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The House of Seven Gables
The House of Seven Gables: A Romance | Nathaniel Hawthorne
111 posts | 148 read | 2 reading | 72 to read
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

One of the themes in the novel is the conflict between external appearance and internal consciousness. What examples of this conflict do you see—in the central characters, or even in the house itself? How do appearances and consciousness change over the course of the novel?

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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

Let‘s talk genre. Hawthorne is said to have considered this a romance—in literary terms: “a narrative, allegorical treatment of heroic fantastic or supernatural events.” I picked it for October because of the gothic elements: witchcraft/family curse/murder/creepy house. Other than “classic,” how would you classify this book, and why? “Romance” in a literary sense, gothic fiction, something else?

lauraisntwilder As it is, I can't really classify it, but I could see it being rewritten as a modern day thriller. 4d
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I have a hard time classifying it, too! There are enough elements of gothic fiction that I want to call it that, but it doesn't feel gothic in tone. And the “heroic fantastic or supernatural“ was also very slight. I would be very interested in a modern retelling that amps up those gothic elements. 1d
15 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
“…it is a weird, melancholy creation, and every few paragraphs I would stumble over a sentence that brought stinging, painful tears to my eyes… Once, tears over a book-woe were something sweetly, sadly pleasant…Still, I love the book and found pleasure in reading it…” (Journals Vol 2, p. 67)
Do you enjoy stories that prompt “tears over a book-woe”? Are there books that give you “sweetly, sadly pleasant” tears?

lauraisntwilder Sometimes, yes. I enjoy feeling connected to other people (even if they're fictional) through shared experiences, which is one of the best parts of reading fiction. Little Women comes to mind. Oh, Beth. ❤️ 4d
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I agree with you and LMM, I enjoy the emotional connection with characters--but I rarely shed tears over a book. And I don't dislike sad stories, but I don't usually seek out a book just because it's sad. I also tend to find hope in stories that others find depressing, so maybe that's part of it, too! 1d
14 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

In Vol. 2 of LMM‘s journals, she comments: “The ‘Seven Gables‘ has the indefinable charm of all Hawthorne‘s books—that airy, fantastic, elusive fancy of his permeates every line of it” (pp. 67-8). However, many readers have criticized this book for being far too wordy & thin on plot. Did you enjoy Hawthorne‘s writing style? Did the slow pace, drawn-out descriptions, and slow-burn plot work for you in the end?

JenlovesJT47 I‘m sorry, I got behind again! 😳 Going to start this today or tomorrow. 😬 6d
BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 Haha—I get it! Take the time you need. You can always come back to the discussion posts later! 6d
lauraisntwilder I have been so busy at work this month that I've had trouble focusing to read -- or I just fall asleep. I got through this in audio form. I do like the writing, but in the end, the payoff seemed anticlimactic somehow. I appreciated the atmospheric writing, but I tend to agree that the plot was thin. 5d
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I'm glad the audio worked for you! I didn't mind the writing in spite of how wordy it was. There are some beautiful images and I felt like I could picture the scenes and characters vividly. But I was annoyed by how long Hawthorne took to get around to the plot! I agree, the payoff seemed anticlimactic. I feel like this would have been better trimmed down to a short story... or fleshing out the plot as an intergenerational drama. 1d
14 likes4 comments
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BarbaraJean
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“I doubt whether even our public edifices—our capitols, state-houses, court-houses, city-halls, and churches—ought to be built of such permanent materials as stone or brick. It were better that they should crumble to ruin once in twenty years, or thereabouts, as a hint to the people to examine into and reform the institutions which they symbolize.”

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

Texreader Very thought-provoking 1w
DogMomIrene That‘s a perspective I‘ll be mulling over today and the next 12 days. 1w
BarbaraJean @DogMomIrene I know, right? It's kind of a throwaway comment in the book, but so pertinent right now! 1d
27 likes3 comments
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BarbaraJean
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A quick check-in on this week‘s #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent reading, at the midpoint of House of the Seven Gables.

