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Forest Dark
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
"A brilliant novel. I am full of admiration." Philip Roth "One of Americas most important novelists" (New York Times), the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The History of Love, conjures an achingly beautiful and breathtakingly original novel about personal transformation that interweaves the stories of two disparate individualsan older lawyer and a young novelistwhose transcendental search leads them to the same Israeli desert. Jules Epstein, a man whose drive, avidity, and outsized personality have, for sixty-eight years, been a force to be reckoned with, is undergoing a metamorphosis. In the wake of his parents deaths, his divorce from his wife of more than thirty years, and his retirement from the New York legal firm where he was a partner, hes felt an irresistible need to give away his possessions, alarming his children and perplexing the executor of his estate. With the last of his wealth, he travels to Israel, with a nebulous plan to do something to honor his parents. In Tel Aviv, he is sidetracked by a charismatic American rabbi planning a reunion for the descendants of King David who insists that Epstein is part of that storied dynastic line. He also meets the rabbis beautiful daughter who convinces Epstein to become involved in her own projecta film about the life of David being shot in the desertwith life-changing consequences. But Epstein isnt the only seeker embarking on a metaphysical journey that dissolves his sense of self, place, and history. Leaving her family in Brooklyn, a young, well-known novelist arrives at the Tel Aviv Hilton where she has stayed every year since birth. Troubled by writers block and a failing marriage, she hopes that the hotel can unlock a dimension of realityand her own perception of lifethat has been closed off to her. But when she meets a retired literature professor who proposes a project she cant turn down, shes drawn into a mystery that alters her life in ways she could never have imagined. Bursting with life and humor, Forest Dark is a profound, mesmerizing novel of metamorphosis and self-realizationof looking beyond all that is visible towards the infinite.
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GatheringBooks
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#MayMoms Day 3: I know it is easy to be #Judgmental when one sees the stack of books I just purchased from the recent Big Bad Wolf Booksale here in Dubai. More here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-ohW

Eggs 👍🏼📚😍 2y
vivastory I recently picked up a Le Guin short story collection in the SF masterworks series. I loved Tuf Voyaging. I have a very vivid memory of reading it right when news started to pour in of cities going into lockdown due to Covid & it seemed pretty likely we would, too. It helped me escape for awhile. Great haul! 2y
GatheringBooks @vivastory i enjoyed apple tv‘s adaptation of Foundation which made me intrigued enough to get myself a copy of the books! I am still missing a few titles. Have you read it? 2y
60 likes3 comments
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BarbaraBB
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Panpan

#ReadingAsia2021 🇮🇱

The novel begins with the disappearance of Epstein, a rixh Jewish-American in his sixties who one day, after giving away all his earthly possessions, disappears in #Israel.The passages about Epstein are interspersed with chapters in which we follow a female writer. Plagued by a writer's block and her disintegrating marriage, she too travels to Israel, looking for inspiration. ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB Both become increasingly detached from normal life in the course of the novel, which leads to endless musings on life, Judaism and Kafka. I am very interested in all three subjects but this went way over my head and I found myself lose interest.
I am sorry I didn‘t enjoy it more @Cinfhen but I‘m still grateful you sent it to me 🤍
(edited) 3y
Cinfhen No worries, Barbara xx it was a tough read for me as well 🤷🏼‍♀️Disappointing for sure. Nice photo and great honest review 3y
squirrelbrain That sounds very....blah! 3y
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Hooked_on_books That‘s too bad, as it sounds like a great premise! So disappointing when that happens. 3y
Librarybelle Echoing @Hooked_on_books ...it‘s such a disappointment when a book has a great sounding premise but turns out to be lacking. 3y
Cinfhen Hahaha....she‘s definitely a #JewishAuthor 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen She‘s leaves Philip Roth far behind 😉 (edited) 3y
Cinfhen And her ex husband...Jonathan Safran Foer 😉 (edited) 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Ha, my idol 😉 3y
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BarbaraBB
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#WeeklyForecast 04/20

