Novel | Stephen King
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Pickpick

Follow up story about Holly now that Bill Hodges is gone. Good to spend some time with her, Jerome, and Barbara. Some people were frustrated with the liberal views here but Hollys views and quirks were true to her character. If you let politics stand between you and a great story, your loss. The mystery here was good, the characters were well done, and I liked the pace of the narration. The ending was all that I wanted it to be. Recommend.

TrishB I‘m always surprised that people are surprised by the views, they‘ve been in King‘s novels since the beginning. 7mo
OutAndAbout @TrishB exactly. 6mo
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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OutAndAbout
Tom Lake: A Novel | Ann Patchett
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Patchett has such a way of letting her stories grow. I get pulled into each character‘s life so slowly that I don‘t recognize the moment when they become old friends I don‘t want to let go of anymore. This tale of a woman working on the farm with her three daughters turns into her telling her life story to them, including her affair with a young movie star and the different paths they followed. A slow build but a solid recommend.

ItsAnotherJen I almost bought this today! 7mo
BkClubCare I am so so so excited that AP is visiting my town next month!!! Squeeeeeeee 6mo
47 likes2 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

Excellent fictional account of three young men trapped on Bataan during WW II. Based on true stories, much of the book felt familiar but the characters were fresh and their backstories so well plotted that the whole story was engrossing. The writing moved quickly, interspersing touching stories of the boys growing up in Mobile with the horrors of their time in the Philippines. Listened to the audio which was also well executed. A strong recommend.

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OutAndAbout
Tom Lake: A Novel | Ann Patchett
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Really enjoying this story of a woman telling her story to her three daughters as they‘re picking cherries on the family farm one summer during the pandemic. I appreciate that the pandemic is the reason they‘re all together, but that it doesn‘t take such a central plot piece of the story. Interesting to see how authors are beginning to recognize the pandemic without relying on it as a core element of the story.

42 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

A light read about a young woman finding her way in life. Nothing deep, just a fun little romp that includes a secret bookstore, a tiny bit of romance, and a bit of a feminist twist. Fun summer read.

34 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
Pickpick

Listened to audio. Ray Porter is a perfect fit for this series. Once the action starts, it‘s a fast paced ride that‘s hard to put down. Every book is extending the very long backstory though so it‘s getting harder and harder to get into. Lots of detailed explanation of weapons and cars and governments, but that‘s also pretty typical. If you liked the first ones, this is the next one.

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OutAndAbout
Pickpick

A surprising short novella about a math professor who can only remember 80 minutes at a time after an accident. A housekeeper and her son form a friendship that changes all of them in unexpected ways. Interesting little stories are included about the beauty of math and numbers, which enhance the story‘s progress as it does the characters.

BkClubCare Read this for book club loooong time ago. It‘s a sweet gem of a story. 6mo
32 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
Simply Lies | David Baldacci
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Pickpick

Two smart and strong female characters start as enemies but the mystery of a dead body pulls them together, with each seeking to figure out the other along the way. It was a fun enemies to friends mystery.

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OutAndAbout
Horse: A Novel | Geraldine Brooks
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A story of a boy & his horse, laced with historical facts, tinged with racial tension, & complemented by strong characters. The weaving together of different factual events - a painting recovered from the curb, the rediscovery of a horses skeleton, the death from a car wreck of a famous painter - all so skillfully researched & embellished. From the afterword, “this novel could not merely be about a racehorse, it would also need to be about race.”

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OutAndAbout
Mehso-so

The story was interesting. The characters felt a little flat to me and the writing was a bit monotone. I‘m likely a little too old now to read this much teenaged angst.

LiteraryinLawrence I agree. I usually love Kevin Wilson but this one didn‘t do it for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9mo
25 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi | Shannon Chakraborty
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a retired female pirate dragged back into service to find the daughter of a former shipmate. Fun characters and a simple but well crafted plot, including a bit of fantasy and a whole lot of action.

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OutAndAbout
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi | Shannon Chakraborty
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Nice discussion by this female pirate about the paradox of both loving your children and loving a job that takes you away from them.

