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Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist
Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist | Sunil Yapa
The Flamethrowers meets Let the Great World Spin in this electrifying debut novel set amid the heated conflict of Seattle's 1999 WTO protests.On a rainy, cold day in November, young Victor--a nomadic, scrappy teenager who's run away from home--sets out to sell as much marijuana as possible to the throng of WTO demonstrators determined to shut down the city. With the proceeds, he plans to buy a plane ticket and leave Seattle forever, but it quickly becomes clear that the history-making 50,000 anti-globalization protestors--from anarchists to environmentalists to teamsters--are testing the patience of the police, and what started out as a peaceful protest is threatening to erupt into violence.Over the course of one life-altering afternoon, the fates of seven people will change forever: foremost among them police Chief Bishop, the estranged father Victor hasn't seen in three years, two protesters struggling to stay true to their non-violent principles as the day descends into chaos, two police officers in the street, and the coolly elegant financial minister from Sri Lanka whose life, as well as his country's fate, hinges on getting through the angry crowd, out of jail, and to his meeting with the President of the United States. When Chief Bishop reluctantly unleashes tear gas on the unsuspecting crowd, it seems his hopes for reconciliation with his son, as well as the future of his city, are in serious peril.In this raw and breathtaking novel, Yapa marries a deep rage with a deep humanity. In doing so he casts an unflinching eye on the nature and limits of compassion, and the heartbreaking difference between what is right and what is possible.
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LaurenAsh
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Pickpick

Finished this, and just WOW.

14 likes1 stack add
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LaurenAsh
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Early morning 2022...Happy New Year!

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CuriousG
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 29

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Lizstarks
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“Because the closing of the eyes was not something he wanted and the remaining human was” p.204

After months and months of a COVID-19 free state, we‘ve just been thrown into lockdown. Wearing a mask is new, so I thought I‘d make mine a statement, something in stark contrast to my little green town.

15 likes1 stack add
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Bookish.SAM
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Pickpick

Grabbed this by accident, but generally enjoyed it & teared up a bit.
In a few places the writing felt a little too much, especially for some more intense/urgent scenes & I skimmed ahead to get to the meat of the scene, otherwise, I didn‘t find it manipulative (a criticism I‘ve seen often) and think it‘s valuable to consider the individuals involved in these major political events rather than as a homogenous unit.

(🐶 did snag a taste of ☕️ 😆)

Cathythoughts Great title ❤️ 4y
Traci1 Oh my, that face. 😍 4y
TheSpineView Love that sweet face!❤🐾 4y
mabell Bella got a lick of my turmeric latte yesterday! Nose level isn‘t safe! 🤣 4y
46 likes4 comments
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Yossarian
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My bookstore‘s “2020 Reading Resolutions.” What the book at the Bottom of your TBR pile. I bought “the Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist” in hardback in 2016 and haven‘t read it yet.

BookishTrish I have Zola‘s The Ladies‘ Paradise from last Christmas and I‘m sure there are more on my shelves older than that 5y
56 likes1 comment
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sidherinn
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Lkardos12
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Hour 4 into #24in48 and finished my first book of the weekend! This one was a doozy - the writing was so vivid, I felt like I was right with each character. Strongly recommend.

Sweettartlaura Absolutely one of my favorite books in the past couple years ❤️. Glad you loved it! 6y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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andioop
Pickpick

I read 90% of this book in one week, in transit to or from or while resting in the evenings in Havana. I stayed two blocks from the Malecón, which Victor visits. Amazing amazing amazing book

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anablount
Pickpick

Loved it! Super powerful and poetic language. Fast paced and punchy with interesting characters.

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Liberty
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“Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist. Keep on loving, keep on fighting, and hold on, hold on, hold on for your life.” - Ramshackle Glory ❤️❤️❤️

117 likes3 stack adds
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keithmalek
Pickpick

An outstanding novel about the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. Once you start reading this book, it is VERY difficult to put down.

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slightlyfoxed
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Did somebody ask for #hearts? #riotgrams

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arlenefinnigan
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#hearts #riotgrams
I hate Valentine's day.
Morning.

jhod 😂 7y
Cinfhen Awesome image 🤪😂🤣 7y
Iamlisa22 🙈😂 7y
See All 7 Comments
Kaye Just another day. 🙂 Happy Wednesday 👍 7y
Itchyfeetreader Am with you but here‘s to a great Wednesday! 7y
Bklover Hope you have a lovely Wednesday!♥️ 7y
rockpools Nailed it again! 7y
41 likes7 comments
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slhbooks
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I had a little time before work this morning to play with my books...decided to get my Black Friday #bookoutlet order shelved before my After Christmas #bookoutlet order arrives tomorrow😛It will be nice to come home to a box of books after work tomorrow📚📚📚
#bookhaul

wrenaymuhree 🤣 I see we have a similar problem. Book Outlet was a dangerous discovery for me 😅 7y
slhbooks @wrenaymuhree Oh yes! I place limits on myself. I may shop only when there are additional discounts and I can order only enough to get free delivery. Gotta control myself somehow🤗 7y
39 likes2 comments
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Soubhiville
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I think Sietje is happy to have a long weekend too. She can sleep in (she‘s actually snoring) while I catch a few morning chapters.

