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The Blazing World
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2014 The artist Harriet Burden, furious at the lack of attention paid her by the New York art world, conducts an experiment: she hides her identity behind three male fronts in a series of exhibitions. Their success seems to prove her point, but there's a sting in the tail - when she unmasks herself, not everyone believes her. Then her last collaborator meets a bizarre end. In this mesmerising tour de force, Burden's story emerges after her death through a variety of sources, including her (not entirely reliable) journals and the testimonies of her children, lover and a dear friend. Each account is different, however, and the mysteries multiply.
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review
ilyssa.g
Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Mehso-so

Finished this yesterday! I loved the premise of the book; however, I found it oftentimes to be repetitive. The different perspectives throughout the book were very similar and even indistinguishable sometimes. The primary character Harry did not face much development. Many of the psychological points seemed to just be thrown in there without context or appropriateness to the story. It did make many important points about sexism and discrimination

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SamAnne
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

I really loved this cerebral novel about a woman artist who lived under the shadow of her art dealer husband until he dies. And then she creates art shows fronted by male artists to see if they receive more success. It‘s told in an epistolary format with her “found journals” and interviews of people who knew her telling the story. So glad my book club chose this one.

Crazeedi This sounds so intriguing, stacking!! 4y
61 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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SamAnne
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Looking forward to #bookspinBingo. #bookspin is tagged book club pick for this month. #Doublespin is One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson, on my TBR for awhile. Got a number of #Scarathlon2020 and Screamathon books on here. Plan camping, fishing and reading this weekend for #CYOreadathon. @TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick @Sace

Clwojick Super excited to see your thoughts on 13,6,23,& obviously 4 😆 I really enjoyed 2 &5 ! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks fantastic!! And I'm a bit jealous of your weekend plans!! 4y
SamAnne @Clwojick Rereqding Hqndmaid‘s since my book cub is reading The Testaments. I love Atwood! Will start My Dark Vanessa next week and crossing fingers that my Library hold on Mexican Gothic comes through! 4y
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Pageturner1 i enjoyed #11. good mystery 4y
SamAnne @Pageturner1 I discovered it in a NYT article on Nordic noir writers that recommended writers from each Scandinavian country and suggested a first book to try. I have a stack now from the library and Thriftbooks. 4y
Pageturner1 @SamAnne that‘s interesting. never thought of reading from different countries. i read books that look interesting to me. i should probably look to see where author is from. 4y
SamAnne @Pageturner1 I think the NYT feature was more about showing the variety of noir writers in the Scandinavian countries to introduce people like me who don't read the genre to writers we may not have heard of. It gave quick descriptions of what style various writers wrote. If you go to the NYT website and google Nordic Noir it will come up. I thought it was an excellent list. I had not heard of most of the writers.
(edited) 4y
46 likes7 comments
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Graywacke
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

Hustvedt is terrific. She plays with a lot in here, as an art critic looks into the life of Harriet Burden, an artist who had men present her artworks as their own to explore the influence of perspective and to embarrass the sexist art critics. Burden‘s sort of feminist crusade is also part brilliant, part ego, part need for revenge, part psychological complexity and part bitter disappointment making for a complicated text.

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Graywacke
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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belief is a complex mixture of suggestion, mimicry, desire, and projection

GingerAntics That seems so true. It certainly changes the way I view Trump‘s base. 4y
Graywacke @GingerAntics that‘s where I take it too. I‘m really frustrated with the world at large right now. (Not Litsy. It‘s like a safe space). This line and paragraph helps me to mentally catalogue, to create a little imaginary order. 4y
GingerAntics Exactly! Litsy is the safe space. No trolls, no madness. This paragraph really does give a way to mentally take in, if not understand. I mean, I believe a lot of things, but I don‘t believe in that nut. 4y
49 likes3 comments
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Graywacke
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Next audiobook. Back to Hustvedt, and ready for it!

(Side note: starts out sounding so much like nonfiction I started googling characters... they‘re fictional. I mean, of course... ☺️)

batsy Look forward to your thoughts on this! 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Yeah, look forward to your thoughts 👍 4y
45 likes2 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Welcome home, Cindy!

😩😩😩😩

Cinfhen No!!!!!!!!!!! That‘s horrible 😬😬😬😬 I need to repack!!!!!!!! 5y
squirrelbrain Ugh! 😥 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Cinfhen I need to invent an air conditioned bubble I can walk around in. 5y
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MicheleinPhilly @squirrelbrain I truly hate summer! 5y
TrishB Oh no!! That‘s hot 🥵 5y
cariashley Oh no is that really happening this coming week?! 🥵 5y
cariashley Just checked NYC and it says 98 for next Sunday 😱 5y
MicheleinPhilly @TrishB @cariashley I will be hibernating and walking the dog at 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. I‘m sweating just thinking about it. 5y
MicheleinPhilly @cariashley Did you lose power last night? 5y
cariashley @MicheleinPhilly no, thank goodness! I‘m in Gramercy so wasn‘t in the affected area, and I‘m on Long Island for the weekend anyway. My office building lost power though and our IT department had a really rough night figuring out the generators. 5y
TrishB That sounds sensible! 5y
Crazeedi @Cinfhen I would love to meet you Cindy if you are in PA . I dont know if you are deaded anywhere west of philly, but if you are let me know!! 5y
Crazeedi Thank goodness western PA is delightful today, 81 and low humidity! 5y
Annl Looks like the weather here in Florida! I left grass cutting too late this morning. I am laying under my ceiling fan trying to cool down!!! 5y
sisilia That‘s hot! 🥵 5y
62 likes16 comments
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ValerieAndBooks
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Hubby is out of town this week, so thank you Book Outlet for brightening up my Valentine‘s Day 🥰 ! Also I treated myself to this chocolate bar 🍫 🤤

