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Little Friend
Little Friend | Donna Tartt
The second novel by Donna Tartt, bestselling author of "The Goldfinch" (winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize), "The Little Friend" is a grandly ambitious and utterly riveting novel of childhood, innocence and evil. The setting is Alexandria, Mississippi, where one Mother s Day a little boy named Robin Cleve Dufresnes was found hanging from a tree in his parents yard. Twelve years later Robin s murder is still unsolved and his family remains devastated. So it is that Robin s sister Harriet unnervingly bright, insufferably determined, and unduly influenced by the fiction of Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson--sets out to unmask his killer. Aided only by her worshipful friend Hely, Harriet crosses her town s rigid lines of race and caste and burrows deep into her family s history of loss. Filled with hairpin turns of plot and a bustling, ridiculous humanity worthy of Dickens ("The New York Times Book Review"), "The Little Friend" is a work of myriad enchantments by a writer of prodigious talent."
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review
sarahbarnes
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Pickpick

A fantastic book - right up there with A Secret History for me. I went in expecting a murder mystery, but really this is a story about childhood when the adults in your life are mostly failing you. Tartt captures the experience of being a child - outsized beliefs and feelings of having no control over what happens much of the time - brilliantly. I‘m counting this as my first book for #10BeforeTheEnd, which I just joined today. 😉

Ruthiella I loved this one too. She‘s due now to publish a fourth book…it‘s been 11 years since 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures So glad you liked it! I am about a third of the way in, and really enjoying it. ✅ 2w
BarbaraBB Yay, glad it worked so well for you too. She‘s a great storyteller 2w
See All 10 Comments
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ I did love Secret History. I‘ll try this one. 2w
AmyG I loved this one too. 2w
sarahbarnes @Ruthiella you‘re right!! 🤞 That would be very fun. 2w
sarahbarnes @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘m glad you‘re liking it too! 2w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB she really is. I loved how things slowly unfolded. It felt very authentic. 2w
sarahbarnes @Cathythoughts I hope you like it. 🩵 2w
sarahbarnes @AmyG ♥️♥️ 2w
44 likes4 stack adds10 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Here are my #10BeforeTheEnd books! We now officially have 10 full weeks left of the year,

This week I have decided to tackle Donna Tart, and maybe start a smaller one like Safekeep.

Good luck to all who are joining!

willaful Ooo, The Space Between Worlds is really good. 4w
BarbaraJean I loved Amina Al-Sirafi!! 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraJean @willaful I hear such great things about both of these! They are my last 2 BOTM books since canceling last November! I canceled and told myself I couldn't look at anythig like that program again until I read all the books I had! 4w
34 likes3 comments
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sarahbarnes
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I decided this was the perfect season to finally pull this off my shelf and read it.🍂 I‘m loving it so far. The dog is not as convinced that reading is the best use of my time.

Soubhiville What a cutie! 4w
sarahbarnes @Soubhiville his cuteness gets him very far in life. 😅 4w
squirrelbrain Aw, so cute! ❤️ 4w
See All 10 Comments
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4w
BarbaraBB Those eyes. So cute! This is my favorite Donna Tartt! 4w
Ruthiella ❤️🐶❤️🐶❤️ 4w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB that is good to know! I‘ve had this copy forever and it‘s the only book of hers I haven‘t read. I love it so far. I loved Secret History and not so much Goldfinch. 4w
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Me too - but that‘s not surprising 👯 4w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB agreed! 👯‍♀️ 4w
35 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Erinreadsthebooks
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Sometimes you go to a thrift, pick up a book, and fall in love. Does this copy have its dust jacket? No. Is it first edition? Yes. Do I already own this book? Yes. Do I need another copy? No. However, something happened when I saw the spine on that shelf in Goodwill and now we‘re very best friends 🤩🫶❤️

wanderinglynn Love this! ❤️ 7mo
33 likes1 stack add1 comment
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dabbe
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Megabooks Creepy! 10mo
dabbe @Megabooks I know! Dolls like this creep me out! 😱 10mo
Eggs The side-eye😱 10mo
See All 7 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Very creepy 😱 10mo
dabbe @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ... Yes! I've only read A SECRET HISTORY, which is fairly dark. What on earth must this one be about? It's been on my shelf for ages. I'm scared to read it! 🤩😂😃 10mo
lynneamch I really liked A Secret History and The Goldfinch, so I'm going to give this a try. 10mo
dabbe @lynneamch I might have to read them, too, based on your thoughts! 🤩 10mo
52 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Soubhiville
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Bailedbailed

