Good morning! It’s Monday and time to celebrate those great beginning-of-the-week memes.
Mailbox Monday is hosted through August by Chick Loves Lit.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey.
Both are celebrations of reading, and opportunities for bloggers to click around the blogosphere, networking and adding new books to their lists.
Monday Mailbox: This week’s mailbox brought two great books:
Irish Twins, by Michelle Cozzens (received from the author)
Here’s the Amazon blurb:
Anne Shields died at the age of 80. It happened while she was water-skiing. Her husband of fifty-four years, Michael, tried to revive her; however, it was no use. There was no return from a massive stroke to the brain stem. She passed in peace, and entered a new existence in a place called Ohr where her sister, Molly, greeted her with a cup of hot tea. Molly was her Irish Twin. “Irish Twin” is a slang term for two children born to the same mother within a twelve-month period. Its origin is uncertain, but it’s a decidedly derogatory term, which mocks the Irish Catholic culture’s rejection of birth control methods. This is the story of not one, but two sets of Irish Twins-Anne and Molly- as well as Anne’s daughters, the Irish Twins Jennifer and Catherine. Also known as Jenny and Caylie, they are approaching middle age when their mother dies, and are left to face the world with many unanswered questions about a mother who left them far too quickly. Anne and Molly reunite in Ohr and Molly, the elder Irish Twin, guides Anne through her judgment. She witnesses her life and the lives of her surviving husband and five children through endless cups of tea, served to her by her sister. Anne is the heart and soul of this tale. Although she has passed away, she is very much present in the lives of her daughters. She keeps watch over Jenny and Caylie as well as her three additional children, and through her we learn a lot about being a sister, a wife, a parent, a friend. We learn not only about life . . . . . . but also about death.
Next, I received The Quick and the Thread, by Amanda Lee, a contest win from Pudgy Penguin Perusals.
Here’s a tidbit from Amazon:
When Marcy Singer opens an embroidery specialty shop in quaint Tallulah Falls, Oregon, she throws a soiree and a Stitch-In. Soon, Marcy’s sign- up sheet for embroidery classes fills up and everyone in town seems willing to raise a glass-or a needle-to support the newly-opened Seven Year Stitch.
Then Marcy finds the shop’s previous tenant dead in the store-room, a message scratched with a tapestry needle on the wall beside him. Now Marcy’s shop has become a crime scene, and she’s the prime suspect. She’ll have to find the killer before someone puts a final stitch in her.
**********
Last week, I finished these books: (Click the titles for the reviews)
1) Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner
2) As Husbands Go, by Susan Isaacs
3) Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, by Josie Brown
What’s Up This Week?
1) Irish Twins, by Michelle Cozzens
A story, described above, about the mysterious guidance of some unique twins.
2) Let’s Take the Long Way Home, by Gail Caldwell (a memoir)
A tale of friendship between two writers—a memorializing of the deceased friend.
Ongoing:
Give Me Your Heart, by Joyce Carol Oates (Tales of mystery and suspense)
So these are my reading adventures for the week. What have you all been up to? I hope you’ll stop by and share.
The Quick And The Thread looks super cute!! Happy reading!!
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I agree, April…thanks for stopping by.
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Irish Twins looks very interesting. Enjoy your new books!
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I’m reading that one first, Mrs. Q…glad you could stop by.
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Irish Twins looks really interesting. Enjoy your books this week!
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Thanks for visiting, Alita…Hope you enjoy your books, too.
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I am quite intrigued by Irish Twins and shall await your review. Have a lovely week reading. My Monday is here: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-9.html
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Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer. I’m fascinated by this one, too. I barely started it so far, but I expect to be deep into it by the end of the day.
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The Quick and the Thread sounds like fun!
Enjoy your reading this week.
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I agree, Laura….thanks for stopping by!
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Oh Irish twin sounds a good one to read
here’s mine
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Thanks, Lisa…that one has captured my attention, too. Glad you could stop by.
