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Warlight
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
From the internationally acclaimed, best-selling author of The English Patient: a mesmerizing new novel that tells a dramatic story set in the decade after World War II through the lives of a small group of unexpected characters and two teenagers whose lives are indelibly shaped by their unwitting involvement. In a narrative as beguiling and mysterious as memory itself--shadowed and luminous at once--we read the story of fourteen-year-old Nathaniel, and his older sister, Rachel. In 1945, just after World War II, they stay behind in London when their parents move to Singapore, leaving them in the care of a mysterious figure named The Moth. They suspect he might be a criminal, and they grow both more convinced and less concerned as they come to know his eccentric crew of friends: men and women joined by a shared history of unspecified service during the war, all of whom seem, in some way, determined now to protect, and educate (in rather unusual ways) Rachel and Nathaniel. But are they really what and who they claim to be? And what does it mean when the siblings' mother returns after months of silence without their father, explaining nothing, excusing nothing? A dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all that he didn't know and understand in that time, and it is this journey--through facts, recollection, and imagination--that he narrates in this masterwork from one of the great writers of our time.
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Erynecki
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

A novel from Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient) that‘s meant to be a lyrical mystery of family, adventure, and intrigue. With the end of World War II as the backdrop, Nathaniel Williams, and his sister, Rachel, learn that their parents are bound for newly liberated Singapore and then life becomes increasingly odd. A female spy story, yet nothing really happens and yet you‘re left wondering how everything happens and it is all connected.

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TheLudicReader
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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#sorrynotsorry because I always need more books. At least two are #blameitonlitsy

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Soubhiville
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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“In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals.”

First Line Friday (a few hours early 📚🙂)

Jess Alright, this line pulled me right in. Stacked. 2y
EvieBee Wow! Looking for my kindle copy now. 2y
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Soubhiville
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

At first I thought this was going to be too dense for me to enjoy, but I ended up really liking it.

It‘s the story of Nat, who is trying to find out why his parents abandoned him, and discovers his mother especially may have a dark secret past.

There are some gritty complicated relationships, my favorite being between Nat and The Darter, a smuggler who becomes a father figure to him.

I‘m glad my aunt gave me this book.

Soubhiville Sietje is giving side eye to the greyhound racing that played a part in this, and also the TW for the death of a pet. 2y
Julsmarshall Aw, such a sweet face! 2y
Leftcoastzen Side eye!🐶 2y
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Maria514626 What a sweetheart! I bet she‘s a great reading buddy. 😊 2y
Ruthiella I loved the atmosphere of this book. 2y
Kerrbearlib Sweet dog! 2y
alysonimagines I‘m liking this for Sietje 😊🐶 2y
Soubhiville @alysonimagines I think you‘d really like this one. 2y
alysonimagines @Soubhiville Ooh ok thanks! Adding it to my Leaning Tower of TBR. 😅 2y
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Soubhiville
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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My aunt in Vermont really liked this when her bookclub recently read it, so she sent me home with it. Adding it to the TBR shelf 📚🤪.

LeahBergen I liked it, too! 👍 2y
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Kaag
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Panpan

The first half of the novel reminded me of Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh, but at least in that book the main character was very unique. Some of the characters are mildly interesting but, actually no, not really. The second half is a slow finding out of what the narrator‘s mother was all about. But again, there was nothing there to grab me. I‘ve seen praise for the narrative but I dunno I think Nabokov, McCarthy & Murakami are light years ahead.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Ah, dang. I was afraid that was the case. Thanks for the heads up. 3y
Kaag Yeah it‘s the only book I read by him but if I was giving advise I‘d say skip it and maybe try the English Patient since that‘s supposed to be his best (edited) 3y
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Pauline888888
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
Pickpick

Mysterious...Erotic...What more do I want?

