Good morning! Today’s post will link up to Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post, and Book Journey, for Weekly Updates.
**Mailbox Monday is now hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.
Grab some coffee (or a pot of tea!), and let’s talk about our weeks. I had a slower reading week, but savored each book. And Saturday was a wonderful day of lunch and a movie. I saw and loved Still Alice, with Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin, and when I left the theater, my eyes were filled with tears.
Have any of you seen it? Did you read the book? I read Still Alice last May (click for my review).
I will be thinking about the gripping performances for a long time. Meanwhile, here’s what last week looked like for me.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Blue Mondays Musings: Reading & Dreaming
Tuesday Potpourri: Intros/Teasers – “One Plus One”
From the Interior: Books, Blogs, & Devices
Going out on a Limb with “Pretty Baby”
My Bookish (and Not So Bookish) Thoughts) – Reconnecting
Serendipitous Fridays: Book Beginnings/Friday 56 – “Wife-in-Law”
A Woman’s Fears: Excerpt from “Interior Designs”
Saturday Sparks: Birthday Girls
Bookish Saturday: My Bookish Changes
Review: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes (e-book), by Diane Chamberlain
Review: One Plus One (e-book), by JoJo Moyes
Review: Nell (e-book), by Nancy Thayer
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INCOMING BOOKS (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Three books came in my mailbox from Amazon Vine! And I downloaded two books for Sparky….
You Can Trust Me, by Sophie McKenzie
On a quiet, gray, Saturday morning, Livy arrives at her best friend Julia’s flat for a lunch date only to find her dead. Though all the evidence supports it, Livy cannot accept the official ruling of suicide; the Julia she remembers was loud, inappropriate, joyful, outrageous and loving, not depressed. The suspicious circumstances cause Livy to dig further, and she is suddenly forced to confront a horrifying possibility: that Julia was murdered, by the same man who killed Livy’s sister, Kara, eighteen years ago….
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The Day We Met, by Rowan Coleman
A gorgeous husband, two beautiful children, a job she loves—Claire’s got it all. And then some. But lately, her mother hovers more than a helicopter, her husband, Greg, seems like a stranger, and her kids are like characters in a movie. Three-year-old Esther’s growing up in the blink of an eye, and twenty-year-old Caitlin, with her jet-black hair and clothes to match, looks like she’s about to join a punk band—and seems to be hiding something. Most concerning, however, is the fact that Claire is losing her memory, including that of the day she met Greg….
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Second Life, by S. J. Watson
Julia’s life is comfortable, if unremarkable, until her sister’s brutal murder opens old wounds. She finds solace in her sister’s best friend, Sophie, but when Sophie reveals the extent of her sister’s online life, Julia becomes convinced that the truth about her death lies deep in the dark, sordid world of online chatrooms and internet sex….
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DOWNLOADS:
Crazy Love You (e-book), by Lisa Unger
Love hurts. Sometimes it even kills.
Darkness has a way of creeping up when Ian is with Priss. Even when they were kids, playing in the woods of their small Upstate New York town, he could feel it. Still, Priss was his best friend, his salvation from the bullies who called him “loser” and “fatboy”…and from his family’s deadly secrets.
Now that they’ve both escaped to New York City, Ian no longer inhabits the tortured shell of his childhood. He is a talented and successful graphic novelist, and Priss…Priss is still trouble. The booze, the drugs, the sex–Ian is growing tired of late nights together trying to keep the past at bay. Especially now that he’s met sweet, beautiful Megan, whose love makes him want to change for the better. But Priss doesn’t like change. Change makes her angry. And when Priss is angry, terrible things begin to happen…
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The First Wife (e-book), by Erica Spindler
As a child, Bailey Browne dreamed of a knight in shining armor swooping in to rescue her and her mother. As she grows older, those dreams transform, becoming ones of a mysterious stranger who will sweep her off her feet and whisk her away from her ordinary existence. Then, suddenly, there he is. Despite the ten year difference in their ages, her working class upbringing and his of privilege, Logan Abbott and Bailey fall deeply in love. Marriage quickly follows.
But when Logan brings her home to his horse farm in Louisiana, a magnificent estate on ninety wooded acres, her dreams of happily-ever-after begin to unravel. A tragic family history she knew nothing about surfaces, plus whisperings about the disappearance of his first wife, True, and rumors about the women from the area who have gone missing—and when another woman disappears, all signs point to her husband’s involvement.
