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The Trick to Time
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
22 posts | 13 read | 49 to read
A heart-wrenching love story from the internationally bestselling author of My Name Is Leon Mona is a young Irish girl in the big city, with the thrill of a new job and a room of her own in a busy boarding house. On her first night out in 1970s Birmingham, she meets William, a charming Irish boy with an easy smile and an open face. They embark upon a passionate affair, a whirlwind marriage - before a sudden tragedy tears them apart. Decades later, Mona pieces together the memories of the years that separate them. But can she ever learn to love again? The Trick to Time is an unforgettable tale of grief, longing, and a love that lasts a lifetime.
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BarbaraBB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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#BookReport 39/21

Here are the three books I read this week. I enjoyed them all. Favorite is Monogamy!

Megabooks I‘m hopeful that I‘ll enjoy Monogamy too. 👍🏻 3y
Cinfhen Wonderful ❣️❣️❣️ 3y
squirrelbrain A great week! ❤️ 3y
Cathythoughts Nice ! I must get Monogamy 3y
59 likes4 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

Mona and William are two Irish immigrants in their early 20s whose love-at-first-sight story gives way to grief, suffering and devotion. Decades later, Mona pieces together the memories of the years that separate them.

I enjoyed this sad book but I really must read some books now that don‘t deal with aging and regret! I‘m way too young to identify with these characters all the time!! Maybe the new Rooney is just what I need!

#bookspin

Megabooks Great review. Interested to see what you think of the Rooney. 3y
TrishB I did love this book though ❤️ 3y
BarbaraBB @TrishB Me too but I have read so many books recently about women getting older, looking back on list chances or wrong choices. It‘s a bit depressing since it‘s so recognizable. Did you read any book by Margaret Laurence? I thought of her while reading this one. 3y
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Cathythoughts I remember loving this one & going to see the author speak … 👍🏻❤️ 3y
Cathythoughts And I hear you, books trigger all kinds of emotions & memories for me all the time ( I‘m not sure it‘s that easy to escape 3y
TrishB Yes, I see what you mean. But I find some sort of validation in that. Not to read all the time though, or, as you say it can be depressing. But so can reading about 20 somethings and their bad decisions! 😁 3y
TrishB @Cathythoughts agree totally. 3y
BarbaraBB @TrishB That is so true. Too much millennial is really TOO much 😂 3y
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts That‘s the most wonderful thing about books, I agree 🤍 3y
TrishB I think they also remind me of all my bad decisions! 3y
BarbaraBB @TrishB I made too few. That‘s why the regrets 😇😂 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
CarolynM I think I know what you mean, but the thing that's stayed with me from this book (which I read because lovely @Cathythoughts sent it to me) was the healing power of remembering and giving it physical expression. To me that's sad and comforting all at once. 3y
BarbaraBB @CarolynM That is certainly true. She has a wonderful way with words. Depressing for me is that I‘ve read a lot of books about aging lately and it scares me a bit 👵🏼 3y
87 likes3 stack adds14 comments
review
CarolynM
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

Such a beautiful book, addressing a heartbreaking subject with delicacy and gentleness (trigger warning in spoiler comment). It is so sad to think how recently we dealt with this subject so badly. Thank you again, Cathy, so very much, for gifting me this book. The story will stay with me for a long time.

Cathythoughts I‘m so glad you liked it ! It‘s a special book alright ♥️. You are looking very relaxed there ... enjoy 😘 6y
CarolynM @Cathythoughts It's a very relaxing place 🙂 The only downside is a very unreliable internet connection that only works periodically and drops out after a few minutes😁 6y
CarolynM Trigger warnings for stillbirth and mental illness. 6y
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Crazeedi Sound like a good story 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Good to know! I‘ve already got this stacked as I loved her debut 6y
JennyM I adored this one ❤️ 6y
72 likes1 stack add7 comments
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CarolynM
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Thank you so much, Cathy, your parcel arrived at last! You are too good to me. I remember how much you liked this book and I think I will too. We are planning a week away in June, I am going to put it aside for then.

