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Still Life with Tornado
Still Life with Tornado | A.S. King
A heartbreaking story of a talented teenage artist's surreal awakening to the horrifically unoriginal brokenness of her family from critically acclaimed award-winner A.S. King. Sarah can't draw. This is a problem, because as long as she can remember, she has "done the art." She thinks she's having an existential crisis. And she might be right; she does keep running into past and future versions of herself as she explores the urban ruins of Philadelphia. Or maybe she's finally waking up to the tornado that is her family, the tornado that six years ago sent her once-beloved older brother flying across the country for a reason she can't quite recall. After decades of staying together "for the kids" and building a family on a foundation of lies and violence, Sarah's parents have reached the end. Now Sarah must come to grips with years spent sleepwalking in the ruins of their toxic marriage. As Sarah herself often observes, nothing about her pain is remotely original and yet it still hurts. Insightful, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, this is a vivid portrait of everyday abuse and survival that will linger with readers long after the last page.
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

A.S. King is an amazing author (and I honestly didn't get that her initials spelled out asking until someone else posted about it in a review) and Still Life with Tornado might be my new favorite! Sarah is 16 and is dropping out of school, spending her days wandering around the city, and running into herself at other ages. There's 23 yo Sarah, and Sarah 40 yo, and 11 year old Sarah who remembers things 16 yo Sarah does not. Weirdly good!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Wow! Sounds interesting !!! 4y
LiteraryinLawrence This author lives in my town and is super cool and nice! 4y
65 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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BekaReid
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Johanna414
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Pickpick

Well this was just excellent. A. S. King is one of those authors I‘ve been meaning to read for years, but never seem to get around to. I‘m so glad I finally did.

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Johanna414
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Technically the #24b4monday #readathon is over, but the kids are with their grandparents and I‘ve got the whole day to catch up on laundry and read. So I‘m going to let the timer keep running...

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CindyMyLifeIsLit
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Pickpick

I think readers who liked Speak will really enjoy this book. I saw a lot of similarities in the bare bones of the stories. Young girl traumatized by unknown events who is acting out with inexplicable behavior.

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CindyMyLifeIsLit
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Getting in some YA reading before heading back to work tomorrow. Where did the summer go? 😫 #teachersoflitsy

hermyknee I knoooowwwww 😭😭😭 5y
ElyssaReads Agreed! Good luck with the new year! 5y
kspenmoll Best of luck with your new teaching year! 5y
36 likes3 comments
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LitsyHappenings
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Repost for @BarbaraTheBibliophage :
(A little late, but I'm sure help is always welcome)

Friends and Littens ... YA author A.S. King lives near me. Her teenage daughter died tragically over the weekend. Someone has set up a GoFundMe to help the family, if you feel moved to help.

https://www.gofundme.com/in-the-loving-memory-of-gracie-king

💔💔

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Friends and Littens ... YA author A.S. King lives near me. Her teenage daughter died tragically over the weekend. Someone has set up a GoFundMe to help the family, if you feel moved to help.

https://www.gofundme.com/in-the-loving-memory-of-gracie-king

💔💔

Rachbb3 Oh my. 😢 5y
saresmoore Oh, how awful! 5y
See All 16 Comments
ReadingSusan 😢😢😢 5y
Ashley_Nicoletto Oh no. 😭 5y
LiteraryinLawrence I taught her and know the family relatively well. I‘m heartbroken. 💔 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LiteraryinLititz You‘ve been on my mind too. Sending love. This one is just so hard. 💔💔 5y
JoRead What a terrible tragedy 😢 5y
LiteraryinLawrence @BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks, Barbara. Sending a hug to you. In such a small community, no one is separated by too many degrees, and the whole family is so amazing that it feels like everyone was touched by them somehow. ...Yeah. It‘s going to be a rough week. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LiteraryinLititz I understand. It was that way for us when our granddaughter died three years ago in a car accident. I hope you‘ll be able to take some time to roll with the grief and take care of yourself too. 5y
AmyG Oh no. 😪 5y
MicheleinPhilly Ugh. That‘s just so heartbreaking. ☹️ 5y
Louise Heartbreaking. Sending loving thoughts to Gracie‘s family and all who knew her. 💙 5y
Amiable This breaks my heart. Condolences and prayers for the family. And to you and yours on the loss of your granddaughter as well, @BarbaraTheBibliophage. That's a loss that can never be healed. 5y
Jess Oh no! My heart goes out to everyone. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Amiable Thanks, my friend. ♥️ 5y
77 likes16 comments
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Eggs
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Heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story of 16 year old Sarah and her existential crisis living in the tornado that is her family

69 likes4 stack adds
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MizReeze
Pickpick

How A.S. King‘s books are not on the MUST READ summer list of every high school remains unfathomable to me. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! How about a movie or series based on one of King‘s books, Netflix?

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MizReeze

“The absence of violence is not love.”

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BeththeBookDragon
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Pickpick

I give it a pick, but I‘m always so wishy washy... is really like to give it a So-So and a half. Some unnecessary language, and even an unnecessary plot line...

