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The Familiar
The Familiar: One Rainy Day in May | Mark Z. Danielewski
NATIONAL BEST SELLER From the author of the international best seller "House of Leaves" and National Book Award nominated "Only Revolutions" comes a monumental new novel as dazzling as it is riveting. "The Familiar (Volume 1) "ranges from Mexico to Southeast Asia, from Venice, Italy, to Venice, California, with nine lives hanging in the balance, each called upon to make a terrifying choice. They include a therapist-in-training grappling with daughters as demanding as her patients; an ambitious East L.A. gang member contracted for violence; two scientists in Marfa, Texas, on the run from an organization powerful beyond imagining; plus a recovering addict in Singapore summoned at midnight by a desperate billionaire; and a programmer near Silicon Beach whose game engine might unleash consequences far exceeding the entertainment he intends. At the very heart, though, is a twelve-year-old girl named Xanther who one rainy day in May sets out with her father to get a dog, only to end up trying to save a creature as fragile as it is dangerous . . . which will change not only her life and the lives of those she has yet to encounter, but this world, too or at least the world we think we know and the future we take for granted. (With full-color illustrations throughout.)"
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IndoorDame
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One Rainy Day in May is 1 of many chunksters currently sitting on my shelves waiting for me to be brave enough to attempt them. But if I‘d properly processed that the 1 on the cover was volume 1 of a 5 volume series of chunksters, I doubt this ever would have made it home from the bookstore with me in the first place 😂🤣😅 #rain #summerspecial @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Oh dear! Chunksters can be so intimidating 9mo
AnneCecilie I loved this one, and have read volumes 2 and 3 as well. Need to get to volumes 4 and 5 which are still standing on my shelves 9mo
IndoorDame @AnneCecilie that‘s good to hear! 9mo
54 likes3 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Has anyone read the familiar series? I was very excited to try it after loving house of leaves years ago. As expected it‘s very very weird and I have absolutely no sense at all of where it‘s going

BarbaraBB No but I am very curious too! I loved House of Leaves. 3y
Emilymdxn @BarbaraBB I‘m enjoying it so far but I have no idea where it‘s going! 3y
BarbaraBB Intriguing. I‘ll follow your thoughts! Is the page layout as extreme as House of Leaves? (edited) 3y
56 likes3 comments
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shadowspeak17
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Thanks so much for the #giveaway @Come-read-with-me !

I found Litsy back in 2017 when someone in a Facebook book group for the tagged series posted about reviewing the series on Litsy and suggested more people should join the app because he really liked it. So I gave it a go and ended up really liking it too. 😊
#strangersonatrain

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shadowspeak17
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#3books with animals on the cover

The background I used is a close up of The Familiar since it‘s hard to see from a distance that there are little cat faces all over the cover. 😸🐾

I still haven‘t read The Enchanted, but I really liked the other two.

OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👍🏻 4y
38 likes1 comment
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amber_ldsmom
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1. Mark Z. Danielewski because he has a way of being scattered yet cohesive. He also plays with texture and visuals within the book and text itself.
2. Star Wars: A New Hope. 3. @annahenke @typhlax @BarbaraTheBibliophage #wondrouswednesday

Eggs Great responses — thanks for playing 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
10 likes1 comment
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SamHeartCoffee
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Any novelist who quotes Lady Gaga is *very* high on my list. Danielewski is extremely high on my list already though. 😉

#music #ladygaga

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SamHeartCoffee
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1. Kitten. So many more. Peregrine. Phoenix. (Lol, they are animals...)

2. Four or five. Right now fave series is The Familiar by Danielewski.

3. I do write poetry and but haven‘t done so for awhile. Also like to journal.

4. @la_rose_noire @TamTracy @Butterfinger

Thanks for the tag, @Zoes_Human !

Thanks for the game, @Eggs !

#wondrouswednesday

LauraBeth I love the word kitten! 4y
ImperfectCJ Kitten! Do you pronounce the “T“ with your tongue/teeth or in the back of your mouth/throat (I think that's called a glottal stop)? Probably a random-ish question, but it's something I've been noticing lately, and I'm always curious how people pronounce it.