ValerieAndBooks PS what happened to all the @Litsy stickers?? There‘s only one now 😥! 6y
LeahBergen I know! The stickers have vanished. 🤔 6y
Litsy @ValerieAndBooks @LeahBergen try updating the app, please! We just released another update that should (among other things) bring the stickers back. 6y
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LeahBergen @Litsy Well, that did the trick! Thanks! 6y
mrsmarch I love chuao! 6y
ValerieAndBooks @Litsy Thank you so much for responding! The new update works 😊 @LeahBergen 6y
ValerieAndBooks @mrsmarch me too — especially this flavor 🤤! 6y
66 likes7 comments
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Christine
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

This is a really wonderful book, a deep and challenging (but also very readable) story of art, identity, and being a woman. I was surprised at what a good companion read it was to the book I read just before it (Rage Becomes Her) - the main character Harriet brings the issues surrounding women‘s anger (its basis, suppression, potential, etc.) to life. So, so glad to have finally read one of Hustvedt‘s books, and I‘m sure I‘ll read more. #24in48

RebeccaH I loved this novel! 6y
Christine @RebeccaH It was so good!! :) 6y
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Christine
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Haven‘t had as much #24in48 reading time as I would like today, but now that I‘m sitting down with an extra-crunchy grilled cheese and this so-far-SO-good book, on a sunny 73° January day, I can‘t complain!

GrilledCheeseSamurai I applaud your food decision. 👏 😉 6y
Christine @GrilledCheeseSamurai Haha, thank you!! I have been having a near obsessive grilled cheese moment lately. 🧀😋 6y
DocBrown L❤️VE this book!!‘ 6y
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Christine @mdhughes72 Me too, so far! 6y
Billypar Read Blazing World last year for a buddy read and loved it. Literary grilled cheese! 😋 6y
Christine @Billypar Haha, love that! And loving the book so far, I‘m about 3/4 done. 6y
64 likes6 comments
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Christine
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Well that‘s a memorable opening line! 😳🐓😜 Hoping to read a big chunk of this book during #24in48!

erzascarletbookgasm I loved this book! 6y
merelybookish Wow! Sounds like Hannah Gadsby in her comedy special Nanette on Netflix. 6y
JamieArc @merelybookish It does!!! 6y
Christine @erzascarletbookgasm - Oh good!! I‘ve been meaning to read it for ages! 6y
Christine @merelybookish @JamieArc So true! Loved Nanette!! (edited) 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#NoFemmeber Harriet (Harry) Burden is the consummate artist, and as her identity is explored through various accounts, so is an experiment in how art is viewed based on ideas about its #creator. With lyrics like "Me I'm a creator/Thrill is to make it up", I think Harry would be a Santigold fan. And I just learned that Santi White and I share a favorite book in The Wind-up Bird Chronicle (she's a huge Murakami fan apparently) ? @Cinfhen

batsy I was going to use this! So I have to say, excellent pick 😂👍🏽 6y
Cinfhen I‘m enjoying your pairings 🖤and yes, another book that I‘d like to read #BlameItOnLitsy 6y
erzascarletbookgasm 👍 So glad I read this book! ❤️ Excellent! 6y
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Cathythoughts What a great choice 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
BarbaraBB I was thinking of Hustvedt as well. She describes art as if she has created the works herself. In this book but also in What I Loved! 6y
Billypar @BarbaraBB Yes- I love that part about both books! I think Hustvedt could create mental art exhibitions as standalone works- maybe 30 min audio segments where she takes you on a tour through an imaginary gallery 😀 6y
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review
Tonton
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

Reading this at the same time as Mr. Loverman. Harriet Burden puts on a series of exhibitions using three male alter egos/ fronts for art. Makes huge points on misogyny in the art world, no one believes her when she reveals the performance.My mom was an artist and seeing her struggles makes this close to home.

batsy Such a cleverly constructed book! 6y
45 likes1 comment
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

#BlazingWorldBR
This one is going to stick with me- it reminded me of why I love art so much in the first place but also how mysterious the process of evaluating art can be. It also reminded me of a time when I recognized a bias in my reading toward male authors and less cultural diversity. Correcting that has made a huge difference in the richness and satisfaction of my reading life, and even my broader social and political outlook.👇

Billypar It also made me think a lot of how easily we accept dominant narratives with untruths and simplified explanations for complex individuals. Hustvedt's ability to address all this and still manage to make such an entertaining & readable novel is a true achievement. Thanks @batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory for all your insights and discussion! I had fun and enjoyed sharing this with you 😃 6y
Cathythoughts Great review 💫Thankyou for this buddy read & this book & this author. Very artistic picture... it‘s all in there ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
vivastory Stellar review! This one seems to have made a big impact on all of us. 6y
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erzascarletbookgasm Love your review and the pic is 👌 spot on! Thanks for hosting and introducing me to this author. I‘ve already ordered another book of hers 6y
BarbaraBB @erzascarletbookgasm that one is so good too. @Billypar what a wonderful review! 6y
batsy Love your review! Great picture too 👌🏽 Thank you for hosting our buddy read and I loved our discussions and just seeing everyone's impressions of the book ❤️ 6y
Billypar Thanks @Cathythoughts @vivastory @erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB @batsy ! Although I still like buddy reads where there is disagreement about the book, it's great to see when everyone's high opinion converges 😀 6y
Billypar @erzascarletbookgasm What I Loved was the other Hustvedt I read- also really excellent- hope you enjoy that as well! I'm thinking about my next read- possibly The Blindfold or her book of essays. 6y
GatheringBooks sounds great! stacking it now. 6y
Billypar @GatheringBooks Hope you enjoy it! 6y
45 likes2 stack adds10 comments
review
erzascarletbookgasm
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

