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Midwinter
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
56 posts | 17 read | 83 to read
Father and Son, Landyn and Vale Midwinter, are men of the land. Suffolk farmers. Times are hard and they struggle to sustain their property, their livelihood and their heritage in the face of competition from big business.
But an even bigger, more brutal fight is brewing: a fight between each other, about the horrible death of Cecelia, beloved wife and mother, in Zambia ten years earlier. A past they have both refused to confront until now.
Over the course of a particularly mauling Suffolk winter, Landyn and Vale grapple with their memories and their pain, raking over what remains of their fragile family unit, constantly at odds and under threat of falling apart forever. While Vale makes increasingly desperate decisions, Landyn retreats, finding solace in the land, his animals - and a fox who haunts the farm and seems to bring with her both comfort and protection.
Alive to language and nature, Midwinter is a novel about guilt, blame and lost opportunities. Ultimately it is a story about love and the lengths we will go to find our way home.
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AllDebooks
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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#Naturalitsy #Midwintersolace

Thank you so much for all your lovely cards, messages and gifts. These have really lifted my spirits this week. We are most definitely doing this again. I send warm wishes and much love to you and yours over the holidays.
Merry Christmas x

dabbe 💙❄️💙 10mo
35 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Week 1 of #midwintersolace finds me working on reflection, feeling the urge to nest and hibernate grow but having work and life on a see saw. Today I‘m working- and then getting my daughter from the airport! I‘m excited and hopeful and have more emotions than i can express.

AllDebooks Awww, what an exciting day for you. I hope you get some time to relax and hang out with your family. X 11mo
mabell So good to have your daughter back! Will she stay long? 11mo
46 likes2 comments
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Jas16
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

A sad but quietly lovely, book about a father and son still reeling after the death of their wife/ mother a decade earlier. Anger, blame, sadness, love, and regret tinge every page.

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Kat_H
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Mehso-so

Chose this for the beautiful cover. Interesting story and some really lyrical parts but for some reason none of it rang true to me. The characters seemed too self aware, their emotions always too on show. The dialogue didn't really convince me either. A shame, I wanted to really like it!

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Itchyfeetreader
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Thank you @Caroline2 lovely post today. Brought a much needed smile to this Friday... (love the stickers!)

rockpools Fantastic! And I had no idea Wurzel Gummidge started life as a book. Have a lovely weekend 6y
Caroline2 Brill, I‘m glad you like it and it made you smile! 😊 6y
38 likes2 comments
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Caroline2
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Mehso-so

This is a tough one to review as I loved the writing, settings and characters but blimey was it depressing! More like The Bleak Midwinter! Trigger warnings: an awful scene of violence towards a dog! 😭 Sorry @TrishB it's a so-so from me. 😳

rockpools Hmm. I have this on my bedside table but haven't started it yet. Not the biggest fan of Depressing... We'll see if I get to it before it's recalled. 7y
TrishB I was definitely in the mood for a bleak book when I read this. I loved it - prose matched the story for me and it wasn‘t about the plot or the reveal....still one of my favs! I skipped past the dog scene very quickly! 7y
Caroline2 @TrishB yeah I skipped the dog scene quick! 😳 the prose was lovely and I did love the characters! I would defo read something else from this author! 👍🏻 7y
Caroline2 @TrishB and yes, I don't think I was in the right mood for it really looking back! There's a time and place for certain books isn't there! 7y
TrishB Sometimes there is definitely a wrong time! 7y
71 likes5 comments
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rachelwill
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

Book 28: Nature runs through this book like a ferocious wave. Nature as in the ocean, the hills, the weather but also nature as in our human nature. Focusing on the lives and histories of two men, the eponymous Midwinters, we sail through loss in all its guises and how we might have to go against what we think is our nature to come through a tempest.