🏠 How is your reading going so far?
🏠 What are your initial impressions of the book?
🏠 Are you enjoying it? Why or why not?

BarbaraJean I‘ve been keeping up, reading a couple chapters a day—and so far, I don‘t know if I‘m enjoying it! I don‘t dislike it, but Hawthorne is just so darn wordy. I‘m interested to see what he does with all the family curse stuff, and am so curious about Clifford and the Judge. I feel like there‘s a vague sense of foreboding, but it‘s so vague I‘m worried there‘ll be no payoff in the end! 2w
Tamra I recall loving this novel! 2w
JenlovesJT47 I‘m so behind, my apologies. I‘m close to halfway through Elizabeth & Her German Garden. Plan on finishing it this weekend, then I‘ll start this one. 🧡 2w
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BarbaraJean @Tamra That bodes well for the rest of the book! Do you remember what you loved about it? 2w
BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 No worries! I‘m interested to hear what you think of Elizabeth and Her German Garden once you finish! 2w
Tamra @BarbaraJean it was decades ago now! But I‘m sure it was in part the atmosphere. It‘s overdue for a reread and I would take part, but I‘ve got too many others on the go. 🥹 2w
BarbaraJean @Tamra Haha—oh, I know how that goes! I‘ve been trying hard to reduce the number of books on the go, but too many are longer-running buddy reads/group reads! (edited) 2w
Sace @BarbaraJean So wordy! I fleetingly thought of joining but thought better of it. I‘m a slow reader to begin with and knew I would not be able to stay on schedule because of the wordiness. 2w
BarbaraJean @Sace Ha! I totally understand! 2w
TheAromaofBooks I'm only on chapter six!! Honestly, it's just kind of boring so far?? 100 pages in and an old lady has opened a shop, like my goodness why is it taking so long to tell us this?! 😂 Now that Phoebe has arrived and is chatting with the sketchy boarder maybe things will pick up a little. 2w
lauraisntwilder I've enjoyed what I've read, but it hasn't been much yet. I'm out of town for the weekend and haven't gotten any reading done. I plan to catch up during the week. 🤞 2w
julieclair Haven't started yet. Where did this week go? 😵‍💫 2w
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder @julieclair Maybe I picked a little too-ambitious pace for this one! At least the next one in our lineup is shorter! 2w
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I know, right?! I‘m still kind of waiting for something to happen! Also: “sketchy boarder” 😂😂 2w
18 likes14 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @BarbaraJean

Next up in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: two #LMMAdjacent spooky(-ish?) reads!

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Oct. 13-19: Chapters 1-10
Oct. 20-26: Chapters 11-21
(LMM mentions this in her journals on April 12, 1903)

The Haunted and the Haunters by Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Oct. 27-Nov. 2
(LMM mentions this in her journals on June 2, 1902)

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BarbaraJean
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Next up in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: two #LMMAdjacent spooky(-ish?) reads!

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Oct. 13-19: Chapters 1-10
Oct. 20-26: Chapters 11-21
(LMM mentions this in her journals on April 12, 1903)

The Haunted and the Haunters by Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Oct. 27-Nov. 2
(LMM mentions this in her journals on June 2, 1902)

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I already started Seven Gables so I can read it at a somewhat chapter-a-day pace haha 3w
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Yay! I hope you enjoy it more than The Scarlet Letter 😆 I haven‘t started yet, ironically because I have too many other things I‘m reading in chapter-a-day fashion right now 🫣 3w
TheAromaofBooks Right? Half my reading time is completing chapter-a-day reads right now 😂 3w
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AvidReader25
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Mehso-so

I read this in anticipation of visiting Salem. It was hard to get into, but there‘s one scene towards the end of the block that was written in such an original way. It will always stick with me. It‘s a description of all the things one character is supposed to be doing while he‘s sitting in a chair. Without any spoilers, it was such a fascinating way to move the plot forward.

“For what other dungeon is so dark as one‘s own heart?”

