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Chilbury Ladies' Choir
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
"Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!" As England enters World War II's dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar's stuffy edict to shutter the church's choir in the absence of men and instead "carry on singing." Resurrecting themselves as "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir," the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives. Told through letters and journals, THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit-- a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn't understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past-- we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir's collective voice reverberates in her individual life. In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the homefront, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict."
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Texreader
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Do you ever reminisce about your favorite reads? Working on my book journal and using LibraryThing to track what I‘ve read and fell down the rabbit hole. I guess I‘ve been using the app for 3-4 years and I have 36 books I tagged as a favorite. Here are a handful including the 2022 best read: Count of Monte Cristo. So much fun to think about all these books again!!!

Bookwormjillk I love looking through my LibrayThing catalog. It‘s a fun walk down memory lane. 14mo
45 likes1 comment
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Kristin_Reads
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Pickpick

📖 8-5-22 || Told from the point of view of four different women in the early days of World War II… A charming read about women finding strength and courage in uncertain times.

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Kristin_Reads
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Current reading view!

Julsmarshall So lovely! 2y
Mollyanna Pretty 😍 2y
kspenmoll Beautiful! Where are you? I love water anywhere. I am a true Aquarius! 2y
Kristin_Reads @Julsmarshall @Mollyanna @kspenmoll Just outside of Seattle! It‘s a bit hazy due to the record-breaking heat, but the breeze and sound of the water is heaven. 2y
53 likes4 comments
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Tamra
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the quintessential quirky village characters! The end was a bit odd though, a mix of fairytale & injustice.

It fit the bill when my brain was drained and I needed a few minutes of entertainment before drifting off. 😴

Prairiegirl_reading It‘s really good on audio. I tend to not remember endings of books or movies so I can‘t say I was annoyed by it. 😄 2y
Tamra @Prairiegirl_reading agreed, the narration was quite good! 2y
64 likes2 comments
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

In the vein of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This book is about a group of ladies in chilbury who like other women around the country supported their country during world war 2. Surprising little twists here and there in the plot kept me engaged. Loved the humour in the journals and letters written.
Read for one of my #roll100

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Kshakal
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Eggs Nice! This was a good one! 2y
40 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
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Pickpick

Overall not my favorite historical fiction but it was still enjoyable… a great telling of how many women came into themselves during the war and held things down while the men were on the front!

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SailorJohn
Pickpick

Good story. Like most WWII books, lots of sadness but the Ladies Choir does a good job of helping with a stiff upper lip

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kissmehardy
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Pickpick

I read this a few years ago but forgot absolutely everything, and I'm so glad I picked it up again! The ladies of Chilbury coming together to support each other and bolster spirits with their choir is just what I needed. #historicalfiction

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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My sweet bestie sent me a friendship box ❤️❤️❤️ I love everything Sher! The friends book and the bracelet 💞💞 thank you so much and especially for your friendship 😘

CaffeineAndCandy 💜💜💜 3y
Eggs Gifting you is joy to me, Begonia💐🌿🍃 3y
AmyG 💕 3y
See All 8 Comments
Crazeedi So perfect for you and from a special special person @Eggs 3y
Eggs Oh Diane 💗💗💗 It takes one to know one 😘 you‘re so sweet @Crazeedi 3y
87 likes8 comments
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Astroneman
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Pickpick

"As all the choristes left for the war and the chorus remained devoid of male voices, it was made the decision to disband it"

#book #bookly #readingchallenge2021 #libro #litsy #litsybook #goodreads #toread #leggere #bookworm #jenniferryan #feltrinelli

22 likes1 stack add
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BarbaraJean
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Pickpick

This has been on my TBR for a while—I‘m glad it was my #BookSpin pick for February. It‘s a sweet WWII story, set in an English village and told through the letters & journal entries of the Chilbury Ladies‘ Choir, which forms after the men go off to war. I have to say: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society does the epistolary wartime story better. I enjoyed this overall, but it was a little scattered and didn‘t have the depth I hoped for.

j.rye I may have stacked this because that‘s MY NAME!! Haha. I didn‘t know I shared a name with an author. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
BarbaraJean @j.rye Ha! Isn't it weird to discover that?! A friend once came across the tagged book and gave it to me because that's MY name! I'd recommend Chilbury over the one by my namesake author, though... (edited) 3y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BarbaraJean
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I'm excited for #BookSpinBingo in February! #BookSpin (tagged) has been on my physical TBR for a while. For the past 4 months, it's been sitting in my to-read basket. Every month I intend to read it. This is the month! #DoubleSpin is a #NewYearWhoDis pick I didn't get to in January, and I have a library copy ready to go! I'll try for a bingo right down the middle: with picks for #MGBuddyRead, IRL book club, a free spot, AND BookSpin.

