Author: Robin Gold
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: May 2012 – Avon Impulse
My take: The rug was pulled out from under Clara Black’s life. She was set to marry the love of her life but ten days before the wedding a tragic car crash changed everything. Months later Clara’s mother convinced her to spend Thanksgiving at the family home in Chicago.
When she arrived home her mother gave her a package that arrived several weeks earlier. Turns out it was a time-capsule that Clara made when she was in the fifth grade and sent by the teacher 24 years later. Among the items in the package was a list of goals young Clara hoped to accomplish before she turned 35. Clara started to concentrate on crossing goals off the list – she had less than a year before her 35th birthday and there were about 20 items on the list.
Robin Gold’s novel is the story of how one woman starts to reclaim her life. It may not be the life Clara thought she’d have but she learns that things can be good again. I loved how her list served as a springboard for getting back into life. Little by little she starts to feel better about things, people, the future. As she focuses on her list she learns that it’s not always easy to meet a goal but it’s almost always worth the effort.
I love a book that leaves me with a warm feeling and that’s what Once Upon a List did.
Source: Avon Impulse
Disclosure: See sidebar. I was not compensated for my review.
This sounds delightful! I’m surprised the teacher could find her 24 years later, though.
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It was a fun book, Kathy. Her teacher sent the package to the address where each student lived when they were in 5th grade (hoping the parents still lived there).
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I am going to put this on my tbr list Mary… I think it will be a great read.. Thanks for sharing this with us….
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I think you’ll enjoy it, Kathleen!
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This does sound like an inspiring book, and one that I would very much like to read. I love the fact that it’s lighter, yet serious, and will be looking for this one when I can. Fantastic review today!
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Oh boy, I’m guessing I’d love this book right Mary. It sounds great and just my kind of read.
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I think you would like it, Dar 🙂
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This sounds like the perfect read to get inspired when things look bleak. The cover is cute too.
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What a fun concept. I know both my kids did time capsules in the 5th grade but the teachers gave them to the kids at the end of the project to keep until it was time to open. I like this idea much better. I’m going to add this to my summer read list.
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I would love to get a time capsule from my 5th grade self 🙂
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First I thought it was fun and cute chic-lit, cos of the cover, but I guess that is not the case
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You could call this chick-lit or contemporary romance or fiction which is why I went with fiction 😉
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I like the sounds of this one… how fun with a time capsle thing and what a great idea!
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Sounds like the perfect summer read to me. Glad u liked it so much.
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Oh, this looks so good! I’m a list maker myself. There was a tv movie I watched a few years ago that had a similar storyline and I really liked it. Adding it to my list.
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I love lists, so I think I would enjoy that aspect of this novel.
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I love a book that makes me feel good after finishing it! this one sounds like a great fun read!
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