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Stephen Florida
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
121 posts | 49 read | 1 reading | 83 to read
A troubled college wrestler in North Dakota falls in love and becomes increasingly unhinged during his final season.
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DoonTheGoon
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Getting very near the end on this one - for whatever reason this has been a difficult one to get through. Curious how it all turns out.

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Readerann
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Panpan

A lot of people seem to love this, but there were too many ‘peeing-off-balconies‘ (and other places) and wth? moments for me.
#ToBTournamentofFavorites

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BkClubCare
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Road trip read #3 #ToBToFavorites
I DNF‘d this when it featured as a contender in whatever year‘s TOB. I don‘t recall for sure but I think it was an audiobook. So far, I think I can get lost in this with print version.

merelybookish This is one of those books I enjoyed far more than I expected! 3y
BkClubCare @merelybookish - my first attempt (3 yrs ago?) I did not like it. This time I admired it and was freaked out! 3y
24 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DoonTheGoon
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Been wanting to read this for a while - here we go!

review
ReadingEnvy
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

This book stayed with me so powerfully after I read it in December 2017 that I decided to make it the required book club experience for the Summer Reading class I've been teaching. I originally listened to the audio but read through Kindle Prime this time around.⤵️

ReadingEnvy Stephen is a college wrestler with single-minded focus on his goals, but you can't be sure if his version of reality is sound, and the reader has a lot of work to do. He's also not likeable per se but so perfectly rendered that I continue to think about him, wondering what happened to him after college, etc. Cover art uses a work by George Boorujy, and it is unique too. 4y
51 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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jhod
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Litsy friends!! So sorry for absence, its the first day of my first week off work since Christmas and I am so excited!!
Main aims are to actually finish a book as I have started about a zillion but hardly completed any at all in lockdown. So much for all those library books I got out!
And also to send some Litsy mail - thanks so much @squirrelbrain and @kezzlou85 for checking up on me today! #jbuk Xxx

rockpools Enjoy your break Jess! Nice to see you 😊 4y
SamanthaMarie I hope you have the best week off!! That is a long time to go without a chunk of time off. ♡ 4y
kezzlou85 Glad it reached you. Enjoy your time off. 4y
See All 7 Comments
TrishB Have a nice few days off ❤️ 4y
squirrelbrain Have a lovely week off...you‘ve got a *lot* of reading to do! 😘 4y
BarbaraBB Good to see you back with books again. Enjoy your time off 💕 (edited) 4y
LeahBergen Hello again! 💕 4y
81 likes7 comments
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j9brown
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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#7Days7Covers #covercrush Day 3, I think.

Ruthiella Oh yeah... I read a library copy of this one but the cover is remarkable! 5y
j9brown @Ruthiella It was an impulse buy for me because of the cover, it just calls for a second look! 5y
sudi This one is a great pick 😍 5y
45 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Cinfhen
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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My latest reads are both gifted from the lovely and generous @BarbaraBB I‘m not feeling Stephen Florida at the moment ( sorry @britt_brooke ) so I‘m switching over to Sally Rooney💛 so nice to have options!!! And the sun is shining bright today 🌞

TrishB Enjoy 😁 though I didn‘t! Can‘t wait to see what you think 😘 6y
Cathythoughts I loved Conversations with Friends .... I‘m stacking tagged book , sounds interesting 👍🏻♥️ 6y
britt_brooke 😩 Bummer, but I understand that it‘s not for everyone. I loved it. 6y
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen So far I‘m really liking Conversations @TrishB @Cathythoughts I feel like a fly on the wall, privy to some sordid behavior 6y
Cinfhen I‘m just not getting with the program @britt_brooke I can‘t figure out what Stephen Florida is trying to be...His thought pattens aren‘t jiving with me 🥴 6y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen He‘s an odd duck. 😊 6y
emilyhaldi Stephen Florida was TOUGH for me 😑 6y
BarbaraBB Echoing @TrishB , I so hope you‘re in our camp 😀😘 6y
Cinfhen Oh, I didn‘t realize you disliked Conversations @BarbaraBB ...did u like Stephen Florida???? And of course I‘m happy to send McGlue your way. 🥰 6y
Cinfhen I‘m so disappointed about Stephen Florida @emilyhaldi I was so sure I was going to love it 🤪 I read the first 30 pages thinking WT actual F am I reading?!? 6y
emilyhaldi Oh I know... I actually got about halfway through before I just couldn't take anymore !!! 6y
129 likes11 comments
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Well-ReadNeck
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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@Cinfhen is doing a giveaway for these books! Check out #TwosweetGiveaway for more details!!! #payitforward

Cinfhen Thanks for the repost!!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼 6y
88 likes1 comment
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Mindyrecycles
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Next book up. Apparently Stephen goes to school in North Dakota. #babyitscoldoutside #winterwonderland #seasonsreadings

