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A Book of American Martyrs
A Book of American Martyrs: A Novel | Joyce Carol Oates
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GinEyre22
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May TBR and Read planner bookshelves

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JenniferEgnor
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She‘d created a personality inside which she could live as she might have stitched together a quilt of colorful mismatched cloth-squares, dazzling to the eye...she was somewhere inside, in hiding.

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JenniferEgnor
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Neurons in his brain were extinguished like lights going out one by one—a string of Christmas tree lights.

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JenniferEgnor
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Faith that is blind—-the strongest faith. 😔

Niso 👎seems their god also hates proper spelling 👎 5y
JenniferEgnor The only thing they‘re educated in is hate. 5y
2 likes2 comments
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arubabookwoman
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Pickpick

With all the renewed attempts to restrict women‘s reproductive rights, I decided it was time to read this. Oates frequently novelizes real events or characters, and this is a fictionalized account of the murder of an abortion doctor by a religious fanatic. I almost bailed-for the 1st 100 pages we are in the mind of the assassin and must read a lot of his religious ramblings as he attempts to justify the murder. But most of the book..cont‘d below:

arubabookwoman focuses on the families of the 2 men, the murderer and the murdered, and the effects the two men‘s‘ actions had on their families. Oates is one of my favorite writers, amazingly prolific, and very insightful. Recommended. (edited) 5y
KT1432 This one's been on my shelf for a while. I need to finally crack it open! 5y
charl08 Added to the list! 5y
28 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JenniferEgnor
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After a while there will be fewer tears. A kind of wet ash instead of tears...

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JenniferEgnor
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How can it be, this woman is our mother – we do not want this distraught woman to be our mother. We do not want to be the children of such a mother, and we do not want to be the children of disaster.

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JenniferEgnor
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First book mail at the new house! #betterworldbooks

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Lizstarks
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Alone, alone! Long she would recall the strangeness of the word, an echo aerated by melancholy vowels—alone.

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Jeg
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Pickpick

In my library bag I have a list of books I don‘t want to buy but if they turn up in the library I‘ll read them. This is one of them. I think it was on my list because I heard her on the radio. I‘ve never read one of her many books. Almost didn‘t read this as it‘s thick and I‘m put off by thick books! 🙃. Glad I read it. Very interesting look inside the heads of Americans with opposing views and effects of violent deaths on family.
@MrsMalaprop

21 likes2 stack adds
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GirlWellRead
Panpan



This was an incredible feat for both Joyce Carol Oates to write and for me to finish. The book is both ambitious in length and subject matter and it left me confused. I‘m confused as to why it needed to be so long and confused at some of the characters. It would‘ve been more effective if it was trimmed because she loses readers in the minor events that don‘t propel the story forward. That being said she is a great writer but this wasn‘t for me.

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BookaholicNatty
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I bought this at the library sale two weeks ago and have been excited to read it. I have heard some great things about it and about this author. It is a chunkster of a book! For those of you who have read it I would love to hear your thoughts!📚

84 likes3 stack adds
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SwedePea
Mehso-so

Even at 700+ pages long, I was still so enamored I read it in a week (and I'm no speed-reader). HOWEVER, only the first 500 pages were worthwhile, had JCO stopped there this book would be an absolute KNOCK-OUT, it was compelling, forced me to think outside of my comfort zone, gave fascinating insights in to the religious delusions of man. But then after p. 500 it did a 180° turn and it was 100% superfluous and completely ruined the book. 3/5 stars

SwedePea So to be clear, if you stop reading at p. 500, you won't miss anything and you'll walk away with a better experience, if I can imagine that I would've easily given it 5/5 stars, no contest, amazing. I still think people should definitely read this book. 6y
10 likes1 comment
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SwedePea
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I'm so obsessed with Litsy now, I swear I'm checking it more than Facebook or Instagram 😂 it's making my TBR pile grow at exponential rate #BookNerdProblems

But progress update, had a busy weekend, but still got a good reading session in, p 467 of 736

