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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

“I'll never cease to be amazed by the fact that people uncomfortable in themselves can give comfort to other people.“

This book is so unendingly quotable.

Photo has nothing to do with the book, just the lovely semi-frozen lake out behind my library from today's lunch break

DocBrown Beautiful! Whereabouts? 10mo

batsy It's an excellent book with lots of insight. Loved it. 10mo

TheKidUpstairs @DocBrown Lake Scugog in the little town of Port Perry. We're about an hour outside of Toronto 10mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Maybe our constant fear is that a generation of children will come along and say: "This is not a world, this is nothing, there's no way to live at all."

lil1inblue Oof. Excellent quote. 10mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

"I don't know whether I can keep going. A turtle doesn't have to decide every morning whether to keep on bothering, it just carries on. Maybe that's why man kills everything: envy."

Gissy Beautiful photo 🐢 I see some turtles when I go swimming in the area of San Juan. I also can see manatee and beautiful fish 🐠 🐟 11mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

"Sometimes I think that the biggest difference between men and women is that more men need to seek out some terrible lurking thing in existence and hurl themselves upon it like Ahab with the White Whale. Women know where it lives but they can let it alone. Even in matriarchal societies, I doubt there were ever female Beowulfs. Women lie with gods and demons but they don't go looking for monsters to fight with."

Art: Nicola Durrant

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

I said I wasn‘t going to do a bracket this year but…now that there‘s an option for bonus books? That changes everything (?)!

I‘m comfortable calling January, even with a few days left. Our Missing Hearts might very well end up being my bonus book for the quarter (thanks, @BarbaraJean !) but there‘s just no beating Turtle Diary.

And thanks to @CSeydel for the bracket design this year! 🥳

#ReadingBracket2024

BarbaraJean I have been meaning to sit down and respond to your review for Our Missing Hearts, and the past few weeks have gotten away from me!! It‘s one I wondered about putting on my list, because it‘s gotten quite mixed reviews. But I thought it did so much, so well. And so I‘m really glad you liked it so much! (edited) 11mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

Turtle Diary is an exemplary bit of quirk *and* craft, which is an unstoppable pairing. Don‘t be fooled: it‘s also quite literary and full of complicated, twin emotions like despair and hope. Hoban uses a stream of consciousness style to follow two despondent 40-something strangers. They become simultaneously obsessed with freeing the turtles at the zoo, wondering if by doing so they might somehow find & free themselves.

A new favorite.* 🌟

monalyisha *Note: I‘d be remiss if I didn‘t mention the missteps. For all the genius & quotable sentences, there are also a few sentences that include sentiments we‘d be better off without: racism, the sexualization of young(er) girls. None of this is excusable but it is, at least, limited — and balanced by more liberal ideas later in the text. I‘d like to think that if Hoban were writing now (not in 1975), he‘d know better and do better. But who can say? 11mo

TheKidUpstairs I'm reading this one now, just started yesterday! The combination of NYRB and the author of Bread and Jam for Frances was just too intriguing to pass up, and your review makes me so excited to see where it's going! 11mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

This is the second book to make me care about spiders. The first was Neil Gaiman‘s Anansi Boys.

This is the first book to make me *actually consider* getting a spider tattoo. I‘m floored. I hardly recognize myself. The power of good writing, am I write/right?!

I love, love, love this book. 🥹

“She needs no recognition, can recognize herself and spin a web wherever she may be.”

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

“Ocean. When I think that word, I want to be immersed in it and at the same time contain it all. Great green deeps of ocean. A medium of motion and being. And of course the sharks. Walking on the ground is not comparable to that underwater flying, green water touching every part.“

📸: Alison Bounce

vivastory This is one of the books I read with #NYRBBookClub It was one of my favorites. It didn't go in directions that I thought it would. In a good way. 11mo

JamieArc This sounds kind of wonderful and that photo 😍😍😍 11mo

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

“A turtle doesn't have to decide every morning whether to keep on bothering, it just carries on. Maybe that's why man kills everything: envy.”

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

“Maybe I'm just one of those people so accustomed to being miserable that they use the material of any situation to fuel their misery.”

I rarely underline passages, but this book was so quotable! I‘ve added some here because they‘re just GOOD. I also never use the quote function here on litsy but this book made me do it 😆

batsy It's such a wonderfully-written book with some amazing lines. Love your photos! 2y

Soubhiville Did you take this photo? I‘ve seen pics of giant woodland being sculptures and always wondered where they are. I‘d love to come across something like this in person! 2y

youneverarrived There is some amazing lines in it! Love the photos too 2y

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MaGoose Love the photo 📸 🥰 2y

Chelsea.Poole @batsy @youneverarrived yes — such a slim, yet impactful read. I discovered it here, of course 😊 Would never have otherwise! 2y

Chelsea.Poole @Soubhiville @MaGoose Yes, I took this photo! I “met” 5 others, that are all equally as epic! These trolls are in Dayton, Ohio. A few hours drive from my house. Thomas Dambo is the artist, and he uses recycled materials to create his sculptures. I adore the trolls and feel so lucky they‘re close enough to visit! They are in other places throughout the world. https://thomasdambo.com @batsy @youneverarrived (edited) 2y

Aimeesue Fabulous troll! 2y

Soubhiville Oh, thank you for the link! 2y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

They won't stop killing the whales. They make dog- and cat-food out of them, face creams, lipstick. They kill the whales to feed the dogs so the dogs can shit on the pavement and the people can walk in it. A kind of natural cycle. Whales can navigate, echo-locate, sing, talk to one another but they can't get away from the harpoon guns. The International Whaling Commission is meeting here in London right now but they won't stop the killing...

