Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
From a Low and Quiet Sea
From a Low and Quiet Sea: A Novel | Donal Ryan
52 posts | 37 read | 38 to read
A new moving novel of three men, each searching for something they have lost, from the award-winning and Man Booker nominated author Donal Ryan. For Farouk, family is all. He has protected his wife and daughter as best he can from the war and hatred that has torn Syria apart. If they stay, they will lose their freedom, will become lesser persons. If they flee, they will lose all they have known of home, for some intangible dream of refuge in some faraway land across the merciless sea. Lampy is distracted; he has too much going on in his small town life in Ireland. He has the city girl for a bit of fun, but she's not Ama, and Ama took his heart away when she left him. There's the secret his mother will never tell him. His granddad's little sniping jokes are getting on his wick. And on top of all that, he has a bus to drive; those old folks from the home can't wait all day. The game was always the lifeblood coursing through John's veins: manipulating people for his enjoyment, or his enrichment, or his spite. But it was never enough. The ghost of his beloved brother, and the bitter disappointment of his father, have shadowed him all his life. But now that lifeblood is slowing down, and he's not sure if God will listen to his pleas for forgiveness. Three men, searching for some version of home, their lives moving inexorably towards a reckoning that will draw them all together.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Anna40
post image
Mehso-so

3 stories that the author connects at the end. There is nothing wrong with the stories, the writing, the characters, I just couldn't connect and didnt enjoy the book much.

review
Dogearedcopy
post image
Pickpick

This is a collation of four short stories that, at first seem separate from each other and oddly without that elegiac note that seems to be Ryan‘s signature. Then that last story wraps it all up and delivers the shiv to you where you stand!

There is a slight connection to “A Slanting of the Sun” (short in the collection of the same name) but you don‘t need to read either to enjoy the other.

Dogearedcopy 🎧 All the stars for the writing; but the audio had uneven performances ranging from just okay to downright awful. 4y
23 likes1 comment
blurb
TrishB
post image

Kindle UK deal of the day...

Libby1 Have you read The Spinning Heart? Beautiful. 6y
TrishB Not read any of his yet - but I see I have already stacked that one! @Libby1 6y
Emilymdxn I really liked this one! 6y
See All 11 Comments
TrishB @Emilymdxn I was put off because it had been nominated for prizes and it‘s so small! But at 99p it‘s fine 😁 6y
Cathythoughts I did read his book The Spinning Heart .... for 99p I‘m going to get this one 👍🏻 6y
TrishB @Cathythoughts less than a Costa! 6y
DGRachel I know it got mixed reviews but I really enjoyed this one. I didn‘t like any of the other Man Booker nominees that I read last year, but I liked this one. 6y
rockpools Oh bother. I was doing so well avoiding the 99p deals this month... 😉 6y
TrishB @DGRachel at 99p it‘s not the end of the world I feel if you don‘t like it! 6y
TrishB @RachelO you‘re welcome 😇 6y
DGRachel True! 6y
84 likes1 stack add11 comments
review
Honeybeebooks
post image
Pickpick

It's not just the story but also in the telling of it. The characters, setting and time are just part of the storyteller's craft but when they are are delicately woven together they elevate a few simple stories into something nearly sublime. Well done! Worth the read. Looking forward to reading another work by Donal Ryan. Any suggestions?

blurb
Honeybeebooks
post image

Finally, John. Three stories. Such different men. This one chooses power and then is powerless. "There's God...I feel the breath of angels on my neck. Their breath is foul. They're from the other legion, I'd say."

blurb
Honeybeebooks
post image

Another snowy weekend and the sound of a lilting Irish accent as a boy bemoans the death of snowflakes. "But, God rarely played ball when it came to snow." On that we can agree.

blurb
Honeybeebooks
post image

The beginning of Farouk's story immediately captured my attention. I loved that it spoke of trees and their ability to talk to each other. It reminded me of the most beautiful parts of Lab Girl. Farouk's story was darkly beautiful too.

blurb
Honeybeebooks
post image

“A stunning novel of three men, each searching for something they have lost.” -inside cover.