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Oh it has been a long time since I read Oates, I will be interested in your review of her book. Have a great week.
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Thanks, Jan…I have had it on my weekly reads for a couple of weeks, but I’m still looking forward to it.
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You are reading a book that just arrived! I should be jealous, but I am. One of these days, either this year or the next, I’ll be able to do just that!
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Yes, J. Kaye, since I got this one from the author, I’m sure she’ll be wanting a review sooner rather than later. Plus, it sounds fascinating….
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Irish Twins looks like a good one since my husband and his brother are Irish twins. I love its cover too!
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Yes, bermudaonion, that’s an intriguing name for children born close in age.
I’m really looking forward to it. Thanks for visiting.
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Great looking books, Laurel – enjoy
http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2010/08/mailbox-monday-august-23.html
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Thanks, Diane; glad you could stop by. Hope you have a fabulous reading week.
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Irish Twins sounds promising. Happy reading!
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I’m glad to see so many people “connecting” to this one; I’ve read a couple other books by this author and really enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by, Kim.
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Wow….what a great Monday for you. 🙂
Enjoy!!
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Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth….enjoy your week.
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Your mailbox looks great, Irish Twins has a very cool cover!!
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Yes, it does, doesn’t it, Staci? Thanks for stopping by…..
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Looks like you have a good reading week! My Mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.
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Thanks, Alayne…glad you could stop by.
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Irish Twins sounds great.
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Thanks, Heather, I agree! So glad you could stop by, and it gave me a chance to discover your blog, too.
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I’m looking forward to your thoughts on Irish Twins. We have a few sets in my big American/Irish extended family!
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Thanks for visiting, Mary…Yes, I’m excited about this book!
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Nice books for the Mailbox. I had no idea that the term Irish Twins meant this at all. Saw the Joyce Carol Oates and sighed.
Have a great reading week 🙂
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Aisle B, thanks for stopping by…glad you like the look of my mailbox!
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I added all of your last week’s books to my wish list and I liked the Quick and the Thread!
Dollycas
http://dollycas.blogspot.com/
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Thanks, Lori…glad you like it. And glad you stopped by.
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I want both your books!
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Thanks, RAnn, and glad you stopped by.
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Every time I see a Joyce Carol Oates book I want to smack myself on the forehead. I will read one of her books someday…I promise!
Happy reading!
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Thanks for visiting, Allison….hope you do try JCO soon!
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That Irish Twins cover is not working for me-the angles of the feet are freaking me out! But the concept looks really interesting-I’m a sucker for stories that focus on the sister relationship.
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OMG! You’re kind of right about that…I kept looking at them and wondering. I knew they had to belong to two people, though.
Thanks for stopping by, Bookworm 1858.
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My textbooks are here along with some fun stuff. Here’s what I’m reading this week.
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Thanks for stopping by, Sarah…I’ll hop over to yours now.
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Joyce Carol Oates intimidates me… and I have to read so many of her books for the 1001 challenge!
Happy Reading =)
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Lydia, I think the only thing intimidating about her is that one has to be fully attentive when reading. Sometimes, with other books, I’m doing a couple other things at the same time. Can’t do that with JCO.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I had never heard of the term Irish Twins until now. The book sounds interesting to me. The Quick and the Thread looks like a good cozy mystery too. Looking forward to both of your reviews.
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Beth, I’ve heard the expression, but it was a long time ago, and I had to be reminded of what it meant. Thanks for stopping by.
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Really like your site…I had to stop back. 🙂
Stop by my blog for a Tuesday Teaser and a review of I’d Know you Anywhere by Laura Lippman.
I know you stopped llaurelrainsnow, but anyone else is welcome to stop by. 🙂
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
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Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth…I totally enjoy visitors and comments!
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Irish Twins and Give Me Your Head look good! Enjoy the books Laurel 😀
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Thanks for visiting, Sheila…You must be home now! I’ll be heading over to read your Meandering.
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