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The Obituary Writer: A Novel
The Obituary Writer: A Novel | Ann Hood
22 posts | 32 read | 54 to read
A sophisticated and suspenseful novel about the poignant lives of two women living in different eras. On the day John F. Kennedy is inaugurated, Claire, an uncompromising young wife and mother obsessed with the glamour of Jackie O, struggles over the decision of whether to stay in a loveless marriage or follow the man she loves and whose baby she may be carrying. Decades earlier, in 1919, Vivien Lowe, an obituary writer, is searching for her lover who disappeared in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By telling the stories of the dead, Vivien not only helps others cope with their grief but also begins to understand the devastation of her own terrible loss. The surprising connection between Claire and Vivien will change the life of one of them in unexpected and extraordinary ways. Part literary mystery and part love story, The Obituary Writer examines expectations of marriage and love, the roles of wives and mothers, and the emotions of grief, regret, and hope.
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EdieAyala
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Just purchased this one and am saving it to make an upcoming 12+ hour flight something enjoyable. Can't wait to get started on the book, wish I could say the same about the flight.

all_4_kb It was good 2y
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all_4_kb
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This looks really good! Excited to start…now!

Geemom1118 I have seen this, and like you am intrigued. I bet back in the day that was an interesting job. Enjoy! 2y
Garabrandtreviews I hadn't heard of this one yet, but I am really interested! 2y
Garabrandtreviews Oh my goodness! If you have an audible subscription it's free to listen to! Already in my library!!! 2y
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EdieAyala Oh, This looks intriguing. I'm definitely going to check it out. Thanks for posting it. 2y
all_4_kb 😉😉😉 2y
julieclair Ooohhh... This one looks really good. I've never heard of it before. Added to my stack! 2y
Ephemera There‘s a great documentary called Obit, about the reporters who write obituaries for The New York Times. Very interesting and enjoyable 13mo
52 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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ChrisBohjalian
Obituary Writer | Ann Hood
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Not THE OBITUARY WRITER, but Ann Hood‘s next (not yet on Litsy). On sale in May. Bedtime reading.

Crazeedi Looking forward to this one!! 2y
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Tattooedteacher
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A surprise gift came in the mail yesterday. Thank you so very much @Crazeedi You completely made my day with your thoughtfulness. ♥️

Crazeedi 💞💞💞💞 I hope you enjoy 3y
47 likes1 comment
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Crazeedi
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Pickpick

I read this book in half a day. A very engrossing story about Vivien (set in 1919) and Claire (set in 1961). Claire realizes her life as the perfect housewife doesn't fulfill her. Vivien is an obituary writer, living with a hope that her lover is still alive after the San Francisco earthquake. Their lives unfold in different yet similar ways. There is an interesting thread that is woven in the story #BookSpinBingo #3 @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
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j.rye
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Mehso-so

Somewhere between a pick and so-so for me. I was really into the story and then it felt like it just ended abruptly. I also could‘ve dealt without the random intimate scenes. They didn‘t add to the story and felt like they were included just to be there. I don‘t want to give away spoilers, but the one in Napa was just cringy.

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Dramatictara
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Pickpick

Great story! Mysterious at first about characters, the reader just falls in love with her obituary work and empathy with what influenced it. During a time of grief, a person needs another human who really listens and provides emotional and physical support. The main character provided a outlet for grief and a way of closure for herself and others. Loved this book!

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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This book has always intrigued me.. I really need to read it!

#writer
#ForeverNovember

OriginalCyn620 The title is intriguing! 3y
mrp27 This one looks good, I have it on my tbr. 3y
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JenlovesJT47
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Pickpick

This has been on my TBR since I fell in love with the cover a couple of years ago. ❤️ It has dual storylines, one set in 1919 and the other in 1961. I enjoyed both main characters and seeing how their stories intersect. Claire in 1961 was obsessed with the Kennedy family, and I love the descriptions of the clothes, food and atrocious decorations lol. It‘s a bit sad but definitely worth reading. 4⭐️

#HistoricalFiction

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf!!! 4y
JenlovesJT47 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I think you‘ll like it! 🤗 4y
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Come-read-with-me
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Pickpick

How often do we think about the people are parents were before they became our parents? This book looks at the life of a unique woman who chose unconventional paths and how her family gradually learned her story. The characters are indelible and beautifully written

rather_be_reading this sounds great!! 5y
Come-read-with-me @rather_be_reading it leaves you with a creepy feeling. I thought it was great! 5y
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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

A good historical fiction with my favorite trope: two women in different timelines end up connected in an interesting way.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#IMissYou
#AdelesMayMashup

We all miss someone ❤️❤️

vkois88 Truth 😢😢😢 6y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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The Obituary Writer came from Thriftbooks today! I bought the Salvage the Bones and The Sweetness of the Bottom of the Pie from goodwill! The one on the bottom is for a future book exchange with hopefully someone with similar book interests!! 📚❤️

kspenmoll 👏👏 7y
Jess_Read_This I hope you enjoy The Obituary Writer!! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Jess_Read_This I'm sure I will!!! 😊😊 7y
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Eggs Lovely, peaceful picture! 7y
Centique What a pretty garden spot! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs thank you 😊 7y
87 likes8 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#occupationinthetitle
#fallintobooks
This one is on my tbr list... Anyone read it?!