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The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi | Shannon Chakraborty
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“Men find it easier to believe they have been swindled by a witch than outwitted by a woman.”

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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

This prequel to The Pillars of the Earth was like returning home to learn all about your grandparents over summer vacation. Spanning a decade, it follows several characters through the turn of the tenth century in England. There are Viking raids and bad antics by church bishops. There are royals and lepers. So little happens in a day and so much in a decade! Recommended for those who want a long but simple, cozy but challenging read.

33 likes1 stack add
blurb
OutAndAbout
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A book you feel as much as read. When the weather turns sour, two old women are left behind by the tribe. The book follows their journey, which is both emotional and encouraging. This is more of a novella than a novel, so a very quick read, but a very long-remembered story.

40 likes2 stack adds
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OutAndAbout
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I love when you find an amazing book for vacation. I loved this story of finding family, whether from old connections, new friends, or even a mysteriously intelligent octopus narrator. Highly recommend this one for anyone looking for something heartwarming and creative. Amazing especially as a first novel for this author!

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OutAndAbout
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Panpan

Not the right book for me. I enjoyed the interesting first person snarky narrator, but couldn‘t get interested in any of the characters. The mystery was good so if you are into plot driven twisty turns mystery, it could really work for you. Just didn‘t work for me.

LoverOfLearning Just recently finished this one on audio - overall I enjoyed it. And fair enough. :-) 11mo
OutAndAbout @LoverOfLearning seems like a lot of people who listened to the audiobook enjoyed this one more than those of us who read it. Maybe it needs a good narrator! 11mo
LoverOfLearning @OutAndAbout maybe! And maybe just the flow of the story was smoother too? 11mo
OutAndAbout @LoverOfLearning very possible. Funny how audio makes a difference sometimes. 11mo
36 likes4 comments
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OutAndAbout
The Measure | Nikki Erlick
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Pickpick

Everyone gets a string that tells you how long you‘ll live. Multiple storylines emerge as people come to terms with the ensuing decisions. Great premise and solid character development. The middle got a bit preachy in my opinion but the way the stories develop and intertwine kept me reading. Interesting way to reframe prejudice, and a different take on the question of what a life well lived really means.

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OutAndAbout
The Measure | Nikki Erlick
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But this is what humans have always done. We segment ourselves based on race or class or religion or whatever f&@$ing distinctions we decide to make up, and then we insist on treating each other differently.

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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

Solid Koontz. First I‘ve read in awhile but the style and voice are very much the same as they always were. I appreciated the strong female characters in this one, and nice to see a fox instead of his normal dog as the grounding force. Plenty of suspense leading up to the monsters and a nice relaxing end after all the action. An easy and suspenseful read.

28 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
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"Google Maps," Katie exaggerates, though mavbe not excessively, "are for the timid who need to see the world simplified in order to understand it. These maps are for those big, bold, pioneering souls who love complexity - explorers, adventurers, lovers of byways and alternate routes!"

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She does not believe that any political ideology can shape society into a utopia. She knows that, instead, even the most earnest utopians always and everywhere create horrific dystopias.

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She isn‘t a survivalist, but she intends to survive. She‘s not a prepper, though she makes preparations.

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OutAndAbout
My Heart Is a Chainsaw | Stephen Graham Jones
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Mehso-so

Great concept and some interesting plot lines. I had a very hard time getting into the story though until about half through. Downloaded the audiobook and doing a read along made me finish though. 50-80% I was all in, but the last 10% was strange again. Something still stuck with me enough that I plan to try book 2 of the trilogy. I do love all the slasher film trivia sprinkled in.

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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

A woman comes home after her parents die to settle the estate with her brother. But the family estate includes more problems than she‘s prepared for.
I enjoy the humor and wit that comes with Hendrix‘s retro inspired horror. It‘s the perfect blend if you want scary but not too scary. This is more of a Chucky-in-a-dysfunctional-family drama than a haunted house book. A solid pick for me.

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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

A fun romp through an alternate world full of Godzillas. The author wrote this as a quick fun change of pace after the pandemic. And it reads that way. It‘s a bit corny and predictable but a lot of fun.