MeganAnn Your bookspin has been on my TBR for a very long time so I‘m excited to see what you think of it. And yay 🎉 for the Widows of Malabar Hill as your doublespin!! 3y
35 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

A fun, light, get it off the TBR read. Enjoyable, if not believable.

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VanessaCW
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Pickpick

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Amusing with some serious moments. It shows the British fighting spirit from the female side. When you‘re feeling down, just sing!

5 ⭐️

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SW-T
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Pickpick

I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and a friend suggested this one. Loved it. Glad I finally got to it 😊 Be nice if there was a sequel because I‘m curious about the babies‘ futures. 🤔 Definitely recommend.

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SW-T
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New book, new bookmark! It‘s a happy day 😊

Prairiegirl_reading I really enjoyed this one! Cute bookmark too. ❤️ 5y
SW-T Not too far in, but enjoying it so far! Thanks 😊 5y
32 likes2 comments
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Samplergal
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#BookishBingo

Features background sounds or sound effects: The Chilbury Ladies Choir
Audie Award winner: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told > for Humor

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Librarybelle
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush Day 3 Round 2

Anyone wish to play? Post 7 book covers that you love over 7 days, with no explanation.

This also fits the #lettersepistolarynovel prompt today. #SelfImprovementSept

BookwormDownUnder I love this cover! 5y
OriginalCyn620 I‘m going to start playing today! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you !! I‘m on day 5 💗 5y
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Allylu I read this book! I loved it. I even printed out some quotes for our church choir. 5y
EadieB @librarybelle Love this cover too! 5y
Librarybelle @Allylu What a great idea! 5y
93 likes6 comments
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Texreader
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#7days7covers #covercrush Day 2

@rajithr Do you want to play? Post a fave cover each day for seven days. No explanation!

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Dragon
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Pickpick

This book started slow so made a good lunch time read. An epistolary novel , it was easy to read in 15-20 minute chunks. But things picked up and I ended up bringing it home to read. I just had to know what happened. Easy to read and gentle story bringing to life village life during the beginning of WWII ( around the time of Dunkirk ) I would love a post war sequel. 👍👍

LibrarianJen oooh! I love epistolary novels! 5y
Dragon Thanks @LibrarianJen Totally agree , I‘m currently listening to another epistolary novel I highly recommend 5y
LibrarianJen Oh nice! 5y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Lynnsoprano
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Congratulations @Megabooks on your excellent milestone and giveaway. I have tagged my favorite summer read, which was so good. #etsy25

Megabooks Thanks!! Good luck! 🍀 5y
47 likes1 comment
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DarcysMom
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟
#audiobook
#cloudlibrary

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Lynnsoprano
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Pickpick

I flat out loved this book! Although set in wartime, with bombings, a wrathful father, a scheming midwife, the death of one of my favorite characters, and other mayhem, it is overall a gentle story of seeing the positives in life and making new beginnings. It also includes some of the best quotes about music I‘ve ever read. 5⭐️

Crazeedi It was a great story!! 5y
72 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Lynnsoprano
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1. Tagged. About 2/3 through, and I am loving this!
2. Lynnie. I hated it.
3. Give me some cheese and I‘m happy 😃
4. I‘m leading the service at our church on Sunday, since it‘s a music-focused service, so I‘m totally consumed with getting everything ready for that.
5. I used to know it in Czech, but I don‘t remember. Oh, well, I‘m definitely up for a trip to Prague!
#friyayintro

CaitZ I had 4 years of Czech in high school and I can't remember it either. I can still count, but the days of the week are long fogotten. 5y
Lynnsoprano @CaitZ We lived in Prague for almost six months when my husband was on sabbatical at the agricultural research institute there. But it‘s 25 years ago, and I‘ve forgotten so much. Although I can still order a white wine and ask where the bathroom is😂 5y
CaitZ Those are two important things to remember! 5y
48 likes3 comments
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Lynnsoprano
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Lots of reading time this morning. Hubby is starting physical therapy for an elbow problem, and I came along. Reading in the waiting room, then we‘ll get to the farmers market on our way home. Tea enjoying this book.

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Lynnsoprano
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I picked this up when it was a Kindle deal a few days ago. As if I wouldn‘t want to read a book that involves a choir 😂 So this is #nextup

Foragingfantasy It‘s wonderful!! 5y
Aprilflower Enjoyed this book! 5y
74 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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DarcysMom
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Texreader
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I ❤️ this book (especially the audio). If you were waiting for a good deal on it today‘s the day to get the ebook.

