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The Glittering Hour
The Glittering Hour | Iona Grey
175 posts | 60 read | 1 reading | 45 to read
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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kspenmoll Great choice!!! 4mo
Eggs Oh perfect 🥰 👍🏼 🤩 4mo
49 likes2 comments
review
paisleyjess
Pickpick

So so so good. This book made me cry so hard. Beautifully written and engrossing.

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Aims42
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After a Friday night that had way more fear and unease than I prefer (severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches, heavy rains, lightening, high winds, OH MY!), this is the perfect Saturday night 🥰♥️ Hope everyone is having a restful evening and are safe if you were also affected by Mother Nature‘s wrath 😵‍💫

Tamra Spring is rough! 😵‍💫 13mo
Aims42 @Tamra Yes it is 😬 13mo
48 likes2 comments
review
ICantImReading
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an emotional, poignant love story of both romantic love and love between a mother and daughter. It moved me in the end - I teared up multiple times - but it also felt really slow and overly wordy for the majority of the book.

It feels great to finally check this off my TBR! This was my oldest unread #BOTM purchase. Now I only have to catch up on my 2023 picks! 😊

#botmbacklist #botmbacklog

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#Sparkles
#DivineDecember
#HF

💫⭐️🌟✨

Eggs ✨🧡✨ 1y
66 likes1 comment
review
sprainedbrain
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Pickpick

This pretty historical fiction was a perfect palate cleanser between spicy romances (still stuck on those lol). It‘s a bit wordy, but in a beautiful sort of way that I can‘t ever get enough of… dual timelines and multiple POVs, perhaps a wee bit predictable, but still a delightful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

julieclair The title alone makes me want to read it! 2y
Erinsuereads I just blazed through this one. 10/10 recommend for trope filled, silly, spicy, romance. 2y
sprainedbrain @ErinSueMreads I believe I already have that checked out from KU. I‘m always maxed out and they just sit there and wait for me. 😂 2y
See All 6 Comments
Erinsuereads Probably judging you for your choices. That's what my physical bookshelves are best at 2y
sprainedbrain @ErinSueMreads I was just contemplating which 🌶 KU book I should read next instead of the 6 TBR books I have set as goals for myself this month. 😳😂 2y
Erinsuereads At least you read like 6000 books a month. A 6 book tbr pile is like three days of reading for you 😂 2y
87 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Crazeedi
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#12Booksof2021 #April @Andrew65
This was a really different book and I it really enjoyed it.

Andrew65 Seen two recommendations for this one. 2y
41 likes1 comment
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CoffeeNBooks
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Andrew65 Looks good. 2y
Jensol77 How was this book? 2y
62 likes2 comments
review
emmaturi
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Pickpick

I liked this story, set in two timelines, one in 1925 with Selina Lennox. She is one of the Bright Young Things, always out at parties with her friends. Then in 1936, Selina's daughter Alice is left in the care of Selina's parents while she and husband are in Burna. Selina meets Lawrence on one of her outings and promptly they fall in love. There are secrets that come out, one's which I eventually guessed. I loved the world of 1920s London.

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cwarnier
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#sundaybuddyread
#bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks
So I started this off as an audio last month. April's reading was a huge bust, so I just finished this audio.
Some day I would love to go back and just read it as sometimes I get distracted with audio books.

10 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
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I missed yesterday so one book for two prompts. The governess was a marginal character whose story went nowhere. And Selina mourned the loss of her brother in the Great War.

#MayCharacters

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Double play!! 📚🙌🏻 3y
Eggs Nicely done ✅ 3y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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Pickpick

Conflicted on how to rate this, but considering it made my eyes leak a bit, I'll go with a light pick. The story is set between 1925, where we focus on Bright Young Thing Selina who crosses paths with artist Lawrence, and in 1936 where young Alice is stuck at her grandparents' estate, following clues for a treasure hunt from her currently absent mother. Many of the other characters not mentioned here felt like a sterotype or were downright mean,

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick with seemingly no motivations or growth. Young Alice was bright, but lonely. A few plot points were introduced but aren't fully explored and it makes me wonder why they were in there in the first place. This needed a good editing, but overall, Alice's portion of the story was the highlight, even if it moved slowly. Wow, for me to say a 10 year girl is more interesting than a Bright Young Thing is a huge surprise!
3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
53 likes3 comments
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BookNAround
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I‘m only a month late for the buddy read on this one. 🤷‍♀️

TheBookHippie Go back and read our comments !!!! So much fun! ( as everyone sums up) (edited) 3y
rubyslippersreads I haven‘t even started it. And double the guilt because I have the ARC. 😏 3y
60 likes2 comments
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Blackink_WhitePaper
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Mehso-so

I am late to wrap up my #April #bookspin choice. The story line was good but too many characters and too many things happening at once made me confused. The time line and cultural differences were profound which I appreciated. I developed a soft spot of Alice. Overall a good book but bit lengthy 3🌟

#bookspinbingo #sundaybuddyread

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
TheBookHippie Great summary!!! I agree with all of it! 3y
31 likes2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have SO MANY books 📚

Day 8
#MMMTbr

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m showing off my beautiful card from Sarah again 🤍 I love her poetry too! It‘s just as beautiful as the card! @slategreyskies 💜💜 3y
DarkMina Beautiful card!! 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @DarkMina thank you ❤️ I love it! 3y
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tracey38 Card is gorgeous! 3y
slategreyskies This makes me smile! Thank you for the encouragement with my poetry. It helps to know that it matters that I write, that it means something somehow. Hugs to you, my friend!! 💕 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @slategreyskies I love your poetry! Send me more!! Can‘t wait! 3y
66 likes6 comments
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Helen19
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Mehso-so

Finishing this one a little late for #sundaybuddyread. I really liked it to begin with but the ‘disappearing‘ characters and plot lines brought it down a notch.

TheAromaofBooks The “so-so“ rating seems popular for this one... 3y
TheBookHippie @TheAromaofBooks It is accurate. For sure. A good edit would get it a better rating 😬 3y
TheAromaofBooks @TheBookHippie - sometimes one does wonder what an author's editor was even thinking - like... your job is to EDIT?! 😂 3y
TheBookHippie @TheAromaofBooks It seems to be worse as of late… in many books I‘ve read 🤦🏽‍♀️ 3y
21 likes4 comments
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mollyrotondo
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one had so much promise in the beginning but it loses steam as the story goes on. Most of the reveals are so obvious that nothing comes as a surprise at the end. There are two many stories that go nowhere. But I loved discussing it with #sundaybuddyread This was my #bookspinbingo No. 18 pick.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DanaManiac
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Mehso-so

3 ⭐️

The best part about this was discussing it the #SundayBuddyRead folks. I found the plot to be all over the place with extraneous characters. I am not sure if there was a plot twist or not, as we all figured it out right away and felt like it was made clear repeatedly throughout the novel. I was really only able to complete it by mixing the print book with the audio so that I could multi task. I wouldn't have finished it otherwise.

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katy4peas
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Pickpick

An interesting story with multiple viewpoints and timelines. I loved the characters and the mystery aspect to it. Didn‘t really expect the ending, but it was a heartfelt one. I enjoyed this one! #audiobook #sundaybuddyread

77 likes1 stack add
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kspenmoll
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Mehso-so

I am sorry to have missed the final discussion with #sundaybuddyread.
I enjoyed the way the author captured the “Bright Young Things” in the 1920s & their devil may care escapades. I also grasped how the loss of her brother(the only one who loved, accepted, her) WWI, & her inability to really grieve,affected her life journey.But I felt the book uneven, how her illness caused reconciliation with her artist lover & child a little too trite.

