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Upstate
Upstate | James Wood
9 posts | 6 read | 8 to read
Alan Querry, a successful property developer from the north of England, has two daughters: Vanessa, a philosopher who lives and teaches in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Helen, a record company executive based in London. The sisters never quite recovered from their parents bitter divorce and the early death of their mother, with Vanessa particularly affected, and plagued by bouts of depression since her teenage years. When she suffers a new crisis, Alan and Helen travel to Saratoga Springs. Over the course of six wintry days in upstate New York, the Querry family begins to struggle with the questions that animate this profound and searching novel: Why do some people find living so much harder than others? Is happiness a skill that can be learned, or a lucky accident of birth? Is reflection helpful to happiness or an obstacle to it? If, as a favourite philosopher of Vanessas puts it, the only serious enterprise is living, how should we live? Rich in subtle human insight, full of poignant and often funny portraits, and vivid with a sense of place, Upstate is a perceptive, intensely moving novel.
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DarcysMom
Upstate | James Wood
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review
DarcysMom
Upstate | James Wood
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Pickpick
Reviewsbylola This sounds very thoughtful. Stacked! 5y
arubabookwoman Great review! I‘m glad you liked it. 5y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DarcysMom
Upstate | James Wood
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Another early morning with my #LMPBC book. I am hoping to make a good dent in it before everyone else is up and going.

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DarcysMom
Upstate | James Wood
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Starting my Friday off right: beautiful sunrise, coffee, and a new #LMPBC book!
@leslieseidel @Shadowfat @arubabookwoman
#LMPBC #round6 #groupT

@suvata

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Shadowfat
Upstate | James Wood
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Mehso-so

I thought this book was well written but plot wise it just wasn't for me. Maybe once I have kids it'll be more relevant. This is on its way to you @DarcysMom for #lmpbc group T. Also I sent my #Screamathon package to @Readergrrl and it should be there tomorrow. @4thhouseontheleft @arubabookwoman @leslieseidel

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arubabookwoman
Upstate | James Wood
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I‘m wondering if any #GroupT members would mind if I changed my choice to Upstate by James Wood? If you‘ve already read it, let me know, and I‘ll choose something else.
Also, would you all mind noting your choices for the #LMPBC, either in the comments here or in a separate note, what you‘ve chosen so I can see what I have to look forward to? I‘m very excited to begin! @DarcysMom @leslieseidel @Shadowfat

DarcysMom I haven't read it, it looks good! I chose 5y
leslieseidel Looks good to me too! 5y
leslieseidel I initially chose City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert but it isn't deep enough for this sort of reading (mark-up). So I am checking out two other books: 5y
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arubabookwoman Thanks @leslieseidel and @DarcysMom . @Shadowfat have you chosen yet? 5y
Shadowfat @arubabookwoman I'll be picking options this weekend. I had surgery yesterday so I haven't had a chance to look through my TBR pile. 5y
arubabookwoman @Shadowfat Hope you recover quickly and feel better soon. Looking forward to seeing your choice. Thanks! 5y
25 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Booksnchill
Upstate | James Wood
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Pickpick

Quiet family drama, father and 2 grown daughters visit the elder daughter in Saratoga Springs, NY. Each has their own inner monologue and together they engage in the casual family dynamics familiar to most. Quiet story well told- open ended as are all family stories. 4⭐️

64 likes1 stack add
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Booksnchill
Upstate | James Wood
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This one due back at library in 6 days- only 200 pages so time to get cracking. About Alan Querry and his 2 daughters, one with depression. Alan and one daughter travel from England to Saratoga Springs to see the other daughter- a philosophy professor at Skidmore. That‘s about as far as I have gotten but good prose. #DogsOfLitsy

Cinfhen Hi Whiskey!!! Hi Rebecca 💕💕 6y
Booksnchill @Cinfhen hi there! All going well with you? 6y
wanderinglynn What a cute pup! ❤️🐶 6y
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Cinfhen Yes, thanks 🙏🏻 how about you guys?!?! 6y
Booksnchill @Cinfhen hating the fireworks but otherwise OK! 6y
Booksnchill @wanderinglynn thanks, we love him!🐾💖 6y
tammysue ❤️🐾 6y
77 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Well-ReadNeck
Upstate | James Wood
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Mehso-so

This book ended up in a very different place than it started for me. Initially, there were long, intricate descriptions of England and The English countryside that felt a bit high-handed and pompous. But, as the story moved to the US (specifically to Saratoga Springs, NY — the upstate of the title), the characters took over the story. They were not pompous, but, nor were they particularly deep. #netgalley

107 likes1 stack add