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Guests on Earth
Guests on Earth: A Novel | Lee Smith
8 posts | 16 read | 10 to read
Reading Lee Smith ranks among the great pleasures of American fiction . . . Gives evidence again of the grace and insight that distinguish her work. Robert Stone, author of Death of the Black-Haired Girl Its 1936 when orphaned thirteen-year-old Evalina Toussaint is admitted to Highland Hospital, a mental institution in Asheville, North Carolina, known for its innovative treatments for nervous disorders and addictions. Taken under the wing of the hospitals most notable patient, Zelda Fitzgerald, Evalina witnesses cascading events that lead up to the tragic fire of 1948 that killed nine women in a locked ward, Zelda among them. Author Lee Smith has created, through a seamless blending of fiction and fact, a mesmerizing novel about a world apart--in which art and madness are luminously intertwined.
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Mshookquilts
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Pickpick

An interesting look at those in society diagnosed with mental illness in early 20th Century.

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Hestapleton
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Mehso-so

This wasn‘t bad but I didn‘t love it. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, though I‘m not sure if the fault lies with the book or me. I chose this for the book about Appalachia prompt for the Reading Women challenge and interesting retrospect, there are much better books I could have chosen. #wintergames #TBRread #teamfozziwig
+11 points

BarkingMadRead 🎄🎄🎄 4y
38 likes1 comment
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alisiakae
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1. Set in Asheville, NC, one of my favorite weekend getaway spots.
2. Hot, but not as hot as yesterday, which set a record high for the date and was 98F. Thunderstorms later, we need the rain!
3. Double date, but both guys turned out to be interested in my friend. Super awkward night for everyone involved.
4. 1 daughter, 2 🐈 1 🐇.

#friyayintro

Zoes_Human Asheville is my home! 5y
Lynnsoprano Love Asheville! Always so wonderful. @Zoes_Human I‘m jealous 😄 5y
alisiakae @Zoes_Human We live near Charlotte, but hope to someday by a cabin near Asheville! 5y
57 likes3 comments
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lynneamch
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"Let's sign up for cooking," I suggested to Dixie, as squares of gingerbread still warm from the oven were passed out to us all at the afternoon "social" on #Halloween.
"Not me." To my surprise, Dixie shook her head so vigorously that I could see the bluish shaved spots at each temple where they affixed the electrodes for her still-ongoing electroshock treatments. . ."

#OctoberXFiles @Robothugs @Cinfhen

32 likes3 stack adds
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NPTK_Designs
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Mehso-so

Sitting at the Biltmore Estate by the French Broad River with this Asheville based book. Not loving it so far but I'm only on page 37 so I'm sure it will get better!

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KNightser
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Trying again to get into listening to books. This was on sale for $3.99 on #audible. Guests on Earth is a #bookclub pick, but I'll read any book about Zelda Fitzgerald.

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MMenefee

Since beginning Z, I've been trying to recall this fictionalized account involving Zelda Fitzgerald's time in hospital in Asheville. I read this some time ago but it has stuck with me because of the beautiful imagery.

Callemarie I'm becoming more and more fascinated with learning about them. 8y
LitHousewife I enjoyed all three Zelda books that came out at that time. I read this one just before visiting Asheville for Booktopia. It was the weekend read and perfect. Seeing the place where she died was an experience. 8y
18 likes1 stack add4 comments
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TheLushMama
Pickpick

This book is just amazing. It's poignant and vibrant. Based on factual events of an asylum in NC that burned and one of its most well known patients, Zelda Fitzgerald.

2 likes1 stack add