SinkLikeTheMoon I know the feeling! 6y
tammysue Don‘t you just love it here, I‘ve all but stopped using FB! 6y
BookaholicNatty @whatshesreadingnow 😂😂me too!! I hardly ever check any of my other social media‘s! This is my favorite one hands down! 6y
SwedePea @BookaholicNatty Litsy addiction is very real!! 😂 6y
17 likes1 stack add4 comments
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SwedePea
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I am absolutely *tearing* through this book. Bought it 36 hours ago, and I'm already 291 pages in (out of 736)

SwedePea @CoffeeNBooks Thanks! ^_^ 6y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Hope these #Litsytips by @RaimeyGallant http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU are helpful. There‘s so many fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! Check out @LitsyHappenings for details. #LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
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RaimeyGallant Welcome! 6y
SwedePea @RaimeyGallant thank you! 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 😊👋🏻 6y
SwedePea @Eggs Thank you! 6y
Nute Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a fun community. I know that you will make many friends here. Enjoy yourself!🙂 6y
17 likes1 stack add10 comments
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sixminutesforme
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Picking up my first book by Joyce Carol Oates!

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Reagan
Book of American Martyrs | Joyce Carol Oates
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It finally came in to the library!!! I expressed my excitement through interpretive dance. My husband was not as excited. 😎

Bookzombie 😂 7y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Aprilm488
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Beauties (I️t was a good night at @bookculture )

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bohemian_yogini
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🔥 NOT FOR THE FAINT-AT-HEART. 🔥 Oates takes an unflinching look at the world of Pro-Choice/Life and tells an eloquent story that shows neither side is without fault and shortcomings.

Without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2017. 📚

#BooksWithBohemianYogini

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Jessica6691
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I just hit that bomb dropping moment where I‘m now questioning the logic of the entire novel.

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mrozzz
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What a smart, seasoned author. Man was it great to see Joyce Carol Oates in person! I was always too intimidated to read her so this will be my first by her once I build up the stamina for this chunkster. 😍🙌🏻

EKonrad She‘s one of my faves! Jealous you got to see her in person! 😊 7y
emilyhaldi She certainly loves to write a chunkster!! I‘ve only read Blonde and it was a little too wandering and elusive for me. And LONG. But someday I will work up the courage to try again! 7y
Centique I‘ve only read We Were The Mulvaneys. It was brilliant but some of the characters made me so MAD. I‘m sure that was the point of course! You‘re so lucky to have seen her 😍 7y
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CoffeeCatsBooks It amazes me the number of really great books she can write! She is so prolific. 📚📚📚 7y
mrozzz @Ekonrad she's definitely iconic 👌🏻 7y
mrozzz @emilyhaldi she mentioned Blonde and how it was supposed to be a novella!! She was ready to stop at 120 or 140 pages and then she realized she just had to write more because Marilyn isn't really Marilyn until her career takes off 7y
mrozzz @Centique yes I was! She's so comfortably brilliant. Like it's no big deal. She described how she used running to come up with ideas or to "write" first drafts IN HER HEAD and praised the exercise because she feels like she can later sit down and start a more thorough second draft. 7y
mrozzz @CoffeeCatsBooks me too! She's had a great career so far 7y
Flaneurette Ashamed to say I've only read some of her short stories and essays. I've been meaning to read one of her novels forever. So cool you got to see her😃 7y
mrozzz @Flaneurette it was totally cool! She came straight from teaching in NYU (would love to get in on that...) but don't be ashamed! I admitted above I've always wanted to but still have yet to tackle her writing. I think this one will be good. It's very much of the times. 7y
emilyhaldi @mrozzz very interesting!! She obviously ended up having a lot to say 😆 7y
BooksForEmpathy I‘m so jealous you got to see her!!!! I want to read more of her. 7y
mrozzz @BooksForEmpathy it was really cool to be there! And she has quite the backlist to dive into.... 7y
68 likes2 stack adds13 comments
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mauveandrosysky
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Pickpick

A powerful, sprawling character study about the legacy of "martyrdom" and the effect on those left behind. With a relentless pace that moves quickly in spite of the carefully detailed prose and 700+ pages, Oates delivers a profound, raw and achingly intimidate novel—a visceral and stunning portrait of grief and consequences amid the backdrop of a contentious social issue.

