Mar 2024 FBR - KU Buddy Read: The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Welcome to the March "Kindle Unlimited" Buddy Read!
starts 1-Mar-2024, ends 31-Mar-2024

Our theme this month is 📜Historical Fiction📜 and we're reading The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis.

Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

When using this Buddy Read to get Bonus Points for a Challenge, please check with the mod running the Challenge for any posting requirements not listed below!
✨(Impossible) Disney Challenge - to receive bonus points for this challenge, you must read the book and participate (at least 3 meaningful comments) in discussions.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

R

[Bernadette]

I'm a sucker for a book about books. My library request was filled 2 weeks ago, and the books is due back in one week. I can't renew it because there are additional holds.☹️ Guess I better get reading!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

:) Quick! Read!

[Bernadette]

I'm reading the paper copy of the book not the Kindle version. Currently at 26%, page 111.

I love the quotes about books at the beginning of each "modern" chapter.

(view spoiler)[Ashlyn says that a bookstore is her safe place. She seems to need a safe place after her difficult childhood, divorce & death of her ex. I can see how someone could feel that was about a bookstore, or a library, or anyplace there are books.

Page 8 - "Books are feelings"🥰 - love!

This book is two books (three?) within one. I'm enjoying Ashyn's part more so far.

Regretting Belle - I don't like the writer as a person. The writing reminded me of Fitzgerald type of lifestyle. What is life's work? Seems like a journalist/writer but I'm getting the feeling there is more to it.

Forever, and Other Lies - softer writer but still an entitled woman. On page 94 she calls him "Hemingway" - maybe I was wrong about the Fitzgerald comparison 😉 (hide spoiler)]

[Bernadette]

Currently at 52%, page 228.

I wish I had time to just sit down and finish this book. The writing is good, and I am enjoying it. That work thing is getting in the way though.

This was my first book by Barbara Davis. I have another on my TBR and will definitely read it.

(view spoiler)[Treatment of post-partum was certainly different in 40's than today. Most women's problems were called melancholia. Belle's mother was "sent away" because of hers. Or was that really the only reason? It was revealed that Helene was Jewish and Belle's father was an anti-Semite and supporter of Hitler. A Jewish wife would be bad for him. Nazis in the US in the '40s? Of course there were, there still are.

Ashlyn is able to contact the owner of the books, Ethan but he initially seems to have no interest or curiosity in them. She ambushes him and he changes and agrees to help her. Are there romantic sparks between them? They have both been hurt in past relationships.

On the Belle/Hemi front things get steamy, then get bumpy. Can they recover? I think not - or would be reading this book.🤣🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Bernadette]

Finished🥰

I liked the format of the book, told via two books and in two different historical timelines.

Ashlyn was determined to discover the identities and fates of the two lovers and would not stop until she had.

The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

I had a suspicion about the 'twist near the end’ before the end came.

[Truitt_T]

First, I should probably say that this isn't a book would probably have picked up on my own, and I can't really even say why.

I'm reading a Kindle edition, with an audio version for backup when I can't just sit here reading, lol.

I'm at about 10% / p41. I can't say I love this so far, but I certainly don't hate it. I've found ways for it to fit into several challenges, so there's no real chance that I'll give up on it, although to be truthful, I might have set it aside for something else otherwise.

(view spoiler)[ I've always liked dual / multiple timeline stories, so that is definitely in its favor. I suppose one of my issues is that there is obviously so much angst and heartbreak coming - that's not always my favorite reading.

Other thoughts:

The 1984 setting is important so Ashlyn doesn't have easy access to more modern research methods - ie, the interenet!

I'm afraid I'm going to keep comparing this to Possession one of my favorite books of all time. That isn't going to work out well for The Echo of Old Books..... (hide spoiler)]

[Truitt_T]

Bernadette wrote: "I'm reading the paper copy of the book not the Kindle version. Currently at 26%, page 111.