Yuki_Onna 😭😭😭 2y

IuliaC 😔 2y

Pageturner1 😢😡makes me sick 2y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

I wish I had a better photo of this lovely little gem but I read it on my phone so it‘s a screenshot. An excellent reading experience featuring 2 lonely souls wandering around London who connect over turtles in the zoo. Sounds like a romantic comedy waiting to happen? Think again! I love that this was rather anticlimactic (often a negative way to describe a book but I mean it positively!) So quotable, so unexpected! Started off 2023 with a winner!

Chelsea.Poole Another #BlameItOnLitsy read 😊 2y

Chelsea.Poole Using this for #NaturaLitsy reading challenge - fiction 2y

Chelsea.Poole AND #Booked2023 #inmemorandum —an author who is no longer living @cinfhen @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage 2y

Cinfhen It sounds lovely 😊 and the cover is quite special 🤩 2y

AllDebooks It sounds charming and that cover is fab. X 2y

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Liz_M

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

A quiet novel about two middle-aged Londoners. William has been merely existing as a bookseller since his family left. Neaera is a spinster suffering from ennui and writer's block. It‘s told in alternating diary entries which mirror each other, providing momentum until their lives intersect. As they plot to free zoo turtles, the act gets them out of a rut and forces them, in different ways, to connect, open up their lives, and let go of the past.

Liz_M 4⭐#nyrbbookclub @vivastory, @readordierachel 2y

vivastory I'm glad that this one worked for you. This is one of the selections that I enjoyed when I first read it, but the more time has passed the more I think about it. 2y

BookwormM Love your ornaments 2y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 6 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

readordierachel I kept expecting it to be a love story, but I'm glad it wasn't in the traditional sense. I appreciated that even though Neaera is ostensibly in a relationship at the end of the story, she thinks about it ending and knows she will be fine if it does. It's a novel about loneliness, but the answer to that loneliness is not a romantic partner but finding something within yourself 3y

vivastory @readordierachel I couldn't have said it better! I think that the realization that Neaera has reached is what William is striving towards at the end. My fingers are crossed that he gets to the same place. 3y

DrexEdit @readordierachel @vivastory same! 🙂 3y

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DrexEdit @readordierachel thanks for hosting this month! Great questions! 🙂 3y

quietjenn @readordierachel I totally agree - both in the expectation and being glad that it didn't go that way. I love that she is so comfortable with herself at the end. 3y

arubabookwoman @readordierachel Great comment about the answer to loneliness. I'm glad they didn't get together, even tho' I was expecting them to. It made for a better book. Has anyone seen the movie? I saw it many years ago & I remember them getting together at the end. That may just be wishful thinking or a false memory though. (edited) 3y

arubabookwoman However, did anyone else just want to shake them sometimes and tell them to quit moping around? 3y

Liz_M I am not sure about redemption, but both characters have given up the weight of the past -- Neaera throws her stone into the sea after releasing the turtles and William drops his into a fountain the day he realized the turtles would always be swimming in his mind, but they couldn't do his swimming for him. 3y

BarbaraBB Well said @readordierachel I totally agree and am also glad it didn‘t turn into a love story. Thanks for hosting, fantastic questions ❤️ 3y

quietjenn @Liz_M nice observation about the stones! I'd remembered Neaera's, but not William's. 3y

Leftcoastzen @arubabookwoman I like your point of shaking them & saying quit moping around! 3y

Leftcoastzen I like to think the experience flipped a reset button for them .Neaera seems to be progressing faster but I think William will get there too. 3y

Leftcoastzen Great questions thanks for hosting! I‘ve been bouncing in and out of the dialogue. So many great points . I really liked the book . 3y

merelybookish Redemption feels too strong perhaps. But it felt like they had weathered something and found some sun on the other side. @liz_m that's such a good image, getting rid of the stones, thanks for mentioning it. 3y

batsy You put it wonderfully, @readordierachel I too expected a romance and the novel carefully subverting that was key. I think despite the loneliness and depiction of interiority, this is a novel about a kind of communion, if not redemption—and that it can be unexpected and happen almost fleetingly, but it's still strong enough to leave a mark. To know that there are people "like you", out there. Also the casting off of stones is well put, @Liz_M ! 3y

GatheringBooks @arubabookwoman me!! Me!! Me!! I feel so relieved now that I am not the only one who felt impatient at certain points in time. 3y

Suet624 Well shoot. Now I have to buy this book. 3y

readordierachel @Suet624 Yes! It's a worthwhile read. Look forward to your thoughts if you do buy it :) 3y

Centique Hi Rachel. Missing your posts! Hope everything is going ok 💕💕 3y

rockpools Just dropping by to say hi. Hope you‘re doing well. 3y

BiblioLitten Hi Rachel…hope you are keeping well. 💕 3y

vivastory Hey, I hope that you are doing well. I miss your posts. Hopefully you have found enough time for yourself to read something interesting lately. 2y

BarbaraBB Hi Rachel, missing your posts. I hope you are doing well 🤍 2y

Librariana Missing you and your posts, Rachel! Hope you're doing well 💜 2y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 5 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

vivastory I do agree with this. I am at the same age as one of the characters in TD, so I think that it has something special to say for people at a certain time in their lives. But it doesn't read as a mid-life crisis novel, either. One of the fascinating aspects of TD is how it tackles themes (environmental disaster, romance, mid-life uncertainty) without becoming exclusively one of those type of novels. It's broader than that. 3y