AvidReader25 “I love to watch how the day, tired as it is, lags away reluctantly and hates to be called yesterday so soon.” 1y
Tamra I need to reread this - I loved it the first time! 1y
EKonrad Just visited Salem last October and walked right by it. Such a cool city! 😊 1y
AvidReader25 @EKonrad I‘ll be there next week! Anything I should be sure to visit? 1y
26 likes4 comments
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Therewillbebooks
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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You guys remember these?

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The_Literary_Jedi
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Pickpick

📚📚📚📚 There‘s something about mid-1800‘s horror - it hits differently. This was an 🎧 book + 📖 & I enjoyed its creepy innuendo. Hawthorne has a way of describing things to make your skin sort of crawl but never gets too graphic or gross

Soscha Love the cover!! 2y
LibrarianRyan i love that old pulp cover. 2y
Linsy Love that version!! 2y
24 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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sdbruening
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Pickpick

I am very pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. Such beautiful turns of phrases. He does write unnecessarily long sentences. Considering how little dialogue is in this novel, it still drew me in with its imagery and philosophical musings. I loved the almost fantastical qualities of the story, even though it never actually dipped into anything magical other than mesmerism.

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sdbruening
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🖤

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sdbruening
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The writing is so great! So thoughtful and poetic.

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sdbruening
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😔

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sdbruening
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🤪🪑

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cant_i'm_booked
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Pickpick

Hello from sunny Golden Gate Park! I think Hawthorne would approve of the location, reading this book has confirmed for me his being a writer with an impeccable eye for beauty in everyday nature, as well as humanity. “House” is Gothic to its core, an introspective, delicate study of a cursed house and its inhabitants. It‘s lighthearted (even humorous) for 3/4 of the plot before descending into some deliciously atmospheric creepiness.

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wideeyedreader
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Bailedbailed

Tried to read my #doublespin and got incredibly bored with it—just not for me!

TheAromaofBooks Some books just aren't the right fit!!! 3y
28 likes1 comment
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jpj7474
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel

I love Hawthorne because of the New England imagery it conjures in my mind.

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ravenlee
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Pickpick

Finally finished it (first goal of #20in4!)! It wasn‘t at all what I expected. I guess I thought it was a ghost story or similar, and while it has some elements of that it really isn‘t. Not a lot happens, and the story meanders through time, but I found the writing enjoyable and the story interesting. I was surprised to enjoy The Scarlet Letter on a reread several years ago, and this was also surprising. Hawthorne - who knew?

Tamra I recall loving this one and Scarlet Letter is a favorite. I need to reread it soon! 3y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏🥳 3y
40 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Very modest goals for #20in4 this time:

Finish tagged (finally)
Keep up with #SophiesWorld buddy read
(Maybe) start In the Shadow of the Moon

But we‘re starting our homeschool year on Monday so there‘s a fair bit to get ready; and there‘s a possibility of hurricane-related storms hitting us on Monday, too. It was a year ago today we had Laura come through and lost power for three days (as we tried to start school). 🤞🏻 for the next week!

katy4peas Stay safe! 💕 3y
Andrew65 Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck 😊👍 3y
25 likes2 comments
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ravenlee
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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[on reading books that make you cry, or rather on shutting them when they do]

And wisely, too! Is not the world sad enough, in genuine earnest, without making a pastime of mock-sorrows?

Suet624 I‘ve gotta agree with the idea and yet still I read on. 3y
Ruthiella I often have to set aside for a time books that make me sad. 3y
ravenlee @Suet624 @Ruthiella I haven‘t been able to read anything sad for several years. Life has been hard enough for a while, you know? I‘ve put several books aside for a time when I feel like I can face them. 3y
Suet624 You‘re definitely kinder to yourself than I am. 3y
22 likes4 comments
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ravenlee
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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“Endowed with common-sense, as massive and hard as blocks of granite, fastened together by stern rigidity of purpose, as with iron clamps, he followed out his original design, probably without so much as imagining an objection to it.”

Wow, what a solid depiction! Also, hooray for slightly larger and better-spaced print!

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WriterAtHeart
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Literary book stop!

