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Welcome to The Sunday Salon! What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine Some university library’s vast reading room. It’s filled with people — students and faculty and strangers who’ve wandered in. They’re seated at great oaken dests, books piled all around them, and they’re all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they’ll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon’s literary intake. That is the Sunday Salon, but all virtually. Book Bloggers from around the world sharing their bookish finds with one another in a virtual place called The Sunday Salon. Thank you to Deb at ReaderBuzz for keeping us all together on Sundays and hosting The Sunday Salon now! I also visited with Kim at The Caffeinated Reader, another Sunday gathering place for us bookish people called The Sunday Post and the ladies at Mailbox Monday.
This week I thought I'd share books that revolve around Sisters, either sisters by blood or by fate. Stories with Sisters go way back. Cinderella is a great example of a story with Sisters. How about Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen? Here are some soon to be released "Sister books" and one that was recently published this year. Plus Honorable Mentions of 2 older books with "Sisters" that if you haven't read YOU SHOULD! Here we go...
The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian... THE PRINCESS IS FAKE. THE MURDERS ARE 
REAL • a Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder in this twisting tale of organized crime, cryptocurrency, and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip.
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore... The paths of three young Black women in pre-Civil War Philadelphia unexpectedly—and dangerously—collide in this debut novel inspired by the explosive history of a divided city.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano... William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume... Published in 1999, Summer Sisters is such a moving story of two young teenage girls, one the popular girl everyone wants to be friends with and the other "nobody" girl that the popular girl chooses to be her summer sister. This is the start of their lifelong friendship. It is an amazing story that still stirs up feelings in me just thinking about it. It's the kind story every woman should read.
Crissy Dowling has created a world that suits her perfectly. She passes her days by the pool in a private cabana, she splurges on ice cream but never gains an ounce, and each evening she transforms into a Princess, performing her musical cabaret inspired by the life of the late Diana Spencer. Some might find her strange or even delusional, an American speaking with a British accent, hair feathered into a style thirty years old, living and working in a casino that has become a dated trash heap. On top of that, Crissy’s daily diet of Adderall and Valium leaves her more than a little tipsy, her Senator boyfriend has gone back to his wife, and her entire career rests on resembling a dead woman. And yet, fans see her for the gifted chameleon she is, showering her with gifts, letters, and standing ovations night after night. But when Crissy’s sister, Betsy, arrives in town with a new boyfriend and a teenage daughter, and when Richie Morley, the owner of the Buckingham Palace Casino, is savagely murdered, Crissy’s carefully constructed kingdom comes crashing down all around her. A riveting tale of identity, obsession, fintech, and high-tech mobsters, The Princess of Las Vegas is an addictive, wildly original thriller from one of our most extraordinary storytellers.
I have enjoyed author Chris Bohjalian's writing in The Flight Attendant and The Guest Room to name just a couple. And I am always excited when an author I enjoy is coming out with a new book! And Chris Bohjalain is coming out with a NEW BOOK! It sounds like a page turned too! The sisters here are Crissy the main character, and Diana impersonator, and Betsy. They aren't their best friends. Crissy is 18 months older. They can't be twins, but people have thought that just from looking at them. So, how is Betsy part of the story and what is going to happen? We'll have to read the book to find out... and that's exactly what I'm doing! I received an eGalley from Doubleday Books and am so excited to read this! So far, Princess of Las Vegas has captured me and kept me turning those pages. I'll have a review soon... In the meantime, Mark your calendars...
Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian will be released by Doubleday Books on
March 19, 2024.
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Philadelphia, 1837. After Charlotte escaped from the crumbling White Oaks plantation down South, she’d expected freedom to feel different from her former life as an enslaved housemaid. After all, Philadelphia is supposed to be the birthplace of American liberty. Instead, she’s locked away playing servant to her white-passing father, as they both attempt to hide their identities from slavecatchers who would destroy their new lives.
Longing to break away, Charlotte befriends Nell, a budding abolitionist from one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest Black families. Just as Charlotte starts to envision a future, a familiar face from her past reappears: Evie, her friend from White Oaks, has been brought to the city by the plantation mistress, and she’s desperate to escape. But as Charlotte and Nell conspire to rescue her, in a city engulfed by race riots and attacks on abolitionists, they soon discover that fighting for Evie’s freedom may cost them their own.
All We Were Promised is the story of three women in vastly different circumstances—the rebel, the socialite, and the fugitive—risking everything for one another in an American city straining to live up to its loftiest ideals.
The story captured my attention. The story of three women coming together against all odds to better their lives. And for them it seems like life or death circumstances. These 3 women, Charlotte, Nell and Evie aren't sisters by blood, but sisters by circumstance, sisters in spirit. I received an eBook from RandomHouse Publishing, Ballentine and can't wait to start reading this! Mark your calendars,
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore will be released by RandomHouse, Ballentine on
April 2, 2024
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But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?
An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.