DrexEdit In places it started to remind me of Barbara Pym's Quarter in Autumn which I found very bleak for a "middle-age" novel. But this one always pulled back to a place of hope or at least possibilities. Middle-age seems to be where things settle in for a lifetime, or everything changes! 3y

vivastory @DrexEdit I have been meaning to read Pym for awhile now. 3y

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DrexEdit @vivastory I didn't warm to the Quartet, but the writing was lovely and many people here have assured me not all her novels are as bleak. I intend to give her another try. 3y

vivastory @DrexEdit Thanks for the tip. I will keep it in mind. 3y

quietjenn Yes, and I think being squarely middle age at the moment definitely impacts how I've reacted to the novel and makes certain aspects of it resonate in a way they wouldn't have otherwise. 3y

arubabookwoman I didn't think it was so much a novel of middle-age as a novel for anyone who one day looks around and asks, "Is this all there is?" @DrexEdit & @vivastory Quartet in Autumn is Pym's darkest novel (& my favorite of the 5 or 6 I've read). I also think it's more a novel of old age rather than middle-age. But what is age? When I turned 70 I suddenly realized I could no longer call myself middle-aged any more. 3y

Liz_M I also not so sure this is a novel of middle-age as it is a great novel for a subset of single middle-aged people and those that seem to have drifted into a life of subsistence rather than fullness. It is more hopeful than many of the “spinster lit“ novels we've read the past few years but more melancholy than some of the more family/relationship focused novels we've read. 3y

BarbaraBB @arubabookwoman Exactly, the “is this all there is” theme is of all ages I think. Also I‘m not sure what age is meant with middle-aged, it‘s more a state of mind I think. Both William and Naera seemed older to me than I am myself though they are younger. Not sure what I want to say but the world middle-aged always confuses me because I don‘t know what it implies. 3y

vivastory @arubabookwoman @drexedit It sounds fascinating. I have been meaning to read it for awhile & I am going to move it up my TBR especially after the endorsements. I just ordered it. 3y

vivastory @Liz_M Very well stated. There was a recent thread on NYRB challenging someone to name a heartwarming story that they have published. Needless to say, it was tough. (edited) 3y

Leftcoastzen I think as many of you do there are stages in life where you get stuck, where you think life is going in a positive direction that will hold then it stops , the “is that all there is” type moment . It tends to be in midlife , but it can be earlier or later. 3y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen I think this is a great point. I also think that there can be events extraneous as to if an individual is truly “mid-life“ that can precipitate reevaluations. I can imagine that the events of the past 2 years have had such an effect. 3y

batsy I agree that it's more a state of mind novel than anything else, and will speak to anyone dealing with these questions in their mind, but because I've "recently" entered my 40s and feeling pretty blah about life and society's expectations, the bit about it being a middle-aged novel really spoke to me, too. 3y

GatheringBooks Loved reading the musings about what constitutes middle age: is it when you reach 40? 50? The book seems to suggest 40ish. While I did appreciate the subtlety in the language and the carefully executed turns of phrases and the surprise suicide towards the end which pulled the rug from under my feet as a reader, I felt a tad impatient with it, the slowness felt laborious to me which is probably is how it should be, but I suspect it may 👇🏼 3y

GatheringBooks (Cont) Simply be where I am at in my life. While I recognize the allegorical nature of the turtle dilemma and all that it signifies, I did not feel as emotionally invested as I probably needed to be for the novel to work for me. Again I blame it on my inattentiveness and the crazy million and one things I am currently doing. (edited) 3y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 4 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

vivastory I found it very intriguing that there seemed to be elements of himself in both characters. I was reminded a bit of Jansson's Fair Play. I read in a review online that Turtle Diary was Hoban's first adult novel, which I also find interesting. Especially reading Neara's passages about writing children's books & her struggles. 3y

readordierachel It's interesting to know, but it doesn't change the way I interpret the novel. Writers often use their own life for inspiration. Write what you know and all that. It did make me wonder how many of the interactions in the novel may have happened to him personally. The new age rebirthing scene for instance 3y

DrexEdit Yeah, I don't think it did. I did find it interesting that the guy that wrote this also wrote Bread and Jam for Francis, but I didn't really see a connection except in a superficial way. 3y

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arubabookwoman I was aware that he was a children's book writer (with his wife), having read many of those children's books to my own kids. I also knew that he and his wife divorced shortly after they moved to London. Didn't know about the advertising work. But these biagraphical aspects he incorporated into the novel didn't bother me. 3y

arubabookwoman I did enjoy reading about how Neara created her work for children and how seriously she took her animal characters. There is a similar respect for the characters in Hoban's children's books I'm glad to say, so probably a lot of that came from his own life and work. 3y

