Good morning, and welcome to our first Monday in April. Today, and for the rest of April, Mailbox Monday is hosted by Passages to the Past.
What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
This week, I received one review book and bought one e-book.
1. Life After Forty, by Dora Heldt (Amazon Vine)
When Christine’s husband of ten years dumps her over the phone while she watches a Hugh Grant film she is sent spinning on a cathartic, self-medicated journey to the land of self-acceptance and self-reliance. Surrounded by her sister and a strong support group of friends, Christine learns how to deal with the horrors of dating, finding new appliances, and the exhilarating feeling of shopping without consequence.
An uproarious look at the suddenly single life of a divorcee, Dora Heldt’s first book to appear in English captures the zeitgeist of the new millennium with searing insight while never deigning to take itself too seriously. Sparkling dialogue and unforgettable characters create a vibrant world of sardonic, take-no-prisoners women who hold their own in a world geared toward acceptance of their younger selves. Not since Bridget Jones’ Diary or Sex in the City has anything like Life After Forty so accurately and thoroughly expressed the modern female point of view with such startling clarity….
2. Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, by Stacy Juba
Spring Sale – limited time! Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling “25 Years Ago Today” items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology. Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana’s suspicious nephew, Eric Soares – until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday’s headline is tomorrow’s danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris’s present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life….
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WHAT ARE YOU READING?
This past week has been full. Lots of reading, lots of blog posts.
Some Blog Posts — In Case You Missed Them:
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR CAROL CRIGGER
LIVING FOR THE PEACEFUL MOMENTS-EXCERPT
Books Read & Reviewed-Click Titles for Reviews:
1. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
2. Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run, by Lucy Adams
3. Found (a memoir), by Jennifer Lauck
4. Untied (a memoir), by Meredith Baxter
Still Reading:
My Hollywood, by Mona Simpson
What’s Up Next?
1. Mothers and Daughters, by Rae Meadows (review book)
“Rae Meadows has written a richly textured novel of three generations of mothers and daughters who by finding each other, find themselves. In these beautifully interwoven stories of birth and death, love and loss, Violet, Iris, and Samantha explore the genetic threads that connect each to the others. Mothers and Daughters is a powerful novel of women’s secrets and strength.” – Sandra Dallas, New York Times best-selling author of Prayers for Sale and Whiter Than Snow….
2. Sing You Home, by Jodi Picoult
“Sing You Home deftly personalizes the political, delivering a larger message of tolerance that’s difficult to fault.” —Entertainment Weekly
“An immensely entertaining melodrama with crackerjack dialogue that kept me happily indoors for an entire weekend.” —USA Today
“[Jodi Picoult] has crafted another winner. . . Picoult cleverly examines the modern world of reproductive science, how best to nurture a child and what, exactly, being a family means.” —People
3. Pictures of You, by Caroline Leavitt
The Boston Globe describes Pictures of You “as part literary mystery, part domestic drama, and part psychological examination,” and, indeed, the novel kept most critics on their toes the entire time. A novel of loss, redemption, forgiveness, and self-discovery, the intertwining stories grapple not only with the tragedy but also with the mystery of April’s hasty departure from her family. Reviewers commented that what could have been a maudlin, predictable storyline instead becomes fresh with Leavitt’s direct, unsentimental writing; her you-are-here details; and her fully convincing characters. Readers who enjoy both fine storytelling and writing will be sure to savor this novel….
And that’s it for this week. What are the rest of you reading? I hope you’ll pop in and share….
The books you got look very good! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I did get some e-books this week too, but I didn’t include them. I went a little crazy this week with the Amazon downloads! I didn’t post on my blog my weekly wrap up. I guess I will just do one for March as a whole!
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Oh, it’s so easy to go crazy with the e-book downloads, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl.
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Life After Forty sounds interesting – I’ll watch for your review!
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Thanks for visiting, Mary…I’m looking forward to Life After Forty.
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You’ve had a busy week! I laughed at the title of Life After Forty. They say 40 is the new 30. Mmmm, why not? Enjoy your books!
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Yes, I agree that life after forty is pretty good….thanks for stopping by, Laura.
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I want to read Sing You Home and the book about mothers and daughters also looks good. I have a very special relationship with my mother. She’s my best friend!
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Yes, between the two, I’m playing a game of which one gets picked first! Thanks for stopping by, Angie.
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The cover of that Heldt book really calls to me…
Have a great reading week this week…
🙂
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Yes, I love that cover, too, EH…I can’t wait to dive in. Thanks for stopping by.
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Two interesting sounding books and both new to me. And you got a lot of reading done this week. I read one book, which for me is a successful week!
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I never know, going in, how many I’ll get through, and I really didn’t expect to finish four. I think I do better with a wide variety of books (which I had, even though they were all nonfiction!). Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.
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Spring Break’s over. I mostly read books for my project. Come see what I finished.
