Did you have a good weekend? Do you prefer this method of posting quotes for a book chat? I know, I’m full of questions. But I do like answers!
I appreciated Ford’s direct approach to Cilla every time they were together early in Tribute. Do you prefer direct interactions or an air of mystery in your fictional heroes?
It’s scary sometimes how many times I pause over some dialogue or description before choosing something for the graphic (I could just spend the day rereading). Today I kept coming back to Ford’s fluency in sarcasm, though. Just love that faintly skewed flirtation underlying the entire conversation. Are you more inclined to appreciate smart sarcasm or a very direct approach?
With Ford came Spock, the least identifiable breed of dog to be found. Which brings to mind: Which is your favorite dog character in a Nora book?
Laura
This go round for the Fall Into the Story BookChat our book is Tribute. And we’ll be trying something different this time. I’m setting this up to be simultaneous with our Tribute chat on Facebook. I’ll post a graphic with a question about Tribute each day in their own, numbered post. That should make it easy to follow.
I’m still figuring this format for the blog out, so if you have any suggestions (helpful is most appreciated), post them in the comments.
If you haven’t read (or reread) Tribute, here’s the book description:
Cilla McGowan, a former child star, has found a more satisfying life restoring homes. So she comes to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to save the dilapidated farmhouse of her grandmother—a legendary actress who died of an overdose there more than thirty years ago.
Plunging into the project with gusto, Cilla’s almost too busy and exhausted to notice her neighbor, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer. Determined not to carry on the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilla steels herself against Ford’s quirky charm, though she can’t help indulging in a little fantasy.
But it’s reality that holds its share of dangers for Cilla. A cache of unsigned letters found in the attic points to a mysterious romance in her grandmother’s life, and may be what sparks a frightening, violent assault. Now, if Cilla and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may, just like her world-famous grandmother, be cut down in the prime of her life.
Here’s the first graphic, when Cilla meets Ford. I liked his instinctive protection of the rundown house and property. And Cilla’s direct questions.
Laura
Time for a second week of Birthright discussion! Do you like this book chat idea? Do you feel you need a new post per discussion prompt or are you ok with five prompts during the week? Any and all feedback is welcome as we figure this out!
MARCH 30: I do like a man with a plan. And Jake is full of them, isn’t he? I enjoyed their rhythm in work and conversation. You?
MARCH 31: I’m not sure how to describe my reaction to these lines. Sympathy for everyone involved is at the forefront, especially for Callie who is so pulled in many emotional directions.
APRIL 1 — Doug was so impatient and brusque when we met him, but these few lines gave him all my sympathy. So torn between past and present.
APRIL 2 — Courtship banter, Doug and Lana style.
APRIL 6 — for some reason I missed Friday! Sorry about that.
Lana’s observation is on the nose, but it’s fun to watch Callie and Jake wind around to the same conclusion together (we know they did separately).
APRIL 7: When her mothers meet, we see how nature AND nurture made Callie the woman she is.
APRIL 8: Dialogue always draws me in (can’t you tell with the quotes?). I loved how Lana flirted with Doug, from the start.
APRIL 10 Last graphic from Birthright. We’ll close with a declaration of love, Jake-style.
Laura
Time to start a new adventure: Book Chats here on the blog.
You’ll have to bear with me as I figure out the best ways to do this. For now, I’ll add a different graphic to this post Monday through Friday (and if we need more, I’ll make it so).
The first book is Birthright. If you haven’t read it in a while here’s the quick summary:
When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger, and romance.
While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project-fueling rumors that the site is cursed. And she must cope with the presence of her irritating-but irresistible-ex-husband, Jake. Furthermore, when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she is forced to question her own past as well.
MARCH 23: First conversation point: Is there anything you love — even with any discomforts — as much as Callie loves archaeology?
MARCH 24: Lana and Tyler Campbell are the first locals Callie meets in Woodsboro. Not sure I like Callie’s philosophy about kids or her immediate nickname for Tyler more. You?
MARCH 25: Doug Cullen considering how and why his family unraveled so completely. The hard part of these sentences is you can feel for everyone involved.
MARCH 26: I love a book in which I can’t wait to see what everyone is doing. For Birthright, watching Lana court Doug was so much fun. Are there secondary characters you’ve rooted on as much as you did the main couple?
MARCH 27: And then Jake Graystone swaggers on the page with his smug walk (Callie’s words). Here we have an example of Love Talk, Callie and Jake style. What appealed to you about Jake?
Laura