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Caroline2
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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OH this is probably the only time I'm going to be able to say this....I haven't bought any books this year!!! 😂 But I am determined not to get any till I read the piles under my bed (that won't fit on my over flowing shelves!) which is about 30 books! 🙄 These are my TBR for Jan! 👍🏻

Tamra I am weak, very weak. 😖 I ordered Midwinter. 7y
DivineDiana Kudos to you!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Cathythoughts I can‘t wait to read Midwinter ✨✨✨👍 7y
TrishB Midwinter ❤️ I hope you all love it @Tamra @Cathythoughts 7y
79 likes4 comments
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Mitch
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
Pickpick

Oh my goodness this is so, so sad. Really sad. Beautiful and lyrical, complex and grounding - but so sad! A father and son are learning how to live, to grieve and to communicate in the years following the death of Landyn's wife / Vale's Mum. Tragedy and emotion weigh heavy on the farm, the atmosphere is thick and oppressive, but full of love and a deep sense of unconditional love.

Cathythoughts Lovely review ❤️. I have it on my kindle waiting 7y
Mitch 😀 7y
10 likes2 comments
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RedbagReadbooks
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Happy Christmas 🎄 everyone. Enjoy your family, friends, and furry friends at such a wonderful time of the year.

JessClark78 Merry Christmas! 7y
32 likes1 comment
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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#picksosobailpan #giveaway
Thank you @Cinfhen for your #giveaway and congrats on reaching 200,000 + 😁
I don‘t seem to have any pans - I think I bail before that point - so a bail is generally a pan!!

Caroline2 I bailed on Lincoln too! 😔 which was such a shame as I realllllly wanted to like it!!! 😳 7y
Cinfhen I didn't know you bailed on Lincoln? Do u think you'll pick it back up @Caroline2 & Trish??? 7y
Cinfhen Thanks for entering 😘😘 7y
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TrishB @Cinfhen I don‘t think so - it just didn‘t do anything for me. I felt there was a really good story there, but was outshone by the arty way of telling it. Personal opinion obviously!! 7y
Caroline2 @Cinfhen I don't think so either - the subject matter was too harsh for me (my little boy has been seriously ill this year) so I couldn't handle the grief and I agree with Trish, the artsy style grated on me. I just found it jarring?! 🤷‍♀️ 7y
Cinfhen I'm sorry to hear your little guy has been ill😔hope he's doing better and you receive good prognosis in the new year ~ sending 💕💕 @Caroline2 7y
111 likes6 comments
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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#feels #decdays
@Cinfhen
My most recent book with all the feels ❤️ Brilliant father and son main characters, not plot driven but beautiful atmospheric writing that was just wonderful. One of those books I‘ve been telling everyone about since reading it.

Cathythoughts Yes I remember your review & I then bought it. It‘s on my kindle & im looking forward to it 💕 7y
Cinfhen I think @shawnmooney was singing the praises of this book?!? Am I right??? Looking forward to reading it! 7y
TrishB @Cinfhen I think @shawnmooney was the first person to review it 💜 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Yes, yes, I distinctly remember you raving about it 😜. Already stacked, on my wishlist! 7y
Caroline2 Oh sounds lovely...stacked!! 😆 7y
118 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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A good month but Midwinter probably my stand out favourite ❤️

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Awesome!!!! 7y
Balibee146 👏👏👏👏 Yay! 7y
Kalalalatja Great month! 👏👏 7y
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Cinfhen 😍😍😍 7y
Ms_T Bravo! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
emilyhaldi Hoping to get to Midwinter in the next month or two!!! 🤞🏻 7y
Q84 Congrats!!! 7y
DeborahSmall I loved Midwinter ❤️ 7y
TrishB @DeborahSmall such an unexpected little gem ❤️ 7y
92 likes9 comments
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

Just awesome. Ohhh this book, the story, the prose. Amazing, heart breaking and poignant.💝💔
Thanks @Balibee146 for the gift - this will stay with me a long time.

