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Catherine Barrett's avatar

I’m excited you’re doing this! You always introduce me to interesting books, authors, and ideas.

I recently finished Absolution by Alice McDermott, and I think you’d really dig it if you want to add something else to your TBR list. (I loved it, but it’s not one I’d recommend to everyone. I specifically think you’d enjoy it!)

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Sarah Stewart Holland's avatar

Added!

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Laura Reese's avatar

In an interview, Ann Patchett said she thinks Absolution should win the Pulitzer. That's enough for me. Add to TBR.

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Catherine Barrett's avatar

I read it based on AP’s rec too (it was in her First Editions subscription, which are pretty much always excellent). She rarely steers me wrong! :)

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SD's avatar

Alice McDermott is coming to my town to talk about Absolution in April. I love her and was planning to go, but it is the same night as a Pantsuit Politics Book Club live broadcast, so I was on the fence. You have pushed me over into deciding to attend the in-person event.

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Catherine Barrett's avatar

I’m jealous! This was my first of her novels, but I want to read more. I bet she’ll be brilliant at the event. Enjoy!

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SD's avatar

I heard her at a librarian event several years ago and talked to her at the book signing afterwards, and she was both fantastic and lovely and gave a very personalized inscription. I bet she is a fantastic professor.

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SD's avatar

Sarah, I want to thank you for introducing me to Well-Read Mom. I probably never would have joined a group whose website says they " strive to be faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium" (even though I am Catholic) and that has a large number of homeschooling moms with big families writing for them if it wasn't for your mention. But thank goodness you did mention it because I have been loving it so far. I loved True Grit and had no idea that the main characeter was a hilarious and tough 14 year old girl. I am looking forward to the books to come.

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Sarah Stewart Holland's avatar

I think if they're going to post so thoughtfully about giving characters grace the least I can do is give the same to fellow members who believe differently than me! I'm so glad you're loving it!

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Emily Henderson's avatar

Yes! I'm so excited to see you here!!

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Joanna Stuckey-Steele's avatar

I felt exactly the same about Incredibly Bright Creatures. My book club read it and I was the only one who didn’t like it and also didn’t finish it.

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Joanna Stuckey-Steele's avatar

Remarkably, not Incredibly. So forgettable I can’t even remember the title.

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Maureen McMullan's avatar

Thank you for the heads up re: The Pursuit of Love Amazon series! I adore the book, but the trailers I saw for the series seemed off. I won’t bother adding it to my watch list.

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Katelyn Wallington's avatar

You shared about a book you were reading in the fall on health. I know that it is vague but if you happen to guess what I am talking about, I’d love to know the title 😂

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Danielle Wheeler's avatar

I wonder if it was “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia? She talked about it on her podcast!

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Sarah Stewart Holland's avatar

That’s it!

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Katelyn Wallington's avatar

Omg thank you! I knew it had to do with longevity or something along those lines but nothing was coming to me. You just saved Sarah/Alise an email 😂😂🥰

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Ellen FitzGerald's avatar

OMG I was so excited to see this in my inbox and glad I can keep up with your reading even though you're not sharing on Instagram. I will say that I listened to Remarkably Bright Creatures and the narration, particularly of the Octopus, was fantastic, so if you ever feel like picking it up again (which you're obviously not obligated in any way to do), I would recommend that format instead!

Love that you're reading so many classics. I need to add more of them to my list, but as a former English major, I almost bristle at the idea of reading them for fun, but you may very well have convinced me.

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Sarah Stewart Holland's avatar

I have heard that about the audiobook from LOTS of people!

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