peaKnit I have read it, and enjoyed it! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @peaknit great!! Thank you!! 💕 7y
peaKnit I actually think I listened to this one, without knowing a lot about it. Sometimes the best kind. 7y
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Jess_Read_This Read it! It's great. This is the book that inspired me and my book club to start reading poetry. We now have a small group of ladies that each gets to pick a poet and each week a member has to pick a poem by the poet and we discuss. It's a lovely book. 7y
Jess_Read_This Ann Hood wrote this after a dinner in party in which near the end, a gentleman she had been enjoying conversation with asked her if she would write his obituary. She said yes, laughing, thinking nothing of it. He unfortunately passed away two weeks later and she wrote his obituary. He was a lover of Arabic poetry; so she spent some time studying Arabic poems to incorporate into his obituary. 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Jess_Read_This wow!!! That's so cool to know the back story!!! Thanks for sharing!! I'll add it to my collection!!! 💕 7y
wanderlustforwords Thanks for sharing the inspiration behind this novel that I enjoyed so much! She was put in the right place at the right time! 7y
JaclynW @Jess_Read_This So fascinating to hear the background info. I'm intrigued. Thanks! 7y
Jess_Read_This @JaclynW I was fascinated too! I loved when I heard her talk about it she specified the request came after wine and too much butternut squash lasagna! One of the characters was an airline stewardess; she got her inspiration from meeting a 1940's TWA stewardess. I thought it was from her time spent as a TWA stewardess prior to being an author. I hope you enjoy it! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @JaclynW I found it on Thriftbooks for less than $4 for hardcover or paperback! 7y
JaclynW @Jess_Read_This I love when I find an interesting book that I never knew existed! 7y
JaclynW @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I will have to check it out. Thanks! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @JaclynW you're welcome!!!! 💕 7y
Reecaspieces I loved it!! I had never read her till this book. She had a child that died and this changed her writing. (As it would anyone). I researched her when I read this book. She is truly fascinating. I actually met her at book expo by accident. I didn't realize who she was...I would have loved to have asked her questions. (edited) 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Reecaspieces what else have you read by her? I want to go with you on all of the adventures!!! 📚💕 7y
Reecaspieces @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks believe it or not, this is the only one I have read....I need to retire!! 😫. And yes you need to go on adventures with me...I have fun!! 😂😝 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Reecaspieces I know!! Me too! Then I wouldn't have money to buy new books 🤑🤑 7y
Reecaspieces @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks but if you play your cards right you get free books with price of ticket!!! 😂😁 7y
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Lwiesman
Pickpick

Two women, one in a loveless marriage and the other lost her lover in the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Vivien lived in the early 1900's and Claire in the 1960's. I loved watching the two lives come together as the story progressed. A very easy and fast read. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Jess_Read_This I really liked this one too! It made me start reading poetry. 7y
Lwiesman @Jess_Read_This I was thinking the same thing. I actually looked up the Writer's Almanac that she talks about in the readers guide and started reading A Hanging by George Orwell! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you!!! Sounds really good!! I'm going to add it to my list! 📚❤️ 7y
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Lwiesman
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About to start my first summer Santa goes postal book!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Can't wait to see your review!! I've been thinking about getting this one... 7y
Lwiesman @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I'll let you know. I'm not the fastest reader and don't have a whole lot of time to read, but I'll tag you when I'm done! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Lwiesman ok great! Thank you!! 😊 7y
Jess_Read_This I really liked this one! 7y
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Jess_Read_This
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Pickpick

1919: Vivian Lowe is a sought after obituary writer coping with the loss of her lover in the 1906 SF Earthquake.
1960: Claire is an unfaithful housewife caught up in the excitement of the Kennedy inauguration and piecing her life together.
The story is about love, grief, and letting go.

Definitely recommend it. The use of poetry in the obituaries is lovely.

#blamelitsy #recommendsday #fiction #escapistread #fastandfuriouspace #annhood

BethFishReads Sounds great 7y
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Jess_Read_This
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Never mind the cluttered book stacks on the shelves below... 🙈 I took some editorial privileges and am showing the pretty part of my #onthenightstand. My lavender oil is diffusing setting the tone for relaxing reading!

As a side note- this book is completely engrossing! I love the 1960 housewife story!

#AprilBookShowers #obituarywriter #annhood #diffuser #lavender

JazzFeathers Great picture ^_^ 7y
Jess_Read_This @JazzFeathers Thank you! I've been on a mission the past few months to update my bedroom to a more relaxing environment. 7y
JazzFeathers @Jess_Read_This That's a great idea. I should probably do it too 7y
Jess_Read_This @JazzFeathers It has been great! I updated the paint color, painted the moldings white, got new bedding, and added a few extra pillows. I've been trying to read before bed and it has been so nice! 7y
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BookishBelle
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I'm reading obituaries online for work today. #itsalwaysoctoberhere #lovemyslightlymorbidjob

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KimHM
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Pickpick

Haven't posted much lately, because conferencing. Ann Hood is up later this afternoon.

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BritanyA
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Mehso-so

Two alternating storylines go back and forth and take almost the entire novel to tie together. Weak female leads make this one mediocre at best. ⭐️⭐️⭐️