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A Single Man
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
Welcome to sunny suburban 1960s Southern California. George is a gay middle-aged English professor, adjusting to solitude after the tragic death of his young partner. He is determined to persist in the routines of his former life. A Single Man follows him over the course of an ordinary twenty-four hours. Behind his British reserve, tides of grief, rage, and loneliness surgebut what is revealed is a man who loves being alive despite all the everyday injustices.When Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man first appeared, it shocked many with its frank, sympathetic, and moving portrayal of a gay man in maturity. Isherwood's favorite of his own novels, it now stands as a classic lyric meditation on life as an outsider.
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review
Ididsoidid
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

I don‘t know how many novels about grief I‘ve read, perhaps this is the only one. It‘s certainly the only one that captures it so clearly, gently and delicately. 9/10

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ImperfectCJ
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

My 14yo found a book by Gore Vidal that he enjoyed in a used bookstore while we were traveling last week. We brought it home with us, and he took it with him to camp to finish. The day he left for camp, I picked up this novel and saw it was dedicated to Gore Vidal, which isn't actually significant but feels like it is. That's kind of how this book is: so many small moments in an apparently ordinary day that resonate with meaning for George.

ImperfectCJ Photo: Silo living his best life. 5mo
PuddleJumper 😻😻 5mo
Ruthiella Lap cats in the summer can be difficult! 🥵 But you two have worked it out. 😻😻😻 5mo
See All 6 Comments
kspenmoll Your kitty! 😻 5mo
cariashley 😻 aww 5mo
dabbe #sleepysilo 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
58 likes6 comments
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Ast_Arslan
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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#manicmonday #LetterI @CBee

📚 It - Stephen King
👤 Christopher Isherwood
🎬 Into the woods
👨‍🎤 Iggy Pop
🎤 Immortals - Fall Out Boy

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Kimbono
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Currently reading and currently eating. If you like gingerbread, this chocolate is for you! Yum 😍

21 likes2 stack adds
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keepingupwiththepenguins
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

It‘s a quick read, but a powerful and moving one. All of that heart-wrenching and grief-striking is counterbalanced with humour and insight. I laughed out loud a lot, but maybe take my reaction with a grain of salt. After all, I have a pretty dark sense of humour, so maybe I responded with more mirth than most readers would... Full review here: http://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/a-single-man-christopher-isherwood/ #QueerReads #QuickReads

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rachaich
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

Ace book!
Short but full of story and character. I really enjoyed this and was disappointed it was short!

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rachaich
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Second hand copy and look at the date on the tube ticket inside it!

Lcsmcat I love finding stuff like that in second hand books! 6y
rachaich @Lcsmcat me too. It makes me use tickets etc as bookmarks so I can also leave them! I also like finding library slips in library books so I can see which other books someone has checked our! 6y
15 likes2 comments
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mauveandrosysky
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

A Single Man begins with prose so painfully and exquisitely beautiful that I re-read the first couple pages a few times. George, a gay middle-aged English professor in the 1960s, is grieving the loss of his lover, Jim. Isherwood digs deep into the tender heart of existential loneliness with a character who longs for meaning and connection amid the cruel indifference of the world. A deeply moving novel, life-affirming in its own melancholy way.

haanim Lovely review! 7y
Cinfhen Beautiful review & gorgeous cover 💚 7y
BooksForEmpathy This movie was gorgeous. Have you seen it?? I want to read the book now after your review! 7y
mauveandrosysky @BooksForEmpathy I've absolutely loved the move for years now! It's so beautifully done, and really brought the book to life perfectly. 7y
35 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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saresmoore
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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It seems not much has changed in SoCal since the “Great Change.” I just love this description!

Leniverse I had to google bathtub gin. 😂 Not a term I've heard before. Funnily there is now an actual brand of gin by that name. 7y
saresmoore @Leniverse That‘s some clever branding! 7y
67 likes1 stack add2 comments
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saresmoore
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood

But your book is wrong, Mrs. Strunk, says George, when it tells you that Jim is the substitute I found for a real son, a real kid brother, a real husband, a real wife. Jim wasn‘t a substitute for anything. And there is no substitute for Jim, if you‘ll forgive my saying so, anywhere.

ReadingEnvy Heartbreaking. This book is so amazing, I think I've read it three times. Have you seen the film? 7y
saresmoore @ReadingEnvy I haven‘t seen the film, but I may have heard mention of Colin Firth? 7y
ReadingEnvy @saresmoore yessss and he is so spectacular in it 7y
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ReadingEnvy @saresmoore I didn't feel they quite got the house right 7y
saresmoore @ReadingEnvy Well, I will certainly be watching it! Disappointing about the house, though. I lived in that area for a while, so I have a pretty vivid mental picture of it already. 7y
Moray_Reads I really need to see the film 7y
50 likes1 stack add6 comments
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saresmoore
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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These books have not made George nobler or better or more truly wise. It is just that he likes listening to their voices, the one or the other, according to his mood. He misuses them quite ruthlessly...to put him to sleep, to take his mind off the hands of the clock, to relax the nagging of his pyloric spasm, to gossip him out of his melancholy, to trigger the conditioned reflexes of his colon.