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Good luck - let me know what you think! 6y
Mindyrecycles @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Put me in the loved it category. 🙂 (edited) 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Glad you enjoyed it! 👍 6y
75 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Some midwinter pick me ups delivered by my brother and SIL 💕💕💕I have high hopes for tagged book, but @emilyhaldi just left a rather disappointing review😥I‘m still hoping I‘m #TeamBritt because it was her review which led me to order the book😉🙏🏻and then there‘s wrapping paper because apparently Israeli‘s find the premise wasteful🙄oh, candles!!! Because if it‘s not books or music then it‘s aroma therapy candles 💜

Cinfhen Planning on using tagged book for #pop19 #setAtUni 6y
Ruthiella Stephen Florida is an odd book for sure but well worth reading. You are going to want to talk to someone about it when you are done! 🧐 6y
Cinfhen I‘ll let u know when I‘m done @Ruthiella and we can discuss xx 6y
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BarbaraBB Ah, I knew you wanted to read this book and have send it to you as a Christmas gift (it‘s taken ages again to reach Israël) ??‍♀️. Too bad! You can share it maybe and let‘s hope you‘ll like it in the first place ??? (edited) 6y
Cinfhen You‘re the sweetest @BarbaraBB 😘😘😘😘perfect excuse for me to host a #giveaway 6y
TrishB What no wrapping paper! You‘ll be inundated with it now from Litsy folk! 6y
Cinfhen I know!!! Certain things I still can‘t get over @TrishB Don‘t get me started on Qtips, Ziplock bags and solid white tuna 🙄🙄🙄 6y
alisiakae That wrapping paper is beautiful! 6y
Cinfhen It‘s actually spectacular in real life @4thhouseontheleft the color and quality is outstanding 🤗🤗 makes me SUPER HAPPY 😃 6y
TrishB 😂😂 love hearing about these things. Charlotte has already told me that I have to wrap her presents up in recyclable paper or just brown paper. Wrapping paper that doesn‘t scrunch is not recyclable apparently.... (edited) 6y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen I hope you‘re #teambritt too! 🤞🏻It‘s an outstanding character study. It‘s one of my favorites of the year and was recommended to me by @vivastory . 6y
emilyhaldi No qtips or ziploc bags either?!? I guess I knew about ziplocs bc Anne has that problem in London too. How do people live without these things?! And I really hope this book works out #teambritt for you 🤞🏻 I listened to most of it on audio and read some parts physical... but I‘m wondering if the audio listening has something to do with my dislike?? I have had bad luck with audios recently and I‘m starting to wonder if they just aren‘t for me!! 6y
Cinfhen I‘m curious about this book and still looking forward to reading it. And nope on Qtips, Ziplocks, dryer sheets, Pam Baking Spray, gel deodorant, solid white tuna, Bounty paper towels, Jumbo pasta shells and probably a hundred more things that I‘m forgetting @emilyhaldi 🙄😂😂😂#RealLife 6y
GlassAsDiamonds Oh lord I feel you!!! Here it‘s also the zip lock bags, cling wrap, baking paper, DRYER SHEETS, toilet paper (😱🤦🏻‍♀️😱 two years, still cannot use the hose but I have become a wizard at panic buying toilet paper), solid stick deodorant, anchovies, canned salmon .... the things you miss when you can‘t get them!!!! 😂😂😂😂 6y
Cinfhen Yes!!!! Cling wrap!!!!!! And I feel sorry for you regarding toilet paper ....THAT would be a deal breaker!!!!! @GlassAsDiamonds 6y
Reviewsbylola I have a serious candle problem rn. 6y
Reviewsbylola And too funny about the ziplock bags. @AnnieD always asks for us to get her some too. 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘m dying to know what things we don‘t have in the US that would drive foreigners nuts. But I also forgot about the no dryer thing. I have a pen pal from 3rd grade that lives in the UK and I think that‘s a big reason she didn‘t cloth diaper. NO WAY would I have done CD without a dryer, especially consider I had two in CD for a good year+. 6y
Cinfhen So I have one friend in Philly who is Israeli and whenever I come to visit she asks me to bring her salted & roasted watermelon seeds!!!! Yup....that‘s the one thing she misses most and can‘t find @Reviewsbylola Personally, I think they‘re nasty!!! 6y
Cinfhen Which are your favorite candles?? I love NEST but they are soooo freaking expensive ~ this new brand I just bought are really pretty but they don‘t have a strong enough scent ☹️ @Reviewsbylola 6y
Reviewsbylola I usually either buy at craft fairs or places like that or at Aldi. Aldi is so cheap and they often have nice candles! I will buy at B&BW too if they‘re having a sale. 6y
Cinfhen My neighborhood in Philly doesn‘t have Aldi but my SIL talks about Aldi all the time!!! @Reviewsbylola I‘m gonna ask her to pick me up a few candles and B&BW have the craziest sales!!! And their scents are really good 💜 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @Cinfhen yeah... I stock pile! At any given time, there‘s enough TP in this apartment to build a moderate sized igloo!!! (I‘m gonna need to break some WEIRD habits when we leave India!! 😂😂😂😂). 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @Reviewsbylola is Vegemite to anachronistic a thing? 😜 I found unsweetened breakfast cereals, hard core ground coffee beans (no drip, no filter - French press ♥️♥️♥️), Asian greens (BokChoi & choisum) and things like fish sauce, light soy, mirin etc hard to come by but I would note that was in Erie, PA. That said, the amazing abundance of decaf teas and DRYER SHEETS made me very very happy! 😊😊😊 6y
109 likes24 comments
review
emilyhaldi
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Mehso-so

