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The House by the River
The House by the River | Lena Manta
50 posts | 22 read | 49 to read
The first novel by acclaimed Greek writer Lena Manta to appear in English translation, The House by the River is an intimate, emotionally powerful saga following five young women as they realize that no matter the men they choose, the careers they pursue, or the children they raise, the only constant is home. Theodora knows she cant keep her five beautiful daughters at home forevertheyre too curious, too free spirited, too like their late father. And so, before each girl leaves the small house on the riverside at the foot of Mount Olympus, Theodora makes sure they know they are always welcome to return. A devoted and resilient mother, Theodora has lived through World War II, through the Nazi occupation of Greece, and through her husbands death, and now she endures the twenty-year-long silence of her daughters absence. Her children have their own livestheyve married, traveled the world, and courted romance, fame, and even tragedy. But as they become modern, independent women in pursuit of their dreams, Theodora knows they need herand each othermore than ever. Have they grown so far apart that theyve forgotten their childhood house in its tiny village, or will their broken hearts finally lead them home?
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Gorgeous 🩵🩵 6mo
55 likes1 comment
review
DrexEdit
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Bailedbailed

My first bail of the year. There just didn't seem to be a lot of depth to this. All story, no emotion. Your experience may differ.

Fortunately my IRL reading buddy I was reading this with felt the same way. We're going to go in a new direction.

Kinda anxious about starting the year with a bail. 😕 Hope it's not indicative of the year!

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DrexEdit
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1. First book is a chunkster carry-over from last year: The House by the River.

2. I don't know about looking forward to, but I am hoping to be able to spend more time with family and friends.

3. Just trying to be a little more purposeful in book selection rather than always getting the latest shiny thing from the library.

@ozma.of.oz #sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Spending time with friends and family sounds wonderful. Thank you for posting! 3y
33 likes1 comment
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DrexEdit
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Gerasimos met Theodora one summer in Pieria when she was just twelve years old and he was twenty-seven.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Lcsmcat
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Starting this tonight. It‘s been on my Kindle and I was in the mood for something different. Set in Greece, it‘s making me long for the sun!

lynneamch Pretty cover which reminds me of this one I enjoyed 6y
Lcsmcat @lynneamch That looks like a good beach read! 6y
51 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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jdiehr
Pickpick

While the ending was predictable from VERY early on, the stories of the five daughters kept me reading. I am going to call it a pick, but it is nowhere near the top of my list of favorites.

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jdiehr
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I predict that all 5 of the daughters that couldn't wait to leave, will return to the house by the river...

#wannamakeabet
#prediction
#iknowimright

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Rissa1
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Mehso-so

2.5⭐
5 daughters, all with similar stories. 538 pages was to repetitive, by daughter 3 I needed change.

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Tjackson
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Pickpick

35/52 - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 - Avery long book, but very good. Great character development. There were six stories in this novel with highs and lows, love and loss, and tears! Happy tears and sad tears. I am glad I read this book and these sisters‘ stories will stay with me for a long time.

63 likes3 stack adds
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Tjackson
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A great quote.

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Tjackson
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76% of the book read. Finally on the chapter about the 5th sister!!! Growing up is hard! Siblings can be similar, yet very, very different.

TrishB There‘s 5 sisters in my family and 2 brothers 😁 6y
42 likes1 comment
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Tjackson
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I agree 😥😥😥😥😥😥

trazo Agreed! 👍🏽 6y
CouronneDhiver This is the most alien concept to me, but I think it‘s probably very valid. 6y
Tjackson @CouronneDhiver I am crier! I cry when I am happy, sad, and angry. Always have been, but as an adult I do have more control. 6y
47 likes3 comments
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Tjackson
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A perfect quote!!!

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Tjackson
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This is a long book. Each of the 5 sisters have a long, detailed chapter. I am finally on sister #4!!!! I am enjoying the stories about each sister and their different personalities and different paths, but each chapter is looooonnngggg. Happy 4th of July!

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Tjackson
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Finding time to read between work and sleep has been hard, but this book is very good. The 5 sisters are similar in so many ways. The author does a good job with character development. I really want to finish reading it.

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Areader2
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Mehso-so

I bought this kindle book from the International book day list.It‘s a family saga set in Greece.It‘s about five sisters and their lives and experiences when they left there small village.I didn‘t hate it,but didn‘t love it either, I never got a sense of the time period this all took place so that for me was hard,there was a lot romance,there was not a lot of description of the country,I did like the different stories and personalities of the woman

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Tjackson
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I barely met my Sunday reading goals, as my eyes were so heavy! I did finish one book and made it to 50 % of this book! Let‘s see if I can finish this book by the 4th!!! Only 269 more pages to go.