(edited to add missing word)
(edited) 4y
SamHeartCoffee @LauraBeth yes!! Isn‘t it great?! @ImperfectCJ good question! I say the “T” with my tongue/teeth, but have heard several people say it both ways. 4y
ImperfectCJ @SamHeartCoffee Thanks for humoring me! “Kitten“ with the glottal stop seems really prevalent in Southern California (or at least I've noticed it a lot since I moved here), and I'm wondering if it's regional. Listening for it is difficult, though; kittens come up in conversation less often than they really should. 4y
Eggs Thanks for the great responses and comments @SamHeartCoffee and @ImperfectCJ 😂💗👏🏻 4y
53 likes5 comments
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AnneCecilie
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If you look closely at the cover, you‘ll see pink cats. I know there‘s no #BlackCat in this book/ series, but the white cat we do meet is very scary.

#ScreamathonPhotoChallenge @4thhouseontheleft

alisiakae 😻 😻 5y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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shadowspeak17
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Day 2 #7days7spines

Join in if you want! 😊📚

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JessicaThunstromNelson
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I had to get the 1-year subscription to Gagosian Quarterly when Mark Z. Danielewski announced his new story Love is Not a Flame would be in it in four parts, from Spring 2019 to Winter 2019. All of his stories are connected, but this one is said to connect heavily to The Familiar. I'm excited to finally dig in. And of course I am reading the rest of the quarterly, too.

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shadowspeak17
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It‘s got a publication date! *screams internally* 😬😬😬😬😬

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shadowspeak17
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1. Blue
2. I don‘t tend to binge watch things.
3. Every book in this series. I practically lived on the Wikia pages.
4. Mayo and ketchup
5. 🤷🏽‍♀️

#FriYayIntro

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thejillest
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May 10th is when our story starts. What called her now calls you. Xanther lives.

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amber_ldsmom
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I should have plenty of time to read this month with the pack up of all our electronic devices and a long road trip ahead. 😁 #readingresolutions #maytbr

TheFunkyBookworm The Name of this Book is Secret is a really cute fun YA read! Great list! 6y
amber_ldsmom @TheFunkyBookworm It‘s the next readaloud I‘m doing with kids kids. They‘re all looking forward to it, so I‘m happy to hear it‘s good! 🤗 6y
13 likes2 comments
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SamHeartCoffee
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"... but I could ride a horse. Came as natural as rain and dying I guess."

#animals #horses

JoScho Just checking in to see if you received your bottle and book swap email. Could you please let me know? 😊 6y
69 likes1 comment
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Fang88
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1. 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z Danielewski
2. 'Fortune's Daughter' by Isabel Allende
3. 'Bad Monkeys' by Matt Ruff
4. I usually try to ask musicians that I love for book recommentations, they tend to have really good taste...
5. 'The Familiar' by Mark Z Danielewski because it brought back curiosity into my life. (Tagged book)

@OSChamberlain @Ecatstic @shadowspeak17 @Realitybynate

#recommendationrainbow #recommendation #litsygame #litsylist

88 likes1 stack add
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SamHeartCoffee
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I didn't go to mine...
#ButThatsOkay 😁

AmyG I didn‘t go to mine. My ex-boyfriend asked me. I felt if I went with him then he would think I liked him. He was a jerk. 6y
CouronneDhiver Prom was terrible. I wish I‘d gone without a date so I could have had fun with my friends. 😄 6y
ChrysFey Neither did I. 6y
See All 18 Comments
LondElle89 I was forced to go with my friends. The dinner before was great. At the prom it was bleah! I made sure I spent the least amount of money for my prom dress and essentials. A whopping total of $30. I thought it prom was such a waste. 6y
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Prom's over-rated! Has anyone tried to do a morp? (edited) 6y
shadowspeak17 I didn‘t go either. My friends went and told me after that they didn‘t really enjoy it, so I have no regrets. 😂 6y
BookNAround I went to mine and spent much of the night in tears because my boyfriend was an arse. You missed nothing by skipping it. 6y
MissAimz_55 My prom was awesome bc even tho my date sucked and wouldn't dance or do anything except mope at the table I ditched him and enjoyed it with my friends. There was arcade games, karaoke, yummy treats and of course dancing (edited) 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 My kids are homeschooled so we don‘t have a prom. But like you I didn‘t go to mind either. I went bowling with friends ❤️ 6y
GripLitGrl Skipped mine as well. Went away with friends for the weekend i was anti prom. Funny cause i have 2 younger brothers one was all for his prom my youngest brother was like me skipped it. So 2 out of 3 of us skipped it was something my parents always found funny thier daughter wanted nothing to do with prom. 6y
Susanita I did go to prom but really shouldn‘t have bothered. 😆 6y
OrangeMooseReads I wish I had skipped mine. 6y
Craftylikefox Ughh I went to my prom from pressure from parents. I would have happily missed it 6y
PirateJenny I didn't go to mine either 6y
Bourriquet76 I didn‘t go. I was thrilled to be done high school. I did love college (and met my husband during my second year, almost 22 years ago). 6y
SamHeartCoffee @AmyG @CouronneDhiver @ChrysFey @LondElle89 @BookHoarder32 @shadowspeak17 @BookNAround @MissAimz_55 @ForeverNerdy @GripLitGrl @Susanita @OrangeMooseReads @Craftylikefox @PirateJenny @Bourriquet76 I looked for a date to my prom to no avail. And I even had the dress! But hearing your stories about how prom just wasn't worth it eases the sting from so long ago! 6y
PirateJenny @SamHeartCoffee Oh I was one who didn‘t go. My senior year was a disaster. My mom decided to move the summer before that year so new year, new school, our house wasn‘t finished, the school was terrible. I hated everything. 6y
SamHeartCoffee @PirateJenny I know the feeling! 6y
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Fang88
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97 likes1 stack add
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Ecatstic
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Pickpick