You know when you start a book and immediately think, yes this is going to be a 5⭐️ book, I just know it. And then you get to the halfway point and have to reevaluate those expectations and then by the time you‘re nearing the end you‘re utterly bored and ready for it to end? This was that book for me. Disappointing 😟

Suet624 😩😩😩 6y
Megabooks Yes! That sucks. 😑 6y
sprainedbrain Ugh. ☹️ 6y
See All 17 Comments
StellaDz ☹️ this make me sad because I was so drawn by this cover... 6y
ReadingSusan That‘s so sad 😭 6y
DivineDiana Too bad! 🙁 6y
LazyDays Oh No! That's to bad. 6y
JennyM But you finished it, so go you 😘 6y
Tamra 😒 6y
Kalalalatja Ugh, I hate when it happens! 6y
batsy Oh no, that's always a bummer. 6y
saresmoore Whomp, whomp. So many have loved this one! I had a hard time getting into it and returned it to the library unfinished. 🤷‍♀️ 6y
emilyhaldi @saresmoore admittedly, I didn‘t finish the last 80 pages but it took up enough of my time that I‘m not mentally categorizing it as a “bail” 😆 6y
mcipher I hate when that happens! And half the time I end up not finishing it and feeling so guilty about it. 6y
Reviewsbylola That‘s SUCKS. 6y
britt_brooke This is one of my favorite reads this year, but I understand why it‘s not for everyone. 6y
Cinfhen Darn!!!! My hopes were/are high 6y
97 likes17 comments
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britt_brooke
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Another pretty fantastic reading month!

Completed: 15
Nonfiction: 8
Audio: 8
Rereads: 2
ARC: 1

#novemberreads #novemberstats #novemberwrapup

MicheleinPhilly Nicely done! 6y
Redwritinghood Well done! 6y
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sprainedbrain Awesome month! ❤️ 6y
britt_brooke @sprainedbrain Thanks! I‘m breaking records this year (like every year since joining Litsy if I‘m being honest)! 💚💚💚 6y
sprainedbrain @britt_brooke ha! Same here. 😃 6y
britt_brooke @sprainedbrain 🙌🏻🙌🏻 6y
Reviewsbylola You killed it! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 6y
131 likes11 comments
review
britt_brooke
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Steven Forster became a wrestler simply because there was nothing else to do. But this book isn‘t really about wrestling. The sweat and singlets are always near, but that takes a backseat as we enter our solipsistic narrator‘s head. A good character study should be relatable. It‘s in the honest details; the odd things people do, but hide from others. Stephen Florida is about being lost and painfully lonely. And it‘s damned funny, too.

britt_brooke @vivastory Thanks for recommending this! It‘s one of my top reads of 2018. Loved it! 6y
LauraBeth Well dammit - now I want to read this! 🤣 6y
britt_brooke @LauraBeth My job here is done. 💁🏼‍♀️😙 6y
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Fabulous review!! It‘s going in the NEED TO READ stack @emilyhaldi @Kalalalatja @erzascarletbookgasm 6y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Thank you! 😙 6y
Kalalalatja Oooooh! It sounds amazing! 6y
britt_brooke @Kalalalatja It‘s so good. I can‘t believe it‘s a debut! 6y
vivastory I'm so happy that you loved it! I can't wait to see what he does next. Did you know his partner is Julie Buntin? Did you ever read 6y
britt_brooke @vivastory I saw that they were together just the other day. I enjoyed Marlena, too. 6y
emilyhaldi Stacking!!! This has been on my radar for a while but haven't wanted to stack it until your review 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
britt_brooke @emilyhaldi That makes me so happy!! 😙 6y
105 likes4 stack adds11 comments
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britt_brooke
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Oh, damn. 😆🔥

