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Train Dreams
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
A New York Times Notable Book for 2011 One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year One of NPR's 10 Best Novels of 2011 Denis Johnson's Train Dreams is an epic in miniature, one of his most evocative and poignant fictions.Robert Grainer is a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth centuryan ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal defeats and the radical changes that transform America in his lifetime. Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American Westits otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge buildersthe new novella by the National Book Award-winning author of Tree of Smoke captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life.
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Sapphire
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

I have been reading my way through the character Tookie‘s list of “short perfect novels” listed in Louise Erdrich The Sentence. This has the same ethos. A simple hard life well lived against an ethical standard with human imperfection. Glad I read it. The prose is effective in creating the mood. #192025

Librarybelle What a great idea! I like reading books that are mentioned in other books! 11mo
Aimeesue Ha! I screenshot that list when reading the Erdritch, but have yet to get back to it. I really should! 11mo
Sapphire @Aimeesue I am struggling with Mrs Dalloway, but I am glad for each I have read so far. About halfway there. Many of them also work for #192025 and I am hoping to hit 25% complete on that challenge soon! 11mo
18 likes3 comments
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Sapphire
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Heading into travel status for work this week armed with an enjoyable audiobook and two great kindle books in progress. I got halfway through Lessons in Chemistry this weekend but leaving that hardcover at home so hubby can catch up before we see the author speak next weekend.

Sparklemn Jealous about next weekend. Make sure to post some pictures! 11mo
Sapphire @Sparklemn will do! We are so lucky in Dallas. The DMA has great authors every year. 11mo
18 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

I picked this one up in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Idaho. The slim novella is set there but I wasn‘t sure what to expect. I was surprised by the heartbreaking picture of grief and loneliness that I found. Robert Grainier, a railroad worker in the early 1900s, loses his wife and daughter in a fire and the rest of the book paints a picture of his quiet life through the decades. It reminded me a bit of The Searcher and The Dog Stars.

PaperbackPirate Hi! Good to see you over here! 🙋🏼‍♀️💙 3y
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Sharp_Cornaz
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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The white daisies dabbed the field so profusely that it seemed to foam.

(Right before Granier proposes to Gladys)

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suvata
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Mehso-so

The Librarian Is In podcast recommendation for May 2020

A slow-burn novella about life in the American Southwest during beginning in 1917. As with most stories about the people who built this country, you can expect tragedy as well as triumph.

Denis Johnson‘s writing reminded me of Flannery O‘Connor.

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Bertha_Mason
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson

"The dark cloud over the Northwest, boiling like an upside-down ocean, blocked out the sun and moon and stars."

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Bertha_Mason
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson

I'm reading this one because Nick Cave told me to. I rarely take recommendations sight unseen, so, you know. I'm a dumb ho fangirl/boy/thing for sure.

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Severnmeadows
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

I‘ve just finished Train Dreams, which I really liked. It‘s a short book: an account of a man‘s life, a man who is on few people‘s minds except when they have everyday dealings with him. Throughout you are always aware of the beautiful and unpredictable natural environment.
The wonderful writing reminded me at times of Cormac Mccarthy‘s All the Pretty Horses.

Suet624 Sounds great! 5y
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Severnmeadows
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Just about to start Train Dreams... 🌲🌲⛰🚂🌲🌲

JanuarieTimewalker13 Beautiful!! I still have to read Tree of Smoke! 5y
Severnmeadows @JanuarieTimewalker13 This is my first Dennis Johnson, but as I like stories with railways, wilderness, forests and wolves, I thought I‘d give it a go! 😊 5y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Looking forward to your review🌸 5y
Severnmeadows @JanuarieTimewalker13 😊 the photograph was taken in Taiwan, but it seemed to fit. 5y
JanuarieTimewalker13 This world is so beautiful🌎❤️ 5y
49 likes5 comments
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callielafleur
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

A melancholy little book about a man's life on the Canadian border in the early to mid 1900's. He works for a lumber company and suffers a family tragedy that changes his life. The prose in it was quite lovely. This was read on the Literary Disco podcast years and years ago, and I've had it on my TBR ever since. Glad I finally got to it. 4⭐

callielafleur Just went back and looked, and this was episode 8 of LD, back in 2012! I'll have to go back and relisten, now that I've read it. Knowing Ryder, Julia and Tod, I'm sure they loved it. 5y
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CrowCAH
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

#AnglophileApril #Dreams
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yam5uK6e-bQ

Dreaming about a new life out west, where the railroad 🛤 was heading, full of possibilities!

