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’s feature is a hardcover version I found recently: Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, by Chris Bohjalian.
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Beginning: I built an igloo against the cold out of black plastic trash bags filled with wet leaves. It wasn’t perfect. The winds were coming across the lake, and the outside wall that faced the water was flat—not like the igloos I had seen on TV somewhere or I guess in a book. It looked like the wall on the inside of a cave: flat and kind of scaly.
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56: The way the teen shelter worked was pretty simple: If you were under eighteen, you had to have your parents’ permission to be there. Otherwise, the staff had to call family services, and you’d probably wind up in a foster home. So, I had been lying from the second I arrived.
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Synopsis: Emily Shepard is on the run; the nuclear plant where her father worked has suffered a cataclysmic meltdown, and all fingers point to him. Now, orphaned, homeless, and certain that she’s a pariah, Emily’s taken to hiding out on the frigid streets of Burlington, Vermont, creating a new identity inspired by her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson.
Then she meets Cameron. Nine years old and with a string of foster families behind him, he sparks something in Emily, and she protects him with a fierceness she didn’t know she possessed. But when an emergency threatens the fledgling home she’s created, Emily realizes that she can’t hide forever.
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I have read and loved some of this author’s more recent books, so I was thrilled to find this older one on the bargain table at Barnes & Noble. What do you think? Would you keep reading?
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Sounds great. I’d definitely keep reading. Enjoy your weekend.
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Thanks, Bev, I’m glad you could visit…enjoy your weekend, too.
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The beginning is spot on, because I immediately suspected homeless kid before I even read the synopsis.
I see it’s for adults even though it has a YA protagonist. Unusual choice.
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Yes, the premise and the characters reeled me in. Thanks for visiting, Roberta, and enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds like an interesting plot. One to check out.
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Thanks, Nicki, I think so, too. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for visiting.
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It sounds like a heart-wrenching tale and I like the extracts you’ve chosen – so yes, I’d keep reading
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Thanks, Cleo, I’m glad you enjoyed them…and I’m eager to dig into this one.
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I always love discovering older books by authors I’ve grown to love! This definitely sounds like it could be a very emotional but also informative read. I hope you enjoy it as much as his other books! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have an amazing weekend!
My Friday post
Juli @ A Universe in Words
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Thanks for stopping by, Juli, and I, too, love checking the backlist of favorite authors. I usually find gems, more reasons to love the author. Enjoy your weekend.
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This sounds lovely. Will look into it! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Happy weekend and here’s my Friday Meets: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2017/08/friday-meets-4-august-2017.html
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Thanks, Mareli, I”m glad you enjoyed the excerpts; have a great weekend.
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I definitely want to know more! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
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Thanks for stopping by, Lauren, and have a great weekend. Enjoy your pick!
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Yep, I’d keep reading. I’m very curious about these character’s and what happens to them. Don’t you just love it when this happens. You stumble upon a book this way! I often shop thrift stores and even find some at yard sales!
My Friday 56 from The Forever Man
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Thanks, Laura, I completely agree that treasures can be found in unexpected places…and I often find books I love on bargain tables at the regular bookstores, too.
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This sounds tough but really good! I like the teasers you shared a lot. I hope you enjoy this as much as you’ve enjoyed her other books!
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Thanks, Katherine, I think I am going to enjoy it…glad you could stop by, and have a great weekend.
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This one sounds good. I hope it has a happy ending! I’d love for you and your readers to check out mine. I have something yummy as always! http://tinyurl.com/LisaKsBookReviewsMTF
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Thanks for visiting, Lisa, and I hope that there will be a turnaround for the characters, at least. Enjoy your pick.
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I’ve actually listened to that book. I liked the story but wasn’t crazy about the narrator.
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Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and getting a bad narrator is probably another reason to keep me from audiobooks! LOL.
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Sounds good. I have Dead Man’s Bridge by Robert J. Mrazek this week. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy your reading!
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Certainly sounds interesting. I’d keep reading!
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Thanks, Harvee, enjoy your pick!
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Just reading snippets with cold weather is refreshing after all this heat we’ve had. 🙂 Sounds like a great read too!
Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda, enjoy your reading and your weekend.
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Sounds interesting – I like the connection to Emily Dickinson. And a woman being protective of a young boy she has just met reminds me of several stories by favourite author Mary Stewart, so this is definitely going on my TBR!
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Thanks, Allison, I am loving where this book is going. Enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds amazing, Laurel-Rain…I’m dying to know what happened and what will happen! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jo-Ann
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Thanks for stopping by, Jo-Ann, I’m eager to know how the story unfolds, too.
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This sounds great! I would definitely keep reading!
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Thanks, Lauren, I am eager to read this one. Have a great weekend.
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Sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing! Happy weekend! 🙂
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Thanks, Ashley, enjoy your weekend and your reading, too.
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Love when you find a good deal in the bargain section. Hope you enjoy this one. Happy Friday!
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Thanks, Alicia, that kind of find is like discovering treasure. Enjoy your weekend.
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This sounds really intriguing. Have a great weekend!
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Thanks, Yvonne, have a great weekend…and thanks for stopping by.
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I really like that beginning. It got my attention right away. I hope you’re enjoying it.
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Thanks, Margot, I love discovering older books by an author I’ve come to enjoy.
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Sounds like a terrible life – no home – all that wind! Great book choice!
Luv Sassy
🙂
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Thanks, Sassy, I hope that the characters finally find something better.
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