This book is really good! I‘ve had it on my kindle for about a year! So many books, so little time!
#Sietje

Foragingfantasy ❤️ 7y
Christine11 💕🐶 7y
Simona Snoring dog 😍😍😍 7y
Godmotherx5 Sweet pup. 7y
95 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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SarahRotenberry
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11 books read in October! This might be a personal best. 👏🏻🎉
I posted a version of this on IG yesterday and the comment I got was “11 books? that‘s insane!” (Which I took as not exactly a compliment considering the commenter)
Personally I find people who “don‘t have time” to read are way more inclined to be “insane” 😜
Next up: The Bear and the Nightingale - love it so far

tammysue That's fantastic! 👏🏻👏🏻🎉 7y
8 likes1 comment
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SarahRotenberry
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Reading during a softball game break. Thankfully the rain and wind is holding off until tomorrow. Beautiful day ☀️🍂📖

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scurryreading
Pickpick

The writing style and metaphorical language is phenomenal in this book, it flows despite the seemingly overdone description. The romantic tone that is created by Yapa mirrors the sentiment of the characters. Yapa strives to answer big questions related to the 1990 Battle of Seattle, questions that do not have answers. Why does brutality occur? Who are the victims and perpetrators, and why do these events occur?

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AMVP
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#catchingup on #septembowie #day21 - #fillyourheart

Gonna be blowing through a lot of these in quick succession, so I won't necessarily have much to say about all of them, especially those I haven't read.

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jessberk13
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I realized that I haven't read anything from my Nook in ages!! I need to make sure it is working before my vacation next month!!

DrexEdit I have a very small nook (one of the first models of e-ink nooks, I think) that I've been loading library ebooks onto and carrying to work. So much lighter than a paper book! 😊 7y
73 likes1 stack add1 comment
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EllieDottie
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#coversinmyfavoritecolor ⭐️🌙✨☀️💛
#anditsaugust

EvieBee Like a ray of sunshine! 🌞 7y
Cinfhen So pretty 😊 7y
Dragon Yellow is such a happy colour! 🐥🌼⭐️💛 7y
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Kalalalatja Lovely! 🌞 7y
EllieDottie @EvieBee thank you!! That is actually what I was going for by putting the sun in the middle!! 😁😁😁 7y
83 likes6 comments
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MEGR
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Pickpick

If connection makes life meaningful, how do we get past our own pain and be present to witness someone else's struggle? Reading this book reminded me that Iove is not easy, but it is worth the effort to expand our compassion and understanding of one another. This book offers many difficult and beautiful perspectives about the many ways love can grow and change the world.

21 likes1 stack add
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Wannabe_Quijote
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Pickpick

Some parts I loved. Other parts... meh. #LitsyAtoZ

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Wannabe_Quijote
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Next up!

haileybean I loved this book! 7y
18 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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mrsh62010
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Taking some me time at my favorite cafe. Enjoying the book so far. Taking it slow, as always 😉

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CAGirlReading
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I met him at a book signing and he is definitely an #attractiveauthor . I'm glad I really liked the book! 😄😍😂#junebookbugs

CouronneDhiver Good choice! 7y
RealLifeReading I've not seen his photo before Thur but definitely 👍👍 7y
107 likes2 comments
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AnneCecilie
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I really liked this #newauthor #splashingosummerreads
The novel follows several people during the World Trade Organization protests in 1999.

19 likes1 stack add
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EllieDottie
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JacintaMCarter
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Cinfhen I didn't love the novel, but it's a wonderful choice for today's prompt 👊🏼💖 7y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CAGirlReading
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Pickpick

Wow, this book packed more of an emotional punch than I expected. The book is told from the perspectives of multiple people in the course of a day of demonstrations and at only slightly more than 300 pages I wouldn't have expected this to work as well as it did. Definitely worth the read!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yeah_I_Read I really liked this book 😊 7y
haileybean LOVED this book 7y
114 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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mrsh62010

Started this on my kindle today, read one and a half chapters. Trying to break out of a long, busy, fun reading slump. :)

Meeko93 Hey! Miss you at Perkins lol but I was wondering if you could explain to me how to share someone else's post on Litsy? 7y
mrsh62010 Hey @Meeko93 ! Yeah, at the bottom of each post are 4 icons. Like, comment, add to stack, and the one on the right is an arrow. That lets you share the post elsewhere, but i don't think you can share others' posts within Litsy. But you can tag people if you want to give them a shout out or something. 7y
20 likes2 comments
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AMVP
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#maybookflowers day 13 - #eyesoncovers

Have had my eye on this one since before I saw an interview with the author on Seth Meyers. Was saddened to hear there was a 600 page draft that was stolen from the author's apartment, never to be seen again.

