I think this was such an unusual style for a novel. Actual history snippets with ghosts narrating the story. What a masterpiece! Beautifully written and the most creative book I've read in a very long time! It's on Netgalley now. All I can say is .....Read it!!

I'm reading this so I will better understand The School Days of Jesus which is on the Man Booker long list. It's a very unusual book mostly in dialogue but I'm really enjoying it so far!

"She wasn't particularly eager to see other people, but she was eager to see herself. This body of hers, this mind of hers, what might they look like when they were hers alone? But Paris was littered with ghosts of her past selves. She wanted a place so new it blinded her. A place that would pick her up and bleach her clean, a blank page on which a new story could begin. She wanted to go someplace no one she knew had been."

I really enjoyed this! Books this long sometimes have too much meandering for me, but I felt pulled into the lives of the characters. What more can I ask for?
"Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our own story that we don't see how we are supporting characters in someone else's." True!

Not as good as book 1 or 2, but it's NOT possible to stop now. I'm fascinated with his journey!

I will admit that I decided to read the book for very deep & scientific reasons - good cover & title, but I really fell into the story. The characters were well developed and had believable imperfect relationships. I'm a fan!

"When I was with other people I was bound to them, the nearness I felt was immense, the empathy great. (...)But the moment I was alone others meant nothing to me."
Quote from book cover "This is a book about one man's life but, somehow, about everyone else's too." I couldn't agree more - loving it!

"And then one day, when he become rich man himself, you gonno buy from better store. You gonno buy his clothes, you gonna buy all you clothes from better, better store. Fine white people store lika Target. "

Raw & hyperrealistic. I think you need to be in the mood to read this slowly, because it is a very unusual book. His inner monologue fascinates me, and he makes the seemingly insignificant moments meaningful. I can also recommend watching Zadie Smith's interview of him. Interesting!

I was hesitant to read this book, because the subject matter is so heart wrenching, but I'm so glad I did. Her prose is truly lyrical (oh- to have such talent!), and while the subject is grim, hope runs through the pages rather than pain. Such an amazing work of art! Loved it!

I'm a bit concerned about the "if your soul can survive the journey" part, but I'm about to embark on the journey. Wish me luck....

A bit abstract for me - beautiful sections and thoughtful lines but not much of a plot. I'm willing to try another DeLillo though, because this is my first of his books and it was certainly compelling. (Even if I'm still scratching my head a bit!)

"Half the world is redoing its kitchens, the other half is starving."
"Nobody knows what's in the marriage next door. It's tough enough figuring out what's in your own marriage."

An entertaining book with a very satisfying ending. It touches on deep profound issues about our perception of happiness while still being a light and funny read!

Because Clarisse Riviere's mother was only an ordinary woman who would have been perfectly happy with the little joys of a routine existence, who could scarcely be blamed for not always knowing what gestures to make on the stage that her daughter had forced her to tread.

My favorite quotes from Britt-Marie Was Here. (Fredrik Backman)