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WHAT’S UP NEXT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Currently Reading: Three Days to Forever, by Lauren Carr
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You Can Trust Me, by Sophie McKenzie
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After the Party (e-book), by Lisa Jewell
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And that was my week…and what the new week might look like. Enjoy yours!
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From what I know about Still Alice I’m not sure I’m brave enough to see that in theaters. I’m not a pretty crier! Three Days to Forever sounds interesting. I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about that author. Enjoy your new reads and have a great week!
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Thanks, Katherine, and crying in a theater is definitely a little embarrassing when the lights come up, but then everyone else is doing the same…LOL. I enjoy Lauren Carr’s books…can’t wait to read this next one.
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Lunch and a movie- a great way to spend a day. Glad you liked the movie- I like Moore and Baldwin. I have not seen a movie in ages, overdue I guess. 🙂
I liked your shelf pictures, and One Plus On e looks like it was good. Have a fabulous week!
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Thanks, Greg, and I don’t go to the movies as often as I once did…I used to go every weekend! But now I pass on most of them, waiting for the DVD. I loved One Plus One. Glad you could stop by.
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I’ve completely given up on movies-from-books. The last few I attempted were painfully horrible. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Here’s my Sunday Salon!
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Oh, I am sorry you have had bad experiences…mine have been good. Thanks for stopping by, Deb, and enjoy your week.
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I am interested in Still Alice. You are amazing — getting through all these books. I am sooo sloow as a reader.
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Thanks, Barbara, and my reading and blogging are the main things I do these days. Enjoy your week!
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Still Alice is on my movie list–I saw the trailer and it looks amazing (though sad). I’ll see any movie Julianne Moore is in. All of your books are very appealing to me–looks like you’ve got a great week of reading ahead.
My recap: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/02/weekly-book-recap-98.html
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That’s how I feel, too, Catherine…Julianne Moore is amazing. Thanks for stopping by, and I am looking forward to my books, too. Enjoy your week!
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I so want Crazy Love You. I’ve heard awesome awesome (creepy) things! Looks like you had a busy week on the blogs! Hope this week is just as satisfying 🙂
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Yes, Unger’s books are always must-reads for me, and something about this one especially appeals to my creepy need…LOL. Thanks for visiting, Sarah, and enjoy your week.
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I *really* want to see Still Alice but will probably wait until I’m alone in a dark room and no one can see me sob. 😉
Have a great week x
My Sunday Post
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I plan to get the DVD, too, so I can really let it out, Kate. I loved it enough to want my own copy. Thanks for stopping by.
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Send some of that spring like weather my way! We had a snow storm Friday and Saturday. It is bitter cold here (-1). Glad you liked the movie. I loved the book. Hope to get to Crazy Love You soon. I want to finish the 3 novellas first. Have a great week.
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Oh, I haven’t yet started Unger’s trilogy….and I loved the movie. Thanks for stopping by, Nise…sorry about the bitter cold you are experiencing. We take our mild winters for granted, but complain a lot about the hot, hot summers…LOL.
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We are reading some of the same books…as usual! The Day We Met looked good to me, too!
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Yes, I am looking forward to them all, Patty….even though The Day We Met has the ugly cover…LOL.
Thanks for stopping by!
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I haven’t seen or read Still Alice. Looks good, though. I have The Day We Met to review. It looks great. Hope you have a great week!
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I think it looks good, too, Yvonne…and I think you would like Still Alice. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week.
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I have not seen Still Alice. I don’t do the movies much, unless they come to my house. lol We have a book or two in common. Hope you are having a great weekend.
sherry @ fundinmental Sherry’s Shelves
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I actually see fewer movies in the theater these days….I used to go every weekend, and do the full experience, popcorn and all. Now when I go, I eat lunch first….thanks for stopping by, Sherry, and have a great week.
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I so prefer to watch movies at home. I often will wait. I have seen the Still Alice cover around lately and thought I recognized Julie Ann Moore. I forgot about the movie. Thanks for pointing it out.
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Some movies I will wait for, but I still had some money on my movie gift certificate, and really love Julianne Moore…so I had to do it! LOL
Thanks for stopping by, Steph.