This book had gotten a lot of positive buzz when it was released back in March of this year by The Dial Press. It's characterized as a family saga. And I enjoy that type of story, so I bought this and it is in my TBR pile. It was also an Oprah Book Club Book for March, although I don't purchase books based on Oprah. For the longest time I found the stories of her selections to be so sad I stopped reading anything she recommended. Even though this story may be sad, (geez it's a homage to Little Women and I balled my eyes out in parts of that book) I like the idea of a story starring 3 sisters, how they sounded individually and how they might interact bringing a good story to the pages. We will see. This is available at your favorite bookstore.
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Honorable "Sisters Books" Mention... there are 2 books that I've read and loved that involve friends that are like sisters. They are both older books, but both are worth a read if you've never read one or both of them. And in particular the Lisa See book...
. 
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See... Published in 2006 Snowflower and the Secret Fan starts in the Chinese Era of foot binding and dutiful arranged marriages, somewhere in the 19th century. Two girls are paired together as tradititional "old soles" or lao-tongs, who become lifelong friends and confidants helping the isolation that these women endured. They correspond in Nu shu, a secret language and the story follows their friendship, the ups and downs they experience over the long years. Amazing story. I thought it was the kind of book you should buy every girlfriend you have. Of course the story of these two girls would... oh I'm not going to say any more. This was the first Lisa See book I read and I've loved her books ever since.
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Weekly Wrap-Up (it's been a busy week...)
Monday, 9/18... Memoir Monday I highlighted a Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day by Kate Bowler. Not really a memoir as it a book of daily affirmations or blessings to start our days with or to help us deal with what life has to throw at us. Go to Memoir Monday to read all about it.
Tuesday, 9/19... Giveaway Time! The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson has sold over a million copies and to celebrate the publisher has a great bookish giveaway! Follow The Giveaway to read more about it and enter!
Wednesday, 9/20... In My Mailbox. I got a surprise in my mailbox from one of my favorite authors, Sheila Roberts! Follow In My Mailbox to find out what came!
Thursday, 9/21... #TBT. Throwback Thursday and the year was 2009! What were you reading? Go to Throwback Thurdsay to find out what I was reading and read my review too!
Friday, 9/22... First Lines Friday, we put the spotlight on an epic adventure with a determined young lady. Follow First Lines Friday to find out what book it was and read the first lines!
16 comments:
I don't think I want to cry, so I'll hold off on reading Hello Beautiful. But first I have to reread Little Women!
Your books are all excellent. I haven't read any of them as yet.
Chris Bohjalian’s Midwives was a selection of a book club I belonged to years ago. I didn’t like it that much, so I haven’t read any others, but I did meet him once when I volunteered to drive him to the airport after he gave a talk at a book fair! Funny thing: he sent me a thank you for something that must have happened on his visit to some other town, but not with me. Authors on that book-fair circuit used to say how overwhelmed they were, and I guess he was.
A few other bloggers picked “sisters” books this week, I guess it’s a thing. I had no idea so many authors wrote on this topic.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I'm always interested in reading stories about sisters. It might be time to look for one of these you have listed---especially since I just returned from spending three weeks in Italy with my sister.
I have read and highly recommend Hello Beautiful.
Yes - the relationship between sisters can make great reading. I loved Little Women, but I can't face anything too sad right now, so I'll pass on Hallo Beautiful for the time being. But I've often thought that one of the reasons why Pride and Prejudice is so popular is the fact that Lizzie is one of five sisters. Have a great week:)).
Now that I think about it, I'd like to reread Little Women too! Maybe a goal for the dreary winter.
That is so funny about Chris Bohjalian! I can imagine these book tours would be chaotic, but great story for you! I haven't read Midwives. I read a few chapters of this book and really enjoyed it. I'll let you know if it's a thumbs up.
Two friends of mine are traveling with their Sisters this month. They both wound up in London the same time. I would think traveling with your Sister was very special. I am enjoying your updates and look forward to more photos and tales!
I loved the Sense & sensibility movie adaptation but have never read the book. It's nice to see a good rec list for Sisters book.
Hope you have a nice weekend.
Great selection of "Sister" books! I really want to read Hello Beautiful but just too many books and not enough time. Hope you have a great week.
I enjoy books with a strong family dynamic, but I rarely seek them out. Having said that, the book I just finished had three sisters in it. That was a mystery, so that didn't come into play too much.
Looking forward to hearing more about the Bohjalian. I've enjoyed most of the books I've read by him.
I must check out Hello Beautiful - it sounds really good!
I like stories about sisters -- partly because I never had one! Little Women is the one that sprang to mind, so I'm happy to see that Hello Beautiful is influenced by that book.
Nice book selections. All We Were Promised looks really interesting to me.
Have a good week and Happy Reading!
Nice!
If you love stories about sisters, you really need to read this brilliant one:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/02/14/book-review-second-sister/
Sorry if this is a duplicate comment. I thought I commented but that happens to me all the time lol. Great list of sister books. I love the movie version of sense & sensibilit but have never read it!
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