ClairesReads Love Oates! This one sounds so good 7y
Notafraidofwords My library has this one but I've been so intimidated. 7y
mauveandrosysky @ClairesReads this was my first time reading her, believe it or not. Which one should I read next?! 7y
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ClairesReads @mauveandrosysky there are so many! I find it really hard to keep up with her! I enjoyed the one based loosely on the Jon Benet case 7y
mrozzz 🙌🏻 way to go finishing this!! Going to get it signed next week but I haven't gotten to it yet..... 7y
BooksForEmpathy @mauveandrosysky Woohoo! You liked it!!! @ClairesReads I haven‘t read her before either but this one was SO good. I‘ll keep your rec in mind, too. (edited) 7y
36 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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VeronicaWrites

"If you are a child like Naomi who is a harsh critic of herself you are likely to be astonished when-- at last-- the world punishes you as you'd thought you deserved.
Because I am ugly and stupid and clumsy it is not fair to punish my father. Please don't let that happen...
The shock of a family emergency is that the child learns it has nothing to do with her."

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VeronicaWrites

"Because you understood that love and pride are a baited hook you swallow unwittingly and discover one day that it is tangled in your guts"

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BooksForEmpathy
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Book Club today was in Golden Gate Park!! It was such a beautiful afternoon spent in the sun and shade of the rose garden with delicious dim sum to discuss this powerful book 🌹.

For those of you who don't know this yet: THIS Is MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR (so far)!!! Happy Sunday 😍.

mjdowens Yummy 7y
Bookish.Heart What a great day! Books and amazing food! Heaven! 7y
Owlizabeth I'm kicking myself for not picking it up when it was a kindle deal recently! 😤 7y
mauveandrosysky I'm excited to read this one and thinking of taking it with me to Norway in a few weeks. Is it the kind of book that will keep me captivated on a long flight? 7y
BooksForEmpathy @mauveandrosysky Yes! There's multiple perspectives and it felt so full and explosive and intimate but still like a HUGE book with big themes to chew over. 7y
114 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
BooksForEmpathy
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Pickpick

The first pages of this brilliant, illuminating, and timely novel are so tense + disturbing entering the mind of Luther Dunphy, "a zealous evangelical," as he executes the abortion-doctor, Gus Vorhees, in front of a women's clinic, that I was immediately hooked and shaken up and ecstatic that this book existed. It only got better as it broke apart to examine the families left behind in this war of righteousness.

My favorite of 2017 so far.

Lacythebookworm Sounds amazing! 7y
emilyhaldi Wow! Favorite of 2017 speaks volumes. I am a little wary of JCO after struggling to get through Blonde, but adding this to my tbr regardless 😄 7y
BooksForEmpathy @emilyhaldi I have never read Joyce Carol Oates before, so I have no idea what the rest of her books are like. This gripped me from the beginning and I felt deeply invested in all the characters. I hesitate to even say characters because they felt so real. So well-constructed and relevant to the pro-life debate today and our country's divide that the act of reading it was very similar to the way I felt about A Little Life. I was all about it. 7y
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RanaElizabeth Oh, whoa. This sounds amazing. 7y
MicheleinPhilly Excellent review! I just grabbed this one on super sale for Kindle so I am looking forward to it! 7y
mrozzz It's an intimidating book! I'd really like to read it by the end of the year. Glad to hear it lives up to expectations 👌🏻 7y
mauveandrosysky I'm so intrigued by this now. 7y
103 likes10 stack adds7 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
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Banana chocolate scone + mint hibiscus iced tea + reading this morning.

I am going to finish A Book of American Martyrs (still my favorite of the year; I love a sprawling, dense, big-themed book to really sink into) and then it's back to Stay With Me. Happy Saturday, Litsy 😍.

readordierachel Mmm. That scone sounds delicious. 7y
Clare-Dragonfly Mint hibiscus tea?! That sounds amazing! 7y
86 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
Book of American Martyrs | Joyce Carol Oates
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Dinner + THE BEST BOOK EVER!!! I just can't get enough. I only have 200 pages left.