Moray_Reads Such a wonderful book on so many levels ❤❤ 7y
saresmoore @Moray_Reads It‘s beautiful! So slim and unassuming, I picked it up on a whim and I‘m very glad I did. 7y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore and it goes si well with your wall art! 7y
saresmoore @Moray_Reads Approved by Pantone! 😊 7y
84 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Moray_Reads
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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My favourite #californialove story. Funny, bittersweet, heartbreaking, uplifting. It's love at all stages, in all forms, with all of its glories and imperfections. #90sinjuly @Cinfhen @Robothugs

saresmoore I'm looking forward to reading this one! 7y
TheWordJar Definitely one I've been meaning to read. And for once, I don't mind the movie tie-in cover. 😍 7y
Moray_Reads @TheWordJar I even prefer it to some of the others! And, well, Colin Firth. I keep meaning to see the film 7y
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Robothugs Sounds good! 7y
saresmoore Oh, I missed the movie tie-in! Doubly excited, now! 7y
Leftcoastzen So good! 7y
Cinfhen Great pick! Sounds awesome 7y
53 likes1 stack add7 comments
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dariazeoli
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Managed a few minutes of #audioreading between errands today. I think I'm inside for the day, so #springcleaningreadathon continues!

ReadingEnvy Colin Firth 😍😍😍 8y
HotMessJess What reading app do you use?? 8y
dariazeoli @HotMessJess For this book I'm using Hoopla Digital through the library 8y
dariazeoli @ReadingEnvy 👍🏻👏🏻 8y
21 likes4 comments
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Catarina
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood

"... When it tells you that Jim is the substitute I found for a real son, a real kid brother, a real husband, a real wife. Jim wasn't a substitute for anything. And there is no substitute for Jim, if you'll forgive me saying so, anywhere"

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moniquereads
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

“But now isn‘t simply now. Now is also a cold reminder: one whole day later than yesterday, one year later than last year. Every now is labeled with its date, rendering all past nows obsolete, until — later or sooner — perhaps — no, not perhaps — quite certainly: it will come.”

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Cody
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

Isherwood makes something breathtakingly beautiful in this account of a man's everyday life after loss. Reading George's sorrow is ultimately comforting, and utterly human.

this might be my #FavoriteBookEver

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winemom
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Definitely my favorite passage. George had good plans.

TheNextBook 👀😳 what did I just read?! Wow 8y
BookishFeminist Wtf? 😳 8y
winemom It was a pretty intense fantasy he had while driving. It's actually supposed to be one of the lighter comedic parts in the book. 😶 @TheNextBook @BookishFeminist 8y
11 likes1 stack add3 comments
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winemom
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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I'm having to backtrack, since I didn't post as I read this. 💔

KrisConstantReader I just got this on iBooks a few days ago! 9y
winemom @KrisConstantReader I want to see the movie now! From page one, it made me so sad, even though I had no idea why I should feel that way yet. Writing goals, right there. 9y
KrisConstantReader I saw the movie a few years ago, I remember really liking it so I'm definitely looking forward to reading the book now. 9y
11 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Honeychurch
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Such an amazing read

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winemom
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Before finishing this beauty tonight, I had to break out the ingredients for chocolate chip banana bread. (Idk where my loaf pan is. Don't judge me.)
😘👌

BookishFeminist This looks like a fantastic alternative to a loaf pan 👌🏼 9y
Heatherine That looks amazing! 9y
15 likes2 comments
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winemom
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Earlier today, we thought a dear friend of our family had been one of the many either killed or harmed last night in Orlando. He finally called to say he's fine. In honor of Gay Pride month and those lost, I think I'll be starting this one a little early and adding more lgbtq+ lit to my TBR. 💔

Laura317 Glad your friend is ok! Grieving for those who lost their lives. Praying for peace for those they left behind and the survivors. 9y
winemom @Laura317 Thank you! That means a lot! ❤️ 9y
11 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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thatbookboi
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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I am obsessed with this collection from FSG. I found some more and need to get them but for now this is what I have!

RRW Gorgeous!! 9y
14 likes1 comment
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Cataluna6
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Pickpick

This is all sorts of depressing, hopeful, lovely, wondrous and I'm so glad I finally read it. Can't recommend it enough.

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thatbookboi
A Single Man: A Novel | Christopher Isherwood
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Because a minority is only thought of as a minority when it constitutes some kind of threat to the majority, real or imaginary.

4 likes1 stack add