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Ordinary People
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
44 posts | 37 read | 32 to read
Everyone, at some point in their lives, is faced with this window... You can take a leap, do something off the wall, something reckless. Its your last chance, and most people miss it. They just walk past it. Then one day it closes, and once its closed its closed forever. Melissa has a new baby and doesnt want to let it change her. Damian has lost his father and intends not to let it get to him. Michael is still in love with Melissa but cant quite get close enough to her to stay faithful. Stephanie just wants to live a normal, happy life on the commuter belt with Damian and their three children but his bereavement is getting in the way. Or is it something else, or someone else? Are they all just in the wrong place? Set in London against the backdrop of Barack Obamas historic election victory, Ordinary People is an intimate, immersive study of identity and parenthood, sex and grief, friendship and aging, and the fragile architecture of love. With its distinctive prose and addictive soundtrack, it is the story of our lives, and those moments that threaten to unravel us.
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TheSpineView
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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#MoviesInMay @Klou
Prompt: Donald Sutherland

I read Ordinary People in my high school English class. However, I never saw the movie. The book was good.

TheLudicReader The movie is fantastic. 4y
Klou Never heard of this book or movie. Great choice! 4y
44 likes3 comments
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HelenaLW
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
Mehso-so

3.5/5

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TracyReadsBooks
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I really like covers that look like paintings. This is another great one! 😍

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Sanghamitra
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Pickpick

Compelling in its portrayal of the everyday numbness that creeps into love.

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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

The hardest part of life is the dailyness and this story certainly exemplifies this. The writing is extraordinary, the start is slow and I didn't care for the ending, but I loved the character development and the music references.

12 likes1 stack add
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Vansa
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Oh my god. This is so true.

3 likes1 stack add
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GatheringBooks
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

#SoaringScores Day 1: I interpret #TheRingGoesSouth not as LOTR but more on failed engagements/marriages, and this novel has that. I found the sections on feminism and establishing a sense of distinct identity among the female characters to be quite interesting, although nothing terribly new. However, its truth and the need to untangle what constitutes I versus we would undoubtedly resonate with young women eager to define their evolving roles.⬇️

GatheringBooks I reviewed three award-winning novels (including this one) with failed marriages as their main theme here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-kzy 5y
CrowCAH A nice interpretation. 💍 5y
29 likes2 comments
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Sarz
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Pickpick

3.75 ⭐
I can see why people are loving this - it's a beautifully written book about real people. Personally, I prefer more dialogue in what I'm reading - I'm glad I did the audiobook because I may not have made it through the physical book. But it is really gorgeous.

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Emilymdxn
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t that into this for most of it but I really came around to it, so difficult to rate. I started off thinking ‘another book about millennial-ish couples who can‘t communicate for toffee having Modern Problems‘ which is a genre I really don‘t need any more of, and the writing felt a bit too ‘literary novel‘ at times, but I came around to the characters in a way I wasn‘t prepared for and the ending was more powerful and subtle than I thought.

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emmaturi
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

I didn't reallly enjoy this one, just couldn't get into it!

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JillR
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Pickpick

I‘ve seen mixed reviews of this but I liked it. A sharply observed look at two marriages in crisis, overwhelmed by life with young children. In many ways this was a really perceptive, if bleak, look at the lives of ordinary people although the story does meander and wanders into a slightly odd supernatural storyline for a short time. I liked the sense of place and time with London being a major part of the story, and music references throughout.

45 likes2 stack adds
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JillR
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Not the whole stack, just the one on the top! Enjoying it a lot already...

Freespirit Some great books in that stack😊 I'm loving A Tree Grows in Brooklyn❤️ 5y
JillR @freespirit I read it earlier this year after recommendations on Litsy and really enjoyed it 😊 5y
53 likes2 comments
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Moray_Reads
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

This just didn't take off for me. The ground felt too familiar, the writing loose and rambling and the characters not quite defined. In some ways it reminded me of NW by Zadie Smith, but a rather inferior imitation.

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Moray_Reads
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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I despise Michael. Self-obsessed, self-pitying. I'm rolling my eyes so much I can hardly read

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Moray_Reads
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Hate errors like this, they seem to be getting more and more common.

