31 Comments
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Heather LaForge's avatar

I am planning this for my birthday this year. (The book yelling not the drivers test fail.) I expect you to attend. ❤️

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Done. (I did almost write about your driver's ed experience, but you were on the plane so I couldn't get permission 🚨)

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Heather LaForge's avatar

Ha!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

The BEST

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Heather LaForge's avatar

Listen. The max speed in that town was 25mph!!!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

That speed limit, just like that building, know EXACTLY what they did wrong

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Heather LaForge's avatar

EXACTLY

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Michelle B's avatar

I will yell with you about Small Things Like These!! Claire Keegan does not miss.

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

like truly WHAT THE FUCK that last chapter YES I AM YELLING AGAIN

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Kate Marchewka's avatar

I love this so much and will be stealing it!! Also, North Woods was SO GOOD. Lmk what you think about it!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

I will report back. I'm on a tear right now- you know when every book is GOOD GOOD GOOD? it's the best

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R Valiquette's avatar

I want to do this for my birthday! I love nothing more than convincing my friends to read something I love.

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Please do and let me know it goes; I swear it's so fun

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Danielle Lazarin's avatar

Brilliant! I might need to wear a Halloween mask to hide my judging book choices face. That’s on me. And happy birthday!!!!!!!!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Please go full theme and dress like a book character in your mask. Kafka/Gregor cockroach???? We could have a lot of fun with this

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Danielle Lazarin's avatar

HA! I do live in NYC and see far too many roaches, but I'll think on this, waiting on my invite to next year's, obviously.

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

girl you're in. start your vocal warm ups, I don't want you losing your voice with ALL THE YELLING YOU'RE GOING TO DO

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Danielle Lazarin's avatar

ON IT

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Beth Morris's avatar

Love this party idea! May steal!🥳

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Please! MORE BOOK YELLING

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Sarah's avatar

My husband and I always put “blind dates with a book” in each other’s stockings. This year I got Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets, which I wouldn’t have picked up on my own but I cannot wait to dive into

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

This is SUCH a fun gift. Please please report back! I want to hear your thoughts!!

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Brenna's avatar

Sounds so fun Kathleen!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Thanks, Brenna!

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In it together's avatar

I used your book party rules at my birthday party over the weekend....it was a SMASHING success! I did a white elephant book exchange at my party last year, but adding pitches this year really elevated the experience. I gave credit to your idea in the party invite. :)

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Ingrid! first, happy birthday. second, you have made my entire week. third, dying to know what books got stolen the most. thank you SO much for sharing this with me

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In it together's avatar

Thank you! :) Things started so demurely....about six (of 17 people total) gals in, the stealing began! I didn't actually keep track of most stolen, but we had a rule of three steals max per book, and there were several that reached the threshold, including: Dream Count, Just for the Summer, Funny Story, I Who Have Never Known Men, Art of Gathering, I'll See Myself Out, Let's Pretend This Never Happened. There may have been more?!

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

YESSSSSSS YES YES YES. The stealing is all I need to know— it sounds PERFECT! Love a bunch of greedy yelling women scrambling for books. thank you again, I am absolutely delighted.

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Leslie Carlin's avatar

What a great idea. Next birthday sorted for me. My HAPPY YELL would be a book I loved and recently rediscovered: *THE FULL CATASTROPHE* BY DAVID CARKEET (AND EVERYTHING ELSE BY DAVID CARKEET)

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

Leslie, you have honestly made my day. I have never heard of this book and it looks so completely up my alley and I've ordered a copy. I will report back to this thread! (it will be a minute, it's a used copy and might not ship for a bit)

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Leslie Carlin's avatar

I'm so glad! It stands alone, but also follows his first novel *Double Negative*, another wonderful novel. Happy new year and happy reading :)

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