BookishFeminist I really can't wait to read this. I grabbed it from the library the other day since it's one of the few fiction books that handles abortion issues. Was really hoping it turned out to be good. Glad you're loving it!! I'm more excited now! 7y
Cinfhen Gotta #stack it 7y
Ashley_Nicoletto I picked this up as a kindle deal this weekend. I am so excited for it. It's getting such great reviews. Glad to know you're loving it! 7y
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mklong I'm reading Blonde for my book club now and loving it and wondering why I've never read JCO? Glad you are liking this one, maybe I'll pick it up next. 7y
Zelma Those vegetables look delicious! 7y
Zelma @mklong I absolutely adored Blonde! 😍 7y
Suet624 I don't think I've read any of her books. I wonder why? Hmmm...gotta get on that. 7y
85 likes14 stack adds7 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
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I'm only 200 pages into this behemoth of a book but I am declaring it my favorite book of the year so far.

A very timely tale about an evangelical Christian who believes he is acting out God's will and assassinates an abortion provider in a small Ohio town. Joyce Carol Oates is a masterful writer and we get to go deep into the mind of this man and learn what drives him forward. Seriously I am just blown away and so into this story.

Penny_LiteraryHoarders Okay great to hear. I really want to read this one, own this one, so I hope to get to it soon! Awesome to hear it's an excellent JCO! 7y
vivastory Bought this yesterday for 2$ as a Kindle daily deal 7y
minkyb Sounds intriguing. 7y
RaimeyGallant Agreeing with @minkyb (edited) 7y
102 likes9 stack adds4 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
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SUPER SALE ALERT!

Ashley_Nicoletto One clicked! 😂😂 Thanks for sharing! 7y
MicheleinPhilly @Ashley_Nicoletto I really should disable that damn button. 7y
Ashley_Nicoletto @MicheleinPhilly Yes! Yesterday I was looking into buying a bunch of novellas and I realized I was going to spend an obscene amount of money thanks to one click. Pulled myself back just in time. 😂😂🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 7y
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LauraBeth I bet you woke up early! 😀 7y
MicheleinPhilly @LauraBeth Someone forgot to tell the girls that it is a holiday weekend. 😒 7y
LauraBeth If it makes you feel any better - Gray Cat recovered one of her balls from under some furniture at around 4 am. Then Bitsy had to be mean and take it from her - and then she nearly choked on it because - it's a cat toy. Long story short - been awake since 4. Ball is in trash. 7y
MicheleinPhilly @LauraBeth ??‍♀️Both dogs are obsessed with the same ball. Yesterday Ivy was monopolizing it and Pickles was getting upset. Pickles got her hands (mouth) on it and decided to destroy it. "If I can't have it, neither can you!" 7y
2BR02B Bought this because the synopsis sounds fantastic, but then saw the page count: 752! Yikes! I'll have to read some reviews and see if it's worth the time investment. 7y
51 likes8 comments
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Ahenchcliffe
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A Sunday with absolutely no plans means I can make some good headway on a fat, new book. Happy reading today, friends!

BooksForEmpathy We are reading this for book club in September! Can't wait to see how you like it. 7y
23 likes1 comment
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Megann886
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Well that's incredibly aggravating 😤

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huntersmom1977
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huntersmom1977

" Once you argue that one class of human beings has the right to pass judgment upon all other human beings, to declare which are not 'persons', you have opened the door to the Nazi Holocaust- to genocide."

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huntersmom1977
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Pickpick

A story about two very different American families, but very linked. It centres around America's war on abortion. It expressed pain, grief, loss and even the desire for redemption. This book made me think about the abortion controversy and even more about how tragedies effect families and individuals. Martyrs don't really die, it's their families and friends who are left to be crucified. An amazing read!!

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Yossarian
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Pickpick

A doctor who performs abortions is killed on page one by a pro-life terrorist. Is the doctor a martyr for the movement? Or is the killer, who is immediately arrested, a martyr for his cause? Or the wives and families they both leave behind? Or all of them?

This was an excellent investigation of the fallout, allowing each party's martyrdom to get a full airing. I think it would like it if I were pro-life, too, but that's hard to say.

