Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary by Laura Stanfill -- BOOK BEGINNINGS

 

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

Laura Stanfill's new novel, Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary, launches on April 19 and I am so excited to get my hands on an early copy. What a delightful book of historical fiction! 

What book has you excited this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) here on Book Beginnings on Fridays. 

MY BOOK BEGINNING

Our story begins with the grandparents of our hero, who believed their village to be as normal as any other, despite its pervasive gloom. 

-- from Chapter One, "An extraordinary occurrence," in Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary by Laura Stanfill. 

Singing Lessons starts in the French village of Mireville in the 1800s. Henri Blanchard's father George is revered as a master sirinette maker. But Henri wants to make lace, not sirinettes. Henri discovers a stash of letters and learns  that his father had son with one of his American customers. When circumstances drive Henri to flee to America, he meets his half-brother and discovers a world beyond Mireville.

Laura Stanfill is the prize-winning editor and publisher at Forest Avenue Press, a independent publisher of literary fiction and memoir here in Portland. Singing Lessons is her first novel. It launches on April 19 from Lanternfish Press and is available now for pre-order. For those in Portland, Laura will be reading at Powell's City of Books on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Signed copies are available for pre-order from Powell's or available at the event.

Read a glowing review of Singing Lessons on Publishers' Weekly. Read Beth Kephart's review of this "utterly beguiling" novel on Cleaver.

YOUR BOOK BEGINNING

Please link to your Book Beginning post and use the #bookbeginnings hashtag if you share on social media. 

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THE FRIDAY 56

Another fun Friday event is The Friday 56. Share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of your book, or 56% of the way through your e-book or audiobook, on this weekly event hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice.

MY FRIDAY 56

From Singing Lessons:

The next morning, Delia found an apologetic note from George on the formal dining table. He was quite sorry that he had overstayed his welcome; he needed to return home immediately. 

I had hoped to read Singing Lessons this weekend to celebrate finally finishing the Boy Scout bankruptcy trial that has been taking all my time and attention since March 14. Unfortunately, the trial didn't finish today like I hoped it would and I still have to make my closing arguments next week. Ugh! As soon as the trial wraps up, I will dive in to what promises to be thoroughly charming story!