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Barbara Isn't Dying
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
5 posts | 3 read | 8 to read
A bittersweet and hilarious novel about a marriage whose decades-old routine is suddenly upended. Walter Schmidt has lived his whole life within the narrow, "comfortable" confines of traditional gender roles: he has made it to retirement without learning how to fry an egg or use a vacuum cleaner. After all, he could always count on his wife, Barbara. But when one morning she can't get up from bed anymore, everything changes. With biting humor and great warmth, Alina Bronsky writes about how Walter, nearing the end of his life, is suddenly forced to reinvent himself as a caregiver and house-husband, and become the caring partner he never was in all his years with Barbara. Little by little, Walter's rough facade begins to crumble--and with it his old certainties about his life and family.
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Bevita
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
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Pickpick

Really captivating, what is up with Barbara? And Walter, her shithead German(?) husband? Surprises/unpeeling all the way to the end and then - bam -it‘s done. Still thinking about it. Is Barbara dying? The disabled secret child? Was Walter Russian too? Is Barbara? Who is Bernd‘s father? Ugh the Germans. Maybe I should read it again!

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Gleefulreader
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
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Pickpick

This was a lovely little book I read on a flight. An examination of an older couple‘s long and, at times, imperfect relationship and the effect of years of repressed feelings. Makes you think about what love is over a long time when you may not be the best at showing it.

Cinfhen This sounds great! 9mo
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jlhammar
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
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Pickpick

A bit heavier than I was expecting, but really good. Quite funny at times and very touching. Walter Schmidt is forced to become caregiver when his wife of 52 years takes ill. He isn‘t the most likable man—grumpy, closed-minded, stubborn, childish—so it speaks to Bronsky‘s talent that I was rooting for him throughout his journey of realization and redemption.

Suet624 grumpy men are my jam - but only in books. 10mo
Tamra It‘s surprising what husbands/partners can do when the need arises. I speak from experience with my own parents. 🙂 10mo
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jlhammar
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
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“When Herr Schmidt woke up early Friday and didn‘t smell coffee, at first he thought Barbara might have died in her sleep.”

#FirstLineFridays

kspenmoll 😂😂 10mo
bthegood First line (first page ) sold me - stacked! 🙂 10mo
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jlhammar
Barbara Isn't Dying | Alina Bronsky
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Indie Bookstore Day #bookhaul Part 1

I was so surprised to see these in the shop today. Didn‘t think they‘d been released quite yet. I have high hopes for The Postcard, a beloved and acclaimed French novel. And so excited for tagged. I loved Bronsky‘s Baba Dunja‘s Last Love.

Aimeesue I adore Europa. ❤️ 12mo
jlhammar @Aimeesue Maybe we should get a Europa club started? I was just thinking I have far too many unread Europas on my shelves and should try to prioritize them. I know we‘ve already got our plates full though so not sure when to start (September? 2024?) and not sure about frequency. Monthly? Every other? Seasonal? And what about #EuropaCollective for the group tag instead of club? I‘d love your thoughts! 12mo
Aimeesue @jlhammar i would love a Europa collective - I have the same issue , so MANY on my virtual shelves that I need to read. I‘d enjoy quarterly, but that‘s because I tend to (extremely literally) overbook myself. 😁 12mo
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jlhammar @Aimeesue Brilliant! I have the same tendency so I think you‘re right, quarterly is probably smart. Very excited about this! I‘ll think a bit and maybe do a “coming soon” post (for a September start?) to see who else might be interested. Then I‘ll throw two choices to the group for September voting and maybe you post two options for December and we‘ll go from there? 12mo
Aimeesue @jlhammar Yaaaaay! I‘m excited! 12mo
kspenmoll I am interested! 10mo
jlhammar @kspenmoll Wonderful! I‘ll tag you now on the post with our #EuropaCollective picks through 2024. So happy you‘ll be reading with us! 10mo
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