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State of Terror
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
65 posts | 59 read | 31 to read
A Simon & Schuster book. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
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JillR
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Now for something completely different. I won‘t lie, I love the occasional cheesy political thriller. I once watched a whole season of 24 in a weekend, and I want that vibe in my thriller reading please. This mostly didn‘t disappoint; a page-turningly tense story with current terrorist and world issues themes and the like. I‘ve never read Louise Penny and can‘t say I loved the writing enough to read more, but overall all this was good fun (👇)

JillR In saying it was good fun, I took it as such but fully accept some very real life issues are being played out here. 8mo
34 likes1 comment
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ClairesReads
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Very nearly a five star reading experience (just a smidge too much PATRIOTISM for this reader). Penny (and Clinton) have nailed the political blockbuster here. This had shades of Homeland, and balanced serious commentary with out the gate action perfectly. Lots of recognisable characters and foes, if you‘re worried about the state of the world this will speak to you. I found myself making any excuse I could to keep listening to this one.

36 likes1 stack add
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Mshookquilts
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I‘m not a fan of Hillary Clinton, but she and Louise Penny created a page-turning thriller! Buses are being bombed in major cities in Europe and the problem is dropped in the US Secretary of State‘s lap. Discovering this may lead to dirty bombs in the US, she works with the reluctant President to keep their country safe. You want to read this!

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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

This book does exactly what a thriller is supposed to do — keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next. It also kept me guessing about some characters‘ motivations. There‘s also a cameo that I absolutely loved. Joan Allen is a great narrator. Started The Corner That Held Them for #NunLit in the middle of my #audiowalk because I‘d finished State of Terror. It‘s different, and I like it so far.

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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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I‘m so hoping nothing bad happens to Gil, Anahita, Zaharia, or Katherine! Now Bashir Shah, he‘s a different story. 3 hours left. #audiowalk

Riveted_Reader_Melissa That looks like a gorgeous walk! 1y
KathyWheeler @Riveted_Reader_Melissa It is. A couple are from the park down the road and the rest are from my university‘s nature trail. 1y
22 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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I think the reason I don‘t generally read political thrillers is they can make me both angry and antsy. This book is doing both. #audiobook

lynneamch Yep! But I still liked it. Good narrator. 1y
KathyWheeler @lynneamch The narrator really is good. And I care about the people which is why it‘s making me so jumpy. 1y
27 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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It looked so much like it was going to rain that I took an umbrella with me on my walk, but it hasn‘t rained yet. So far, I like this book, but I don‘t trust anybody and neither should Ellen. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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I keep trying to relate the experience of Ellen Adams, the new Secretary of State to a new President, to Clinton‘s experiences, and I‘m not sure that‘s completely fair. I doubt there‘s a 1 to 1 correspondence. It‘s 74° outside now. Why couldn‘t it have been like this when our heater was out instead of the 20° it was then?! #audiowalk

RebL I really enjoyed this book, probably one of my top fiction reads of 2022. But I did have to practice death of the author skills. 1y
KathyWheeler @RebL I really like it so far; I just need to stop what I‘m doing with Clinton. 1y
23 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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I had not already picked a new walking book when I went, so I had to choose from the ones that I‘d already downloaded. State of Terror was one, so I began it. I‘m not really sure though how ready I am to listen to anything political. We‘ll see. #audiowalk

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Bookish.SAM
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I acquired this accidentally (a friend ended up with two copies and gave me one) and I liked it SOOOO much more than I expected to. It was a great reminder that I really enjoy political thrillers tho I haven‘t read one it a while.
Lots of suspense, great female leads and a tribute to friendships.
The acknowledgements were almost as impressive (It had me near tearing up! And had a great backstory of what brought this book to life).

Dragon Agreed- great book 💚🐉 1y
32 likes1 comment
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RebL
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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I needed a book that would snatch me up in the story. At the same time… so much anxiety 😬

Readergrrl Your bookmark is 🔥🔥🔥 2y
RebL @Readergrrl 💖 Thank you! I work with a team of exclusively university student workers. Every spring semester we make bookmarks together. We “borrow” extensively from the World Wide Web. (edited) 2y
15 likes1 stack add2 comments
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emilycoc
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Great read! I remember that moment when I got hooked only a few chapters in.

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vonnie862
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Another book that my husband and I finally finished!
This was a fun political thriller with strong female characters. Some of the characters appeared to have been inspired by real life people.
Though it was fun, there were some parts that dragged. This is why I am giving it 3.5 ⭐️
#BookSpinBingo #5 #bookspin
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
32 likes1 comment
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intothehallofbooks
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

My pulse pounded for the entire last third of the book. A fun political thriller. I can definitely see where some readers are put off with the similarities between these characters and real-life political figures, but I still enjoyed reading it. The end feels like there may be more to the story. If there ends up being a sequel, I‘ll read it.