TheBookHippie 🤍🤍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼excellent recap!!!! 3y
56 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

We had polarized views on this book in #sundaybuddyread but overall it‘s a pick for me. It needed more editing to clean up random plot points but I fell for Alice (& Lawrence too) & wanted to see how things played out. I found the look at Britain in the 1920s interesting with the Bright Young Things (the original Brat Pack) & although many of her action/decisions angered me, I was rooting for Selina. Our discussions were entertaining as usual!😆

katy4peas Agreed. Some plot points were easily picked out and some were very surprising to me! 3y
73 likes1 comment
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InkintheMargins
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐
A passionate, penniless artist and a free-spirited, high society girl collide in a post WW1 love story set in London. This novel portrays the lost generation in a surprisingly fresh and modern way. I've been thinking about this one obsessively over the past few days. I'm a sucker for the 1920s.

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Sargar114
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Panpan

I felt every minute of this read...not a fan. Most of the characters were not very likeable, which is okay, but when paired with the scattered thoughts, drastic seemingly pointless perspective changes, and in general a meh story, I just couldn‘t get into this one. On to the next one...

AmyG I enjoyed it and I think mainly because I read it in sections. I think if it was my main read I might have skimmed it or bailed. But it read quickly and left me with questions to solve each week. 3y
Sargar114 @AmyG I probably would have bailed if it weren‘t for the buddy read. I love the discussions though! 3y
25 likes2 comments
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TheBookHippie
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Mehso-so

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

So thankful Alice has art supplies now!

Interesting love story. Tragic of course.

Massive fun discussing it with all of you!

I thank you for coming along in this latest adventure!

On to May! My birthday month!!

Pic 1936 Shirley Temple- maybe Alice‘s hair was like this!

AmyG I loved Shirley Temple as a kid. ❤️ On to May!!!!! 3y
JaclynW Love Shirley Temple! 3y
45 likes2 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Did you like the story?
Would you recommend it?
Did you learn anything ???
This is what I ask students when they dislike a book 😳😬

Anything I missed we should discuss ??

So the author states she had books turned down quite a few before this ummmm hmmm. Thoughts?

AmyG I enjoyed this book. Not a great work of fiction, but a good story. Do I think it could have been edited differently? Written differently? Yes. I was so happy, though, that Alice and Lawrence got to be together....with Polly in her life. 3y
TheBookHippie @AmyG Alice is okay, loved to pieces and has massive art supplies and Polly still... PHEW!!! 3y
CoffeeNBooks I liked this story a lot, although I definitely think it needed a bit more editing. I learned about the Bright Young People, who I'd never heard of before. 3y
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TheBookHippie @CoffeeNBooks Was that nuts or what?!?! Just wow. 3y
megnews It‘s not a favorite but a decent story. Not one I‘d rave about to a friend or recommend. 3y
Sargar114 The story was not good or original enough to redeem the many flaws of this book. Reading this didn‘t make want to read any more about some of the historical issues brought up like some of the other lesser favorites selected. Oh well, can‘t win em all 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 🤷🏽‍♀️ it had good premise 🤣 I never read reviews because they‘re generally wrong so picking is a toss of the dice ! 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie I‘m not mad about it 🙂. Y‘all have more picks than not, so it‘s a safe bet. And the discussions are always a win, which is what kept me going on this one. Plus the image of flying books 🤣😂🤣😂 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie plus I like reading things I wouldn‘t pick up on my own, found some real gems that way! 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I do love a good pan every once in a while .... discussions are fun no matter what 🤣🤣 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 we have found some gems! 3y
JaclynW I liked this book quite a bit (maybe not 5 star quality but 3.5-4). More for some historical aspects and the main story line. There were flaws but small enough that I read past them. Others have mentioned better editing was needed, I could agree with that. 3y
Deblovestoread I am so glad you picked this book. Not because I loved it but it was fun reading with the group and it got it off my Shelf. I won‘t be recommending this one. 3y
TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 I thought the same thing !!! A book off my shelf!!! 3y
DebinHawaii I‘m in the “enjoyed but didn‘t love” camp. It had problems, like the editing but I love Alice & Lawrence & was happy with how it ended. The Bright Young Things were interesting but that‘s the main thing I looked up—that & cocktail recipes!😉The discussions always help my enjoyment too. That Alice can now do all the art 🖼 🎨she wants IN COLOR makes me happy! 😂 “Grandmonster” could have done a complete 180 & I wouldn‘t forgive that crime!🤬 3y
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii Grandmonster 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
mollyrotondo I love this group so of course I kept reading! Lol I held out hope that something crazy interesting was going to happen at the end so I kept pushing. But overall this one was disappointing. It started off good but then once we figured out all the reveals within the first quarter of the book the story lost it‘s appeal for me. But loved @TheBookHippie ‘s discussion questions as always!! 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo 🤍🤍🤍🤍 3y
8 likes18 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Why the governess and other useless info in the book? Things with Theo so strange in places why??? Did we really need these things for the story ? Did the book need a good edit?

AmyG I can only think that these people gave a feel for he time period? Certainly some were unnecessary. The governess just couldn‘t be mean? Who knows? 3y
CoffeeNBooks I really can't figure out why the additional storyline with the governess was included. I kept thinking maybe I'd forgotten something I'd read about it. Maybe that part was written in to explain why Alice was able to spend so much time with Mr. Patterson (was that his name?). 3y
megnews I felt the book had a good sense of the time period without the extraneous info on the governess since it never went anywhere. The info didn‘t give me a sense of time period because I didn‘t even know what that pin was without looking it up. Usually setting background is commonly held knowledge. 3y
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick The governess nonsense, naming Rupert's mistress, and the odd use of Theo all leave me scratching my head. Were the publishers on a strict timeline and decided to print anyway? Overall this made me feel feelings, so a light pick, but I would've liked for the governess details to be explored. 3y
Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick all those storylines you mentioned would have been great if actually fleshed out. Definitely needed a lot more editing 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Final thoughts: I loved how welcoming of Alice "Aunt Edith" and family were with her, especially in those circumstances. This final section, while not perfect, did cause a few tears (children experiencing the death of close relatives always gets me). I'm glad the Lennox/Rupert family didn't put up a fight and just let Alice be with people who wanted her. 3y
TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I don‘t think they could be bothered or wanted to part with money to raise her 🤯 3y
JaclynW @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick My thoughts as well. 3y
JaclynW @TheBookHippie So very true. Horrible people. 3y
DebinHawaii I felt that the governess was put in place to show the bleakness of Alice in that house & then she was pulled back out of the story with the Nazi plot line when they needed Alice to be more free to follow the clues & all, but I agree that it was unnecessary. A lot of loose threads for sure. 3y
InkintheMargins It was difficult at times to follow the different narrative threads, but I looked at these moments as part of the intentional treasure hunt for the reader. A good treasure hunt always has red herrings and diversions. These distractions made the story more of a puzzle that I was trying to work out. Just like Alice. I didn't know if they mattered or not until I made it to the end. 3y
mollyrotondo I was annoyed that the governess story went nowhere and that we never found out who Rupert‘s mistress was (why drop that one line about it if you‘re never going to mention it ever again?). It‘s 1936 and no one is going to mention England entering WWII? It‘s not going to be a happy time for England after Selina‘s death. It just felt like so much was missing from this book. 3y
6 likes12 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Selina‘s funeral
Touching and good for Alice
Thankful she got her proper time and goodbyes

Did Selina waste her life?
What do you think of her now ?