LeahBergen 😆😆 6y
LauraBeth 😂😂 6y
MicheleinPhilly This sounds like something I would like (do.) 6y
See All 12 Comments
Kayla.Adriena 😂🤢😷 6y
kspenmoll 🤣🤣 6y
QueenJen Yeah, now I have to read this. 😂🤣😂 6y
britt_brooke @MicheleinPhilly It‘s diabolically brilliant. 😂 6y
britt_brooke @QueenJen It‘s quite the character study. Loving it so far! 6y
GoldenGirl Savage 🤣🤣🤣 6y
Booksndogs One of my all-time favorites! 6y
britt_brooke @Booksndogs It‘s so good! I finished it last night. Still processing! 6y
britt_brooke @GoldenGirl Totally savage. 😆 6y
100 likes1 stack add12 comments
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britt_brooke
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Gross, but this made me cackle. 😆 I grabbed this on your recommendation @vivastory . I‘m halfway in and digging it.

vivastory I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Stephen is just as memorably strange as Eileen. 6y
72 likes1 stack add2 comments
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KatieDid927
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

A pretty intense character study of a college athlete with his eye on the prize. Not normally a topic that would intrigue me but the style and the depth of character kept me interested. Thanks for the loan @j9brown !

j9brown Cheers! 😊 6y
11 likes1 comment
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Shereader
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

I love writer couples! Here‘s Julie Buntin debuting her novel Marlena (which is an incredible portrait of a young female friendship that only Ferrante can surpass) with her partner Gabe Habash. Florida is a fully-fleshed, belligerent wiseass with a surprisingly engrossing psyche. The closest literary equivalents I could only compare to Rosa Guy‘s Wade Williams and Ellison‘s Invisible Man. Horrendously brilliant and disgusting individuals! 😊

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MeikeReads
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

How can a book about a misfit amateur wrestler in North Dakota be so compelling and fascinating? Seriously, how??? Gabe Habash, what a talent - and this is only his debut novel!

Redheadrambles I know right ! Very talented and such a singular interesting character he created there with Stephen 6y
18 likes1 comment
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j9brown
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

Well. This book was Something. Bizarre, disturbing, unsettling, I didn't exactly enjoy it but I couldn't look away. And I sure as hell won't be forgetting it anytime soon. I don't want to recommend it but at the same time I really want to talk about it. 🤪

KatieDid927 Well then I shall read it so we can talk about it! 6y
29 likes1 stack add1 comment
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j9brown
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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"... the idea of "everyone's different" is just a sentiment created to help explain the failure of people who don't get to the standard."

Most cynical thing I've read in a long time. This book is messing with my head ?

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m.galehuxley
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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I have to stop at Shakespeare and Company whenever I‘m in Paris, although I actually like The Abbey Bookshop more. It‘s only five minutes away, usually empty, and I come close to knocking down a precariously stacked tower of books every time. Perfect!

This book is dark and some of the descriptions gross me out. I‘m not very far in, but I have a feeling Stephen Florida is going to get even darker.

28 likes1 stack add
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mrozzz
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Today‘s #BookHaul saved me from severe train delays so my impulse shopping trip was a true success 😏

But really, I just needed to do some in person browsing to boost my mental health and Gabe Habash is the teacher of a writing workshop I‘m attending in a couple weeks so I figured I‘d do a bit of “research” into his style.

I‘m proud of myself because I had 3 other books in my hand but I made notes of the titles and put them back. Baby steps!

RidgewayGirl Stephen Florida is quite the book. Enjoy! 6y
mrozzz I‘m glad to hear it! It‘s so hyped I‘ve been worried I wouldn‘t like it. @RidgewayGirl 6y
swishandflick Love your nail color! 💅🏼 6y
mrozzz Thank you ☺️💁🏼‍♀️ @swishandflick 6y
116 likes4 comments
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Jas16
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

This is a book I appreciated more than enjoyed. In fact there were times that I almost bailed. Why the pick? Because I haven‘t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it yesterday.

SandyW I find those kind of books really difficult to review. 6y
85 likes1 comment
review
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Panpan

Um . . . What?
Lots of people loved this book. I may be intellectually unsophisticated, so I just didn‘t get it. At best, it was boring, at worst, confusing. I love an unreliable narrator, but I also need a purpose. Sorry folks, not for me.

Cinfhen Love this review ~ Thank You 😊 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @Cinfhen Thanks - I dont mean to disparage any book; it just didn‘t work for me. Have you read it? 6y
Cinfhen No, it‘s been on my radar but wasn‘t sure if it was for me. After reading your review I‘m happy with maybe getting around to it one day but I‘m in no rush to seek it out any longer 6y
BkClubCare I attempted it but more fun books pulled my attention away 6y
45 likes4 comments
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Hoopiefoot
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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I‘ve walked past this print at my in-laws house for years without realizing what it was. My father-in-law would have hated Litsy because it would have taken him away from reading but he was the the most bookiest person I ever knew ❤️

DivineDiana I love this! ☕️ 6y
55 likes1 comment
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Going into this book like ☝️
Unreliable narrator, disturbing bodily grossness, described as Donnie Darko meets Fight Club
I‘m in, but Im afeared!