Liz_M I was also going to use the write what you know adage. I struggle with how much to consider the author in how I think about a work. On one hand, the book should stand on it's own, but on the other hand I value "own voices" works. 3y

quietjenn Not particularly, although I suspect that if I were to go back and read the Frances books now, it might make me view them a little differently (and I can't even imagine what I might think if I ever get around to reading Ridley Walker). 3y

quietjenn @readordierachel Oh yes! I so want to know what reality that was based on! Every now and then there would be a moment in the book where I was very strongly reminded that we were in the 1970s! 3y

vivastory @quietjenn I had to bail on Riddley Walker after a couple of pages. I am going to give it another shot, but I think it's one where I'll have to read it out loud for the first few pages to get into the swing of the lingo 3y

quietjenn @vivastory I've never actually attempted it, although I know people who adore it. I think I'm a bit intimidated by it! 3y

readordierachel @arubabookwoman I really enjoyed that aspect too, how seriously she took her children's books. The thoughts about madame beetle and such were very engaging 3y

readordierachel @quietjenn @vivastory I was thinking about picking up Riddley, but I read some reviews that said it was pretty inaccessible so I'm intimidated as well 3y

readordierachel @quietjenn Yes, so 70s! 3y

BarbaraBB I didn‘t know the author wrote children‘s books as well and worked in advertising. So it didn‘t bother me but now that I know I recognize a bit of the copywriter in the book - especially in the humorous parts. 3y

merelybookish I did find it kind of fascinating to think about as Bread and Jam for Frances is a pretty classic work of children's lit. Plus, I studied children's lit so Neaera's somewhat jaundiced views on it were interesting to me. I read/heard on a podcast (can't remember where) that Hoban considered himself an under-appreciated author. I suspect he blamed that somewhat on being perceived as a writer for children. 3y

Leftcoastzen I was going to try Riddley too but a guy I knew who was a pretentious twit was really into it so I said nope . 😂Maybe someday. 3y

vivastory @merelybookish I remember James Mustich cited Mouse & His Child as one of his favorite books in an interview. I always meant to read it. 3y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen It's interesting how the audience of a work can shape our expectations of it. I avoided Baudelaire like the plague for YEARS because of goth kids I knew in HS. 😂 3y

Leftcoastzen @vivastory that‘s funny ! 3y

batsy It didn't particularly change how I saw the novel, but it was intriguing to learn the details of his real life because like @vivastory says it's cool to see that he sort of put himself in both characters. I thought Neaera was a particularly intriguing female character and unique; her voice really came through strongly and it was distinctive. I've also not read his Frances children's books (or anything else by him) and I feel like I must fix that! 3y

readordierachel @batsy Totally agree about Neara's voice. She was so sharp and well drawn. I enjoyed being in her head. 3y

GatheringBooks I have read a few of Russell Hoban‘s children‘s books which is why I was entertained by the supposed “biographical” elements of the narrative, which I could extrapolate from Neaera‘s musings which was aptly described by @merelybookish as “jaundiced” - not surprised at all that Hoban thought of himself as underappreciated, if this story is to go by, he strikes me as a cantankerous old man if he resembles William G (which I predict he does). 3y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 3 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

vivastory I loved the structure of the novel. As I mentioned in a post about the book I can have difficulty immersing myself in a work if there is little dialogue, but am able to latch on if there are observations by interesting characters. The alternating POV of 2 very interesting & flawed characters kept me engaged. 3y

readordierachel I loved the structure as well @vivastory Greag point about the observations making up for the lack of dialogue. Their entries aren't just navel gazing. They are both constantly examining the world around them, even if it's just inside their own flats. And their thoughts are allowed to spin out, bouncing around to different topics, like real people's do. So even tho we're so close to them and their idiosyncrasies, there's something universal 3y

readordierachel *Great 3y

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vivastory @readordierachel I loved how their thoughts would move from topic to topic. I think it would have been easy for Hoban to have made it a dense, & somewhat dull, book about ideas. But I found it very lively because of their thoughts. As you point out. 3y

readordierachel @vivastory Yes, lively is a good way to describe it! 3y

DrexEdit @readordierachel what a terrific way to put it! Yes! 💯% agree! 3y

arubabookwoman I liked the structure & it worked for me, & I loved the coincidences in their experiences and similarities in their thoughts both before and after they connected. (The dead cat at the end both saw for example (ugh)). As I noted before, I sometimes had difficulty telling their voices apart. Whether this was intentional on Hoban's part--I.e. their characters are so similar--or just because the writing style didn't change between them, I'm not sure. 3y

quietjenn I really enjoyed the structure. The way their thoughts flowed seemed very realistic to me and I especially loved the bits where they would find themselves touching on the same ideas or objects, each from their own perspective. 3y

vivastory @quietjenn I also really liked reading their perspective on the same idea/object. I thought that was interesting. 3y

Liz_M Like @quietjenn and @arubabookwoman I also enjoyed the deliberate mirroring between the alternating chapters, especially in the beginning before they meet when one character seems to glimpse the other. It was an effective way to create a narrative drive. (edited) 3y

readordierachel @Liz_M Yes, good point. That tension while we're waiting for their stories to converge is important 3y

BarbaraBB Agree with you @Liz_M , very effective. I also enjoyed how little we learned about their lives up until now. We know the facts, not the impact, not the drama. Thar really stood out for me. 3y

batsy I loved the structure and he used it so well; getting to the end of the book allowed me to appreciate just how well. Like you say Rachel he did so much within the form, so it wasn't just them navel gazing. Initially I had a hard time getting into the book because I was reading it in bits and pieces, and I almost bailed at the start. But when their paths crossed with the turtles the structure of the book clicked into place for me. 3y

GatheringBooks Loved hearing about your thoughts which are starkly different from mine; the alternating pov didn‘t particularly work for me mainly because I found it challenging to distinguish between the two voices. I had to go back time and again to determine whose voice am I reading - because I couldn‘t tell them apart especially in the first half of the novel. I realize though that this may be deliberate to demonstrate the parallels across the two characters 3y