Tamra TBR! 7y
Balibee146 Awwww that's great that it was good @TrishB. It did look good from the blurb! I have hardly read a word for pleasure in the last couple of weeks 😥 Doing some courses just now zzzzzzzz reading manuals make a great subject dull dull dull 7y
TrishB @Balibee146 reading not for pleasure is always dull 😔 7y
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Andrew65 What a review! 7y
Caroline2 Oh sounds fab...stacked!! 👍🏻 7y
TricksyTails Need to add it to the TBR! I love the cover, too. 7y
erzascarletbookgasm You read so fast! 👍 7y
Reggie I thought you were done with heartbreak for awhile? Lol stacked. 7y
TrishB @Reggie it just calls me back 😀 constantly. 7y
TrishB @erzascarletbookgasm I actually tried to savour this one but the need to know what happens always wins! 7y
Cathythoughts Sounds amazing 💫stacking 7y
Cathythoughts I just purchased this. It sounds so good, I had to have it waiting on my kindle 👍 7y
TrishB @Cathythoughts hope you love it as much as me 💓 7y
113 likes11 stack adds13 comments
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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This book is wonderful so far 💝

LeahBergen This one sounds great. 7y
Cathythoughts Wow 💫💫💫 7y
TrishB @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts it was an amazing read 💝 7y
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TrishB
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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I was off to bed, then opened another book.....the writing is lovely......need sleep....

DGRachel Sleep is overrated. 🤣🤣 7y
Bookish.Heart Why doesn‘t nature understand that we have books to read? If I didn‘t have to sleep I could get so much reading done 😔 7y
TrishB @DGRachel @Bookish.Heart imagine how many more books we could read! 7y
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Kalalalatja You can sleep when you are old! 7y
TrishB @Kalalalatja I think that's the trouble - I already am! 7y
Kalalalatja @TrishB you are never too old to stay up and read the night away 😂 7y
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charl08
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Suddenly the night is full of owls...

beckygracelea The descriptions in this book are so wonderful. I loved it. 7y
charl08 @beckygracelea it's beautifully written. 7y
24 likes1 stack add2 comments
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charl08
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Dramatic opening as characters swept into river...

TheLondonBookworm Awesome cover- understated but intriguing 7y
Notafraidofwords This is on my to buy list! 7y
Aleida Great cover 7y
charl08 @TheLondonBookworm @Aleida sadly has to go back to the library when finished! @Notafraidofwords hope you like it! 7y
40 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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ReadingEnvy
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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While I'm awake.. #marchintoreading #bestofmarch it hasn't been a great reading month for me with current circumstances, as in MIL now in hospice and basically living week to week as her health deteriorates. Cancer sure is a bastard. Anyway I've only read 6 books and they were all fantastic but if I was pushed I'd pick these 3. In fact these 3 are favourites of 2017, I know it's early but I don't think I'll read much that will beat these 3 📚❤️

Paperback.Propensity I'm sorry about your mother in law :( 8y
MrsMalaprop That's so tough :-(. Glad you found some great reads though. Three books in a month would be a high yield month for me 🙂. 8y
TrishB 💟 thoughts to you and the family 8y
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DeborahSmall @Paperback.Propensity @MrsMalaprop @TrishB Thanks ❤️ we didn't think she'd make it to Christmas so she's had a great year for being told she had months. Hopefully the next few months are as easy as possible 💕 8y
Cinfhen Hope your MIL is as comfortable as possible and you are taking care of yourself as well. Sending 💕 8y
Wife She's very fortunate to have you. Take care of yourself as well. My thoughts are with you and your family. 🌹 8y
LeahBergen Hugs to you. 💗 8y
rockpools Hugs and best wishes. 8y
KarenUK Sending so many hugs.. 💕 8y
Nebklvr So very hard. I will keep you in my thoughts. 8y
MicheleinPhilly ❤❤❤❤❤ 8y
64 likes12 comments
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

An astonishing debut. Ten years after the mom's tragic death, the unresolved grief of a 20-year-old Suffolk lad and his folksy, big-hearted farmer of a dad is at the breaking point: will these men crack apart, or open? A few problems with narrative pacing barely detracted at all from the deep, rich characterization or the novel's emotional power. Pa Landyn Midwinter may just be my favorite male character, ever. Keep the tissue box handy.