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Nute
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Day 9 - State Name in Title: Yay! Saved by a monthly Book Box Subscription. Auto book selection. Auto send. I don‘t have another book with a state name in the title & I‘m not sure that I would have found my way to this author & this book without the guidance of a book club subscription. I cancelled all of my subscriptions (no space for HBs), but I sure do miss them. I live vicariously through you all when you post BOTM photos. #ReadingResolutions

readordierachel Oh, that's a beautiful edition! 7y
Nute @ReadOrDieRachel Thank you. I want to collect special editions but I don‘t have the room to store and to be very honest many of them are expensive. With that being said, sometimes a particular edition or a cover jacket design calls to you. What can you do?😁 7y
58 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ReadingEnvy
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Reading Envy Podcast 115: "Quote, Unquote" with Scott Eaton, our very own @vivastory. We chat about vampires, poetry, true crime, and the best character studies. #linkinprofile #podcast https://tinyurl.com/ReadingEnvy115

saresmoore My goodness, I am so excited to listen to this!!! @vivastory is a truly voracious reader and a wonderful human! 7y
ReadingEnvy @saresmoore I believe you recommended him as a guest? 7y
saresmoore I did! I remember being very careful in how I worded the suggestion/question to each of you. 😊 7y
See All 23 Comments
vivastory Thanks, Jenny! I really enjoyed discussing books (quote, unquote) with you 😄 It's funny because it was only a few days after our conversation that I started seeing Hunger pop up everywhere. If you are still looking for a good true crime written by a woman, I also really enjoyed Telfer's book. 7y
vivastory @saresmoore You're too kind, friend! 7y
Suet624 Ooohhh, can‘t wait to listen. 7y
ReadingEnvy @vivastory ooh thanks for the rec, never heard of it. And thanks for being on the podcast! 7y
LeahBergen I can‘t wait to listen! 😍😍 @vivastory 7y
vivastory @LeahBergen I hope you enjoy! 🤗 7y
saresmoore @vivastory Your description of The Slynx makes me want to read it even more! 7y
LauraBeth Looking forward to listening to this tonight! 7y
vivastory @saresmoore It's definitely worth it. It'll really stick with you! 7y
vivastory @LauraBeth I hope you enjoy. I had a great time! 7y
saresmoore @LauraBeth Have you been on the podcast yet?? If not, I think it‘s time! 7y
BestDogDad @vivastory I‘ve driven by The Loft a bunch of times on my way to The Guthrie. I wasn‘t sure what went on in there. Do you miss the Twin Cities at all? 7y
vivastory @BestDogDad it's definitely worth stopping by, especially for an event. I really miss the phenomenal bookstores & literary events. I attended several unforgettable readings while I lived there (Seamus Heaney & Salman Rushdie among others). However, the weather really became too unbearable 7y
BestDogDad @vivastory I‘ll have to check that out. There ARE a lot of good bookstores! I spend a lot of time at Uncle Hugo‘s but make the rounds. I need to become more aware of when authors come to town. Good for you that you escaped this weather. 7y
LauraBeth Oohh - that would be fun @saresmoore, although I‘d have to work on my interruption skills 😂. @vivastory how fortunate that you got to live near The Loft! Also - every time I convince myself that I‘m not going to read McNamara‘s book - people like you draw me back to it! (edited) 7y
ReadingEnvy @LauraBeth do you mean you'd need to interrupt more? 7y
LauraBeth @ReadingEnvy Not more - less! 7y
ReadingEnvy @LauraBeth I could always edit those parts out. 🤭🤸 7y
Centique That Virgin poem was amazing @ReadingEnvy I‘m stacking that collection and also Stephen Florida. #mountTBR 7y
ReadingEnvy @Centique 🤸🤸🤸 7y
65 likes1 stack add23 comments
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Found a signed special edition at a used book store today! The owner said it was hers and she decided to put it on the shelf to sell. I convinced her it was going to a good home.

Tamra Fun finds! 7y
Robothugs Nice find! 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @tamra @Robothugs Thanks - I told her to call me if she wanted it back - ha! 7y
59 likes3 comments
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BkClubCare
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Yippee!! Or... oh no?!! My Library hold for this in ebook format just came through. I sure hope it is a quick read. #tob18.

