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LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at post-WWII Austria, a time of which I knew very little about before reading this novel. We follow three exiles on their return to Vienna from America and try to figure out how their lives will intersect to explain the “accidental” death described in the prologue. So good!

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 I finished it last night and would love to be having a discussion about it. Pr Alder and Nina was an outcome which was very moving but as for poor Resi , what can I say. Another great persephone read. 1d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I was very happy with the Alder and Nina outcome (and that little peek into their future together!) but poor Resi is right! What do you think of Kanakis‘ grief at the end? I was moved enough to think he really felt for her and she wasn‘t a complete “marriage of convenience”. I hope? 1d
andrew61 Yes, it was curious. Kanakis seemed to want Resi as a trophy, a beautiful curio like the shepherdess, and that would allow him to then hide his attraction to young men like Bimbo. I think he may have been upset in the way he would have been if the shepherdess had been dropped at the loss of a beautiful object. The book continually emphasises Resi's beauty. 1d
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andrew61 I thought the confrontation between Adler and Krieger was particularly dramatic. Krieger's admission of his activities in the war was shocking and Adler was remarkable in his response. I also liked the three sisters who were princesses. I will add Vienna to my list of places to visit. 1d
Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I must start soon , then I can read the spoiler too 👍🏻😁 1d
CarolynM Great review. It‘s not something I know anything about either. I‘m just about to start Part 2. I‘ll come back to your spoiler comment when I finish🙂 1d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I definitely think you‘re right about the trophy aspect of his affection for her (look at how excited he was to think of dressing her). And that whole Adler/Krieger confrontation was so powerful! 17h
LeahBergen @andrew61 I kind of wish I had three Austrian princess aunts 😆😆 17h
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM I tried to not give too much of the plot away in my review 😆 17h
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andrew61
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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I am enjoying our latest foray into the persephone catalogue + so far this is an interesting tale of several individuals returning to Vienna post ww2. This was a very powerful scene in which Pr Adler is confronted by Dr Krieger + ends up justifying himself. Very powerful+ required a reflective pause
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub

LeahBergen That passage stopped me in my tracks, too! 1d
6 likes1 comment
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Cathythoughts
The Names: A Novel | Florence Knapp
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I need to catch up on my reading. The Names is for IRL Bookclub, and it‘s very good, nearly finished. 👍🏻 Then it‘s onto #PersephoneClub and The Exiles Return.

Tamra I have the tagged TBR - long wait list at the library for the audio! 6d
Cathythoughts @Tamra Oh very good. I‘ll look forward to your thoughts one day x 6d
Tamra @Cathythoughts how was your trip? 6d
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Cathythoughts @Tamra It was lovely Thankyou ! We travelled up the country to Maynooth, Ballybofey, Carlingford, Derry, Rostrevor… we got around 😁. We had some gorgeous walks , lovely meals , it was a great success. Batteries are recharged. ( for now 😂) ❤️❤️❤️ 6d
squirrelbrain I bought The Names a few weeks ago - I hear it‘s a tough read. 6d
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain I think it‘s really good so far. I don‘t find it ‘too‘ tough … it‘s a serious book. I think it will be an interesting Bookclub book … I‘ll look forward to your thoughts x 6d
LeahBergen Your holiday sounds lovely! I‘m not very far into The Exiles Return myself. 6d
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Hi Leah, I hope all is well with you. I havnt started Exiles yet … but will soon x 5d
Tamra @Cathythoughts oh, I looked at images and they have such scenic/iconic architecture & streets! 😍 (edited) 4d
Cathythoughts @Tamra You‘ll have to come visit some day ❤️ 3d
63 likes10 comments
quote
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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My favorite paragraph & single line in the whole novel! Pg. 168
#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen This whole interaction was so powerful! 1d
7 likes1 comment
review
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad the de Waals family allowed her novels to be published posthumously. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and circumstance of this one, which were unique enough to keep me engaged. It also went off in surprising directions! Makes me wonder whether this could have been published in the 1950‘s. 🤔 #PersephoneClub

Tamra There were a couple of too abrupt transitions and sadly the Adler - Grein thread was too hastily tied. I wanted more on that storyline, it just ended rather early on! 2w
LeahBergen I‘m just about to start it so I‘ll come back to comment! 😄 2w
andrew61 Great review. I'll probably start next week. Will be interesting, it's a while since I read hare with the Amber eyes which focused a lot on lost lives from war. 2w
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Tamra @LeahBergen 👏🏾 2w
Tamra @andrew61 I will have to add that to the TBR! 2w
CarolynM I‘m hoping to get started on this one in the next day or two. I‘ll come back for your spoiler comment when I‘ve finished. 1w
Tamra @CarolynM 😁 It‘s my favorite paragraph of the novel. 1w
Cathythoughts I need to start this. Finishing off my IRL bookclub book first …. 7d
Tamra @Cathythoughts I hope you like it! It‘s not flawless, but I was invested in the characters and didn‘t want it to end actually. 7d
LeahBergen I was surprised at some of the content, too! And I agree, more on Adler would have been great. I knew so little about this time period and found myself fascinated by Vienna (I must visit one day!) 1d
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blurb
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Perfect outdoor reading time. ☺️ Definitely enjoying the #PersephoneClub pick. Elizabeth has made all of the characters interesting. I want to know more!

LeahBergen You have me intrigued! I must start soon. 2w
Cathythoughts Oh great ! I must start soon too ❤️ 2w
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blurb
LitsyEvents
The Exiles Return: A Novel | de Waal, Elisabeth
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Repost for @LeahBergen

It‘s now June so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

LeahBergen Thanks for the repost! ❤️ 3w
30 likes1 comment
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LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘ll get started on it soon. 3w
Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, I‘ll take it down from my shelf today. Looking forward to it x 3w
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Cathythoughts I have this as a gift from you , two years ago ❤️🙏 3w
LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 😘 3w
LeahBergen @CarolynM It should be a good one! 🤞 3w
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s right! I forgot about that. It was after we so enjoyed her other one. 😘 3w
46 likes7 comments
blurb
rubyslippersreads
The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett
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It‘s funny that Betty describes nasty Nigel describes as the villain in a melodrama, because I thought of him as Snidely Whiplash from the beginning. 🤣

Also, I‘ve never seen the phrase “Hully gee!” outside of a #BetsyTacy book.

All that said, I loved this book! I think it‘s the first adult novel by FHB I‘ve read, but I‘m definitely going to read more.

#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen 😆😆 Great review! And do read 1mo
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen Thanks for the recommendation! 1mo
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review
Bookbuyingaddict
The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett
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Pickpick

#persephoneclub well you were right gang I blinking loved it 🥰 what a ride, no spoilers but loved 🥰 the ending wouldn‘t it make a great film 🎥 would loved to have read more on Betty and mount Dunstan one of the best Persephones in my opinion😀 @LeahBergen @CarolynM @willaful @andrew61 @Gissy @rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @quietjenn plus found a wonderful bookmark of my mollie moonbeam in her fav place / my bed 😆🥰

LeahBergen I‘m so glad! I thought you‘d end up enjoying it! 😆 2mo
CarolynM Glad you persevered! It was a good one😀 Love the bookmark too😍 (edited) 2mo
49 likes2 comments