Look at these beauties! I am in the midst of 2 #ReadingAsia2021 books. I‘m having a hard time connecting to Nicole Krauss, I‘m sorry to say Cindy. I know you warned me when you sent it. The Tale of Aypi, set in Turkmenistan, is lovely.
And then, finally, The Group, for our #Galentine #BestBuddyread on February 7. I hear good things, yet keep postponing. This will be the week however! And if time allows, another #ToB21 book.

squirrelbrain I‘ve only read one Krauss book and struggled to connect with it too. Have a great week! 3y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain This is my third and not one of them was a real pick. While I love reading her ex husband 😉 3y
Cinfhen Ahhhh, I think you‘re gonna enjoy Children‘s Bible but I understand your disappointment with Forest Dark - it wasn‘t her best work. I did enjoy the scenes set at the TelAviv Hilton, though 😊 3y
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BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I understand, even I can imagine Tel Aviv vividly (I was there in 1993 👵🏼), she writes so well. But so difficult! 🤯 3y
Cinfhen Wow 1993!!! Those were wild days xxxx 3y
BarbaraBB Haha a friend of mine had an Israeli boyfriend and moved there. I stayed with them for a while and travelled the country. I‘ve wanted to go back ever since! 3y
Moray_Reads @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I loved The History of Love but I didn't get on with Forest Dark at all. I have an ARC of To Be A Man, perhaps I'll enjoy that more 3y
BarbaraBB @Moray_Reads The History of Love was an okay read for me, as was 3y
BarbaraBB @Moray_Reads I thought I‘d love this one since it is about her divorcing Jonathan Safran Foer, who writes about that divorce in a book I loved: 3y
BarbaraBB @Moray_Reads However, this book deals just sideways with that divorce 3y
Moray_Reads @BarbaraBB I LOVED Here I Am. JSF is a fabulous writer 3y
BarbaraBB @Moray_Reads Yes! Such a good book! So happy you loved it too. It‘s the reason I‘ve been so curious about Forest Dark! 3y
70 likes12 comments
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Cartoom
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Just stumbled upon a few quotes from Forest Dark in my old notebook, and this was one. There are several passages of a similar poetic quality in the book. So if not for the story then these lovely sentences may make it worth your read.

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Bevita
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Mehso-so

Bought this in the Hong Kong airport. A parallel tale of two people who go to Israel: one a young mom/author, maybe searching for her next book, the other an older retired lawyer, searching for meaning or something. It was ok but had I had anything I liked better, I would have probably ditched. The parallel stories never joined, odd.

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erinreads
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Between vacation, my birthday, and discovering a book warehouse, October has been a very good book haul month for me! 😍

ErikasMindfulShelf Homefire is amazing!! 5y
umbrellagirl Some excellent reads. Kate Morton is always good and I loved The Luminaries. 5y
Cathythoughts Lovely books ❤️📚 5y
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BarbaraBB
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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I loved Jonathan Safran Foer‘s novel Here I Am, which is based on his divorce from Nicole Krauss.
According to @Cinfhen this book tells Krauss‘s side of the story. I am eager to find out. Thank you so much for sending it to me Cindy 💕😘

2BR02B Oh, wow. I had no idea they were married, let alone that this book was about their divorce. Even more interested in reading it now! 6y
Cinfhen I can't wait to hear what u think, Barbara. I ended up NOT liking this book at all!! And I LOVED Here I Am @2BR02B 6y
arubabookwoman I liked Here I Am very much, so now I‘m interested in this one. Stacked! 6y
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Leftcoastzen Wow , had no idea , Interesting 6y
Kalalalatja Whaaaaat! I had no idea they were married. Now I want to read both books 🙈 6y
BarbaraBB @2BR02B @Leftcoastzen @Kalalalatja And then there is that other literary couple: Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt. They are still going strong though! 6y
Kalalalatja Yes, I saw them speak together at a literary festival last year, and they were awesome! 6y
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Cinfhen
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Mehso-so

Somewhere between a pan & a so-so...there were several beautiful passages and some moments of enlightenment/ enjoyment but overall this book was a self serving, cathartic waste of time. I‘m still not sure of the intended audience for this book, it‘s VERY “Jewish” in theme & content and even I, was not fully on board. BUT, I DID enjoy my Hippeas❣️❣️❣️❣️super yum & fully on board for those chickpea puffs😋

