Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Books & a Beat.
Today’s featured book is an e-ARC from NetGalley, release date: October 4, 2016. Cruel Beautiful World is by Caroline Leavitt, a portrait of love, sisters, and the impossible legacy of family.
Intro: (1969)
Lucy runs away with her high school teacher, William, on a Friday, the last day of school, a June morning shiny with heat. She’s downstairs in the kitchen, and Iris has the TV on. The weather guy, his skin golden as a cashew, is smiling about power outages, urging the elderly and the sick to stay inside, his voice sliding like a trombone, and as soon as she hears the word “elderly,” Lucy glances uneasily at Iris.
“He doesn’t mean me, honey,” Iris says mildly, putting more bacon to snap in the pan. “I’m perfectly fine.”
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Teaser: He looked over at the TV and then at the burgers. “Buckwheat burgers again?”
She opened up the cupboards. “What else do you see for me to cook?”
“We have chickens, honey. We could have omelets. Or a quiche.”
“What’s a quiche?” (53%)
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Synopsis: It’s 1969, and sixteen-year-old Lucy is about to run away with a much older man to live off the grid in rural Pennsylvania, a rash act that will have vicious repercussions for both her and her older sister, Charlotte. As Lucy’s default caretaker for most of their lives, Charlotte’s youth has been marked by the burden of responsibility, but never more so than when Lucy’s dream of a rural paradise turns into a nightmare.
Cruel Beautiful World examines the intricate, infinitesimal distance between seduction and love, loyalty and duty, and explores what happens when you’re responsible for things you cannot make right.
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What do you think? Do the excerpts tease you? Make you want to keep reading? Or is it the blurb that settles it for you?
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SNOW SPARKS 
This sounds like a different kind of read. Enjoy!
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Yes, I think so, too, and this author has not yet disappointed me. Thanks for visiting, Catherine, and enjoy yours today.
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Yes I’m intriguied by the synopsis — I’m not entirely sure who Iris is though – I’ll be interested to hear what you think of this one when you’ve finished it.
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I’m curious about Iris, too, since she isn’t mentioned in the synopsis. I’ll be watching for her. Thanks for visiting, Cleo, and enjoy your reading.
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I would definitely keep reading this. It sounds like a complex story and an emotional one too.
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Thanks, Emma, I’ve been a fan of this author, so I’m eager to find out more as well. Thanks for visiting.
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I like the cover which has an old fashioned feel to it and the intro leaves me curious. Plus I know someone who ran off with their high school teacher and are still together 40 years later LOL
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Oh, wow, Diane….that sounds like an interesting story all on its own, (about someone you knew). lol.
Thanks for visiting and for hosting…enjoy your reading!
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Hmmm….somehow this one just doesn’t grab me. However, I hope it works well for you!!
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That’s what happens sometimes, Kay…we aren’t all drawn to the same books. Thanks for visiting, though, and have a great week.
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I am in agreement with the character in the first paragraph. I hate it when someone refers to me as old or elderly. They mean it like its a handicap. I think I need to read this book and meet these characters.
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I was also annoyed by that description, Margot…and I am definitely eager to learn more about Iris. Thanks for stopping by.
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“We have chicken honey” I like it. Here’s mine http://wp.me/p7KAUt-5t
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Yes, I had to laugh at that, too, as well as “what’s quiche?” Thanks for stopping by, Kee. Enjoy your read.
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Wow. The blurb actually does make me want to take a look at this. Thanks for sharing!
An Intro to Ink and Bone
Happy reading! 🙂
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Thanks, Kait, glad you could stop by, and enjoy your reading.
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It sounds like a very complicated situation – I’ve strong views on teachers assaulting the children in their care. It is crossing all sorts of lines and breaking trust with a relationship that can run very deep with care and love in it, on both sides. Throwing the romantic version into the mix is ALWAYS inappropriate. So I wouldn’t pick this one up, because right from the start I would be consumed by the urge to hit William very hard with a poker… Having said that, it sounds like it raises all sorts of relevant issues:). Thank you for sharing – and dropping by earlier.
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Oh, yes, that aspect of the story does send up all the red flags….but it looks like (from the blurb) that nothing good comes to them. Thanks for stopping by, Sarah.
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I hope you enjoy it, Laurel:)
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Wow! That’s quite a hook! What is a quiche? No, Just kidding. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Yes, that made me laugh, Ms. M. Thanks for stopping by.
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She’s so young to know about buckwheat burgers, but not quiche.
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True…Quiche was very popular in those days. Thanks for visiting, Alice Audrey.
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Good teaser!
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Thanks, Mary Ann…enjoy your reading!
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I like that teaser, the book sounds very interesting as well, I would be interested to see your review when you’re finished. Here is mine for Not Quite Perfect
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Thanks, Raven Avery…I hope to love the book. Glad you could stop by.
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I’d like to read this. Sounds emotionally charged.
My TT from The Ice Bridge
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Yes, it does…and I hope to enjoy it. Thanks for visiting, Laura.
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Not sure about this one. I do like the author. I’d think I would have to read a bit more to decide.
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Thanks for stopping by, Nise…I often need to read a bit more, too; I am hoping to love this one.
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This is one I would be drawn to reading!
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Thanks, Colline, glad you could stop by!
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This sounds so good! I would definitely keep reading. Might have to add it to my TBR list as well
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Thanks, Mia, I am very eager to keep reading. Glad you could stop by.
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