GatheringBooks It could also be that my attention wasn‘t fully there while reading, hence the difficulty in differentiating across the two characters. 🥲😅 - it is tough being immersed in both their minds, so joyless. 😭😭😭 3y

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Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 2 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

vivastory I do think that William G has also experienced a change but it will take longer to develop & is outside of the bounds of the narrative. I loved to see the hints that he was changing as a person at the very end when he visited Neaera. 3y

readordierachel I agree @vivastory that he is developing more slowly. He did seem to be somewhat less melancholy by the end. I hesitate to say hopeful. Perhaps a little more resigned, but not in a sad way. He's not as explicitly self-reflective as Neaera, so it can't be as neatly measured. 3y

DrexEdit See, now you're making me rethink my answer to the previous question. So Neaera ended up opening up to the possibility of an intimate relationship for herself, I think William did change enough to re-engage with everyday people and social relationships. 3y

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vivastory @DrexEdit @readordierachel I think that William did mature in the sense that he ended a relationship that wasn't making him happy, but I think he is having difficulty in defining what will. I think he is looking for a sort of long-term guarantee, whereas Neaera has accepted that there is no such thing as the guarantees he is looking for & has instead decided to accept what she has in the moment. 3y

DrexEdit @vivastory 👍 3y

arubabookwoman Yes William has changed. In his last entry he says nothing is different or better, but "I didn't mind being alive at the moment." He may have been changed more by Miss Neap's suicide than by the release of the turtles. 3y

vivastory @arubabookwoman Good point about Ms. Neap's suicide & I think that is a good illustration of we are all minor characters in other people's stories. He was caught up in his own personal issues that he didn't notice that of his neighbors. 3y

quietjenn I agree with @arubabookwoman - I think that the experience with the turtles did work on William, but it was really Miss Neap's suicide - and his interactions with his landlady/fellow lodges both in discovering it and being together afterwards - that really marks it. I think they both learned to “only connect“ but what connection looks like is different. 3y

Liz_M @arubabookwoman I think the lines before the two you quote is the difference “And I could imagine good times why I don't know.“ It is his reaction to the connection he made to his neighbors in remembering Ms Neap. 3y

BarbaraBB I too think that Ms Neap‘s suicide in the end has the biggest impact on William - and how it connected him to his neighbors. He suddenly remembered being connected I think - something he didn‘t really do with Neaera. 3y

readordierachel @arubabookwoman Yes, great observation. He seemed to be floundering still after the turtles, and coming together with his neighbors after Miss Neap produced more of a change 3y

readordierachel @BarbaraBB I agree. Even though their stories intertwined and they had a common goal and some interactions, they didn't "connect" that much as you say. I'd have thought they would be bonded after the experience, but they weren't 3y

BarbaraBB I loved that they didn‘t really bond. It makes the story so realistic. They are both finding their way towards an happy ending but no cliché‘s here! 3y

Leftcoastzen I think they both opened up from the experience. I remember William confronting Mr.Sandor about the cooker!Despite the fight they end up finding out a bit about each other.Remember at the beginning, Williams dad was a suicide, though they said it was an accident.Miss Neaps suicide makes him think a bit about boarding house neighbors being an accidental family in a way. 3y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen I completely forgot about Williams' father. That is definitely an important detail in the context of what happens later w/ Ms. Neaps!! 3y

batsy I agree about Ms. Neap's suicide being a turning point for William and there was that subtle change—he seemed more willing to take on whatever life has in store for him by the time we got to the end, or maybe that was my hopeful reading! But I think the experience with the turtles and the moments with Naera sort of laid the groundwork for that subtle shift in him too, if that makes sense. 3y

GatheringBooks I think I like the fact that this aspect of the story has been left for the reader to envision/imagine; which is a testament to the author‘s craftsmanship and restraint in the storytelling. More could have been said or extrapolated, but no, it is left hanging - just like most of life is, in truth. But agreed with everyone‘s thoughts about the pivotal point of Miss Neap‘s suicide, that elevated the narrative for me into something more profound. 3y

32 likes17 comments

readordierachel, vivastory

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Question 1 of 6 #nyrbbookclub

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @catebutler @Liz_M @sprainedbrain @KVanRead @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @daena @arubabookwoman @emilyhaldi @quietjenn @mklong @youneverarrived @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Tanisha_A @Theaelizabet @Billypar @merelybookish @saresmoore @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks

readordierachel Because we start and end with William G.'s entries and it felt like we got more of his backstory, I think the book leans into him just a little bit more. Even though Neaera H. does have equal weight in my mind. 3y

vivastory This was one of my favorite lines in the book. I think that William G. is a minor character in Neaera's story, but she seems to be more of a presence in his life. What is interesting to me is how Hoban managed to give both characters an equal say in the narrative. 3y

vivastory @readordierachel That is a good point about it opening & ending with William G's perspective. 3y