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Thanks for stopping by, Sarah…hope you are ready to get back into the routine! Enjoy your reading.
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Life after forty sounds good.
Have just finished Star Gazing by Linda Gillard. Amazing read.
Have many exciting books calling me this week.
enjoy ur week, Laurel-Rain
carol
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Thanks for visiting, Carol…I love facing a new week with new books to ponder. Have a good one!
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Great list of books there! Twenty-five Years Ago Today sounds like something I’d love – I’ll have to give it a look. Now I’m off to check your review of In Cold Blood – I’ve never been able to make myself read that one.
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Joy, I know many people loved In Cold Blood…I was a bit disappointed, but it was still a worthwhile read. I’ve been wanting to read Twenty-Five Years Ago Today ever since I interviewed the author.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Lots of books ahead then! I can’t wait to start on Singing You Home, but first I’ll have to dig my way through my library pile… In Cold Blood is also a book that I’d like to read someday.
Have a great week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Chinoiseries….have a good week.
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I haven’t heard of either of these, but I hope they are good ones.
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Oh, me too, Diane…the Amazon Vine was one I’d seen here and there, and the idea sounds good. The other one was written by an author I interviewed awhile ago. Thanks for stopping by.
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It looks like you’ve got some good reading coming up this week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy…I’m really looking forward to reading them.
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As usual, you’ve accomplished a lot of great reading and you have good stuff lined up for this week! Have fun, and thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Oh, glad you could visit, Lady Q…I think this week’s reading will offer some variety. Have a good week.
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Ahem as a woman of a certain age, I think would enjoy Life After Forty. LOL.
Happy reading!
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Ha-ha, Kim…me, too. And I’m WAY past forty! LOL Thanks for stopping by.
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Looks like you had a busy and fun week. That Life After Forty could be written about my oldest daughter. I’ll have to get her a copy. Have a great week and happy reading. My MM is here
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Thanks for stopping by, Kaye…I think it looks good, too, but I’m WAY past forty…LOL
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I like the look of TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY. Well, if it says mystery or dead body, I usually like the look of it. LOL
Hope you enjoy them!
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Oh, I love a good murder mystery, too, Kay…hope you enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks for stopping by! You have a great line up going!
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Thanks, Laura…looking forward to them all! Have a great week.
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Life After Forty looks good… actually you have quite a few good ones… 25 years Ago Today caught my eye too…
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I agree, Sheila…I like the new beginnings of this meme. Starting fresh and all. Thanks for stopping by.
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Can’t wait for your thoughts on Mothers & Daughters!
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I’m reading it now, and so far so good, Anna. Thanks for stopping by.
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Both of the titles you received are so different; yet both look extremely good. Mothers and Daughters – every time I see that cover I fall in love (I’m really superficial like that). Keep the Kleenex AND the dartboard out for Sing You Home – I hope you like it as much as I did.
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Oh, I’m pretty sure I’m going to love Sing You Home…and yes, Kleenex is always nearby, Julie. Thanks for stopping by.
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That’s the cutest mailbox I’ve ever seen! I want to read the Jodi Picoult book at some point. Happy reading 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Samita…I’m eager to begin the Picoult book…hope you enjoy it, too.
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Life After Forty looks like my kind of read. I’ve got Picture of You sitting on my stack, hoping to get to before it has to go back to the library.
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Thanks for visiting, Nise….I am trying to decide which books to read first…that’s what happens when they all look good to me!
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Life After Forty sounds really good. Enjoy your week!
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I agree…it does sound good, Sami. Thanks for stopping by.
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I like the LIFE AFTER FORTY book. 🙂
Enjoy your reads.
Stopping by from the linky on Passages To The Past.
Elizabeth
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
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Thanks, Elizabeth…glad you could stop by. I was intrigued by the title, too.
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I snuck and ordered Pictures of You this week after a friend told me it was very good. I have been reading Sing You Home. It is very good and makes you think. Enjoy all your new reads!
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I can’t’ wait to read it…and Sing You Home, too. I keep going back and forth, asking myself which one should be first! LOL
Thanks for visiting, Beth.
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I love the covers of mothers & daughters and Pictures of You — maybe I have something for wings this week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Joy…I love the covers, too, and Mothers & Daughters is moving quickly toward a finish.
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Life after Forty- I must read that one!!!
Have a great week!
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I know, Staci…sounds good, doesn’t it? Of course, I’m way beyond forty…LOL
Thanks for stopping by.
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Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run sounds like a funny one! I hope you have a wonderful week of reading!
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Thanks, Julie…so far, so good. Hope your week yields lots of great reads.
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Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Pictures of You! I loved In Cold Blood, though some parts of the narrative didn’t catch my interest either.
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Yes, too bad about In Cold Blood, Aths…and, you’re right, parts of it were actually pretty good.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I love the cover of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today. Enjoy your books.
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Oh, me too, Marcia…it looks so mysterious…thanks for stopping by.
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