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The Motion of Puppets
The Motion of Puppets: A Novel | Keith Donohue
In the Old City of Qubec, Kay Harper falls in love with a puppet in the window of the Quatre Mains, a toy shop that is never open. Passing by every day, Kay becomes obsessed with what could be inside. She is spending her summer working as an acrobat with the cirque while her husband, Theo, is translating a biography of the pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Late one night, Kay fears someone is following her home. Surprised to see that the lights of the toy shop are on and the door is open, she takes shelter inside the Quatre Mains. The next morning Theo wakes up to discover his wife is missing. Under police suspicion and frantic at her disappearance, he obsessively searches the streets of the Old City. Meanwhile, Kay has been transformed into a puppet, and is now a prisoner of the back room of the Quatre Mains, trapped with an odd assemblage of puppets from all over the world who can only come alive between the hours of midnight and dawn. The puppets introduce her to her new life and warn her of the risks in trying to escape. The only way she can return to the human world is if Theo can find her and recognize her in her new form. So begins a dual odyssey: of a husband determined to find his wife, and of a woman trapped in a magical world where her life is not her own.Drawing on myth and folklore, THE MOTION OF PUPPETS is a tale of obsession and the tangled strings that bind us all.
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review
Karkar
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Mehso-so

I had a really hard time getting into this. Thinking I really should have bailed at an earlier time instead of finishing it.

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Chynnaaa
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Horror and Fantasy Fiction

Date started: December 11th, 2019
Date finished: December 13th, 2019

The cover was so beautiful, that I tripped in the Dollarama aisle. The illustration left me hanging.

The Motion of Puppets is one of the greatest stories I've ever read, and I honestly can't believe I found this in Dollarama.

Chynnaaa The Motion of Puppets is a modern version of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, and the tragic love ripped apart in a moment of looking back. In the city of Quebec, Kay Parker quietly loves a puppet in the window of the Quatre Mains, a toy shop that seemingly never opens. After months of watching for an opportunity to have the puppet, the lights turn on one night, and Kay slips inside. Her husband Theo waits in their apartment. She doesn't come home. 5y
Chynnaaa Kay Parker awakes to find herself in a vessel of stiff, wooden limbs. She is surrounded by other living puppets, with some souls that date back to the Victorian era. The puppet masters will never let her leave, insisting that she was born to perform on a stage. Kay was a circus gymnast before her life as a puppet, and Theo investigates the disappearance of his wife relentlessly. He doesn't give up on her throughout the entire story. 5y
Chynnaaa The ending of The Motion in Puppets was heartbreakingly beautiful. I cried even after I closed the book. Theo turns into a puppet to save Kay from the metaphorical hell. If you know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, then you know how it ends for the two lovers. The Motion of Puppets features loving someone through heaven and hell, no matter the shape, and the recognition of souls. I'll definitely read other works from the author. 5y
5 likes1 stack add3 comments
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SassenachTheBookWizard
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Panpan

I pondered for this whole thing "who is this book for?" It's got a MG cover, the price point of an adult title and the actual content of YA/adult. It sits in this weird limbo that I wouldn't know who to recommend this to as a librarian. Not a damn clue.
There was literally nothing I liked about this book. The characters...well existed but I think that's all the praise I can give. The plot seemed non-existent. The slowest damn pacing ever.

Sweetkokoro You said a lot of people recommended this for you, So what didn‘t you like about it? 5y
SassenachTheBookWizard @Sweetkokoro it wasn't people reccing it but software/algorithms. But the pacing was slow. Without a reason, the plot was vague at best, none of the characters were interesting, the "people turning into puppets" magic was never really explained/delved into 5y
60 likes2 comments
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SassenachTheBookWizard
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This has been continuously recommended to me forEVER so I'm finally going to give it a shot

75 likes3 stack adds
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whimsy
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Hi, I'm still alive!

Big Bad Wolf came back to Manila end of February so this has been my haul!

...But then Phantom of the Opera followed and took over my life until they closed last Saturday. I am weak it's my favorite musical of ALL time and I can't get enough (and I'm jealous of friends in Singapore and Malaysia now because they're next).

So safe to say, zero reading was done and I'm just hoping to get back to that.

Hope everyone is well!

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sparrowssavvy
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Pickpick

While this book was different than I expected, I did still find it a great read. It was a bit slower than I anticipated but was full of beautiful writing and some musings on life and consciousness that I enjoyed. It evoked a melancholy fairy tale feel which I loved. I would not have placed it in the horror genre which I have seen it categorized as multiple times.

monalyisha This sounds weirdly up my alley/is vaguely terrifying. 😅 6y
rubyslippersreads This photo just reinforces my fear of puppets. 😱 6y
sparrowssavvy @monalyisha I would recommend it! I am still thinking about this book! 6y
sparrowssavvy @rubyslippersreads sorry!!! I couldn't resist using my jester though 6y
15 likes4 comments
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ReviewsMayVary
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Went to bookstore for a book. Bought too Books. Can‘t decide which book to read first. Waste away on phone instead.