AmyG Alice was VERY lucky she now had Lawrence (and always Polly) in her life. Hindsight...how many people make decisions that years later they wished they didn‘t make or made differently? 3y
CoffeeNBooks I'm so glad for Alice that she has supportive people in her life now. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I was so glad that Alice was able to spend a little time with Selina before her passing. I think the memorial was good for Alice as a final goodbye to Selina. We don't know what all Selina did in the 10 years been marriage & death other than being told she was a good mom. At least she allowed herself to love again, but other than Alice, I don't know if she left other wasted opportunities in her wake or not. 3y
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Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick you said it, it‘s hard to answer this because we don‘t know much about Selina in those 10 years. Even being a good mom is a bit questionable. We know that she loved Alice unconditionally but it also seems like she sheltered Alice a bit. It‘s hard to get a true grasp of their relationship as all of our narrators were a but unreliable 3y
Deblovestoread I think all we know for sure is Selina loved Alice. 3y
DebinHawaii I didn‘t dislike Selina, just many of her actions. I think she loved Alice with all her heart & (mostly misguidedly) tried to protect her. I think had she truly thought she was dying she would not have separated herself from Alice the way she did. But as others have stated, we don‘t know much about those 10 years. I was happy Alice got the time & closure with Selina & support & love she needed to help her cope with losing her. 3y
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I truly do not believe she thought she was dying then. Maybe saw what could be death and spurred her to truth for Alice. But I believe she at least ended it in a healthy way for her child. 3y
mollyrotondo I‘m happy Alice got to say goodbye to her mom and the memorial was nice. But I just don‘t like Selina. She subjected her daughter to a unloving family. She only had Selina‘s love. No one else‘s love. When Alice could have grown up with two loving parents. 3y
8 likes8 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Lawrence finds Alice who looks just like his sister..

Why didn‘t they tell Alice immediately ?

Rupert Miranda Lady Louise together
“The child is with its father” Rupert presumes 🤯
What a mess and does Rupert think Lawrence at this point?

Anyone else feel this is all rushed?

What are the possibilities Lawrence was Romani Gypsy? And that‘s why he‘s so despised?

https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art38559

AmyG It seemed that none of Selina‘s family cared that Alice was with her father. It seemed too easy. And yes, a bit rushed. And this was plausible but we never read about any discussion by the family members about their thought she wasn‘t Rupert‘s daughter but Lawrences. 3y
CoffeeNBooks The end of the story seemed a bit rushed. The transition of Alice staying with Lawrence seemed natural because we knew Rupert and the grandmother didn't really care about Alice. They were probably glad they no longer had to worry about her as a financial burden. I was surprised they didn't tell Alice about Lawrence sooner, but maybe they thought it would be too much for her at the same time she was dealing with finding out her mom was dying. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick These details went by quickly because the reader had clearly figured out that Lawrence was Alice's kid early on. No need to stretch that out any longer. 😂 It was also obvious that Rupert didn't want Alice and her grandmother & aunt only saw her as a burden so they were probably relieved to be absolved of her guardianship. Alice finally had someone treat her kindly (beside Polly) and didn't give two flicks who they were. 3y
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick As for the opinion of Lawrence from the wealthy, he could've been anyone, but without three estates with crumbling facades and a staff of 12, he was simply not worthy. 3y
megnews Agree with @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick about it not mattering who Lawrence was. He didn‘t have the money and wasn‘t their class. Like @CoffeeNBooks I thought the end was somewhat rushed. The family didn‘t want Alice so they were fine with it. But still your daughter is dying and you have no interest in a child half hers? Unfathomable 3y
Sargar114 I actually liked the similarities between Alice and his sister, it made sense to me. Agree that the ending felt rushed but at the same time felt kinda dragged out...guessing that‘s more me and my opinion of the book and just wanting to finish at that point. 3y
Sargar114 Agree with everyone, I think with everything going on...they didn‘t really care about Lawrence or who he was, guessing they were relieved with someone to watch over and take care of Alice when Selina was gone 3y
Deblovestoread Big gaping hole! The family would definitely be having a cow due to potential scandal. More reason to mistreat Alice and not be compassionate towards Selina. I think the family knew Alice wasn‘t Rupert‘s but did not know who the father was until Polly wrote him. (edited) 3y
DebinHawaii It was a bit rushed. As everyone, I think the family didn‘t care, assumed Polly was there with her somewhere & it‘s not the kind of thing they would acknowledge anyway—better to ignore it or sweep it under the rug. 3y
mollyrotondo I just found it so bizarre that Rupert just disappears from the whole ending. That was it? He just goes about his life? We didn‘t even find out who his girlfriend was right? 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo It was the sister of Selinas sisters husband I think I have that right 🤣🤣 yah he just walks ... like okaaaaaayyyy 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️😬 3y
TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 I bet you‘re right. The horrors !! 3y
7 likes13 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Lawrence is by Selina
That night?
The photograph sent to her with the the letter and indeed the night before she marries ....she makes love and remembers every detail her whole life?!

And she states she‘s meeting THEO (?! Isn‘t he gay? So Rupert thinking it was Theo confuses me)

anyway Selina makes Alice with Lawrence instead.
Thoughts ?! That section was nuts...

AmyG Rupert is arrogant and oblivious. I think Selina was so very torn and just wanted to be with Lawrence one last time. For a woman who took so many chances with Lawrence....she just didn‘thave the nerve to take that one big chance and be with him. 3y
CoffeeNBooks Maybe Selena was trying to decide at the last minute of she really should marry Rupert or stay with Lawrence. She truly loved Lawrence, but I think she just couldn't see how they could make it work since they were from such different worlds. But she really didn't want to have to say goodbye to Lawrence. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick From what we know about Rupert, my guess is that Selina saw the opportunity for one final orgasm and seized it! 🤣 She had to say goodbye, especially since he was leaving for America. His reasons for leaving - not seeing her new life flaunted in front of him - was likely a factor in why she needed to say goodbye. This was her last chance to see her love. 3y
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TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😅✊🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie so scattered, ugh. My thought was they all know Theo and probably know he‘s “safe” to meet up with so probably a decent cover. (edited) 3y
megnews Considering the times, I thought maybe Theo was out to who he felt safe being out to. Rupert may not have known. 3y
Sargar114 To be fair, Rupert seemed to have been taken advantage of as well. It seems like the author threw in his perspective and the one mention of another woman to make us feel better for Selina choosing him while loving another man. But again, another storyline with no follow through 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews Could be. 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 It‘s all a hot mess 🤣 3y
JaclynW @Sargar114 Was that other woman Selina's sister? There was one part that made me think that... But now I can't quite remember. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @JaclynW The other woman was Selina's sister's sister-in-law. 3y
DebinHawaii I think it was a last goodbye for both Selina and Lawrence before they were permanently separated. I don‘t feel too bad for Rupert as he wasn‘t in love with her either. I don‘t think he thought Theo was Alice‘s father just not a great influence on Selina but maybe I missed something? 3y
mollyrotondo Hahaha this was a nutty scene. And I agree with @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick she knew she was never going to have good sex again so this was her last hoorah. I think my brain went numb reading this part since we already knew Alice was Lawrence‘s kid so I didn‘t need much more explanation at this point. I didn‘t pick up on a lot of the details lol 3y
JaclynW @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yikes. So complicated. 3y
8 likes17 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Alice is ill.
Then hears about her mom
“Can I see her?” She asks.
“No” she gets told!!!!! 😫
How much can we despise these people?