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Creadnorthey
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

This finds Ondaatje in fine form; somewhere between the more straightforward English Patient (a good read, syrupy film) and Anil‘s Ghost that has me still scratching my head; this is not nostalgic like Cat‘s Table, but rather skirts the issue in the warlight of the books title.

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Singout
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
Pickpick

#Bookspin December list:

1. The Innocents
2. Fierce Femmes
3. Lost Children Archive
4. H is for Hawk
5. Me and White Supremacy
6. So You Want toTalk about Race
7. The Salt Path
8. Dorothy Day
9. Warlight
10. Pull of the Stars
11. When They Call You a Terrorist
12. Bush Runner
13. The New Jim Crow
14. The Mosquito
15. Reality Bubble
16. The Innocents
17. Furious Hours
18. Love Loss and What We Ate
19. Frying Plantain
20. Indians on Vacation

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
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Sarahreadstoomuch
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Mehso-so

Finally finished this book club book... it felt like it took years, but really only 5 days. It‘s not a terribly exciting story, but it is beautifully written and the audio narration is spot on. This atmospheric mystery/coming of age take is told by Nathaniel, figuring out his childhood, his mother who was some sort of secret agent during and after WWII, and what events shape us and how.

TheAromaofBooks Great progress! Although it's never a good sign when it feels like you've been reading a book forever! 4y
LibrarianRyan yeahhh 4y
Clwojick 🎉 ☠Way to go #TeamSlaughter! 😍 ✨ 4y
22 likes4 comments
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Shamzi
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

This line on d last page summarises d book,its filled with half stories & you are left to fill in d gaps.This line made me wonder,although our lives r not as dramatic,but this still holds credence to truth in real life.It took a while to finish but it was quite good, not great but still good.Loved that it only gave half truths & left us to fill in the gap.It gave hints throughout,old characters re-emerging,some getting closure,some still a mystery

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Shamzi
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Uptil page 112, this was a nice easy going book with Stories of teenagers left suddenly by there parent.
The next page took a really unexpected dark turn, I did not see it coming.

I have to say this, it is not your typical historical fiction book which are usually filled with action and are fast paced but the writing is really good, characters really interesting and the prose used is beautiful!!

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Shamzi
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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These came in the mail today. I believe the little pin is a book mark or is it something else, can't figure it out!! Any Ideas?

cinda.marie It‘s a bookmark. The page goes between the little gold slips and the circle sticks out from the top of the book. 😊 4y
rather_be_reading Super cute coaster!! 4y
Shamzi Yes, we thought as much. Thank you so much @cinda.marie 4y
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Readergrrl
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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I received my marked up book back! Love all the comments and I had a great time reading all of this round‘s selections! Thank you, ladies!!! #LMPBC #Round8

Kaila-ann Glad it made it back safe and sound 😊! 4y
Readergrrl Thank you for the treats, @Kaila-ann 4y
Kaila-ann @Readergrrl you‘re welcome! 4y
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Kaila-ann
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

My last read for round 8 of #lmpbc is setting off for home. I enjoyed this book although it wasn‘t really what I imagined. There were definitely some parts that were a little slow but overall it was an intriguing story and something different from a lot of the WWII/post WWII books I‘ve read. Thank you all for a wonderful round of #lmpbc. Tracking shows a Monday delivery.

Eggs Pretty yard! 4y
CBee Hey @Kaila-ann 😁 just another thank you for the book - also, when you get a chance, would you email me more details about Book Crossing? I signed up - it sounds great! 4y
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rachaich
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
Pickpick

Really good read!
Very different in its approach to the post WW2 years, and full.of espoionage and conspiracies.
I liked the fact that there was room for interpretation.

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rachaich
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Interesting blurb, downloaded from our awesome library app.
Set just after WW2, two teenage siblings left in the care of a guardian... but he, and things, seem to not be as apparent as assumed.

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Singout
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje

My #bookspin for June: I've loved Michael Ondaatje's stuff in the past, but have been putting this one off. A good nudge to read it!

