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The Standing Chandelier: A Novella
The Standing Chandelier: A Novella | Lionel Shriver
27 posts | 13 read | 49 to read
From the award-winning novelist and short story writer, Lionel Shriver, comes a literary gem, a story about love and the power of a gift.
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KarenUK
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#3books #ivereadinaday that I absolutely loved.💕

-the tagged book was gifted to me by @Cinfhen and she really, really gets me! It‘s just my kinda book! 😘

- The Lover‘s Dictionary was a #blameitonlitsy purchase and is such a unique way of telling the story of a relationship

- Mothering Sunday is my favorite novella.... such gorgeous writing💕
(note to self- must read more Graham Swift!)

OriginalCyn620 Awesome! 4y
Cinfhen And you get me xxxxx 4y
Cinfhen I adored this one too 👉🏽it was gifted to me by the wonderful @WanderingBookaneer 4y
Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira Was a book club read for me a few tears back. So creative in it‘s story telling 💗 4y
BarbaraBB I could have used Mothering Sunday here too. Loved it! 👯‍♀️ 4y
47 likes5 comments
review
sisilia
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Pickpick

4⭐️ I highly recommend this little novella. The characters felt so real as it dissects the common question “Can men and women be ‘just friends‘?” and what happens when a third person comes into the picture. Princess Diana once said: “There have always been three people in this relationship.” and that‘s recipe for irremediable calamity. Say no more!

sisilia The lovely @Simona sent me this book for Valentine‘s Day (2018) 😘 4y
BarbaraBB @Simona sent me a copy too and I also loved it. I have been missing her lately on Litsy 🤷🏻‍♀️💕 (edited) 4y
sisilia @BarbaraBB I miss her, too 😔 4y
51 likes3 comments
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KarenUK
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#Decemberwrapup
December wasn‘t a great reading month; with a bookstore job, and houseguests too, alone time was scarce!
-LOVED the tagged book! (My fave of the month thank you Cindy 😘)
- Also LOVED Dear Sugar and The boy, the mole etc....
- Tell me Everything & The family upstairs were both page-turning thrillers, perfect 🧠🍭for an exhausting month.
- I found the writing in both Erotic Stories, and the Trollope retelling REALLY disappointing.

Cinfhen For a novella, Lionel Shriver really created a page turner 5y
47 likes1 comment
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KarenUK
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#bookreport
Quality not quantity this week for sure!
I loved both Tiny Beautiful things and The Standing Chandelier..... they will definitely both feature on my favorite #19in2019 this year.
Thank you so much Cindy for sharing this little (tagged) gem with me.... just my cuppa tea as expected.
About a third way into ‘Tell me Everything‘ and loving it so far.... New England colleges = catnip for me....🐱

squirrelbrain Sounds like a fab week! 5y
Cinfhen Yay!! A winner of a week!! I had 3 bails 😉 5y
43 likes2 comments
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KarenUK
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Pickpick

I loved this so much! Witty, biting yet with a very simple premise. A 25 yr friendship vs a lifetime (hopefully) of marriage, this love triangle of sorts, has the age old question at it‘s center, “Can men and women ever be just friends?” With the catalyst of an inappropriate wedding gift, this chess game between flamboyantly eccentric Jillian, wish-washy Weston and his manipulative new fiancé Paige, had me totally captivated. Just my kind of book.

KarenUK @Cinfhen what a perfect gift! You know me so well! One of my favorites this year for sure.... you were so right @BarbaraBB ... one of Shriver‘s best.... 😊💕 5y
BarbaraBB I knew it! We‘re booktwins remember 😉👯‍♀️? 5y
squirrelbrain Oooh sounds wonderful! 5y
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Cinfhen So glad it charmed you!! I thought it would ❤️ 5y
JennyM Beautiful review and flowers. Alstroemerias are my fave 💐 5y
KarenUK Thank you @jennyM I love them too! 💕 5y
49 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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KarenUK
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
Just starting all 3....

- Dear Sugar will complete my #Pop19 challenge (doing an audio print combo) It has me at the introduction! I‘m loving the term “ radical empathy”!