Cinfhen @JenP This was my FINAL book for #BackPackEurope 🌎I‘m officially finished ☺️ 6y
Cinfhen Thanks for the fun challenge!!!! 6y
MommyOfTwo Those sound yummy 6y
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Kalalalatja Well done on completing! 👏👏 6y
Cinfhen They are sooooo good @MommyOfTwo my daughter got me hooked this summer 💛 6y
minkyb Love the strong feelings! 6y
emilyhaldi Wow Litsy rating is terrible on this one!!! You are not alone 😉 6y
TrishB I love those! Won‘t be worrying about the book! 6y
Cinfhen Easily skip this book @TrishB but I did think of you when it came to the Hippeas😘 Thanks @minkyb it‘s a shame because I wasn‘t hating the book until I got to the very end ☹️ I‘m not surprised by the low ratings @emilyhaldi this book is bizarre and I‘m thrilled to be done the #backpackeurope challenge @Kalalalatja 😊Now, what should I read next???? 6y
121 likes9 comments
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Cinfhen
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#BeachDay 🧡☀️🏖seems surreal to be reading about the Tel-Aviv Hilton while on the beach with the Tel-Aviv Hilton behind me. This book is shaping up to be VERY INTROSPECTIVE ~ it‘s odd and I‘m not sure if Nicole Krauss wrote this novel solely for Nicole Krauss. And the cute sculpture reminds me of Kafka, who according to this book secretly immigrated to Israel at the end of his life.

TrishB Bizarre coincidence 😁 6y
Kalalalatja How fun! 6y
BarbaraBB Okay, I am really triggered! 6y
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alisiakae What a coincidence! 6y
Cinfhen #BookKarma @TrishB @Kalalalatja @BarbaraBB @4thhouseontheleft there have actually been dozens of “local” references in this book!!! Including my town of Ra‘Anana 💕 6y
emilyhaldi That sculpture 😂❤️😂❤️ 6y
124 likes6 comments
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Cinfhen
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#BackPackEurope I‘m finally home!!!! Reading my last book ~ fun challenge but I‘m a homebody at heart. This book has mixed reviews and I totally get it but so far I‘m engaged. It‘s pretty amusing that Nicole Krauss choose to mirror her real life divorce and disintegration of her marriage in this novel. Last year I read JSF novel, Here I Am, which incidentally highlighted the breakup of a marriage too. Both books read as semi-autobiographic.

Graywacke A curious book (didn‘t realize Here I Am also had autobiographical elements.) 6y
Cinfhen Nice word choice @Graywacke this IS a “curious” read, Krauss is attempting to tackle LOTS of philosophical issues 6y
BarbaraBB As you know I LOVED Here I Am. I gather this one is not as good? 6y
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Cinfhen I actually was thinking of u @BarbaraBB I think u might like this one. I‘ll send it to you when I‘m done 😘 I ❤️ Here I Am too. There are lots of similarities but so far I think JSF is better 6y
BarbaraBB Oh really? I‘d love that! And I‘d love to compare the both. You‘re the best - as ever 💕😘 6y
Cinfhen Of course...I‘ll be curious to hear your thoughts @BarbaraBB 🙌🏻 6y
95 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BennettBookworm
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Library book haul! Hoping for the best even tho the reviews weren't too positive for the tagged book 🤷🏻‍♀️ #LitsyAtoZ

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Expandingbookshelf
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Panpan

The book is about two characters-a retired businessman and a female writer undergoing a divorce from her husband, who was also an author *cough* Wondering what parts of the author‘s story was autobiographical was the most interesting part of the book for me, because I am apparently a petty gossip.

The stories of these two people mirror each other, but they never interact. I wanted to like this book, but I didn‘t care. About any of it. 😓

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Julz422
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Bailedbailed

I really wanted to like this book. there are many beautifully written sections. I wrote down a ton of quotes from the 1st half that I read. It was a library loan & I renewed it once and couldn‘t bring myself to renew it again. I just didn‘t care enough about the characters. She took so long to develop them. I also find it interesting that her ex-husband also took on a Jewish family in turmoil in Israel in his latest novel & I read his 1st

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Dulcinella
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Panpan

I didn‘t like it as in: it did not move me at all. It did nothing. I have no problems with novels that feel like reading an essay, but it needs a better author to make it fascinating. Nothing wrong with the writing. Just boring.
This being said: I disliked the parallels between her life and that of one of the MC. Getting even with an ex, who is also a famous writer, has no place in a novel.