Quirkybookworm 📣📣📣you go girl! Go! Go! Go! 😉 6y
50 likes1 comment
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Areader2
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1. I recently won 5 gift baskets at a fund raiser 😂
2. Haven‘t eaten yet but my go to is spinach and egg whites
3. Three words, sisters, saga,home
4. No picture, but my toes just had a pedi and picked shiny 🍊
5. 5‘4 give or take ha
#humpdaypost
@MinDea

knittedgnome Haha! That's awesome!!! Hope there's some good stuff in there! 6y
TrishB Wow 😮 6y
erzascarletbookgasm That was very lucky 🍀! 6y
Areader2 @knittedgnome @erzascarletbookgasm Yes very lucky I should have played those numbers in the lottery , lots of cool gift cards, booze, snacks 😂 6y
29 likes4 comments
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Tjackson
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Vacation in Italy is over😂😂😂. Flying home today - 20 hours before I get to my house, so chances are, I will be able to read a little.

Itchyfeetreader Hope it‘s been a great trip! 🍦 6y
Tjackson @Itchyfeetreader It has been wonderful! I experienced everything I wanted and more. Stresa, Cinque Terre, and Milan are all different and wonderful! 6y
54 likes2 comments
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Tjackson
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Squeezing in a little reading with my cappuccino before wandering around Milan today! The Duomo Museum is on my list. Not sure what other beauty I will discover.

PurpleyPumpkin My husband and I visited last year and loved both the museum and the duomo. That church is one of my favourites! 6y
59 likes1 comment
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Tjackson
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Reading a book about a river in Greece while sitting by Lake Maggiore in Stresa, Italy and drinking a cappuccino on MY BIRTHDAY and my dear friends wedding! Life doesn‘t get much better! Life is good! I am fortunate and thankful for these opportunities.

TrishB Happy birthday 🎉🎉🍰 sounds fantastic and you‘re right we should always appreciate the good times. 6y
Cinfhen Amen to all that!!!🙏🏻Happy birthday 🎂🍷🎊 6y
Velvetfur Happy birthday! And what a fab birthday you're having, that's a gorgeous view, I'm so jealous, hahaha! Enjoy the rest of your birthday 🎆🎉🎂🍰🎀🎁🎈 6y
See All 16 Comments
BethM Happy birthday! 6y
Librarybelle Happy Birthday! 6y
wanderinglynn Happy happy birthday! 👍🏻🎂🎁🎉 Sounds like you‘re having an amazing day! Enjoy! 6y
CouronneDhiver Have an amazing day ❤️🍰🥂 6y
AmyG Happy Birthday! I‘d wish you a good one, but you are already having one. Beautiful view. 🎂 6y
Daisey Happy Birthday!! 🎉 6y
knittedgnome Looks like the perfect day! Happy birthday!! 6y
LiteraryinPA Happy birthday!! 6y
That-Bookish-Hiker Happy birthday!!! 6y
Redwritinghood Happy birthday! Looks like a great place to spend it. 6y
Bklover Happy Birthday 🎉! 6y
Eggs Happy Birthday 🎈🎊🎂 6y
CAnne Happy birthday! 🎈🎉 6y
74 likes16 comments
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Tjackson
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First leg of the trip completed! At Heathrow Airport with a cappuccino and my book.

Cinfhen Safe travels ✈️ 6y
74 likes1 comment
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Tjackson
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7 hour plane ride to Heathrow on my way to Milan. I hope to get a little reading in over the 10 day days in Italy. Ciao!

Grrlbrarian Sounds fantastic! Safe travels! 6y
CouronneDhiver Safe journey ✈️ 6y
65 likes2 comments
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Cakki
Pickpick

Reading this now and enjoying it!

2 likes1 stack add
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Areader2


“The moon had no answer for her. It wasn‘t responsible for people‘s fate. All it could do was look at them from high above and witness their most secret moments, to hear their sighs and see their tears. It didn‘t even make its own light, so how could it help?”

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Areader2
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This is what‘s up next !📖📚🤓

21 likes2 stack adds
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Tjackson
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100 pages read and I am really enjoying the character development. I am curious about what is going to happen next, so I can‘t put it down.

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Tjackson
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Great quote!

Gina So that's a hoot 6y
42 likes1 comment
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Tjackson
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Even though I have 4 unfinished books, I am starting this one! Why does ever book I want to read have to be over 500 pages lately? One is 750 pages and I am 1/2 way done. One takes place in Prague, one in Australia, one in Paris and England, and this one in Greece! Reading around the world!!!