- Thank you lovely friend for the Shriver novella I just know I‘m going to love...😘

- Tell me everything is set at a liberal arts college, which basically is my catnip 🐱 so fingers crossed...🤞💕

squirrelbrain Ooh I like the sound of Tell Me Everything.... 😁 5y
Chab256 I am also currently reading Tiny Beautiful Things 😉 5y
Cinfhen And lets be honest...the cover of Tell Me Everything is right in your heart box 💙💙💙 5y
KarenUK @cinfhen I hadn‘t thought of that, but it so is! 🌊🌊🌊💕 5y
43 likes4 comments
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KarenUK
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Thank you so much, my sweet friend! 😘💕😍
It arrived! 📚#bookmail 📪
You know how I love ‘We need to talk about Kevin‘ , I‘m so looking forward to reading this novella, which is gorgeous to look at too! Plus the Parisian bookmark and notebook are perfect....
And Ruth!!!! 🙌🙌🙌😍
I‘m so touched by your kindness, as always... thank you again my lovely..... 💕💕💕

Blaire What a lovely cover! 5y
Cinfhen I‘m glad it arrived/ better late than never 😘😘 5y
KarenUK @cinfhen it had a really long way to come! 😊💕 5y
See All 8 Comments
Crazeedi @Cinfhen is the bestest, generous, fun, special friend. 😍❤ 5y
Cinfhen Thanks @Crazeedi it did have a long journey @KarenUK 😘😘 5y
Cinfhen Wish I could have delivered it in person ❤️ 5y
BarbaraBB It‘s so good, my favorite Shriver! 5y
KarenUK @barbarabb Ok... so now I‘m even more excited 👍😊 5y
52 likes8 comments
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Simona
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My #adventrecommends for Day 3

I like ‘unlikable‘ characters, and I like when authors are playing with perspective through characterization.

Suet624 And I like Shriver! 6y
Simona @Suet624 This is my second book by her, and I think that I should read in near future hers previous works. 6y
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

#HeyJune #Yesterday I received the loveliest bday gift from the remarkable @TrishB 💜This brilliant novella was part of the package. WHOA! Did Shriver manage to pack a shitload of nastiness into 126 pages! Weston & Jillian once lovers are truly best friends. Now in their mid 40s Wes meets Paige. Paige dislikes Jill immensely. What‘s Wes to do? Think Friends, Rachel, Russ, Emily❣️This book is juicy. I loved it😄 and it‘s signed🙌🏻

Cathythoughts Sounds excellent, stacked. A signed copy .... 💫💫💫wow 6y
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 sounds like you really enjoyed that one 😁 6y
Simona I love it too, it‘s my favorite book of this year (so far)❣️ 6y
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KarenUK Ooh stacked! Sounds like something I‘d love 👍 6y
BarbaraBB I loved it too, thanks to @Simona ! 6y
Simona @BarbaraBB Short and effective 😘 6y
Cinfhen I loved this one, it‘s what THE DINNER was not, delicious, smart, savory and classy @Simona @BarbaraBB @KarenUK @TrishB @Cathythoughts 🤗🤗🤗 6y
GypsyKat So fun!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
emilyhaldi Oooohhhhh I have this one stacked already, not sure form where?!🤔 6y
Reviewsbylola I plan on using Shriver as my pick for uses male pseudonym in #pop18 so I will stack this just in case I don‘t like my original pick. 6y
130 likes6 stack adds10 comments
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Simona
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Book 1: My favorite book in this year, so far ... #4newFavesIn4Days

Kalalalatja If I hadn‘t already stacked this book, I would with praise like that 🙌 7y
Cinfhen I love this author!!! #stacked 7y
Cinfhen And I agree, you read A TON!!! So it must be amazing ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ 7y
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TrishB I have this on the pile and have been put off because it‘s so short @Cinfhen @Kalalalatja #reversepagephobia 7y
Cinfhen Hahaha @TrishB yes, I did notice the page count 🙄 7y
Simona @Kalalalatja @Cinfhen The way she is playing with the dynamics between the characters is 👌 and yes @TrishB it‘s novella, but it‘s worth a try 😘 7y
BarbaraBB Yes it is so good, and I am still happy you made me read it 💕😍 7y
Simona @BarbaraBB Short and good 😘 7y
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jhod
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Congratulations @RachelO on your anniversaries!
And thanks for the #giveaway.
For #inbetween reads I would recommend the tagged book, Grief is the thing with feathers if you haven't read it, This is going to hurt which isn't short but it's diary entries so you can dip in and out, and anything on Serial Reader!
I would like to win A Herring Famine which I was recommended a couple of months ago.
Congrats again! 💕💕

rockpools Hi Jess, thanks for entering! For some readon I've never read Lionel Shriver - this could be a good place to start! And nope, still haven't read the Matt Haig either - my tbr's exploding 😉 7y
jhod Oh it's by Adam Kay - a junior doctor - not MH. Have only read how to stop time by him and didn't like it, but will be trying the humans soon! 7y
rockpools @jhod I'm being dozy! It was Grief is a thing with feathers that I was muddling with How to Stop Time - I do have the doctors one stacked, but part of me would rather not know 🙈. Obviously need to read them all & untangle myself! 7y
Libby1 My husband just saw your post card from Italy, and turning it over, said: “Who‘s Jihad?” 🤣🤣🤣 7y
jhod @libby1 😂 I should chosen my handle more carefully! 7y
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jhod
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Pickpick

Loved this! I love everything Shriver has written, she so cleverly describes the true pettiness of us all. This novella is a perfect character study of three people in a relationship, the secrets and jealousies. Fabulous.