Mdargusch Cool cover! 🖤 5y
Severnmeadows This looks brilliant! 5y
CrowCAH @Severnmeadows it‘s a good read, too; and short - can finish in a day. 5y
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BestDogDad
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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March reading wrap up with Goodreads ratings. Train Dreams and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry were my favorite with The End of Days right up there as well. #Marchwrapup #dogsoflitsy

JoScho Brittney ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Suet624 I love Harold. 5y
14 likes2 comments
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BestDogDad
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

I heard Jenny and Thomas discuss this book on the last Reading Envy podcast. I ordered on Audible right away. Will Patton's narration was absolutely perfect for this book. It was mesmerizing and added so much to the experience!

The writing is fantastic and not a word is wasted.

When you are done listening you'll be surprised that the author crammed this much story in to two hours and twenty minutes. This is an absolute classic.

#readingenvy

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BestDogDad
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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I just love the writing in this book.

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BestDogDad
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Us soft Minnesota fellers! I love Arn.

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BestDogDad
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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This novella is chock full of great lines.

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shawnmooney
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Bookworm83
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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I fell asleep early last night, but I‘m up and ready for a long and cozy first day of #24in48! ☕️☕️☕️

rather_be_reading cute mug! 5y
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BrentMWiggins
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick
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Bookmarkie
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Bus home....audio book.
This is my first Denis Johnson. #readharder2018
#western

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Lacythebookworm
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

I loved Jesus‘ Son, Johnson‘s short story collection, so I was eager to read this novella. He evokes the history of the American West in all its beauty and brutality.

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Lacythebookworm
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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I‘m planning to dip in and out of Mrs. Dalloway throughout the day. (I don‘t want to rush through it.) Almost finished with Train Dreams - perfect one sitting book! #readathon

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Lacythebookworm
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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I‘m planning to dip in and out of Mrs. Dalloway throughout the day. (I don‘t want to rush through it.) Almost finished with Train Dreams - perfect one sitting book! #readathon

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LibrarianJen
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Mehso-so

I know this was a novella, but it still felt like it was missing something. Like, so what? What was the point of this story? It read the way a historical novel is written but it wasn't an historical account. Also there was supposed to be some big thing at the end, but I must have missed it. I'm not liking the incomplete feeling. That being said, it was written really well and I devoured it so it wasn't a total bust.

Tamra I listened it and gave it the same rating, but the narrator was great. 7y
Zelma Very cool mug! 😍 7y
Cupofjo Love the mug!! ☕️ 7y
LibrarianJen @Tamra glad I'm not the only one! @Zelma @Cupofjo Thanks! My hubby got it for me when I finished grad school 😊 7y
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balletbookworm
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

A spare and wrenching novella about one man's life, spent largely in a solitary cabin in Montana. The story of Robert Grainier seems both small and also very large, which is quite a feat. There's also a strange voyeristic feel, when other characters tell Grainier facts about themselves (including a few WTF NOPE stories). This is the first Denis Johnson book I've read and it won't be the last.

shawnmooney I read his debut collection of stories right after he died, and man! ❤️❤️❤️ (edited) 7y
Rachellynnwright Insanely adorable photo, what a sweetheart!!! 😻 7y
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Blair_Reads
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Pickpick

Just finished the next book for my Litsy Goes Postal book club...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and most of those stars were gained on pages 70@71 😉 A juicy novella jam packed with character and feeling. It will shortly be on its way to the next book lover in the cycle. 💜📖
@getlitsy
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#litsygoespostal #bookcover #bookbookbooks #bookblogger #bookstagram #book #books #read #reading #readmore #readmorebooks #novella #litsy

BooksForEmpathy I liked it a lot too!! 7y
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REPollock
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Mehso-so

Meh. Had to read this for a novella workshop, and given the stellar reviews I was expecting to like it more. I guess I just give zero fucks about a socially stunted dude who almost lynched a guy at the get-go, and never makes amends. Read like a collection of kinda boring short stories.

