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Morningstar: Growing Up with Books
Morningstar: Growing Up with Books | Ann Hood
31 posts | 14 read | 41 to read
In her admired works of fiction, including the recent The Book that Matters Most, Ann Hood explores the transformative power of literature. Now, with warmth and honesty, Hood reveals the personal story behind these works of fiction.Growing up in a mill town in Rhode Island, in a household that didn't foster the love of literature, Hood nonetheless learned to channel her imagination and curiosity by devouring The Bell Jar, Marjorie Morningstar, The Harrad Experiment, and other works. These titles introduced her to topics that could not be discussed at home: desire, fear, sexuality, and madness. Later, Johnny Got His Gun and The Grapes of Wrath influenced her political thinking as the Vietnam War became news; Dr. Zhivago and Les Miserables stoked her ambition to travel the world. With characteristic insight and charm, Hood showcases the ways in which books gave her life and can transform--even save--our own.
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dariazeoli
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Pickpick

This collection of essays was a pleasure to read! But, fair warning, if you haven‘t read some of the books Hood writes about, there are spoilers.

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dariazeoli
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I‘ve been itching to read Little Women since seeing Greta Gerwig‘s film. I‘m taking it as a sign that the book Ann Hood discusses at length in the introduction to my latest read is, you guessed it: Little Women!

CaliforniaCay This sounds like a good one. Stacked! I just saw the new Little Women adaption last week and absolutely loved it. But I cant believe I've never read the book! Its moved waaaaay up my TBR now 💙 4y
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Aaronlisa
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Pickpick

I read this May 28-29 and gave it 4 ⭐️. I love stories or essays in this case about people‘s favourite books so this was entertaining.

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megnews
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I believe this too.

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megnews
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“It sounds foolish to say this now, but it wasn‘t until that summer that I realized the war I saw on television was real.”
#onVietnam
#lunchtimereading

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kspenmoll
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#growingupwithbooks #readers #booklove #serendipity
#synchronicity

Just finished this small gem. I adored reading about what books impacted the author, how and what books “grew her up!”, and what specific books appeared just as she unknowingly needed them📚❤️😀
This one is for you @Suet624

Suet624 Thank you. Stacking it right now. 💕💕 5y
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megnews
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kspenmoll
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Suet624 Ahhhh, yes. 5y
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kspenmoll
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BookBabe Fortunately I got lucky with my parents and they encouraged me to buy books. The best reward they‘d give me for being good was a trip to the bookstore. ☺️❤️ 5y
kspenmoll @BookBabe Isn‘t that the best reward ever? I too was lucky; cane from a big extended family of readers. With 7 sibs there was book swapping always going on in the house! 5y
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kspenmoll
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#sundaymorning #endlesssummer #porchreading
Cool this morning, but sunny. Woke to a long rendition on bagpipes emanating from the church behind me. Lovely & peaceful. All is quiet except for the occasional church bells. Beautiful autumn day but I am so not ready to give up summer, even with leaves around me turning yellow, orange & red. Reading on the glider my picks for the morning.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
SilversReviews Love the photo!! 5y
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I like literary memoirs — which books influenced writers and what was going on in their lives that made them connect to a book. This one isn‘t my favorite of the genre, but I did enjoy it. I especially liked that some of the books that had an impact on Hood were trashy novels — people don‘t generally include those in this type of book, but these novels are widely read, making it difficult to believe that no author has ever been influenced by them.

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Nuwanda
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Christmas Eve Eve reading! The Kindle book is Something to Dye For by Aimee Nicole Walker, the 2nd in the Curl Up and Dye mystery series.

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Zelma
Mehso-so

This should have been like kryptonite for me; memoirs about books or just books about books are totally up my alley. However, something about this one didn‘t resonate with me. Maybe the voice or the author‘s focus on more memoir framed by an important book for each theme. I don‘t know what it was, as Hood is certainly a good storyteller and excellent writer. I may try again in the future and see if it unfairly fell victim to my current sour mood.

readinginthedark Yeah, this was a so-so for me, too. I expected something a bit different. 6y
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Zelma
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Woke up today with a scratchy throat and stuffed up nose. Instead of errands and the gym, I am sipping coffee and admiring my tree. Catching up on Litsy before diving back into Ann Hood‘s memoir of reading. I think Starbucks and maybe the bookstore are in my future today.

cobwebmoth Hope you feel better soon! 6y
Mimi28 Feel better fast!! ❤️❤️ 6y
hlgreenfield Hope you get well soon 🙂 6y
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Redwritinghood Hope you‘re feeling better soon. 6y
Sassy_Steph I hear Starbucks and book stores can be very healing!! 😉 6y
JacqMac Hope you feel better. 6y
Jas16 Hope you feel better soon 6y
jfalkens Hope your feeling better xXxX 6y
66 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Zelma
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I have a great morning/early afternoon lined up. 😁

LeahBergen Perfect! 👌🏼 6y
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readinginthedark
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Mehso-so

Delayed post #3: This was good for an easy audiobook read. The progression confused me a bit. I expected the essays to be chronological, but Hood approaches each book more from a “this is what I learned” standpoint. It confused me about the chronology of her experiences, and I felt that she kept relearning the same or similar lessons. The parts about war and family were great. The parts about sexuality, not so much. Good for an in-between read.

