amusementpark

pick

Well written and well researched, filled with facts and true stories, this historical fiction novel is steeped in a strong sense of time and place. I loved it! Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey no longer exists, but it comes to life in rich detail in this story. The main character‘s pursuit of a daring career in an age where women were not encouraged to do such things deftly ties the book‘s many narratives together.

#ReadOrDonate for July

MemoirsForMe Are you from NJ? I remember going to Palisades Park when I was a kid. Great fun! 2mo

julieclair @Memoirs4Me Yes! I was born in Paterson, but grew up in Wyckoff, in Bergen County. I don‘t remember ever going to Palisades Park, but I can still sing the jingle… it was running through my head as I read this book, lol. 🎶 Palisades has the rides, Palisades has the fun, Come on over… 🎶 2mo

Aims42 I loved this book so much! It‘s one I like to re-read every now and then to revisit 😄 2mo

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julieclair

Palisades Park | Alan Brennert

My July choice for #ReadOrDonate is Palisades Park, historical fiction about a legendary amusement park near where I grew up in New Jersey. What will everyone else be reading and/or donating?

Julsmarshall, BarkingMadRead, Cuilin, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, OriginalCyn620, BethM, gossamerchild, Booksblanketsandahotbeverage, Read4life, rmaclean4, BookwormAHN, CoffeeNBooks, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, PuddleJumper, willaful

AmyG I grew up near there, too…in Bergen County. 3mo

Amiable I read this one —I don‘t think I enjoyed it very much. I think I was disappointed because I liked this one so much:

Moloka'i

3mo

Read4life @AmyG I grew up in Passaic County. 🤓 3mo

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AmyG @Read4Life I was born in Paterson! 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I'm going to try and clear out another Nora Roberts backlog

Legacy

3mo

Read4life @AmyG me, too!! 3mo

AmyG @Read4Life Ha! Barnert Hospital. 3mo

julieclair @AmyG @Read4life I was born in Paterson, too! At the old Paterson General, which no longer exists. And I grew up in Bergen County, In Wyckoff. But our church was in Paterson - in the Totowa section. So I kind of grew up in both places, Wyckoff and Paterson. 3mo

Read4life @julieclair @AmyG I was born in St. Joseph‘s. I lived in Prospect Park which borders Paterson. 3mo

AmyG My parents almost bought a house in Wycoff. I grew up in Fair Lawn. Small world @julieclair @Read4life 3mo

julieclair @AmyG My dad's best friend & his family lived in Fair Lawn. He was the superintendent of schools there for many years. @Read4life I lived in Hawthorne, right next to Prospect Park, until I was 4. Small world indeed! Now I'm craving Texas weiners, lol! And Taylor ham. 😘 3mo

AmyG @Julieclair Too funny! 3mo

gossamerchild I'm still working on Cryptonomicon :-D In my defense, I haven't picked it up in a while. My plan is to get back to it this month. I WILL finish it! 3mo

julieclair @Amiable Moloka‘i is on my TBR, but I don‘t own a copy. It‘s interesting that you liked one so much more than the other. I‘m predisposed to like this one because of its link to my childhood. 😉 3mo

julieclair @gossamerchild You will finish it for sure. I have faith in you! 3mo

Read4life My grandparents lived in Hawthorne in the house my grandfather and great grandfather built. I spent many summer days in the Hawthorne pool!! 3mo

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sjc731

Curious Toys | Elizabeth Hand

1 like1 stack add

oddandbookish

Meet Me at Wonderland | Julia DeVillers

pick

This was a super cute middle grade romance!

First off, I loved the amusement park setting. The majority of the story took place there and it worked so well. It was fun and added to the playfulness of the romance. The park reminded me a lot of the fictional Walley World from the movie, “National Lampoon‘s Vacation” (which is a movie I love).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/review-meet-me-at-wonderland/