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Hmm. I have to get to a theater to see Still Alice. I read it in Dec. Glad to hear you liked it. Sounds like Moore might win an Oscar, eh? S.J. Watson’s new one looks like a doozy, LOL. cheers. http://thecuecard.com
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I read it last May, and it was later than a lot of people did…I hesitated, as Alzheimer’s is such a frightening disease. Every time I hear about someone’s symptoms, I think I have them…LOL. If I forget a word, or can’t remember something trivial…but seeing the movie helped me feel better about my occasional forgetfulness. Thanks for stopping by, Susan.
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I haven’t heard of that movie but I do like Julianne Moore. I’ll have to check it out.
Your books are new to me but I do hope you enjoy them.
Have a great week.
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Thanks, Sharon…I do enjoy collecting my books, especially the ones on Sparky. The ARCs don’t end up on my shelves, as they aren’t the finished books, so they get tossed. My shelves don’t grow from them.
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I read Still Alice not long after my Mema died from Alzheimer’s. I read it to understand what she went through and it was heartbreaking but I’m glad I did it. I definitely want to see the movie soon! Have a great week!
Tracy @ Cornerfolds
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My father had it, too, Tracy…it is a frightening disease. The movie was great…hope you see it. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve read a few on your list today – though I often don’t recognise the different covers!
I read Still Alice when it first came out (my dad had dementia) but am a bit murky on the details now. I want to see the movie but think I will be VERY messy!
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But Julianne Moore did an awesome job….it did not come across as messy. Thanks for stopping by, Deborah.
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Oh no I mean I’d be messy – a sobbing hysterical mess! 😦
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Oh, LOL…yes, I was a mess of tears….
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What a nice selection of reads. Enjoy them all.
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Thanks, Mystica…I do look forward to them all. Have a great week.
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I want to see Still Alice. Our book club read it a while back and it was so good.
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It was a good read…and a great movie, Sheila, IMO. Thanks for stopping by.
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I hope you enjoy your book.
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Thanks, Lindsay…..enjoy your week!
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I loved Still Alice, exceptionally moving read and I can’t wait to see the movie. You Can Trust Me and Second Life look good. Have a great week and happy reading 🙂
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Thanks, Teddyree….I enjoyed Trust Me, too; hope to love Second Life…have a great week, and thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Lorraine,
I haven’t read the book of ‘Still Alice’ yet, as I don’t want it to colour my judgement about the film, which I want to savour for itself! I am certain that I too shall leave the cinema with more than a tear in my eye (perhaps no eye make-up will be the way to go!). My father-in-law has recently been undergoing tests for dementia, so that will make this one even more poignant right now.
You have some great thrillers in your stack this week, so I shall be spending some time checking them out in more detail and I’m sure that more than one of them will find their way onto my ‘Want To Read’ pile.
Having said that, I have read and enjoyed one or two Lisa Jewell books, so I hope that ‘After The Party’ is one that you will like.
Have a good week,
Yvonne
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I am looking forward to another great book from Lisa Jewell….she is a newly discovered (to me) author. And thrillers are the greatest, aren’t they? And I always enjoy Julianne Moore’s performances, no matter what movie she is in.
Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne, and have lots of tissues handy!
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I really like Julianne Moore as an actress, she’s been on tv a lot this week talking about that movie, but I might wait for the dvd so I can sit and have a good cry in private as it looks really emotional.
Second Life is definitely one for my TBR list even though I haven’t read Before I go to Sleep yet (!). I saw the movie and thought it was really good, which made me want to read the book even more.
Have a great week!
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Oh, I loved Before I Go to Sleep, too, and I’m trying not to have expectations about Second Life, but to enjoy it on its own merits.
Thanks for stopping by, Pages and Tea….and I am a big Julianne Moore fan. I even see her smaller movies….Have a great week!
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Still Alice was a wonderful read, I would like to see the movie. As you know, I didn’t really enjoy Second Life but I hope you do.
Have a great week,
Shelleyrae
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Oh, I know, Shelleyrae….and that’s what happens sometimes with books that follow a huge hit of a book. How can one top that?
And yes, I loved the Still Alice movie…I’ll be getting the DVD, too. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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The First Wife looks good. I haven’t read Still Alice or seen the movie, it’s a bit too close to home. But I think Julianne Moore nails the role in the preview I saw.