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AnneCecilie
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

This is somewhere between a pick and so-so, but I really enjoyed the first part, so pick it is.

We meet siblings Nathaniel and Rachel in London after the war. Their parents suddenly leaves, and they are taken care of by friends of their parents. I loved reading about the trips along the Themes.

12 yrs after, Nathaniel looks into what really happened back then. For me some of these parts dragged a little and that says something in a 300p book

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AnneCecilie
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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#BookReport

Finished:
? The book by Høyer
? The Stranger by Läckberg

In progress:
? Warlight
? Weather on Libby
? The Hanging Girl, I didn‘t get in much audio this week

I read more than I thought I would this week. That probably has something to do with that I fell on my walk on Sunday and injured my ankle. It‘s not broken, but it hurts to walk on, so I‘ve mostly been reading with my foot up high on the sofa.

Buechersuechtling Feel better soon 💐 and enjoy your un-hoped for reading time. 4y
Cinfhen Oh no, feel better soon 4y
Siri_reads Håper det går bra med deg nå 💐 4y
AnneCecilie @Siri_reads For så vidt, hevelsen har gått ned etter å ha hatt foten høyt i 4 dager. Men etter hvert som hevelsen har gått ned har jeg begynt å få vondt. Det har gått greit så lenge foten er høyt, men nå er jeg på hjemmekontor og foten er ned og det er ikke fullt så bra. 4y
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Rupi
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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2020 Book#14

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shellleigh33
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Came home after a long night of work to find this in my mail box. Thank you so much @cwarnier for all the goodies. They made me so happy 😊❤️🥰. Can‘t wait to read our #LMPBC book.

mcipher Hope you are doing okay!! Work has gotta be tough for you right now. Sending all the (6 foot away, wearing a mask) hugs 🤗 4y
shellleigh33 @mcipher it is been different and a scary time. Our census has been down in the ER where I live and they have furloughed several of the nurses at our hospital. I have been working weird hours and at some of our sister hospitals just so I can get hours and help out at other places. Hope you are doing okay and sending 🤗🤗 back 🥰🥰 4y
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cwarnier
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Mehso-so

#lmpbc
@shellleigh33 @Kaila-ann @Readergrrl
Thanks for the share. This was not in my normal of reading, but good for me to step out of my comfort level. I just am not a huge fan of war books. Those that do would probably like it a lot.

cwarnier It might be a stretch, but I'm going to count this as my #booked2020 #spring #bookaboutgenocide as it had part of the nazi's during the war. 5y
cwarnier @shellleigh33 It will be there Monday. 5y
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cwarnier
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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#24B4Monday
Change in scenery for a while.

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cwarnier
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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cwarnier
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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I was so excited to go to the mailbox this morning. Thanks @Readergrrl @shellleigh33 #lmpbc
 @Kaila-ann
I totally agree that this life as an online teacher is rough.

Readergrrl I‘m working so much harder now than before Covid-19. But the stories my students are sharing with me are heartbreaking. One young man lost his mother and both grandparents in one week. He‘s now the oldest in his family and, at 18, his whole world has flipped. 2 younger siblings to care for also. He‘s receiving a lot of support from our community but I still can‘t fathom it all. 😥 5y
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GatheringBooks
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

#Movember Day 29: It is a coming-of-age story, a lyrical tribute to a turbulent childhood made magical by unforgettable characters who are resourceful, fearless, and lived by their own set of rules. #IllRemember. I like the unapologetic commitment to living one‘s life the best way one knows how – regardless of the fragments left behind, notwithstanding the unopened trunk of clothes that went nowhere. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-iUU

Cinfhen Beautiful review/ I‘ve been meaning to read this but keep putting it off. Your review just made me bump it back up! 5y
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sophierayton
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

This novel is quiet and understated. The story is about a teenage boy and the affect war has on him, his family, his relationships and his future. There are a lot of beautiful sentences and the writing and story is so well crafted that I think it's a book that would hold up to being re-read several times.