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ElyssaReads
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Mehso-so

This is an interesting one as it slowly peels back what happened in a family and how things combined to get the main character where she is as the books progresses. Insightful look into family trauma. I was a fan of perspective switching between the daughter and mother in the family, thought that added a necessary layer to the story.
#LitsyAtoZ #LetterK

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haileybean
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Ouch. Too close. :/

Bklover I haven‘t read the book, but after reading the description I am sorry that it hits too close for you. Hugs 💜 6y
haileybean @Bklover Helen‘s POV was often relatable for me at times. There was a section that she was talking about verbal abuse and it was just a little *too* relatable. It‘s not a situation I‘m in anymore. 6y
14 likes2 comments
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haileybean
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Started listening to this at work. It was probably inappropriate, but I may have laughed during the chapter where her mom talks about giving people the middle finger. 😂 I know this book deals with heavier topics but still...

Suet624 Just found it on TuneIn. Stacked! 6y
13 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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SandieAnguloChen

I‘ll read anything A.S. King writes. Few authors do multiple POVs that include a parent‘s narrative. Tough topics but so well done.

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

This book took a while to grow on me. The main character seems like a whining teen. But once the deeper issues she is dealing with start to come out, things become much more involved and interesting.

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JacintaMCarter
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Pickpick

#2017Book172
Like all of her other books, A.S. King uses incredibly unusual, almost supernatural, elements to draw attention to issues that are all too real for most teenagers. Her writing style is completely original and the plot makes this book hard to put down.

minkyb I bought this for my daughter. I sure hope she lends it to me. 🙃 7y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
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#CoversInYourFaveColor (This cover just happens to have all three.) #AndItsAugust

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stacybmartin
Pickpick

I love how A.S. King takes such serious topics and throws in an element of magical realism. A girl is worried that she's going through an existential crisis as she tries to figure out why she's lost her art. It highlights the importance of speaking up and how burying your head in the sand doesn't change your situation.

GondorGirl I've not deaf this one yet, but I adored 'Ask the Passengers'. 7y
30 likes1 comment
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stacybmartin
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Audio soundtrack while I made breakfast on #day2 of #24in48 - can't hold a book? No problem - don't want to miss a minute of reading!

35 likes2 stack adds
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iamliterate
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Ready for my first time participating in #24in48. I've got lots of good picks and a will of steel. Plus I've been napping all day in preparation. 💁🏻📚

Sweettartlaura Great stack! I ❤️ Still Life with Tornado 😍 7y
12 likes1 comment
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GamehenLynn
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2 likes1 stack add
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faelinwolf

I just like constructing new things that are real. I believe this is a side effect of growing from seed in soil made of lies. I believe this is a side effect of being born into ruins--this need for construction.

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faelinwolf

On the inside I know there is something wrong enough that someone should be taking it seriously. Maybe it starts with me. Maybe I have to take it seriously first.

Megabooks Good quote 7y
6 likes1 comment
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BooksForYears
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#AprilBookShowers Day 18 - Local Author

I have a dream of randomly running into A.S. King in the local bookshop, Aaron's Books 🙏 #CentralPA

BarbaraTheBibliophage I didn't know you were in Central PA! @Robothugs and I are also. Plus @LiteraryinLititz ! We should plan a meet up at Aaron's or a library. Would you be interested? 7y
LiteraryinLawrence @BarbaraTheBibliophage That would be so much fun! On Friday there is a library book sale in Mountville that I want to go to after work. Are any of you going? 7y
minkyb I gave my daughter that book for the holidays. Hopefully, she brings it home when she visits so I can read it! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LiteraryinLititz I can't go the book sale until Saturday because of my client schedule. Shoot! 7y
BooksForYears @BarbaraTheBibliophage @LiteraryinLititz Unfortunately my next few weekends are all booked (pun intended) so I won't be able to make it. Maybe we could plan a meetup sometime later, though! 7y
122 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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Carbail
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Starting my first A.S. King book today.

5 likes1 stack add
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ItsAnotherJen
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Pickpick

I actually did enjoy this book. I think it has unique style. A confused and conflicted 16 year old girl trying to figure out her life.
There's a lot of meaning to be taken from tornados, umbrellas, seeing art in everything around you or in everything that is being said.
3.5 stars/5 stars

26 likes1 stack add
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That-Bookish-Hiker
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This goes with my previous post.

This is good advice.

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That-Bookish-Hiker
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Good advice? It's important to remember in any relationship that people don't change if they don't want to. I've known girls who think, "oh he will change after we are married." No it doesn't work that way.

12 likes1 stack add
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That-Bookish-Hiker
Mehso-so

While I enjoyed the story and style of writing there were a lot of things I liked and disliked about this book.

The story unfolds backwards. Sarah is basically have a "mid life crisis" at the age of 16 and trying to figure herself out. At times her thoughts were confusing but entertaining.

What I didn't like and it could fused me was the different Sarah's. I honestly thought she was crazy but everyone else saw them too. So confusing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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That-Bookish-Hiker
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Hmm on Facebook it is raining bullshit too.