JennyM Lovely package to receive from @Cathythoughts. It‘s a good read 👍 6y
TrishB I really enjoyed this too 👍🏻 6y
Tanisha_A Love that postcard! 6y
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Cathythoughts You are so very welcome Carolyn ! Thank goodness! 3 weeks it took 🙄. I‘m so glad it arrived & hope you will like it. I really did 👍🏻♥️ 😘 6y
youneverarrived Lovely postcard 💙 6y
LeahBergen Lovely! 💕 6y
62 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Posting our pics from Cork Book Festival, a great night .. so interesting to hear Ann Griffin & Kit De Wall reading & discussing their books. I felt like a real bookish kind of person. Weather was terrible ( storm Hannah ) but 3 of us braved the King Lear weather... great night ! Kit de Wall spoke of writing.. you can be a gardener or an architect ( a quote from George Martin ) .. isn‘t it a fab setting 😍pics of the whiskey tasting 👍🏻

squirrelbrain Looks like a fab evening! 6y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain it was brilliant! So lovely to hear writers speaking of their work ... these 2 were so unassuming & such great talkers 👍🏻😍 6y
BiblioLitten Lovely pics! 😊 6y
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merelybookish Sounds fun! Glad it was worth braving the storm! 6y
Cathythoughts @BiblioLitten thankyou !! 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Cathythoughts @merelybookish we lived to tell the tale ♥️👍🏻 6y
Kalalalatja Looks great! 6y
Cathythoughts @Kalalalatja it was a lovely evening 👍🏻✨✨✨ 6y
JennyM This looks fun! Glad you had a great evening 😘 6y
TrishB Great pics 👍🏻 sounds like a fab night 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Book discussion + whiskey sounds like the perfect evening 6y
batsy Books, whiskey, a storm... What an adventure 💫 Lovely pics, glad you had a fab time! 6y
Eggs What fun Cathy!!!! Love the pix 🤗💗 6y
Cathythoughts @JennyM @TrishB @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @batsy thanks guys !! It was memorable for sure 👍🏻♥️ 6y
youneverarrived Sounds fab! Great photos 💖💖 6y
Cathythoughts @youneverarrived thanks Katie 😘 6y
Cathythoughts @Eggs thanks Sherri ! It was great ♥️👍🏻 6y
CarolynM What fun. Looks like a great night 6y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM it was fab 👍🏻♥️♥️ 6y
70 likes1 stack add19 comments
review
Cathythoughts
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

🎧Audible... another 5 star book for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“ Sometimes we have to howl with the wolves ..” I loved this story of Mona‘s present & past life experience . Beautiful writing with some heartbreaking details/ images. Love this title, I have always been fascinated by time & how the past can be so present ... how memory can jolt us & trip us up. Mona , a young Irish girl in 1970‘s Birmingham & all that comes to pass ... & of her later life 👍🏻♥️

RadicalReader Nothing better than discovering books that are an absolute delight 6y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I LOVED My Name Is Leon by her. I‘m stacking this one! 6y
Cathythoughts @JanuarieTimewalker13 I DNF Leon ... but I may have to go back now & give it another go. I only have this one because the writer is in town this Friday night & IRL Bookclub are going to see her 😍 loved this one 6y
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Cathythoughts @RadicalReader yes! 😍😍😍 6y
RadicalReader @Cathythoughts a wonderful book you‘ll catapult from chapter to chapter with is 6y
Cinfhen I LOVED Leon but wasn‘t crazy about this one. But your review was really really lovely!!! I know @TrishB LOVED this book too because she gifted me a copy. I can‘t remember why I didn‘t love it, maybe it‘s a quiet read and I was waiting for more? 6y
BarbaraBB Great review! 6y
Blaire Beautiful review. #stacked 6y
Cathythoughts @RadicalReader thanks!! I will investigate .... 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Cathythoughts @Cinfhen thankyou ! Yes, I must take another look at Leon when I get a chance. 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB thankyou ♥️👍🏻 6y
Cathythoughts @Blaire Thanks ♥️. I hope you will like it when you get there 👍🏻 6y
Ms_T Really nice review 😃 6y
Cathythoughts @Ms_T thankyou @Ms_T 👍🏻♥️ 6y
TrishB Lovely review Cathy 👍🏻 I loved the quietness, the melancholy feel and the love story without the soppy bits! @Cinfhen it was a very slow, quiet book. 6y
JanuarieTimewalker13 @Cathythoughts oh, that‘s going to be fun!!! Enjoy🌸 6y
CarolynM Great review🙂 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely review! 👍 I‘ve already got this stacked, I noticed. 6y
Cathythoughts @TrishB thanks! Such a lovely book 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Cathythoughts @JanuarieTimewalker13 thanks ! I‘ll take pics 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM thanks! I really loved it ♥️👍🏻 6y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm thanks! I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts when you get there 👍🏻♥️ 6y
67 likes2 stack adds22 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Oh ! What about , no expectations , &
A book completely surprises you ... Only started, but ,I would love to make dolls & dolls clothes ... This is a good one ... 👍🏻♥️ what a lovely surprise ✨✨✨✨ loving this one so far ... memories coming up ! My aunt was the best dressmaker ( made clothes for my dolls ) ... evocative writing