ApoptyGina69 Agreed. I started it and realized before long I was just skimming, so I bailed. Just not our style I suppose! 🤷‍♀️ 6y
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Julz422
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Still not sure quite yet what to make of this book, but there are beautiful nuggets like this one throughout 🙌

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Julz422
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Slowly working my way through my TBR list!

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Pen_Meets_Paper
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Panpan

A difficult read. In general, an exploration of aging, or possibly midlife crises, for two protagonists—one a writer and the other a wealthy businessman. Both pursue their identities within the context of Judaism, and their homeland Israel. I think I could‘ve liked this book more at a different time. Just not resonating right now.

ApoptyGina69 I didn‘t get very far in this one either, but I think I‘ll revisit it another day to be sure. 6y
5 likes1 comment
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capriciousreader
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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I raided the library.

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GuiltyFeat
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Mehso-so

I was a little disappointed by this interconnected set of shaggy dog stories, but more than a little delighted to hear Ms Krauss read from it tonight at the Jerusalem launch of the book‘s Hebrew edition.

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spanda84
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
Pickpick

After hearing about this "experimental novel on NPR, I chose it for my book club. Without spoilers, the story switches between an old man who gives away much of his earthly possessions and travels to Israel. Simultaneously, a woman writer also travels to her homeland with the intention of writing her next book. I suppose it's experimental in that it included a lot of historical and literary references. I enjoyed it!

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Nitpickyabouttrains
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Pickpick

A deeply involving story. It followed two characters, both Americans, both in Israel. Their stories don‘t interact but they do mirror.

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Spiderfelt
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Bailedbailed

I'm jumping ship after listening to 2/3 of this audiobook. These characters do not move me, nor can I tell where the story is going. I loved both the author's previous books, but I do not feel moved by this one.

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Pen_Meets_Paper
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Up next

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ReadingSusan
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Library haul from yesterday. I also saw two copies of John Greens Turtles All the Way Down but didn‘t get them because my pre order was supposed to be waiting at home for me. Nope. My mail lady just didn‘t bother to deliver it and it probably won‘t be delivered until after five 😢 Off day ruined. Good thing I have a ton of other books to read.

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cathysaid
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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This book is full of these gut-punch lines.

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Samwise_Gamgee
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#Bookmail !!! #Goodreadsgiveaway it‘s a rainy day off work.... perfect for reading in bed.

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monalyisha
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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I was just offered a half-price ticket to an author event with Alice Hoffman & Nicole Krauss (be still my heart) -- but I'm WORKING! Ugh! Trying to finagle something. Cross fingers & wish me luck. 🤞🏻🍀

Redwritinghood 🤞🏻🤞🏻 6y
Librariana Bestest of luck!! 🤞🍀🌟💖 6y
Jas16 🤞🏽 6y
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kspenmoll Wish you luck!!!!! 6y
diovival Luck!! 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀 6y
vivastory Good luck!! 6y
monalyisha Thing finagled! Thanks for your good vibes, @Redwritinghood , @librarianna , @Jas16 , @kspenmoll , @diovival , @vivastory & others! 😉 6y
kspenmoll 🙌🏻💃🏼 6y
34 likes8 comments
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tbreit
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss

Loving the writing in this book. I really wish that I could take my thoughts and thinking and write like this author does

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awonderinglife
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
Pickpick

I am a huge fan of Krauss's writing - thoughtful, empathic, soft yet sharp. This was a deeply philosophical story but also one when I felt very connected to the characters and their outcomes.