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 1! In Québec's Old City, there is a toy shop. In this toy shop is a puppet. Kay Harper, an acrobat, falls in love with it. Kay disappears. Kay's husband, Theo, a book translator, sets out to find her. What he doesn't know is that his wife is a puppet, and she's trapped unless her husband can find her. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?

Bklover Does anyone else think puppets are kind of creepy anyway? 😳 7y
rubyslippersreads @Bklover @erzascarletbookgasm I find them very creepy, and this cover proves it. 😂 7y
See All 7 Comments
riversong153 @Bklover yes! And this gives me a twilight zone vibe! A little too creepy for me. 7y
MiyakoBunny 😱😱😱😱I loathe dolls so of course I‘m going to stack this lol 7y
wormkim This and 'The Stolen Child' sound fantastic! 7y
TricksyTails 😱 Creepy!! 7y
53 likes5 stack adds7 comments
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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 4! A modern take on the Orpheus-Eurydice myth set in Quebec's Old City. Kay Harper, an acrobat married to a literary translator, likes a puppet in a never-open toy store. She takes refuge in the store one evening while being followed and eventually declared missing. Her husband, Theo, is desperate to find her. She's been transformed into a puppet in the store, coming alive only at night. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Suelizbeth My worst nightmare. 7y
LeahBergen 😬😬 7y
68 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ChicaReads
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Happy Reading!

mrozzz Love this!! So true. 7y
ChicaReads @mrozzz Yes indeed ! 7y
Redjewel_7734 😍💜😍💜😍💜😍💜 7y
41 likes3 comments
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ChicaReads
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Currently Reading

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shainareads
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Bailedbailed

This is my third try with this one, and I just can't sink into it. The writing isn't bad, but the pacing is far too slow. If you're into dark fantasy and toy shop themes, give it a go, but more straight-up horror fans can pass.

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shainareads
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My reading buddy isn't too fond of pictures. I can forgive her since she still hangs around during the scary parts of the book. Gettin' summertime creepy with today's pick.

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TheTallented
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Pickpick

Second Keith Donohue book and it was just as good!! Love his writing style and his plots and characters are so unique!!

5 likes1 stack add
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MaleficentBookDragon
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My May update for #TBRtuesday
Reading The Motion of Puppets.
Really enjoyed Burntown. 4 Stars (but I wanted more).

elkeOriginal I love this graphic 😻 7y
49 likes1 comment
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MaleficentBookDragon
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#TeaAndBooks with some English Muffin toast this evening. It is a roobois based tea called Dragonfly Song. I ❤️ it.
#bookanddinner

rubyslippersreads Best dinner ever! 😊 8y
JSW This looks delicious. 8y
Chachic Lovely teapot! 8y
MaleficentBookDragon @Chachic my sister bought it for me from a tea house near D.C. I ❤️it. 8y
68 likes4 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
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I'm doing fairly well on my March TBR.

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MaleficentBookDragon
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55 pages in. A little weird.

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MaleficentBookDragon
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MaleficentBookDragon
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It's time to sign up for Goodreads Challenge Factory's March Dusty Bookshelf Challenge. Here are my choices. The person who picks for me will be decided on the 23rd. These are fun monthly challenges if you like having someone else pick books for you. You can still sign up.

mcipher That sounds so fun! 8y
32 likes1 comment
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MaleficentBookDragon
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#libraryhaul #bookhaul
I'm excited to start this book. It's a #blameitonlitsy selection. Thanks to all you wonderful nerds for the book suggestions I never would have found on my own!
Looking at this pile, I guess you could say I'm trying to eat better and bring my lunch to work more often.
I'm also a big fan of #bentoporn
Just check out my Pinterest feed @ chelle rydz

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athorne
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Saw this on display in the campus library today and did a double take. I might not have cared too much for the book, but I still find it's cover to be breathtakingly creepy. Also, realizing I got to read and review it through #NetGalley made me warm and fuzzy.

MaleficentBookDragon This sounds good. Just added to my #TBR list. 8y
66 likes1 stack add1 comment
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capriciousreader
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Really loving this book.

BethFishReads I love him. Must get to this book! 8y
capriciousreader @BethFishReads He is so good! I don't know I've only read The Stolen Child. Bad judgement apparently. 8y
BethFishReads The Stolen Child is a great audio too 8y
31 likes3 comments
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capriciousreader
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I seem to be on a reading roll today. 1 book read so on to the next one. #theonlygoodpartaboutlaundryday

27 likes1 stack add
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SarahK
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Bailedbailed

I picked this book up at the library because the description sounded intriguing. Except I guess after a lifetime of scary movies and books I'm not too into puppets. Puppets that have sharp pointed parasols. Or are old. And have faces (if they didn't that would be just as creepy). Maybe the puppets in this book will be kind, but I don't have the emotional fortitude to find out right now.

athorne I almost bailed on it. 8y
ReadingEnvy I bailed on this one. 8y
22 likes2 comments
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MrBook
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I wanted to buy this one too! This sounds like a fascinating sorry to delve into. Anyone read this one?!