In this dazzling piece of work, the author makes us reflect on sexism, identity and perception in the art world. A revenge, a hoax that backfires. Harriet is an amazing character study (the others are no less), who just needs to be understood, heard and appreciated for her own self. Truly a memorable character. It‘s heartbreaking but beautiful at the end. 👇

erzascarletbookgasm The unconventional construction of the novel is really interesting and has its effect. Even though numerous text references (to authors, artists and books) are made, complete with detailed footnotes, the book doesn‘t feel dry or heavily intellectual. I‘m glad I join the #blazingworldbr , so rewarding. Thanks for organising this @billypar . 6y
Kalalalatja Great review! 6y
batsy Fab review ❤️ I really love how this novel was constructed, with the meta-commentary and stylistic play, without losing any of its emotional power 🙌🏽 6y
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Cathythoughts Fantastic review 💫💫💫 6y
Itchyfeetreader Great review this is on my list for when I finish backpackeurope 6y
vivastory A thoughtful, fantastic review! It was a real pleasure reading this with the group. Some great discussions! 6y
bedandabook Great review, especially as I love this author anyway. 6y
Billypar Wonderful review- I hope to post mine tonight, but you summed up a lot of my feelings as well. I had such a great time with this Buddyread- thanks so much for participating! 😃 6y
erzascarletbookgasm @Itchyfeetreader thank you and I hope you‘ll get to it soon 🙂 6y
RohitSawant Fantastic review! 6y
95 likes4 stack adds11 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#blazingworldbr buddies, I made myself stop for a while before the final chapter. I am so heartbroken to continue.

Billypar It's interesting how there aren't many surprises- you are told from the beginning what happens to HB, but seeing it play out is heartbreaking. Save the last chapter for when you have some time to read straight through, not broken up as I did. And keep a tissue box handy- sad but uplifting too. 😢😖😧😭 6y
batsy I agree with @Billypar, reading the last chapter straight through is perfect, but as you already know it packs an emotional punch 💔 6y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @batsy @Billypar she fought her corner in life so dearly & so creatively.. and then to hear her say : “ I have been attacked from within, and I live in a a state of continual envy of people with cells that havnt multiplied into killer legions . “ I want to quote Rumi to her , I want to say Harriet .. “ if you want to hold the beautiful one , hold yourself to yourself” , & (edited) 6y
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Cathythoughts Oh, if I could take away the suffering in Maisies face. You are too good, Maisie. I told her that. She said , No , I‘m not. I‘m not. But only the good feel that they aren‘t good. I want her to live & work & soar. And Maisie leaned over & kissed my head. I admire you so much Mommy, she said. She has not called me mommy sinse she was six. “ the mother .... @erzascarletbookgasm @batsy @Billypar 6y
Cathythoughts Yes I am heart broken too. 💔 6y
erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts The part where Harry said Bruno was the Beauty and she‘s the Beast also 💔 6y
erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts have you finished the book? I have read the last chapter straight through as advised by @Billypar and @batsy . Going to post something on the last chapter in my next comment. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm There‘s something about Sweet Autumn that is so calming, I‘m glad she was given the final chapter. She was able to ‘open up‘ Ethan. And I love it that she discovered Harry in one of the little figures in her art. And the final scene is beautiful, all the aura in the room. ❤️ I also love it that Phinny came to say goodbye to Harry, he was a good man, just like Bruno. 6y
Cathythoughts I did. I agree , a very beautiful & magical ending. @batsy @Billypar @saresmoore @vivastory 6y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts Yes, you described it perfectly. And that idea of artwork imbued with aura, I loved that so much. 6y
batsy @Cathythoughts Oh, that's a beautiful Rumi quote. I think we all need that with us ❤️ 6y
Billypar So true about Sweet Autumn- at first I thought it was strange for her to have the last word, but it's interesting to compare her to the art world- they were so wrong in their perceptions of HB but they shared a common and accepted language of critique. Sweet Autumn's language and belief system is not accepted by anyone in the novel, but she is inherently empathic, regardless of the underlying reasons. 6y
62 likes12 comments
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#BlazingWorldBR @batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory
My review is coming, but for now....some fun. I love anagrams, as is probably clear from my prior post. I took all the letters of HB's notebooks compiled by I.V. Hess (itself a suspect name) and looked for messages. I think I found one that sounds like a wink from Hustvedt. I'll post it with a spoiler mask in the comments- feel free to give it a try 🤓

Billypar 'Mad to doubt cock' The opening line has the RB quote about art faring better if the audience can 'locate a cock and a pair of balls'. When HB tried to claim her work, Rune called her mental state into question and the art world seemed to agree it would be mad to doubt his authorship. Plausible, or a stretch? 😋 6y
vivastory I'm completely convinced! 6y
vivastory Hey, could you give me your email address, or send me a message on Goodreads. I'd like to email you a little something for hosting this fantastic buddy read! 6y
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batsy Haha, I love this interpretation! I'm convinced, as well 😆 6y
Billypar @vivastory Sure and thank you! vinny.grande@gmail.com Never hosted one of these before but it was fun- can't beat having an awesome book and group to engage with it 😃 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘m very curious, but shall wait till I‘m finished with the book. 6y
Cathythoughts Thankyou so much @Billypar for hosting this buddy read. I really loved the book. And will read more of this author.... 🙏🏻❤️ 6y
33 likes7 comments
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#BlazingWorldBR
I know some of us are finished (I'm 10 pages away!) but I still want to reflect on the events in Part 3:
-I'm curious what everyone thinks of The Barometer whose taped account opens this section- The theme of Maisie's film seems relevant.
-Rune is creepy- both with Maisie and how he seems to genuinely appreciate the long discussions with Harry at times, but throws in unsettling, cryptic comments that are hard to decipher👇