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emilycoc
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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My next read, from the cozy comfort of my back deck! #booktwoof2022

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vlwelser
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

This was thoroughly entertaining and I liked it way better than Bill's book. Is it great literature? Probably not. But I definitely recommend it anyway.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
50 likes1 comment
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BookishTrish
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Alllllrighty then #readersgonerogue what do you think of these picks? Any catch your fancy?

melissajayne I loved Lady from the Black Lagoon 2y
5feet.of.fury Lady from the Black Lagoon was so good! 2y
DavidDiamond @melissajayne @5feet.of.fury The author of Lady has a podcast she co-hosts called Reading Glasses…I‘ve discovered a lot of great books and authors thanks to them. (edited) 2y
See All 9 Comments
Andrea4 What could be saved is definitely my top choice! 2y
FantasyChick What Could Be Saved sounds decent. I'm also on team How to Catch a Queen❤️‍🔥 And I'm curious about State of Terror.....I could go for almost anything! Lol 2y
Andrea4 Would also read how to catch a queen...give romance a second shot lol 2y
BookishTrish The queen it is! My brain is mush and romance is fun to read! Thanks @andrea4 @FantasyChick 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish totally get it! @FantasyChick when do we get to vote on your picks? 2y
FantasyChick @Andrea4 I have a list up a little bit ago. I thought I tagged you in it. I'll check! 2y
49 likes9 comments
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vlwelser
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Did I need to borrow this? Having the library across the square from the office doesn't help my tbr situation.

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therubberduckninja
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I read this one because I love Louise Penny‘s books, though political thrillers aren‘t usually my thing. I did enjoy it, mostly, so this one‘s a soft pick.

It starts slow, but it does pick up in the second half. I thought the characters were likeable (I love Betsy). I enjoyed the references to Three Pines. The plot was predictable and the villains seemed painfully obvious, but I still enjoyed watching things unfold.

therubberduckninja I didn‘t particularly enjoy the political aspect though. I didn‘t count, but the phrase “the mess left by the previous administration” was repeated ad nauseam in the first half of the book. It‘s also very clear who “Eric Dunn” is, and while I definitely wasn‘t an “Eric Dunn” fan, I found myself wishing they‘d come up with an original character. 2y
11 likes1 comment
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SanjanaGhosh
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Mehso-so

Did anyone else know that Hillary Clinton is a Thriller author too?

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CindiB
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

With Louise Penny‘s abilities to write and form a plot, with likeable human characters and Hillary Clinton‘s inside knowledge of the US State Dep‘t, I knew this would be good. An intense, page-turner that moved quickly around the globe. I loved Ellen Adams as a character, regardless of her dress! 😉. Smart and courageous and with a gutsy side kick/best friend, this was delightful, horrifying, and very human. I hope they write another! 4/5

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Jaimelire
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I sure know how to pick good books lately! Another great read, and again, done in two days. Action-packed & page-turner describe this book well. And I loved the references to Three Pines.

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iread2much
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Excellent and very scary, my first political thriller. The Secretary of State must figure out how three bombings are connected and what the true danger is, to the USA, the world, and her family. This is indeed a thriller, and co-written by someone who has lived experience in this world. 4/5 stars, get a bit slow in some places, read if you want to be both scared and kept on the edge of your seat.

Yuki_Onna Awwwwww.... 💗 2y
Pageturner1 ohh! that face 😍 2y
iread2much @Yuki_Onna ❤️🐕 2y
iread2much @Pageturner1 thank you 😊 2y
25 likes4 comments
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jenreads7
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Excellent political thriller. The narrator is fantastic! I couldn‘t stop listening. #Libby #audiobook

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NikkiKey94
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I really didn‘t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but I was definitely drawn in from the first page. This was a really good political thriller and I wonder if there will be a second book!

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Booknerd2
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Amazing book! I loved the small tie ins to Three Pines and also the “about the authors” at the end.
A must read!

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SusanLee
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Eggs ❤️🇺🇸💙 2y
10 likes1 comment
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Thndrstd
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

An entertaining high-stakes political thriller about a new Secretary of State who works for a president she actively campaigned against and must quickly uncover an international conspiracy that could kill thousands of people. A well-paced, entertaining thriller, with strong characters, insider details, and some nods to Louise Penny's Gamache series.

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Twocougs
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure what to really expected but must say the ladies did a fantastic job. Exciting, couldn‘t put it down.

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Caroline2
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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99p on kindle! 😃 👍

charl08 Nice one! 2y
Cortg Oooh, this was my one and only gifted book for Christmas this year. I‘ve never read Louise Penny, though I did hear her talk at the Nat‘l book festival several years ago. 2y
61 likes2 comments
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melissajayne
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

4.5⭐️ Damn you Louise Penny & HRC for writing such a good book. The only complaint I have is that the middle dragged a little too much but when you have a fmr Sec of State giving details about life as Sec of State, it‘s probably going to drag a bit on policy at times. And like any good Three Pines Book, it gets really good in the final 1/3 and the payoff is excellent. The acknowledgements is excellent as well.

marleed I think it‘s game on for James & Bill to outwrite Louise & Hillary! 2y
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
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ShelleyBooksie
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this collaboration! Although nothing like the Three Pines series the plot was engrossing and the characters were easy to root for. I loved the guest appearances of Gamache and Three Pines.

