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Heartbroke
Heartbroke | Chelsea Bieker
2 posts | 2 read | 8 to read
From the acclaimed author of Godshot and "a pitch-perfect ventriloquist of extraordinary talent and ferocity" (T Kira Madden) comes a defining book of stories set in California's Central Valley, where everyone is seeking or sabotaging love under an unrelenting sun. United by the stark and sprawling landscapes of California's Central Valley, the characters of Heartbroke boil with reckless desire. A woman steals a baby from a shelter in an attempt to salvage her own lost motherhood. A phone-sex operator sees divine opportunity when a lavender-eyed cowboy walks into her life. A mother and a son selling dream catchers along a highway that leads to a toxic beach manifest two young documentary filmmakers into their realm. And two teenage girls play a dangerous online game with destiny. Heartbroke brims over with each character's attempt to salvage--or sabotage--grace where they can find it. Told in bright, snapping prose that reveals a world of loss and love underneath, Chelsea Bieker brilliantly illuminates a golden yet gothic world of longing and abandonment under an unrelenting California sun.
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pdxannie
Heartbroke | Chelsea Bieker
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I picked this book up on Saturday morning when the library opened and it‘s Monday night and I just finished it. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Holy shit it was so well written. It was refreshing writing. I placed the author‘s only other book on hold. I became aware of her because she‘s going to be at Powell‘s in April with Amanda Montell (author of Wordslut and Cultish). I am a huge Montell fan girl but now I might be more excited to see Bieker?!

pdxannie Also, it should come with every trigger warning. 1mo
birdie_gw Looks interesting! Short stories? 1mo
pdxannie @birdie_gw yes but some of the stories have recurring characters. 1mo
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birdie_gw Ah ok I like that! Will see if my library has it. 1mo
birdie_gw (They do) 1mo
pdxannie Hell yes!! 1mo
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Megabooks
Heartbroke | Chelsea Bieker
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This short story collection about hardscrabble life in California‘s Central Valley was 5⭐️ all the way! A cast of miners, cowboys, and outsiders brings a sense of stark sadness to an area of the country that is rapidly changing with the climate. “Women and Children” evoked shades of Denis Johnson. “Lyra” has one of the best twists I‘ve encountered. The complex love in “Raisin Man” was heartbreaking. I‘ll return to this one again!

Cinfhen Love how your flowers match the book cover ❣️I feel like I read something else from this author!??? 2y
Cinfhen Oh now I see… Godshot!! Wow, I really hated that book 2y
Cinfhen This is strictly short stories and not an interconnected novel?? 2y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Cool cover!! 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen it is strictly short stories. I‘m thinking about reading Godshot, but it sounds a lot like this, which I recently read and disliked so I‘m going to wait a bit. 2y
vivastory You got me with the Denis Johnson comparison! Beautiful flowers 2y
SamAnne Sounds up my alley. 2y
BarbaraBB A beautiful picture and such a great review! 2y
Megabooks @vivastory thank you! I think you‘d really enjoy this. 👍🏻 2y
Megabooks @SamAnne enjoy! It was very good! 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB thank you on both counts! 2y
Centique This is definitely stacked. And also impressive flower matching! I think this should be a skill with a posh name to go with it, much like matching wine to food! #booksommelier You and @Cinfhen 😘 2y
Cinfhen I‘m pretty sure YOU already read Godshot, Meg! I think we did a buddy read 🤪🤔🤭 2y
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