Well, I tried for about 100 pages. The writing is beautiful but not much happened. So I decided to check the Goodreads reviews, which are mostly 3 and 4 star. Not bad. But reading reviews, a lot of them say pretty much what I was thinking: pretty words, disappointing lack of plot. So I‘m bailing. 🤷‍♀️

AmyG I get this. It‘s very long. I somehow was able to finish it and enjoy it. 1y
Amiable I bailed on this one when I tried to read it, too. 1y
Soubhiville @AmyG the writing is great, I just got bored. Oh well, on to the next thing. 1y
74 likes3 comments
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Soubhiville
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

The tagged is my third book over 500 pages this month! 💪📚😆. I‘m only 30 pages in.

The Book of Longings is from my 12book12friends12months challenge, and it‘s really good so far.

I‘m hoping to get to the bottom 2 this week too, we‘ll see!

JuniperWilde I loved Book of Longings. I‘m biased tho bc I think so highly of the author SMK. Her nonfiction is next level. 1y
Cinfhen I really liked this one! SMK is a great writer 1y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Soubhiville
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I pulled my October #Bookspin list today with a theme of Spooky/Creepy/Fall Colors. Appropriately enough Black Cat Venkman wanted to pose on top. Lol.

The ones that might be tough to read titles on are
5- The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
16- The Island of Dr Moreau by HG Wells
19- The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm He‘s a beautiful model! 😻 2y
RaeLovesToRead Oh wow! He looks like he's posing for a statue 🥰 2y
JacqMac Perfect pose. 💕 2y
See All 20 Comments
sarahbellum Purrrrfection! 😻😻😻 2y
MicheleinPhilly So regal! 2y
TheBookHippie 😻😻😻😻😻 2y
LauraJ Gorgeous, wrinkly beastie! 2y
jlhammar Wow, what a model. My cat would never cooperate like that. Love it! 2y
ShelleyBooksie What an awesome photo!!! Venkman ♡♡ 2y
AmyG That is a truly perfect photo. 🙌🏻❤️ 2y
ChaoticMissAdventures The Enchanted is one of my favorites, her prose are as gorgeous as your kitty! 2y
Gissy He looks so elegant! 😻☺️ 2y
LeahBergen He looks like an Art Deco statuette. 😆 2y
batsy Too good! What @LeahBergen said 😁 2y
Chelsea.Poole lol love it! 2y
bookishdawg Amazing photo! ❤️😊 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
MemoirsForMe Strike a pose! 😸👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2y
Bookwomble That is one confident cat who really has their shit together! 🐈‍⬛😻 2y
79 likes20 comments
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paperwitchs
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Pickpick

#tbr for the week, can‘t wait to finally get through these books, because I‘ve been so busy and putting off reading way too much. I really need to find a book club.😭
On another note my #litsylovesanimalsswap came! So excited, and thank you to @DinoMom and my match! 🖤

paperwitchs you can see all my previous attempts to read them in their cracked spines 👏🏻 3y
tokorowilliamwallace Join the book clubs on Goodreads! It would be so fun if we could be in one together. 3y
42 likes2 comments
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NatalieR
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Mehso-so

I was unaware of this book until I received a signed copy for Christmas a couple of years ago. While I liked the writing and story well enough to stick with it, I wasn‘t sure where the story was headed. The death of Harriet‘s older brother was a mystery I wanted to see a resolution. It seemed like the author pulled together a vague ending that not only left me wanting more, it was like she got tired of writing and just ended the book. #MountTBR

paperwitchs Same here, but I really love the book so far. Havent finished it yet 3y
NatalieR @paperwitchs I‘m glad you‘re loving it! 👍 3y
78 likes2 comments
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Martta
Little Friend | Donna Tartt
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Pickpick

This was a great stress relief for me. When I have a lot going on in life books like this help me relax. This is not a plot driven book. It focuses on couple of kids and their friendship. If you are looking for something fast phased this is definitely not for you.