ReadingRuby I loved this too! 7y
jhod @ReadingRuby I saw - have seen nothing but rave reviews on here, think it's brilliant what an impact she can have in so few pages 😁 7y
TrishB May move it up the tbr! 7y
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jhod @TrishB you'd finish it in a couple of hours! Totally worth a lie in tomorrow for it 😁 7y
Simona This one is my favorite in this year, so far ... (edited) 7y
jhod @Simona Yep I might agree...! 7y
103 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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ReadingRuby
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Pickpick

This was a great little read, and was a real emotional rollercoaster for me. The moment you start to side with one character, the perspective shifts and you feel sympathetic to the other side of things. It felt very real, and definitely reflected feelings of grief I have felt in my own life over the loss of friendships. Highly recommended

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ReadingRuby
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I just discovered the Libby app a few days ago, and my first hold just came through! I can‘t wait to explore all the books that are now available to me... although I‘m slightly worried I won‘t have time now to read the many unread books I already own!

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BarbaraBB
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#Wrapup #BestOfFebruary

I read 9 books in February, which is a good month for me. I discovered audiobooks. Listening to them while walking to and from my studio or while driving definitely helps in finishing more books.
These three are my favorites, with 5 stars for Lionel Shriver. Highly highly recommended!

UrsulaMonarch Great month! 👍 7y
Kalalalatja Audiobooks save me when I‘m too busy to sit down and read! 7y
Suet624 I love Lionel. 7y
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review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Jillian and Weston have been friends for years. Their bond is considered a threat by Weston‘s new girlfriend, Paige. When he proposes she makes it clear that if they marry, Jillian has to go.
In this brutal, sharp novella all three characters are neither good nor evil, just out to survive. While reading I had to make my own assumptions and judgements about them and to take side.

Loved this one. You were right, Simona. Thank you so much again 💕

Simona Beautiful book, beautiful photo❣️ I‘m glad that you enjoyed in the story 😘😘😘 7y
i.z.booknook Gorgeous picture! ❄️❤️ 7y
Cinfhen Fabulous photo & review 💜 7y
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BarbaraBB @Simona Did you choose sides? Whose? 7y
ephemeralwaltz Gorgeous photo!!😍😍😍 7y
Simona I didn‘t, till the very end ... and exactly this presentation of different views is, IMO, excellent. When you understand the actions (even if you don‘t agree)of all of those who are involved and you can see that everyone are, more or less, right ... but keeping that tree was just wrong ...so, at the end I was on Jillian side and I agree with her, that Paige kept her scalp. 7y
BarbaraBB I agree, it is very well worked out. I didn‘t like any of them and still I could understand their points of view when they were explained. I too felt for Jillian in the end, Paige being so vicious. 7y
Kalalalatja Love that picture 😍 7y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja I think you‘d love the book too! 7y
Kalalalatja I just stacked it 👍 7y
LeahBergen Beautiful photo. 😍 7y
readordierachel What a lovely view! 7y
Nute I LIKE this photo! 5y
BarbaraBB Thank you! Are you reading the book at the moment? 5y
84 likes6 stack adds15 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Today I received this beautiful novella from @Simona 💕, what a great gift, thank you so much!
I can‘t wait to read it! Fortunately I have a few days off next week, so I can read it then 😘

Simona It‘s a perfect one-sitting novella, enjoy 😘 7y
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mauveandrosysky
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Pickpick

Though barely over 100 pages, this novella is packed with Shriver's mesmerizingly sharp insight and analysis of human behavior.

Are the judgments that we make about others accurate, or are they merely borne from our own misguided presumptions? Inevitably, both, and this will always pose a challenge for relationships of any kind.

