Firefly Lane: A Novel
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From the New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . . now a #1 Netflix series!
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all―beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship―jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.
Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you―and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.
Publisher : St. Martin’s Griffin; First Edition (January 6, 2009)
Language : English
Paperback : 528 pages
ISBN-10 : 0312537077
ISBN-13 : 978-0312537074
Lexile measure : HL730L
Item Weight : 1.05 pounds
Dimensions : 5.6 x 1.35 x 8.25 inches
7 reviews for Firefly Lane: A Novel
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Original price was: $17.99.$8.93Current price is: $8.93.
Lisa Pottgen –
If you have ever had a best friend…
This is by far, one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write. I say this because by the end, I was just so emotionally invested in the story, in the words on the page. I had actually requested the sequel, Fly Away, from the publisher for review, and then realized it was a sequel and bought the first for Kindle because I hate reading books out of order.We have all been the awkward, gawky teenager at least at one time in our lives. That would be Kate. Tully is the girl that we all always wanted to be, based on what we could see on the outside. She seemed strong, confident, and everyone liked her. But that was just the exterior, the shell. It was no reflection of who she was inside and what she was hiding. Because Tully had a secret. She had been broken.The story of friendship in this book resonated so strongly to me. The movie, Beaches, with Bette Midler has long been one of my favorite films, and among the only “chick flicks” I will readily admit to liking.I don’t generally read this type of book. I tend to stay in the realm of fantasy because sometimes reality can be raw with broken edges and it can make you cry. In that regard, this book was true to form and did not disappoint. I cried like a blubbering baby.Because, you see, I had a best friend. I met her when I was 13 years old. Just like in the book, we were almost polar opposites. But we melded together and we were just like Tully and Kate, in many ways. We now live nearly 2000 miles apart, but the bond is still there and we are always there for each other when we needed one another.Ms. Hannah is an absolutely beautifully gifted storyteller and I cannot believe that I had not picked up one of her books before now. Firefly Lane will touch your heart. The story is beautifully crafted and the world the characters are painted in is done so well, you will feel as though you are riding down the hill with them with your hands stretched out, feeling like you are flying. You will feel as though you are sitting on the beach holding each other’s hands, holding back the tears.More than all of that, though, this story has a very clear message. It would be really hard for me to get into the details of that message without giving the story away, but please, if you read the book, make sure you read the postscript as well and heed the message therein. The story touches on issues that have touched my family. Maybe that makes it more real for me, harder for me to feel anything but empowered by this story, but there it is just the same.best friend. I met her when I was 13 years old. Just like in the book, we were almost polar opposites. But we melded together and we were just like Tully and Kate, in many ways. We now live nearly 2000 miles apart, but the bond is still there and we are always there for each other when we needed one another.Ms. Hannah is an absolutely beautifully gifted storyteller and I cannot believe that I had not picked up one of her books before now. Firefly Lane will touch your heart. The story is beautifully crafted and the world the characters are painted in is done so well, you will feel as though you are riding down the hill with them with your hands stretched out, feeling like you are flying. You will feel as though you are sitting on the beach holding each other’s hands, holding back the tears.More than all of that, though, this story has a very clear message. It would be really hard for me to get into the details of that message without giving the story away, but please, if you read the book, make sure you read the postscript as well and heed the message therein. The story touches on issues that have touched my family. Maybe that makes it more real for me, harder for me to feel anything but empowered by this story, but there it is just the same.
KymmLisa –
The Memories Came Rushing Back!
Leave it to Kristin Hannah to leave me laughing then crying all within the pages of one book, again! Firefly Lane was a trip down memory lane for me. I grew up and was the exact age Kate and Tully were in 1974, so the songs, the lingo, the clothes and the times were all my memories brought back to life. My thoughts and feelings were all over the place while I read this wonderful book. The seventies were a crazy, mixed up time to be a teen and Hannah brought it to life again brilliantly. I could almost feel the angst of my teen years all over again and the despair of not being old enough, but thinking I was so grown up!Tully and Kate couldn’t be more different, but when Tully moves in across the street from Kate in 1974 Kate’s world will never be the same. Kate is not in the popular group, which as you know is a death sentence in middle school. Tully is new to town and she’s different, which makes her a novelty and an instant popular girl. Kate is curious and watches her house with wonder. One night purely by accident after a tragic event Tully runs into Kate and they strike up a conversation. Tully shares her traumatic incident with Kate and the bond of friendship is formed with the secret. They are now and forever best friends and become known as TullyandKate.Kate’s mom is a typical stay at home mom who works hard to keep her children on the right path. She’s always doing what’s best for her children and worries Tully may be a bad influence on her daughter. Tully’s mom is an alcoholic and drug addict who barely knows her daughter exists. Tully has no relationship with her and is shuffled back and forth to her grandmother’s house whenever her mom decides to just leave, with no explanation. Tully is always hoping for more from her mom, but her mom doesn’t have the capacity to care. Kate’s family eventually rushes in to help Tully and opens up her world to what family really means.The two girls, now women go their separate ways after college. Tully is all about her career in journalism and gaining fame and wealth, Kate on the other hand enjoys writing, but quietly wants love, marriage and children, not the most popular choice for women in the 80’s, but it is what it is. She begins working with Tully in the journalism field, but her heart is not in it. Tully goes on to become a national star in the news world and Kate settle down to become a wonderful wife and mother, with all the challenges and joys that brings.This book really got to me. I don’t cry over books, until now. I saw myself so much in this book it was scary. I was a fourteen year old, as Tully and Kate were in 1974 when the world seemed so hard for a teen, when every decision seemed to be so big and came with such consequences that you second guessed every one. The songs Hannah mentioned, the foods she brought up and even the language the girls spoke were the ones I knew and spoke myself. I had a best friend that I got into “trouble” with, I drove my mother to distraction, I pushed every limit and I survived. I’m sorry to say I lost contact with my best friend after college, but this was part of the reason for my tears. I missed out on the rest of what could have been a lifetime of memories with her. I did reach out to her on FB after I read the book, still waiting to hear back. Another amazing part of the book, for me anyway is the unsung heroes, stay at home moms! If you’ve raised a teen daughter or are in the process of doing so, CONGRATULATIONS! When my daughter was a teen I was sure she was abducted by aliens and replaced with a being I did not know! It was the most challenging time of motherhood for me. I worked full time while raising children, but I admire women who choose to be full time moms, I couldn’t do it. It’s ten times harder than going to work everyday! They all deserve medals and hazard pay!If you’ve ever had a best friend who has been there through thick and thin, has been your secret keeper, your dance partner, or even your therapist this one is for you. If you’ve raised a teen girl and think it’s just you or your daughter, this one’s for you. And if you want a book that will take you on a journey through every emotion you can feel, this one’s for you. It’s a masterpiece of love, friendship, family, hardship, redemption and hope and I loved every single word. I’ve loved Kristin Hannah for years and always find her books to be moving, with each one better than the last. This one really got to me and I can’t wait to read the sequel! It was so fitting that I finished it on the first day of the new year, it just seemed like the perfect look back on my memories to get a better understanding of why I am who I am in this time and I am reminded that I too was once a teenage girl who drove her mother nuts! Happy Reading!