AlaMich Pet peeve of mine as well. 😠 5y
BarbaraJean Ugggh, that‘s annoying!! Although it brings up an interesting mental picture... 😆 5y
Moray_Reads @BarbaraJean I briefly considered whether it was a deliberate play on words but if it is it doesn't make any sense to me 😅 5y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraJean Ha—yeah, a play on words there doesn‘t make sense! I just pictured a stern man wearing black, standing outside the door waiting to shush people who said anything inappropriate... and getting really confused when people started waving key fobs at him. 😂 5y
Moray_Reads @BarbaraJean To be fair when I first read it I imagined a “sensor“. Isn't English ridiculous sometimes? 5y
BarbaraJean Ridiculous, but offering so many opportunities for humor because of it! 5y
20 likes6 comments
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Twocougs
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Mehso-so

I wanted to love this book but I just couldn‘t get into it. Not sure if it‘s my mood or the book. Not sure how it got nominated for the Women‘s Prize ( which probably means my mood was the problem).

Niso My Sister The Serial Killer and the Silence of the Girls were rather mediocre and still they were nominated for the prize, so maybe it is not your mood 😉 5y
Peddler410 I loved this book when I read it in high school. I‘d like to do a re-read. 5y
Twocougs @Peddler410 This book was published last year. I‘m guessing you‘re thinking of the older book with same name and that one was great. 5y
Peddler410 Ah! I didn‘t pay attention to the author 😬 5y
25 likes4 comments
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jhod
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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#womensprize shortlist readings in Cadogan Hall

Lovely people and talented writers! All extraordinary!

And the woman who read Milkman (and who did the audiobook) was incredible!
#womensprize2019

86 likes1 stack add
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Bookbroad
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

Read this after Women‘s Prize for Fiction nominees: Sally Rooney & Oyinkan Braithwaite, so had high hopes. I enjoyed the soundtrack weaved in and thought it tackled grief and the underwhelming realities of adult life well. However, I agree with others that it was rather mundane. Stephanie felt underdeveloped and I was disappointed that Melissa‘s breakdown was glossed over, it felt like a missed opportunity to tell a more interesting narrative.

Peaslady I loved Sally Rooney's Normal People. Have you read that? Didn't think Conversations with Friends was as good. 5y
Bookbroad @Peaslady I have! I loved it too!! Also preferred Normal People to Conversations. 5y
8 likes2 comments
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andrew61
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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So lawn mowed and thought id grab a short window to carry on with another women's prize book and do a review (see next post). Im halfway through this book which is compelling but very uncomfortable in it's portrayal of a marriage falling apart. Not a barrel of laughs but i am definitely hooked.

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Abailliekaras
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Pickpick

Two couples face change & conflict in their marriages. Loved the immersive story, vivid London setting & humour (though it‘s quite sad overall). Lyrical writing & observations of marriage & parenthood painfully accurate. But I also grew frustrated w the characters & found the descriptions of London & music references a bit overdone. Mixed feelings but a pick overall: the experiences of the Caribbean-British in London is vividly brought to life.

saresmoore What a beautiful cover! 6y
Abailliekaras @saresmoore I must confess, I bought it for the cover! ;) nice to see it getting some attention thanks to the Women‘s Prize shortlisting, which prompted me to read it finally. 6y
42 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AnneCecilie
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

A book about relationships when they‘re at that crucial point where they either break or continue forever. The two couples in this book have been together for more than 10 yrs and everyday life with kids have taken over.

I never connected with the characters. I finished to know what happened, but I wasn‘t rooting for the couples to star together or split up.

This is on the shortlist for Women‘s Prize for Fiction, and I hope this doesn‘t win.

Cinfhen The cover is stunning!!!! 6y
AnneCecilie @Cinfhen it really is 😊 6y
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AnneCecilie
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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My next read.

JennyM Curious to hear your thoughts. This one has started to get quite a bit of attention 6y
Cathythoughts Me too @JennyM I‘m wondering about it 👍🏻 6y
Nute Hearing very good comments on Booktube about this book. 6y
AnneCecilie @JennyM @Cathythoughts @Nute I‘ve also heard great things about this book on Booktube. I haven‘t quite made up my mind yet. I‘ve 100p left, and I‘m not convinced yet. I hope something happens towards the end that changes that. 6y
66 likes4 comments
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KarenUK
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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#womensprize shortlist ..... I‘m really sad not to see Sally Rooney on the shortlist 😕 I loved Normal People! But it‘s an interesting list as always...
Only read American Marriage so far, but will be trying to catch up on the rest.... 📚👍

Megabooks It‘s a great list! 6y
Kalalalatja Not a fan of Milkman or Circe, but loved American Mariage, and want to the read the other three 📚 6y
67 likes2 comments
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charl08
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Well, I wasn't expecting that.

