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Acts of God
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
6 posts | 1 read | 11 to read
The stories in Acts of God are great postcards from the world of Ellen Gilchrist. Its a world of war and strife and surprises, and it is, yes, marvelous to behold. The New York Times Book Review Celebrated short story writer Ellen Gilchrist, winner of the National Book Award for Victory Over Japan, returns with her first collection in more than eight years. In Acts of God, she has created ten diverse scenarios populated by characters dealing with forces beyond their control, yet somehow managing to survive, persevere, and triumph--even if it is only a triumph of the will. Wholly believable characters in all-too-real situations are given vivid life in these stories told with Ellen Gilchrists clear-eyed optimism and salty sense of humor. A master of short fiction . . . [Gilchrist] is as sharp, funny and insightful as ever. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Gilchrist still has the power to turn a simple line into a profound insight on what its like to be human. Flavorpill.com Reading Ellen Gilchrist is addictive . . . Her new work is filled with good people who show fortitude and even heroism under duress . . . In this age of edgy irony, her warm-hearted view of humanity is refreshing. NPR.org Gilchrist is at her best when the wry and satirical mood strikes her . . . and its a pleasure to report that the best of the stories in Acts of God rank with the best in her first collection and in her second, . . . for which she was awarded a richly deserved National Book Award. The Washington Post
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review
Megabooks
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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Mehso-so

Ellen is a prolific writer with Southern settings, and I remember loving this story collection the first time. This time, however, it read alternately schmaltzy or centered on rich, white characters tone deaf to their privilege. These stories, featuring natural disasters, seem rooted in the racism and classicism of the 20th century Deep South, and I guess I‘m just not connecting with that anymore. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think it‘s normal for tastes to evolve.

plemmdog I never got around to reading her but a volume sits on my shelf. You bring up an interesting point. I‘ve experienced similar feelings about other less known Southern writers, and wonder what their legacy will be.? 3y
TrishB Definitely tastes evolve! 3y
Megabooks @plemmdog I don‘t know. I‘m generally willing to take older books at face value, but this was written after 2010, so I‘m a bit less sure about what the legacy of boomer writers of this ilk will be. 3y
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Megabooks @TrishB for sure!! 3y
Centique So interesting to hear that! I loved Gilchrist when I discovered her in my late teens early twenties and I read five or six of her novels - but I‘ve wondered if I would enjoy them now. I‘m not so oblivious to the history and context any more. And my tastes have changed too I‘m sure! 3y
Megabooks @Centique oh interesting! It is so odd how we become aware of things over the years. 3y
78 likes6 comments
blurb
MittenGirlPeach
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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#ISpy books with robin‘s egg blue covers! Thanks much for the tag, @QuietlyLaura! I think I‘ll put the Gilchrist on my TBR pile; I haven‘t read it yet. The Shackleton was a valentine‘s gift from my husband years ago. And a lovely one it was! How about yellow covers, @mrswatsonreads and @ErinSBecker?

Lreads Such a pretty blue! ☺️ Thanks for playing! 4y
6 likes1 comment
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Megabooks
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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Not really a great month for audiobooks or nonfiction, but overall pretty good!

Best of the month: The Veins of the Ocean and Acts of God! Acts of God is particularly good reading now as it is about natural disasters. (Tagged in this post.)

britt_brooke Excellent month! 👏🏻 7y
TrishB I think I've done well with non fiction and 2!! 7y
Quellek I thought at first that the fiction number was 98! 7y
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Reviewsbylola Fantastic month! 7y
Megabooks @TrishB I'm a nonfictionophile so it's low for me. 7y
Megabooks @Quellek confusing font! 😂😂 7y
77 likes7 comments
review
Megabooks
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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Pickpick

5⭐️ Two emojis for each story. 💗😞 💗😭 😢😢 😰😰 🙏🏻😭 😂😂 💪🏻😢 💗💗 😊😊 💗😢 This collection will be with me for a long time. ❤️❤️ It tackles disasters big, like Hurricane Katrina, and personal, an MS diagnosis, with grace and gorgeous prose. As far as story order, it is one of the best collections I have ever read. Highly, highly recommend! #CheerwineAndABook #recommendsday

GuiltyFeat You've got loads more Gilchrist to come after this. Go back to the beginning and read all of her stories about Rhoda and Nora-Jane. She is a genius. 7y
93 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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Megabooks
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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Well, I kept it to six @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🤦🏻‍♀️🙈 Not terrible. I plan on focusing on short stories this weekend, so hopefully I'll make some room!! 😃😃👍🏻 I just couldn't resist these prices. All hardcover!

For people that are into #diversevoices there are a lot of translated and diaspora works. Check it out!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great deal!!! Hey, we can't pass up a good deal!!! I've been eyeing The Girl With All the Gifts for $1.99... 😜 I'll keep you posted! 7y
MrBook Wow! I want all of those! Where did you find these amazing deals?! 7y
emilyhaldi Wow that is a great deal!!!! 7y
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Megabooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I've heard great things about that! 7y
Megabooks @MrBook www.bookoutlet.com There's a space on the front page that says 50% off 50 short story collections! If you don't get up to $35, you have to pay $5 shipping, which I think is reasonable. They also have a sale on buying books with pretty covers. Definitely some great deals! 7y
Megabooks @emilyhaldi Right?! I don't feel too terrible! I'm going to have to clean out some of my veterinary books and take them to work soon! 7y
saresmoore I saw these and drooled for a while, but I don't know if I could narrow it down to fewer than 10! 7y
Megabooks @saresmoore If I didn't only do hardcover, there'd be a lot more! So many great ones! I said 5, I did 6. Not bad 😉 7y
Reviewsbylola That's an awesome haul. This is why I love Book Outlet so much! 7y
88 likes1 stack add9 comments
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laurenm
Acts of God | Ellen Gilchrist
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You know she's a good friend when, for your birthday gift, she checks out your TBR list on good reads. 💜

CherylDeFranceschi Happy Birthday! 8y
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