Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.
Today’s spotlight is shining on an ARC from Amazon Vine: A Place We Knew Well, by Susan Carol McCarthy.
Intro: (10:47 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2009)
As I wheel right into Dad’s driveway, a six-foot chain-link fence jumps up out of nowhere. I stomp on the brakes. My car heaves to a stop within inches of the padlocked gate.
My hands, shoving the gearshift into park, switching off the ignition, are shaking. I rest my head against the wheel, my heart still skidding inside my chest. Stupid, stupid! I think, only now remembering Clem’s phone call two weeks ago. “DEP recommends it, Charlotte,” Dad’s attorney told me, asking my okay for the expense of the fence. “Plus, it’ll secure the property against vandals. Or vintage collectors looking for a five-finger discount.”
But the sight of Dad’s station turned ENTRY RESTRICTED fortress, flanked by the tall fence lined with green sight-blocking screens, is still a shock.
***
Teaser: (October 1962)
The lobby of the State Bank was packed with a long, snaking line of locals withdrawing cash. Avery noticed the rise in the communal pulse, the rapid shifting of eyes and feet, the nervous jingling of pocket change, and the odd tendency to grab the cash envelope without comment and stalk directly out the door. (p. 68).
***
Blurb: Late October, 1962. Wes Avery, a one-time Air Force tail-gunner, is living his version of the American Dream as loving husband to Sarah, doting father to seventeen-year-old Charlotte, and owner of a successful Texaco station along central Florida’s busiest highway. But after President Kennedy announces that the Soviets have nuclear missiles in Cuba, Army convoys clog the highways and the sky fills with fighter planes. Within days, Wes’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel.
Sarah, nervous and watchful, spends more and more time in the family’s bomb shelter, slipping away into childhood memories and the dreams she once held for the future. Charlotte is wary but caught up in the excitement of high school—her nomination to homecoming court, the upcoming dance, and the thrill of first love. Wes, remembering his wartime experience, tries to keep his family’s days as normal as possible, hoping to restore a sense of calm. But as the panic over the Missile Crisis rises, a long-buried secret threatens to push the Averys over the edge.
With heartbreaking clarity and compassion, Susan Carol McCarthy captures the shock and innocence, anxiety and fear, in those thirteen historic days, and brings vividly to life one ordinary family trying to hold center while the world around them falls apart.
***
Would you keep reading? I know I am eager to do so. Perhaps those of us who were around back then & vividly recall those two weeks—those poignant weeks—the urge to continue reading is very strong. I can still see my college professor’s face that fall as he shared his thoughts about the unfolding events.
***
This does sound like an interesting read…
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Thanks, Catherine, I am really looking forward to it!
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This sounds like it will be very good, Laurel-Rain. The time period especially interests me. I liked the intro you shared quite a bit. I can just imagine the shock of coming across a gate like that when you didn’t expect it.
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Thanks, Wendy, that time in my life came roaring back to me after seeing the blurb on this one; it brought up one of the scariest times in my younger years. Glad you liked the intro.
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That first paragraph leaves me curious. It made me want to keep reading.
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Thanks, Margot, I am also curious about how that time in the present relates to the underlying story.
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I’d love to learn more Laurel, this does sound like a deep read – I do hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Cleopatra, and I am looking forward to it.
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I was too young to understand or remember what was happening at that time, but I’d still like to read this book. Great cover, too. I’ll keep an eye out for your review – hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, JoAnn, and in some ways, being in college at the time made it all so frightening, as the professors loved to share their thoughts on what might happen, which exacerbated our fears. Glad you could stop by.
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I’ve been meaning to get to this one —so many books. I like that intro –enjoy
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Thanks, Diane, glad you could visit and host….your book sounds fascinating, too.
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This is a new one for me, but I will add it to my every growing list. I remember those days too!
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Thanks, Judy, sometimes I think of how many years ago that was, and find it almost impossible to believe. Time has lent some detachment, but the core feelings are still there. Fear and helplessness.