Bookwormjillk Cool! 3y
BookDragonNotWorm There used to be a little chocolate shop near there.....pairs perfectly with books! 3y
58 likes3 comments
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ravenlee
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Well, I‘ve been meaning to read this for ages, and it‘s good so far. But I have to put it aside until I can find another copy because OMG this print is killing me! Every time I got a few minutes to read today I had to stop because of eye strain and headache. So, back burner and move on to something else. Frustrating.

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Annie1215
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I‘m out in my favorite place today (Salem,Ma) which is the basis for so many stories, media, games, etc.

I thought I‘d share a bit of Salem‘s favorite son with those who might appreciate it.

Good weather for Nathaniel today!

alisiakae I love Salem! It's one of my favorite places to visit too. 4y
Annie1215 @4thhouseontheleft I took my mom as an early Mother‘s Day gift to celebrate her being in remission 🎊 4y
65 likes2 comments
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RayHallucinogen
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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I've got chills, they're multiplying...

GinaKButler So excited for some baseball! Go Rays! ✨ ⚾️ 4y
TheKidUpstairs Woo Hoo! 🎉🎉🎉 Go Jays!!! ⚾️💙⚾️💙 4y
RayHallucinogen Play ball! 4y
Leftcoastzen Yay! ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️ 4y
30 likes4 comments
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STORYBOOK-CAFE
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Pickpick

"Shall we never never get rid of this Past? ... It lies upon the Present like a giant's dead body."

Litsi All writers seem to know this. 4y
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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nanuska_153
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Panpan

The style is too pompous to my taste;the author tried to make every sentence beautiful,but he fails and hundreds of pages go by without anything meaningful happening,going through repetitive examples of situations in order to define characters that are already clearly shaped.The sentences are too long (over 10 lines)and it fails to create a gothic atmosphere.I would have bailed if it wasn't for the enjoyment of reading this beautiful 1883 edition.

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jenniferw88
The House of the Seven Gables | Nathaniel Hawthorne
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OriginalCyn620 😊❤️🌸 5y
Tamra I have loved House of Seven Gables - due for a reread! 💜 5y
LoverOfLearning All gorgeous covers!! 5y
81 likes3 comments
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Gina
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Ohhh the things I find in old books. This lil jem was printed in 1901.

Tamra Love this book too! 5y
13 likes1 comment
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wen4blu
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Finished another book on serial reader!

I picked this as a re-read, but the more I read the less I remembered of the story. Either it was a DNF the first time through or a selective memory block. 🤔

Tamra I love Hawthorne! 5y
bookwrm526 I‘ve tried to read this one a few times but I always just sort of...wander off...serial reader might be a good way to finally finish it! 5y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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IamIamIam
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1- I have thrown 2 books. The tagged one and The Dark Tower VII. That was a hardcover too.
2- Mostly eat at home unless I'm at the museum
3- I puked in 3rd grade after an altercation with a tire swing 🤢
4- Boxwoods and honeysuckle
5- Final Camouflage 🤣
Once again, thanks @howjessreads!! This is extra fun with all the new followers we're getting! 💜

LeahBergen # 3! 😆😆😆 6y
IamIamIam @LeahBergen Sadly, centrifugal force and I have never been friends!!! 6y
emtobiasz I HATED the tagged book. And I don‘t say that lightly. 6y
IamIamIam @emtobiasz LOL, I'm glad I'm in good company! 6y
33 likes4 comments
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krismlars
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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krismlars
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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Winter is right around the corner here in New England.

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Emilymdxn
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Mehso-so

I did enjoy this book, but I didn‘t connect with it as much as I hoped. I‘m not sure why as there wasn‘t much I actively disliked about it (sexist, and bizarre attitudes to children, but that‘s par for the course with 19th century novels). Part of me thinks I find it harder to connect with American classics, but that‘s not always the case and I‘m not sure why. I‘d like to read more pre-1900 US novels so I can work out what I think of them more.

34 likes1 stack add
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Emilymdxn
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Very much up for some wintry escapism right now - been wanting to read some proper old American gothic again for a while now!

