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The World Cannot Give
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
10 posts | 7 read | 13 to read
The Girls meets Fight Club in this coming-of-age novel about queer desire, religious zealotry, and the hunger for transcendence among the devoted members of a cultic chapel choir in a prestigious Maine boarding schooland the obsessively ambitious, terrifyingly charismatic girl that rules over them. When shy, sensitive Laura Stearns arrives at St. Dunstans Academy in Maine, she dreams that life there will echo her favorite novel, All Before Them, the sole surviving piece of writing by Byronic prep school prophet (and St. Dunstans alum) Sebastian Webster, who died at nineteen, fighting in the Spanish Civil War. She soon finds the intensity she is looking for among the insular, Webster-worshipping members of the schools chapel choir, which is presided over by the charismatic, neurotic, overachiever Virginia Strauss. Virginia is as fanatical about her newfound Christian faith as she is about the miles she runs every morning before dawn. She expects nothing short of perfection from herselfand from the members of the choir. Virginia inducts the besotted Laura into a world of transcendent music and arcane ritual, illicit cliff-diving and midnight crypt visits: a world that, like Websters novels, finally seems to Laura to be full of meaning. But when a new school chaplain challenges Virginias hold on the family she has created, and Virginias efforts to wield her power become increasingly dangerous, Laura must decide how far she will let her devotion to Virginia go. The World Cannot Give is a shocking meditation on the power, and danger, of wanting more from the world.
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TheLudicReader
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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Pickpick

Despite the fact that the main character is 16, this dark academia is not YA. Laura Stearns begins a term at St. Dunstan's where she falls under the thrall of Virginia Strauss. I found this book well-written (although the author had some little quirks that did start to grate a little) and interesting. Not much happens, but it was strangely compelling.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
48 likes1 comment
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JamieArc
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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1. I work at a university and school starts August 28, so it‘s about to be my busy time of the year with a new school year starting.
2. The post tag was one of my favorites last year, and The St. Ambrose School for Girls is one I‘m most looking forward to this fall.
#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Happy Tuesday and thanks for playing! 8mo
37 likes1 comment
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monalyisha
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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Burton expertly creates atmosphere and tone in this tense novel, set in a co-ed, seaside, Catholic boarding school in New England. There‘s desperation, longing, and cruelty in spades. It‘s clear how easy it is to be swept up in a cult AND in young love, and how dangerous it is when power is so unequally distributed in each case. I‘ll read more by this author; I‘m almost more interested in her bio at the back than I am in her narrative! 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: A doctorate in theology? A nonfic text called “Strange Rites”? Yes, please! Another #AuldLangSpine selection from @JamieArc that I‘m grateful to have picked up. 14mo
monalyisha @JamieArc What did you make of the ending? Do we think she jumped? Can “turning towards the harbor…as she starts to run” mean anything else? Did you read it as dark and inevitable, or is there a sharp edge of hope? 14mo
monalyisha @JamieArc I also found her little speech at the end so unclear! “Only maybe sometimes you can decide to say no to the world; maybe you can affirm it, even if you don‘t believe it, deep down, even if you are old and wise enough to know how wrong you are, and maybe, Laura thinks, that‘s what strength is.” Too many vague pronoun antecedents! 14mo
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JamieArc @monalyisha I am pretty terrible at remembering what I‘ve read so I‘m going to have to do some thinking on your questions. I went to my review to try to refresh my memory and saw that I included a blog post in which a playlist for this book was created. As a music person, I thought you would appreciate checking that out. (edited) 14mo
monalyisha @JamieArc Yeah! I‘ll find that playlist. Sounds fun. And no pressure about the questions. I‘m sure I wouldn‘t remember, either. 😉 14mo
JamieArc @monalyisha If I‘m remembering correctly, I feel like I was just a bit underwhelmed with the very end, and I think it was in part due to her little speech, so I would agree with you there. 14mo
53 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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monalyisha
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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I live *just* far enough away from my work that sometimes, the weather there and the weather at home don‘t totally coincide. So, despite the Library being open, I took a PTO day today. 🌬️❄️🌧️

Am reading the tagged, from @JamieArc ‘s #AuldLangSpine list, while my husband puzzles.

Honestly, I expected to go back to my own, independent TBR once January was over…but her chosen titles keep calling to me! They‘re just that good. ✨

JamieArc ❤️❤️❤️. I‘m so glad you think so! I get nervous about handing over my “favorite” lists because my reasons for liking a book can be so random 😂. The books on your list are all ones I‘m interested in, so I will be continuing yours as well. 14mo
Prairiegirl_reading @JamieArc this is why I never participate. I get in my head about it and figure no one will want to be paired with me! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 14mo
monalyisha @Prairiegirl_reading Even just looking at your last few posts, I can tell you that you‘ve got nothing to worry about! 💓 14mo
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Prairiegirl_reading @monalyisha after I see all the other posts I regret not joining in but that‘s just inner shit talker telling me not to. I know I shouldn‘t listen and yet it gets me a lot. The joys of anxiety!! 14mo
CBee @Prairiegirl_reading you should do it! I felt the same way and I took the plunge finally and it‘s been just wonderful ♥️ 14mo
Prairiegirl_reading @CBee thank you for the encouragement! 💜 14mo
CBee @Prairiegirl_reading anytime 😘 14mo
54 likes7 comments
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JamieArc
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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Oof. This book. It started out great, and just when it felt like it was about to plateau… holy hell (an apt phrase for this book). Power, manipulation, obsession, ideals and idols and all we worship as youth, revenge, downfall… all the things that make a great #darkacademia book. Image belongs to the below blogger, where she provides a playlist for the book. #Booked2022

JamieArc @TheLudicReader Have you read this one? Having read some of your favorites from last year, I wonder if this one might be up your alley. 1y
Cinfhen Sounds GREAT!!! Thanks for including the playlist 💗🎉 1y
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TheLudicReader I have not read this, @JamieArc , however it is on my tbr. Thanks for the great review. 1y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Great review! 1y
JamieArc @monalyisha Tagged for my review 14mo
43 likes6 comments
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JamieArc
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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My do I love a good #darkacademia book, and this one is off to a strong start. #Booked2022 #deweyoct #DeweysReadathon #readathon

JamieArc @Caterina I‘ve seen great things about that book! 2y
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻♥️ 2y
PageShifter I also love dark academia! 1y
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Jess_Franzino
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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This was stunning. I needed a moment after reading this. It‘s haunting, lyrical, and extremely intense yet real. A bit nihilistic in a way that‘s kind of uncomfortable, but still, amazing. No idea why it has such a low rating on Goodreads, but I think that‘s from the same people who romanticize “The Secret History” (which Donna Tartt said not to do). This book gets meta with the “Dark Academia” thing, & notes the problems with romanticizing it:

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Asktheletters
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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Easter reading view.

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BookLineNSinker
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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So I was searching for something different and thought, ugh there's nothing that is really catching my attention and then I came upon the blurb about this book (not to mention the cover knocked my sucks off I love the blue). It's a psychological thriller which I can be hit or miss with. But I have to say, I'm intrigued! Will keep y'all updated.

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TorieStorieS
The World Cannot Give | Tara Isabella Burton
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Set at a boarding school in Maine, Laura transfers her junior year of high school- enraptured with the school‘s most famous student, a young writer who died at 19- leaving behind a World Historical life in a short time. Soon her devotion extends from Webster to Virginia Strauss- a young woman who leads the choir group with a fanatic and tight fist. It‘s an engaging read- with characters that aren‘t likable but compels you to see how it all ends.

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