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Kimberlone
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#FallTreasures #Day15 #FaceonCover

Three very different books with faces on the covers. I‘ve read Tartt‘s other two books, but not yet this one. It sounds quite different from The Goldfinch and The Secret History. A Little Life has been on my #TBR for awhile but I know it is extremely sad, so I‘ve been putting it off. I started Doctor Zhivago during lockdown last year, but got distracted about 30% in—need to finish this year!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I want to do a Buddy read with A Little Life… 3y
Eggs Beautiful 👏🏻🥰📚 3y
Reggie Yeah, 2020 & 2021 would definitely not be the years to tackle A Little Life. Lol 3y
Kimberlone @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Reggie knowing what I know about the book, I think I will have to take it slow! I will be an emotional mess for sure when I finally read it 3y
52 likes4 comments
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Martta
Little Friend | Donna Tartt
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Going in to my first Donna Tartt. The beginning feels really promising! 😍

13 likes1 stack add
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Beccacraft
Panpan

It‘s difficult to even begin to describe what this book is about, as the plot deviates so much throughout. I started off by listening to the audiobook and switched to the print book (which was moderately better), but felt like there were too many characters and subplots that added nothing to the storyline. The book didn‘t do much for me until the very end where I was intrigued but ultimately disappointed.

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nannermc12
Panpan

All I can say is I listen to the book and thought the audio gave out and dug out my print copy. I was so upset to find out it just ended like that!

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HeathHof
The Little Friend | Donna Tartt
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Generally I don't reread books because there are just too many books and not enough time but in my younger years I didn't always have access to many books but I did own, love and reread these 🖤
#3books #booksihavereread @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👍🏻 4y
BarbaraBB I love that you have reread The Little Friend. So many mixes reviews about that but it‘s my favorite Tartt. 4y
Read-y_Picker I also am not big into rereading. Not since I was little anyway. Maybe the most is Neil Gaiman Neverwhere because I listen to the BBC dramatisation regularly. Other than that I‘m afraid rereading books I really enjoy will ruin them or lessen the magic. 4y
HeathHof @BarbaraBB Its mine too! I was really surprised to see such mixed reviews. Loved Harriet to bits! 4y
HeathHof @Read-y_Picker I totally get that! 4y
55 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Ladygodiva7
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Lazy summer days ☀️

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Ladygodiva7
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Lazy summer days 🌳

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Ladygodiva7
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Love me some Donna Tartt!!

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KVanRead
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📚The Little Friend
🖋 Dennis Lee 🐊🥧
🎥 Lawrence of Arabia
🎶 Louis Armstrong
🎼La Vie En Rose
#ManicMonday #LetterL @JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 🖤 4y
KVanRead @JoScho Fun idea! And harder than I thought 😂 4y
JoScho Thank you! Yeah some letters are super difficult! 4y
17 likes1 stack add3 comments
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holarosarita
Mehso-so

This novel is beautifully written but surprisingly brutal. Everyone goes around ignoring each other‘s feelings in a way that is almost cruel and that makes for a very frustrating 500+ pages.

The plot goes nowhere and ends with a thud on a non sequitur. And the only two characters to have anything approaching a real arc (out of myriads) are two of the “bad guys.”

Wish my original pick for my #readharder2020 #doorstopper had worked out. 🤷🏻‍♀️

khooliha I am excited to hear if something/someone died every chapter. 4y
4 likes1 comment
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Addison_Reads
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Mehso-so

I bought this several years ago because the doll on the cover creeped me out. After finishing it, the cover is still my favorite part of this novel. 😂

The book started out strong, and I was intrigued and wanted to keep reading. A few chapters in though and there were too many characters and side stories that didn't work with the main story.

This is my second read by this author and I think I'm gonna pass on any others by her.

TheAromaofBooks I'm completely creeped out by dolls honestly!!! 4y
Reecaspieces I love Mississippi authors. But I just cannot get into any of her books. To me, they just ramble 4y
Addison_Reads @Reecaspieces I typically love Southern authors too, but after this book and The Goldfinch, I give up. Both I had to force myself to finish because of the rambling. 4y
34 likes4 comments
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BekaReid
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I think I need to abandon this one for the present. I love Donna Tartt's work, but this one isn't cutting it for me. It may simply be due to time constraints this week with little reading time, looming deadlines, and a pile of other library books begging for my attention. Perhaps I will give it another go at a future date.

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amyf0x
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Pickpick

Twelve-year-old Harriet and her best friend Hely spend the summer in their small Mississippi town investigating her brother‘s untimely murder, angering some meth-dealing locals as they uncover clues.

Read October 25 - November 14
Book 58

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azulaco
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Pickpick

I get the disappointment with this novel. The story is meandering and unresolved. It‘s more of a character study than a plot. The abrupt ending made me feel that maybe this book started life as a short story, then got expanded. I still recommend it, because Donna Tartt‘s writing is so evocative. I listened to the audiobook, and that was an additional treat - Donna Tartt reads it herself. 3 stars.