Tamra He‘s one of my favorite writers. 6y
38 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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mrp27
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#octoberputaspellonyou

One of these days I'd like to visit #Salem and The House of the Seven Gables.

33 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MrBook
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Nathaniel Hawthorne's grave in the family plot! 😱

#NewEngland

moarbookspleaze Thank you for sharing these pictures. 6y
MrBook @moarbookspleaze You're most welcome! My peeps 🤗! I just hope I'm not posting too many, don't want to overload people's feeds. 🙈 6y
116 likes2 comments
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MaGoose
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1. Shopping with Mom and reading
2. EST
3. Don't usually read by season
4. Once in a while, will reread the tagged book eventually, probably next year
5. 🖑 @wanderinglynn @MirrorMask @LapReader @LazyDays

#friyayintro @howjessreads

wanderinglynn 🙌🏻 Thanks for the hi-five! 😀 6y
OriginalCyn620 🤚🏻 6y
MirrorMask ✋ Thanks for the high five🤗 6y
Megabooks 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 6y
30 likes4 comments
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MaGoose
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8. Old favorite

Many years ago, I visited the actual house that sparked the story. I haven't visited Salem, MA, in a long time.

#31bookpics @howjessreads

BooksBikes12 So much history in Salem, Ma 👻💀 6y
MaGoose @Books_Bikes_12 Yes, there is. 😨👻 6y
SleepyDragon I've been to the house as well. My favorite part was the hidden staircase. Have never read the book despite my husband owning a nice leather hardcover edition. Some day ... 6y
See All 6 Comments
MaGoose @NeesyBeth Yes, I remember that staircase as well. I was there in 1976, I think. I've read the book, but it was a long, long time ago. Possibly more than 40 or 45 years, maybe longer. 6y
Blaire This is sitting on my shelf unread. Should pick it up one of these days. 6y
MaGoose I will eventually read it again. I downloaded the complete works of Hawthorne to my ereader recently. 6y
30 likes1 stack add6 comments
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krismlars
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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This isn't the House of Seven Gables, but it is Max and Dani's home in Hocus Pocus. Salem is a weird place, and it takes on a new level in October. I realized during my visit yesterday that I don't think I've ever read Nathaniel Hawthorne. So today I'm beginning The House of the Seven Gables on #serialreader.

Tamra I love Hawthorne - such a master! 6y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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1001BooksPodcast
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Pickpick

This book caught this Scarlet-Letter-hater by surprise. This should be the Hawthorne we force teenagers to read. Give it a listen #applepodcasts #googleplay #soundcloud #readtheclassics #1001books

33 likes1 stack add
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JessNevertheless
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Pickpick

After reading Moby Dick earlier this year, I've been dreading this contemporaneous novel, fearing it might be just as monotonous. But I was pleasantly surprised with the story and narrative. Doesn't hurt either that I'm a sucker for gothic fiction. Fifteen #litsyclassics done!! My finished stack so far!

Tamra I love Hawthorne! 💜 6y
JessNevertheless @Tamra I feel like I should read more of him! 6y
78 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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hfpotier
The House of the Seven Gables | Hawthorne Nathaniel
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I wanted to do book pairing this year. This one I paired with Ghostland by Colin Dickey since the house is mentioned in this book. May also pair with The Witches by Stacy Schiff as the Salem Witch trials are mentioned.

8 likes1 stack add
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quirkyreader
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Mehso-so

This audio book was Number 79 in my #MountTBRchallenge. The first version I downloaded had a not so great narrator so I chose another version. Here is the link to my gr review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2361553884

34 likes2 stack adds
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LiterRohde
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Read this story of the Pyncheon family in 8th grade - yes, I was one of those kids.

#ReadingResolutions | 14: #FictionalFamily

Skyrimir That was definitely me as a kid as well. 6y
85 likes1 comment
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Ash.on.the.line
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Pickpick

Between a so so and a pick. If I had read this I probably would have quit, on audio though it really is an interesting story. Two feuding families and the curse they each suffer. The plot wanders here and there but once in track I really did enjoy the main plot.