This was a completely captivating read that had me empathizing with everyone involved.

monalyisha I love novellas! Adding this. 🙌🏻 7y
queerbookreader Wow I‘m obsessed with this cover 7y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mauveandrosysky
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review
Simona
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Pickpick

Lionel Shriver mercilessly draws a friendship between a man and a woman that lasts until a third person appears. Through characterization, the author successfully managed to capture not only the complexity of male/female friendship, but also the broader interpersonal relationships that, sooner or later (or at least in this story) become a field for enforcing will and power. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

britt_brooke Nice review! 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Wow - sounds good - stacking! 7y
LauraBeth Great review! 7y
See All 15 Comments
Simona @britt_brooke Thank you 😊 7y
Simona @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled It‘s a one-sitting novella, but very strong characterization. 7y
Simona @LauraBeth Thanks 🙏 Well ....It‘s a great book🤗 I know what I‘m going to buy for my reading-friends birthdays. 7y
BarbaraBB I stacked it immediately! 😘 7y
Simona @BarbaraBB Stacked isn‘t enough, read it 😉 7y
BarbaraBB I will... I just need to get a copy. It is a bit expensive so I think i‘ll wait for the paperback! 😘 7y
Simona @BarbaraBB I left you a message on your Goodreads mail box. 😁 7y
BarbaraBB Wow... Thank you so much!! I emailed you! 😍💕💕 7y
Suet624 Love Shriver. Can‘t wait to read it. 7y
Simona @Suet624 This was my second book (so far) by her and I love how strong she is in characterization. Before that I had read We Need to Talk About Kevin ... any recommendation? 😘 7y
Suet624 So Much for That was the first book of hers that I read and I loved it. So good. I often feel like I‘m on a rollercoaster ride when I read her books. The book slowly builds until you get to the middle and then middle and then you can‘t put it down. 7y
Simona Thank you @Suet624 I will continue reading books by her with your recommendation 👍 (edited) 7y
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Simona
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I finished four books in 18 hours, but I‘m done with #24in48 #readathon It was fun, exciting and exhausting to participate. My favorite story is book in the tag, absolutely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Natasha.C.Barnes Lovely graphic! 7y
ninjypants stealing this tracker idea for the next readathon! I love it! 7y
BookishMe Wowsome! 👏🏽👏🏽 7y
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LeahBergen Yay! 🎉🎉🎉 7y
ephemeralwaltz Awesome!!👌🌟😘 7y
drokka 🙌 7y
batsy Woohoo, well done! 🎉🎉🎉 7y
MemoirsForMe Woo hoo! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Simona @Natasha.C.Barnes Thank you ☺️ 7y
Simona @ninjypants It‘s very relaxing to do some coloring between reading. 7y
Simona @BookishMe @LeahBergen @ephemeralwaltz @drokka @batsy @UwannaPublishme Thanks 🙏 I participated for the third time and this is my best result so far. 7y
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Simona
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Few hours in #24in48 #readathon and my reading buddies are already exhausted 😴

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Simona
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My first pick for #24in48 #readathon.
Happy reading and good luck 😘👍

Godmotherx5 What a neat timer. 7y
MemoirsForMe 🤗💕💕👍🏻👍🏻 7y
Simona @Godmotherx5 For me it‘s more convenient to use this one then e-watch on some device.... and I‘m old school girl 😘 7y
See All 9 Comments
Simona @UwannaPublishme Same to you 😘 7y
Suet624 Is this a new Shriver? 7y
Simona @Suet624 Published in 2017. I just finished, and it is perfect 5 star novella. 7y
Suet624 I‘m so happy to hear. She can be hit or miss. Have you read So Much For That? So good. 7y
Simona @Suet624 So far I‘ve read only We Need to Talk About Kevin, which I also liked. Thanks for recommendation! 7y
Suet624 WNTTAK still gives me the shivers. What a story. 7y
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TrishB
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#bookmail Goldsboro 30% off sale. Both signed.
I hadn‘t realised the Shriver one was so small!! (Pages!)

LittleWonder I loooooove Ali Smith! Enjoy! 7y
TrishB @LittleWonder just have to read Autumn first!! 7y
LeahBergen Nice! 😍 7y
See All 7 Comments
LittleWonder Autumn was my #1 of 2017. ☺️ 7y
minkyb I loved Autumn so hope to get to Winter. Signed copies on sale is excellent. 7y
Caroline2 Oh lovely! 😍 7y
TrishB @LittleWonder @minkyb Autumn is ready and waiting! 7y
102 likes7 comments
review
Nikki15
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Pickpick

A great book! Shriver debates the intricacies of love and friendship with only 3 wonderfully woven characters (not all likeable however). Who would you choose out of your wife to be or you best friend?

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Nikki15
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Excited to read something different. And the cover is cute so obviously I had to buy it!

Chasing_Pages Love that cover! 😍 7y
RebelReader I have never heard of this one of hers. Is it new? 7y
Nikki15 @RebelReader Yeah it was only published this year. I‘ve never read any of her other books but I‘m enjoying it so far 7y
46 likes2 stack adds3 comments