here are two things I’ve learned from being close to the elderly…”Make the most of life, it goes fast,” “Never tell a secret... Never.”
Forgotten on Sunday
Valerie Perrin
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After finishing Forgotten on Sunday I believe I am a Valerie Perrin completist. And I think readers are confused that this is her newest novel, but it is actually her first, written in 2015. Fresh Water for Flowers (2018) and Three (2021) were both five star reads for me - I will read anything she writes. Perrin is a French novelist and FoS was just translated into English. A huge thank you to @europaeditions for this gifted, gorgeous copy.
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At first glance (and even by its book jacket) Forgotten on Sunday appears to be a lovely but simple story. Justine is a young woman who works in an elder care facility called The Hydrangeas (thus my photo op:) and she is particularly fond of Helene, the oldest resident in the home. Their friendship is beautifully portrayed and I would have been content with a story about aging and wisdom. But Perrin is such a storyteller and there is far more going on between these pages. By the time I finished my jaw was on the floor - I could not believe how much was packed in here, all of it good.
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Justine’s backstory is that she is an orphan living with her grandparents and cousin Jules; their parents were killed in a car accident together many years ago. She has always been told their car skidded on ice, but while trying to research something for the Hydrangeas, Justine stumbles across information that points otherwise. This background mystery turns a beautiful story into a propulsive page turner and the way Perrin wove it together with Helene’s history was nothing short of perfection. Justine is simultaneously unraveling Helene’s secret past and it is just as provocative as Justine’s.
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I think this is my favorite of Perrin’s three books and I didn’t see any of the twists coming. This is a story of friendship, of family secrets, there is a bit of historical fiction all wrapped up in exquisite prose and an excellent translation. I believe this edition will be on shelves Tuesday and you’re going to want it for your summer book bag.

Livro 67/104
OS ESQUECIDOS DE DOMINGO
Valérie Perrin 
307 páginas 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SIMPLESMENTE MARAVILHOSO 
Como já nos habituou, Valérie Perrin deslumbra-nos com a sua enorme sensibilidade ao tratar os temas mais delicados das nossas vidas num romance em que a melancolia e a graça andam de mãos dadas e nada é deixado ao acaso do destino.
Valérie Perrin tornou-se um nome incontornável em pouquíssimo tempo. Depois de me ter apaixonado por A Breve Vida das Flores (eu e meio mundo), jurei que leria todos os livros da autora que fossem traduzidos para português. E aqui estou eu a ler o terceiro..
Nunca pensei que um livro me fizesse emocionar tanto. Senti alegria, tristeza, pena,... empatia. Simplesmente adorei esta história sobre amor e família. Com uma leitura que é alternada entre o passado e o presente. 
Este é um livro maravilhoso, cheio de ternura que nos apresenta uma realidade não mencionada habitualmente. 
Como já  disse adorei toda esta historia que nos vem para tocar diretamente no coração.
Um dos melhores romances que li até hoje.

So sweet! 😭