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The Distance Home
The Distance Home: A Novel | Paula Saunders
9 posts | 6 read | 14 to read
A "riveting family saga" (Mary Karr) set in the American West, about sibling rivalry, dark secrets, and a young girl's struggle with freedom and artistic desire. This moving debut novel is a profoundly American story. Set in a circa-1960s rural South Dakota--a hardscrabble place of cattle buyers, homegrown ballet studios, casual drug abuse, and unmitigated pressure to conform, all amid the great natural beauty of the region--the book portrays a loving but struggling young family in turmoil, and two siblings, Rene and Leon, who opt for different but equally extreme means of escaping the burdens of home. By turns funny and tragic, lyrical and terse, Paula Saunders' debut examines the classic American questions: What is to become of the vulnerable in a culture of striving and power? And what is the effect of this striving and power on both those who dominate and those who are overrun? It is an affecting novel, in which the author's compassionate narration allows us to sympathize, in turn, with everyone involved.
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TrishB
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Sad, poignant little book. Dysfunctional, flawed family that can‘t seem to get any of it right, but not written in a judgemental way, make your mind up about all the characters. Not a lot of happiness in this book - don‘t read to be uplifted! But I couldn‘t put it down and read in one sitting tonight.

wordzie I like your review. 👏 5y
TrishB @wordzie thank you 😁 5y
Reggie ‘Don‘t read to be uplifted‘ -stacked!!! Great review!! 5y
See All 9 Comments
TrishB @Reggie I think you‘ll like this one 👍🏻 5y
batsy Yes, great review! Knowing my readerly proclivity for bleak books and dysfunctional families, I've added this to the pile 👍🏽 5y
Cathythoughts Great review ♥️👍🏻 5y
Cathythoughts I‘m stacking because I love to hear “ I couldn‘t put it down “ 😉 5y
TrishB @batsy cool 👍🏻 hope you enjoy when you get to it. 5y
137 likes9 comments
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AlexGeorge
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Couldn‘t put this down. There‘s something elegant and simple and heartbreaking about this story that reeled me in and wouldn‘t let go. Possibly not for everyone but I enjoyed it hugely.

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Chelsea.Poole
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I‘m realizing I‘m a sucker for family sagas. This one was recommended to me by a coworker. She was a big fan and I went into it expecting to be wowed, but have seen very little about this book elsewhere. The #audiobook was excellently narrated. The story was tragic and the characters real to me. I just wish it had been a bit less of a sob story. Sometimes life is one bad experience after another, but GESH! Reminds me of Jane Smiley & Anne Tyler.

Zelma I love a good family saga! 6y
BookwormM Penny Vincenzi is great for a family saga 6y
Chelsea.Poole @Zelma I didn‘t realize it was one of my favorites until very recently! 6y
Chelsea.Poole @bookwormm oooh, thanks!! I will have to look into some titles. Have you read her? Which one should I start with? 6y
margreads I do enjoy a good family saga 6y
87 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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It‘s our anniversary today! We both took the day off work to celebrate. ♥️ Breakfast was at Fluff Bakery. I had chia tea and this lovely book with a veggie burrito. It‘s an overcast day but I like the moodiness. We are shopping and eating lunch later too. ☺️

Ashley85 Happy Anniversary! Sounds like a great day planned. 6y
mrp27 🎊🎊🎊 6y
CatLass007 Happy Anniversary! 6y
92 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Rissa1
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Mehso-so

I am left feeling sad and empty. This family was painful in many ways. 3⭐

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Rissa1
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??? my emotions in emoji form.
"Many years later, Leon would tell René that Al had beaten him with a wooden board fitted with nail-head studs."

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Rissa1
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My kids were up at 6am, already arguing. It is gloomy outside, my motivation is nil. I am choosing to make my 6 year old lady down and watch a movie. Alabama and I are snuggling while I watch Marcella and read. #catsoflitsy #Alabamaslife

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Rissa1
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Time to start something new. #giveawaywinner #ARC thanks

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Rissa1
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I won this gem and received it in the mail today. Also pictured my biscuit with BlackBerry preserves. #ARC #giveawaywinner