Swarnim Agrawal –
Loved this book!!A heart touching and enthralling story!!Hats off to Kristin Hannah!!One of the best novels on Friendship which I have ever read!!A Must Read!!
Irma –
Un libro assolutamente da leggere, travolgente e che non vorresti finisse mai
まっさん –
Kristin HannahさんのNight Roadがあまりにも面白かったのでアマゾンで取り寄せました。この人は本当に悲しいストーリーを書くのが好きですね。「育児放棄された女の子」と「育ちのいい女の子」が高校時代に出逢い、そこから大親友として二人で人生を共に過ごしていきます。キャリアをとるか、家庭をとるか、そのような二人の葛藤がお互いを傷つけあいながら、そして励まし合いながらストーリーが展開していきます。ただ、Night Roadと比べると、明らかにドキドキ度、せつなさ度がおとります。どうも登場人物を好きになることが出来ませんでした。478ページとなかなかのボリュームがありますが、話が面白くなってきたのは最後の１００ページくらいです。Night Roadを読むことを強くお勧めします。
Read, Watch & Drink Coffee –
Firefly Lane is the kind of book that makes you feel all of the emotions. You laugh, you cry, you feel angry, and you constantly find yourself smiling. And oh boy, did I cry.The book takes you on a real journey that is filled with the warmth of memories and nostalgia but also of the pain of regret and disappointment. You experience all of the highs and lows so it’s no wonder that this is a relationship that sticks with you.Stupidly, for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to read the Author’s Notes before starting this book, which is a really bad idea. Don’t do it if you haven’t read this book yet, because you find out where the book is heading so I spent a lot of my time waiting for that to happen. But it didn’t really affect my reading, though, as the final few chapters completely broke my heart and left me in a puddle of tears, even though I knew what was going to happen.For most of this book, I didn’t think I was going to love it as much as I did in the end, so I understand a lot of the opinions about the characters feeling quite one-dimensional. I don’t agree with this in regards to Kate at all, but I do think that Tully is a difficult character to warm to. But then that’s not necessarily the fault of Kristin Hannah, as some people are as narrow-minded and selfish as Tully. But I can also understand why Kate sticks by her. Friendships like theirs don’t come around often, which is why it’s so easy to forgive them for their wrongdoings, no matter how frequent.I loved Kate’s character, though. I constantly found myself relating to her as I know all too well how easy it is to lose yourself in motherhood. I especially love how her relationship with her daughter was explored with how hard it can be to clash with one of your children yet be desperate for them to see how much you care. I also loved Johnny’s loyalty to her and didn’t expect to feel so connected to their relationship at the end was a welcomed surprise.I love Kristin Hannah’s writing. While I feel like the story itself is quite weak compared to other books I have read by her, she does a remarkable job of investing you in her characters. Again, the end completely broke me, especially as I lay in bed reading this with my little one asleep on me. I gave him a little squeeze and reminded myself to make the most of life a little more.As soon as I finished this book, I went off to Netflix to watch the new Firefly Lane series. I won’t talk about there here because I wasn’t impressed, but I will write up another post about my feelings regarding the adaptation soon.I would definitely recommend this book, though. It’s a brilliant depiction of friendship with so much to invest in. It’s certainly a book that will stick with me.
Diana –
Lo compre tras ver la serie y segun voy leyendo veo en mi cabeza las escenas nitidas. Es como ver una y otra vez la serie, solo en mi cabeza, acompañandome en mis viajes o mis momentos de relax. Lo compre en ingles ademas para aprender mas vocabulario y tambien por ahi me esta sirviendo.Su precio y tamaño bolsillo me parecen tambuen lo mejor. Ya estoy pensando en algun cumple donde crea q la persona pueda disfrutarlo tanto como yo. Es un regalo de historia, por fin una historia de amistad bonita y duradera entre dos mujeres y no tanra rivalidad, celos y crueldad que se han mostrado tanto en pelis y series, especialmente, mientras yo fui joven (de 2000 a 2015 aprox)