charl08 Yup: this one stays with you. Powerful stuff. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm 👏 I look forward to read this too. 6y
Eggs I have this stacked; sounds wonderful! 6y
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Cathythoughts @charl08 yes! Seems so 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm so far .... ! So good 😊 6y
Cathythoughts @Eggs only starting ... but I get a very good feeling ( I did try Leon , but DNF , I may go back after this ..... we‘ll see 6y
TrishB I loved this one too. Leon is very different (I loved it but they could be by different authors!) 6y
Cathythoughts @TrishB I agree ! Even though I havnt finished either yet ... sooo different 👍🏻 6y
Cathythoughts @TrishB I won‘t be bailing on Trick To Time ... she has me , loving it 👍🏻♥️ 6y
TrishB Very poignant, melancholy story that I really loved 💕 6y
50 likes10 comments
review
Clare_Riley
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

I‘m on a bit of a roll here. I seem to have picked some really rather good books recently, and this is another of them. So beautifully written, my heart ached for the characters in this book, but it‘s not a soppy romance, by any means. This is the second book I‘ve read by Kit de Waal, and it‘s another 5/5 from me. I might have to buy it to read it again.

erzascarletbookgasm I can‘t wait to read this. I loved her first book! 6y
Clare_Riley @erzascarletbookgasm you won‘t regret reading it - it really is so good!! 6y
15 likes2 comments
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JennyM
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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15 | #ABBAInAugust #MyLoveMyLife

‘If you lost the love of your life, what would you do to live again?‘

Mdargusch Great choice! 👍🏼 6y
emilyhaldi This reminds me I need to read this one! 6y
Reviewsbylola This sounds fantastic. 6y
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Meredith3 Sounds heavy! 6y
Cinfhen Great photo!! I didn‘t love this book as much as I thought I would. But I did LOVE Leon @emilyhaldi 6y
TrishB I loved this one 💕 6y
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Cinfhen
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Mehso-so

#unpopularopinion I found this book slow, depressing and uneventful. After loving My Name is Leon, I had high expectations for De Waal‘s follow up. While the writing was lyrical at times, the story left me cold and disappointed 😢 I used this for #BackPackEurope #Ireland Sorry @TrishB I know you are keen on this book. Photo is my current reading location @JenP am I free to travel to a new destination?

emilyhaldi So pretty! Where are you now?! 6y
JenP Yes! 6y
Cinfhen I‘m out on Long Island @emilyhaldi 6y
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Cinfhen Thanks @JenP will need to figure out my next read/ itinerary 😉 6y
robinb That‘s always a bummer when you‘re expecting good things. 😔 6y
Cinfhen I know @robinb I almost gave it a pan but I realized that was a little harsh 6y
robinb @Cinfhen you sound like me! I almost NEVER give a pan...I always feel bad if I do. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 6y
LeahBergen But your reading spot is 👌🏼! 6y
robinb @LeahBergen I‘ll second that! 😊 6y
TrishB Awww, sorry you didn‘t enjoy. I thought poignant rather than sad, but we all read differently! 6y
TrishB Great reading spot 😘 6y
Cathythoughts Such a lovely place you are in 💙 6y
Cinfhen My friend‘s “beach” house ( they are on the bay side) is truly a magical spot...we spotted a school of dolphins yesterday 🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬we affectionately call their home Camp Weissman @robinb @LeahBergen @TrishB @Cathythoughts because there are sooo many “activities” here 😁 6y
Cinfhen @TrishB I REALLY wanted to love this book, and I kept waiting and hoping for something BIG to happen but it was full of so much darkness and heartbreak. Poignant is a lovely description and it was... 6y
robinb @Cinfhen ❤️❤️❤️🐬🐬🐬 6y
132 likes1 stack add15 comments
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Cinfhen
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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I‘m speechless!! I‘m so overwhelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness given to me💗THANK YOU @TrishB this birthday gift makes 52 year old me feel like a kid again!!!! It‘s the BEST gift ever❣️❣️❣️Honestly, I‘m moved beyond words. I‘m so honored to be your friend xx and THE BOOKS!!!! OMG - all 3 are beautiful and I‘m just amazed that they belong to me now😊Feeling spoiled and loved🙏🏻even the birthday card was AWESOME🙌🏻 oh & the 🍫🍫🍫

