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Annabel
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
21 posts | 40 read | 40 to read
Kathleen Winters luminous debut novel is a deeply affecting portrait of life in an enchanting seaside town and the trials of growing up unique in a restrictive environment. In 1968, into the devastating, spare atmosphere of the remote coastal town of Labrador, Canada, a child is born: a baby who appears to be neither fully boy nor fully girl, but both at once. Only three people are privy to the secret--the babys parents, Jacinta and Treadway, and a trusted neighbor and midwife, Thomasina. Though Treadway makes the difficult decision to raise the child as a boy named Wayne, the women continue to quietly nurture the boys female side. And as Wayne grows into adulthood within the hyper-masculine hunting society of his father, his shadow-self, a girl he thinks of as "Annabel, is never entirely extinguished. Kathleen Winter has crafted a literary gem about the urge to unveil mysterious truth in a culture that shuns contradiction, and the bodys insistence on coming home. A daringly unusual debut full of unforgettable beauty, Annabel introduces a remarkable new voice to American readers.
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review
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Pickpick

Much better than Middlesex.
Interesting. Not a perfect book, but still worth reading.

60 likes1 stack add
review
hdhubbard
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
Pickpick

8/10 Great story, I read it in one sitting! Wayne, and Treadway are very different characters, with a few hardfound similarities. Some chapters are overlong on description with a distinct lack of anything happening. I'd read this again, and would be interested in other books by this author.

LeeRHarry This was a definite pick for me too 😊 (edited) 5y
2 likes1 comment
review
Natalie8
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
Pickpick

Great read!

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Dan_SpiderCrafts
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Just another reminder of Annabel calling to me. 😁 So many TBRs! Definitely soon! ❄️

review
Tamra
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Mehso-so

I appreciated the unique perspective of Wayne/Annabel and the struggle to actualize herself, along with how difficult it would be for family & friends. How do you make "right" decisions in these circumstances? However, the last 1/3 seemed to lose focus & momentum as it went along.

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Tamra
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Whoa, now that's a prologue!

8 likes1 stack add
blurb
Dan_SpiderCrafts
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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'The Best of Canadiana' poster, spotted at the library. I'm thrilled to see Annabel on the previews, and in on the shelf! I'm certainly up for reading it on my list, by February. ❄

review
tasha
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Pickpick
blurb
Canadian.Reads
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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My favourite #bookmark is my trusty puffin.. Fitting for a reader in Newfoundland! #booktober

Eyelit So cute! 8y
MrBook ☺️👌🏻 8y
10 likes2 comments
quote
RealLifeReading
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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I love this passage, part of a postcard written from Bucharest and sent to Labrador, Canada. But I imagine it must have either been a really large postcard or written with the smallest of handwriting in order to fit all this and a couple more shorter paragraphs on it!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled This is such a cool image. Im picturing books like little dogs at my heels. 8y
Lindy When I worked at the post office, I saw even longer texts squeezed onto regular-sized postcards. We flipped interesting ones down the line of sorters. (What, did you think posties don't read them?) 8y
Texreader @Lindy Live the inside scoop! Now we know! 8y
RealLifeReading @Lindy thanks for that insight! 😂 8y
71 likes3 stack adds5 comments
blurb
RealLifeReading
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Reading this book, set in rural Labrador in northern Canada, while on a public bus in rainy and humid and so very crowded Singapore is such a contrast. Also I've discovered that the bus seats and floor make for good book photos 😂

BookishMarginalia You're right -- the photo is terrific! 8y
Bibliogeekery I love this book so much! 8y
RealLifeReading @Bibliogeekery it is really good 8y
83 likes7 stack adds4 comments
quote
RealLifeReading
Annabel | Kathleen Winter

Women did not get many moments like this in their lives, sun beating on their eyelids in a hidden corner and no one asking them for anything.

54 likes2 stack adds
blurb
RealLifeReading
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Finally starting another book for #24in48. Has anyone read this? Also my mother-in-law's house (where we are staying while we visit) smells of durians (another reason I can't stand durians - the smell is everywhere!) so it cannot be any further fr this book which opens with a white caribou and a river.

ColleenLindsay Hahahahahahahaha! 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Wow - this book sounds amazing. And how are you standing that smell?! 😣 8y
BookishFeminist Oh my gosh I'm sorry! I hope you can escape that soon. Got any candles?! 8y
See All 10 Comments
Abi1 I read this a few years ago and really liked it - will be interested to see what you think! 8y
MinDea I read this book a few years ago and really liked it!! Hope you do too!! 8y
quirkyreader I've always called durians stink fruit. I absolutely refuse to let my husband bring one in the house and try to cut it. 8y
RealLifeReading @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com @BookishFeminist well I figure I only smell it once a year.... (Since we don't live here anymore!) 8y
RealLifeReading @Abi1 it's pretty good so far! @MinDea 8y
RealLifeReading @quirkyreader luckily my husband isn't a fan of the fruit itself though he likes things like durian puffs and durian cake w are less stinky! 8y
41 likes6 stack adds10 comments
review
Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
Pickpick

On the surface, it is a book about gender. On a deeper level, it is a book about identity. Influencing our identity are place, family and relationships, but in our core, we may need something that cannot be provided by the people or the place where we are born. #canlit

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Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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"When the child separated from its parents to explore the new world, the parents can do one of two things ..."
#mylifeasparent #canlit

Chessa Wow. Yes. 8y
Spiderfelt Struggling with this Every. Single. Day. It is so difficult to close my mouth, turn off my brain and just let the separation proceed, as it will regardless of what I say and do. 8y
2 likes2 comments
quote
Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter

"There's a time for catgut, Wayne, and there's a time for parties. Tonight you need to go to that party."
#canlit

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Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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Stained glass shipped across the Atlantic in barrels of molasses to prevent breakage? So that's what they did before styrofoam. What an expensive insulation. #canlit

Seattlejulie Thanks for suggesting this. Just started it and am intrigued. I'm a first generation Portuguese American and am happy to find books set in Portugal!! 8y
Spiderfelt I haven't reached that part yet. The story is still in Labrador. This title was recommended by my dad, who grew up in St. John's NFLD, a character as silent as Treadway, though not as heartless. 8y
1 like2 comments
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Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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This idea, that people are fluid, always becoming and unbecoming, gives me great comfort. None of us are ever finished. #canlit

Chelsey What a lovely thought! 8y
3 likes1 comment
blurb
Spiderfelt
Annabel | Kathleen Winter
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This just in: my next read is another Canadian award winner. #canlit

2 likes2 stack adds