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readordierachel @vivastory I really like your take that she is more of a presence in his life. She undergoes more of a change in my mind, has more of a trajectory 3y

merelybookish Oh, I thought they were both minor characters in the turtle's story. Also that we are minor characters in multiple stories. 3y

readordierachel @merelybookish Oh interesting! I love that idea. And that makes a lot of sense 3y

vivastory @merelybookish That's a great idea! 3y

DrexEdit I think we learned more about William Gs story, but Neara seemed to show more growth as a character to me, so I'm sightly leaning towards he's a minor character. Although for a minor character he's got a ton of influence. 3y

arubabookwoman William was a minor character in Neara's story, but only because she (a writer no less) chose to make him a minor character. Weren't we all kind of expecting Neara & William to end up together? Their thoughts, actions, experiences were constantly mirroring, echoing, repeating each other's. They were so alike I often got their entries mixed up. (edited) 3y

vivastory @arubabookwoman I was expecting them to get together. I was relieved that they didn't though. There was that wonderful line in I believe William's diary where he said something to the effect of he doesn't want to be with her because it'd be like being with himself. I thought that was really telling. 3y

quietjenn For me, they have equal weight. Their stories parallel each other, although sometimes intersecting so it's a very wonky, zig-zag graph. And, I think it can all be true. We are the central character of our own story, but we are also a minor (and, for a handful, major) characters in the story of others. 3y

readordierachel @arubabookwoman @vivastory Great points about the way they mirrored each other and that line about them being so alike. That's why she was so worried about him, I think, when she saw that image in her mind of the shark. She recognized something in him 3y

youneverarrived Oh I didn‘t realise the discussion was this weekend 🙁 I‘ve only just started reading it but I‘ll catch up with comments when I‘m finished. 3y

readordierachel @quietjenn So well put! Absolutely agree. 3y

readordierachel @youneverarrived No worries. Look forward to your thoughts! 3y

vivastory @youneverarrived No worries! Please chime in if you can. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. 👏 3y

Liz_M I thought William and Neaera were minor character's in each other's stories. William seemed to have a sharper interest in Neaera, but not as lasting while Neaera had a milder interest in William, but more drawn out. And while their stories have nearly equal weight (and pages), I actually thought I got to know more about Neaera than William. 3y

BarbaraBB @arubabookwoman I like what you say about them being so alike! I mixed them up too but I‘m hindsight I feel like it was more William‘s story than Naera‘s. Probably because we start and end with him indeed @readordierachel and because he makes Naera more important than she makes him. 3y

Leftcoastzen Agree with so many thoughts here . I‘m glad the author didn‘t go in the direction of William & Neaera becoming romantically linked.I also think both characters living a somewhat solitary existence gave the more time to ruminate on the turtle situation.I kind of give their stories equal weight . Now & then they were so alike I had to go back to the start of entry because I could get them mixed up occasionally. 3y

batsy I love that they were both kind of minor characters in each other's stories, but I think the kind of effect they had on each other was major. That I think seems to the key juxtaposition that the novel was trying to show—we seem to be ships passing in the night, but unknown to ourselves the minor characters have left certain impressions. 3y

GatheringBooks @merelybookish i love this idea! Of course, it‘s the turtle‘s story! 🐢🐢🐢💕💕💕i agree with most of the ideas shared here - i thought the stories have equal weight, and reminded me of the saying that we are the central characters in our own lives - everyone else is a minor/side character. 3y

LeahBergen @readordierachel @vivastory I didn‘t read this one this month as I had tried it years ago and didn‘t get on with it. As usual, everyone‘s thoughtful commentary on here has me rethinking my choice! 3y

vivastory @LeahBergen If it makes a difference it's a quick read! If you change your mind & DO decide to read please don't hesitate to chime in with your thoughts. I'd love to hear what you make of it! 3y

LeahBergen @vivastory Thanks! I most certainly will. 3y

28 likes24 comments

quietjenn

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

So different from what I thought it would be, but so good. If I were an underliner, there's so much I would have underlined in this one! And so affirming. We're all walking around with rich interior lives. We're all fixated by the oddest notions. Our existence echoes others in ways we can't imagine. We all need to connect and be a part of something, although when we do it will be weird and awkward and unexpected. #nyrbbookclub

LeahBergen Lovely review! 3y

batsy Beautifully put 💖 3y

readordierachel Love the way you've distilled it. And love your turtle 🐢 3y

72 likes2 stack adds3 comments

DrexEdit

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

This was a wonderful read. A sweet story that didn‘t quite go the way you might think. I loved the striking difference between the inner dialogue and what the characters actually say out loud. I know I‘ve seen this movie before but I can‘t remember how close the movie is to the book. While reading the book I felt Harold Pinter sure got the movie dialogue right! I want to watch it again but can‘t find it streaming; I‘ll have to find the DVD. 5⭐️

readordierachel Love your observation about the dialogue. I'm trying to hunt down the movie as well. 3y

46 likes1 comment

Leftcoastzen

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

#NYRBBookClub A book like this reminds you that no matter what circumstances you live in , people have a vibrant inner life . When I see animals in the zoo I enjoy it , yet part of me is screaming, free them, free them all! I enjoyed spending time w/ William G. & Neaera H. and I‘m glad Hoban didn‘t veer towards cliché that might have ruined this deeply felt story.Did I mention how much I love it when a character works in a bookstore?!?

vivastory Fantastic review! I loved visiting the zoo when I was a kid but I admit the last time I went it was a bit depressing. I agree that he really saved it from it becoming a cliche. 3y

readordierachel Great review! Totally agree about the zoo, and about the book not veering into cliche. He walked a fine line there and balanced it perfectly. And hooray for bookstores of course 📚 3y

batsy Lovely review! Agree about the vibrant inner life bit and the zoo—the older I get the more stressed out I feel about viewing animals in that setting. 3y