43 likes2 stack adds
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Dragon
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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The book sale was awesome! I lined up two hours before opening. We got in on the first wave ! It was crowded and hot but fabulous ! I took a lunch break at The White Spot and then back for more. Some of my haul 💕👍🐉

Melissa_J Nice! 5y
Crazeedi Awesome!!! 5y
Dragon Thanks @Melissa_J @Crazeedi it was such fun! I bought a carry on size suitcase to help transport my haul. 😀🐉 5y
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Crazeedi @Dragon I'm jealous!!😉 5y
TaciturnWhenReading Looks amazing! 5y
LeahBergen Awesome! 👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Reagan Taking a lunch break is book sale goals! Glad you enjoyed your day! 5y
Dragon Thanks @Crazeedi 👍😀🐉 5y
Dragon Thanks @LeahBergen it was so awesome 😎🐉🐉 5y
Dragon Thanks @Reagan-reads I was starting to tire so a lunch break and walk around town helped me get my energy up for round two 😀🐉👍 5y
Dragon Thanks @TaciturnWhenReading it is the best book sale of the year. I book my holidays around it. I took Friday off for prepping for the sale then I‘ve got more time off for reading 📖😀🐉 5y
TaciturnWhenReading @Dragon Perfect! We have a big library book sale near me in September and I do the exact same. Take a day off so I can be there when it opens, and usually go back each day! 🤣 One of my favorite weekends of the year! 5y
DebinHawaii Great haul! 📚📚📚📚📚🎉 5y
Dragon Sounds fun @TaciturnWhenReading September is a good month for the sale as the weather is generally good. I‘m enjoying reading the Tessa Dare book I bought today. 🤗🐉 5y
Dragon Thanks @DebinHawaii I‘ve already started reading one of my new books. Happy dance 💃 5y
TaciturnWhenReading @Dragon Ooh! I loved that one so much. Tessa Dare is a favorite. Enjoy! 5y
CoverToCoverGirl Sooo many delicious books...👊 5y
Dragon Thanks @TaciturnWhenReading I love the humour and the romance 💕 in Tessa Dare‘s books. 😀🐉 5y
Dragon Thanks @covertocover looking forward to hours of lovely stories 💕😀 5y
61 likes19 comments
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Aims42
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
Pickpick

I loved this book! Would definitely recommend to all fans of WWII historical fiction ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

Crazeedi Great book 5y
Aims42 The growth of all the characters made my heart sing 🥰 (lol, didn‘t intend for that wordplay, but I‘m going with it) 5y
24 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Aims42
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Starting my next read today... No more snow on the ground, but that sunshine is deceiving. Still only 40‘s outside 😩 Someday I‘ll be able to comfortably read outside - C‘mon warmer weather, hurry up!!

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TaciturnWhenReading
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YAY! #bookmail 🎉

Catsquin I see the white roses. Is President Snow there?!?!?! 5y
40 likes1 comment
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JenlovesJT47
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Pickpick

At first, I didn‘t think I was going to like this very much after reading the first few chapters, but I ended up getting totally sucked in! I love books set in epistolary form. This story is about the early days of WWII in the village of Chilbury, where the women have to come together, dealing with the ups and downs of life during war. 5⭐️ Highly recommended!

#historicalfiction
#WWII

P.S. Recommendations for similar books? Pretty please? 😬

paigecon Have you read The Nightingale or The Alice Network? 5y
JenlovesJT47 @paigecon I love The Nightingale! I received The Alice Network in a swap and I‘m hoping it‘s in one of the boxes in the house instead of storage (I moved a few months ago!). Been wanting to read it for ages. ❤️ 5y
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JenlovesJT47 @rubyslippersreads yes!! One of my favorite books and I loved the Netflix movie! 🤗❤️ 5y
mhillis I haven‘t read it but maybe 5y
JenlovesJT47 @mhillis oooh that looks good! Thanks, added it to my TBR! 🤗 5y
77 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Texreader
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This is my fave audiobook so when I saw this GORGEOUS hardback at HPB for $8 I had to have it. Isn‘t it beautiful? The illustration wraps around the back as well.

tpixie Lovely! Stacked audiobooks! 5y
BookishMarginalia That‘s beautiful! 5y
74 likes3 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Read for #bookclub IRL-- the meeting is Monday. I was pleasantly surprised by this WWII historical fiction. Normally the tone for these types of novels are so depressing (rightfully so!) that I can barely stand it! But this one takes a different approach; I found it to have a light, humorous tone, and at times almost gossipy. Of course, sad things do happen.
I was totally charmed by the little English village of Chilbury and it's inhabitants. ♥️

Crazeedi I totally enjoyed this story 5y
LiteraryinLawrence I agree! I was pleasantly surprised because I often don‘t like this genre. 5y
Aims42 I‘m happy to hear you enjoyed this, I have it on my TBR shelf ☺️ 5y
Chelsea.Poole @aims42 hope you enjoy it as well! 5y
Chelsea.Poole @Crazeedi @LiteraryinLititz glad you all enjoyed it as well! 😊 5y
94 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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Seriously into this WWII gossipy drama...I'm pleasantly surprised that it's not as depressing as many written about this period in time. There are some sad bits and pieces but the tone is much more light and humorous than many war novels I have read. And for that I'm thankful! It's for IRL #bookclub
The boys are playing and I'm reading on my day off for Presidents Day.