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Definitely! And I am eager to read my new thrillers…must hurry and finish the other books on my list first…or not. LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Sam, and have a great week.
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Still Alice must have been so sad! I sobbed through the book.
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Oh, it was, JoAnn…but at my age, I am not worried about people seeing me cry…LOL. But I did hurry out of the theater afterwards…LOL. Thanks for stopping by!
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I haven’t read Still Alice but I’m dying to see the movie. It’s showing here but I don’t know when I can make it to the theater.
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This was the first weekend the movie showed here…I was impatiently waiting, but thought that there wouldn’t be a lot of people in the audience, as 50 Shades also opened here this weekend…but the theater was full, and it was the second day performances. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and I hope you get to see it soon.
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Glad you loved Still Alice -seems Julianne Moore is getting all the accolades for it! I’ve seen the Lisa Unger book around a lot lately. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
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Yes, Julianne was awesome, as she always is, IMO. I am also looking forward to reading the Unger book. Thanks for visiting, Sarah, and enjoy your week.
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Still Alice is such an incredible book. I hope to see the movie at some point. I’m glad you enjoyed it. You have SO many good books on deck! I can’t wait to read The First Wife – hope it’s good! Happy Monday and have a great week!
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Thanks, Brandie, I am so looking forward to all the books I have….and trying not to be greedy and buy too many more before I have a chance to read these! Enjoy your week….
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The S.J. Watson looks like a good read, and for some reason that name sounds familiar!
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You have probably been noticing it around, Serena…thanks for stopping by!
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Ooh I really want to see Still Alice. Glad to hear you loved it. The Day We Met caught my eye. Enjoy all your new lovelies!
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Oh, I definitely did, Lucy…hope you do, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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I read Still Alice a few years ago. It hit close to home as my father-in-law had it. I like Julianne Moore but am not a fan of Baldwin. I’ll probably see it at some point.
I finished Lisa Genova’s newest book this morning. It had me in tears a few times but was a very good book.
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Oh, I want to read her new book, Mary….and luckily, Alec’s role is much less than Julianne’s. Thanks for stopping by.
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Waiting to see Still Alice, we haven’t got it yet in our theatre, enjoy your new books.
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Yes, it took a while to get to the theater here, too. Hope you enjoy it, Mary Ann.
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I’m longing for spring here, Laurel-Rain! I hope it will arrive before too long 🙂
I got The First Wife, too, I can’t wait to read it.
Have a fantastic week and happy reading.
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When full on spring comes, I need to clean things up on my patio, which I’ve been neglecting…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Lexxie, and I am so excited to have The First Wife.
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Wow…what a great week.
I like the looks of The First Wife.
ENJOY this week, and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
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So happy you returned the visit, Elizabeth, and enjoy your reading, too.
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Ah, crazy love you! I have heard good things about that one! 🙂 Have a good week!
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Me, too, Tonya…thanks for stopping by!
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Such a busy week, Laurel, glad you can fit that much into your online time! plus the movie lunch out a very nice way to spend an afternoon !
Here’s my MONDAY READING
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I agree, Sharon…hope you enjoy your week, too, and thanks for stopping by.
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A pretty busy week you had 🙂 Hope this week will be nothing but amazing for you! Awesome books BTW 🙂
WeeklyWrap@EverythingNyze
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Thanks, Nyze, I hope the same for you, and I’m glad you could stop by.
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You can trust me looks like it will be a good one, hope you enjoy
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I am excited about it, Brandi, and thanks for stopping by. Happy reading!
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Happy reading!
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Thanks, Elysium…you too!
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Lots of good reading this week. Second Life sounds like it could be good… creepy, but good.
I can’t see spring yet – it’s nowhere in sight for me!
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I’m sorry that spring is hiding from you…hope you see it soon! Thanks for stopping by, Leslie, and I think Second Life sounds creepy/good, too.
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Ooooh I didn’t know S. J. Watson had a new book coming! This is so exciting!
I LOVED Still Alice as a book, it’s a favorite, but I have yet to see the movie. I want too though.
Happy reading!
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I was thrilled at the discovery, too, Kay; and yes, loved the movie Still Alice as much as the book. Thanks for stopping by.
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The First Wife makes me think of Rebecca.
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Oh, wow, that makes me want to read it soon! Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
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