Cinfhen My husband might hate you right now😉😂He‘s like “I can‘t compete with @TrishB she just scored the BEST GIFT EVER”❣️❣️❣️❣️ 6y
TrishB Happy birthday 🎉🎉🍰 hope you have a wonderful day!! So glad you like everything 💜 Hubby‘s going to spoil you all day!! Enjoy celebrating 💕x 6y
Cinfhen Nope, he can‘t come close @TrishB YOU ROCK 🤘🏽Who knew birthday׳s could be THIS MUCH fun 😘😘 6y
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Cathythoughts Happy Birthday Cindy. Have a lovely day !! Such beautiful gifts & generosity Trish !! @TrishB (edited) 6y
TrishB They should definitely always be fun 😁💕!! 6y
sisilia Happy birthday, dear @cinfhen 😘 6y
CouronneDhiver Happy Birthday!!!! 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely gifts. Have a fabulous birthday Cindy! ❣️ 6y
LeahBergen Happy Birthday, darlin‘!!, ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕 6y
rockpools Happy Birthday Cindy! 6y
youneverarrived Happy Birthday! 💕 6y
laurieluna Happy Birthday!! 😄💕🎉 6y
Crazeedi Happy birthday! I hope this year is filled with lots of joy and good books! 🎈❤🙂 6y
Simona Happy birthday 🥂🍾♥️ 6y
JennyM Happy birthday Mumma bear of Litsy...love your huge contribution to this community 😘😘😘 6y
Centique Happy birthday special lady! 😘💕 6y
Soubhiville Wow! Happy birthday to you!!! 6y
Librarybelle Happy Birthday! 6y
KarenUK Happy birthday! Wishing you a lovely day and safe travels this weekend.... 💕💕😘 6y
saresmoore Oh, how wonderful! Happy birthday to a lovely, thoughtful, & cherished woman, reader, & Litsy mama. This year of life is going to be the best one yet! ♥️♥️♥️ (edited) 6y
CoffeeAndABook Ooooh it‘s your ⭐️BIRTHDAY⭐️!!! Have a wonderful day, with lots of love, 🎁, JOY, delicious ruchelachs & 🥂 & maybe even a peaceful moment to sneak in some pleasure reading 💓 📖 So basically - have a happy happy birthday- I‘m so glad you‘re on Litsy & we got to meet here!!! 🌸☀️🎂 🎈 6y
alisiakae Happy, happy Birthday!! 🎈🎂🎁 6y
LeeRHarry Happy birthday!! 🎉🎉🎉 6y
Lola Happy happy birthday!!! 🥂💃 6y
Cinfhen I‘m feeling truly blessed today 😊Thanks for all the #birthdaylove @Lola @LeeRHarry @4thhouseontheleft @CoffeeAndABook @saresmoore @KarenUK @Librarybelle And your personal messages are truly appreciated 💝💝💝💝💝 6y
batsy Happy birthday @Cinfhen! I hope you have a wonderful day and fabulous weekend 🎉🎂🎉❤️ 6y
That-Bookish-Hiker Happy birthday!!!!🎂 (edited) 6y
Cinfhen Thank you @batsy @That-Bookish-Hiker Today has been pretty freakin wonderful 💜💜💜 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Happy birthday!!🎈 6y
mabell Happy Birthday!! 🎉🎉 I'm so glad it was a good one! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Cinfhen Thanks @mabell I‘m still celebrating 😃going out for dinner tonight 🍷Thanks @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 6y
Kalalalatja You deserve it all! Have the very best birthday 😘 6y
MicheleinPhilly Happy Birthday, my friend! Can‘t wait to give you a big birthday hug next week. 😘 6y
Cinfhen Thank you my #LitsyDaughter 😘😘😘 @Kalalalatja and cant wait to see you as well @MicheleinPhilly ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
DebinHawaii Wonderful gift! You deserve to be pampered. I wanted to wish you the happiest of Birthdays my friend! 🎉🎂🎈📚🎁🎊 6y
mabell Have a great birthday dinner! 🍷And stretch this celebration out! We've been known to get a good month out of a birthday 😁🤣 6y
120 likes38 comments
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TrishB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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#anytimeatall #heyjune
Lovely little read 💕