My wish is for every book to live up to the accolades. -me

1 like1 stack add
blurb
8little_paws
post image

Well since i'm trapped under a cat I might as well knock out one more short book in 2018 🤷‍♀️

blurb
Lola
post image

I reluctantly put this down to attend work meetings this morning and couldn‘t wait for lunch so I could get back to it. Sadly, this didn‘t make the ToB short list (nor the Man Booker short list for that matter) but I‘m so grateful to the MB longlist for putting it on my radar & then a publishing rep‘s mention at my local indie for pushing me over the edge. This book is ringing all of my book bells and I can‘t wait to read more from this author.

47 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Lola
post image

I‘ve seen mixed reviews on this one, which I bought a few months ago when it made the Man Booker longlist. It‘s also on the Tournament of Books longlist, and thus far, it‘s leaps and bounds better than the other ToB longlister I‘m currently reading, French Exit by Patrick deWitt (whose Sisters Brothers I adored but this new one, not so much 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Cinfhen I picked up French Exit on a #DailyDeal a few weeks back. I don‘t feel bad at $1.99 if I don‘t end up liking it 6y
Lola @Cinfhen I LOVE the Daily Deals for this reason. Ditto, of course, the library. 6y
Cinfhen Yes!!!! #LibraryLove BUT being 108 on a wait list can sometimes lead to major #BookCravings 6y
See All 9 Comments
Lola @Cinfhen That‘s THE WORST!! I am, for this reason, finally actually using my Scribd account. It was delightful to be able to immediately listen to a couple on my TBR that have mega-holds at the library, like 6y
Cinfhen I‘m not much of an audio person but that is definitely a worthy purchase!!! You‘ll be waiting until 2020 to read Becoming through the library!!!! 6y
Lola @Cinfhen For real! 😂 I do a handful of books in audio. MO reads her memoir, so that was outstanding. Lincoln in the Bardo was amazing on audio (I did that in print as well) with a cast of over 120 actors. I also did this one on audio because I had to read it in time for book club and and the library hold list is still very deep; it was excellent in that format 6y
Cinfhen I‘ve been meaning to read Lincoln forever, I own the book but maybe Audio would be a better option!! I also agree, I enjoy memoirs read by the author. My favorite being 6y
Lola @Cinfhen That‘s been on my list forever. I picked up from Audible when they had a special where it was free for a month. I‘ve only heard great things about it. 6y
Cinfhen You HAVE to listen!!!!! He‘s hilarious 6y
44 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
DreesReads
post image
Pickpick

Ryan is very good at capturing his characters in surprisingly few words and pages. Each of his main characters in this novel are lost in some way—and he explains this all very well. But sometimes writing that is spare is too spare. These stories all connect in the last 10 pages. I felt it didn‘t really end. What happens to the characters? What are the ramifications? And I have one big question with a spoiler tag in my GR review. #bookerlonglist

blurb
Samplergal
post image

Taking this one for airplane reading tomorrow. I‘m so behind on my ARCs. #packingforLondon.

BookNerd9906 Have fun! 6y
74 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Hoopiefoot
post image

New house that‘s closer to work means a new morning routine. Moving‘s a huge pain but more quiet morning reading time is totally worth it.

RebelReader Love the Miss Piggy cup! 💗 6y
Hoopiefoot @RebelReader Inside it says “Moi needs a refill” 😆 6y
53 likes2 comments
review
ReadingEnvy
post image
Mehso-so

Donal Ryan does a good job writing the internal lives of his characters, but I really struggled to see the greater purpose of this book. Why these characters, why this story? I remember liking The Spinning Heart far better.

BarbaraBB I had a lot of ‘Why?‘ too after finishing it. 6y
Cathythoughts I loved The Spinning Heart ... I havnt read this one though. 6y
75 likes2 comments
blurb
eraderneely
post image

Away in Somerset for a wedding. Staying at a lovely little pub next door to the church.

jhod Beautiful! 6y
JennyM Gorgeous- enjoy! 6y
eraderneely @jhod @JennyM It‘s been wonderful! 6y
24 likes3 comments
blurb
SaraBeagle
post image

August is always so crazy with prepping for the new semester, I hardly have time to read. But this weekend I made plans to read a book a day. Mission accomplished. ✔️✔️✔️