AmyG My heart broke for Alice. Her grandmother, Rupert didn‘t care for her. She was a burden to them. Again, thank goodness for Polly. 3y
CoffeeNBooks Poor Alice. I do think it was partly the time period, that they didn't think it was healthy for a child to see her mother so ill. But, I'm glad she had Polly and then Lawrence to stand up for her so she could see her mom. My heart broke for her that her grandmother, Rupert, and Miranda were so cold toward her. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick As with most everything this family does, disappointing but not surprising. Like @CoffeeNBooks I think the time period also played a part in distancing Alice from Selina. Familial loss seems like it was more common then and just something to deal with before moving on. We are more attuned to mental wellbeing today. 3y
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Sargar114 While the e family is terrible, I will say it was Selina‘s idea not to burden Alice with her illness. So I thought they maybe didn‘t want Alice to see her as they may have thought it was what Selina wanted. I‘m glad she did though, it‘s terrible that Alice couldn‘t be with her throughout the illness, it would have been better for both of them probably 3y
Sargar114 Also, no resolution on Alice??? Was she making herself sick with worry, was something actually wrong, WTF??? 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 Right? Or did Selina think she was safer with Polly? 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I feel like the author had many train of thoughts and just left every single one in the book 🤯 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie yes!!! I think that is my biggest issue with the book; I‘m good with terrible or unlikeable characters, but at least complete the story. 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 EXACTLY finish your thought gah... 😅 3y
JaclynW This family didn't have many human qualities that I admired. Definitely a product of their class and time. 3y
TheBookHippie @JaclynW white privileged 3y
JaclynW @Sargar114 @TheBookHippie I also wondered what the resolution was to so many pieces of this book. I don't like unanswered questions. Did the author want us to assume and make up our own minds? Or have too many pots in the fire? Plus... Squirrel!! 3y
JaclynW @TheBookHippie For sure. 3y
Deblovestoread So many dangling threads...I don‘t need my books all wrapped up with a pretty bow at the end but come on! 3y
Sargar114 @JaclynW 😂🤣😂🤣 3y
DebinHawaii From the withholding food from Selina & the taking away of the colored pencils from Alice, I have hated how cold & cruel this family is. I felt like Alice had an ulcer brought on by all the stress & worry, but that‘s just what my mind did with that fragment. 3y
mollyrotondo Alice knew something was wrong with her mother because her mother being away so long made no sense and Alice knew this. Her body was reacting to that stress. And yes this family is horrible. The grandmother, Rupert, and Selina is also no better. It is awful to not say goodbye to your daughter. Yes it is hard and sad and you don‘t want your daughter to have the image. But it‘s more damaging for the child to never be able to say goodbye. 3y
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Polly wrote Lawrence who had in fact made it. How about that ? To tell him he‘s a father. Is Polly the real one with chutzpah in this story? The person showing love at all costs?

AmyG Polly is a mature woman. And she knows all the players and what it was like in that family. Thank goodness for Polly! 3y
CoffeeNBooks I'm still convinced that the letter Rupert found and threw away was a letter to Lawrence telling him about Alice. So it's a good thing Polly knew everything and was bold enough to contact Lawrence to let him know. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Hooray for Polly!! Early on I wished Selina would tell him, or that he knew and came back, I'm just glad someone did. Polly was a servant to the Lennox family but also a friend to Selina. She saw the treatment Alice received in that household and made the right choice to seek out Lawrence. 3y
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Sargar114 Polly saw how the family treated Selina and Alice. I‘m guessing Selina told her how wonderful Lawrence was, otherwise, why would she write a man she doesn‘t know anything about to about a child. Luckily we all know how great a decision it was. 3y
JaclynW I loved Polly. Thank goodness for a wise and decent character! 3y
TheBookHippie @JaclynW me too. Isn‘t that always the way those deemed servant or less than are always pure of heart 3y
TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @Sargar114 well... he couldn‘t have been worse than her mother‘s family !!!! 🤯 3y
Deblovestoread I agree with @CoffeeNBooks Selina letter was to tell Lawrence but Rupert wouldn‘t want a scandal. I do think Polly was the strongest most compassionate one of the bunch. 3y
DebinHawaii Polly is the best and thank goodness for her. 3y
mollyrotondo Polly was amazing! She was strong and knew what was the right to do for Alice. And of course the “help” has a better moral compass and more compassion and understanding than the wealthy family. 3y
JaclynW @TheBookHippie Yes, I think it's nearly always true. 3y
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Lawrence telling Selina he won‘t go to bed with her ghost.
A rich man‘s bored wife. Can you believe she even thought that would be okay? Does she really love Lawrence ? If you liked Selina do you still? Has it changed with her actions ?

AmyG I do believe she loved him. I believe she couldn‘t envision a life with Lawrence as his life was that foreign to her. She was very fearful and with the death of her friend she chose the safe man. She also didn‘t spend much time with Lawrence...no conversations of planning, what their life would be like. To be with him she would have had to take a leap of faith and she was too immature and a bit broken to do that. I liked her. She was human. (edited) 3y
CoffeeNBooks I think she was very naive and immature, but I think she really thought that plan might work. Perhaps she knew Rupert didn't really love her and that he'd probably have a mistress on the side as well. She just didn't put much thought into how that plan would make Lawrence feel. But I agree with @AmyG that she couldn't envision a life with Lawrence. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I wonder how much carousing she knew of in those wealthy circles and if she truly thought it was an acceptable compromise to marry Rupert but being Lawrence on the side. I dislike some of Selina's actions but overall I liked her. She was young and hopeful but the comforts money provided were too strong to disavow them. I think she did love Lawrence but they weren't in the real world enough to prove it would work. 3y
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Sargar114 @CoffeeNBooks I think you said it well. She was quite naive. I genuinely think she didn‘t even consider how Lawrence would feel and would just go along with her hope of essentially using him. I understand her choosing of Rupert, but I did not like her just assuming Lawrence would be okay with it or being the alternative. 3y
megnews I agree with @AmyG @CoffeeNBooks & @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick People married for money and had lovers on the side. I‘m sure it was more acceptable for men but there were probably many women doing so as well. She probably thought it was an acceptable arrangement. This really didn‘t make me like Selina less. I think she was a product of her time and class. 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews I think that‘s true they all had side people 🤯 3y
TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I assume she knew? Must have been common knowledge 😬 3y
JaclynW I agree that she was super naive, and self centered, in thinking that her plans would be accepted by Lawrence. It was a normal occurrence in her circles, but I don't think it would have been in his. A glowing difference in their worlds. Would things like this have kept popping up if they had decided to stay together? Can two worlds combine? I like to think that love conquers all. But🤷‍♀️ 3y
JaclynW I would have hated to be the second fiddle. The person in the shadows waiting for myoved one to have time for me. 💔 3y
TheBookHippie @JaclynW demeaning ... I‘m hoping Selina is just young and clueless but still classism much ?! Oy 3y
mollyrotondo Uhh the scenes with Selina and Lawrence made me dislike Selina more and more. How could this be her plan? She wants that kind of life? Marrying someone for prestige but carrying on with another man on the side? That‘s what you see in your future? And why would Lawrence be okay with this? 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I loathe this type of woman. I think that‘s why the read was difficult for me. I don‘t care about the times there is no age on human decency morality truth ... white privilege I find it disgusting. Which is for sure an unpopular opinion 😬🤣🤷🏽‍♀️ 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I‘m glad Lawrence held his own refusing to be her play thing. 3y
DebinHawaii I did not like many of her actions but I felt for her& didn‘t dislike l her. I think it was the done thing, very unfair to Lawrence & I don‘t like that at all but again, I see her lack of understanding & distrust of love coming through, coupled with her immaturity & her upbringing. 3y
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie yes it is such a privileged thing to think. I can just get married to money and string along some poor guy. It‘s terrible and just makes me realize how far gone Selina is in this book. 3y
JaclynW @TheBookHippie Oy indeed. 3y
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Certainty - permanence - stability ?! Is Selina this naive or obtuse ? These are things she thinks she‘ll get with Rupert?!?