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My_novel_obsession
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Ben, Jerry and I are going to spend a little time with Denis Johnson this evening.

Suet624 A lovely combo. 7y
BookishTrish That sounds heavenly 7y
60 likes2 comments
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Tamra
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Mehso-so

Will Patton was the perfect narrator for this novella, old-timey to a T. Again, the chapters listened like short stories (is this typical for audio?) and a few of them were poignant or humorous, and captured a time & place.

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BooksTeasAndBookishThings
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
Panpan

This was between a pan and so-so for me. The so-so because for its genre, it is really well written and has a ring of truth no one can deny, but a pan because it is not my usual cup of tea. It has very WTF moments, but it also kind of needs to be read because of those moments. "Simple life" is never really simple, and I have to say that I guess I am glad I read it, but will probably not read any more by him. This one spent me with so few pages

cariashley I felt very similar after reading this one. 7y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings @cariashley yeah, it KIND of felt like he wrote it JUST to evoke a response, which kind of made me feel a disconnect, but I couldn't deny that the subject matter kind of needs to be brought to light more. I just wish it had a more honest delivery, if that makes sense? 7y
CrowCAH Some places were beautiful, like when the countryside was described, but I didn't really get pulled in, kinda a surface book. 7y
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BooksTeasAndBookishThings @CrowCAH he wrote these profound sentences about nature and they were beyond beautiful, but that was the only time it felt REAL. The rest seemed like he was trying too hard to be "unique", like it was forced, but that was just the feeling I got. 7y
CrowCAH @BooksTeasAndBookishThings I agree! Though he had something going for the book, because it got on the short list for the Pulitzer...but did not win. (There was no winner in 2012 for the fiction Pulitzer) 7y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings @CrowCAH but I almost feel like that is what he was trying to achieve... like it just wasn't his real story. I hate that. I would rather read a book that is awful, but feels genuine than read a beautiful book that feels forced. 7y
CrowCAH @BooksTeasAndBookishThings here here, you said it girlfriend! 🤗 7y
Laalaleighh 🙌🏼🙌🏼 7y
72 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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squarepeginroundhole
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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"By most Januaries, when the snow had deepened, the valley seemed stopped with the perpetual silence, but as a matter of fact it was often filled with the rumble of trains and the choirs of distant wolves and the nearer mad jibbering of coyotes."

Ericmanciniwriter One of my favorite books - haunting 7y
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BooksForEmpathy
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Quiet morning here while I try to put a dent in this small but mighty book. I made myself some vanilla almond tea and an English muffin with butter, strawberry jam, and a sprinkle of maldon 💕.

A side note - I received this book stand for Christmas. I am wondering if I am using it correctly!? Do people like book stands? I am feeling like it's more work than just holding the book myself. It does make for an easy picture though ☺️📖.