Billypar The theme of AI and robotics that Rune is interested in vs Harry's humanistic perspective seems central to the novel 🔥🌏 The literal mask scene with HB and Rune is a standout- it dramatizes HB's experiment and puts it in a different light🔥🌎 Beneath may be the most mysterious of all of HB's work- what has HB gleaned from 'wearing' Rune?🔥🌍 Ethan's dream analysis seems to connect Felix, Rune, and HB- both this & Beneath foreshadow Part 4 events. 6y
Billypar (The photo is a public work in NYC I passed this weekend that seems to be one of Burden's 😀) @batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory 6y
vivastory The interview with the Barometer has really stuck with me. Definitely some intriguing hints about Burden's missing art work amidst the delusions. Rune is a fascinating character. There's a lot of hints about a darker sinister side to him. I thought the difference in the anecdote about his pet cat was telling. Oswald Case told a different version about who was to blame for its death. 6y
vivastory I completely agree with you on Rune's fascination with robotics. Harry has maintained a humanist perspective, often idiosyncratic. I love her derision of postmodernist theory that she finds absurd. When HB & Rune wore their masks and reversed their gender roles, it seemed like HB glimpsed the destructiveness of toxic masculinity & was repulsed by it. Not because she was unaware of this aspect of men, but she glimpsed that she'd be capable of it 6y
Billypar @vivastory That explanation of the mask scene makes a lot of sense- I didn't think about that. It's almost like the art experiment let Harry feel the freedom taken for granted by male artists- something that all artists should enjoy. But the little drama with Rune let her glimpse a dark side of masculinity- having coercive power over another person (a female stereotype specifically in Ruina). 6y
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saresmoore
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#24in48 Hour 6 Challenge: Marvelous Opening Lines

“All intellectual and artistic endeavors, even jokes, ironies, and parodies, fare better in the mind of the crowd when the crowd knows that somewhere behind the great work or the great spoof it can locate a cock and a pair of balls.”

Aimeesue Sad but true. 6y
saresmoore @Aimeesue My thoughts exactly! 6y
readordierachel Ok, I'm officially sold. 6y
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saresmoore @ReadOrDieRachel It‘s amazing. Takes some intellectual energy, but totally worth it. 6y
Suet624 Bam!! 6y
Christine Oh brother, I totally copied you in posting about this, for the exact same readathon purpose! 😝 Can‘t remember if I had seen your post, but apparently it‘s either subconscious plagiarism or just a really good opening line (or both)! 6y
saresmoore @Christine No way! That‘s amazing! It‘s just our great minds thinking alike. 😁 6y
Christine 😆 Best interpretation yet! 6y
62 likes8 comments
review
batsy
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

In the fierce & intelligent protagonist, "Harry" Burden (that name!), Hustvedt has created an unforgettable portrait of a female artist. Creativity, sexism, ageism, responsibility, the feminine grotesque—the novel's themes are vast & complex. Identity is shown not to be static but fluid; subject to the relations you have with those around you. By the time I got to the end I was so moved. A deep, poignant book that I'll be mulling over for awhile.

batsy Thank you for organising #blazingworldbr @Billypar ! I found it hard to stop once I kept going 🙂 @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @saresmoore @vivastory 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Wonderful review! Well said. You‘re on 🔥, blazing through the book like that! 6y
Billypar Great review! So glad you enjoyed it: I keep finding that portions of it are playing on my brain at random points in the day. And even though it's not easy to dip in and out given the complexity, once you sit down with it, it's nothing if not compulsive 😀 6y
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Cathythoughts Great review & echoing @erzascarletbookgasm ... you are on fire 🔥. Love your post pic too! & the box & match. Never thought about her name that way till you said it there now. Deeply moving story. Almost finished too. ❤️ 6y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts Thank you both 🔥😘 I felt so much for Harry and the people around her; I would like to pick this book apart from the inside out to see how Hustvedt did it ❤️ 6y
batsy @Billypar Thank you! And yes, you put it so well. It does become hard to put down as you progress. I was initially worried that I might find it somewhat distant, or a book that keeps me at arm's length, but it really pulled me in :) 6y
saresmoore 🙌💪💥 6y
RohitSawant Awesome review! 6y
batsy @rohit-sawant Thank you!! 6y
batsy @emilyhaldi 👍🏽😁 6y
mabell Great photo! 6y
batsy @mabell Thank you :) 6y
kspenmoll Great review ! 6y
batsy Thank you @kspenmoll ❤️ 6y
vivastory Great review! I absolutely loved this one. Layers upon layers. But with a strong presence & I was incredibly moved by the ending. 6y
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Billypar
Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#BlazingWorldBR As we cross the halfway mark, lots to chew on from the 2nd section. There's a 2nd exhibition- one more completely H. Burden and also more confused by the author mask. We also meet Rune, and even though he and HB hit it off, their art seems entirely different: HB seeks for others to understand her more completely; Rune appears indifferent, and to actively resist having an identity, which seems to fuel more audience speculation.👇