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DivineDiana Fabulous review! When my daughter was small, we would visit the zoo often. Many good memories. Now, both of us no longer support keeping animals in zoos. ❤️ 3y

shawnmooney Lovely review of a book I remember almost nothing about – studied it as an undergrad. Don‘t even remember whether I liked it or not. This calls for me to invite you to come on Zoom so we can talk about this novel for my Bite-sized Book Chats series! I‘d be delighted to have you on as a guest. If you have no idea what I‘m talking about, here is the playlist of all 30+ episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nh 3y

Leftcoastzen @shawnmooney I would love it! I want to watch more of the episodes, but I also need a tech update! 😀My laptop no longer supported, my tablet, limping along. Don‘t want to zoom on a phone but I think we could find something fun to talk about .📚 3y

shawnmooney @Leftcoastzen Wonderful! Drop me an line whenever you‘re ready and we can discuss details further! shawnmooneyinjapan@gmail.com 3y

60 likes7 comments

Leftcoastzen

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

#NYRBBookclub Feeling a bit seen by the author right now!😂

readordierachel, vivastory

vivastory 😂 😂 3y

readordierachel Ha! 😂 3y

LeahBergen 😆😆 3y

Bookwomble 😊🧡 3y

46 likes4 comments

readordierachel, vivastory

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

A lovely read. Full of animal facts, strange & poignant interactions, & musings on what it means to be alive. It never went where I expected it to. One of the feats of this novel is that it manages to be both exuberant and bleak at the same time, never leaning too hard into either, which made it feel very true to life. A book I will reread, as I think it's the kind of book that can meet you differently at different points in your life. Loved it.

readordierachel @vivastory #nyrbbookclub 3y

vivastory Wonderful review! I can imagine revisiting it as well. 3y

Leftcoastzen Love your review! I‘m still reading it. 3y

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batsy So elegantly summed up! Exuberant and bleak perfectly captures it. 3y

readordierachel @vivastory @Leftcoastzen @batsy Thanks! I am looking forward to the discussion! Such an interesting book 3y

merelybookish Well said! I also expect to reread this book! 3y

Centique And that‘s a gorgeous blanket (I think?) in the background. Is that hand-made? 3y

readordierachel @merelybookish It‘s such a good one! I think it will be lovely to reread it 3y

readordierachel @Centique It‘s a rug actually! I found it at a local supermarket of all places. I like how colorful it is :) 3y

Centique @readordierachel wonderful colours, that was a great find! 3y

72 likes10 comments

merelybookish

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

This book made me so happy. I loved living in the heads of William G. & Neaera H. I loved their quirky, strange, melancholic, specific, misguided & wise observations about being a human on this earth. I loved that the book is about freeing turtles from the zoo AND isn't about freeing turtles from the zoo. I love that like the turtles, William & Neara are going to keep on swimming. I loved this book!
@vivastory @readordierachel #nyrbbookclub

vivastory I love your enthusiastic review and this picture! 🌊🐢 Plus, this is literally the first time I've heard of an adaptation. 3y

Tamra I am anxious to read it. Loved your review! 3y

merelybookish @vivastory Thanks! Yes Ben Kingsley & Glenda Jackson 1986. Roger Ebert gave it a 👍 3y

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merelybookish @Tamra Thank you! I think it could drive some readers nuts but I loved it! 3y

batsy Fabulous review! And the backdrop is perfect for it. I loved that it was about and not about all of those things, too! 3y

readordierachel Love your review 😁. I will have to seek this film out! 3y

BarbaraBB So well said! And I loved their observations too, they often made me laugh out loud! 3y

merelybookish @batsy Thanks! yeah, I really liked how it didn't end with the freeing of the turtles. 3y

merelybookish @readordierachel Yes I'm curious about the film as well! 3y

merelybookish @BarbaraBB Me too! Things they said made me laugh and gave me pause. 3y

73 likes10 comments

Leftcoastzen

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

I totally get what William G.thinks about the weekend.Especially Sunday.

batsy Right? It was just a perfect description of Sunday energy. 3y

vivastory 💯 I figured you'd like the comments about Zen in this one 3y

Leftcoastzen @vivastory 👏yes! I ruminate often about how while previous generations & some of us today would be involved in church on Sunday.I believe it is ingrained in us to do something spiritual and/or uplifting hence I am drawn to museums & bookstores especially on Sunday. 3y

48 likes3 comments

batsy

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

At the start, this book & I almost didn't make it. I began reading it when multiple things were taking up my attention & all I could manage was a few pages before bed at night before crashing. Nothing about it really stuck in those early pages. I thought I would bail. But then, turtles & people collide. There's a lot said about this book: it's about middle-age, it's about loneliness. But I think of that Weeknd song I have stuck in my head:

batsy "I hold you through the toughest parts / When you feel like it's the end / Cause life is still worth living / Yeah, this life is still worth living" & I think, yes. This book is like that. It will hold you through the toughest parts when you feel like it's the end & remind you that this life is still worth living. I am so glad I stuck with it ? #NYRBBookClub @readordierachel @vivastory 3y

Lindy I hope things are going more smoothly in your life now. 🌻🐢🌻 3y

MommyWantsToReadHerBook This sounds lovely 💜 3y

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merelybookish Great review! I've haven't finished yet (life has interfered) but I already feel like it's a book I will want to return to. 3y