32 likes1 stack add
review
Booksnchill
post image
Pickpick

My 3rd read from the Man Booker Long List. This is a short book told by 3 narrators- 3 men who are drawn to the sea for different reasons. The final section is an omniscient narrator who pulls together their stories - splintered men, neither good nor evil but living their lives. My favorite was the young man Lampy and his grandfather- their relationship rang most true for me. Quiet book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

britt_brooke Nice review! 6y
DGRachel Yay! Finally someone else who enjoyed this one! I was starting to think I was the only one. 😂 6y
Booksnchill @DGRachel I will admit I wasn‘t sure about it after the first 2 narrators- I was hoping it would tie together but I wasn‘t seeing it- like character studies of how we all intertwine, if not in our current lives perhaps in our shared experiences? I enjoyed the lyrical writing. 6y
76 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
lauralovesbooks1
post image
Pickpick

Some books roar, this one whispers -- but what a whisper. Three individual stories all come together in one night's event -- a refugee from Syria and two men in Ireland. Such a well crated story with gorgeous writing that is achingly precise and evocative.

monalyisha Beautiful review! 😍 6y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Agree with @monalyisha . Love your review 6y
Booksnchill Oh reading this now! 6y
RaimeyGallant Great review! 6y
31 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
andrew61
post image
Pickpick

My 1st read from the booker longlist + i enjoyed it a lot. 3 stories of v different men seem unconnected until the final part draws them all together. A dr who escapes a country controlled by isis with his wife+dtr - heartbreaking and absorbing , a young irish man full of anger struggles with his emotions, and an older man who seems heartless deals with consequences of love,jealousy & violence .
a subtle picture of men and i liked the resolution.

Cathythoughts You liked it ! Great! I havnt read yet ... 6y
andrew61 @Cathythoughts I've seen a lot of negative views but i liked it. 6y
42 likes2 comments
blurb
Booksnchill
post image

Next up on my Man Booker Long List reading - as I have started reading this is not the book I thought it would be, cannot wait to see where it ends up.

66 likes1 stack add
review
Kalalalatja
post image
Mehso-so

This could have been great. It had so much going for it, but in the end, it turned out to be the beginning of three novels which got tied together in 20 pages or so.

This book tells the story of Fahrouk, a refugee, Lampy, a young man struggling, and John, a sort of bad guy. I was a lot more interested in Fahrouk‘s story but it felt like it was just added to the book for the drama and emotionality, not for its own sake.

#MBL2018 #ManBooker2018

BarbaraBB I so agree with you. 6y
JamieArc Me too! 6y
Dolly That‘s a disappointment. I wonder if I should pass it up? 6y
Redwritinghood Agree 💯 %. Beautiful writing and well-developed characters, but disappointing story. 6y
96 likes4 comments
blurb
Kalalalatja
post image

I‘m home from my mom‘s and well and truly tired after a day full of preparations, celebrations and partying yesterday! 🎉🎉

Now I‘m ready to just relax on the couch and hopefully finish this #ManBooker longlist book. Or maybe I‘ll just nap 😴

#currentlyreading

Reviewsbylola A nap sounds good too! 💤 6y
Cathythoughts It‘s always a tough call for me .., nap( because I‘m so tired ) ... or read because I really want to ... what to do !!! Quick nap 😴 & then read 👍🏻 6y
Kalalalatja @Reviewsbylola @Cathythoughts I managed to do both, and I‘m glad I did! 😉 6y
kspenmoll Enjoy your downtime! 6y
102 likes4 comments
blurb
Kalalalatja
post image

I‘m quite #headoverheels in love with these #MBL2018 covers 😍 Although I wasn‘t a huge fan of The Water Cure, and I have seen mixed reviews for the tagged book and Everything Under, I‘m still pretty excited to read them all. I really hope I‘ll like some of them at least! 🤞