Ms_T I really enjoyed this book. Hope you do too 😃 6y
Tjackson @Ms_T Great! I think it was a free download. I am enjoying it so far! 6y
50 likes2 comments
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Rissa1
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When your daughter wakes up at 3:20 AM, and your son at 4, you get them both back to bed. The husband was still asleep, I couldn't turn on the light to read my physical book. I couldn't find my earbuds for my audiobook. I was able to get my phone and use the kindle app to start a 3rd book. This is going to be a long day. #3booksatonce #alwaysmorethanone #whoneedssleep #momlife.

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BlueStockingReviews
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Pickpick

A emotional and poignant Greek family saga following five young women as they pursue their dreams, only to realize their home by the river is a healing place Life was simple in the house by the river at the foot of Mount Olympus in Greece. Theodora and the tall, handsome Gerasimos... https://www.bluestockingreviews.com/blog/the-house-by-the-river

65 likes1 stack add
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keys_on_fire
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A day and a half left to get these 9 kindle books for free from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/article/read-the-world
Thanks to @Syndelle777 for posting this!

Which one are you most looking forward to reading??

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FairyHighRoad
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Amazon is offering 9 free Kindle books for World Book Day!! 🌎 📚👍🏻 http://amzn.to/2Gdw6p0

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monkeygirlsmama
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#ReadTheWorld with these 9 Kindle freebies from Amazon for World Book Day. There are 7 days, 7 hours, and 44 minutes left for this promotion. Check it out! 📚

http://amzn.to/2Gdw6p0

ofthatilk Hurrah for free books! 7y
sprainedbrain Oh wow! Thanks for sharing this. 😃 7y
IheartYA Thank you! I had no idea! 7y
Eyelit Thanks for the heads up! 7y
44 likes4 comments
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Simona
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Mehso-so

Family saga about five sisters from small Greek village, yearning for life in the city. Story and characterization are painfully predictable, written in readable prose, but I do think that this one can be nice beach read.

On the picture: Touloumpakia (Vanilla Flavour Pastries in Syrup) https://tastedriver.com/recipe/touloumpakia-sweet/?lang=en

#readaroundtheworld #Greece

Joanne1 Pastries look amazing, pity about the book!! 7y
Simona @Joanne1 They are tasteful and good combination with coffee, but suitable only for a hardcore-sweet-lovers. 7y
rustoryhuf @Simona You had me at “hard core sweet lovers!” 7y
See All 7 Comments
Simona @rustoryhuf Do you see the shine in the pastries? This is a sugar syrup in which they are very generous soaked. 7y
94 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Simona
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Current situation: day off, enjoying in the sun, listening to the birds and reading ...

Today‘s starting point for #25inFive is 19h 30m

JennyM Enjoy!! 7y
AceOnRoam Sounds like a perfect day! 7y
batsy Lovely 🌞📚 7y
See All 7 Comments
Simona @JennyM @AceOnRoam @batsy Thank you ladies ... postponing Monday is the best way to start the week 😘 7y
LeahBergen Someone else is enjoying the outdoors with you. ❤️ 7y
Andrew65 A great time, best of luck with the last day. 25 hours is in your reach! 👏👏👏👏 7y
Simona @LeahBergen ‘Someone else‘ is my shadow ... bathroom is the only place where she is waiting for me in front of the doors. 7y
88 likes7 comments
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Simona
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#LazySundy breakfast in bed with a new book.

Today‘s starting point for #25infive is 11 hours.

Mdargusch Looks like a perfect morning! 7y
Simona @Mdargusch It was ... and fortunately with sunshine 🌞 7y
Andrew65 Good going, best of luck with the last few hours of the challenge. 😊 7y
83 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Wiscbdgrgirl
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Pickpick

The problem with reading almost exclusively on my kindle is that I have zero perception of how long a book actually is since I can‘t see its thickness. I likely wouldn‘t have selected this book had I “seen” it‘s size as it‘s hard enough to find time to finish even short novels. But by the time I realize how long this would actually take to finish I was committed. Pleasantly surprised with this #kindlefirst selection for October!

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Wiscbdgrgirl
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The 4 year old has been digging her heels in with bedtime lately and not wanting me to leave her room. My negotiation with her is that I will snuggle with her for 10 minutes but I will also be reading during that time. 10 minutes usually turns into much longer which means we both win. I get quality reading time in and she falls asleep before I leave 😆

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guinsgirlreads
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Felso
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My Kindle First pick this month. It was hard to choose!

CocoReads It is always hard to choose! I still haven't made up my mind! 7y
Bostonmomx2 I was going to skip them all but I‘m the end grabbed this one too. 7y
saresmoore This is the one I picked, too. 7y
See All 6 Comments
Jerdencon I was going to do this one too but ended up with 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess I can‘t decide yet. 7y
TheBookStacker I ended up going with The Unremembered Girl and I got the hard copy of A Tangled Mercy for $10 should be delivered tomorrow! 7y
32 likes6 comments