Billypar The name 'Rune' seems to tie into the whole alphabet theme- that and HB's lettered notebooks call to mind whether identities have building blocks like languages. Bruno's conflict with HB over her experiment and Rune in particular made me think about the contrast between poetry and visual art- something that Suffocation Rooms seems to address. I also like how HB's calls Bruno 'Brune'...still pondering what this says about two seeming opposites. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Ah, I need to catch up 🙂🏃‍♀️ 6y
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Cathythoughts Thanks. @erzascarletbookgasm I need to catch up too. I just need to finish my bookclub read & then focus on The Blazing World 6y
vivastory I just finished week 2. Hustvedt's ability to synthesize (as @batsy perfectly noted) concerns (domestic/public); representation & identity are astonishing. And the way she inhabits each character (even the obnoxious ones ie Oswald Case) in the story as they provide their perspective is yet one more brilliant layer. 6y
Billypar @vivastory As interesting as it is to see the ideas take shape, it is her ventriloquism that allows everything to hang together and be as compelling as it is. I'm getting more curious about Hustvedt herself too- reading interviews, watching YouTube videos, etc: she's just as fascinating in those. I can't wait to read more of both her fiction and non-fiction after this one. 6y
vivastory She seems like a fascinating person. I can't wait to explore her work more, I've been astonished by Blazing World 6y
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batsy
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Oof. Out of nowhere there will be lines that completely floor me and I'll have to put the book down and recollect myself.

(They're talking about Le Guin talking about Tiptree and of women artists adopting male personas.)

#blazingworldbr @Billypar @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @saresmoore @vivastory

Billypar I've always wanted to read Le Guin but the reflections on gender in this is really making me want to pick up Left Hand of Darkness soon. And yeah, this entirely novel is filled with such quotable moments- the reading experience of this for me is similar to when I read Atwood or Nabokov. But based on this and What I Loved, Hustvedt has a really unique style that I'm enjoying getting lost in. 6y
UrsulaMonarch Wow, between the quote & @Billypar 's nabokov / Atwood mention, I HAVE to read this! Stacked & thanks to you both! 6y
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batsy
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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This is a wonderful and intense read so far. But custard donut and coffee first, then book 😁

#blazingworldbr

Cathythoughts Lovely combo 👍🏻❤️ 6y
merelybookish Yum!😋 6y
saresmoore Mmm delicious and well-deserved! 6y
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Mdargusch Looks so good! 🤤 6y
Redwritinghood That looks yummy! 6y
Sace Looks so yummy! 6y
Jess_Read_This Looks absolutely delicious! Custard donuts are the best! 6y
batsy @RestlessFickleBookHoarder @Jess_Read_This They are the best! It was delicious :) 6y
tammysue Looks delicious! 😋 6y
readordierachel Yum. It's important to fortify yourself so you can give your full attention to the book :) 6y
Leftcoastzen Looks yummy ! Need to read this! 6y
batsy @whatshesreadingnow It was indeed 😁 6y
batsy @ReadOrDieRachel I knew you guys would understand 😄 6y
batsy @Leftcoastzen I think it's a book that you'll appreciate 🙂 It's both a personal and theoretical look at the art world and its various dynamics, very interesting 6y
mabell Yum! 😄 6y
batsy @mabell 😁 6y
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Cathythoughts
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#blazingworldbr .... “ and then came Delia who worked exclusively in old shoe installations.... “
I would love to see those installations !
There is something about old shoes that can break my heart ( pics of shoes my son drew for me when he was in school , I know the owners of these shoes) There is a deep intimacy in this writing ... She really touches obscure & forgotten parts of us ... I‘ve had a few flashes of memory 👇🏻

Cathythoughts 👇🏻sinse I started reading this book. I know books do this ofcorse...but , Siri Hustvedt 6y
Reggie @Cathythoughts but some do it better than others. Haven‘t read it but glad you‘re liking it. 6y
Cathythoughts @Reggie yes some do it better than others for sure ! I‘m loving her writing 6y
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TrishB Awww more shoes 💕 6y
Cathythoughts @TrishB yes! 💕💕 6y
Billypar I really love how she writes about memory: she doesn't stop at recalling it's unreliable nature, but actually deconstructs *how* it is unreliable and tied to emotions. I was also thinking about examples of my own old memories: I'm on vacation and just visited my grandparent's place, so that was perfect for this. 6y
Cathythoughts @Billypar grandparents visit. ! Our personal histories , These old generations are in our blood, from way back. I remember a lecturer of mine saying that “ we are swimming in the unconscious “ ...it‘s everywhere (edited) 6y
Billypar @Cathythoughts Ooh...I like that image 🏊 6y
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#theblazingworldbr week 2

Harry and Phineas worked together so well, I wonder why Harry ditched him for the third guy to represent her works. Here Phineas told a story of what he saw Harry did one night..quite unsettling. The rage in her..
@Billypar @Cathythoughts @vivastory @batsy @saresmoore

Billypar As we go, we keep getting more information about Harriet's past- I wonder if there's going to be some traumatic experience that explains her rage. 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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As we begin Week 2 of #BlazingWorldBR here are a few random things I'm chewing on from the first quarter of the novel:
-Loving the structure: we know we're going to see the events during HB's creation of the 3 exhibitions, but no idea whose perspective we will get next.
-For all of Harriet's mysteries, Hustvedt draws her so vividly- you already feel like you know her intimately this far in.
-HB's two children could not be more different👇

