Weekend Book Friends #31

Posted May 13, 2022 by elzaread in Weekend Book Friends / 34 Comments

Hi there you guys! Mareli here, coming from OR Tambo International airport. In case you didn’t know, that is in Johannesburg, South Africa. My home country. I have a quick few minutes to write a weekend post and have a cup of coffee before we depart for Mauritius. Whoo hoo!

Of course my Kindle is fully loaded and I even sneaked an extra book in. I won’t share that one with you today, as it’s in Afrikaans and I don’t have time to do a translation as well… So I’ll just share my current kindle/review read with you today. I think it’s quite possible that I might not be the only one reading this one at the moment.

Weekend Book Friends #31The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
on June 7th, 2022
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

In every person's story, there is something to hide...

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.

Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all.

We are quickly going to say hi to @ Reading is my Super Power for First Line Friday and to Gilion @ Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings.  Every Friday you can link up and share the first sentence of your current read (or the one you plan to devour over the weekend), as well as your initial thoughts and impressions.

I do like the very first page….

“Open me carefully….” – Emily Dickinson, Intimate Letters

Chapter One opens with:

Writing in the Boston Public Library had been a mistake. It was too magnificent. One could spend hours just staring at the ceiling in the reading room. Very few books have been written with the writer’s eyes cast upwards. It judged you, that ceiling, looked down on you in every way.

From the title and and these opening sentences, we can see that the Boston Library will play an important role. How awesome is that.

Our next stop will be to Freda’s Voice who hosts the Friday 56. Don’t show up empty handed though!

  • Grab a book (Yes, any book. But it might get you to your other Friday activities a bit quicker if you just grab the book you are currently reading)
  • Turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader
  • Find a sentence or two (your other Friday activities might determine this)
  • Post it!
  • Remember to post your link on Freda’s Voice and to visit the other guys in the linky.
  • And  last but not least, don’t forget to list the title of the book and the author as well.

 

We haven’t reached 56% yet, so I am cheating a bit here:

Cain sleeps for most of the afternoon. On his stomach, one hand under the cushion he uses as pillow, as if even now he’s reaching for a knife. I sit in the armchair opposite, pretending to read and watching. My vigilance is not based in fear of him, but for him. The horror of what happened is difficult to take in, and I wonder how he could be so calm, so reasonable, so not bitter.

What the heck is going on here? Who of you have already read this one?? This is going to end good, right?

Friendly Fill-Ins

I am so excited for our holiday, but I am going to miss little Elza a lot! So to pay homage to my little white fur ball, I’ll quickly join the Friendly Fill-ins today. Friendly Fill-Ins is hosted by 15 and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs. They come up with a couple of sentences, and then you have to fill in the blanks. I think it’s a great way to get to know each other better as well. This week’s questions:

1. If you see me typing like a maniac at the airport it means I’m trying to beat time before we have to board.
2. I am feeling excited about our holidays!!!
3. I wish I could go back and relive the moment when I first saw Elza on the pet rescue website. My heart really skipped a beat.
4. I would like to swap lives with Elza for a day. Being spoiled and loved to no end! 
My answers are filled in bold!
Have a wonderful weekend you guys and if we are off-line for a couple of days, we will be back as soon as possible!

 

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34 responses to “Weekend Book Friends #31

  1. I just started At Love’s Bidding by Regina Jennings and the first line is: “Behind the massive marble building where even in May the crisp sea air never chased away the odors ground unto the cobblestone, the newsboys and shoe-shinners gathered, waiting in her.”

    On my blog is the first line is from To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund. https://daniellegrandinetti.com/2022/05/13/to-tame-a-cowboy/

    I hope you have a great weekend!

    Danielle Grandinetti recently posted: To Tame a Cowboy
  2. Wow, this may be the first that I’ve not seen your cat make an appearance. I bet you’ll miss her daily. I love writing at the Airport and on the plane in particular. Earlier this week I took quite a few people to the airport in MN and they told me stories about how planes were detoured to avoid a tornado. Hope your trip goes swell.

    trin carl recently posted: Snow in britain
    • Hi Trin!

      A few of my reviews are from my own perspective and not from Elza, but for “general” posts, I normally use Elza’s quirky voice. And yes! I miss her terribly. It was the first time I took my laptop with on a trip and I did have fun on the airport doing my Friday Post. But I didn’t take my laptop out on the flight and just spend my time reading. Best part of the flight!!

      Hope you will have a good week and thanks for visiting us!

      elzaread recently posted: Weekend Book Friends #31
  3. Adding The Woman in the Library to my TBR. Sounds wonderful and that first line sounds intriguing. Enjoy your trip and your coffee and have a wonderful week!

    • Hi Katherine! I have 10% left and I THINK I know what is going on there…. !! It really is quite good and I think you will enjoy it yes.

      Hope you guys are doing well and had a good weekend.

      elzaread recently posted: Weekend Book Friends #31
    • Hi there Cindy!

      I am enjoying The Woman in the Library yes and can’t wait to see what the ending is going to bring. But we are having such a great holiday, reading and blogging is not too high on the priority list!!

      elzaread recently posted: Weekend Book Friends #31
  4. Paula Shreckhise

    My first line this week is from When The Meadow Blooms by Ann Gabhart:
    February 27, 1925
    “You will never be completely well. Tuberculosis leaves it’s mark on your lungs.”

  5. Happy Friday!
    I’m currently reading Potiphar’s Wife by Mesu Andrews.
    “Potiphar escaped his chamber with the relief of a prisoner on the run.”
    I hope you have an excellent weekend filled with fun reading time. 😀❤📚

    • Hi there Emily!

      The Woman in the Library is only being published in June, but I think it’s going to be a very successful publication. I am around 70% done and really enjoying it.

      Thanks for visiting us and I hope you are having a good weekend!

      elzaread recently posted: Wondrous Words Wednesday - Koeksister
  6. That looks like an interesting book. Thank you for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. I am glad you found Elza and that she is spoiled as I wish al cats could be. Have a wonderful holiday! XO

    • Hi there Ellen!

      We are staying in a lovely complex in Mauritius, the only sad thing is the stray cats and dogs that are roaming the island. And I know I can’t dare to put out food or anything, not everyone cares about pets and the next tenants might just hurt the poor animals. Yes, I also wish all pets can just be loved and spoiled.

      Hope you are having a good weekend so far!

      elzaread recently posted: Wondrous Words Wednesday - Koeksister
  7. Juli @ A Universe in Words

    Ooh I’ve had ‘The Woman in the Library’ on my TBR for a while and your teasers have just made me want to read it even more! I’ve been working on my thesis in the university library here and it’s also definitely a little too imposing sometimes xD Thanks for sharing and have a lovely weekend 🙂
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

    • Hi Juli! A good, functioning library is really something I miss so much in our town. I love working in the school’s library though.

      I can just imagine that the university library can be slightly imposing yes!

      The Woman in the Library is a good read, I’m about 70% done and am eager to figure out what’s going on there now. Quite a few red herrings….

      Thanks for visiting us!

      elzaread recently posted: Weekend Book Friends #31