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Christy2318
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

The Trump & Putin similarities were rather on the nose & the Gamache connection felt forced. Otherwise, this was an entertaining & well paced political thriller. They wrapped up the story but left the door open for a series. I‘d love a movie and I‘d read more. 💣💣💣💣 https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/hillary-clinton-louise-penny-...

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ShelleyBooksie
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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1. Reading Christmas books in December, all of the #litsy holiday swaps.
2. Snowmen at Night - a beautifully illustrated children's book I love rereading with my kiddo.
3. Diving into a new book on Christmas day.

Wanna play @DinoMom , @DebbieGrillo , @AmyG , @Soubhiville

@ozma.of.oz

AmyG Thanks so much for the tag! 2y
Soubhiville The only book related tradition is I like to go see a live performance of A Christmas Carol when I can. 😊 2y
BookmarkTavern Your 3 sounds delightful! Thanks for posting! 2y
17 likes3 comments
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melissajayne
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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“Madame Secretary,” said Charles Boynton, hurrying beside his boss as she rushed down Mahogany Row to her office in the State Department. “You have eight minutes to get to the Capitol.”

#firstlinefridays

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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It had always amused her that journalists covering the government were called “correspondents,” as though it were some foreign land. But now she saw why. It was a country within a country, with its own rules of behaviour. Its own gravity and stifling atmosphere. Its own shifting borders and boundaries.

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

I spotted this on the Hits to Go (1 week loan) shelf at the library and grabbed it on a whim. I opened it yesterday morning & read a chapter just to see what it was like. Then another chapter. By the end of the day, I had read 300 pages. If you‘re looking for an high stakes thriller with middle-aged women as protagonists, this is it. If you‘re already a Louise Penny fan, there‘s even a little of Three Pines in it.

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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He looked up “Azhi Dahaka.” It took him a few tries to get the spelling right, but there it was.
A three-headed dragon of destruction and terror, born of lies and spawned to wreak havoc on the world. A serpent tyrant whose appearance ushered in chaos.

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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There have been a few signs that this book was rushed to print: repeated sentences, typos, but nothing major.

TrishB I feel I should check mine because how did I miss that! 2y
Laughterhp That can be caught with spellcheck 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 2y
Lindy @TrishB I‘ve got the American edition, St Martin‘s Press 2y
See All 8 Comments
Lindy @Laughterhp 🤷‍♀️ 2y
rabbitprincess Maybe a pre-final-spellcheck version was sent to the printers by accident 😬 2y
Leftcoastzen 😬🙄 2y
Lindy @Leftcoastzen If it wasn‘t in the first line of a chapter, it might have been less noticeable? 2y
42 likes8 comments
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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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… they walked through the vast entrance hall, gawking at what would have been splendid had it been an actual palace and not a monument to overcompensation.

[I‘m wondering about the distinction in that sentence. 🤔]

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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…neither side wanted to hit the button, knowing it could lead to reprisals that could wipe out the human race. It kept each from behaving badly. That was the theory.
What it in fact created wasn‘t a balance of terror, but a perpetual state of terror.

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Lindy
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Hmm. The White House has a famous desk called the Resolute. I‘m learning trivia from this novel.

26 likes1 stack add
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marleed
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Years ago I was working background at a war-gaming conference and there were piles of copies of Tom Clancy‘s The Hunt for Red October that people were reading in the many hours of before internet downtime. The consensus was - just what does he know so he can make this stuff up? Well, with this writing duo, we know the answer to that question here. Good job and game on Bill and James!

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CarolynM
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

Quick, easy and fun read. I kept seeing Tea Leoni rather than Hillary, but that was ok😆 I'll be discussing this with my book group tomorrow night, should be good.

TrishB I enjoyed this one too 👍🏻 2y
LapReader Enjoy your night out. Your parcel has arrived and I am super excited xo 2y
64 likes1 stack add3 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

This was an action packed political thrill ride that was mildly terrifying in its realism. The VERY thinly veiled potshots at the former guy may turn some people off but I enjoyed them. It wasn‘t great literature but it was wildly entertaining.

Hooked_on_books The potshots turned me off because I‘m just sick of hearing about him. But I loved the insidery state department stuff and the constant plot movement. 2y
MicheleinPhilly @Hooked_on_books Fair point. I avoid mentions of him like the plague so I just found them humorous. 2y
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookwormM
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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Pickpick

#Audio

The narrator sounded just like Hilary Clinton which was probably a deliberate decision however it gave the book the air of an extended rant against anyone who had offended her when she was in office. Added to this was the fact that the other characters were thinly disguised caricatures of world leaders somewhat spoilt the book for me.

The story itself was OK but it felt waaay longer than necessary

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TiredLibrarian
State of Terror: A Novel | Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton, To Be To Be Confirmed Simon & Schuster
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📖 About 1/3 done; not sure how I feel about it yet.

🍁 Seeing a new cat in our backyard trying (and failing, repeatedly) to catch something. Many pounces!

📚 Running up against library due dates 📆

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🍂📖✨ 2y
33 likes1 comment