I love the quotes about books at the beginning of each "modern" chapter.

Ashlyn says that a bookstore is..."

I hit the 26% mark and came back to look at your comments, Bernadette.

(view spoiler)[ I'm with you 100% in perferring Ashlyn's sections to either Hemi's or Belle's. I agree that neither comes off particularly well, and perhaps, as a result, I don't entirely believe in their great, illicit, romance.

I don't mean that I don't believe they're intended to be real people - I think the books are definitely memoir, not fiction. and they'll end up being (or having been) real people (so to speak, lol). I just don't get the insta-love.

I'm guessing that Ashlyn's romantic interest will prove to be Ethan Hillard, with whom she spoke on the phone. It's not as though we've seen a lot of other options, and we're a quarter of the way into the book. And for that far into the book, I don't feel as though much has happened. I hope the pace picks up, and that we see more of Ashlyn than the angsty lovers.

ALSO - and this is nit picky of me, I'll grant - I keep getting annoyed by Ashlyn claiming she doesn't have much information on which to base any research. We've been given dates and hostess names - society pages would reveal the names of the couple for whom the parties were thrown.

For that matter, we've been given Teddy's first and middle names, his birthdate, his prep schools, his university, and that fact that he was captain of the polo team, and the knowledge that his family is very wealthy and NYC based. We know that Belle's family is new money from bootlegging, owns a home in the Hamptons with a name - Rose Hollow, - and that her French mother's hospitalization and subsequent death were well publicised. We even know her registered racehorse's name - Cracker Jack Prize. Her name could be found from his ownership.

I want to see Ashlyn do something other than read and make a few phone calls. I wouldn't mind seeing her use some ingenuity and creativity in her research - except, of course, that to this point she's recruited someone else to do that, and given them incredibly limited information to boot.

Ok. Rant over. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Truitt_T]

I'm at 66% - page 285.

I have such mixed feelings about this book.

(view spoiler)[I still don't much like Belle, but I've warmed to Hemi. Ashlyn mentions that she thinks there's something more going on than the obvious for them both to have felt so sincerely wronged, and I have a very good idea what what it was and who was responsible. I'll resist saying, though. :)

I am liking the book better, although my previous comments stand.

I find it interesting that Ashlyn can see that Helene was beset by mental illness and that her (assisted) suicide might then be forgivable, but she doesn't seem to ever question that one or both of her parents potentially had severe mental health issues of their own.

At any rate, I'm looking forward to more of Ashlyn and learning how she moves forward in attempting to find Marian and Hemi. (hide spoiler)]

[Bernadette]

Truitt_T wrote: "I'm at 66% - page 285.

I have such mixed feelings about this book.

I still don't much like Belle, but I've warmed to Hemi. Ashlyn mentions that she thinks there's something more going on than the..."

Truitt - I had the same feeling about who was involved and turned out to be right! I think I know where your thoughts are going.

[Truitt_T]

Finished.

(view spoiler)[ Oh yeah - it was the evil sister! I have to admit, though, I thought DIcky might have been aware that his mother had done something. His persistent attempts to get them to talk struck me as almost guilty.

For me, at least, there was almost too much going on in this book. I felt as though new elements were constantly being added, and I would have been happier, I think, with a somewhat simpler story, told with more depth. (hide spoiler)]

[Angie ☯]

Joining in late, as usual! LOL

25%
Not loving the book, but don't hate it either.

(view spoiler)[
I'm just confused and wonder why Ashlyn doesn't see the similarities in the books with her own life?? I keep saying to myself - oh your mother was like that or your father did that... Yet, Ashlyn doesn't seem to see it at all!

I feel like these are letters from the writer to another person, possibly to each other, but I'm not sure of that. I don't at all think it will be fiction. (hide spoiler)]

[Angie ☯]

50%

(view spoiler)[
I totally see Ethan and Ashlyn getting together. I suspect I know the twist that is coming.