Bellajo The novel seems very suspenseful and serious. I'm very curious about it. 7y
Bellajo Oh and don't forget intense! 7y
Yossarian @Bella1217 Not really "suspenseful", since the climax occurs on Page One. If you were preparing a syllabus for the five parts of a story, though, since would be a no-brainer for Part Four, since it's 99% "Falling Action." 7y
68 likes12 stack adds3 comments
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Skyler
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Sunday night. Joyce Carol Oates. Marty Robbins. 😍😍😍

Reviewsbylola I've been contemplating this book so anxious to see some reviews for it. 7y
9 likes1 comment
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Skyler
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This book is heavy, but beautifully written, about the lives that intersect when a religious extremist assassinates an abortion doctor. And very chilling to read in the midst of the shooting at the congressional baseball practice.

Reviewsbylola JCO is so hit or miss for me that I haven't decided whether to read this. 7y
7 likes1 comment
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Skyler
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My reading companion Monty has called it quits for the night. #dogsoflitsy

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Skyler
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Tuesday night.

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MrBook
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Annnd signed copies of American Martyrs coming right up! @SewItGoes & @Much_Ado_About_Reading look so sad, don't they? 😂👏🏻 #BEA17 #LitsyPhotoOp

JanuarieTimewalker13 Wow, this must have been a great experience! 7y
BookBabe Hi @SewItGoes and @Much_Ado_About_Reading ! Great to see some familiar faces! Hope you're having a blast. I'll be there on Sunday. 😊 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 7y
128 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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RiaWritten
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About to see Joyce Carol Oates speak with @MrBook and @Much_Ado_About_Reading

MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!!! Awesome time with incredible company 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻! 7y
27 likes1 comment
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bookculture
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A surprise visit and signing from the one and only Joyce Carol Oates!
#abookofamericanmartyrs #joycecaroloates #stocksigning

MMFinck Wow! 8y
VeryLazyDaisy 😍😍😍 8y
Gina Very cool! 8y
See All 9 Comments
Demanda Jealous! 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I really need to read one of her books! 8y
VeryLazyDaisy I just snagged a handful of her titles at a used book sale ❤️ 8y
Bookworm1981 I have a few of hers I want to read . 8y
TheBookbabeblog84 Wow that's awesome 😍 8y
kikiv68 Saw her and met her at the Miami Book Fair and she was amazing! 8y
131 likes6 stack adds9 comments
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amrsprout
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Pickpick

Wow! Such a powerful book.

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BooksForEmpathy
Book of American Martyrs | Joyce Carol Oates
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Morning detox breakfast (I'm on a real strawberry kick right now 🍓!) with my new book mail from #BOTM and some others!! I didn't get a chance to open it yesterday so today is a good day 😍. See any you like!?

Happy Saturday ☀️.

ErikasMindfulShelf Pachinko is great!! 8y
Karkar I love a tale for the time being ❤📚❤ 8y
dylanisreading A Tale for the Time Being is fantastic. 8y
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ingredientx I want to read all of them! 8y
DebinHawaii That looks delicious! 🍓🍓❤️ 8y
Laalaleighh A tale for the time being is fantastic. It made me want to read more fiction set in Japan, which is why I picked Pachinko for BOTM. 8y
Cinfhen Great photo 😍 8y
minkyb Great choices, great food! 8y
auntie_jenn Ruth Ozeki 👍🏻👍🏻 8y
Godmotherx5 Those berries look perfect. 8y
113 likes1 stack add10 comments
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bookishkai
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My recent additions to my TBR. I'm good for another hour or two for tonight's installment of #LitsyPartyofOne; what to read next? I think I'm just going to close my eyes and pick something. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised when I do that.

Scott_BookInvasion Ooooh Red Rising!! So awesome! 8y
Dragon Second @MisfitNerdBooks comment, Red Rising! 8y
pppooraikul The Dry is pretty good! But Red Rising is on my TBR too. 😁 8y
CynCruz23 @bookishkris picking a book at random is so freeing. I agree that it usually yields positive results 👍 8y
98 likes4 comments
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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Okay! E-book haul that I'm thrilled to have!! The Patriots and A Book of American Martyrs! Two chunksters that I'm thrilled to be able to carry around on the tablet! 😊