#ABBAinAugust

Cathythoughts Look forward to your review on the tagged one. I read another if his & loved it 6y
Mdargusch Wow! I‘m with you. I love the cover on the Water Cure but Milkman! 💗💗💗 6y
JennyM Aren‘t they beautiful! 6y
See All 11 Comments
saresmoore They are exceptional covers this year. 6y
Kalalalatja @Cathythoughts I just started it tonight, and so far, so good 🤞 @Mdargusch I know! The colors on Milkman are just stunning 💕 @JennyM @saresmoore I really like the cover for The Overstory too, but I haven‘t gotten it from the library yet 👌 6y
emilyhaldi Wow I might be buying these just for the covers 😍 please read ASAP and let me know if I should proceed with my plan 😂😂 6y
Kalalalatja @emilyhaldi lol! I‘m thinking The Water Cure is a #borrownotbuy, but I‘ll let you know about the rest 😄👍 6y
Emilymdxn I really loved Everything Under and I did enjoy the Water Cure a lot tho it wasn‘t my absolute fave, I think you‘re gonna have fun reading these! 6y
Meredith3 Omg what a beautiful group of books! Awesome pic! 6y
Kalalalatja @Emilymdxn I hope so! 🤞 @Meredith3 I know, the Man Booker cover game is strong this year 👏👏 6y
ephemeralwaltz 😍😍😍😍😍 6y
90 likes1 stack add11 comments
review
mklong
post image
Pickpick

This is undoubtedly a lovely and well written book, but I found myself admiring it rather than falling in love with it. If I had read it a month ago (before Booker madness began) I might have liked it more, but now it just isn't making the impression on me that several others on the list have. That said, I would have a beer with Pop any time! Booker longlist 6/13

monalyisha I know that feeling. Great review! 6y
LazyDays That's a nice vase you have! 6y
mklong @monalyisha Thanks! 6y
mklong @LazyDays Thank you! It was a housewarming gift from a dear friend 6y
LazyDays Nice taste! Is it a Southwestern Artist? 6y
74 likes5 comments
review
Simona
post image
Mehso-so

Three unrelated short stories about three men who in their own way are fighting with losses, sorrow and regret. All three of them are distinguished by excellent prose, the first, Farouk‘s story is outstanding excellent. Just because of this story, the book is worth reading. And how do we get a novel from three short stories? By adding a fourth ... in which characters are loosely connected... Enough for a novel? Apparently yes... ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BarbaraBB ... or not 😉 6y
Simona @BarbaraBB I‘m voting for ‘not‘ too! 6y
62 likes3 comments
review
BarbaraBB
post image
Panpan

#manbooker2018 book 2

How can a book that starts so strong (with the story of Farouk, a Syrian refugee) become so utterly boring? I was drawn in immediately by Farouk‘s story and Ryan‘s style, but Lampy‘s story was disappointing and the last one I could only skim. In the end the three stories come together in a forced way. Too late for me, I wasn‘t interested anymore. Definitely not Booker worthy in my opinion.

DivineDiana Hmm. Too bad. 🙁 6y
BarbaraBB @DivineDiana Yes I was really disappointed. But maybe it‘s just me, although I remember that @saresmoore also loved the first part and was disappointed later on. 6y
saresmoore Yes, I totally agree with your review. I‘m really not sure why this was nominated. 6y
See All 13 Comments
DGRachel I think this is the first time my “pick” ended up being the #unpopularopinion. 😂 I thought the way things came together was too convenient, but I enjoyed the writing throughout and quite frankly was glad the entire thing wasn‘t refugee-centric. 6y
Taylor How are the other Booker books? 6y
Redwritinghood That seems to be the consensus with this one - strong beginning but downhill from there. 6y
BarbaraBB @DGRachel Lol, your #unpopularopinion 😂. You‘re right about the writing, it is good. I just was bored by the lives of those two men (the negativity, the fighting), but I have to admit I was really skimming in the end so I might have missed things... 6y
BarbaraBB @Taylor This was only my second but I loved 6y
BarbaraBB @Redwritinghood Yes I saw your so-so review too. Fortunately you liked The Mars Room. Are you reading another now? 6y
Redwritinghood @BarbaraBB Working my way through The Overstory right now. 6y
Cathythoughts I‘m not drawn to this one & def not going there now ... 6y
Simona I 💯 agree with you! 6y
LaviniaG Oh, so sad to hear that, this was actually one of the books I was really looking forward to reading, having previously read & loved Donal Ryan. I dnf-ed The Mars Room last week and probably won't be attempting anything else from the list until Sally Rooney's book comes out. 6y
77 likes13 comments
review
ClairesReads
post image
Mehso-so

Ryan‘s prose is undoubtably beautiful. His writing is considered, and lyrical at times. This novella is a sad story, each central character grappling with the reality of their lives which have taken traumatic, unexpected turns. Normally this is absolutely my kind of read, but for some reason I felt very distant from these characters and this world. Although he drew his characters together at the end, I found this conceit a little too convenient.

