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Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake | Anna Quindlen
33 posts | 39 read | 23 to read
Presents a candid and personal account that explores what matters to middle-aged women and how they regard life stages.
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BkClubCare
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Pickpick

Loved having AQ‘s wisdom and philosophy in my head. I am also proud that my current job has been strangely the most mechanical I have ever ever had. I fixed a broken lock today. (Last week, I silenced a squeaky door.) #WiaN2023 #WiaN_Celebration category 🎉

julesG 💪 1y
37 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
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dabbe Your pup is ready, too! Too sweet!❣️🐾❣️ 1y
Ruthiella It‘s great to have these authors we can fall back on! 👍 1y
40 likes2 comments
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TheSpineView
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56 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Mccall0113
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive collection of books with no explanation as to why I have this book. I have so many books! Join in the fun! #tbrpile Day #25

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jdiehr
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Pickpick

Don't you just love when the exact right book comes to you at the exact right time in your life? That's what this book was for me.

Quindlen talks honestly and eloquently about friendship, marriage, working, motherhood and aging. I enjoyed every sentence.

ljuliel Great review. 4y
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jdiehr

"Isaac Newton learned about gravity from a falling apple. I learned about gravity from my butt."

?

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CogsOfEncouragement
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this #audiomemoir I borrowed from the library. I appreciate the lessons learned and shared by a woman several years ahead of me in child rearing and everything else.

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Beccacraft
Pickpick

Easy, emotional, and filled with wisdom, no matter how old you may be. That being said, as a 30-year-old, I feel like it would be more relatable and entertaining to those of the same generation as the author.

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Andrea313
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Two cats snoozing nearby, Stan Getz on the stereo, and this gem are adding up to a wonderful night. Has anyone else out there read this collection? So far, I'm tearing through it! #currentlyreading

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty photo ❤️ 5y
Tamra Getz! 💜👍🏾 5y
Andrea313 @Tamra Yes! A definite favorite. 🎶 5y
12 likes4 comments
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AvidReader25
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“The older we get the more we understand that the women who know and love us, and love us despite what they know about us, are the joists that hold up the house of our existence.”

“We are good parents not so they will be loving enough to stay with us, but so they will be strong enough to leave us.”

26 likes2 stack adds
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mrozzz
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Pickpick

Quindlen's extremely frank words about faith, mortality and aging etc. made me feel like I was hearing from an old friend. It's exactly that kind of honesty I'd hope to capture in my own memoir, should I ever write one, so relatable to anyone who ever thinks about where they're going or where they've been, how the hell they made it, or if they ever will.

91 likes3 stack adds
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Deborah42
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Pickpick

I loved this memoir about turning 60. Filled with wit and wisdom.

“The older we get, the more we understand that the women who know and love us—and love us despite what they know about us—are the joists that hold up the house of our existence.”

I ❤️ the chapter on solitude. Boy, did that resonate.

“There is so much obligatory generosity to being a good mother, a good wife, a good friend. Solitude is an acceptable form of selfishness.”

AmyG I stacked this as I am turning 60 soon. 😳 6y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Amiable
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I'd be 36. Maybe 37.

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Eggs
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A memoir exploring marriage, parenting, the workplace, caring for elderly parents, grandchildren, retirement and beyond---

Paula3 Resonates ♡ 6y
72 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LoverofLit
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Mehso-so

I absolutely fell in love with Anna Quindlen while listening and reading this book. This particular memoir though was about her turning 60, and there were some really great pieces of advice that resonated, but there was a bit of a disconnect since I'm not at that stage. I was still so grateful to discover her and will be checking out her earlier works as she has an extensive literary list. 🌟🌟🌟 for this book. All the stars for Anna Quindlen!

rubyslippersreads She's also a #BetsyTacy fan. 😊 6y
LoverofLit I had no idea these books even exsisted @rubyslippersreads I'll have to check em out! 6y
26 likes2 comments
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LoverofLit
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"Parenthood is not transactional. It's not we get what we give. It's the biggest pay-it-forward of our lives."

vkois88 Love this ❤ 6y
LoverofLit @vkois88 It is like the literary gods knew I needed to hear this this morning after a sleepless night with my baby girl and a trying morning with my stubborn toddler! 6y
vkois88 Oof. I feel ya on the sleepless nights. LO has yet to start sleeping through... actually, she did for awhile until I started working. Then it went away 6y
LoverofLit @vkois88 I feel like we return to work right just in time for that 4 month sleep regression! 😅 My 8 month old has yet to sleep through the night yet either but she's given me a few 6 hour stretches. Since she's my 2nd, at least I knew to expect the sleepless nights! 😴☕ 6y
24 likes4 comments
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LoverofLit
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"You're never too old to have the best day of your life." - On Getting Older

