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300 Arguments
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
A brilliant and exhilarating sequence of aphorisms from one of our greatest essayists There will come a time when people decide youve had enough of your grief, and theyll try to take it away from you. Bad art is from no one to no one. Am I happy? Damned if I know, but give me a few minutes and Ill tell you whether you are. Thank heaven I dont have my friends problems. But sometimes I notice an expression on one of their faces that I recognize as secret gratitude. I read sad stories to inoculate myself against grief. I watch action movies to identify with the quick-witted heroes. Both the same fantasy: Ill escape the worst of it. from 300 Arguments A Proustian minimalist on the order of Lydia Davis (Kirkus Reviews), Sarah Manguso is one of the finest literary artists at work today. To read her work is to witness acrobatic acts of compression in the service of extraordinary psychological and spiritual insight. 300 Arguments, a foray into the frontier of contemporary nonfiction writing, is at first glance a group of unrelated aphorisms. But, as in the work of David Markson, the pieces reveal themselves as a masterful arrangement that steadily gathers power. Mangusos arguments about desire, ambition, relationships, and failure are pithy, unsentimental, and defiant, and they add up to an unexpected and renegade wisdom literature.
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lauraisntwilder
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

This was recommended by a friend who only ever recommends things I end up loving. She was right about this one, too. It's like eavesdropping on someone's private thoughts, but she knows you're doing it.

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MooseGurl
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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“There will come a time when people decide you‘ve had enough of your grief, and they‘ll try to take it away from you.”

Reese_Pearly.Pages Shipping the books tomorrow! I didn‘t forget 😁 6y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheWellAccompaniedBook
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

Loved it. Thought provoking. Brief. Fresh. Very very clever. Reluctant to return borrowed copy to @Fernoppy ! Will buy own...will want several rereads.

CarolynM Looks interesting. Glad to have made contact with a fellow Chatter in this forum! 7y
Fernoppy @TheDoubleLetterThief give it! Definitely warrants dipping back into 😋 7y
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TofuandBooks
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

Finished this awesome book while sharing my bed with two cats and three dogs (these two just happen to always be closest). Great book! Her writing really blew me away And had me and my husband talking. She has so many interesting points of view. I love her writing. I highlighted like 30 parts. Quick and easy read.

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Nafiza
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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"Like a vase, a heart breaks once. After that, it just yields to its flaws."

#lyrical #philopsophy #aphorism

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BookishFeminist
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

Quick one-sitting read of prose poetry or short expositions that encompass topics from human fault, relationships, sex, & everyday annoyances. There are lots of profound statements in here that would be fantastic writing prompts. It's not quite poetry but they aren't essays either. I thought it was a great peek into Manguso's mind, especially if you just want to take your brain for a jog for an hour or so. ✍🏻

#poetry #essays #readwomen

saresmoore Taking your brain for a jog just generally sounds like a good idea! 7y
83 likes8 stack adds1 comment
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Erin01
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Fernoppy
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

I can't quite think of the words to describe this book. Mostly a couple of sentences to express a thought or a feeling but with a depth belied by the brevity. I liked the way it forced me to focus - my mind couldn't get distracted by other thoughts, because if it did, I would miss the whole meaning of the passage. It was almost an exercise in mindfulness. Beautifully written, I will keep this around to revisit.

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beccaeve
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed these perfectly chosen thoughts and moments. It's a short but deep little book. I found it quite inspiring.

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Pronounced_ing
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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I read this book in an hour but have been thinking about it ever since. Thanks @Dlazarin for texting me bits of it until I caved and bought my own copy. (It didn't take long!)

tbreit I have reread the sample many times! 7y
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Pronounced_ing
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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@Dlazarin kept texting me bits of this and I loved it so much I had to go into the bookstore and get my own copy.

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Well-ReadNeck
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this lovely little book. Not every short argument was a golden nugget, but they set up a complete narrative of a sort. Some interesting things to ponder and in very short form.

MyNamesParadise I never trust the friendliest, most outgoing, sociable ppl anyway 😂😂 8y
137 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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CoffeeK8
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

This is a bite-sized book that packs a serious punch. My first book by this author and I'm about to order the rest right now!

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Well-ReadNeck
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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"When the worst comes to pass, the first feeling is relief."

CoffeeK8 I'm reading this right now! This book is amazing! 8y
WordWaller She's so good 8y
AlaMich This is...pretty relevant to my life right now. 😔 8y
See All 9 Comments
Well-ReadNeck @AlaMich sorry to hear it. Take care of you. ❤️❤️ (edited) 8y
beccaeve @Well-ReadNeck @CoffeeK8 I'm reading this too. I love it! 8y
Chelsey Well that is definitely true. Sometimes 8y
Libby1 (((Hugs))), @AlaMich .❤️ 8y
AlaMich @Libby1 Thank you!! 😊 8y
AlaMich @Well-ReadNeck Thank you! 😊 8y
126 likes4 stack adds9 comments
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CoffeeK8
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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This little book is packed with such fabulousness. I could quote every moment

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beccaeve
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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This entire book begs to be quoted. #ghosts

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Well-ReadNeck
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Like a vase, a heart breaks once. After that, it just yields to its flaws. 💔

123 likes2 stack adds
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Well-ReadNeck
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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#LibraryHaul

Whooo-hoo! More library goodies just in time for weekend reading!

Redwritinghood I want to read Salt House so bad, but I can't buy any more books this month. (edited) 8y
Reviewsbylola Ooooh Salt House definitely caught my eye! 8y
Litlady Ooooh! Salt Houses .. starting it tonight! Awesome sauce‼️ 📚👍 8y
TNbookworm Can't wait to read The Boy on the Bridge! 8y
125 likes4 comments
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MadCatRamble
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

To be honest, I'd say that half of Manguso's 300 arguments were puddle profundities at best, but the other half were thought-provoking, with a couple of especially lovely gems throw in. Ultimately, it was worth the read, though the fact that it's so short made a difference. Not sure I'd have recommended it were it any longer.

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Hooked_on_books
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Mehso-so

I went into this expecting thought-provoking nuggets that I could mentally chew on for a while. There are a few, including this one, but overall I was a bit disappointed. Glad I got it from the library.

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WanderingBookaneer
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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WanderingBookaneer
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Bibliogeekery Ouf. Great quote! 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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WanderingBookaneer
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso
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Hers & Hers

Moray_Reads Great haul ❤ 8y
LeahBergen Nice! 8y
LeeRHarry Ooh you have a good selection there ! 😊 8y
RadicalReader @WanderingBookaneer what a wonderful selection glad we never had to pick just one. Did you buy them or get them from the library? 8y
Smangela I am so jealous of how often you two get book hauls! My hubby likes to read but not to the extent I do lol 8y
99 likes5 comments
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shutupsmalls
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso

The trouble with setting goals is that you're constantly working towards what you used to want.

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shutupsmalls
300 Arguments | Sarah Manguso

In the morning I wake amid fading scenes of different characters, different settings, all restatements of that first desire, a ghost who haunts me as the beauty he was at sixteen.