I'm liking the book better as I read. Hemi is by far my favorite of the two authors/lovers. There has to be more to the story than we are getting from their letters.
(hide spoiler)]

[Angie ☯]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[
I can't imagine being so jealous of someone that I'd sabatoge their life and their potential happiness!! The sister was a piece of work and she didn't change much; all that bitterness still there even on her deathbed.

I knew that Hemi didn't get the letter that Belle had sent him and when Dicky said he wasn't allowed to talk to Hemi, I suspected that the sister rewrote the note; because there was no reason for Belle to tell him not to talk to Hemi! I didn't see her switching the letter that was intended for Teddy (or that there ever were two.) Very glad that the two confronted the sister and finally had the truth after so many years.

I did not see the Zachary twist - I didn't even suspect there was a child! I felt really bad for Hemi not to have know for so many years.

The ending was sweet and while I'm not sure it would have played out like that with so much resentment between real people, it was a nice finish. And it was nice for Ashlyn to also finally feel like she was accepted and has a real family. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Finally starting this! Gotta love waiting until the last minute!

[Eunice]

Just started it too haha

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

I'm about 25% so far... about to start Chapter 6. I'm definitely feeling the same as everyone else. It's a little slow and I want to hear more from Ashlyn and less from the "book". I want to hear the mystery of how the book came to be and who had it, etc etc, but I'm not real fond of those characters lol.

We shall see. Hopefully the intrigue will set it...

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Ok, so, I've made it about half-way through and I'm am definitely more interested in the "Hemi-Belle" story now.

I can see the threads of foreshadowing...

[Eunice]

On Chapter 8. I have mixed feelings about the romance in the books. I feel sympathetic for both Hemi and Belle and the complicated circumstances surrounding their relationship, but I also feel iffy about the insta-love. I generally don't like the "s/he's not like the other girls/guys" trope, and I feel like it's happening on both ends in this case.

[Eunice]

I'm around halfway through, and I dislike Belle more now for how wishy-washy she is about her marriage situation. (view spoiler)[She thinks she doesn't have a choice in the situation when she does, as she seems to have learned after their relationship fell apart. (hide spoiler)] I'm curious to see how exactly their relationship fell apart since they broke up on such bad terms, and that is the main thing that's keeping me interested in their story. I agree with Truitt and Angie's midway comments; I also feel like there's more to things because what we're getting now can't have caused the strong feelings of betrayal and regret between them.

[Eunice]

Just popping in to say that I think I can see the hidden piece behind their misunderstanding now

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

So, I finished this. I did like it, but it took some time to develop and I did enjoy the "big reveal" for what actually happened.

(view spoiler)[
As Angie so eloquently put it: "I can't imagine being so jealous of someone that I'd sabotage their life and their potential happiness!! The sister was a piece of work and she didn't change much; all that bitterness still there even on her deathbed."

This is exactly how I felt. I just can't wrap my head around that level or jealousy and insecurity. Yikes!
(hide spoiler)]

Honestly, these characters had a lot going on... lol

[Eunice]

Finished. The ending hit me in the heart... and the tear glands lmao. (view spoiler)[I'm a sucker for stories of regret and could-have-been like this one.

Ashley wrote: "So, I finished this. I did like it, but it took some time to develop and I did enjoy the "big reveal" for what actually happened.

As Angie so eloquently put it: "I can't imagine being so jealous ..."
And she's still so satisfied with herself for what she'd done even after so many years! I can't imagine being that unhappy for all your life, too draining. She's so bitter she doesn't want even her children to be happy.

I agree with Angie that with that much emotional baggage between them, I can't realistically see two people being able to get together just like that. It's hard to erase the past, and negative emotions just tend to leave a more lasting impact. Then again, I also can't imagine being so in love with someone like Hemi and Belle are.
(hide spoiler)]

[Angie ☯]

I ended up enjoying the book more than I thought I would when I first started reading it.