#womensprize #shortlist

batsy Me too! 6y
youneverarrived Me either 🤷‍♀️ 6y
RidgewayGirl It‘s certainly the first time that they chose mostly books I‘ve already read! 6y
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charl08 @batsy I never guess it. @youneverarrived 😫 6y
charl08 @ridgewaygirl one year I'm going to get past 3 books (without reading all of them) 6y
thebluestocking I was surprised too! I‘ve read and liked four of these. (I haven‘t read Ordinary People or Silence.) 6y
63 likes6 comments
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BrownGirlReading
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Panpan

Women‘s Prize Longlisted Novel about 2 couples of color going through difficulty in their marriages living in London. Seton conjunction with Obama‘s election as president. Sadly this book doesn‘t work at all. It‘s hard to follow the places mentioned. Only Londoners or people who know London well will be able to relate. The book seemed to be all over the place and was often boring in places. Evans did not do what she wanted too.Don‘t recommend.

BellaBookNook Beautiful cover. Too bad the book wasn‘t good. 6y
BrownGirlReading @BellaBookNook I know right, huh?! 🤷🏾‍♀️ 6y
KristenDuck Seems like the majority opinion is this book is a no-go. Shame. 6y
BrownGirlReading @KristenDuck yep this is my read from Diana Evans and I‘ll never read another thing from her. 6y
9 likes4 comments
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Abailliekaras
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Early night for me ahead of Anzac Day dawn service, with this book - what a gorgeous cover! 📖😴

48 likes2 stack adds
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Redwritinghood
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Mehso-so

#womensprize2019 Evans does a great job of capturing the discontent that often arises during that period in a couple‘s relationship when they have young children and their careers are starting to pick up. It‘s a challenging time, especially for women who have the added burden of being the ‘perfect‘ mom. Unfortunately, the book is bogged down by some superfluous plot lines and the writing is often of the telling variety and overly wordy. 3⭐️

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BookishTrish
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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youneverarrived
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

A pretty bleak portrait of unhappy lives & relationships/marriages. If you like plot based books then this might not be for you as it‘s really character based. I very much liked the first half of the book but then it just got a bit samey and a little bit dull, unfortunately. I appreciate that it‘s true to life and I think a lot of people could relate to the feelings of loneliness in marriage,👇

youneverarrived being a parent & losing your sense of self etc. & there was a few poignant scenes and sentences but the latter half let it down for me. I think it could have been shorter. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #womensprize 6y
merelybookish Great review! It sounds a bit close to home 😬 but I'm still intrigued to read it. 6y
Cathythoughts Excellent review! I did love it myself- but I take your points 👍🏻♥️ 6y
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youneverarrived @merelybookish thanks! I look forward to seeing what you think of it. 6y
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts thanks 😊 I can see why you loved it. I was really into it at the beginning but it went on a bit too long for me. 6y
Cathythoughts Oh dear !! Katie ... my mind was elsewhere this morning 🤦🏻‍♀️... I didn‘t read this one ... I was thinking of Normal People- Sally Rooney ( not Ordinary People ) uh oh 😬. Apologies 6y
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts 😂 easy done. Similar titles! I loved Normal People 💚 6y
74 likes7 comments
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BookishClaire
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Great to see Diana Evans‘ ORDINARY PEOPLE on the Women‘s Prize shortlist — fantastic book deserving of way more attention than it‘s had, especially on this side of the pond!

18 likes1 stack add
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amyf0x
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

A realistic but rather disheartening story that delves into the mundanities and difficulties of two long-term relationships.