Cinfhen Great review 💚 8y
DeborahSmall ❤️ 8y
TrishB You're killing my bank balance! This has gone in the pay day list! 8y
LeahBergen 💗💗💗 8y
Lindy I hope it's released in Canada soon. 8y
66 likes11 stack adds5 comments
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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LauraBeth Wow! LOVE this 8y
LeahBergen Stunning. 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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ReadingEnvy Snide wind! 🌬 8y
50 likes1 comment
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ReadingEnvy
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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My St Patrick's Day will be spent IN. My city is hosting the NCAA tournament and it's crazy out there....

saresmoore Well, this looks delightful! 8y
ReadingEnvy @saresmoore the salad is my version of one I used to get at an Irish pub in Indianapolis, yum. 8y
intothehallofbooks I agree with @saresmoore: this looks lovely! 8y
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DGRachel Ooh, this reminds me that I have Baileys. Maybe hot chocolate needs to be on tonight's menu. 🤔 8y
ReadingEnvy @DGRachel holiday requirement!! ☘️ 8y
Redheadrambles @ReadingEnvy looking forward to your longlist reading - thoughts so far on this one ? 8y
ReadingEnvy @Redheadrambles I'm not very far in, I got distracted and went to a book of short stories I was midway through. More updates soon I hope! 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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saresmoore I just started reading Grief is the Thing with Feathers. What an odd literary theme, death and feathers. 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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This is a British farmer trying to farm in Zambia...

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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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dixi_e Indeed! 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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SavidgeReads
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

Midwinter is one of those stunning books with few characters, sparse words and yet brims with atmosphere, thoughts and packs an emotional punch. The tale of a father and son and the void between them caused by the death of Cecelia, wife and mother. It looks at nature and the nature of loss, grief and things left unspoken.

Tamra Gorgeous cover! Your description of the writing is right up my alley - thanks for posting. 8y
SharonGoforth Ordered this yesterday! 8y
ReadingEnvy I'm looking forward to this one. Were you given all the Baileys books?!? 8y
See All 8 Comments
SavidgeReads @Tamra thank you. It's a sparse yet brimming novel. Shouldn't make sense yet is the only way I can describe it. 8y
SavidgeReads @SharonGoforth hope you enjoy it when oh arrives. 8y
SavidgeReads @ReadingEnvy no, I already had thirteen and bought myself the missing three. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 8y
shawnmooney I'm reading it slowly and loving it! Her second novel, Johannesburg, which comes out in the autumn, sounds really great too! 8y
SavidgeReads @shawnmooney yes I am too after having read this. 8y
50 likes11 stack adds8 comments
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Pickpick

What a beautiful book. This tore me apart in places. Stunning yet simple prose. I loved both MCs; Landyn and Vale. Landyn has such beautiful compassion for animals and all nature it was breathtaking. Both men 10 years later, dealing with the violent murder of wife and mother, full of the raw emotion that grief has caused. Maybe my favourite read of 2017 so far ❤️

shawnmooney A lovely review - I just read the funeral chapter and, um, I really need a Kleenex and a hug' ❤ 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney I don't often cry reading, but this made me cry twice! ❤️ 8y
86 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Its actually sunny ☀️. First nice morning I've got up to in months. Perfect reading spot today after I catch up with Legion ❤️📚

FictionFox Legion! I have to watch last night's episode! 8y
DeborahSmall @FictionFox it's a great show 8y
JessClark78 I love that show. It's so good. 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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So many great passages to quote, like poetry 💕

saresmoore Gorgeous. 8y
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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❤️ loving this

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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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❤️

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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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saresmoore What is it about this quote? It just hits me right in the feeler. 8y
shawnmooney @saresmoore I guess it's not a spoiler, since this event is mentioned in the plot synopsis - this is one of the main characters, at this point a 10-year-old boy, with family and friends a few hours after his mom's violent death. 8y
saresmoore Yes, that explains it! 8y
LauraBeth 😭 8y
47 likes5 comments
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Loving this ❤️

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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Having a nice relaxing day! Going between these 2. I don't usually read 2 books at the same time but Kings Cage has been pretty slow. Midwinter is fantastic. So my eternity ring has been sized and fits perfectly ❤️

Reviewsbylola Your nails, wow! 😍 8y
kylienoele Your nails are incredible!! They look like jewels! 😍 8y
DeborahSmall @Reviewsbylola @kylienoele I wanted something different this time 8y
Josie I love your nails and your rings!! 8y
LeahBergen Oooo! So pretty. ❤ 8y
67 likes5 comments
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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#midwinter ❤️

shawnmooney That's a lovely one too! ❤ 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney I also marked the last quote you put up. My favourite piece of writing in that chapter 8y
55 likes2 comments
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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❤❤❤

DeborahSmall Same #1 ❤️ 8y
Suet624 Sigh. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute ❣️Beautiful ❣️ 8y
shawnmooney @DeborahSmall @Suet624 @Donna_sBookMinute It's an unforgettable passage, hey? 😍 8y
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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LeahBergen Blergh. That makes one feel a touch queasy. 8y
33 likes1 comment
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Listening to this album on Apple Music while reading chapter 2 of this so far really great novel. This chapter is set in Zambia, focused on British expatriates there.