Redwritinghood Great review. I agree with you 100%. 6y
ClairesReads @Redwritinghood thanks Jerrie- it just didn‘t quite work for me. 6y
49 likes2 comments
blurb
ClairesReads
post image

Finally getting on the #manbooker2018 longlist buzz properly 2/13

Redheadrambles This one ☝🏻 is miniature perfection 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles I‘ve only read a little but it‘s beautifully written 6y
44 likes2 comments
review
Emilymdxn
post image
Pickpick

5/13 of the #manbookerlonglist !! #manbooker2018

Not as perfect as The Overstory I‘ll be honest so maybe I‘m harsher on this book than I should have been, just because it came after one so perfect. Lovely characterisation, all done with a very delicate hand, gorgeously psychologically vivid. I got a bit lost in the plot in the 3rd section and the veeery long sentences with 15 ‘ands‘ were clearly a stylistic choice but it jarred for me.

blurb
SharonGoforth
post image

Started on my lunch hour. #lunchtimereading #2018manbookerlonglist

blurb
Kalalalatja
post image

I‘m slowly buying/borrowing the #ManBooker2018 long listed books I find interesting. I just got the tagged book from the library today, and I started Snap today as well. Not sure how I feel about it yet, since crime isn‘t really my thing 🤷‍♀️

#MBP2018 #libraryhaul #currentlyreading

charl08 Yup, doing tge same thing. Four down, 9 to go... 6y
ephemeralwaltz Gorgeous editions 6y
87 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Emilymdxn
post image

My next #manbookerlonglist pick! Heard good things

review
saresmoore
post image
Bailedbailed

The first story in this novel was poignant and self-contained, could even have ended better about 15 pages before it did. Then the next story started and all that poignance and tension gave way to pointless, muddled, shallow character study with what felt like gratuitous fighting and cursing. Don‘t care to finish.

SandyW I hate when that happens. I get that the author is following a path s/he wants the characters to take, but if I like the story, I always get invested in the characters and have my own ideas for them! 6y
BookwormM I felt the same loved the first and last section and hated the middle 6y
quietlycuriouskate Oh, that is disappointing! 😟 6y
saresmoore @River_Voice This one started off so promising and, obviously, many have loved it! I never know with Man Booker picks. 6y
84 likes4 comments
blurb
saresmoore
post image

Oh, my heart. The premise of the first portion of this book—a family‘s escape from Syria—is one I‘ve imagined many times in my prayers and dreams. No story could ever depict the reality of such unfathomable dread, but Ryan‘s words make it palpable somehow. Even so, dread is not the tone; I can‘t put my finger on it, but it‘s deeply affecting so far.

Suet624 So glad you‘re enjoying it. 6y
Cathythoughts We read a book of his called The Spinning Heart for Bookclub! He really goes straight to the heart ❤️💔 6y
102 likes2 comments
blurb
SharonGoforth
post image

My Book Depository orders are starting to arrive 😊📚#bookmail #lovethecovers #bookdepository #nosuchthingastoomanybooks

Moray_Reads The western wind is excellent 6y
TheBookAddict The bottom two have pretty covers!!! 😍 6y
SharonGoforth @Moray_Reads That‘s what I‘ve heard! Can‘t wait to read it. 6y
SharonGoforth @TheBookAddict They are gorgeous! The pictures do not do them justice. 6y
rather_be_reading 😍😍 6y
54 likes5 comments
blurb
saresmoore
post image

Oh, dear. Morning reading (and perhaps too much coffee) is inspiring some deep, existential thoughts. Probably Dostoevsky, too. 😬 Someone should come rescue my kids before they get sucked into a spiral of contemplation...