Hobbinol No. I'm waiting to see how you like it. 🙂(I loved his first book.) 8y
JSW This looks amazing!!! 8y
Dogearedcopy I haven't read it; but the description reminds me of an adult version of the dark children's book, 'Splendors and Glooms' (by Laura Amy Schlitz; and narrated by the divine Davina Porter)! 8y
See All 11 Comments
Redwritinghood I read it and liked it. 8y
JustTrish Haven't read this one but Keith Donohue is usually a good bet. 8y
sparklemotion That's a nice cover. 8y
Books.a.Lot What!? I didn't know he had a new book out! Hooray! 8y
audiothing Creepy cover, add a clown for complete creepout 8y
MrBook @Hobbinol 😂👏🏻👍🏻! @JSW Doesn't it 😊? @Dogearedcopy You are just awesome, you know that, don't you 😊? @Redwritinghood ☺️👏🏻👍🏻!!! @JustTrish You have excellent judgement 😎👍🏻. @sparklemotion Yes! I concur 😊🙌🏻. @Books.a.Lot What would you do without me 😂👏🏻? @audiothing 😂👏🏻! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal ☺️👍🏻 8y
jes Reading it now. 8y
110 likes12 stack adds11 comments
review
Redwritinghood
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Pickpick

I was so-so on this book until the ending. I thought it was going the way of a predictable ending until it didn't. The story is about a woman who gets turned into a puppet one night and her new husband's efforts to find and rescue her. The puppet scenes can be a bit creepy, because ... well, puppets. It's not a serious read, very light and entertaining. I did learn something, though: Never go into a toy store after midnight.

41 likes3 stack adds
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jes
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Sally is keeping me company while I read. Excited to start this book. I haven't read any reviews yet, so I hope it's good.

HipsterKiki Please let me know how it is! It sounds really interesting! 8y
jes @HipsterKiki It took me a while to read because I had a bunch of other Library books I had to hurry and read first, but it was just okay. I had hoped for a more riveting story, but it was sort of blah. 8y
5 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Redwritinghood
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Puppets! Visiting my son at UCONN today. You can actually get a puppetry degree here (although I'd kill my son if he tried to do so). These puppets are on display at the Ballard Institute and museum. Fits well with my October reading plans.

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athorne
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ I was really looking forward to reading this one, but in the end it just didn't live up to expectations. It is dreadfully slow for the amount of time it covers and the characters are rather bland. Thanks to #netgalley for the #arc. For a full review, check out my website: http://www.theghastlygrimoire.com/2016/09/29/book-review-the-motion-of-puppets-b...

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athorne
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Beautiful quote from this #netgalley read.

5 likes1 comment
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athorne
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athorne

"She had a pleasant long face, big mitts for hands, long legs and feet, broad hips, and a bust like the prow of a ship."

I'm really not sure how to react to this description. A bust like the prow of a ship, eh? #litsylaughs I snorted. It's an interesting image for sure! #litsyafterdark

AliceInWonderLibrary It sounds like they are describing a horse. Perhaps that's why the long face... #badjoke 8y
athorne @AliceInWonderLibrary Given the entire description, and how large they are trying to say she is, a horse might be accurate. Feeling #punny? 💜 8y
3 likes2 comments
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athorne
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8 likes1 stack add
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athorne
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I'm really enjoying this book so far. Got my favorite reading buddy, too.

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athorne

Absolutely love the opening line: "She fell in love with a puppet."

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jaxofspades
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Truth. (Ps the writing is really excellent!)

1 stack add
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Liberty
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YAY, CREEPY PUPPET BOOK MAIL!!! 🤘🏼

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Oh my! 😱 this sounds beyond creepy! Yay! 8y
TheNextBook That shirt!!! 8y
Joe_Jones I loved his last book and can't wait to try this one! 8y
See All 18 Comments
balletbookworm Love your shirt ❤️ 8y
CatLadyBibliophile I absolutely need that shirt, where can I find it?? 8y
booksabound I need to get that shirt! My friends and family keep sharing it on my Facebook TL lol. 8y
Jellybeanbon Love the shirt! 8y
Lizpixie Is it as good as The boy who drew Monsters? And I also am in love with your shirt.💜 8y
Tonton Need the shirt! 8y
Karli I want that shirt! 8y
sherri That shirt. I know, I know. Everyone already commented on it. But, seriously. 8y
hwheaties Ok that shirt is amazing. 8y
quirkyreader If I was in your office the book piles would be taller than me. 8y
Liberty @quirkyreader I have been trying to disprove my bf's theory that books are taking over the first floor now, too, and will soon spill into the bedroom, by making my book stacks higher and higher and higher... 😂 8y
AE_Stueve Solid plan. I see no way this could go wrong. 👍 8y
AE_Stueve Also, dat shirt dough. 8y
Taayasbooks But how do you get to read the books from the bottom of the stack without having a flood of books crushing you. Not the worst way to die, sure, but the dead can't read. 8y
LauraReadsTheBooks Creepy puppet book mail, also known as rejected images from NSYNCs "Bye, Bye, Bye" video. Also, intrigued based on book cover alone. 8y
264 likes21 stack adds18 comments