Thursday, July 10, 2014

What Matters Most - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

What happens when a husband decides he wants to move from New Jersey to Florida to claim a house he inherited? In WHAT MATTERS MOST Bette Lee Crosby tackles the effects of this change on Clay and Louise Palmer and their long-time marriage. In their transition, Louise is desperately unhappy, but she slowly learns to deal with separation from her friends and works to overcome the effects of her unhappy, unstable childhood. She also discovers that many of the beliefs on which she has based her life are not set in stone!  

As someone who had a hard time moving from the place where I grew up, I could relate to the wife's dismay in this story. I enjoyed the author's exploration of both the wife's and the husband's thoughts and feelings. This is a heartwarming and delightful story, told with gentle humor and insight. More than once, I laughed out loud.

Genre: Women's Fiction
Length: 290 Pages
Amazon Link: WHAT MATTERS MOST
Other Books by Bette Lee Crosby: Amazon Author Page

BOOK BEGINNING (In husband Clay's point of view):
Uncle Charlie died a month ago today. He was nine years older than Pop, but he lived twenty years longer. Pop was a nose-to-the-grindstone man; Uncle Charlie wasn't. I suppose that's the difference.

FRIDAY 56 (From wife Louise's point of view at 56% on my Kindle):
At the blue farmhouse she made a right onto Route 411, but somewhere after that she went wrong. Last time the trip took about twenty minutes, but today Louise drove for nearly an hour and didn't see a single sign of Worthmore. Once she'd reached the point where nothing looked the least bit familiar, she began to worry she'd gotten lost.

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41 comments:

  1. The move from NJ to Fla is not as drastic as a move from country to country. And moving from snow in winter to sun in winter might not be all bad. Interesting dilemma for the main character, however.
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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    1. You're right! A move to a different country would have been even more traumatic for the character in this book.

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  2. I myself love moving. When we moved from the Netherlands to London I was really excited. All the new people, the new places to explore etc. But I can imagine that once you're more settled it's hard to suddenly move away! The F56 sounds very familiar, although I also have to admit I quite like getting lost! Thanks for sharing :) Hope you have a great weekend!
    My Friday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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    1. The main character's childhood has a lot to do with her negative attitude toward moving. It was fascinating (and funny!) to watch Louise try to manipulate her husband.

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  3. Ahhh...moving...ranks high on the chart for life's stressful events! Sounds like Bette Lee has done a good job conveying all the ramification that go along with it.

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    1. She did and with humor too. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.

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  4. I love the part about turning right at the blue farmhouse. Most of my family gives directions based on landmarks and not road or street names.

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    1. I think women especially tend to navigate by landmarks. Drives my husband crazy!

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    2. It's better than my mother-in-law's directions which were "Turn left where the old barn used to be."

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  5. I love the sound of this one and am adding it to my list. My Friday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/07/friday-focus-friday-56-book-beginnings_11.html

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    1. I've enjoyed all of Bette Crosby's books that I've read so far. She captures real emotions in her writing.

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  6. That's the worst thing about moving...the unsettled part, and the tendency to get lost, as if you will never find your way again.

    I hate moving, and I've moved a lot...but all of my moves have been between or within cities in California. When I was younger, I thought big moves sounded adventurous...now I would rather read about them! LOL

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. My first move from home was traumatic for me, but subsequent moves have been easier. The move from Florida to Washington state was a breeze. But now I'd like to stay here.

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  7. I love traveling but hate moving. This sounds like a good premise and I like the excerpts. I'll definitely have to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Great choice in books. I have read most of Bette Lee Crosby's books and have the others yet to read and review. I want them all. She is a fantastic writer and her stories speak to the heart. I loved this book and hope you do too.
    sherry @ My Friday 56

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    1. I agree with you completely, and I loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Bette Crosby's stories.

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  9. ENJOY...oh no on the difference between the two men. :)

    Thanks for sharing.

    Have a great weekend.

    Giveaway of The Paris Architect on my blog if you want to stop by.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  10. I like it when a book focuses on more than one character's thoughts and feelings. It makes it easier to empathize with more than one character. Great pick this week.

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    1. I'm the same way. I enjoyed the husband's outlook as compared to the wife's. Both of them make sense, but they sure result in conflict, some of it really funny.

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  11. I think she's definitely gotten lost. This has happened to me enough times for me to notice the signs. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I finally got a GPS but it isn't always right! Sometimes getting lost can be fun.

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  12. I love changes but I know moving can be a lot of work and sometimes hard on a marriage. I bet lots of people can relate to this one. Sounds like a good choice!

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    1. Bette Lee Crosby's characters and stories are easy to relate to and this one is funny too!

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  13. Sounds like a bit of an emotional read. I know what moving across country is like, have done it twice with my parents. I remember how tough it was for them both. Sounds like a great read you got there.

    Happy weekend!

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    1. It is a terrific story, and it's also FUNNY! I guess I should have chosen an excerpt that showed that aspect of the book.

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  14. I agree with Freda; this sounds like an emotional read, but one I would love to get my hands on. I moved from Tennessee to Florida nine years ago and have yet to shake that homesick feeling.

    Thanks so much for sharing and for stopping by our post!

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    1. I definitely shared that homesick feeling when I lived in Florida. Luckily, I feel right at home in the Pacific Northwest, which is surprising for a Texas gal, isn't it?

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  15. You always introduce me to the cutest books, Sandra. I'm adding this one to my list too.

    Thanks for stopping by my post :)

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    1. Thank you, Fiza! I hope you enjoy What Matters Most as much as I did.

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  16. Such a weighty beginning :( I love your book shares nonetheless! Thanks for sharing!

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  17. This sounds like a really good book. Enjoy.

    Have a great weekend!

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  18. That must have been a spooky feeling. I remember feeling that way one time. Coming home from work, I traveled my normal route. Had to cross a railroad where no railroad ran. Free straight away, I always felt free driving that part of the road. That day, for a few moments I didn't recognize the road. Thought I was lost. Anyway, I like the title of your book. Also like the blue farmhouse.

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    1. I've had that eerie feeling too, and it's unsettling. It makes me wonder ... is this how Alzheimers or senility starts?

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  19. Seems like they were two very different brothers.

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  20. Seems like Uncle Charlie didn't take life as seriously. I guess that's why he lived longer than his brother.

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  21. That's an effective title that begs the question. Sounds interesting.
    Enjoy your summer reading!

    :)

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  22. Sounds like a tearjerker ... though you say it's funny :) I hope you're enjoying your summer so far :)

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  23. I'd have been worried about being lost a whole lot sooner. :D Moving can be a challenge and NJ to FL would be quite a change. The book sounds good.

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