Lynnsoprano This has been on my TBR for quite a while. I definitely need to move it up the list. 5y
111 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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I have so many books going right now, but no worries, they're all so different I'll have no trouble keeping them straight! This is the current #bookclub read at the library, seen here with a latte and chocolate peanut butter cupcake (no sugar!). ☕️

107 likes3 stack adds
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Savedbygrace
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Pickpick

Other than a few inappropriate areas (I do have quite a strict reading standard, though ☺) this book was wonderfully enthralling! Jennifer Ryan explores the lives of the individuals of Chilbury and the readers discover how events can completely change people's lives, how love can have affect in the strangest ways, and, most of all, how we can endure hardships through our relationships with each other.
4⭐

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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

I finished this today, and it‘s only my 3rd book in 2019 as I‘ve been distracted with wedding planning. I don‘t always enjoy epistolary novels or ones set in war-time, but I really connected with this one! @BennettBookworm recommended it to me years ago and I‘m glad I finally read it! Some very vividly drawn female characters (loved Mrs. Tilling and Kitty especially!) who discover their own strength and sisterhood as WW2 draws closer to home.

Kaye Really good book ! 5y
BennettBookworm So glad you liked it!!! 5y
124 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Savedbygrace
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Finally sitting down to read after what feels like a long day with my Mom in our sun-room (in her cast) resting her foot. Caught her in the kitchen this afternoon when I got home attempting to wash dishes while in a wheelchair. 😰

CouronneDhiver Aw, moms are the greatest. 5y
Savedbygrace @CouronneDhiver she's not supposed to be moving, but I can't keep her still 😌 5y
Savedbygrace @CouronneDhiver Yes, they are! ❤😉 5y
Crazeedi Get well soon mama and don't be bad! Listen to your daughter and doctor! 5y
8 likes4 comments
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Savedbygrace

"How strange that love and death suddenly become so tightly knit in a time of war."
-The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

Crazeedi Great book 5y
Savedbygrace @Crazeedi I am certainly enjoying it so far. ☺ 5y
4 likes2 comments
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Savedbygrace
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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🌹 Books..no question there!
🌹 Coffee
🌹 Tea

Princess-Kingofkings Absolutely the same choices! If chapstick was an option I'd exchange my coffee for it, but it would be a tough decision, lol. 5y
Savedbygrace @Princess-Kingofkings , lol! Chocolate came close to replacing coffee, but...😆 5y
4 likes2 comments
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Savedbygrace
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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1. North Carolina
2. G. A. Henty
3. Oh dear...who knows??? Lol!
4. My bed or my desk
5. Twice Freed by Patricia St. John
#littenintro @tessavi

Princess-Kingofkings 1. Michigan 2. Jane Kirkpatrick 3. One at a time, please! 4. the passenger seat of the car or bed 5. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald 5y
tessavi Thank you both for posting 😊 5y
Savedbygrace @Princess-Kingofkings , you're up there with all the cold weather! 😬 We're literally wearing short sleeves today here in the south, lol! 5y
7 likes3 comments
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Savedbygrace
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Needed my library fix before the day was up!

CoffeeNBooks I have this book on my bookshelf, I just haven't read it yet! 📚 5y
Crazeedi Chilbury is a great book! 5y
Savedbygrace @Crazeedi Yay!! Starting it now. 😊 5y
8 likes3 comments
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Eggs
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Saturday Read: 1940, Chilbury and Litchfield begin to suffer air attacks by German forces...author Ryan communicates the urgency and unpredictability of wartime in a small community

Texreader This is a great book!!! 5y
Loric Loved this. Audio was really good with bits of choir music... 5y
Redwritinghood Loved this one! 5y
117 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Lauren_reading
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Pickpick

I really liked this book. Sad, sweet and well done. #historicalfiction

65 likes2 stack adds
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wen4blu
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I love audiobooks with different narrators voicing the different characters. This one is fantastic so far!

Kimzey Thanks, for the recommendation. This is now on my Audible wish list! 5y
TheSpineView I agree wholeheartedly! If different narrators are not an option at least one that can do different voices.❤ 5y
Crazeedi Great book! 5y
52 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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sdbruening
Chilbury Ladies' Choir | Jennifer Ryan
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Pickpick

This was enjoyable and devastating yet heartwarming. It wasn‘t so much about the choir itself but its representation of the bigger picture of women taking center stage as the men are all gone to war (WWII).

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aliasNayNay
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Don't you find a great story melts away stress.