Welcome to Thursday, a day that once seemed lost, with nothing exciting happening anywhere. But then that changed, and today I am celebrating some of the bookish events around the blogosphere, like Lexxie’s Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts; Kimberlyfaye’s TBR Thursday; and Christine’s Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts.
My featured book today is one I purchased in September 2015: The Girls of August, by Anne Rivers Siddons.
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Friends who once met every year at the beach have not gotten together in a while. Now they are coming together again, after one of them has died.
I stood in my kitchen, barefoot, anxious, muddling the sugar and mint that would spice the pitcher of mojitos I intended to ply the girls with. They would be arriving momentarily, thus my nerves. Had we changed too much? Had three years been kind or cruel? What if one of us had gotten wildly fat or depressed or mean-spirited? Why, on earth, was I fretting so?
“Calm down,” I whispered.
I began juicing the limes. The aroma of citrus and sugar curled through the air, and as I breathed in the tart sweet, I considered our different fates.
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Sometimes delicious mojitos are just the panacea for our hurts.
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I don’t know why I haven’t yet read this one…I enjoy the author, and a good beachy read is often just what I need. Perhaps I’m waiting for summer? What do you think?
Every August, four women would gather together to spend a week at the beach, renting a new house each year. The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt. Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women make startling discoveries that will change them in ways they never expected.
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Some bookish (and not so bookish) thoughts:
- After finishing up a couple of Netflix shows, I searched for a while…and then found another one that I’ve immersed myself in: The Killing. A character-driven murder mystery set in Seattle….I am on Season II.
- Tomorrow is my day with my stylist daughter…yay! I always enjoy our chats and having her do her thing with my color and style. I like this cartoon….
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- My reading is sluggish this week, probably because of all the Netflix viewing. I did read and review The Other Typist so far (click for my review)….and I’m enjoying The Ramblers. A story focused on three “lost souls” living in Manhattan.
- Now I think I’ll watch some shows on my DVR….I need to clear it out. Sometimes I just start to watch a show or a movie, and end up erasing it. Like Castle...I stopped enjoying that show a while back.
- So that’s it for this week…what are your thoughts?
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SERENDIPITY 
Cute cartoon re: hair stylist….funny and yet probably true for quite a few of them.
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Totally! Thanks for stopping by, Krystyn, and when I visit my stylist (my daughter), I’m the more likely one to be the therapist…LOL.
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You had me at ‘delicious mojitos’ 🙂
Glad you enjoyed The Other Typist – I know some people who felt completely ripped-off by the whole book – cheated out of a conclusion. I reckon the fact that I’m still thinking about it years later proves it’s a good read!
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Thanks, Kate, and I like the sound of those mojitos, too.
As for The Other Typist, I’m still pondering the various possibilities. I enjoyed reading all the comments, and every time I thought I had sorted it all in my mind, another possibility would be put forth.
I will definitely be thinking about it for a long while! Which makes for a successful book, don’t you think?
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I’ve actually never had a mojito. I’ll have to try one sometime, the book makes them sound delicious. I think The Girls of August would be a great summer read. Maybe you should wait until it gets warmer and read it then. If you’re taking a beach trip this summer, then there’s your perfect beach read. I’d go for it, it sounds good! I’ll have to look up that show on Netflix. Never heard of it before, but it sounds really good. I’m still working on House of Cards. I’m woefully behind. Here’s my TBR Thursday. Happy reading!
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Oh, I LOVE House of Cards…I have finished four seasons…and now must wait for the next one. That’s the worst part about bingeing, Kim. But thankfully, I’ve always found a new addiction on Netflix.
The Killing is so much better than I thought it would be…lately, I’d been obsessing over BBC crime shows. (Those are good, btw: Broadchurch, Happy Valley, etc.)
Thanks for stopping by…and I haven’t had a mojito in a long time! Must have one now!
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I’ll have to check those shows out too then. I love a good mystery. Thanks for sharing, I love finding new shows to watch. I have trouble finding time to watch them, but I love finding new ones anyway. Thanks!
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Good idea, Kim….and I’ve discovered pockets of time seem to open up when I have a new show to watch! Also, a lot of my TV show favorites are on hiatus, or going on it soon.
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Mmm, I like that mix of lime and sweet. Ooo, loved The Killing series. I plan to re-watch it sometime soon too as I am taken with the detective duo.
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Me, too, and I love the Seattle setting. Thanks for stopping by, vvb.
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I really like Anne Rivers Siddons and think she’s underrated. However, August was not one of my favorites. And my therapist is now cheaper than my hair stylist, lol. Happy Reading!
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Oh, good to know, Heather….thanks for stopping by!
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Yummy mojitos! The story sounds a bit sad, though. I look forward to reading your review!
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Thanks, Lexxie, and I’m sure it will be sad, but hopeful, too. Glad you could stop by.
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