quietlycuriouskate I love this post! 😊 6y
saresmoore @River_Voice Melancholy writers unite! 😆 6y
BarbaraBB Echoing @River_Voice and love your answer too 💕 6y
See All 13 Comments
Billypar Can you just move the Ryan novel a bit...I want to read the rest 🙂🤔 6y
saresmoore @Billypar Haha! So much rambling philosophizing on grace and individualism and blah, blah, blah... 🧐😴 6y
saresmoore @BarbaraBB ♥️ Thanks, friend. Trying to cultivate some hope and clearheadedness in what is increasingly becoming a global desert of hatred. 6y
Billypar @saresmoore Lol- sounds like good stuff to me! 6y
Redwritinghood 😂😂 Have them talk to my kids - they‘re used to that. (edited) 6y
saresmoore @Redwritinghood 😅 You‘d think mine would be, too! 6y
BarbaraBB We need to, if only for our kids... 6y
emilyhaldi Oh boy!! 6y
quietlycuriouskate @saresmoore @BarbaraBB @batsy #melancholywritersunite Yeah, I'd wear the T-shirt (in a suitably muted colour, obviously)! ❤😊 6y
83 likes13 comments
review
MeikeReads
post image
Pickpick

Donal Ryan writes about three very different men, about their losses and regrets - and woooow, this author really shows some deep understanding of the human soul. There are beautiful, interesting and pristine sentences aplenty. Another year with outstanding Irish contributions to the Booker list, it seems. #manbooker2018 #finestfiction #indiebuddyreads #mbp2018 #indiebuddyreads

Redheadrambles Yes ! Such a good match there to the wallpaper and one of my top Booker books so far as you know :) 6y
MeikeReads @Redheadrambles Agreed - the book is wonderful!! (The background is my shower curtain :-)) 6y
Redheadrambles @MeikeReads ah yes that makes more sense now otherwise it‘s a very wavy wall haha ! 6y
See All 7 Comments
AceOnRoam Shower curtain hahahahaha, that's a Litsy first! 6y
MeikeReads @AceOnRoam It takes me 3 hours to get to the sea, so the curtain must do as a background! :-) 6y
AceOnRoam It's worth the drive! 6y
MeikeReads @AceOnRoam You know what? You're so right! :-) 6y
23 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Redheadrambles
post image

Is it time already for the end of the month wrap up ? A fairly varied month - a spy thriller, non-fiction, debut authors and the beginning of my Booker season reading. All of these were books worth reading but I loved this Donal Ryan the most.
August will be almost completely taken up with the Booker longlist although I do need to squeeze a Read Harder book in there somehow...

ns510reads I know lol. I am sooo behind on Read Harder! 🙈 6y
Redheadrambles @ns510reads can you use any Longlister for any RH task ? 6y
ns510reads Probably not. I think the only thing that may potentially apply is a ‘romance novel by or about a POC‘ or ‘mystery by a POC or LGBTQ+ author‘....but i don‘t think either apply to any of the longlisted books. But we‘ll see! 😉 6y
See All 7 Comments
ClairesReads Great round up- I‘m going to post mine later tonight! @ns510reads I‘m way behind on Read Harder too- with no time in sight given I haven‘t started the Booker longlist yet...I don‘t get the feeling any of them fit the RH tasks... 6y
Redheadrambles @ClairesReads poor Claire ! We miss you 😘 hopefully normal reading can resume soon. Yeah I looked the list over trying to fit something into RH but no I can‘t see an angle yet. 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles miss you toooooooo!! 6y
31 likes7 comments
review
Redheadrambles
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I really loved this. A reaction which I found surprising as I had expected to enjoy it in some kind of low and quiet way. But that first story, was in fifty pages everything I had wanted to get from last years Booker nominated Exit West.
The parts of this novel that really stood out, were the aspects that made each man unique, their individual defining moments of heartbreak. The ending didn‘t entirely work but it was so close to 5⭐️

ReadingEnvy Was this your first book of his? I remember liking 6y
Redheadrambles @ReadingEnvy Yes first of his I read. I will be seeking out more. 6y
30 likes3 comments
quote
shawnmooney
post image

#QuoteOfTheDay

Art by Stephen Burgess, ‘Refugee Rescue‘

Cinfhen I‘m intrigued by this book! Stacked 📚Just watched Day 1 of the #BookTubeChallenge...loved getting a glimpse of your day 😘 6y
Cinfhen Watched day 2 and have now unstacked!!!! 😂😂😂 6y
36 likes2 comments
review
Redwritinghood
post image
Mehso-so

My second book from the Booker long list, although much better than the last, is still so-so. This is a story written with great sympathy for its characters and the human urges to survive and to be seen. The writing was elegant, but I wished there was more variability in it between the three characters that form the story. I also did not like the story structure, which was the type where individual stories are told around a common event. 3.5⭐️

Redheadrambles Oh no ! Another Booker so-so, what was the first one - Snap ? Hopefully The Mars Room works out ? 6y
Redwritinghood @Redheadrambles Yes, Snap was first. I just started Mars Room and I am liking it. Maybe I just like edgier books. (edited) 6y
70 likes2 comments
quote
Redheadrambles
post image

There is just something that works for me in Donal Ryan‘s writing. I could quote sections endlessly.

