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The Familiar, Volume 2
The Familiar, Volume 2: Into the Forest | Mark Z. Danielewski
NATIONAL BEST SELLER From the author of the international best seller House of Leaves and National Book Awardnominated Only Revolutions comes a monumental new novel as dazzling as it is riveting. The Familiar (Volume 1) ranges from Mexico to Southeast Asia, from Venice, Italy, to Venice, California, with nine lives hanging in the balance, each called upon to make a terrifying choice. They include a therapist-in-training grappling with daughters as demanding as her patients; an ambitious East L.A. gang member contracted for violence; two scientists in Marfa, Texas, on the run from an organization powerful beyond imagining; plus a recovering addict in Singapore summoned at midnight by a desperate billionaire; and a programmer near Silicon Beach whose game engine might unleash consequences far exceeding the entertainment he intends. At the very heart, though, is a twelve-year-old girl named Xanther who one rainy day in May sets out with her father to get a dog, only to end up trying to save a creature as fragile as it is dangerous . . . which will change not only her life and the lives of those she has yet to encounter, but this world, tooor at least the world we think we know and the future we take for granted. (With full-color illustrations throughout.) Like the print edition, this eBook contains a complex image-based layout. It is most readable on e-reading devices with larger screen sizes.
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twohectobooks
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Bailedbailed

I hate to do this especially after how much I loved rereading House of Leaves last year, but I just can‘t go on. I‘m over halfway through this book and the only plot thread I‘m remotely interested in is Xanther and her bizarro cat. The rest of the threads support this one eventually (I assume) but it all feels like filler written in the most alienating style possible. Here‘s hoping Danielewski‘s next project is more up my alley.

tournevis I felt exactly the same. I DNFed the first ans cancelled my orders for tue 2nd and 3rd. 6y
16 likes1 comment
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twohectobooks
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Getting some post-swimming reading in before I head out for a family supper. Yay, long weekend!

(This is actually not the beginning of the book, mind you.)

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Sarahr875
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Excited for this ine

Robothugs I still have to read the first one! 😅 7y
Sarahr875 @Robothugs yeah you do! 7y
Robothugs I own it! I‘m one step away! 7y
See All 10 Comments
twohectobooks I need to pick this up sometime soon! 7y
Sarahr875 @Robothugs owning it is the hardest part. Ive not been able to find any of them for less than $25. That‘s a lot of money! 7y
Sarahr875 @twohectobooks you really do! Have you read any of his others? 7y
twohectobooks Most of them I think. Love House of Leaves, Fifty Year Sword was quite good, Only Revolutions meh but a beautiful artifact. I enjoyed The Familiar Vol 1 but since I decided I can‘t justify buying my own copies of that length of a series I‘ve come to a bit of an impasse. 7y
Robothugs @Sarahr875 the notification thing made me miss this! 😳 Yes - sometimes when B&N have their good coupons and percent off of everything at the same time I‘ll go for books like this! 7y
Sarahr875 @twohectobooks nice!! I‘ve only read volume one and House of Leaves. I love his style, though! 7y
Sarahr875 @Robothugs me too! I hate that the update ruined my life for a minute. And good planning, there! I need to live close enough to a b&n so I can take advantage of that 7y
18 likes10 comments
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Lylah
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The Book Nook in Peoria, IL — definitely my favorite local used bookstore. Huge selection, super organized, well-lit with a homey feel. Left with 5 books!

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Fang88
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Pickpick
Bookzombie 💕🐱 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻 #catsofLitsy 7y
22 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Nuwanda
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I'm in a horrible reading slump. I should be reading the above book for an online book club as well as a library book, but I doubt I've read more than 10 pages a day all week. I hate this feeling so much! Anyone else in a slump?

Photo from marriedtothesea.com

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yep, and I cured mine by re-reading a series I love (Harry Potter), joining a chapter a day group #LOTRChapterADay and checking out a bunch of the comics I've seen recommended here on Litsy. That seems to be working for me, after my series re-read I'm going to try and go back and finish the books I left hanging when my slump started. 7y
CouronneDhiver Yes! I can relate 7y
Nuwanda @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I thought about re-reading HP or some comics. I think I will stick with the book club book since we are doing sections at a time, and then I will explore some other options. The library book can always be renewed or checked out again later! @CouronneDhiver I'm sorry you're slumping too! I hope it passes for you soon! 7y
18 likes3 comments
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AMVP
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#maybookflowers day 23

The Familiar series has ended at least 2 books with #cliffhangers concerning it's main protagonist, and I haven't even finished book 4 yet. This sort of gets at my issue with conceiving of The Familiar as a single 27 volume book rather than as a planned 27 book series: you can do what you can to have it function as the former, but you're ultimately bound by the necessity of having it work as the latter.

GatheringBooks seriously? 27 books!? wow. i was about to purchase a copy of this, but now am seriously reconsidering. i doubt if i have the patience to wait for all 27 titles. 8y
8 likes1 comment
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AMVP
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#marchintoreading day 12 - #bookishpetpeeves

I love getting books in hardback / coverbound, but am always wary of loose / uneven looking bindings. Didn't pick up The Animators the other day because all the copies on display had shallower binding on the bottom than on the top. That may be how you're supposed to do it, but I just couldn't get past it without knowing for sure.

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heylaurenmack

As with promises, so with stories. The only question is whether they arrive kept or already broken.

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AMVP
This post contains spoilers
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#RiotGrams day 4 - literary villians.

The moment you know a book is gonna be really hard to recommend.

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AnneCecilie
Pickpick

Volume 2 continues right where volume 1 finished. Where volume 1 covered just 24 hours, this volume covers more time. I find the balance between the different characters to be better in this volume, but we are still getting to know these characters and their surroundings. I am eager to start 📖 the next volume. 💜😻

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AnneCecilie
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Before a new chapter, there is always a picture and quote. And I just really loved this one. Isn't it just beautiful?

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AnneCecilie
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My next read. Really wondering if the 12-year old who was the focus of volume 1, will be the focus of volum 2 too. Or will someone else "steal" it now.

Do they know how to set the mood with this picture, or what?

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MelissaReadsBooks
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Fumbl3z00
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Just finished the first and can not wait to see what happens to the characters and pets and animals in the second! Such a good series, excited to get three soon :)

OSChamberlain Ahhhhh I have both volumes and I'm gonna pick up the third soon but I've only read house of leaves. He's so amazing!! 9y
Fumbl3z00 He is! I love how well he writes and also shows what the characters are going through, really keeps it interesting 9y
hike.read.repeat My bf and I read House of Leaves together and we've been trying to read the first Familiar together all year. My local library doesn't have it so I think we've got it as ILL three times so far and still aren't done with it. 🙈 8y
1 like2 stack adds3 comments
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Danwilli2012
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Pickpick

Pluto couldn't wait to sink his teeth into this book. Continuing where the last story left off, you really get the sense that this cat is not quite normal. The characters have also started to intertwine just a tad bit. Pluto isn't sure if he wants to know about the cat or the orb more!

emmaleegough The cover looks amazing! 9y
3 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Sarrie
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I'm saving the second Familiar novel for the last of my library books. I am pretty stoked, the sense of unease that the first one ended on has me super hyped for this one.

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Boo76
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"For those who seek perfection, tell them to consult the dead. Or play tic-tax-toe."