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The Lake of Dead Languages
The Lake of Dead Languages | Carol Goodman
In the evocative tradition of Donna Tartts first novel, The Secret History, comes this accomplished debut of youthful innocence drowned by dark sins. Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson left the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. Now she has returned to the placid, isolated shores of the lakeside school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories that will become a living nightmare.Since freshmen year, Jane and her two roommates, Lucy Toller and Deirdre Hall, were inseparablestudying the classics, performing school girl rituals on the lake, and sneaking out after curfew to meet Lucys charismatic brother Matt. However, the last winter before graduation, everything changed. For in that sheltered, ice-encrusted wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of senseless suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden for more than two decades in the dark depths of Heart Lake. Now pages from Janes missing journal, written during that tragic time, have reappeared, revealing shocking, long-buried secrets. And suddenly, young, troubled girls are beginning to die again . . . as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface.At once compelling, sensuous, and intelligent, The Lake of Dead Languages is an eloquent thriller, an intricate balance of suspense and fine storytelling that proves Carol Goodman is a rare new talent with a brilliant future.From the Hardcover edition.
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LadySLI
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Mehso-so

A bit predictable. It is similar to Donna Tartts', The Secret History as is said on the cover... adolescents studying unused languages, in this book, Latin. Experimenting with ideas from the past for, as the antagonist in the book suggests, a sense of control. I wouldn't suggest it to a friend, only because the content didn't impart anything that felt valuable enough to take with me.

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PaperbackPirate
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1. Yes, geez, why are you asking? (trying to get moody :)
2. When I think of moody, I think of suspenseful stories. Something is hidden, people are mysterious, angsty characters, something foreboding…Carol Goodman writes good moody, suspenseful stories.

🙌 Thank you for the tag @EadieB !
😑 Thank you for asking @TheSpineView !
👉 @Cazxxx @Ruthiella @kwmg40

#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 3y
EadieB You're welcome! Thanks for playing! 3y
25 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Anna from Gustine
Lake of Dead Languages | Carol Goodman
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Pickpick

This book is all about snow, ice, winter, and past secrets that do not stay dead. It takes place in upper New York and is beautifully written. It's the old “something terrible happens at a girls' school“ trope. I read it the first time about 15 years ago. This time, the end seemed quite contrived and the villain a real stretch. There was also a long flashback that took up a large chunk. I was still engaged though and learned a lot about ice! 😂

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IhoardBOOKS
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Pickpick

The Lake of Dead Languages was an interesting listen.
The story jumps back and forth between past and present with Jane. Now a teacher at her old alma mater Jane remembers, and is still haunted by, the awful events of her senior year. It turns out the past isn‘t quite done with her as current events recreate what happened all those years ago, and the things she thought she knew in the past may not be so true.
I‘d give this book a solid 3 stars.

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Slajaunie
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Pickpick

A school with a curse that claims three young girls at a time yet one escapes. Years later she returns to her all girls school to become a teacher. Someone wants her to pay for the deaths of her younger years and let the curse claim her as it failed to previously.
Good story with lots of mystery and suspense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sparklemn I read this back in 2009. Loved it! 💙 4y
53 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Slajaunie
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Audiopuzzling! Time to answer some #LitsyLive!

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stacybmartin
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#MayBookFlowers #day8 #bodyofwater I absolutely loved this book, plus that cover!! 😍😍😍😍

WanderingBookaneer I love this book too! However, it's so strange, I never know who to recommend it to. 8y
Hoopiefoot I forgot about this book but your post reminded me of how much I loved it 💜 8y
MarriedtoMrT I loved this one, too! 8y
RadicalReader @stacybmartin what a simply stunning cover I am now reading one of her books the other mother 7y
Cedricsmom I loved it too. 6y
55 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Embla
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Pickpick

#shelfie ! Some of my all-time fave books 📚

RadicalReader @Embla I would have to take a picture of the entire library to capture all my favorite reads they‘re like children, you can‘t pick just one 7y
3 likes1 comment
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TheAlison
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Pickpick

An enjoyable mystery, some echoes of the The Secret History. I'm all always a sucker for boarding school and Latin. Read 1.4.17

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Well-ReadNeck
Lake of Dead Languages | Carol Goodman
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#12DaysOfXmasPhoto #carols

Using today's prompt as an excuse to recommend this fabulous book. Great boarding school setting.

Caterina I read this solely because I am a classics major, and as such I see "dead languages" and get very excited! I enjoyed it! 8y
BookishTrish I read this and can't remember a thing about it. Grrrrrrrr 8y
MarticaMustRead Very good read! 8y
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WanderingBookaneer I'd forgotten this book and how much I treasured it! Now I'm wondering if @BookishMarginalia has read it. 8y
EliNeedsMoreShelves Oh, gosh, I'd forgotten this one. It was a really great read! 8y
LeeRHarry I loved this book, maybe time for a reread!! 😊 8y
86 likes17 stack adds7 comments
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tricours
Bailedbailed

It's an affront to Donna Tartt and The Secret History to keep comparing it to this book! Granted, I only read 25%, but those 25% were awful!

RadicalReader @tricours so happy it‘s not a sin to bail on a book as I‘ve done so willingly and happily 7y
13 likes1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
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#booktober I love books that take place in schools (boarding schools especially). Here are some I recently featured in a blog post. (More info about each book in the post). https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/back-to-boarding-school/

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled The Headmaster's Wife is in my TBR - looks really good!! 8y
RanaElizabeth I really enjoyed Belzhar, I actually paired it with The Bell Jar. 8y
Alfoster Oh, I loved all of these too!! 8y
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melbeautyandbooks I stacked several of these. Thanks! 8y
tricours I found Never let me go underwhelming and didn't finish The lake of dead languages, but I also like the idea of boarding school themed books! 😛 8y
BittersweetBooks Prep was one of my absolute favorites! 8y
Well-ReadNeck @tricours What are some you would recommend? 8y
tricours @Well-ReadNeck I have no idea! All my books are packed in boxes and right now I can't remember any other than the two mentioned above! 8y
LeeRHarry Loved Lake of Dead Languages!! 8y
TheLudicReader The Secret History is the best. LOVE. 8y
125 likes8 stack adds10 comments
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Mcoun
Mehso-so

I managed to sneak in one more book before the end of August. I'm ambivalent about this one. It is kind of a girl's school version of Dead Poets Society with a dash of Gone Girl creepiness added in. There were some good mystery elements and surprising plot twists that kept me engaged, but it was overly long. This is Carol Goodman's debut novel. I would consider reading some of her later works.

RadicalReader @Mcoun I can never watch Dead Poet Society enough times!! 7y
Mcoun I know, @RadicalReader, it is one of my favorite movies! 7y
RadicalReader @Mcoun I loved Dead Poet‘s Society “ Oh Captain My Captain!” Seriously wish the whole sociology class took that and did that re-enactment for class one day 😂😂😂 7y
10 likes3 comments
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Ehbooklover
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I love Carol Goodman's books and almost all of them take place in a boarding school or college setting. The reason? In the author's own words: "I probably romanticize the idea of boarding schools, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I keep being drawn to them (and colleges and artists colonies) because I like to set a book in a closed world." #FunFridayPhoto

[DELETED] 2232195534 Yes! This is a nice pick and Carol Goodman does indeed use schools as a setting a lot. 8y
17 likes2 stack adds1 comment