The best series you're not reading. Briefly, the story of a little girl who finds a cat. But really so much more. It's the story of nine people whose lives are suddenly entangled. The first of proposed 27 volumes, One Rainy Day in May is a wonderful introduction. A must read for fans of Danielewski's other works, and readers of sci-fi, detective novels, YA, graphic novels and so much more will also find something they will enjoy. A worthwhile read

thejillest I love this! 6y
Ecatstic @thejillest every little bit helps! :) 6y
2 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GatheringBooks
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#ReadingResolutions Day 6: I promised myself I #MustRead a Mark Z. Danielewski this year. Seems to be a good place to start.

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heylaurenmack
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Pantheon Books canceled Mark Z. Danielewski‘s series The Familiar and broke my stupid, little heart. I encourage everyone who likes vibrant imagery with some real brain exercising prose to check out The Familiar and maybe we can get this series back on track.

Ddzmini Uh yea yea 😝 6y
mrozzz I was pretty disappointed but I also haven‘t been able to keep up with the series 😔 6y
9 likes2 comments
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shadowspeak17
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Noooooooooooooo!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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Karkar
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Pickpick

Finished this book for #24in48. This was great. There were some of the POV that I did not care for. But overall I enjoy MZD‘s writing style.

58 likes1 stack add
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shadowspeak17
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I‘d been actively avoiding series books for years when I stumbled upon The Familiar and it sucked me back in. So far it‘s been a totally unique experience that‘s more satisfying the more you put into it. I just really hope the series gets completed. I did not jump back into this madness for nothing. 😂

Thank you for hosting this #giveaway @MinDea! I would really like to read His Dark Materials. 😃

#YAFantasyGiveaway

34 likes1 stack add
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shadowspeak17
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1. The Familiar v. 6 by Mark Z. Danielewski
2. The Avengers: Infinity War
3. Wine
4. My boyfriend reads, but so incredibly slowly. He‘s been reading a 600ish paged book for the past 7 months, and he‘s still not done. 🙃 It hurts me a bit thinking of all the books he‘ll probably never get to. 😂😭
5. 👍🏽

#friyayintro

Christine11 My mum is like that with books - it takes her about a year to read one ! I practically can‘t put a book once I‘ve started it ! 😊 6y
Chasing_Pages I‘m super excited for Avengers too!! 6y
brandymuses I almost put Avengers but then I remembered A Wrinkle in Time is finally coming out. 6y
tif Number 4 😂😂😂 6y
Leigh0906 I feel your pain with number 4 😂😂 6y
30 likes5 comments
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shadowspeak17
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Thank you @Avanders for hosting this giveaway!

Right now I would most recommend One Rainy Day in May (TFv1) because it‘s an incredibly unique read. It‘s an interesting story on the surface and even more interesting the deeper you dig. There‘s also a really awesome community of TF readers on Facebook, and I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book with them and getting to hear their thoughts on the series.

#JanuaryJoy

Avanders Oooh I can't wait! I have the first 3 volumes of this ☺️ Thanks for entering!! 🎆💜 6y
shadowspeak17 I‘m in the USA by the way. :) 6y
31 likes2 comments
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Sarahr875
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This was not my best reading year. However, I finished every classroom credit needed for my bachelors degree from April-December, with only 15 credits transferred over. So, while I hardly read for pleasure, I kicked ass in other areas. Hopefully 2018 brings more reading, when I‘m not student teaching, that is.