Donna_sBookMinute Do you think it might be a recipe book stand -- to hold the book open to the recipe page? 7y
SiriGuruDevSingh English muffins! I need to get some of those... 7y
BooksForEmpathy @Donna_sBookMinute YES! It is. But I was hoping to be able to use it for both cookbooks AND my books. How are book stands different for just general reading? I may have to look into a different kind... any recs? 7y
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Gayan I was thinking that looked like a great idea 7y
Ms.Story I've always wanted a book stand but I too wondered about turning the pages! Looks like it'd be fantastic for cookbooks 😊 7y
Dogearedcopy @BooksForEmpathy LOL, I actually know something about this! In the days before audiobook narrators used iPads in the recording studio, they used reading stands which are like the one shown in your picture, only without the staying arm. If possible, that arm was retracted or removed altogether. Otherwise (with the arm extended or unable to remove) they were for cookbooks. That's it! 🙂 (edited) 7y
underthebelljar I just got one as a Christmas gift too. I haven't used it for print books yet but it works great for propping up my e-reader. 😊 7y
minkyb Not sure I would use won but I love the conversation and insight! 7y
LeahBergen Yep. I mostly use mine for cookbooks (or if I'm really into a book and eating something messy like spaghetti 😂) 7y
Cortg There's a guy at my gym that uses a large potato chip bag clip to keep the pages open and in one place. It's kinda brilliant. 😂 7y
Heatheringheights @Cortg 😆that's fantastic. 7y
Donna_sBookMinute Not really. If I'm eating or something, I usually just prop a book open with whatever is handy. Let us know what you find. 7y
GlitteryOtters I like bookstands for holding cookbooks open to a relevant recipe while I cook, but that is pretty much all I use them for, although as my hand issues get worse & books or a tablet are often too heavy to hold for long, I am thinking I might start experimenting with them more. They are very useful for cooking, though! 7y
105 likes14 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Good morning! One of my 2017 goals is to spend more time on our roof deck. I love being up here, but rarely make it a priority. It is an undeniably stunning 360 degree view featuring some of my favorite landmarks of San Francisco, and it's the reason I couldn't sleep the night before we found out if we got the apartment or not! The competition to rent here is fierce 😣.

This is my morning view 🌤. Can't wait to start my next read for #LGP!

8little_paws Oh man, super jealous!! I love the bay area 7y
LectricSheep Holy COW that's gorgeous 7y
Marchpane Looks positively magical ✨ 7y
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LindsayReads 😍😍😍 7y
Cinfhen Beautiful 💗 7y
vivastory I really liked that book 7y
syasutake So beautiful! Years ago I lived in an apartment on Nob Hill with an incredible rooftop deck overlooking downtown, the Bay Bridge, Coit Tower...probably the best view I'll ever have. I miss it. 7y
CoffeeAndABook Oh wow! That is stunning & well worth spending lots of time there - with a book, obviously 🤓🎋📚🎈🌁 7y
mauveandrosysky Gorgeous! I so miss having a roof deck! 7y
GlitteryOtters Oh man, what a view! I love a good deck view (and miss mine horribly right now...no deck usage until late April at the earliest for us, as it will be snowy/icy until then). 💕 7y
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MeganAnn
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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"He liked the grand size of things in the woods, the feeling of being lost and far away, and the sense he had that with so many trees as wardens, no danger could find him." This is a beautiful description of the feeling I get being in nature, and why my husband and I love going camping in the summer. Page 14 of this beautiful novella from @MrBook and @BookBabe and I've already found a quote I love and am drawn into the story. #LitsyGoesPostalOG

MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻!!! Glad you're enjoying it! Interested to hear what you think of our music and food pairings ☺️. 7y
BookBabe Yes! 🙌🏻 This quote struck me too when I read the book. 😁 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
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Laalaleighh
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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😔

readinginthedark Don't be sad! We all have those months. 7y
BookishFeminist Agree with @readinginthedark! It happens. You've had a lot on your mind- I'm impressed you got any reading done! 7y
[DELETED] 1409720085 It was a slow month for me too. And you have a lot happening. Everything you want to read is waiting patiently for you to get to them. ❤️ 7y
Zelma I had a rough first half of the year and had similar stats. I don't think I read in March or April at all. Lots of hugs to you. 7y
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GoneFishing
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson

He liked the grand size of things in the woods, the feeling of being lost and far away, and the sense he had that with so many trees as wardens, no danger could find him.

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Ericmanciniwriter
Train Dreams: A Novella | Denis Johnson
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Know how you know a book is good? You last read it 3 years ago and still find yourself thinking about it. I read this as a brand new father and it haunted me - for some reason I woke up this morning with a single, clear thought: you must buy this book

PrueGall He was robbed of the Pulitzer, I think. Haunting and huge and small. I have a copy to a dear friend and he didn't like it at all - I never felt the same way about my friend after that, 5y
Ericmanciniwriter @PrueGall I hear you - I picked it for a book club recently and no one liked it. I couldn‘t believe it 5y
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