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Slajaunie
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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This one seems to be much more to my taste.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled You‘re enjoying it so far? I have it in my TBR but have heard mixed reviews. Still want to give it a try! 5y
Slajaunie @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I bailed. Too sexual for me. 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Ah. Bummer 🙁 5y
Slajaunie In my younger years that type of thing was thrilling but not anymore. @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 5y
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

I was having trouble with this one as an audiobook so switched to print and totally loved it. Ondaatje can weave such rich and elaborate tales. Our main character narrates living through his odd childhood with absent parents and then his adulthood coming to understand who his mother was and all the strange adults that surrounded him growing up. It left me thinking of all the behind-the-scenes work of war and unsung heroes and villains.

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JillR
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

In the years after WWII, Nathaniel tries to piece together a sense of his mother‘s life after her death, and why she abandoned him. This is the sort of literary writing I‘ve not enjoyed in the past but I enjoyed this, although it left me feeling sad. The last few books I‘ve read, whilst each very different, have been about motherhood in some form. This was from the child‘s perspective and the teenage Nathaniel nearly broke my heart 💔

emmaturi I also finished this book recently. I enjoyed it but didn't come away with the feeling of loving it. 5y
JillR @emmaturi I feel the same - I really wasn‘t sure I wanted to read it after a few chapters, but I‘m glad I carried on and finished it. A like not love though... 5y
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JillR
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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I just read a review that said this was dreamlike and I‘m not very good with dreamlike, so now I feel nervous. That‘s why I should never read reviews before I start the book!

Cathythoughts Look forward to your thoughts 👍🏻♥️ and you‘ve been saying your book taste is changing ... will be interested to see how you get on 5y
LeahBergen I actually didn‘t find it very ‘dreamlike‘ 🤔 5y
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Michael Ondaatje is such a gorgeous writer!

Sarahreadstoomuch I‘ll be reading this with my book club! Looking forward to it! 5y
JillR Just starting this one! 5y
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Melissa_J Beautiful flowers! 5y
59 likes1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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JanuarieTimewalker13 Beautiful!!! 5y
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Audiobooks make transit so much more tolerable!

Heideschrampf Yes!! I am at this very moment listening to my audiobook on the tram back from work! 5y
MCYmermaid Great composition! 5y
65 likes4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Next up on audiobook!

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youneverarrived
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

“We order our lives with barely held stories.”

Beautiful writing. There are some really vivid moments and it‘s a very atmospheric read however I wasn‘t invested in the characters or the story itself. I love the theme running throughout of memory & how we perceive events differently as an adult. I‘ll definitely read more by the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BiblioLitten Oh! I love the theme of memory. Stacked! 5y
youneverarrived @BiblioLitten you will probably like this one then 🤞 5y
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youneverarrived
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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It might sound weird but I had a dream about buying this a little while ago and the last time I dreamt I bought a book I hadn‘t read it was The Poisonwood Bible and that turned out to be a new favourite of mine, so I‘m hoping the same will be said about this one. 🖤

Reggie That‘s cool. 5y
DivineDiana 🤞🏻 5y
JennyM I love how you dream books 📚 5y
See All 7 Comments
wanderinglynn That is so cool that you dream about books. 5y
LeahBergen I really enjoyed this one! And I dream about book shopping ALL the time. 😆😆 5y
readordierachel Love that. Totally valid and magical reason to buy a book. Hopefully it's another winner. 5y
Cathythoughts I‘ll be interested to hear what you think. I loved the movie English Patient.... love your story too ♥️✨✨ 5y
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Samplergal
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

I loved this book. Set in post war England, it‘s an character study that really has a great story. I won‘t give too much away but there are lots of family secrets in this one. Excellent book club pic. #booked2019 #summer #bookgiftedtome

Cinfhen Yay!!! I love seeing those magic words “excellent for book club ” 💕💕💕 (edited) 5y
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Samplergal
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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1. Warlight. Very good. 2. Beach. 3. I love them. 4. I‘m working on it. Throwing around a few. 5. Will do! #friyayintro

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LeahBergen
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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My ‘currently reading‘ pile.