#manbooker2018

ClairesReads Great quotes! I love this one especially! 6y
ns510reads Yes! I completely agree. His writing is stunning! 😍 6y
26 likes2 stack adds2 comments
quote
Redheadrambles
post image

This book is breaking my heart.

#manbooker2018

Redwritinghood I‘m working my way through this one right now, too. 6y
Redheadrambles @Redwritinghood great 👍🏻 I am almost done but keep finding great quotes here in the last section 6y
26 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

My second #manbooker2018 #longlist title finished. This tells the stories of three men and weaves them together at the end in a way that, while not wholly unexpected, is certainly heartbreaking. It‘s a quiet novel, a slow character study, but deeply emotional. It‘s one I wouldn‘t mind owning my own copy of, and because it‘s short, I easily finished it in a day.
#Bailey is still not thrilled to be a book prop. 🤣 #dogsofLitsy #pitbullsofLitsy

wanderinglynn Aw, how sweet! ❤️🐶 6y
Samplergal I‘m ready to read it! Sounds good. 6y
Aimeesue Bailey! 😂😂😂 6y
See All 10 Comments
DGRachel @Aimeesue I fully expect to be eaten while I sleep. 😂😂 6y
Aimeesue @DGRachel And you would deserve it! Or at least to have your face licked off. 😋😂😂 6y
DGRachel @Aimeesue Oh yes. I would not blame her at all. 😂😂 She‘s a good girl. ❤️ 6y
batsy Bailey's face 😆 6y
DGRachel @batsy She‘s the queen of the eye roll. That is the face of a dog who suffers a vast deal, but with the greatest of patience. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 6y
LeahBergen Poor, long-suffering Bailey. 😂😂 6y
DGRachel @LeahBergen She has the patience of a saint. 😂🤣😂🤣 6y
109 likes6 stack adds10 comments
review
CindyE09
post image
Pickpick

Book #2 for me from the #manbooker2018 list, and I would not be upset to see this one shortlisted. This is more a collection of three short stories that tie in together in the very last few pages than a novel, a style I quite enjoyed and thought worked well for this book. I enjoyed the prose style very much, and was captivated by each of the three main character‘s narratives. Glad this was on the #manbooker long list, or I might have missed it.

ns510reads His writing is just wonderful! 6y
CindyE09 @ns510reads I am going to have to look up more of his novels! I had not heard of him till he was longlisted. 6y
DGRachel I just started this one late last night. 😊 6y
See All 6 Comments
CindyE09 @DGRachel Hope you enjoy! Be prepared to cry a little at the end. 6y
charl08 Oh, I like your cover better than mine... :-( 6y
125 likes7 stack adds6 comments
blurb
DGRachel
post image

Today‘s #libraryhaul #bookhaul. I took one Man Booker Prize long list title back, and picked up the tagged book, along with a title I suggested the library buy back in May. It‘s finally available! Maybe I need to do my own personal readathon challenge to get through my library books and the two NetGalley books I have that publish on the 7th. 😳

Andrew65 I enjoy Charlotte Bingham‘s books but been a while since I read one! 6y
DGRachel @Andrew65 I‘m not familiar with her at all. I saw the book on a Book Riot newsletter and was intrigued. I am looking forward to it. 6y
Andrew65 @DGRachel We have a number of her books and also read a number of others that were all very enjoyable. Will be interested to see what you think - I do not know this one. 6y
See All 8 Comments
Andrew65 I‘ve just checked and this is a memoir so a bit different to the novels I have read, 6y
LeahBergen These both sound fab. 6y
SharonGoforth I‘m waiting on the Donal Ryan to arrive from Book Depository and have a couple of others by him from the library. So looking forward to reading all of them! 6y
ReadingEnvy What did you take back? Mars Room? 6y
76 likes8 comments
blurb
KellyHunsakerReads
post image
22 likes2 stack adds