Billypar I'm interested to hear more from Ethan after that acrostic. 🔥🌍 Plot-wise, I'm curious what HB isn't counting on as far as her experiment goes 🔥🌎 Bruno! What an introduction from him- one of my favorite chapters outside of HB's herself 🔥🌏 Great comments and quotes everyone- keep them coming in the next section: 93-182- starts with the first account of Sweet Autumn Pinkney through halfway (But please don't rush if behind!) 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I agree with you on Bruno, I liked his narrative. I‘m onto Phineas now, what an interesting character. He seems more willing to collaborate with Harry, has the persona too, unlike Anton. 6y
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vivastory I 100% agree with you about Bruno. Such an engaging character! I'm finding it to be tonally varied, too. The "ghost story" that Felix relates in the final chapter of the week, a lot different feeling to it than the rest of the book. Hustvedt manages to pack in so much in such a small space, without being oblique. 6y
Billypar @erzascarletbookgasm Are your spoiler masks for material past the 25% mark? Or did you go on a tear and finish the novel? 😀 6y
Billypar @vivastory How creepy was that ghost story and fever dream? I feel like we haven't heard the last of that topic. I agree- there's so much baked into the varied narratives, and she's able to hint at so much more under the surface. 6y
Cathythoughts Also “ the mother” is very present ... the “big mother of our childhood “... our deep unconscious attachment to her that never leaves us “ None of us remembers infancy, that archaic age in the land of the mother giant” ... and when Harriet‘s mother dies , she does not callfor her husband or for Harriet , but called out for her mama , over & over again. .... Also lots of references to crossing borders, and also metaphorical framing 👇🏻 (edited) 6y
Cathythoughts 👇🏻the post above also related to “the great mother” I love the phrase “ brain tattoo” and so well put , So much happening in this book. Yes, those fever dreams were very strange. I am also a fan of Bruno. I love the window through which he sees her & she is elegant in her coats. I love Harriet‘s Amazonian woman vibe (edited) 6y
Billypar @Cathythoughts Yes, isn't it interesting to see how parent-child dynamics are side-by-side with the artist as a 'parent' to the work? And she does keep returning to how the work breaks out of its frame, like the Frankenstein's monster rebellion theme. This seems like the function of the pseudonymous 'masks' in her work, but maybe Ethan will be the real-life equivalent with his rebellious streaks? 6y
batsy I am catching up and have to agree with Bruno, I love the way he *sees* Harry. It's sexual and earthy but also full of integrity (so far)... I hope he doesn't let me down. I love the idea of "the big mother of our childhood" @Cathythoughts and the Phineas chapter really raises some questions or brings to the fore the economy of the art world, the grounding in race, gender, & class... I'm admiring the amount of stuff Hustvedt is synthetising here. 6y
batsy *agree about Bruno, rather 6y
vivastory I'm so far behind! 🙈 I should be caught up by tomorrow afternoon. It's been difficult finding time to give this book the attention it deserves. 6y
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Cathythoughts
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#BlazingWorldBR some quotes, I‘m way behind & feel out of my depth. But I love it too.
“Nonexistent, impossible imaginary objects are in our thoughts all the time, but in art they move from the inside to the outside, words and images cross the boarder”
Of Husserl, she says - He knew that empathy was a deep form of knowledge

I also am strangely fascinated - in awe- with the art piece ( installation? ) she is making of Felix.

batsy I seem to be way behind as I think I haven't encountered this yet 😳 But it is a great quote. 6y
Tanisha_A Fantastic! 6y
Cathythoughts @batsy there are some great passages ... I‘m very far behind ! But I‘ve decided not to stress ... I‘ll get there sometime 6y
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Cathythoughts @Tanisha_A yes there is a lot of great writing here 💫 6y
Billypar Great choices! I think feeling out of your depth is a common feeling to have. I think Hustvedt generates intrigue about Harriet in part because of her vast and commanding knowledge of art, philosophy, and science. It makes me feel like we're lost in the inner workings of her mind in some ways. 6y
Suet624 Great quotes. I have to get to this book! 6y
Cathythoughts @Suet624 it‘s very good 👍🏻 6y
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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From pg 68-69 : it has often taken women longer to gain a hold in the art world than men..Lee Krasner‘s work was subsumed by her husband‘s in the eyes of the art world.

Krasner, one of the female artists highlighted in the book, was only "rediscovered" by feminist art historians during the 1970s and lived to see a greater recognition of her art and career.

#blazingworldbr

TrishB So many stories like this with undiscovered women! 6y
batsy So much about the unseen lives of women rings so true in this book, especially how talent is measured... 😞 6y
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batsy
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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I confess that my reading is going very slowly because it feels like I almost have to readjust segments of my brain with this book. Hustvedt's style is incredibly cerebral and requires focus, which is interesting, but it's just that I'm back to being in a World Cup frame of mind today 😆⚽

I'm loving Harriet so far ... Always so unexpected. I love this bit in particular.

#BlazingWorldBR

Yeah_I_Read 🇧🇷🇧🇷🙌🙌 6y
batsy @Yeah_I_Read I would love to see them win it 💚 I'm also impressed with France. Mbappe, Pogba 🙌🏽 6y
Ms_T Any book that uses the word dunderhead is a winner for me. #Stacked 6y
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Cathythoughts Well done that your reading is going ! I‘m struggling with her “incredibly cerebral style “I‘m taking a break & will try again. And yes big World Cup weekend 👍🏻🎉 (edited) 6y
batsy @Ms_T Ha 😆 6y
batsy @Cathythoughts I know, I'm gonna be in a sleep-deprived haze this weekend because some of the live matches are 2am here and I'm no match for her style in this state 😂😂 6y
BarbaraBB So recognizable. I really want to read but I cannot not watch football. Right now I am watching France vs Uruguay in straf of reading.... 😳😘 6y
batsy @BarbaraBB Me too. Happy about 🇫🇷 and hope they maintain the lead. I'll stay up for Brazil-Belgium too and hopefully I'll get some reading done in between ❤️😁 6y
BarbaraBB My favorite is Mbappe too. And Varane! 6y
batsy @BarbaraBB Mbappe ❤️ 6y
vivastory I nearly posted this passage 6y
batsy @vivastory 😆 I like your Atwood-Blind Assassin comparison, there is a lot of that dry, clever humour in both Iris and Harriet 6y
vivastory @batsy I'm loving this book. There's so much to chew on & unpack. It feels very topical with the discussions of gender inequality & ageism & also timeless in the meditations on artistic representation/exploration/subversion of identity. 6y
Billypar Careful- you'll wind up interpreting Harriet's central conflict as unrealized football ambitions 😓⚽ 6y
batsy @vivastory It's early days for me yet; I'm moving at a snail's pace because of all there is to unpack. But I agree! You put it so well. And I can't not love Harriet with her affinity to Frankenstein's monster and Milton's Satan 🖤 6y
batsy @Billypar It's already happened! Now that my favourite team went out last night, if I keep watching the World Cup now it's with a general desire of revenge against twits, dunderheads, and fools 😂 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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One more #BlazingWorldBR post and then I'll try and shut up for awhile 🤐
During the buddy read I invite you all to post any potential anagrams or other puzzles (like this one from page 43, Story 4 of Burden's first exhibition). Then everyone can feel free to post their interpretations as comments with the spoiler mask so everyone can tackle them at their own pace. @batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory

Billypar Tetralogy There are three main art exhibitions .... could the fourth one be TBW itself, or something else? Also, this leaves one O left over, which fits with the postscript of the editor's intro- notebook O being recently found and apparently concerns the controversial 3rd exhibition. Then there's the two-headed *hairy* beast in Story 4- sounds like a reference to HB herself, the 2nd head being the male artist personas maybe? 🤷 6y
Billypar Or...as I'm rereading the editor's intro, maybe 'teratology', referenced in page 5, study of monsters, is more plausible 😂😳 6y
vivastory I'd say it's teratology. Although your first explanation is quite thoughtful & convincing! 6y
Billypar @vivastory Ha- I was all proud of myself with the first theory, so finding the second more plausible one was a little disappointing, lol. 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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#BlazingWorldBR
"Some smart-ass from Art Assembly had written that the picture of a Brillo box on Venus's left buttock referred to the philosopher Arthur Danto, who had claimed that art came to an end with Warhol's Brillo."
I'm delighted that, like What I Loved, TBW features more of Hustvedt's dreamed up art installations- I just wish I could see them for real!
@batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory

Billypar (Venus courtesy of Wikipedia, Brillo courtesy of artspace.com) 6y
vivastory Fictional art can be every bit as riveting as physical paintings 6y
Billypar Just found this great essay on Danto's argument: very relevant to themes of TBW (and great for those who don't know all that much about art history): https://hyperallergic.com/191329/an-illustrated-guide-to-arthur-dantos-the-end-o... 6y
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Cathythoughts I‘m a bit behind... it‘s slow reading & very good too. 6y
batsy Thanks, that article sounds great. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Will read up that article, thanks for the link. Erm, I‘ll start reading the book in the next two days. 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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The Blazing World buddy read has begun, and if the 'Editor's Introduction' is any indication, this promises to be a dizzying spiral of references to art, literature, philosophy, feminist theory, and science, all packaged a web of intertextual fun and games 🤓 Be wary of anagrams, erudition, and unreliable narratives, and enjoy! #BlazingWorldBR @batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory

Cathythoughts Here we go..... 👍🏻❤️ 6y
Cathythoughts 🤓🧐 6y
CoffeeNBooks Cool picture! 6y
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saresmoore Woohoo! I love a good spiral. Picture makes me a little uneasy, though. It may still be too soon after House of Leaves. 😱 (edited) 6y
vivastory @saresmoore Do you have your tinfoil hat handy? 😂 6y
vivastory I can't wait to dive into this. 6y
saresmoore @vivastory These days? I don‘t take it off! 6y
vivastory @saresmoore Smart woman! 6y
Billypar @saresmoore Oh geez- I'm glad I left that hotel room before making the HoL connection. Though have any of us really left HoL? 🙄😂 6y
Billypar @CoffeeNBooks How could you be near a spiral staircase and not put it in a Litsy post, right? 😉 6y
Billypar @vivastory Yes, definitely the kind of book you dive into, isn't it? Should be fun! 6y
batsy I might have a little bit of a late start to this but I hope to catch up 😁 6y
Billypar @batsy Sure, that's fine- I may have a little catching up to do myself based on my week ahead 😬 6y
Suet624 Great photo! I loved What I Loved. Can‘t wait to check this one out. Have been enjoying your posts on it. 6y
Billypar @Suet624 Thanks! I really enjoyed What I Loved too, but I'm liking this even more so far. Very dense and plenty to appreciate and analyze 🤓 6y
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saresmoore
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Two 7-day loans, the first in a series, and a buddy read scheduled for July 1: challenge accepted!

rabbitprincess You can do it! 👍🏼 6y
Hollie I gave faith in you! 6y
Lindy I‘m cheering you on from the sidelines. 😁💪 6y
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vivastory I'd be game for a Cusk buddy read, if you are 6y
vivastory I think I'm going to join the blazing world buddy read too. I've been meaning to read Hustvedt. 6y
saresmoore @vivastory Yes, both would be great! I just did a taste test of Cusk yesterday and was instantly taken in by the unique style. 6y
vivastory I've been meaning to read it forever. This is the perfect opportunity. I'll probably start it early next week. Does that work for you? 6y
saresmoore @vivastory That works for me! July is looking like a good reading month. 6y
Suet624 Gulp. Good luck with that. 6y
Suet624 By the way, sorry for being such a turtle and hiding in my shell lately. The world is doing me in. I‘m sending you an email tomorrow though. 😍 6y
saresmoore @Suet624 You know I understand. Some days (weeks, months) I‘m just thankful we have shells. 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Here is the schedule for The Blazing World buddy read. Go at your own pace- this will just frame which part we'll be discussing.
If anyone else is looking for some art and intrigue this July, it's not too late to join! #BlazingWorldBR
@batsy @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm

batsy Nice! Thank you. I keep thinking "next month" and just realised it's the last week of June ? 6y
saresmoore Thanks for setting this up! @batsy I had the same thought. 😓 6y
Billypar @batsy @saresmoore I have to hurry and finish one of my current reads before this. I think some books don't mind you multitasking, but this one might be a little upset with me 6y
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erzascarletbookgasm Thank you. Whoa, next month is actually next week. I‘d better finish up my current reads. 6y
Cathythoughts Great stuff ! Thanks for organizing. I have my copy on kindle ready & waiting. See you Sunday 💃🏾 6y
vivastory Count me in! 6y
Billypar @vivastory Awesome- glad to have you aboard! 😀 6y
Cathythoughts @billypar @batsy @saresmoore @erzascarletbookgasm @vivastory I made a small start. You tubed the author, interesting woman ( new to me ) started the first part & I love it so far. Love the writing & the stories & the art. Might get a bit cerebral for me ... I‘m giving it a go anyway. Exciting! Do we have all month to read the book ??! 6y
Billypar @Cathythoughts Yeah I've only read one other of hers, but I've seen her give a reading and watched interviews and she seems pretty brilliant all around. Yes, we'll take about a month, but go at your own speed. Thanks for joining and happy reading! 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Hey @batsy @saresmoore you still interested in a Blazing World buddy read? I was contemplating a July 1st start date, but I could do later if that's too soon. Let me know and I'll send out a schedule.
If anyone else is interested feel free to join in- the only other Hustvedt I've read- What I Loved - seems to get rave reviews on Litsy and I've heard good things about this one too. 🔥🌍

saresmoore I‘m in! That sounds great. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I have this languishing on my shelves. But I‘m rubbish at buddy reads 😒 6y
batsy Yes, I'm in! Thanks for the reminder :) @erzascarletbookgasm Join us! I'm rubbish at buddy reads too 😁 6y
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Billypar @saresmoore @batsy Excellent- looking forward to this- should be fun! 😃 I'll post a schedule soon. 6y
Billypar @erzascarletbookgasm If you change your mind, it will be a super-laidback BR: read ahead, read behind, post, or follow along silently- all is good. Just don't spoil the end in Week 1 (though honestly, you'd even be forgiven for that 😉) 6y
Cathythoughts May I join in too ? Looks interesting.... 6y
Billypar @Cathythoughts Of course- we are happy to have you aboard! And much different material than The Idiot I'd expect 😉 6y
Cathythoughts Great 😂! Thankyou , I‘ll get my kindle copy sorted 👍🏻 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Haha! Please count me in then! @batsy glad I‘m not alone 😂 6y
Billypar @erzascarletbookgasm Excellent! Glad you're making an exception for this one 😀👍 6y
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Billypar
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Looking forward to this potential summer read about a story borne from the #NewYork art scene that, as far as I can tell from the jacket description, begins as one artist's attempt to shine a light on gender-based injustices faced by new artists, and it gets into darker territory from there. I'll also take this prompt as an opportunity to display my long-suffering Strand bag (not sure it can hold novels larger than 400 pages anymore 😋). #Aprella

Cinfhen That Strand bag 🙌🏻💕‼️ 7y
Reviewsbylola Fantastic pic! That bag is awesome! 7y
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emilyhaldi Vintage!!! 👌🏻 7y
BarbaraBB This is one of my favourite books. Enjoy 😍 7y
mrozzz I also really liked this one! #twins @BarbaraBB 7y
Billypar @BarbaraBB @mrozzz Ooh...high praise- I may not even wait until summer ☺️ 7y
Suet624 I really liked another book of hers and have this one lined up to read soon. 7y
Billypar @Suet624 WIL is the only one of hers I've read and I really liked it too , so I'm definitely looking forward to this one. 7y
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Suet624
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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I just went into the tiniest bookstore and found books by two of my favorite authors. I was so impressed with their choices. 😎😎😍

Tamra I love it when that happens - such a rarity for me anyway. 7y
Suet624 @tamra I know! I‘m so proud of our independent bookstores. (edited) 7y
Leftcoastzen Yes love it when that happens. 7y
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Suet624 @Leftcoastzen it felt a bit like a tiny miracle. 😀 7y
Leftcoastzen @Suet624 I truly believe it‘s the tiny miracles that see us through. 7y
Suet624 @Leftcoastzen absolutely. 💕💕 7y
minkyb Sweet! 7y
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Redwritinghood
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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I also snagged both of these Kindle books today. $1.99 each for those of you in the US.

mrozzz I haven't encountered anyone who has read either of these!! Hope you like them 🤘🏻 7y
Redwritinghood @mrozzz Thanks. They had some good reviews and the price was right. 7y
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kristinshafel
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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These two are on discount today. I'm completely terrible about reading my ebooks, but I'm seriously tempted!! Have you read either? What did you think? Should I go for one of them (or both)? #onsale #kindle

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RidgewayGirl
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Pickpick

This was an intelligent book with emotional depth. Harry fights for recognition in an artworld dismissive of woman artists (it still is). She comes up with the plan of having men be the visible face of her art, but it doesn't work out as she'd thought.

Kristelh This sounds tempting 7y
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RidgewayGirl
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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It was easy. It's still easy. You simply refuse to answer a woman. You don't engage in a dialogue. You let her words or her pictures die.