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I would keep reading. I wasn’t born yet and it was too “recent” to be covered in my history classes, but I’m fascinated by the era. Girl Who Reads
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Thanks, Donna, and I am curious how the history books will “rewrite” those events. Glad you could stop by.
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I love the cover and the opening. It’s got me really curious about what’s happening, so I’d have to keep reading!
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Thanks, Monica, the cover took me right back to that time….and my recent viewing of Mad Men also reinforced the images.
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I remember the crisis, but I was a little too young to fully grasp the importance. This sounds good.
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Thanks, Beth, I am the “oldie” in the group, I guess…LOL. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, but I am glad to have put the reality of it behind us. For now.
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Laurel-Rain, this one has been on my radar; I’d love to read it and thanks for sharing the intro with us! Hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Tara, I am definitely looking forward to it. Glad you could stop by.
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I was in junior high school in 1962, and although I remember the Cuban missile crisis, I’m not sure I grasped the significance of it at the time. I’d love to read this book to learn more about it, especially through the eyes of a high school girl.
Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Sandy @ TEXAS TWANG
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Thanks, Sandra, and being in college at the time only increased my fears. But we had a place to talk about them. Glad you could stop by.
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What an interesting time and place to set a book.
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I think so, too, Jo…and it drew me right back into that time. Thanks for stopping by.
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I would definitely keep reading, especially since this is set in a time in history that has piqued my interest immensely; thanks for sharing this one Laurel!
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Thanks, Claudia, having been young during the 60s, I am always eager to read perspectives on that time.
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Wow! Do you remember where the day when Kennedy was assassinated? Where were you?
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I think I’d have to read a bit more before I made up my mind about this one
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Thanks, Chippy, glad you could stop by.
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Right from the get go the adventure takes off. Keep reading.
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Oh, good to know, Peggy Ann…thanks for stopping by.
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This sounds good and the setting in the 60s grabs me. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
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Thanks, Dagny, that appealed to me, too, and for a while in the early 60s, I had a similar hairstyle to the girl on the cover…LOL.
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That Girl, lol! I loved it, but never could get it to work for me. I had to go with turned under pageboy.
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The pageboy was my usual style, too, but when I could do the “flip,” I always felt like Jackie…LOL
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Probably not one for me but I hope your enjoying it! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Thanks for returning the visit….we can’t all love the same books!
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Very interesting. Hope you are enjoying it! 🙂
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Thanks, Denise, hoping to love it!
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I’d definitely keep reading. Sounds really good.
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Thanks, Yvonne, looking forward to it.
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I like a good historical fiction, so I’d definitely continue reading.
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Me, too, Ali…thanks for stopping by.
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The cover grabbed me first. I figured it would take place in the 60s. I would keep reading.
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Yes, that hairstyle is definitely early 60s…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Nise.
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The intro had me curious about the rest of the story! Just to add – I really like the cover photo too!
Thanks for stopping by my post 🙂
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Thanks, Shannon, the cover makes me feel as though I’m back in the day…and also, as if I’m watching Mad Men.
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This is a really interesting period in history so I would definitely keep reading.
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I am so glad to have that era in my personal history….those were interesting times. Thanks for stopping by, Emma.
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I was only 4 years old when this happened but I’m old enough to remember Kennedy being shot. I was just home from half day K-garten school and was watching tv with my grandpa when the news came on and all the adults got very upset. I wasn’t too aware of what I was watching but I picked up on their somber mood.
I grew up hearing about the Cuban Missile crisis, and then as an adult lived in FL for many years, some of them on the west central coast and some just north of Miami. This appeals to me!
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Yes, being in college at the time, the reality of what could happen hit us hard. Thanks for stopping by, Rita. And when Kennedy was shot, I was getting ready for my first wedding, and my mom and I were watching a soap opera, taking a break from the wedding plans.
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Sounds interesting and I can see the attraction of wanting to read more especially if you were around when this happened. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, that is definitely part of the appeal, Sharon….thanks for stopping by.
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