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Rissreads
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Oh wow - never seen this cover before and I love it 5y
8little_paws oh this cover is EXCELLENT! 5y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MrBook
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4 more for the #SouthernLit Display! 😁 Books are just flying off the displays! 😱👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 *Happy Dance*🕺

Have you read any of these?!

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

bookishdawg “This Dark Road to Mercy” ❤️ (edited) 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled The Little Friend ❤️ - loved it as much as The Goldfinch and The Secret History. And finished Work Like Any Other last week (eh - it was ok 😐) (edited) 5y
Kappadeemom 🙋🏼‍♀️ I love all of Wiley Cash‘s books! 5y
63 likes3 comments
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Bec_lectic
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Mehso-so

I had to rate this book so-so because the ending left me disappointed. I really enjoyed the authors other novel The Goldfinch but this one kind of dragged for me. Don‘t get me wrong the author can write beautifully but this story just didn‘t keep my attention in the long run. The ending just left me with too many questions and the main plot of the story was never resolved. Kinda aggravating 😒

5 likes1 stack add
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

Loved it.
Many reviewers say it‘s her weakest novel, but I found it to be on par with The Goldfinch.
Tartt creates an atmosphere with believable characters and makes you think while reading.
Definitely recommend.

LitLogophile Completely agree with this review! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LitLogophile Thanks! I almost skipped it after reading lackluster reviews - so glad I didn‘t! 6y
Cathythoughts Must try again. I havnt been able to get past Secret History... Loved it .. 6y
batsy I loved it, too! The Secret History is still my fave, but this is a close second. 6y
LeahBergen I loved it, too! 6y
59 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Lcsmcat
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#Aprilstats I‘ve not read as much since starting my new job in January. Part of it is due to a short commute, so fewer audiobooks. Part is probably due to Council meetings three or four nights a month, and house renovations and wedding planning. But I feel like I need to up my game a bit.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Nicely done! 📖💖 6y
49 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

It‘s not The Goldfinch, but it was good enough to keep me up way too late to finish it. I was bothered by how many seemingly impossible situations these kids got out of - rather cartoon-like success of kids over grownups. So the ending, which doesn‘t answer the central question, was a bit irritating. The realization of Victory and Defeat being intertwined almost saved the end. But not quite. 4 star prose, 3 star plot.

Theaelizabet Loved that book...right until that ending. Ugh. 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Im starting this one today for a buddy read 😬 6y
Lcsmcat @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled You should find a lot to talk about. 6y
See All 6 Comments
Tamra Confession, I hated The Goldfinch enough that I haven‘t been able to entice myself to pick up another of her novels. 😐 6y
Lcsmcat @Tamra I‘ve enjoyed all three of hers that I‘ve read, but that‘s why it‘s good there are so many books. We can all find ones we like! 6y
Tamra @Lcsmcat It isn‘t my typical MO and I know she is well loved, so I should try another. 6y
63 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Lcsmcat
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And oh, those filmstrips!

52 likes1 stack add
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Lcsmcat
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I love well-placed literary references! #kipling #junglebook

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Lcsmcat
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“Wife-swapping Utah Jesus!” This cracked me up, even though the “do your research!” side of my brain is saying missions only last 2 years. So either he rented it to the Mission president, or those boys left the church. #notLDSbutlivedinUtah

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Lcsmcat
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Lcsmcat
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Started this one on my lunch hour. So far, it‘s reeling me in.

Cathythoughts Interesting.. might try this one. Look forward to your thoughts 6y
Bklover This is the only one of hers I haven‘t read yet. Looking forward to your thoughts! 6y
Lcsmcat @Cathythoughts @bklover I enjoyed Goldfinch and Secret History, so I have high hopes for this one. 6y
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
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gradcat
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It‘s too hard to choose just one! So you must forgive me—I chose two (one is tagged).
1. The Little Friend (tagged) + Cutting for Stone/Abraham Verghese
2. Friend - save Harriet; Stone - save Marion
3. Friend - Eugene goes overboard; Stone - Rosina goes overboard
4. Huge wheel of cheese 🧀
5. Hello 👋 @EadieB @sprainedbrain @squirrelbrain

