Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for December 30, 2022

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Eliza lifted her breakfast bell to ring, then let arm and soundless bell drop to her side. She felt a profound reluctance to disturb in any way the morning quiet. She had a conviction unreasoning, but deep, that the sound of her bell might be all that was needed to shatter tranquility, call up from out of the wood lot, or across the river side, John Morgan himself.

~from page 56 of The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West

A quintessential American heroine, Eliza Birdwell is a wonderful blend of would-be austerity, practicality, and gentle humor when it comes to keeping her faith and caring for her family and community. Her husband, Jess, shares Eliza's love of people and peaceful ways but, unlike Eliza, he displays a fondness for a fast horse and a lively tune. With their children, they must negotiate their way through the Civil War, a time that constantly confronts them and tests the strength of their beliefs. Whether it's a gift parcel arriving on their doorstep of Confederate soldiers approaching their land, the Birdwells embrace life with emotion, conviction, and a love for one another that seems to conquer all.

Jessamyn's first novel and a classic tale of the American Midwest, The Friendly Persuasion will charm generations of readers, as it has in the past, for years to come.

 

The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice

*Grab a book, any book.

*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.

*Find a snippet, short and sweet.

*Post it, and share in the Linky.

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Near the banks of the Muscatatuck where once the woods had stretched, dark row on row, and where the fox grapes and wild mint still flourished, Jess Birdwell, an Irish Quaker, built his white clapboard house. Here he lacked for very little. 

~From the beginning of The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.

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First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower

*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.

*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.

*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.

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It's been several years since I participated in the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, but I've decided to try to include it in my Friday Fun posts again.  

This Week's Question: In 2022, how many books did you read?

My Answer: I remember when I used to read at least 50 books in a year. For whatever reason, I no longer have that kind of time, or I spend my time doing things other than reading. This year I read twenty-two books. I'm hoping to do more in 2023, but I'm still deciding which reading challenges to participate in.

Book Blogger Hop

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