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Friday, July 1, 2016

Friday Linkups: Finding Fontainebleau















It's Friday linkup time!  I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
When you comment on a blog post do you ask to be notified when there are replies?

My Answer:
It depends on what kind of comment I left.  Usually when I'm just commenting on the post I don't but if I'm asking any kind of question I do ask to be notified or try and check back to see if there was a response.

This week's book is one for a blog tour that's coming up and it was one I couldn't get my hands of fast enough.  Finding Fontainebleau: An American Boy in France by Thad Carhart has so many aspects I love - coming of age, life in the 50s, post-World War II in Paris and alwas in the background the Chateau of Fontainebleu.  Carhart also wrote The Piano Shop on the Left Bank which is another book that's been on my TBR for far too long and if I continue to enjoy this book as much as I am right now I have a feeling it will be moving up the TBR fast!

The Beginning:
All these years later I can recall with keen precision the moment when the bottom dropped out, because that is exactly what it felt like: one moment we were flying, shaking a bit from turbulence, the next we were falling, in a calm eerie quiet broken only by the sound of the four engines laboring uselessly.

My Thoughts:
Well that sounds really and truly dreadful!  It makes me kind of glad I want be flying anytime soon!

The 56: 
We kindergarten kids were a frequent source of amusement to the "big" girls: not quite real, more like stuffed animals who decorated one part of the grounds.

My Thoughts:
Very very different from the beginning!  This one made me laugh.  I have a 6 year old and college kids and I'm pretty sure the older ones view the 6 year old in a pretty similar light!

So what do you think?  Keep reading?


37 comments:

  1. For some reason we keep getting different blog hop questions. I always go there on Friday mornings to see what the question is so I don't know if there is a queue of questions somewhere that others are getting a different question from...hmmm.

    Stormi
    Friday Memes

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    1. There's a list of questions if you go to Memes and the Book Blogger Hop but it seems like we are a bit off schedule. I figure we will answer them all eventually!

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  2. I haven't heard of Finding Fontainebleau: An American Boy in France before, but the beginning was certainly interesting. I liked the descriptive writing.

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  3. Yea, I'm terrible at clicking to be notified. I wish blogger would just make it automatic. Although if they did that, the few people that comment on my posts would realize how terrible I am at responding to them.... So there's that. Lol.

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    1. Oh I know! I'm trying to get better but my replying is definitely inconsistent at best.

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  4. I'd keep reading! That's a pretty harrowing beginning and the postwar setting does sound very appealing. I imagine there was such hope in the air after WWII and postwar Paris... yes please! :)

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    1. I can't resist postwar Paris either! So far I'm really enjoying it!

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  5. Postwar books seemingly call to me these days...memories of the past. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy! Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. I like to see comments on topics that are of interest. If I am really interested in what is being said, I always ask for notifications. :) Usually that is all the time. :)

    ENJOY your weekend.

    Happy Hopping!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog Hop Answer

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    1. I always like to see the answers as well but I'm not always the best at follow up!

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  7. Finding Fontainebleau sounds like a great read. Enjoy. Here's my Friday read - The Last Photograph by Emma Chapman.

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    1. I love the title of your book! Definitely attention grabbing!

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  8. I totaly always forget to click the box to be notified!! This book sounds awesome! I can't wait to see what you think.

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    1. So far I'm enjoying it and I absolutely in love with the setting!

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  9. I loved the Friday56 quote you chose!!!!! It is very amusing 😀

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  10. What a great backdrop. I've actually been to the Chateau of Fontainebleau and it is breathtaking. Happy Friday!

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    1. Oh how amazing! I'd love to see it in person. It looks gorgeous.

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  11. Interesting theme, growing up in France. I'd read this one.

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  12. Hi Katherine,

    When I receive comments on one of my posts, I generally always reply to that person individually, directly below their comment.

    I then always make a return visit to that commenter's own blog, to leave my own comment on one of their posts in return.

    I don't generally request acknowledgment that my comment has been read, nor do I usually follow through on any other of the post's comments.

    I have never visited Fontainebleu and memoirs are not one of my preferred reading genres, so this book probably isn't for me. Intriguing as those opening lines are, as it does say in the blurb that we are way beyond the Second World War, I am kind of nosey about where he is flying from and to when events unfold.

    Sorry I don't share your enthusiasm for the story and I hope that you enjoy it :)

    Yvonne

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    1. It's okay! Not every book is for everyone. I hope your enjoying your book!

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  13. Yes, I'd keep reading. Have a great weekend!

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  14. Finding Fontainebleau sounds really interesting. I love reading about that time period. I don't usually go back to check on responses to my comments unless it is an active discussion that I feel the need to go back to. Have a great weekend!

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    1. So far I'm really enjoying it! I want to go back and check but unfortunately I don't usually have time.

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  15. I totally agree with your approach regarding comments, and do the very same thing you do. Unless it's something special, I don't usually request to be notified regarding subsequent comments or replies on a post. My inbox is FLOODED!! Lol.

    I LOVE the book you've picked this week, even though the beginning is totally nerve-wracking!! I have a HUGE fear of flying, and especially so after 9/11!! Still, I would LOVE to visit France! (By ship, maybe? Lol.) I'm adding this book to my Goodreads shelves, as I, too, am interested in the elements you've mentioned -- the 50s and post-WWII Paris. TOTALLY AWESOME CHOICE!! Thanks for the heads up!!

    Also, thanks bunches for visiting my blog and commenting on my BBH post!! : )

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    1. I think the beginning of this book would not have you wanting to jump on a plane! It all works out but it's a dicey couple of pages.

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  16. What a fab setting; Paris, post war, coming of age. Yes, yes and yes :). Love!
    I'm the same as you about comments. Sometimes. I do love discus and comment luv though as that way I get an email. I hate the ones you tick and you get an email every time a comment is added, not just your reply. I always have to unsubscribe to those.

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  17. Very interesting time period and place! Happy reading!

    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

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  18. #56 is hilarious and probably very true. This does sounds like an interesting read. I have always set up my blogs to automatically send my reply to their email. So no check boxes. I do however sign up to get responses from my comments left.

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  19. Pretty frightening opening... can you imagine?!
    Those snippets are great and the book sounds like quite a read! Happy Sunday!

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  20. I loved the book, Katherine! It reminded me of the 5 years of French classes I had in school. I loved the descriptions of France in the 50's as well. I'm sure it would be hard for many Americans to realize that some people were still having to dig themselves out of the rubble of WWII.

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  21. You and I were on the same page with this week's blog hop question. I should have went ahead and included mine, but I ended up deleting it because I realized it was different at the last minute and didn't have time to answer the other question. I generally always subscribe to comments just in case the blogger responds to my comment. There are occasions when I don't, but it's rare.

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  22. Oh interesting read. I think I'm glad my next trip is by train and not plane. Ergs!

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