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 better way to spend a Friday!
My featured book today is a recent addition to Pippa, my Kindle: Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin.
Beginning: Eilis Lacey, sitting at the window of the upstairs living room in the house on Friary Street, noticed her sister walking briskly from work. She watched Rose crossing the street from sunlight into shade, carrying the new leather handbag that she had bought in Clerys in Dublin in the sale.
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56: Mrs. Kehoe, who owned the house, was from Wexford town and loved to talk to her about home, about Sunday trips to Curracloe and Rosslare Strand, or hurling matches, or the shops along the Main Street in Wexford town, or characters she remembered.
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Synopsis: Eilis Lacey has come of age in small-town Ireland in the years following World War Two. Though skilled at bookkeeping, she cannot find a job in the miserable Irish economy. When an Irish priest from Brooklyn to sponsor Eilis in America — to live and work in a Brooklyn neighborhood “just like Ireland” — she decides she must go, leaving her fragile mother and her charismatic sister behind.
Eilis finds work in a department store on Fulton Street, and when she least expects it, finds love. Tony, a blond Italian from a big family, slowly wins her over with patient charm. He takes Eilis to Coney Island and Ebbets Field, and home to dinner in the two-room apartment he shares with his brothers and parents. He talks of having children who are Dodgers fans. But just as Eilis begins to fall in love with Tony, devastating news from Ireland threatens the promise of her future.
By far Tóibín’s most instantly engaging and emotionally resonant novel, Brooklyn will make readers fall in love with his gorgeous writing and spellbinding characters.
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I am eager to read this one…and I also want to see the movie. What do you think? Have you read it?
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I’ve seen the trailer for the movie and it looks great – really would like to try the book. 🙂
Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).
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Oh, I want to see the movie, too, Lauren….maybe this weekend! Thanks for stopping by.
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I finally got around to reading Nora Webster after seeing the trailer for Brooklyn at the cinema but sadly haven’t got around to reading it yet – but I really want to (before I go and see the film)
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Oh, yes, Nora Webster is another to add to my stacks! Thanks for stopping by, Cleopatra, and enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing. Here’s my 56: http://www.sharonsbooknook.com/2016/02/05/the-friday-56-death-wish/
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Thanks, Sharon, and enjoy your book!
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I’d like to see the move and/or read the book. I hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Pat, I may get to the movie first, as I think it will soon leave the area…enjoy your weekend.
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This is the first time I’ve seen the book – and I had no idea there was a movie about it either – lol – but it does sound really good and i’m going to have to add it to my kindle too….here’s my Friday meme
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Thanks, Maria, I had forgotten about the movie until I started seeing “mentions” about it…and I found it in a neighboring town. Must go see it before it leaves!
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Sounds like a heavy read and I don’t do a lot of those. A movie too? Makes me think this would be a good one.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Thanks, Sherry, and I do enjoy a heavy read now and then…and movies based on them.
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Movie and book are both wonderful – enjoy!
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Thanks, JoAnn…can’t wait! Glad you could stop by, and enjoy your books and movies.
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Sounds like an emotional read (but in a good way). Hope you enjoy! Here’s my Friday Memes.
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Yes, I think it will be, Bev ….thanks for stopping by,.
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Sounds like a good one! I am spotlighting Hostile Witness by Leigh Adams this week. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and your book looks good!
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This book has been on my radar. I’m definitely curious about it and I love the teasers. I hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks, Katherine, and I’m glad I noticed this one around the ‘sphere. Enjoy your reading!
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Hi,
Haven’t read this book, but it does sound interesting.
Have a great day!
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Thanks, Sherrie, I am eager to read it. Glad you could stop by.
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Oh this looks like a fabulous read. Enjoy! Here’s my Friday Book Frippery
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Thanks, Bev, glad you could stop by!
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I read the book with one of my book clubs, and we really didn’t like it. I loved the movie, however, which I saw when I was in Dublin in November, which made it extra special.
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Oh, that’s too bad….I do plan to see the movie, and maybe tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by, Catherine.
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I haven’t heard of this one before, but it does sounds like it could be good. I hope you enjoy this book. 🙂
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Thanks, Breana, and I hope so, too.
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I’d like to read this one. I’m obsessed with all things NYC. 🙂
Happy weekend!
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Me, too, Freda….thanks for stopping by!
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They made this one into a movie, I recognize it from the synopsis. Hope your weekend is lovely!
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Yes, and it’s playing nearby…I hope to see it today! Thanks for stopping by, Alicia…
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I didn’t know it was being made into a movie. I heard a lot of good about this author but I haven’t read it yet. I will, though, I have a fondness for Irish authors and Ireland in general 🙂
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Thanks, Izabel, I am eager to read the book and see the movie, although I may see the movie first.
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The movie looks pretty good and I wasn;t that surprise to learn it was based on the book.
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Thanks for stopping by, Aloi, and I didn’t manage to get to the movie this weekend, either. If I don’t hurry, it will be gone!
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Yes, I would read it! I actually had the used paperback from the thrift shop, but the print was crazy tiny in it (major reason I read on a Kindle) so I gave it to my SIL.
I now want to get another copy or download one very much. Love the movie trailers, love the young female star. I saw her in The Lovely Bones I think. My family is originally from immigrant Irish and German folks from Brooklyn, and I lived there until aged 12, so I have a deep connection to this, even though I was born in a later decade. It will tell my parents’ story though. Thanks for sharing.
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I love the star of the movie too (which I haven’t seen yet), and I can never pronounce her name. And yes, she was in The Lovely Bones.
I love all things Irish…I have never been, but my eldest son lived there for a while in the 1990s and has lovely photographs, some of which “live” on my bedroom walls.
Thanks for stopping by, Rita, and I’m with you on tiny print…I once got a review book in the mail with such tiny print that I had to set it aside unread.
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