Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which I share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers, who do the same.
Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.
To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.
Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!
What a great way to spend a Friday!
Today I am featuring an older book from an author I enjoy: Never Change (e-book), by Elizabeth Berg, a wry and beautifully distilled portrait of one woman’s resilience in the face of loneliness, and of a union that transcends life’s most unexpected and challenging circumstances.
Beginning: (Prologue)
The Tuesday before it happened was a perfect summer day. Driving through town on my way home, I saw two young girls holding hands as they tried to cross a street against the light. They would start to cross, then stop; start again, stop. Finally, all the traffic sighed and halted; and the girls bolted to the other side of the street and began to laugh and push each other, exhilarated by their survival.
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56: “I’d like to stay as normal as I can for as long as I can,” Chip says. “And when things start to go, I’m going to go, too.”
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Synopsis: You know people like me. I’m the one who sat in a folding chair out in the hall selling tickets to the prom but never going, the one everybody liked but no one wanted to be with.
A self-anointed spinster at fifty-one, Myra Lipinsky has endured the isolation of her middle life by doting on her dog, Frank, and immersing herself in her career as a visiting nurse. Myra considers herself reasonably content, telling herself, It’s enough, work and Frank. And it has been enough — until Chip Reardon, the too-good-to-be-true golden boy she adored from afar, is assigned to be her new patient. Choosing to forgo invasive treatment for an incurable illness, Chip has returned from Manhattan to the New England home of his childhood to spend what time he has left. Now, Myra and Chip find themselves engaged in a poignant redefinition of roles, and a complicated dance of memory, ambivalence, and longing.
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What do you think? Would you keep reading? I always love an Elizabeth Berg novel, for how each story pinpoints those moments in life that seem ordinary, but turn out to be extraordinary.
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I love the vision the opening paragraph gives me of young girls crossing the busy road. I can picture it perfectly.
I’d be honors if you’d check out <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/friday-quotes-march-17th.html" My Friday Quotes
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Thanks, Anne, I like how this author always makes me visualize what is happening. Thanks for visiting my blog, and enjoy your pick!
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This does sound delightful- I really like the sound of the opening, so easy to visualise the scene
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Thanks, Cleo, and I know this one is not our usual genre, but I do love spending time with Elizabeth Berg’s characters now and then.
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I loved the BB, and the 56 could be words out of my own mouth, 😉 I’d love for you and your readers to check out mine . . . http://tinyurl.com/LisaKsBookReviewsWTGHTF
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Thanks, Lisa, I enjoy this author, so I am eager to spend time with these characters. Glad you could stop by.
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The opening was very cute. The synopsis made me think of that movie…you know the one, where the girl meets the rich guy and she does all kinds of fun things and he lives vicariously through her…Can’t remember the name. Need coffee.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Thanks, Sherry, I don’t know the name of the movie either, but it’s a familiar theme. I desperately need coffee…and my coffee pot stopped working! No amount of trouble-shooting revived it. And it’s not even a year old.
Off to get a new one later…sigh.
Glad you could stop by.
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I don’t know if I would read this one as it sounds like a tear jerker, which I don’t normally do. That said, I like the writing style.
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Thanks, Emma, I love Berg’s writing style, too; she wraps her words around me like a cozy hug.
Enjoy your pick, and thanks for visiting.
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Not my usual style but both sound like interesting characters. This week I am spotlighting The Cutaway by Christina Kovac. Happy reading!
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Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I have a copy of The Cutaway…to read soon!
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I really like Berg’s writing so I’d keep reading for sure!
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Thanks, Kathy, she is one of my longtime favorites. Glad you enjoy her, too.
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I’m tempted – that storyline sounds too lovely. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Bev, I love her writing! Enjoy your reading.
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I sure would keep reading. That opening pulled me right in. Very visual.
My Friday 56 from Bone White
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Thanks, Laura, it has been a while since I read one of this author’s books, and this is an older one I missed along the way. Glad you enjoyed the excerpts.
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yes, it’s tempting to read on, I’d want to know more !
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Thanks, Inge…glad you enjoyed it. Enjoy yours!
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Wow, I love the cover. So pretty. I’m also intrigued by the prologue. So beautifully written. Here is my Friday 56: https://coffeeandcatsblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/friday-56-27/
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Thanks, Loreen, I am delighted to have this book by a favorite author. Enjoy yours!
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This sounds like a story I would enjoy. Hope you are enjoying it. Here is my post
http://totallyaddictedtoreading.blogspot.com/2017/03/friday-memes-book-beginnings-and-friday_17.html
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Thanks, Nadene, I look forward to the story. Enjoy your pick!
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I really like that book beginning. Makes me remember my childhood. Hope you enjoy your weekend!
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Thanks for stopping by, Alicia, and I hope you are enjoying your reading.
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I think I have this book in my TBR. It sounds good.
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Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne…I’m eager to read this one.
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Sounds good to me! 🙂 Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda, I’m reading and loving it now. Enjoy yours!
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Based on that description I think a friend of mine would love this book!
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Thanks for visiting, Lauren, and your friend would be in for a treat!
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