AmyG I thought she was quite naive, but she was also very young. Rupert was safe for her. And she had just lost her best friend so emotionally she wasn‘tin a good place. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I think she was so afraid of the possibility of losing Lawrence like she'd lost Flick, that at the moment it seemed like the best choice was to choose safe, and that meant choosing Rupert. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Selina was sheltered by her privilege so she seemingly had no marketable skills to support herself. Once Flick died Selina likely realized she couldn't make it on her own. With Lawrence she wouldn't be alone, but that seemed to reflect on her opinion on his ability to support her. A 21 year old back then was probably more mature than the average one today, but once the second death course to her hit, she contemplated mortality. 3y
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megnews I think it was custom. What young women were taught from a young age was their duty. To marry well not for love. To do what her parents say. She was up against a lot of shoulds and ought tos. (edited) 3y
Deblovestoread Coming from privilege it is risking everything she knows to be with Lawrence. If the man was wealthy and fell for a poor woman, society would have twittered but he would not lose everything to be with her. I think she was scared and made the practical choice and the choice her upbringing said was right. 3y
mollyrotondo Rupert was the safe bet as far as a roof over her head and no stress about the future. She could stay in her comfortable circle of friends and family. But she was not thinking at all about her happiness. Happiness didn‘t even cross her mind until it was too late. 3y
DebinHawaii Again I go back to her examples of love & both Howard & Flick “leaving” her making it not worth the risk in her mind. Her family was cold, none of them & few in her circle were in love matches so it would be hard for her to truly understand love. As @Kdgordon88 said, if the times & society, she would have lost everything if things had not worked out with Lawrence. Rupert was safety & security & she thought no risk to her heart. (edited) 3y
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Selina explaining to Lawrence it‘s dangerous to love with wild abandon.... truth ? Because she could lose him? Or because she‘s afraid to feel that much or both?

AmyG Selina had alot to lose. More than Lawrence. She had a lifestyle and family that would have disowned her. I just don‘t think she was mature enough, confident enough to leave her life behind for him. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I agree that she had a lot to lose, and that made her afraid. What if she was disowned by her family, and things didn't end up working out with Lawrence- it would have been a lot more difficult for her to support herself. I think she also knew that she wouldn't ultimately end up with Lawrence, so she had to decide if she could live with just the memory of how she felt with him knowing she'd probably never feel that way again. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Her best friend died, her family wasn't loving, the was no love with Rupert, it seems like her & Theo were pulling away from each other... the money & stability was all she really had left to lose. Sadly, Selina wasn't brave enough to take a chance on love. It seems like those who love too hard either leave it behind or love the wrong person. 3y
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Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick you make great points. She already lost so much, her stability and the life she was accustomed to was at risk and with the loss of Flick it was the last straw and almost woke her up to the realization of all that was at risk. Like everyone said she wasn‘t mature or confident enough to take that risk. 3y
megnews I don‘t think women of her social class at that time could see any other choice than the one she made. 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews I keep seeing my grandma who did chose differently who did risk it so I know it‘s possible. As this is my nature as well it‘s hard for me to see it and read it knowing how defeating that life is how awful to live knowing you never have any choices for love or self. 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 with age comes wisdom but I do think she just broke.. 3y
JaclynW I kept hoping she'd chose love (chose life!). But. She didn't. Do you think she regretted her choice? Do you think she would do something different at this age with maturity and wisdom gained? @TheBookHippie @Sargar114 @megnews @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @amyg @CoffeeNBooks 3y
TheBookHippie @JaclynW Nope. I don‘t. I think that‘s the frustrating part of her character for me. 3y
megnews @JaclynW At the end of life I think people take stock. I think she did regret not having Lawrence‘s Love but I don‘t know she would say she‘d do anything different. In today‘s time women have more options open to them so possibly she may have made a different choice. 3y
AmyG Not everyone is born courageous. For me it took life experience to gain the confidence. We make the best choices in that moment as the person we are. I don‘t think Selina could have made a different choice at that time. 3y
mollyrotondo I think she‘s both afraid of losing him and she‘s afraid to feel that much love for another person. She loved Theo and then Flick and they died. Love brings on pain and she didn‘t want to feel pain anymore. 3y
DebinHawaii Selina wasn‘t given love or shown in model of it beyond her brother so she didn‘t really understand it. As the two people she loved & cared most for in life Howard & Flick both died, I think the fear to love Lawrence & make that enough to live on & then if he left or was taken away from her, be alone & in so much pain again, all made her to afraid to take the risk. I don‘t like that about her character but in a way I can understand it. 3y
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Selina went from striving to live to survival mode. How many women did this then and do this still? Is this being a coward? Or was it just how it was?

AmyG I think it‘s part how it was and age, maturity, experience. 3y
CoffeeNBooks @AmyG I agree! 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Like @AmyG said, I think the change comes from individual circumstances. 3y
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Sargar114 I think she was always in survival mode, in a way. Her desire to live life to its fullest was also a way to grieve the loss of her brother. When Flick died...she changed how she saw her need to survive, a more safer way. 3y
AmyG @Sargar114 A good take on her. 3y
megnews Agree with @AmyG 3y
JaclynW @AmyG @CoffeeNBooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Agreed. It still happens today. Women get "grand ideas," go after them, hit resistance and then have to decide if they are brave enough to push through or give in (survival). Not all of us feel strong enough or are supported to be all we can be. Thankfully there's more opportunities, support and women with the growth mindset to keep going than there was in the 1920s. Still needs improvement. 3y
TheBookHippie @JaclynW YUP. They just cannot. 3y
mollyrotondo Selina really needed to take time for herself after Flick died. She was so filled with grief and never really dealt with the loss of her brother either so she needed to be with herself and not cling to anyone, Rupert or Lawrence. I don‘t want to call her a coward but I do think she made a rash decision when she picked Rupert and decided she didn‘t want to “feel” anymore. Never make an important choice when your upset (edited) 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo Ah someone who sees it like me... she needed to collect herself and I do think she acted cowardly a bit 3y
DebinHawaii I agree with what‘s been said. I think the combination of factors—age, her immaturity, family & societal pressure & conditioning that had her leaning her way to “safety” & Rupert & then Flick‘s death just pushed her fully into her too quick & bad decision. A bit cowardly yes, and I wish she had waited but she didn‘t have the strength of mind & heart to choose Lawrence & love. 3y
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Final discussion on this book tomorrow 🤍

🤐🤐🤐🤐

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emmaturi
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For the letter G in my alphabet challenge I chose these books!

A Girl Made Of Air by Nydia Hetherington
The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey

Love both the covers!

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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD SUNDAY

Final talk on this book 🥂💃🏽

Everyone welcome to join in 🤍

Until then 🤐🤐🤐

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TheBookHippie
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Final discussion Sunday #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

I cannot wait to discuss!

Headed to hospital for my vaccine 💉🤞🏻✊🏼last one ! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Good luck!! I hope you do well ❤️ 3y
samantharoberts Good luck!! 3y
PurpleyPumpkin Good luck!🍀 3y
AmyG Good luck!!! 3y
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megnews
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Pickpick

I‘m very glad #SundayBuddyRead brought this book to my attention. Looking forward to final discussion.