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bookandcat
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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AND WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES!
The 2018 Tournament of Books starts today! Think of it like March Madness, but for books. I recently finished reading the shortlist and doing a mock bracket. Sadly, my bracket is busted with this play in round, because my favorite book about wrestling didn't make it. I won't spoil who actually won, but you can check out each match (added daily most times) at
https://themorningnews.org/tob/
#tob
#tob2018

ohyeahthatgirl My brackets are still intact, but I've got some long shots that I'm hoping will come through. 7y
Mjk20a I didn‘t expect Stephen Florida to win but I was dreaming it would happen. I really admired that book, more than I enjoyed The Idiot...tried audio of Savage Theories but stopped after about 30 minutes. Wasn‘t going to be the kind of book for audio format and it was only format available unless I bought (edited) 7y
bookandcat @Mjk20a Savage theories was just NOT my cup of tea. And that's coming from someone who enjoyed Lincoln in the Bardo, lol. Did you see today's newest judgment (Idiot vs White Tears)? 7y
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Mjk20a @bookandcat Yes, I saw and am a bit upset. I didn‘t enjoy The Idiot but seems like it‘s 50-50 on liking that one. I don‘t believe it should have defeated White Tears. At one point I was ready to quit WT but so glad I stuck with it. I disagreed with the judgment. I just didn‘t find The Idiot as profound as so many apparently did. 7y
bookandcat @Mjk20a I didn't find The Idiot memorable at all. I much prefer The Marriage Plot for books about college and traveling. And Stephen Florida was out of college related books in this TOB batch (the POV is SO unique and goes so hard and valiantly in a clear dkrection). I didn't DISLIKE The Idiot but it didn't stick with me... 7y
Mjk20a @bookandcat I read Stephen Florida beginning of January and haven‘t really stopped thinking about it since. I wouldn‘t consider it a campus novel at all. Not in the way The Art of Fielding was both about sports and college. 7y
bookandcat @Mjk20a it stuck with me, too. I think about it every few days. I can barely remember The Idiot now... 7y
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review
mklong
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

Stephen Forester has obsessively focused on being the National Champion of wrestling in the 133 weight class. This goal is his main distraction from the crippling grief and loneliness that he is suffering. Stephen is impulsive, exasperating, and sometimes downright weird, but I was always interested in what he was going to do and say next. He wonders at one point if anyone would read a book about him. The answer is, most certainly, yes. #TOB18

BarbaraTheBibliophage I Googled to be sure and the answer is yes! Wrestling is still an Olympic sport. So ✔️ another prompt off the list! 🙌🏻 7y
Cinfhen 🙌🏻 🎉❣️ 7y
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BarbaraBB You read it just in time for the ToB! I haven‘t yet but do have a copy and hope it will win today! 7y
mklong @BarbaraBB Yes, just under the wire! I liked The Idiot too, but am definitely rooting for Stephen!! 7y
shawnmooney Lovely review of a novel that hasn‘t got nearly the attention it deserves! 7y
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review
tstan
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

Oh, I love an unreliable narrator! I think Patrick Bateman (American Psycho),Hal Incandenza (Infinite Jest),and Lester Ballard (Child of God by Cormac McCarthy) had a moment of simultaneous coherent thought and out popped Stephen Florida...

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BarbaraBB
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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My TBR for February. Some Booker, some books from the 1001 books list, some ToB finalists, the highly anticipated buddy read of Confederacy of Dunces and of course the books for the challenges: Booked2018, PopSugar and the Litsy Reading Challenge. 😀😀
#whathappenedtofreechoices?!

Kalalalatja Commonwealth is really great 👍 7y
TrishB So is Idaho 👍🏻 7y
Indexasaurus I need to read A Confederacy of Dunces soon, I‘m moving away from New Orleans in 4 months and want to read it before i go! I‘ve heard it‘s great. 7y
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Mitch Just waiting for Idaho to come out in paperback..looks great 7y
emilyhaldi Yay for #dunces 😄 7y
Readerann Great stack! 7y
tif I can't find a copy of Stephen Florida at the library 😔 don't want to commit to buying it before I know if I like it 7y
ValerieAndBooks Good selection! What‘s the book directly below Dunces? I can‘t make out the title, maybe need stronger glasses 👓 🤓 7y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja i‘ll start with that one! 7y
BarbaraBB @Indexasaurus Then join us for the buddy read! @emilyhaldi is organizing and we‘ll start the 19th! 7y
BarbaraBB @ValerieAndBooks Your eyes are find 😉, it is a really old copy of 7y
LeahBergen We‘ll be buddy reading together again! 👏🏻👏🏻 #Dunces 7y
BarbaraBB @Indexasaurus Yay 👍! It‘ll be fun. @emilyhaldi will post a reading scheme later this month! 7y
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Great! I hope it will be as good as reading The Luminaries! 😘 7y
80 likes15 comments
review
Skybariline
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Mehso-so

This story is marked by strong writing that takes the reader along on the main character‘s descent into madness, and by the depth created by symbolism and ambiguity throughout. This is a book that I really appreciate for its artistic merit, but I can‘t tell if I actually like it.