I should really be reading Warlight right now, as my IRL book club is meeting on Thursday, but I find myself caught up in Eleanor Oliphant. I picked it up for my 87-year-old mother-in-law (she needs it for her book club! 😍) and it looks like I‘m now doing a ‘quality-control‘ preread for her. 😆

monalyisha “Warlight” certainly wasn‘t a fast/compulsive read, but I hope you end up liking it as much as I did! 6y
cathysaid How I miss Eleanor 💔 Tell her hello for me. 6y
HardcoverHearts I fell into Warlight and Eleanor won my heart! I‘ll need to check out the third you have there. I know nothing about it. 6y
See All 18 Comments
Gissy Loved, loved Eleonor!❤️ 6y
Suet624 Oh Eleanor. 💕💕 6y
Megabooks Such a good book!! 6y
mabell “Quality Control” - how thoughtful! 😂 6y
rubyslippersreads I have a Spring Magic, but haven‘t read it yet. And I loved Eleanor! 6y
MemoirsForMe 😂😂😂 6y
tpixie Lol Quality Control! Glad to know I my still be in a book club when I‘m 87 yo!! 6y
Mdargusch It‘s a job someone needs to do so it might as well be you! 6y
Andrew65 Agree with others, Eleanor is an excellent read. 😍 6y
Melissa_J Once again I find my views on a book are contrary to this of the majority - I didn‘t like Eleanor at all and bailed on the book 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
LeahBergen @Melissa_J Oddly enough, I really enjoyed the beginning but then ended up giving it three stars (mostly because of its portrayal of mental illness and spectrum disorders). 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
emilyhaldi Ok well I was about to say "pick up Warlight NOW!!!" bc it's SO good. But then I saw you were reading Eleanor which I'm obsessed with so, carry on... (And now I see that you aren't in love with Eleanor so let me just say, pick up Warlight!!!!) 6y
LeahBergen @emilyhaldi Ha! 😆 I ended up LOVING Warlight. 👍🏻 6y
Cathythoughts Warlight has just moved up my list ♥️👍🏻 6y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I really enjoyed it! 6y
126 likes18 comments
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monalyisha
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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“But it was an old house. She knew each slight incline of hall, every stiff window casing, the noise of winds during different seasons. She could have walked blindfolded through its rooms into the garden and stopped with assurance an inch from a lilac. She knew where the moon hung each month, as well as which window to view it from. It was her biography since birth, her biology. I think it drove her mad.”

gradcat Such a cool pic!! 6y
monalyisha My mom raised me in the same house that she grew up in & she always felt trapped. I *loved* this particular rumination about houses & their history. It goes on to discuss how this can effect women, specifically. SO GOOD. 6y
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monalyisha
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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“And that brief moment with the hot iron poised in her hand in midair as she watched The Moth remembering their earlier days left an indelible perception.”

*note: this is a beautiful quote, but I couldn‘t resist this vintage photo because wtf 😅

TimSpalding I sympathize. Just imagine life without dryers. If you wanted to press your face against warm clothing, you had to iron it! 6y
monalyisha @TimSpalding Ha! I love that you saw this very weird thing & immediately thought, “Oh yeah. I get that.” Proof that reading fosters empathy! 😉 6y
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monalyisha
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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“It took several days, this act of packing, and felt slow and fateful in its activity, like an endless ghost story.”

DivineDiana Love this photograph! ❤️ 6y
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monalyisha
Warlight: A novel | Michael Ondaatje
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“There‘s no trustworthy recording of ages when seen through the eyes of youth, and I suppose the war had further confused the way we read age or the hierarchies of class.”