TheBookHippie I can‘t wait!!! 3y
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CoffeeNBooks
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Pickpick

Selina is a young woman in the late 1920's, from an elite family in society. As such, there are expectations for her to marry someone also from an elite family. She has to decide what path she is going to take, and live with the consequences of those decisions. There were a few things that never connected to anything and/or never quite made sense, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
#SundayBuddyRead

emmaturi I will be reading this as my next book. 3y
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TheBookHippie
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WAIT is MARGOT the sister-in-law of Miranda ???? And also at early parties with RUPERT? Would Miranda know Rupert was sleeping with her sister in law??? Now to find my book.. make it make sense !!!! We have to have characters that are nada and then we‘re supposed to remember this name ?! HELP

vlwelser Lol. I miss you guys but I'm glad I'm not rereading that book. 3y
AmyG I just finished. Many irrelevant characters in this story, but I enjoyed it. (edited) 3y
TheBookHippie @vlwelser lord help me 🤣😳 3y
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Deblovestoread @AmyG And some dangling unresolved tidbits...🤣 (edited) 3y
CoffeeNBooks Wait, was she?! If so, I don't remember that at all! 3y
TheBookHippie @CoffeeNBooks SERIOUSLY ME EITHER... I reread back before today too 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️😫 3y
CoffeeNBooks @TheBookHippie I just went back to the beginning of the book and found it in chapter 3, where Flick says something about Selina's sister marrying Margot's brother. I should have realized when I saw the last name Atherton, but I had forgotten Lionel and Miranda's last name. 3y
TheBookHippie @CoffeeNBooks GAH too many useless characters and facts 🤣😫🤯😅 I found her 😬 3y
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Chapters 23-END

Anyone who has read this feel free to join us next SUNDAY !!

AmyG I want to finish today. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. 3y
TheBookHippie @AmyG RIGHT?!?! Opening my book soon! 3y
Karisa Yes, how is she going to resolve all this? Alice needs a good life! 3y
DebinHawaii Still going to wait to next Saturday I think but anxious to see what happens. 3y
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Now what ?!?!

I‘m going to finish this today and get our questions ready for next week.

Vaccine number 2 for me tomorrow 💉🤞🏻
So I‘ll see you next SUNDAY!

Thanks all for participating!! I cannot wait to see how this ends.... let‘s hope the book survives!!!

megnews No clue what happens next. I hope Alice gets to be with someone who loves her. Good luck with your shot. My second dose is the 28th. Can‘t wait! 3y
DanaManiac Yes I‘m hoping for a better future for Alice!! 3y
DanaManiac Good luck! Mine is May 2nd. ‘See you‘ next Sunday! 3y
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TheBookHippie @megnews 🤍🤍🤍💉 3y
TheBookHippie @DanaManiac yay 💉🤍🤍🤍 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews I‘m awaiting @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick she guesses correctly A LOT! 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'll try to go through the other posts later but since attention was called to the photograph Polly had that was credited to Lawrence I really hope Polly finds him and tells him what's going on so he can swoop in and claim Alice, even if it is likely too late to be with Selina. @megnews 3y
CoffeeNBooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I hope so, too! Alice not only deserves to continue through life with a parent who will take care of her, but I think Lawrence will foster her love of drawing. 3y
AmyG Good luck with #2. Keep the next day free if you don‘t feel well. I just want Lawrence to be successful and for Alice to live with him....and he hires Polly to take care of her. HA! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻Agree @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick (edited) 3y
CoffeeNBooks Good luck with your 2nd shot @TheBookHippie! I'm getting my 2nd shot in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story takes us in the last section. Thanks for all of the thought-provoking discussion questions! 3y
Sargar114 Yay shots shots shots!!!! I just got my first this week, my library hold is up tomorrow and I can‘t renew so I‘m trying to finish today or tomorrow too. I want to see how it ends...I think it‘s beyond redemption for me...but I guess we‘ll see 3y
TheBookHippie @AmyG I took the week off 🤣😬😳🤷🏽‍♀️ 3y
AmyG Ha! Good for you! @TheBookHippie (edited) 3y
Deblovestoread Yay for shots! And I am hoping for a happy ending for Alice and maybe something a little horrible for Miranda..I do not like that woman! 🤣 3y
Karisa Good luck with your next dose. Hurray! Just spent 8 hours volunteering at a big vaccination site yesterday. About 4,000 shots in arms many were for young people (my 16 year old daughter included). Things are looking up! 3y
TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 I AM WITH YOU!!!! Miranda just NO 😡🤢 3y
TheBookHippie @Karisa waiting for the age to drop to 14 my son will be 15 in September my daughter in her 30s is on a wait list 😬 3y
mollyrotondo Yayy congratulations to everyone getting their vaccines! My second is May 4! Definitely good call taking the week off. Me time all the way!!!! I can‘t wait to finish this book. I want WWII, Germany, Rupert, and the governess to all play a vital role at the end in order to make this book cooler than what I‘ve read so far. I need some espionage; some foreign intrigue; something to give this book more punch. We shall see. 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo RIGHT?!?! Ugh!!!!! Where is something else in this nuts story?! I was fairly sick after shot one so better to be prepared 😖😫🤢 (edited) 3y
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie aww I‘m sorry to hear that! Yes prepare for a lot of sleep and drink a lot of water!!! It turns out I‘m technically allergic to the vaccine (Moderna) because I broke out in a small amount of hives. I was told to have Benadryl on hand for the second shot so I can take it afterward as soon as a hive pops up. They said it might be worse after the second. But as long as I‘m cleared to get the second that‘s all I care about. Small price 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo they wait with an epi pen after they give it to me -I‘m allergic to many meds and drug classes- Benadryl one of them so it‘s high risk stakes -I took Zyrtec after round one and yes I got hives as well, Moderna. I‘m not looking forward to another week of hell that‘s for sure 🤷🏽‍♀️ 3y
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie oh goodness I totally understand. It‘s terrible to feel so sick especially with these types of allergies. The doctor also told me Zyrtec is good to take so I‘ll see if I can order that on Amazon. Did you get hives right away from moderna or a few days later? 3y
TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo exactly one week later weird right? My friend too! Zyrtec is what I have on hand for all allergic reactions I have dissolvable they work immediately 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 3y
mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie yes the same thing happened to me! A week later. So bizarre. Ooo dissolvable Zyrtec. I didn‘t know there was such a thing. I will look for those first. If not then I‘ll get just get a regular pill. Thank you for that! 3y
DebinHawaii Polly‘s mad at Lady Lennox & got out the paper/magazine with the photos Lawrence took so she‘s going to London & find him & tell him about Selina/Alice. My hope as I said in an earlier post is this happens in time for both to get to Alice in time for goodbyes & that Lawrence will get custody of her & Polly will take care of her. (And although I‘m not underplaying the grief of losing a mother, I want Alice to have access to MANY colored pencils!) 3y
DebinHawaii Good luck on the vaccine. I had my second two weeks ago, Friday & wasn‘t too bad. A sore arm, headache slight temp, fatigue & night sweats but was over it in 24 hours. The headache was the worst/longest lasting part. I‘ll keep my fingers crossed it goes well for you. Thanks again for hosting! 3y
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii please let that child be filled with art supplies!!!!!! It bothered me so much I sent colored pencils to the k4 classroom 🤣🤍the teacher was happy to revive them. They can‘t share due to Covid so glad I sent them over! 3y
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The doctor saying the child should not visit ...
Cruel all of it.
This was true for years.
Even as a child myself
My parents took my sister home to die, but even then the advice given them...horrific
Do we handle death better now?
The needing to go through the process why wasn‘t it allowed for children until recently ?