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kathleenaflynn
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Pickpick

About halfway through. So far, like Phillip Roth, I am full of admiration.
UPDATE: Finished! I really liked this book. Krauss nailed it.

kathleenaflynn Also amused that Nicole Krauss and I had the same impulse to extend via imagination the life of a beloved died too soon great writer. Fortunately not the same one. 6y
tpixie 😊😝😊 6y
10 likes2 comments
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Jokila
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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mrozzz
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Being bad never felt so good.... ? #bookhaul

So this is an accumulation from the author events I've gone to the past two weeks. (I'm going back to my ban...)

The Rebecca Solnit and "Weird in a World That's Not" I've had waiting on my Amazon Saved for Later list for awhile.

Refuge and Forest Dark are both signed.

And it felt wrong to leave Emma Straub's store without another of her books and I hadn't read Celeste Ng's other book so... ?

Redwritinghood 👏👏👏👏 7y
emilyhaldi Sounds like your purchases are well justified 😉 7y
mrozzz @Redwritinghood @emilyhaldi this is also half of what I usually buy in a week so I think it's still progress!! Lol 🤷🏼‍♀️ (edited) 7y
Suet624 💕💕💕👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🎉🎉 7y
mrozzz @Suet624 😁😁😁💜 7y
83 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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MrBook
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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#TBRtemptation post 1! Just released. 68-year-old Jules is undergoing a metamorphosis: his parents have just died, he's gotten a divorce after a 30-year marriage, and he retires from his NYC law firm. Then he sells his possessions and goes to Israel to honor his parents in some way. There's also a young, popular Brooklyn novelist who heads to Tel Aviv to break her writer's block. What they do will change everything. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Sassy_Steph I just got this one in some book mail yesterday! Woot woot!! 7y
58 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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ErikasMindfulShelf
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Panpan

Not for me.

AmyG Yeah, I disn't like her first book either. Thanks for saving me the time...so I can read something else. ;) 7y
AmyG Yeah, I didn'tlike her first book either. Thanks for saving me the time...so I can read something else. ;) 7y
35 likes3 comments
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BrooklynBookGirl
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Book talk Tuesday!!! I just finished reading The History of Love, and now I'm here for her new release!

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charl08
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Taken a while to warm up, but intrigued now...

chapter_fifty2017 Only just started this one too , the writing style is intriguing but i have loved her other books ! 7y
charl08 @chapter_fifty2017 It's taken a while but intrigued now. 7y
40 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Lola
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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I am going to blame the creepy tone of my #spinepoetry on my #24in48 lack of sleep😛Forest Dark Give the Girl a Knife Life Among the Savages See What I Have Done

Lacythebookworm 🙌😊 7y
DivineDiana 😬👏🏻 7y
Sydsavvy 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 7y
44 likes3 comments
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KGlibrarian
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Pickpick

With parallel narratives of an Upper East Side retired lawyer and a Brooklyn writer and mom, Krauss tackles the existential questions that plague two drifting souls. With her insightful, original prose, she weaves a tale of longing, regret, and hope, using the energetic New York City and the magical land of Israel as backdrops. A book that makes you think deeply!

JenP Gah, I want this book. I tried to grab a copy at BEA but failed. Nice review 7y
KGlibrarian It's worth the wait!@JenP 7y
8 likes2 comments
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ErikasMindfulShelf
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Most excited about these! 😍📖😍

Marchpane 😍😍😍 7y
BooksForYears What is the book in the upper left corner, with what looks like a bird head? 7y
Megabooks 🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
OffTheBeatenShelf.com Oh oh oh!! 7y
51 likes5 comments
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rachellayown
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Pickpick

Nicole Krauss is hands down one of my favorite novelists. I'm in awe of her brilliance and talent. Her intelligence seems otherworldly. Take this novel for instance: she embeds Kafka references and religious history into the fabric of the story. It's a subtle, beautiful novel with Krauss's trademark wit and humor. It's not my favorite of Krauss's work, but it's notable for its quiet strength and utter brilliance.

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rachellayown
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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This is happening.

shelf-improvement Ooh, I can't wait to make time for this one!! 7y
rachellayown So far I'm loving it @shelf-improvement! 7y
46 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Liberty
Forest Dark: A Novel | Nicole Krauss
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Evening reading. 💛

KikiLovesBooks Oh wow! I hope I get one of these! 7y
140 likes10 stack adds4 comments