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LoverofLit
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"Real friendships provide hard truths and soft landings."

britt_brooke Love this. So true. 💚 6y
LoverofLit @britt_brooke I teared up a bit listening to the chapter on strong friendships ❤ 6y
24 likes2 comments
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LoverofLit
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"It's just that feeling that there is someone not obliged by bonds of blood or marriage to support advise and love you." On Friendship

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LoverofLit
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I actually bought this in print on a trip last year but have heard SUCH great things about the audio, read by the author, that I decided to listen to it. So far, it's really good!

14 likes1 stack add
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GirlInGreyBoots
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It‘s been a busy year. Please forgive my absence. In my time away, I‘ve read A LOT of books, but I didn‘t have time to review them. It feels nice to be back. Hopefully I‘ll be able to review this one when I‘m finished.

BookishMarginalia Welcome back! 6y
GirlInGreyBoots Thank you. :) 6y
4 likes2 comments
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tholmz
Pickpick

I listened to it over a few weeks in my car and cried a lot and felt a lot and loved a lot. I will likely buy this book and read it every few years, but listening to Anna‘s soothing voice was a really nice touch.

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Lcsmcat
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I haven‘t read this one, but I have liked others of hers. #candles #decdays @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Oh, I remember seeing a review of this book! It's meant to be very good 6y
42 likes1 comment
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Blaire
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Pickpick

This was a perfect audiobook to get my shopping done to. Pleasant listening while rushing through stores. Quindlen‘s essays about aging were hopeful, insightful, and enjoyable. Nothing groundbreaking but nice. It‘s ok to like solitude, friends are so important, and gratefulness. Will read more of her books. #litsyatoz #q #audiobook

celtichik I really like her non-fiction 6y
ItsAnotherJen You must of had a VERY successful shopping trip!! Kudos to you 👏👏👏 6y
Blaire @celtichik I‘m looking forward to checking more of it out! 6y
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Blaire @JenFowler yes, I hate shopping, but I got it all done - daycare, teachers, family, etc...one solid afternoon and an audiobook for shopping and wrapping. 6y
celtichik The shopping trip was amazing, did you start out knowing what to get everyone or did you decide as you wandered? 6y
Blaire @celtichik pretty much knew - or at least had pretty specific ideas - meandered a bit in the local boutiques, but zipped through the big box stores. All teachers and early intervention therapists got target or sbux cards and fleece lined slipped socks! One gift fits all. 😊 (edited) 6y
50 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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MsLeah8417
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Mehso-so

Interesting memoir

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MsLeah8417
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"Solitude is an acceptable form of selfishness."

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SG2014
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A little bit of #audioknitting on this labour day holiday. Love the narrator/author. This book is full of tidbits of truth about life. Loving it! Here's hoping I can finish this shawl so I'm justified to buy more yarn...

julesG Looks like a shawl on your needles. Interesting lace pattern. 7y
9 likes1 comment
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Lmstraubie
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Couldn't find streamers, but two out of three isn't bad...
#balloonsconfettistreamers #gypsykatsbirthdayweek @GypsyKat

GypsyKat These work perfectly! And I just started reading Big Little Lies this evening! 😃🎉💗 7y
Lmstraubie @GypsyKat It's been on my #TBR way to long. I hope to get to it soon. Have you seen the show? 7y
GypsyKat @Lmstraubie I haven't seen it, but I've heard it's really good. The book is great so far! 7y
41 likes3 comments
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Lmstraubie
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#mrbluesky #junetunz @Cinfhen
I wish we had some blue sky outside. I guess I'll have to settle for this.

Cinfhen Heard the weather has been yuck 😞 7y
Lmstraubie @Cinfhen Too many overcast, rainy days. 🌧️☔ 7y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BritanyA
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Pickpick

A memoir of Anna Quindlen's life. The writing was exquisite, the stories looking back on her life now that she is sixty. At times, a little too privileged white woman having a too perfect life for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Lovely book. The author is a good narrator!

specificity Love her so much! 8y
96 likes8 stack adds1 comment
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Jen2
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Started listening today!! I like her.

Gulfsidemusing Such a great book! Loved the audio version, but had to buy the book, too... so many passages I wanted to reread and savor! 8y
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Gulfsidemusing
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Is it Signed Book Friday or Friday Fun Photo or Friday Fun Post? Either way, I'm jumping in. Anna Quindlen and her book Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake are both favorites!

22 likes4 stack adds1 comment