TrishB Lovely review❤️ 3y

readordierachel What a great review. I am still making my way through the book, but I know what you mean ❤❤ 3y

batsy @Lindy Thank you, Lindy! It wasn't anything in particular, but this book is life-affirming without being sentimental 3y

batsy @Lindy I hit send too soon but meant to say it's the kind of book that slowly works its way into your heart 🙂 3y

batsy @MommyWantsToReadHerBook It is 💕 3y

batsy @TrishB Thank you! ❤️ 3y

batsy @merelybookish @readordierachel Thank you! ❤️ I look forward to seeing how you feel about it. 3y

Cathythoughts I love your review ❤️ 3y

Tamra Okay, this sounds great! Stacked! 3y

Lindy @batsy Life-affirming books are the best. ❤️ 3y

BarbaraBB Life affirming. So true! 🤍 3y

Leftcoastzen I just started it . 3y

batsy @Cathythoughts ❤️ 3y

batsy @Tamra 😊 3y

batsy @BarbaraBB At no point did it feel predictable, either! 🙂 3y

batsy @Leftcoastzen I hope you like it! 3y

youneverarrived Ah brilliant review! 🤍 I‘m really looking forward to reading it. 3y

BarbaraBB I was looking for the point most of the time (pun intended) but in the end decided there was no need for one! 3y

batsy @youneverarrived Thank you! 💜 3y

batsy @BarbaraBB Yeah, I felt the same at the beginning then realised the point is no point, in a sense 🙂 3y

vivastory Life-affirming without being sentimental. You really hit the nail on the head, Suba! Great rey! Glad to hear that it ultimately worked out for you. 🐢 3y

batsy @vivastory Thanks, Scott! The books we read for #nyrbbookclub continue to surprise me in the best ways. 3y

sarahbarnes The further along I get in the book, the more I agree with you! I‘ve gotten distracted a few times, but the story is definitely working its way into my heart, too. ❤️ 3y

batsy @sarahbarnes Yes, it takes awhile to get into and work its eccentric charm but then it just won me over 🤍 3y

nathandrake1997 This was a stunning review ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Also, a huge Weeknd fan ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 3y

batsy @nathandrake1997 Thanks, friend! 💜 And yay, The Weeknd! I love how melodic his songs are. 3y

Centique Wow, this sounds so good. I do love a book that is life affirming without being sentimental - perfectly put! 💕 3y

batsy @Centique I think this is one that you will enjoy 🙂 It takes awhile to grow on you but then it slowly works its charm. 3y

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BarbaraBB

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

#BookReport 11/22

I am completely back into my reading mojo fortunately and have read some very good books so far in March.

This week‘s books were all really good!

Cinfhen

squirrelbrain Yay for finding your reading mojo! 😘 3y

TrishB Cool 👍🏻 3y

LeahBergen Yay! 👏👏 3y

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Cinfhen Yay 😁 😅 3y

Megabooks Did I miss your review of Heaven?? 3y

Megabooks Found it! Glad you‘re back in the swing. 💜 3y

63 likes6 comments

GatheringBooks

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

Fridays are half-days here in the UAE (we have a two and a half day weekend for always, yay) - so mango strawberry mojito it is! Still persisting with our current #NYRBBookClub but it is not making it easy for me. Couldn‘t connect with the characters and the story as yet.

Aims42 Yum! Your drinks and apps look so good! Enjoy your weekend!! 3y

BarbaraBB I liked both characters but also your drink 😉 3y

68 likes2 comments

TheBookDream

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

#bookandsushi in this #marvellousmarch #springbreak #birthday #readathon #extravaganza!

DinoMom Yum! 3y

27 likes1 comment

merelybookish

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

"Everyone is the source of his or her kind of soup." ?Just a few pages in and I already feel like I will love this book and it might break my heart a bit.
#nyrbookclub @readordierachel @vivastory

readordierachel I underlined this bit too. Just great. 3y

BarbaraBB I could have underlined so many sentences ❤️ 3y

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BarbaraBB

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

pick

Two lonely middle-aged Londoners, Neaera and William, become connected by their mutual desire to free the turtles from London Zoo. In each chapter one of them takes the reader along in their days and thoughts. It all comes back to the turtles, to human connections and to finding a place in the world for yourself. The book is funny and poignant, and I could keep on quoting from it. A wonderful read.

#NYRBBookClub #pop22 #TwoPOVs #Doublespin

KarenUK, Megabooks, Cinfhen, Cortg, readordierachel, vivastory, Laughterhp, alisiakae, TheAromaofBooks, RaeLovesToRead

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y

KarenUK Oh this sounds just my cup of tea! Stacked! 3y

BarbaraBB @KarenUK It‘s lovely. Very British. I think indeed that you‘d love it! 💚 3y

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squirrelbrain Sounds wonderful - stacked! 3y

vivastory I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed. I'm looking forward to trying Hoban. I think it will be a good discussion! 3y

batsy Lovely review 💜 I'm super looking forward to it now! 3y

Mindyrecycles On my library‘s hold shelf for me before I even saw this! 🙂 3y

readordierachel Yay, I'm so glad to hear you liked it! 3y

Cinfhen Sounds lovely 🐢💚🐢💚 3y

96 likes8 stack adds9 comments

BarbaraBB

Turtle Diary | Russell Hoban

What a wonderful book this is. So beautifully written. This quote for example ❤️ #NYRBBookClub

TrishB Lovely ♥️ 3y

66 likes1 comment