Poor ALICE what‘s going to become of her?!

megnews I think how we handle children during a death varies by family but I think for the most part we handle it better now. 3y
DanaManiac I think we handle it better now for the most part. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I think we handle it better now, and I think people are more open about talking about death. 3y
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CoffeeNBooks I can't imagine Alice not being able to see her mom one last time and being able to say goodbye- that seems so cruel! 3y
AmyG They treat Alice as if she has no emotion....a “second-class citizen”. We know so much more today. This breaks my heart for Selina and Alice. 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie I wanted to throw the book with this too, haha! I hated how they‘re dealing with Selina‘s illness and think it‘ll be worse for Alice in the long run. Then again, Selina didn‘t help by not telling her either...so theirs that. I like to think we handle children and death better now, but like @megnews it depends on the family 3y
Karisa Gosh, did Rupert even speak to Alice? He was so proud for driving himself over but avoided the toughest part of comforting Alice. Then followed up with a trip to his mistress?! Ew 3y
mollyrotondo @Karisa yes I wondered this too! He didn‘t even talk to Alice, right?! He drove out to the house but I don‘t know what he did once he got to the house. This was a major throw the book moment. The doctor is horrible for giving this advice. Rupert is an idiot and an extremely cold person for thinking this is the right thing to do. I think overall we have a better understanding of the importance of letting a dying relative see their loved ones 3y
DebinHawaii It sounded like he just told Lady Lennox at the house who told the servants. The doctor made me so angry. “Go buy her a toy...” 🤬🤬🤬 I hope we do better overall with children & death. I am going to be mad if Alice & Lawrence don‘t get to Selina before she dies. At that point I will throw the book in my mind. (I just have the library e-book, due tomorrow & the library hard copy so I can‘t really throw it!!!) 😉 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This was infuriating! This little girl's mother is dying. Other than Polly, no one gives a flying FLICK about her emotional well-being and what Selina's impending death will mean. I think generally people have improved with the death thing, but not all. When I was younger, my brother & I stayed home instead of attending funerals or wakes. In hindsight, we weren't close to them, so I can't say it was to protect us or we just weren't close. 3y
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TheBookHippie
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

And so she is sick -Selina
And Rupert does know all..
Also they think Selina is sick for her clothing, shoe and life choice ?! And the suffragettes?!
And he rips up the letter?!
I cannot. Thoughts?
Thoughts on Rupert?
He is apparently having a mistress as well? Who he should well marry?

THREW BOOK HERE

megnews It‘s always interesting to me how male illness was never attributed to this type of junk but women‘s was. I really can‘t stand infidelity but in this instance I can‘t blame Rupert when his wife‘s heart is closed off to him. Ripping up the letter, though, is a different matter. Wasn‘t that letter to Theo? Why wouldn‘t he want him to get it? Does he think Alice is Theo‘s? Or did I miss something? 3y
DanaManiac Yeah I got a little jumbled up here, tbh. I wasn‘t sure if he thought Theo might be Alice‘s father or what. (edited) 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews I reread it a few times I‘m lost as well 🤷🏽‍♀️ @DanaManiac 3y
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CoffeeNBooks I'm glad I'm not the only one who's confused about the letter! I was so mad that they would even think that Selina's illness was due to the reasons stated. The thinking was so wrong, and so detrimental to women back then. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I remember reading about Zelda Fitzgerald, and they thought her mental health was suffering because she was trying to write stories instead of *just* focusing on being a good wife and mother. They seriously thought that it was too taxing for a woman to do anything else. I can't imagine. 3y
AmyG Poor, weak women. More nonsense made up by.....men. I didn‘t want to stop reading because so much info was dropped at the end of this section. And we don‘t know much of anything about their marriage...only how good could it have been to make Rupert do this? Not much love between the two....only duty. 3y
Sargar114 @TheBookHippie DEFINITELY a book throwing moment!!! I know it was the opinion of the time, but my eyes rolled so far back I could seethe back of my skull. I feel bad for Rupert, he thought he was doing right by his friend by taking care of his sister...apparently it was the wrong sister. The letter thing was just another example for me that this is a poorly written book. 3y
Sargar114 I now just realized Selina‘s sister is Miranda not Margot so now I‘m just confused about the introduction of a new character this late in the game...sigh 3y
Karisa @DanaManiac Ok, so relieved it wasn't just me on that part. I was so confused by that too. 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 RIGHT SO MANY BOOK THROWS... does no one edit books any longer ??? 3y
TheBookHippie @CoffeeNBooks I thought of Zelda too Sylvia Plath Emily Dickinson ...ugh 3y
mollyrotondo Okay this is where i flipped out lol Rupert truly is a horrible person. He does not care at all about Selina dying. He pretty much says it‘s her own fault. And doesn‘t think he has to pay for Alice‘s boarding school. You are still her guardian whether you are her biological father or not. I hate him. I don‘t feel bad for him at all. I think the letter was supposed to go to Alice but he rips it up because he doesn‘t want Alice to hear the news. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I thought maybe the letter was for Lawrence, letting him know that she was dying, and that he has a daughter. Especially since the letter was with the journal that she always kept hidden away. 3y
DebinHawaii OK, I thought the letter is one the nurse wrote for Selina to go to Polly for Alice (& maybe the final part of the story?) & that‘s what he tore up. The card from Theo was on the flowers delivered & Rupert read it & left it because Theo was far away in Italy & therefore not an issue. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyway, I don‘t like Rupert for tearing up the letter but I also can see where he knows his honeymoon child isn‘t his & his wife stil loves someone else⬇️ 3y
DebinHawaii ... so I don‘t blame him for the infidelity too much. The article from Miranda, Rupert‘s question to the doctor & especially the doctor‘s answer really infuriate me. It is the “blame the woman & her lifestyle” thing. Argh! 🤬😡🤬 @Sargar114 Margot is Miranda‘s sister-in-law. 3y
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I have it now 🤯 😅 jeezch 3y
Sargar114 @DebinHawaii ahhh good call...I vaguely now remember...the other bridesmaid, yeah? 3y
DebinHawaii @Sargar114 Yes! And if I recall about as delightful as Miranda so a good pairing! 3y
TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥂 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Glad I wasn't the only one who found this scene confusing! Rupert, you dolt, I don't think Henry wanted you to enter into a loveless marriage with his sister to keep an eye on her! 3y
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Flick dies and Selina shuts her heart ..
Should she have gone to Lawrence ?