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OutAndAbout
Liberation Day: Stories | George Saunders
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Just picked this large print edition up from the library. Is the lack of page numbers a choice? Or a printing error?

gossamerchild Looks like someone forgot to do print preview before printing that out :-D 14mo
29 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

While it helps to like video games, this is more a story of the complexities of friendship. Three friends build a game, and then a company. It‘s a story of what happens when friends become too invested in one another‘s lives, too dependent on one another for support, but don‘t actually know each other as well as they assume. It explores the ramifications of all the bad assumptions we make around other peoples‘ intentions. A solid pick for me.

51 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
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She had thought she arrived. But life was always arriving. There was always another gate to pass through.

Stay warm tonight!

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OutAndAbout
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
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Pickpick

Fantastic and immersive trip through the opioid crisis, and what's it like to truly be poor in the country. Strong symbolism around the ocean/water provided a steady and bright canvas that allowed the characters to go dark and be confused as they found their way through their stories. So many great characters, including the mountain setting itself.

perfectsinner I've been on the fence about trying this one 🤔 14mo
OutAndAbout @perfectsinner I waffled too. Wasn‘t sure I was in for such a long book that sounded so depressing. But I‘m so glad I told the chance. The pure craftsmanship of how Kingsolver tells the story is worth the trip. While the story isn‘t an easy ride, the characters are ones you want to succeed, people you won‘t forget that may show you a side of the world you haven‘t seen before. It is an emotional investment, and one I recommend at least trying. 14mo
perfectsinner Awesome. I'll try to look for it at my library 14mo
43 likes3 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

Cute little collection of science humor.

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OutAndAbout
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
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This just came up on my library holds! Very excited to get started on it.

I'm curious about the Buddy Reads on The Storygraph and decided to use this book to try it. If anyone's interested in joining me, I'm “outandabout“ over there. Let me know and I'll add you.

wanderinglynn I sent you a friend request! I‘m wanderinglynn on SG too. (edited) 1y
OutAndAbout @wanderinglynn Great! Added you, and added you to the buddy read. 1y
SamAnne I'm just starting Demon Copperhead! And just beginning to look at making friends on Storygraph. I'm in. 1y
See All 7 Comments
OutAndAbout @SamAnne Found you and sent a friend request and put you in the BuddyRead. 1y
SamAnne @outandabout accepted. Thanks! 1y
OutAndAbout For those interested in the outcome, the buddy read feature on #storygraph is amazing. You can add comments throughout the book, but you only see comments from others once you are at that point. It seems to handle different editions pretty well also. So if I‘m reading an ebook and my buddy is listening to the audiobook, it still handles the placement well. Right now, it isn‘t possible to search for others reading the same book, kind of a spontaneo 13mo
OutAndAbout Spontaneous mini book club. But they do have that on the roadmap for this year as they build out the social side of the app. Highly recommend trying it out! 13mo
30 likes7 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

Beautifully written with a tense plot but somehow a relaxed pace, with a surprise ending. I enjoy historical fiction that doesn‘t worry so much about historical accuracy that the character development is lost. Interesting journey of a girl too young to be married off for political gain.

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OutAndAbout

“The tigress didn't so much pace as pour herself, as if her very essence was molten, simmering, like the ooze from a volcano. It was hard to distinguish the bars of the cage from the dark, repeating stripes on the creature's fur. The animal was orange, burnished gold, fire made flesh; she was power and anger, she was vicious and exquisite;

OutAndAbout she carried on her body the barred marks of a prison, as if she had been branded for exactly this, as if captivity had been her destiny all along.“ (edited) 1y
OutAndAbout Some of the descriptions are so beautiful. Like this one about a captured tiger.
Just starting this book, but so far, it's the language that's captivated me.
1y
28 likes2 comments
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OutAndAbout
Bewilderment | Richard Powers
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Incredibly written, a troubled boy discovers his passed mother through her brain imprint, and his father struggles with how to work through it. Beautifully written and skillet plotted.

jlhammar One of my favorites from last year. So moving. 1y
40 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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OutAndAbout
Bewilderment | Richard Powers
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