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AliBG
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Pickpick

A feminist, surrealist YA title in shades of Vonnegut. Ostensibly the story of a 16yo girl calling out her family on its toxicity and lies, TORNADO is really a bold invitation for women to welcome, love, and nurture of all our different selves.

An invitation to tell ourselves and those around us the truth.

An invitation do the work we love even when others undermine it--or us.

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AliBG
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This. Book. Vonnegut meets the Time Traveler's Wife, minus the romance.

ItsAnotherJen I thought that part was a great point! People can either make your spark grow, or make your spark shrink. So true so true.. 7y
11 likes1 comment
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That-Bookish-Hiker
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The Friends and Family event was a success. Trying to not go back and buy more lol.

#bookwormproblems #powellsbookstore

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AprilMae
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This book looks super interesting! Dear Littens, have any of you read this??? #askalitten #tbr

haileybean I haven't, but I've heard wonderful things about her work and want to! 7y
AliBG Loved it!!!! 7y
12 likes2 comments
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lauralovesbooks1
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Pickpick

King weaves an element of magical realism into each of her novels in a way that you believe in as a reader. She explores tough concepts and immerses you in the reality that her characters experience. In each of her books, I have felt a visceral connection to her characters. More people should be raving about her work.

AliBG Preach 7y
13 likes1 comment
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AshleyS
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Pickpick

I finally got around to reading this and I love, love, loved it. I will always read anything that A.S King writes. She's amazing. I'm about 8 1/2 hours in to my readathon, going to try to read at least 12 hours today but I'm exhausted and feeling under the weather so not sure I'll make it. #24in48

GlitteryOtters I love this (and every!) one of of her books. I have Me and Marvin Gardens on preorder, can't wait to see how she does with middle grade books! 7y
AshleyS @GlitteryOtters I didn't know she had another book coming out so soon! I preordered it, it sounds so weird! 7y
GlitteryOtters @AshleyS yeah, I feel like this book just sort of snuck into publication or something--I have heard NOTHING about it, just totally stumbled upon it, it's so odd. Usually there is so much noise about her upcoming books that you can't help but know they are coming! 😂 7y
24 likes3 comments
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JAMZ
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Pickpick

Heartbreaking and spiraling. I loved the slow pace of this book (kind of reminded me of Love That Dog) and the slowly dawning and painful realizations tucked within.

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B.Reader
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Love this quote. We do often disparage teens, particularly young women for their emotions. Feeling something in a deep and raw way doesn't make them any less real.

RadicalReader @B.Reader how do you put the stickers on photos? 7y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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B.Reader
Pickpick

As always, King has created a brutal and moving and necessary and mystifying novel. I love how her magical/off-center events don't take over the story but I stead augment it. Would recommend this one as I have all the others she has authored. Great read!

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bookloaner
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Finally getting around to reading my first A.S. King book and I think I've picked a good one!

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KGlibrarian
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Pickpick

An insightful, honest depiction of a teenage girl's struggle through bullying, family crises, and emotional growth.

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caseydillabooks
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Pickpick

In classic AS KING fashion, this book is weird and thought provoking and looks at deep emotion from a uniquely removed perspective.

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DeborahSmall
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#bookmail 📚❤️😍

RealLifeReading I like that cover of Still Life! 7y
DeborahSmall @RealLifeReading it's a lovely book, it's printed in the US. I always prefer the US editions ❤️📚 7y
DeborahSmall @RealLifeReading if you can't get same cover/edition where you are, I'll happily post you a copy 👍🏼💞 7y
61 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Keyoung
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Pickpick

Could not put this down. A. S. King is one of those authors whose new work I read religiously. Last year, I Crawl Through It didn't really work for me, but this one was a home run (a really sad and difficult home run). Best King book since Everybody Sees The Ants.

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ThatLibrarianLady
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My TBR pile for December. I won't be able to finish them all, but I'm hoping focusing on these will catch me up on some of this year's awesome book releases.

BookishMarginalia I have 6 of those on my TBR too. Georgia Peaches is great! 7y
9 likes1 comment
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intothehallofbooks
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Mehso-so

I think I'm the odd man out with this one 😕

I'm sad to say that this didn't work for me like I had hoped. The multiple Sarah's were strange and made the story feel cluttered + confusing. I never understood WHY they were there, especially toward the end. To me, they took up valuable page time where the family's issues + some resolution could have been hashed out + expanded upon.

BUT: I love every page spent with Bruce + Sarah's mother. 💯✔️

Leniverse Never heard of this book until now. Great title! Pity the story itself wasn't as good. 7y
intothehallofbooks @Leniverse It seems the majority of people really like the book! I just couldn't seem to connect like everyone else. But that's okay! 7y
69 likes1 stack add2 comments
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intothehallofbooks
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Started a new book. Have you read it?
I just love A.S. King.

#currentlyreading with ☕️

TrishB Love that cover 😀 7y
Lindy I love A S King too. Still Life with Tornado is great! 👍 7y
NerdyRev One of my favorite "YA" novels this year. 7y
70 likes3 stack adds3 comments