merelybookish I understand. It's not exactly an enjoyable read. But I ended up really liking it. And even liking Stephen. 7y
readinginthedark Great review! You addressed all of my reservations about whether or not to read it! 7y
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merelybookish
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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#TOB18 progress. I finished listening to So Much Blue. A skillful novel but it didn't wow me. Now on to Stephen Florida which is a perfect example of a novel I would never read if not for the tournament. Creepy narration so far, but I am intrigued. This makes #9. I've read 8, bailed on 1.
How are others doing?
(And thanks again to @starrdom for pointing me to Hoopla.)

starrdom You're welcome @merelybookish ! I have finished 8 so far and I'm reading Goodbye Vitamin and listening to Pachinko. Can't wait to see the brackets this week! 7y
AmyG I love Hoopla...which I learned about from @Kaye. I didn‘t have a library where I lived in NJ. But I have one in CO so now I don‘t have to pay for audiobooks. 7y
BarbaraBB I read four, am reading Goodbye Vitamin now and have Dear Cyborgs lined up! 7y
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BarbaraBB @starrdom When will the brackets be announced? 7y
merelybookish @AmyG Overdrive is my fave audio platform! But Hoopla works too. Where are you in CO? 7y
Kaye @AmyG thanks for the tag. Really glad you have Hoopla now. I like it because you can find some really different books there that OD doesn‘t have. It‘s weird because I have Hoopla through 2 different library systems. One has a limit of 15 items per month( the one with mostly books) while the other one has 100 items a month but they are mostly comic books and videos. (edited) 7y
JenP I really liked Stephen Florida 7y
AmyG @merelybookish The library is in Vail, CO. Are you suggesting I also try Overdrive? @Kaye...I get 10 books a month but for audiobooks that‘s fine. I will never listen to that many a month. (edited) 7y
merelybookish @AmyG Overdrive has better sound quality in my opinion. And I find it more user-friendly friendly. If a book is available on both platforms, I would choose Overdrive. The upside to Hoopla is that there are no holds. If a book is there, you can download it right away. 7y
merelybookish @BarbaraBB My TOB reading buddy (who is not on Litsy) really liked Dear Cyborgs. 7y
merelybookish @JenP Good to hear! The writing is really good. 7y
AmyG @merelybookish Thank you. I am going to try that one and compare. 7y
thebluestocking Go you! I‘m 7 in and seen to have stalled there. My library has a bunch of the books in audio but not physical form, and the audio just doesn‘t seem to be working for me. 7y
merelybookish @thebluestocking Do you have a favourite so far? 7y
thebluestocking Hmm...if forced to pick I think it would be Idaho at the moment. But all the ones I have read have been pretty solid. How about you? What‘s your favorite so far? 7y
merelybookish @thebluestocking Idaho is my fave. It was probably my favourite book of 2017. I also like The Idiot but would be surprised if either gets very far. I'm bracing for a Lincoln on the Bardo win which I did not like but obviously lots of other people do. 🤷 7y
thebluestocking Yay! Another Idaho lover. I didn‘t love Lincoln in the Bardo either. I thought some of it was clever, but I didn‘t really connect with it. 7y
78 likes17 comments
review
bookandcat
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

I've been trying to get through all of the books on this year's Tournament of Books shortlist. All of have been good at the very least so far, some have been stellar - like this one. Woke up today, saw it, got excited to read it, then was so sad when I remembered I finished it last night. Book hangover.
This is about a wrestler obsessed with winning his senior year championship and his descent into madness as he pursues perfection. Beautiful. #tob

MaleficentBookDragon I ❤️ this cover so much. 7y
Skybariline I‘m listening to it on audio, and it‘s so good! 7y
bookandcat @MaleficentBookDragon it's great, right? The book is published by a nonprofit literary press and their tagline is "publishing is not literature" or something along those lines 7y
bookandcat @Skybariline ooh I bet it's GREAT on audio, Stephen's voice is so distinctive! 7y
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review
ladycarliblack
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
Pickpick

I found this book strangely compelling. It was completely what I expected but I found it hard to put down anyway. I did learn a bit about wrestling, although the reliability of the information from the narrator might be a tad uncertain. I do love a bit of stream of conciousness, even if it is about wrestling.

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starrdom
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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I'm about 5 hours into this 12-hour #audiobook and Stephen's world just feels so claustrophobic to me. I'm struggling but I gotta finish because it's a #tob18 selection.

merelybookish I'm awaiting a library hold. 7y
starrdom @merelybookish I was lucky enough to find it on Hoopla. It and So Much Blue were both available for me there. 7y
merelybookish Thanks for the tip. I can access them there too. Hoopla is not my favorite app but will make do. 😉 7y
bookandcat I loved this book so much. I finally finished the TOB shortlist last week! It was tense to get it all done 😂 7y
15 likes4 comments
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anniehartnett
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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One of my travel companions...

