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Pandora Sykes's avatar

I cannot BELIEVE you did not cry reading A Little Life!!! I wonder if you knew so much in advance you were able to steel yourself a little against the heartbreak. Forewarned is forearmed, etc. But also we need to talk more about using Chat GPT to fill in the traumatic parts, there’s a debate to be had here I’m sure of it

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I had STEELED myself so hard Pandora. My heart was locked!! I knew someone was going to call out the ChatGPT lol. I was in a fix, I had to. Couldn't face it myself!

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Pandora Sykes's avatar

I’m covering my eyes moaning no no nooooo (never used chat gpt lol)

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

thats a flexxxxxx. I use it for the most random stuff. barely google anymore

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Pandora Sykes's avatar

no flex just a luddite

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

That was the word I was looking for 😉

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Martha's avatar

Sounds like I've got to read Birthday Party!!! And so glad you loved Bellies so much - that book is SO good. I'm itching to read her latest release, but trying to put enough time between since reading Bellies! Also your Reactif review is 10/10.

Reading w TV in the background is a sport I could never do. Unfortunately, I prefer silence 😌

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

you do. still sad we didnt get to read it together.

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Petya K. Grady's avatar

PERFECT silence for me too, everyone be quiet please.

I try so hard not to get annoyed with Rumi when we read together because she loves to give page-by-page updates on who did what in her book.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

first of all your daughters name is the most adorable. I pray so hard my kids love to read as well. if none of them dont like reading might just cry!

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Pandora Sykes's avatar

JADORE SILENCE

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Martha's avatar

Silence is my best friend

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

Slay

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Natalie McGlocklin's avatar

I have no choice but to read with the tv on since my husband and I have chosen to live in a 300 sq ft apartment. The number of books I’ve read with a Sopranos background… I loved a little life it felt so incredibly real, unlike anything else that exists, even with its many flaws.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

hahahah not Sopranos 😆. ICONIC!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

the thing with ALL is that it felt so unrealistic in its scale of tragedy but so realistic in its relationships.

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Jenna's avatar

Always waiting for these round-ups! Recitatif added to my ever growing TBR list.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

so much love for Recitatif! its truly an amazing book. and I so glad you enjoy these :)

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

The Hours is a treasure. This made me want to re-read, again.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

its so so so good. now I need to watch the tv adaptation

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Ariana's avatar

I am so glad someone else enjoyed CATCHER IN THE RYE, it is one of the few classics I have re read since school and still really liked. Holden 😭 and I love RECITIFAF and am thrilled you read and enjoyed, Zadie's foreward is incredible

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I loved loved both those books. So different but incredibly unique and touching!

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Leigh Stein's avatar

I had dreams about Jude

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

bruh. I dont blame you. I was so glad to close that final page. too much :(

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Tembe Denton-Hurst's avatar

Justice for hope 😭 but also fair critique! Bellies has also been sitting in the middle of my TBR and I'm definitely moving it up after this.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

girl pick up bellies you will love it. Have you read Recitatif? I thought a bout you when I was reading it. have you read any Franzen also?

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angelica 🌹's avatar

you've read so many books this year! i used to be a fast-reader ... what motivates you to read so fast? have you always read like this? i *had* to read so many books while reading Eng Lit at Uni and i've intentionally slowed it down because it sucked the pleasure out. i'm intrigued to know more about this ... from my own perspective i'd never want to read so fast for pleasure but i am very curious about other people's intentions

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

funny enough I didnt read in college at all. I actually failed an intro to lit class because I didnt do any of the readings lol. what a flop. I think I just really love reading. it's part of my daily routine at this point, I guess. I always have a book on the go and on the days I dont read I feel like something is missing. for sure one of my top 3 things to do. so I just keep doing it!

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Abra McAndrew's avatar

Love THE HOURS and glad you do, too. I will be looking for RECITATIF. And you have sealed my determination not to read A.L.L. ChatGPT as Cliff Notes but it’s not homework? No women? No thanks!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

yeah the lack of women in ALL is actually mind blowing. I need to look for an interview to see if the author even explains that. because it MUST have been a conscious decision. let me know what you think about Recitatif when you read it. I was so touched

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Ariana's avatar

Pleasee read RECITARIF Abra. It's incredible

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Didact1c's avatar

I DNF a little life, I don't know, It feels like trauma porn with no direction, just the fact that with every facet of this mans life there is just pain and despair. Theres nothing wrong with depicting stories like that but this was just...

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I can see this. it's definitely heavy on the trauma for no discernible reason. not my vibe either :/

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Ariana's avatar

I have read ALL but this was a fascinating author profile https://www.vulture.com/article/hanya-yanagihara-review.html

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

Yessss a few people have sent this to me. I need to read

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Ariana's avatar

*have not read

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sabina's avatar

always in awe of how much you can read in a month !!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I also shock myself 🥹

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Jam Canezal's avatar

I couldn’t get into Mrs. Dalloway as well. I have this idea that maybe I’ll get it when I’m around the same age as Clarissa. But it’s mentioned in The Wedding People by Alison Espach which I loved so it’s kind of bringing Mrs. Dalloway within my subconscious.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

you should for sure read the hours. I struggle with classics so much but the hours really scratched that mrs dalloway itch. theres also a really good movie adaptation. I think someone won an oscars

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Jam Canezal's avatar

Okay sold on The Hours because I googled the movie and it has Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore in it. And as readers, we always read the book before we watch the movie 😂

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

yes! I also havent watched the movie because like you said, book first. but I plan to :)

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E G's avatar

i would love to read about libraries in germany!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

noted! which means I'll need to go to some :/

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E G's avatar

lmao or id love to hear why u dont use them!

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Steph's avatar

always love your roundups but the thing I need to know more about immediately is reading + watching tv at the same time ... that is truly next level

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

hahah I just started doing it one day and it worked! but only for really low fi sitcom type shows though. so my attention is only 60% there. so a Gilmore girls or the nanny rewatch you know?

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