PetuniaCraftyKneecaps Maybe this is a dumb question but...how or where did you do this?! It‘s so cool! 6y
Sarahr875 @PetuniaCraftyKneecaps not dumb at all! I found the link on Goodreads, but could only find it on the desktop version, not the app 6y
PetuniaCraftyKneecaps Oh okay. Good to know! Thanks 6y
See All 7 Comments
LinaLovesLit I‘m so glad you shared this!!! 6y
Sarahr875 Thank you @LinaLovesLit 💕 6y
Dulcinella 😍💐💐🥂 6y
21 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Ingerella
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This was one of my Christmas gifts from my husband. I'm a little nervous about reading this one, I really want to like it. This is going to be my slow and steady read of 2018..here goes nothing!

16 likes1 stack add
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Bloomingjen
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My one bookish gift- The Book Seat. It is awesome and works very well as demonstrated by this book I just started, The Familiar, which is huge and very heavy. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Monday to all.

32 likes1 stack add
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shadowspeak17
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This has to be my #MostAnticipated2018 read. Why couldn‘t it be coming in January? The summer is too far away. 😩😂

#JingleShelves

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Ikr!?!? 😂🤣 6y
shendrix413 I'm still on 2, but have 3, 4, and 5 6y
SandyW That is exactly why I try to wait until the authorhad finished their series before delving into it... This game plan is courtesy of George Martin and Patrick Rothfuss who have left me (&everyone else) hanging for YEARS!!! 👿 6y
26 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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shadowspeak17
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Not sure why Phoenix chose this moment to try and eat my tiny tree 🤦🏽‍♀️ but here it is with all the books I reread this year.

#BooksYouReread #AllTheBooksOf2017
#Phoenix #CatsOfLitsy

TricksyTails 😹😹😹 Silly kitty! 6y
JoeStalksBeck Lmao! 6y
KrystleTheBookSlayer Thank you, Phoenix for the laugh! 😂😂😂 6y
See All 6 Comments
Christine11 So funny 🤣 Phoenix is so cute ! 6y
BookMaven407 😂 6y
Bookquilter I am not a cat person but I love your cat!!!! This totally has made my grumpy morning better ... thank you Phoenix ❤️ 6y
37 likes6 comments
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shadowspeak17
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I‘ve read a lot of books this year that we‘re beautifully written, but once again, The Familiar stands out to me. Not only is it written beautifully in the more conventional sense, but also in a more unconventional sense as shown above.

#BeautifullyWrittenBook
#AllTheBooksOf2017

mrozzz 😍👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 6y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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shadowspeak17
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Excluding Harry Potter again because that‘s not even fair, my favorite series this year would have to be The Familiar. On top of just being a really interesting series, I also got to participate in a reading group for it which made the whole experience even better.

#JingleShelves
#BestSeries2017

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your pic!! 😽 6y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Byron-McBride
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Things get worse...

#beahymnforgood

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shadowspeak17
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Fahrenheit 451 has been on my shelf all year, and I still haven‘t read it for some reason. 🤔
#OnYourShelfAllYear #JingleShelves

There are a lot of #CharactersWithCoolNames in The Familiar, but Xanther is by far my favorite. ❤️
#DecInBooks17

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is #SetInWinter.
#DeckTheShelves

And here‘s more of my tiny tree 🎄 for the #threeformegiveaway. Congrats on 3,000 followers @Tiffy_Reads!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oh I love your little trees 🌲 ❤️ 6y
bookloo I personally loved Fahrenheit 451! It‘s one of those books really make you think and possibly scared for our future. 😬☺️ 6y
39 likes2 comments
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Fang88
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Pickpick

First step towards a life long friendship...A must read for everyone wanting more from a book than just reading!

#bestbookever #myfavorite #markzdanielewski #thefamiliar #cat #catandbook #beahymnforgood #houseofleaves #readingclub #mustread #addictive #bookrecommendation

16 likes5 stack adds
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Allietaylor16
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Not going to lie, I'm a little intimidated by this one.

mrozzz Eeeeeeek! 6y
41 likes1 comment
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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I think Im too dumb for this book. I‘ll keep going, even so.

shendrix413 No you aren't! Just go with it, it gets better. I found it hard to get attached to the characters at first, but it was such a unique way to tell a story I kept going. I'm about half through vol 2 now and really enjoying it! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @shendrix413 Thanks - Im not giving up! 6y
37 likes2 comments
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shendrix413
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Pickpick