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InnerSavvy
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Panpan

Just didn't interest me. Was glad it was a short book.

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Rhondareads
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Perfect for all of us who have gobbled up books from childhood.Who remember life's events through the book we were reading,💕📚

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BookNAround
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I am in the middle of about a million other books but I just can't resist this one any longer.

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Jess_Read_This
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Last gushing post, I promise!

💫Listening to Ann Hood speak was a wonderful experience. A fellow bookworm recounting their journey in being a bookworm establishes a sense of camaraderie. It's like finding another member of your club. She was witty, eloquent, emotional, and full of warmth. I'm really looking forward to this book now.
P.S. Fans of the Obituary Writer: I asked who her favorite poets are. Emily Dickinson & Robert Frost.

#AnnHood

tpixie Fun!! 7y
kspenmoll Wonderful! 7y
JessFerg Is it morbid that I think you and I should make a deal that whoever passes first gets all the other's signed books? Lol! 7y
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Jess_Read_This @JessFerg 🤣I actually think that would be a most brilliant plan. Deal!! 7y
JessFerg Sweet! I'll draw up the papers....ha! 7y
Jess_Read_This @JessFerg 🙌🏼📃🖋I'm ready to sign! 7y
84 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Jess_Read_This
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🖌It is thundering and raining outside, the church lights are flickering, and we await Ann Hood's arrival. Most definitely an interesting start to the evening. ❤️

#MeetAnAuthor #AnnHood #Savannah

EvieBee How exciting! Can't wait to read this! 7y
Jess_Read_This @EvieBee After hearing her speak, I am really looking forward to this one too. She's so brilliant. 7y
wanderlustforwords Sounds amazing! 7y
batsy This sounds good! 7y
mrozzz So cool. Love her. 😊 7y
76 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Jess_Read_This
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📚When I see the E. Shaver sign, good things are about to happen. I picked up the new Ann Hood memoir in anticipation of listening to her speak tonight. Today is definitely an overdose on satisfaction kind of day. ☺️

#VacationRead #IndieBookstore #SupportIndieBookstores #EShaver #Savannah

britt_brooke 😍 7y
BookNAround I need to stop in there sometime when I go visit my parents. 7y
ValerieAndBooks I remember that place! Savannah 💖 7y
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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 6! Just released. The renowned author provides a memoir devoted to her emotional and intellectual development through the books she's read. Growing up in a Rhode Island mill town in a household where a love of literature wasn't fostered, she relied on books to expand her horizons & introduce her to undiscussed topics, like desire, sexuality, & madness. The Bell Jar, Dr. Zhivago, Grapes of Wrath, etc. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

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charl08
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But then again...

JanuarieTimewalker13 What paper was this article from? 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Sorry, I just saw your next post! TLS...I'll look that up! Thanks! 7y
charl08 @JanuarieTimewalker13 it's the times lit supplement. No worries! 7y
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JanuarieTimewalker13 Oh shoot! The NYT? Or London? I should know this!!! Im very bad with periodicals! 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 And punctuation, apparently...lol 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Never mind...London...if I don't get there in the next 2 years my heart will explode! 7y
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Rhondareads
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Love books about authors reading lives.I think it's a book nerd thing💕📚Also a book of short stories that sound wonderful good book Mail day👍🤗

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Lissa00
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Today's #bookmail! I adore books about reading and this looks really good, although I didn't realize it was so small.

mrozzz It is a wonderful quick read! 7y
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

Just finished this memoir. It's an author's love story for books. If you like books about books definitely give this a go. 💖📖

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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

A delightful little memoir about finding yourself in books. Ann Hood didn't grow up in a family of readers but she found her way to books and never left. She organizes each chapter into a "lesson" she learned while reading. I did so love the moment her teacher realized she read far above her peer group - if you've read Little Women, you been there.

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balletbookworm
This post contains spoilers
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Oh girl, saaaaammmeee ????? I first read Little Women when I was about 8, too.

(I hit "spoiler" just in case there's an adult on Litsy who doesn't know that Beth eats it. )

mrozzz Loved this little memoir from Ann Hood! (And I couldn't help but read this in the voice of Joey from Friends 😂) 7y
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mrozzz
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Pickpick

#arc coming out in August: totally worth the wait! Was a lovely quick read over my morning coffee and utterly relatable for all the other littens who grew up as the "weird" one ALWAYS carrying around a book ??

britt_brooke Great photo! 📷👏🏻 7y
mrozzz Thanks! My fiancé is always a begrudging assistant ? 7y
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vlwelser
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Just received the cutest, tiniest little book in the mail. ARC courtesy of a Goodreads giveaway.

5 likes1 stack add