Thursday, September 9, 2021

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

 

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It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:
  • Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
  • The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce, the second book in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version of the book borrowed from the library.

Yours Cheerfully: A Novel

Beginning:  Prologue

London, Late May 1941

As Mr. Collins called a start to the Woman's Friend editorial meeting, to anyone watching, it was a perfectly normal Monday-morning affair.

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Page 56: The last cover, though. really caught my eye. Under the large Woman's Friend heading was a blue-eyed woman with her hair poking out from under a scarf tied around her head. She was wearing dungarees and holding a large tin mug.

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My thoughts:  I enjoyed Dear Mrs. Bird, A.J. Pearce's previous novel, which was the start to this series. I am always drawn to books set in London during World War II with strong female characters. 

I am looking forward to revisiting the characters introduced in Dear Mrs. Bird. The opening line of the prologue hints at an unusual turn of events about to unfold during the editorial meeting, and the excerpt from page 56 brings a Rosie the Riverter-like image to mind.

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From GoodReads:  London, November 1941. Following the departure of the formidable Henrietta Bird from Woman’s Friend magazine, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake as she takes on the challenge of becoming a young wartime advice columnist. Her relationship with boyfriend Charles (now stationed back in the UK) is blossoming, while Emmy’s best friend Bunty, still reeling from the very worst of the Blitz, is bravely looking to the future. Together, the friends are determined to make a go of it.

When the Ministry of Information calls on Britain’s women’s magazines to help recruit desperately needed female workers to the war effort, Emmy is thrilled to be asked to step up and help. But when she and Bunty meet a young woman who shows them the very real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must tackle a life-changing dilemma between doing her duty and standing by her friends.




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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. 

© 2021 Book Club Librarian All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Book Club Librarian without attribution, know that this post has been stolen and was used without permission.

11 comments:

  1. I enjoy World War II set books as well. Hope you enjoy this one.

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  2. I'm super intrigued by this plot, since the call for women workers during WWII was such a big part of the Feminist movement at the time, like Rosie the Riveter! I'll have to look this one up and I hope you enjoy it as much as the first one. Have a lovely weekend :)
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

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  3. I am soooo looking forward to this one!! I also loved Dear Mrs Bird and can't wait to read the next one. Thanks for sharing the blurbs.

    Happy Weekend!

    Elza Reads

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  4. I had been eyeing Dear Mrs. Bird, and now that I know it is part of a series, I'm adding it to my list! Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “THE DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOR”

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  5. Sounds good, I enjoy Historical Fiction

    Here is my link:
    https://twogirlsandtheirbookishlife.blogspot.com/2021/09/book-beginnings-summer-sons-by-lee.html

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  6. I like how it sounds when I read the snippets! Happy weekend!

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  7. Interesting that Rosie the Riveter popped into my mind when I read the 56 as well. Hope you enjoy it.

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  8. I am reading a lighter story today, A Girl's Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate. Happy reading!

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  9. I have Dear Mrs. Bird on my TBR and now I'm adding this one. I love the cover and the teasers you shared!

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  10. The cover is eye catching and it sounds good. Thanks for sharing!

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