13 Comments
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Debra Samuels's avatar

Just borrowed Life After Life. Thank you for suggestion! Was looking for a good read. Heading to Berlin and hope to see you this summer.

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Luisa Weiss's avatar

Ohh we were just wondering when you'd be here again! See you soon! xx

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Sarah Copeland's avatar

I love the way you write about books. It’s different than the way you write about food, and I love that it’s so clear that (like for me), words are your first and greatest love.

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Luisa Weiss's avatar

Aw, that's lovely. Thank you xxx

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Susan's avatar

I totally agree. Life after Life is my ultimate favorite. I have reread both of them. I also liked shrines of Gaiety, just took a little while to get into it. Now reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and listening to The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.

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Luisa Weiss's avatar

Demon Copperhead sounds incredible!

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Lisa Renee's avatar

I loved Life After Life so much! A God in Ruins has been on the bedside shelf for more than a year now and this is prompting me to push it to the top. Love your review ❤️

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Cynthia R. Wallace's avatar

These are such compelling recommendations! My to-read pile is nonsensical, but I am sorely tempted.

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Kelly Bridges's avatar

I love both of those books, too, and have read each one twice. No one else I know has read them, so it was fun to read your description. They are among my favorite books ever. I also really enjoyed Transcription.

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Brianne Alcala's avatar

Luisa, thank you for sharing these gems. I am raising my hand in the camp of "haven't read these yet" and am glad for the recommendations. Adding to the library list now! Honestly, there are so many bestsellers that it feels impossible to keep up, so please keep sharing your favorites.

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Jenny's avatar

Also in the "have not read" camp--I just reserved Life After Life at the library. For me, Possession by A.S. Byatt is in one of my "over and over" books. :) And Three Junes, by Julia Glass.

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Toby Colton's avatar

You asked for short books that were interesting. I recommend "The Presence of Absence" by Simon Van Booy. https://www.amazon.com/Presence-Absence-Simon-Van-Booy/dp/1567927440

A beautifully written book by one author composed of scraps of paper saved as another author was dying and coping with all that that entails. We know that he is dying from the first page.

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Erin's avatar

Hello, Luisa! I, too, am a massive Kate Atkinson fan, and LAL and GIR are my favorites. There is something so very special about the world of Fox Corner. I thought of you while reading this piece in The Guardian. I’m sure you’ve already read it but thought I would send along anyway. Thank you, always, for your fabulous commentary on books and reading.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/10/novelist-kate-atkinson-i-do-feel-a-need-to-prove-myself?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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