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!
Today’s spotlight is shining on a book that has been hiding on Pippa since August 2014: The Next Time You See Me, by Holly Goddard Jones.
Beginning: Emily Houchens watched as Christopher Shelton, who sat in a desk two rows up and one over from her own, leaned back and smoothly slid his notebook over his shoulder, so that the boy sitting behind him could read what was written there. This second boy, Monty, began to quake with suppressed laughter. The notebook retracted; an open hand took its place, waiting expectantly, and Monty softly gave him five: Good one.
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56: Nancy’s was a dance hall. It was a Quonset hut the size of a roller rink and similar to a roller rink in design: The dance floor was a broad oblong of polished oak with a DJ’s station positioned right in the center. To the right of the dance floor was a long bar and two levels of seating, floor and deck, and this was where you could usually find a decent crowd of drinkers on Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes hundreds of them, their cigarette smoke curling toward the ceiling where it hung, trapped, like a storm cloud.
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Synopsis: Hailed as “an astoundingly good novel” by Gillian Flynn, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Gone Girl, and winner of the 2014 Kentucky Literary Award, The Next Time You See Me is a gripping tale of mystery, desperation, and redemption.
When a small Southern town’s most fiery single woman is found dead in the woods, it’s not just her secrets that threaten to surface. There’s Ronnie’s sister, Susanna, a dutiful but dissatisfied schoolteacher, mother, and wife; Tony, a failed baseball star turned detective; Emily, a socially awkward thirteen-year-old with a dark secret; and Wyatt, a factory worker tormented by a past he can’t change and by a love he doesn’t think he deserves.
Connected in ways they cannot begin to imagine, their stories converge in a violent climax that reveals not just the mystery of what happened to Ronnie, but all of their secret selves. Praised as “immensely satisfying and skillful” by Kate Atkinson, author of New York Times bestseller Life After Life, The Next Time You See Me is a debut novel not to be missed.
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What do you think? Should I bring this one out of hiding and keep reading?
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I love the 56! I almost feel like I’m right there at the rink!
Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda, and yes, I love how the excerpt sets the scene. Enjoy your book!
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From the excerpts, I wouldn’t have guessed what it was about. Sounds great. What is Pippa? Here’s my Friday Book Nap
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Thanks, Bev, and Pippa is my Kindle…LOL. I hope to enjoy this one, and I’m glad you could stop by.
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Sounds great. How have I not heard of this one until now? I’d definitely bring it out and keep reading.
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Thanks, Joy, and I’m embarrassed that it’s been hiding for so long, but now it’s out!
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I haven’t heard of this, but those snippets make me want to know more! 🙂
Happy reading!
Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).
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Thanks, Lauren, and I’m sure I saw it on a blog, which made me think I would enjoy it…so here goes, finally!
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The snippets don’t reveal too much about the story. But it sounds interesting.
My Friday: Marie @ Pages to Explore
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Thanks, Marie, and that’s true….sometimes we are surprised by the blurb. And the story.
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There is something about the title that keeps tugging at me. Very good!
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Thanks, Sherry, and it’s one of those titles that resonates with me, too.
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Somehow I missed this one. The blurbs from Flynn and Atkinson are high praise indeed.
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Thanks, Catherine, and sometimes those blurbs tell us more about what to expect than the opening lines.
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Keep reading it! Sounds great especially with the blurbs from others. I’m going to have to add this to my TBR. Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your weekend 🙂
Danica @ A Redheaded Bookworm
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Thanks, Danica, I am constantly amazed by the pleasant surprises I discover hidden on my Kindle!
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I like the snippets. It sounds like a well-written book. I don’t think it’s my type of read so much, but it does have an interesting air of mystery about it that intrigues me. I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it! Have a great weekend! Here’s my Friday memes. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kim, and I wasn’t sure about this one, either, until I started checking into it more.
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Sounds like a lot of mischief. 🙂
ENJOY your book and your weekend.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Yes, mischief, mystery, and secrets….my kind of book, I think. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
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This one sounds okay. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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Thanks, Breana, I’m hoping to love it.
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Keep reading and let us know how you like it!
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Thanks, Harvee, looking forward to it!
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For some reason the teasers didn’t grab me. I’m not sure if it’s because there is a lot going on around me right now and they need focus or if it’s just not a book for me. I look forward to your review so I can see your thoughts on it!
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Thanks, Katherine, I also thought the excerpts didn’t really seem to catch my attention. Glad you could stop by.
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This sounds intriguing. I would definitely keep reading. Thanks for visiting my blogs. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, glad you could stop by!
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That description just made my nose itch a bit, haha. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Ah, yes, the cigarette smoke…not something we see much these days. Thanks for stopping by, Alicia.
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I really like the beginning – I can just picture it in my mind. Here’s my Friday meme
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Thanks, Maria, I like excerpts that show us the scenes. Enjoy your week!
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After that book beginning, I’d like to know what was written on that notebook.
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Ah, yes, the secrets within…I am eager to learn more, too. Thanks for stopping by, Carey.
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The cover so reminds me of summer! Yes, bring it out of the hiding !
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Yes, summer is good! Thanks for stopping by, Aloi.
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