Read December 17-22
Book 51/51

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Abailliekaras
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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My books from London have arrived and now I have to go on a book buying ban. 📚📚😂

britt_brooke Loved Calypso! 6y
Abailliekaras @britt_brooke that‘s good to hear! We might do it for the podcast. 😊 6y
44 likes2 comments
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mrozzz
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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This is my most recent “will-I-won‘t-I” Strand book stack.
I ended up walking away with just 4 but carried around all 8 for at least 2 hours 😁 #SHOWME

Purchased:
📚Ordinary People by Diana Evans
📚Housegirl by Michael Donkor
📚Graffiti Place by A. G. Lombardo
📚Devil‘s Mile by Alice Sparberg Alexiou

If you‘ve read one of the ones I DID NOT get and LOVED it, definitely tell me and I‘ll have to make a return trip. 🤓

Bamazin Vox is good but it made me soo mad I had to keep putting it down and kept giving the men in my life a side eye for existing 6y
mrozzz I‘m pretty sure I‘ll have the same reaction! @Bamazin I really want to read it but maybe after a few more less anger-inducing books 6y
Megabooks I really enjoyed Vox as well. Don‘t let anger keep you from reading it. 6y
See All 12 Comments
Billypar I always have a working stack that is constantly changing/growing. And it always ends up in some kind of agonizing sacrifice. 6y
Zelma I haven‘t read any of the other except Vox. I am a bit of a naysayer and think this is one to borrow, not buy. It was ok - great concept but weak characters and rushed ending. 6y
mrozzz That‘s what I was thinking too after I read a few so-so reviews, but the Strand had it at a good price... will check the library in a couple weeks! @Zelma 6y
mrozzz Oh, no I‘ll DEFINITELY read it. @Megabooks 😄 May just wait awhile if I‘m going to purchase it. Maybe as a paperback... 6y
mrozzz @Billypar Yes... luckily my friend was with me and he made the hard decision for me. Why does it always feel like killing your darlings when leaving wanted books behind at the store?? 6y
readordierachel Ooh, that Adrienne Rich sounds good. You should go back for it 😈 6y
mrozzz I agree!! It was hard to let that one go! @readordierachel 6y
MicheleinPhilly I have not read any of these but several are on my “I want” list! Also you put books back??? Tell me your secret. 😉 Thanks for entering! 6y
mrozzz Lol the secret is: “don‘t shop alone” 😂 I had my friend make the hard decision and rationalizations @MicheleinPhilly Thanks for the opportunity to win! 6y
113 likes12 comments
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Well-ReadNeck
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Bailedbailed

Second book this week that didn‘t live up to its cover for me. Some vivid descriptions and moments of clear truth of everyday life. But, overall, for me, too much ordinary here. I wanted a more powerful plot or active showing. The number of adjectives in this volume is sky high. #netgalley

PNWBookseller85 I‘m about to bail on this one too! It feels too much like a lesser Zadie Smith novel. I‘m so weirdly disappointed. 6y
108 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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YASSSSS! Got a #netgalley wish today!!! I‘ve seen so much buzz about this one. Really excited to get this grab #ARCbrag #humblenothumble

minkyb Look forward to hearing your thoughts. 6y
110 likes1 comment
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charl08
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Gorgeous cover...

49 likes1 stack add
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Abailliekaras
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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When you buy a book purely based on the cover. 😍

JennyM I completely support your decision - beautiful cover 😘 (edited) 6y
Abailliekaras @jennym thank you! 😉 Suzanne Dean at vintage is a clever lady. 6y
Eyelit I don‘t blame you - that cover is excellent! 6y
45 likes3 comments
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Bookalong
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Mehso-so

It is a story about love/relationships. Two couples struggling with their married lives. Set in London post Obama's win in 2008.Themes of politics, race, parenthood, sex, greif, wanting more of life. It showed that marriage is never just easy, it evolves over time. I did find the book a bit too long, at times over descriptive.Most readers who have been in a longterm relationship will feel the familiarities of these characters stuggles. 🌟🌟🌟/5

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ablachly
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Painfully true. #parenting

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ablachly
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Reading on a cramped late night plane

GingerAntics This seems to be a different book than the one I read by this title. That‘s confusing. Is it good? 6y
ablachly @GingerAntics so far, yes! It doesn‘t come out in the US till September (this is an advance copy) but I think it was already released in the U.K. 6y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ablachly
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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Delayed flights and storms and fun times, but at least I have a book or 12 to occupy me as I try to get home from #alaac18

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mrozzz
Ordinary People | Diana Evans
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GUYSSSS #BookCon is exhausting & overwhelming but I‘m so happy to have met and hung out with so many Littens! Last year I came alone and enjoyed myself but this year has been so special.

#BookHaul to come 🤓

MrBook 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 6y
Cinfhen Soooooo fun!!!!! 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa It looks like so much fun! I‘m a bit jealous, but loving all the posts. 6y
mrozzz @Cinfhen @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes!!! I hope we get even MORE Littens to come next year 😄 6y
142 likes4 comments