Naj Cutting for stone sounds great. Stacking! 6y
squirrelbrain Thanks for the tag @gradcat ! I haven‘t read Cutting for Stone yet, so many people seem to love it! 6y
sprainedbrain Clearly I need to check out these books! 6y
See All 7 Comments
MommyWantsToReadHerBook I loved Cutting for Stone so much! 6y
gradcat @Naj I think you‘ll really love it, but it is a chunkster! Just a warning....😂👋🥰 6y
gradcat @squirrelbrain @sprainedbrain You‘re very welcome, ladies, and I hope you do read one or both of these...sending you both some Litsy love! 🥰 6y
gradcat @MommyWantsToReadHerBook Isn‘t just such a gorgeous book? I just can‘t say enough good things about it...I so love the story!! 📖❤️🥰 6y
62 likes7 comments
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Jason7
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Pickpick

Donna Tartt is one of my favorite authors. The Secret History was a fantastic debut novel, and The Goldfinch is a modern masterpiece. The Little Friend is a long work. It takes a long time to develop, and it gets better as it goes. It‘s not as good as her other works, but I‘m a fan of anything she writes. The UK version of this audiobook has been recently recorded and is better quality than the U.S. version. Overall rating: 4.31 stars

10 likes1 stack add
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REPollock
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Panpan

Tartt‘s worst novel.

I finished it, but wow, fuck this book and everyone in it. Schools of red herrings swimming in a cesspool, and lots of shitty white Southern assholes being just horrible to every character of color.

What‘s the opposite of “recommend”?

Pruzy I could finish it, despite admiring Tartt‘s other two novels. 6y
REPollock @Pruzy I loved Secret History and Goldfinch! So disappointed. 6y
Pruzy @REPollock Hopefully her fourth book will be better than her second! 6y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB Oops, I really liked this one ☺️ 6y
hermyknee I hated The Little Friend, too. I had to read it in college and I HATED it. I haven‘t read any of her other books. 6y
REPollock @BarbaraBB glad you enjoyed it, different tastes make for a more interesting world! 6y
batsy I really liked this one, disliked The Goldfinch 🙂 Enjoy seeing the varied reactions to her books! 6y
22 likes1 stack add7 comments
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gradcat
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I‘m in with @emilyrose_x ! This is day 1 of #adventrecommends! If you cannot see, it is The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt.

Rissreads I loved this book. I‘ve loved ALL her books! 💜 6y
gradcat @Rissreads Me too! I‘m just sentimental about this one, I suppose. Considering she only writes one every ten years, I think I love them before I even read them! 🥰🥰 6y
81 likes1 stack add2 comments
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REPollock
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Starting this big doorstop! I enjoyed the other books of hers I‘ve read.

19 likes1 stack add
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gradcat
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Congratulations! 🍾🎉🎊🎈 @Moray_Reads and thank you for sponsoring #BooksChangeLivesGiveaway! About the tagged book: I think most people love at least one of Donna Tartt‘s books...I love them all! But “The Little Friend” is the only book I‘ve ever read that convinced me that I have a book in me. Haven‘t finished it yet, but this book lit the fire...maybe I‘ll get there yet.

Moray_Reads That's definitely a lifechanger then! Good luck with it, I hope to see it on the shelves one day. Thanks for entering ❤️ 6y
AmyG Wow. Good luck. I loved this book. 6y
Trashcanman @AmyG 👁️👁️ 6y
64 likes1 stack add3 comments
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mcipher
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You guys! I volunteered at the library book sale and got all these for $10. Plus I came home to my #FallingForFallSwap box today. My sender is still a mystery... Such a good bookish day (not a good day otherwise - this has been such a tough summer). I can‘t wait to open this and there are a few here I‘ve been wanting to read. (My #FFFS is going out tomorrow.) 😊

ErikasMindfulShelf The Likeness is my favorite Tana French book. 6y
mcipher @irre Mine, too! I‘m looking forward to reading it again. 6y
Avanders 🎃🎉🎃🎉🎃 6y
Dragon Nice haul! 👍📚😀 6y
99 likes4 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

I‘d seen mixed reviews of this but I was so pleasantly surprised! Much better than the Goldfinch which I really couldn‘t get on with. I adore atmospheric southern gothic things like this, and Harriet and Alison were such brilliant characters.

36 likes1 stack add
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Emilymdxn
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Loving this so far! I adored The Secret History so much, but was quite disappointed by The Goldfinch, so I had a 50:50 chance of liking this one I guess but it‘s really grabbed me right from the beginning!

I‘m a bit sad today because I don‘t have the money to access any Man Booker Long list books and they aren‘t in my library, but I‘m glad the books I do have are treating me well at the moment at least.