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review
Redwritinghood
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

Stephen Florida is a unique character that is alternately sympathetic and disgusting. He is at times petty and at others magnanimous. He is childishly sadistic and a seeker of justice. We see both a brusque exterior and a wounded interior. With all these contradictions, the author deftly creates a multilayered character that feels lifelike in his complexity.

Hoopiefoot I loved this book ❤️ 7y
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Redwritinghood
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Starting this as my next audiobook. I have the hardcover, too, so I‘ll probably switch back and forth between the two.

tricours Awesome cover! 7y
AceOnRoam One of the many tob2018 longlist that I can't find at the library! Have a fun read. 7y
readordierachel I was thinking about trying this on audio. I'll be very curious to hear which you prefer :) 7y
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Oryx I think this is my favorite cover ever. 7y
Redwritinghood @ReadOrDieRachel The audio may be a good way to go on this one as the text sort of feels like he‘s just talking to you the whole time. 7y
readordierachel Oh cool. I might try this one next then. Thanks for the tip! 7y
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review
ReadingEnvy
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

This is a great book that explores a singular obsession, isolating masculinities, and the somewhat anticlimactic feeling of triumph. Also sportsing. I think it should make the ToB shortlist because it has a lot.to discuss. In the Newest Literary Fiction group in Goodreads we are discussing it right now and interesting theories are arising. #hoopla as audio and ebook.

shawnmooney Oooh I am so glad you ended up liking it! 😍 7y
TheKidUpstairs I think I may end up using this one for #Booked2018 - book featuring an Olympic sport 7y
saresmoore I‘m glad to hear you liked it! Perhaps I should give it another chance. 7y
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ReadingEnvy @TheKidUpstairs in case it matters, while wrestling may be in the Olympics, Stephen only competes in college. 7y
ReadingEnvy @saresmoore it's no big deal if you didn't take to it! 7y
cobwebmoth It was such a strange book, but I really enjoyed it. 7y
RealBooks4ever This one is sitting on my shelf 😬. Really want to read it because it's so foreign to my own experience. 7y
ReadingEnvy @cobwebmoth very strange, some stuff hiding in the corners I think 7y
ReadingEnvy @RealBooks4ever yes I can recommend it even in that case. 7y
2BR02B I thought about picking this one up because the cover is so eye-catching, but was turned off by the sportsing. Maybe I should give it a shot. 7y
readordierachel How did you like the audio performance? 7y
ReadingEnvy @ReadOrDieRachel I thought he was good, no complaints. 7y
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ReadingEnvy
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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I listened to a few minutes of this last night to see if I wanted to listen to it on my trek home. This might be the least Jenny book I read all year! #tournamentofbooks #tob #hoopla
Still I'm driving five hours in the dark so I might do podcasts and musicals to keep me awake.

saresmoore I used to listen to techno and Scandinavian speed metal to stay awake while driving. I‘ve changed my ways a bit over the years. 😆 I think you‘re probably on the right track with musicals and podcasts. I don‘t think I could handle Stephen Florida as an audiobook! 7y
Zelma I love musicals when driving due the enthusiastic sing-a-long factor. 7y
ReadingEnvy @Zelma absolutely..I've been rotating between Evan Hansen and Hamilton 7y
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ReadingEnvy @saresmoore why not Stephen as an audiobook? I'm not far in.,. 7y
saresmoore From what I sampled, it seems very intense and gritty. For me, that‘s even more difficult in audio form because I feel beholden to listening intently. 7y
Zelma @ReadingEnvy nice! My last road trip featured me belting Rocky Horror Picture Show and Once. 7y
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krismlars
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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My first Boston Book Festival! I love love love this cover. 📚📚#BBF2017

kspenmoll What fun! Enjoy! 7y
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Moray_Reads
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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The joy of getting home to #bookmail is only beaten by FREE bookmail. My Goodreads giveaway is here! (I am literally only reading this because of @shawnmooney's fabulous review but I am excited to read it!)

saresmoore Hooray! I read A LOT of books for that reason. I never regret it! 7y
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Redheadrambles
Stephen Florida | Gabe Habash
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a pretty amazing cover and an equally stunning debut novel. Stephen Florida does things that repulsed me, he is often manic and self sabotaging and yet Habash manages to make him endearing. No easy thing to achieve in a novel about a college wrestler.

There is eye-gouging, spitting, a lot of peeing in places unbecoming. In short it's a bit of a testosterone fest. But it's also very funny and weird.

#indiespensable #tob18

ClairesReads Hope it is TOB then I might pump it up the TBR- sounds like a bit of me for aure 7y
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