This book is.... Well... It's kind of odd, but in a good way. I really enjoyed this massive book. It's told from several different perspectives and each has its own font. It's really interesting the way it's all put together. Apparently, it will be a huge series, he's written up to 5 now, I have them all, but am only about half through the 2nd one.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Just started #1 and Im kinda confused, but just going with it! 6y
shendrix413 @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled it is a little confusing at first, but it all starts to tie together. I just love the unique way of telling the story. I'm glad you're not giving up on it, I promise it starts to make sense! 6y
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Litsy Party of . . . 5? Ready to hunker down with some gatos and read for a bit, if there‘s any room for me #litsypartyofone Sorry, @tricours , only 5/8 cats pictured! #catsoflitsy

JoeStalksBeck Love! 6y
Sace 😻❤️😻❤️😻❤️😻❤️😻 6y
JazzFeathers 😻😻😻😻😻😻😻 6y
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Soubhiville This makes me so happy!!! 🐱❤️‼️ 6y
tricours That looks so cozy! Are they all friends? 6y
Jabberwocky That book is the perfect one for this photo! Love all your cat friends! 6y
Annl I have a dog and 3 cats inside, but I have a 7 cat feral family outside. 6y
LeahBergen I want to dive into the middle. 😂 6y
saresmoore 😍 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @tricours They‘re friends . . . most of the time! Some are littermates. It‘s hard when we‘re all collapsed together and THEN they decide to hate each other. 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LeahBergen I did! (It kinda pisses them off when I do that 🤷‍♀️) 6y
Ms_T Marvellous! 6y
CouronneDhiver Are they going to let you join the party too? 😉 6y
Bookzombie 💕💕🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱 6y
Bette Cat paradise! ❤️💙💜 6y
Simona 😻😻😻😻😻 6y
Onioons 🐾❤️ 6y
JessClark78 🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱❤️❤️ 6y
Libby1 This looks like heaven to me! 6y
Mdargusch Oh my gosh! That is amazing! 6y
Litlady Kitty pile!! 😻🐾😻🐾😻❣ 6y
chapter_fifty2017 Love your new bed accessories 😻😻🐱😽😽😺💖 6y
70 likes1 stack add22 comments
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AnneCecilie
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For yesterday's prompt #novemberbythenumbers

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BookwormByDesign
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The to-read list was once very out of control, ive finally gotten it down to about half of this!

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shadowspeak17
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#Day24 #GreatBookClubReads

I‘m currently in a book club for #TheFamiliar, so of course I‘d have to say The Familiar is great for a book club. There are so many things that I didn‘t pick up on when I read them on my own, so reading them with a group and getting to hear other people‘s thoughts and interpretations of things has really enhanced the reading experience so much for me.

#riotgrams

14 likes1 stack add
review
TsPlace
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Pickpick

I was torn between a 3 and 4 but I thought a 4 was more appropriate because, good lord, Danielewski definitely tried to make a uniquely experimental book of fiction.

You have to wade through a lot to get to the underlying story of a complex 12 year old girl's life. Is it really worth the effort? Could this book be so popular because of name recognition only or because it is really a good book?

You'd have to be the judge of that.

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stargazerblue49
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These are all of the books that I have checked out from my local public library right now... What was I thinking?!? #tbroverload

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😱😳😳😳I would be having major anxiety right now! Lol 7y
LittlePixels LOL! I always tend to do the same at the library. The Familiar, on its own, is so daunting I bailed on the buddy read. Not up for another Mt. Everest of a book atm. 7y
ReadosaurusText Whoa!!!! 7y
See All 10 Comments
monkeygirlsmama That's a beautiful, if not somewhat daunting, lot. Have fun! (edited) 7y
AlaMich That's an impressive pile you got there!! 7y
Reagan 😂 wow! I know that feeling all too well. 7y
stargazerblue49 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Serious book anxiety!! My saving grace is that some of them are small and some of them are graphic novels! 7y
stargazerblue49 @LittlePixels I am starting to feel the same! I have been able to read it in small chunks so far, but I just don't have enough time to really get into it! That and his other books as well! 7y
stargazerblue49 @monkeygirlsmama @AlaMich Thank you! They were not all obtained in one trip, which is, I think, the key to how I let it happen! 😂 7y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Oh my goodness! I have anxiety and do that too! 7y
57 likes10 comments
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AnneCecilie
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I just ❤️ this paragraph

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AnneCecilie
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This entire book takes place during a rainy day #rain #jubilantjuly