YvonneDanae Rahill had long since learned that a postmistress’s job in a small town had a lot more to it than the ability to speedily process pensions or organize money transfers.
She’d run Avalon Post Office for eighteen years and she saw everything. It was impossible not to. Without wishing to, the extremely private Danae found herself the holder of many of the town’s secrets.
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I guess that like the majority of small shopkeepers, Danae has an almost intimate knowledge of all the local people in the area. A great source for local gossip, although not so good if you want to keep yourself to yourself, or you have something to hide! I don’t think that I would want to live somewhere quite as small and intimate as ‘Avalon’ sounds, what about you? Although I am looking forward to listening in on a few conversations, to find out what the locals are up to!
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WHAT IS ‘BOOK BEGINNINGS’ AND HOW CAN YOU JOIN IN THE FUN?
Would the first few lines of your book make you want to read on?
If so, would you like to share them with us, (without revealing too many spoilers of course) ?
Click here and visit Gilion @ Rose City Reader
You can then leave a link to your own book beginnings post, or just browse for some great reads, there are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered.
Don’t forget that Gilion and all the other contributors to this meme love to hear from you, so why not leave a comment or two at the same time.
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As this was a publisher invitation to read and review, a paperback print copy of ‘The House On Willow Street’, was sent to me free of charge, by HarperCollinsPublishers.
This will in no way influence any comments I may express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.
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I think I’d enjoy reading this book, but I wouldn’t enjoy a small-town life. If I want to hear titillating conversations, I’ll sit in a booth at a nearby Starbucks and listen! That’s a great source for story ideas.
My Book Beginnings / Friday 56 post is from GOODNIGHT NOBODY.
Hi Sandra,
I am really looking forward to reading this book, as Cathy, being Irish born and bred, is busy making her mark on the writing scene, following in the footsteps of the many succesful and consummate of her compatriots, who certainly know how to tell a good story!
I think that I might like the peace and tranquility of small-town life, however the endless tittle tattle and gossip, would most definitely get on my nerves pretty quickly!
We don’t live in a large town or city, by any stretch of the imagination, however, it is still relatively easy to keep or private affairs, just that!!
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and leave a comment. I always appreciate your thoughts and opinions.
Have a great weekend.
I like to read about small towns. I would like to meet the postmistress and see what she finds out. Who knows? A murder might happen in the small town or blackmail.
Hi Hattie,
I know that there are some broken hearts, dark memories and some facing up to past events, to be revealed … but who knows what else the postmistress might find out!!
Thank you so much for stopping by today, I always value and appreciate all visits and comments.
Hmm…Makes one wonder about those secrets, doesn’t it?
Anne @ My Head is Full of Books
Hi Anne,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. It is always good to ‘meet’ new people and your visits and contributions, are valued and appreciated.
I am waiting with anticipation, the revelation of some of Avalon’s secrets, although it sounds as though Danae has quite a few secrets and surprises of her own!!
Hope you are having a great weekend.
I’m about to start The Picture of Dorian Grey, which opens:
“The studio was filled with the rich odor of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amid the trees of the garden there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.”
I love the richness of this language, and how the sentence ends on thorn (something prickly disturbing the idyllic scene). I look forward to reading more.
Hi HKatz,
I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t read many of the classics, so was disturbed and intrigued to read the Amazon review of this book, which describes it as:
‘A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both?
Although it seems as though the roses are never less lovely, nor do the birds sing less sweetly in Dorian’s world!
Like yourself, I love the richness and descriptive qualities of the writing and your first lines would definitely make me want to read on … images of Summer, on a cold, COLD day here in Southern UK!
I hope that you are having a great weekend.
I like to read about cozy small towns myself but I don’t know if I’d like to live in one. It can be both good and bad, the bad being everyone is in everyone elses business 😉 Happy reading!
Hi Naida,
The town we live in, isn’t massive, so I guess that we have the ‘best of both world’s’, so to speak.
The town centre and local shopping area, is just intimate enough that I generally come across someone I know to pass the time of day with, whenever I am down there. However, the housing estates which lead away from the town, one of which is home for us, are just detached enough to afford some degree of privacy.
The idea of living in a thriving and close-knit community, sounds great, but I think that the reality of the situation may not be quite so cozy and cutsie!
It sounds as though everyone in Avalon has a secret to hide, however they have all chosen to return to the small village of thier origins, hoping to escape their past!!!
I can’t see that scenario playing out well, somehow.
Thanks for stopping by, it is always great to speak with you.
This definitely sounds like a book I’d enjoy, so I’m really looking forward to hearing what you think about this one.
I live in a village, so I’m quite acustomed to village gossip!
Hi Nikki,
This definitely sounds like a book you should read then, although I am not so sure that I could live in such an insular and claustrophobic atmosphere, of that small a village.
I find that the female Irish authors are consummate masters at this style of writing and delivery, I am thinking here of Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes and Cecelia Ahern. I have read a couple of Cathy Kelly’s very early books, ‘Woman To Woman’ and ‘She’s The One’, but to be honest, I can’t remember much about them, as it was several years ago now.
The idea that several different people’s stories are told individually and then converge for a showdown finale, is always a great premise for a page-turner.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope that your weekend has been relaxing and peaceful.
I have enjoyed several books by Cathy Kelly, and this one does sound like one I’d like. Thanks for sharing…and here’s MY FRIDAY MEMES POST
Hi Laurel-Rain,
I have only read the first few pages of the book so far, however it is shaping up into a great saga. For such a small place, Avalon has more than its fair share of secrets to be revealed, with what I am hoping, is going to be a happy ending for the big house on Willow Street.
I have read one or two of Cathy Kelly’s very early books, but nothing very recent, although it is apparent that her writing and the ability to tell a great story, alongside so many other of her distingushed, fellow Irish authors, certainly keeps her up there in the top echelons of the profession.
Thanks for stopping by, your time and comments are always valued.