DanaManiac I wish she had but maybe that would have caused her to choose differently and she couldn‘t face that (or the consequences of it, anyway) 3y
TheBookHippie @DanaManiac I don‘t think she was strong enough which is unbelievably sad. How could her life been worse than what she chose? 3y
CoffeeNBooks No!! She was vulnerable and I think she saw Rupert as a way to cope (or not have to cope) with the situation instead of having to deal with more heartbreak. I was hoping she would run straight to Lawrence. Or at least after she got to the symphony and realized what music they were playing. 3y
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AmyG Maybe she saw Rulert as being able to take care of her as the loss of Flick seems to have broke her. 3y
TheBookHippie @CoffeeNBooks the music was her sign to run to Lawrence ! 3y
Sargar114 I think the loss of Flick may have woken her up to the realities of her behavior. Also like others have said possibly broken her down...when she sees Rupert it‘s not that she wanted to go with him, she just didn‘t have the strength to say no. 3y
Karisa @CoffeeNBooks I was hoping she would've gone to Lawrence too. He would have let her express her feelings. Her social set was just too ready to blame Flick (and later Selina's) health problems on trying to be too free. Why did the young men seem to get a pass though? Frustrating 3y
Deblovestoread I agree with @Sargar114 I think she threw in the towel and didn‘t have the strength to do anything other than accept the inevitable. 3y
mollyrotondo I think at this point she‘s tired of the emotions. It was more numbing to go with Rupert. She was used to not really expressing emotions and I think she felt safer that way. 3y
DebinHawaii I think it was the finality of Flick no longer being a way out of the stable, loveless life that was setting up for her & with that it was far easier to just go with Rupert & money & stability & not to fight for Lawrence & love & no money & an insecure future. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Her family id emotionally stunted so Selina choice the easy comfort - a night out with someone who knew Flick and wouldn't ask her if she wanted to talk about it. I just don't think Selina was as strong or bold as she truly wanted to be. 3y
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Selinas birthday
Naked girl velvet couch picture
The lark ascending
Aquamarine necklace to match her eyes
Selina afraid

“Love wasn‘t neat or pretty
It‘s messy raw brutal”
Lawrence
Agree?

megnews I‘m so glad Alice will have this piece of her mother and father. 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews me too!!! 3y
CoffeeNBooks I think for them love was definitely not easy because of their different places in society, but I think it didn't necessarily have to be that way. On the other hand, I do feel a bit sorry for Selina- it's one thing for her to give up her allowance if she chose Lawrence, but her family would have disowned her. As much as we all dislike her family, they were still her family and all she'd ever known. 3y
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CoffeeNBooks I was really happy that Alice has the necklace now, and it seems like she might soon find out the history of it. I like that she's already figured out that it wasn't given to her mom by her dad. 3y
AmyG Yes @CoffeeNBooks I believe Alice was betwen a rock and a hard place. She was very young and I am not sure she was capable of giving up everything. But that meant she had to live without Lawrence. Did she know she was pregnant and feel 5e best life for her child would be a life with money? 3y
Sargar114 @CoffeeNBooks I liked that Alice has the necklace as well. I don‘t envy Selina for the choice she ultimately would have to make, it wasn‘t easy...but I still don‘t like how she‘s hurt people by her actions. 3y
Sargar114 I loved this description of love by Lawrence. His perspective is quite beautiful 3y
Deblovestoread Had to go listen to The Lark Ascending. There‘s a lovely YouTube video of Hillary Hahn as the violinist. 3y
mollyrotondo I am also glad Alice has this piece of jewelry. It is more important than Rupert‘s stupid rubies. 3y
megnews @Kdgordon88 I‘m going to go take a listen too 3y
TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 it‘s so beautiful 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews It‘s very emotional. 3y
Deblovestoread @TheBookHippie isn‘t it? I‘ve listened several times since it was mentionedin the book. I tend to go down a rabbit hole. Listened to the piece and then my daughter led me to Hillary‘s video and now I‘ve been absorbed in the violin this week. 3y
TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 I love it when that happens!!! 🤍🤍🤍 3y
DebinHawaii I am happy Alice has the necklace. I was worried when Selina looked for it when she was sleeping drugged up in the hospital. @AmyG I am still thinking/hoping the pregnancy happened the last night before the wedding. I wonder if Selina had known she was pregnant, if it would have made a difference in her choice to marry Rupert? 3y
AmyG @DebinHawaii I agree about if she knew she was pregnant, it might have made a difference in her choice to marry Rupert. 3y
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Flick and Theo..
What is wrong with Flick ? What fake royalty ? Apartment with Flick- Selina‘s ticket out..Flick who died. Suicide ? Drugs? Both? Flicks death seemed to alter many many lives....

Flick named The Glittering Hour

What in the world ?

megnews I don‘t think it was suicide. I think drug/alcohol interaction. 3y
DanaManiac I think it sounds accidental. I had a feeling it was coming after Selina‘s birthday meet up. She was not well. 3y
CoffeeNBooks I thought maybe it was an illness rather than drugs/alcohol when Theo was saying that Flick kept forgetting things, but I could never quite make sense of it. So, I guess it probably was drugs and alcohol, and I think it was some sort of accident because of a drug/alcohol interaction. 3y
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AmyG I wonder if Flick sufferred from depression....hence alcohol and drugs. 3y
Sargar114 I think it was drugs. I got a very Whitney Houston vibe from the description of how they found her. I think Theo was describing her going too far into her habit and the references to her wanting to drink all the time. 3y
Sargar114 This also seemed to be a turning point for Selina and what drove her to ultimately choose a life with Rupert. 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I still think suicide she just couldn‘t do it anymore so many did that in the tub back then warm tub slit wrists 😫😫 3y
TheBookHippie @AmyG I think she was hugely troubled yes 3y
Karisa @DanaManiac That was my interpretation too. Accidental. Too much alcohol/drugs. Flick seemed to be always seeking escape. 3y
Deblovestoread I think Flick was an addict and I am going with an accidental death. Fun had turned to need. Selina was too wrapped up in her own world to pick up on Theo‘s warnings that something wasn‘t right. 3y
mollyrotondo This was another random moment. Selina was that occupied with Lawrence that she never noticed her best friend was acting weird? She didn‘t even notice at the table that morning when Flick was rambling and talking fast. I noticed she was acting strangely and her best friend didn‘t? And then she died so quickly? This felt rushed through. 3y
DebinHawaii There were mentions in the early part of the book of the @powder” in Flick‘s compact alluding to cocaine I thought. Between that & the alcohol, I am thinking accidental overdose rather than suicide but either make sense. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Our early introductions to Flick mcde me think she was fragile. I think she either had depression or an underlying illness that she found was numbed by the drugs & alcohol. I thought he death was an accidental overdose/ mixture. Like @mollyrotondo mentioned, I was surprised that Selina was so hung up in Lawrence that she hadn't noticed her BFF's alarming behavior. It also came on rather abruptly. 3y
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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

What does Polly KNOW?
Also she‘s there for Selina and has the upper hand?!

Boarding School?!
Clearly Selina is not coming back for the child. And this is the solution ??!

megnews Honestly, as bad a rep as boarding school gets could it possibly be any worse than living with these cold hearted people? 3y
TheBookHippie @megnews could only be a step up! 3y
DanaManiac @megnews I don‘t think it could be worse. At least let‘s hope not!! 3y
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CoffeeNBooks Polly knows everything! And I love that she and Selina always had such a close bond, that it seems like Selina didn't treat her like a servant. Polly has a good heart. And cares so much for Alice. I agree that boarding school would be better than where she's currently at, but I'm hoping Polly can figure out a better situation for Alice. 3y
AmyG Agree @CoffeeNBooks Polly knows everything. And I wonder if she has a hand, if Selina dies, in reuniting her with her Dad, Lawrence. 3y
Sargar114 I hope so @AmyG!!! I agree that Polly knows it all, she was even trying to slip in clues about Selina not feeling well in her letters to Alice. @TheBookHippie if she doesn‘t end up with Lawrence, boarding school is probably a better spot given there may be people there that want her to be successful 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 anything but these evil people I agree. 3y
mollyrotondo @megnews haha yes! Boarding school is a major step up from this family. I‘m hoping Polly knows where Lawrence is and will take Alice to him after Selina dies. 3y
DebinHawaii I think Polly knows most everything by now & is going to help Alice since she saw the photos from Lawrence & knows where Selina is. I am hoping she finds him & tells him what is happening. 🤞🏼🙏🏼 Although I don‘t disagree that boarding school could be much worse for Alice than her grandparent‘s house but then I get all the Jane Eyre & The Little a Princess flashbacks—so maybe “the devil you know...” 3y
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