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CAGirlReading
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I'm glad this one is finally getting to the top of my TBR! 📚📚📚#maybookflowers #eyesoncovers

Tcip Great book!!! 7y
Spiderfelt I can't wait to hear what you think of it. I loved the excerpt I heard performed live. The words are lyrical. 7y
91 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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alisonrose
Pickpick

I like when I can say that a book was a lot better than expected! I wasn't sure what it would be like based on the synopsis and reviews, but it was moving and heavy but also - and I mean this in a positive way! - so simple. The ideas and the message ought to be so easy, connectedness and shared humanity and radical empathy and the need to be part of something larger than yourself. I wish there had been more from certain characters, tho! 4/5 ⭐

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alisonrose

Something went missing, the weight that tied him to the ground. The world tilted and his son disappeared and he walked on floors that leaned and pitched, rooms turned upside down. Grief and its decaying orbit. He felt like a rocket gathering speed, inescapably caught in gravity, spiraling closer and closer to home, to return and death. The cool comfort of Earth's dark seas.

Sweettartlaura 😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️ 7y
18 likes1 comment
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Spiderfelt
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Last night's panel moderated by Sherman Alexie left me excited about three new authors: Patricia Park, Ariel Schrag and Sunil Yapa. As always, Alexie amazes me with his thoughtful intelligence, wry observations and wit. Explaining how he selected these three, it was important to discover authors no one else was going to recommend to him, so he can continue living outside his comfort zone. #seattleartsandlectures

Spiderfelt More from the lecture on Twitter #salloves 7y
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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alisonrose

She believed in the power of love. Love was the animating force that filled her body. She let it move her arms, her legs, her lungs. It was love that governed the workings of her mouth, the words called forth from her larynx.

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alisonrose
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My fists are pretty tiny. #nowreading

Sweettartlaura My favorite of 2016❤️😍 7y
alisonrose @Sweettartlaura It's really engrossing so far! I saw some reviews that didn't like the writing style but I dig it. 7y
Sweettartlaura @alisonrose Yay❤️. It was one of Harvard's top picks of the year, & a PEN/Faulkner finalist. It just grabbed me so hard, shook me up, and still hasn't quite let go of me. I can't say enough good things about it. I hope it holds true for you as well - I look forward to your thoughts! (edited) 7y
21 likes3 comments
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Sweettartlaura
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#THISISTHEEND Favorite book of last year, recommended by @Liberty on All the Books!
A perspective-changing read for me. And what more powerful thing can a book do than that?❤️

@Liberty

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azulaco
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Pickpick

This one started a little slowly for me, but quickly sucked me in. The interwoven storylines kept it interesting. I hate book jacket descriptions like "masterfully written," but this book truly was masterfully written. The prose was clear and beautiful, and the author kept all the storylines going. I see why this was on @bookriot 's end of the year best-of list. Recommend!

SarahKay I read it this summer and it just blew me away. 8y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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azulaco

What we get used to. Do you understand? What we require of others so that we may live our lives of easy convenience.

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azulaco

And this was what made it so American--not that they felt compassion for mistreated workers three continents away, workers they had never seen or known, whose world they could not begin to understand, not that they felt guilty about their privilege, no, not that either, but that they felt the need to *do* something about it. That they felt they had the *power* to do something about it. That was what made it so American.

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azulaco

Son, have you ever asked yourself why Buddhist monasteries are built in remote mountains with walls thirty feet high? Love and compassion for the entire world, six billion selfish souls, Victor. Are you man enough?...
...Compassion for every living blade of grass, and yet walls thirty feet high, six feet thick from within which you meditate on the unity and beauty of all beings. Son, does this make my point?

SarahKay There are so many brilliant quotes in this book! One of my favorites was "What a violence of spirit not to know the world." 8y
14 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JackieSmith
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Pickpick

This was everything I wanted it to be & more: tender, harsh, heartbreaking, real. All told in gorgeous prose. I cried when it was over because the last page brings all of the stories together. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

80 likes4 stack adds
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azulaco
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Started this one on Overdrive tonight. It ticks boxes for several reading challenges, and it comes highly recommended by @bookriot . Winning! #srcspring2017 #usareadingroadtrip

Lola This was a finalist for the just awarded PEN/Faulkner. I need to move this up the TBR 8y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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The #muscles I found on my bookshelves #aprilbookshowers

PandaPanda I love this cover! Haven't seen that one. 8y
AnneCecilie @PandaPanda I think this is either the U.K. one or an international one 8y
18 likes2 comments
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BooksForYears
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#AprilBookShowers Day 4 - #Muscles

Flexing those bookish muscles 💪

Cortg Cute picture! 8y
Kalalalatja Great photo! 8y
erzascarletbookgasm Hahaha, I like your photo! 8y
See All 11 Comments
RealLifeReading Awesome! 8y
Eyelit Excellent! 8y
CrowCAH Cute pic! 8y
booksandsympathy Great picture! 8y
minkyb 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻 8y
CouronneDhiver 👍🏽 8y
arlenefinnigan Hehehehe. I was hoping someone would do this. 👏 8y
diovival Love this! 8y
158 likes11 comments