RealLifeReading I haven't read this one but loved 6y
TrishB @RealLifeReading I loved Leon too 👍🏻 this is easily as good. 6y
Cinfhen I LOVED Leon @RealLifeReading @TrishB and I REALLY want to read this one, but it‘s not available here yet😫 maybe when I get to the states 🤞🏼❤️ 6y
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TrishB @Cinfhen I get all excited like that and realise it‘s not out for another 6 months ! Hope you love it when you get to it 💕 6y
Cinfhen Thanks, Trish! I‘ve been told this one is VERY different from Leon so I‘m nervous/ but curious 6y
TrishB @Cinfhen it‘s very different. But has happiness and love as a central theme, which I think Leon did. 6y
115 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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charl08
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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And a beautiful book.

33 likes1 stack add
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TrishB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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#4newfavsin4days
Day 4. I loved My Name is Leon too, this is even better I think - the writing is wonderful and the story is sad and bitter sweet and so not what I was expecting!
She‘s coming to my Uni‘s literary festival later this year and I can‘t wait 😁

Cinfhen I‘m excited for this book....especially since I ❤️Leon 7y
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing your picks 💕💕💕 7y
TrishB @Cinfhen it looks lovely too 💕 7y
Cathythoughts Stacking this one 👍🏻 7y
105 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Cinfhen
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Congrats to @laurenashley on her fun & fabulous Litfluence #4444giveaway 🎉💕🙌🏻🎊 Four books from my TBR that I‘m coveting 1. Trick To Time 2. The Trauma Cleaner 3.What We Lose 4. 11.22.63 Thanks for #payingItForward

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Abailliekaras
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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We discuss The Trick to Time in this week‘s episode of A Little Less Guilty (along with charcoal croissants, boozy mums and consent apps). Take a listen! 🎧
https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/a-little-less-guilty/id1351506953?mt=2&i=100...

review
Abailliekaras
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it pretty much in one sitting. Mona is 60 & a doll-maker. Her life is routine by design, but this changes when she befriends an elegant neighbour & faces her memories of the past. An engaging read, great story with original characters who surprise you - I loved that it wasn‘t predictable. Dialogue & setting feel real. An easy writing style, she handles serious matters with warmth - it‘s also beautifully moving.

TrishB I loved this too 👍🏻 my cover is very different up yours! 7y
Abailliekaras @TrishB this is a proof that a friend kindly gave me! 7y
TrishB Ohh- the finished cover is beautiful I think! 7y
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Abailliekaras @TrishB yes much nicer! 7y
RealLifeReading I just read (and loved) My Name is Leon and can‘t wait to read more from her 7y
Abailliekaras @RealLifeReading I‘m keen to read my name is Leon! 7y
Cinfhen I was just gonna say how much i LOVED Leon so MUST ADD #STACKED 7y
Abailliekaras @Cinfhen I‘ll be interested to hear what you think of it! 7y
BookishTrish I want to read this so badly. I can‘t wait until it‘s out in Canada. 7y
Abailliekaras @BookishTrish I really liked it! And I love how she advocates for more working class voices in literature. 7y
44 likes2 stack adds10 comments
review
TrishB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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Pickpick

Wow 😮 Kit de Waal is seriously a fantastic author. This is as far away from My Name is Leon that‘s it‘s possible to be, but still amazing, I‘m in awe of her talent.
Yes, a love story, but nothing romantic about it really. Nothing like you would expect from the blurb, but can‘t say anymore without spoiling it. A novel that makes you think, sad and real.
#25infive 7 hours 44

Cathythoughts That‘s really good to hear ! I seem to have My Name Is Leon on Audible ( I can‘t track back to how that even happened) .... great 👍🏻 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Okay, stacking! 7y
Eggs Stacked 7y
126 likes10 stack adds4 comments
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TrishB
The Trick to Time | Kit de Waal
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#bookmail
I think one of these will probably be my next read too!! The new shiny ones always catch your eye first!!

charl08 Waiting for the Kit de Waal to arrive at the library... 7y
TrishB @charl08 I‘m looking forward to it! 7y
DeborahSmall The Kit de Waal looks great 7y
TrishB @DeborahSmall it does! I‘ve started the Brett one first as my daughter wants to read too and she wouldn‘t until I had! The de Waal may just be next 😁 7y
99 likes4 comments