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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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I can't believe my iPad dictation software recognized "Kabwe" the first go-around – I'd never heard of that city – I now know it's a city in Zambia - and certainly had never pronounced it before.

Lindy Your iPad dictation software is better than my iPod's autocorrect. It kept changing soil to soul in an email about a soils workshop that I'm going to assist with tomorrow. The instructor replied that it was fine to bring soul as well as soil. She doesn't want any deadbeats. 😀 8y
shawnmooney @Lindy Perhaps your iPod AutoCorrect is moonlighting as your spiritual advisor? :-) 8y
Lindy @shawnmooney What a sweet thought! A spiritual advisor that's always in my pocket. 😊 8y
24 likes3 comments
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shawnmooney
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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Starting Midwinter with @shawnmooney Really looking forward to this ❤️📚

shawnmooney I just finished chapter 1, and loved it. I'm going to put it down now, perhaps until tomorrow, which will be difficult because it's a real cliffhanger at the end! :-) 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney it was a great first chapter. I'll start the second tonight 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney just finished the 2nd chapter. Brought a tear to my eye. I'll start on the 3rd Tomorrow. Great so far 😘 8y
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shawnmooney I just finished chapter 2 as well and am all verklempt! The writing is SO good…

As I always do when I read, I've been putting up a few quotes from Midwinter along the way. I'm not tagging you on these quotes, but feel free to have a browse back through the last couple of days if you're at all interested. There's no need to do so unless you are interested, of course! :-) The full paragraph I quoted today was particularly memorable, I thought!
8y
DeborahSmall I'll have a look. There was a lot to quote in this chapter, I was going to photograph a couple of passages, will be interesting to see if they are the same! I'm loving the writing too. 8y
shawnmooney I've just finished chapter 5, and man oh man do I ever love Landyn! It's such a rawly emotional story. I am starting to see a few first-novel weaknesses, but I'm totally engrossed! 😍 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney I'm not sure what chapter I'm on but I'm around the 100 page mark. I've left it downstairs. I'm going to finish kings cage. Tomorrow (today), 6am 😩 my insomnia has been bad tonight. Will hopefully sleep now for a few hours. I was finding it hard to put down. I adore Landyn! I'm finding it very emotional and plenty of tears springing. I've written page numbers down with some quotes. I'm hoping you'll the ones I've noted. 8y
DeborahSmall Then I'm moving straight to Stop That Girl 😘 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney so much to quote in this book. But I'm leaving it to you as I love the photographs and graphics you use to compliment them. And come on, quotes is your thing 😘 8y
73 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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DeborahSmall
Midwinter | Fiona Melrose
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#bookmail looking forward to this one. @shawnmooney ready when you are 📚❤️

ephemeralwaltz Omg that bookmark!!!! I recently ordered from BD, I hope I get a cool one😍 8y
DeborahSmall @ephemeralwaltz this is my 2nd of this design and I have 2 of the tower/castle. If you don't get it I can mail you one 👍🏼 8y
ephemeralwaltz 😍 aw thanks! We'll see when the #bookmail arrives 😄 8y
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shawnmooney Isn't it a gorgeous specimen of a book? I can't wait to begin it. I will be starting in on it on March 1, Tokyo time. Looking forward to buddy reading it with you! (edited) 8y
DeborahSmall @shawnmooney I'll be ready. Looking forward to it 8y
shawnmooney I'm starting it in the next few minutes! So excited! 8y
DeborahSmall I checked Tokyo time a couple of hours ago and knew you'd be starting soon. I'm going to start too. 8y
73 likes3 stack adds7 comments