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Beautiful,
Optimistic,
Inspiring

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Twenty Wishes (A Blossom Street Book #4)
by Debbie Macomber

Published: 2008-04-29
Hardcover : 368 pages
3 members reading this now
6 clubs reading this now
4 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members
Anne Marie can’t remember when she stopped making wishes, but she suspects that, like so much in her life, it happened unbidden. She certainly doesn’t recall making any of the choices that have left her childless, widowed, and alone at 38. Anne Marie only knows that she needs to find ...
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Introduction

Anne Marie can’t remember when she stopped making wishes, but she suspects that, like so much in her life, it happened unbidden. She certainly doesn’t recall making any of the choices that have left her childless, widowed, and alone at 38. Anne Marie only knows that she needs to find one good thing about life—or she might not have the wherewithal to carry on, despite her successful bookstore on Blossom Street. When Valentine’s Day finds Anne Marie and several friends trying to put a little zest back in their lives, it occurs to her that while none of the women has any need for another to-do list, they could all benefit by making a list of wishes . . . say, 20 wishes. Things they always wanted to do but never did. Anne Marie’s list includes learning to knit, doing good for someone else, and falling love again. Little does she know that one good deed—offering to be a Lunch Buddy of an eight-year-old girl at a local school—will change her life in such a profound way. Wishes, however, are powerful things. And love can come in many shapes and forms. Anne Marie and her friends soon learn that even the wildest of wishes can come true—sometimes in ways you least expect.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Chapter One

It was six o'clock on Valentine's Day, an hour that should have marked the beginning of a celebration—the way it had when she and Robert were married. When Robert was alive. But tonight, on the most romantic day of the year, thirty-eight-year-old Anne Marie Roche was alone. Turning over the closed sign on the door of Blossom Street Books, she glanced at the Valentine's display with its cutout hearts and pink balloons and the collection of romance novels she didn't read anymore. Then she looked outside. Streetlights flickered on as evening settled over the Seattle neighborhood. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions


1. Have you ever written a list of wishes for yourself? Anne Marie Roche and the other widows believe that writing down what you want helps you clarify it—and achieve it, too. Based on your own experience, do you agree?



2. Anne Marie had agreed to no children when she married Robert, then she changed her mind. What do you think of her actions—and his? Could they have handled things differently? How would you have advised them?



3. Despite wanting a child in her life and wanting to do “something for someone else,” Anne Marie is initially reluctant to get involved in the Lunch Buddy program. Why do you think this is? What persuaded her to follow through?



4. Volunteering seems to be increasingly popular, especially among women. What do you believe are the reasons for this? Have you ever participated in any volunteer activity? What was it and what did you get out of it?



5. Lillie is in many ways a conventional society matron. What gives her the courage to break out of her restricted, although privileged, life? Do you think she and Hector have a realistic chance at happiness?



6. In what ways is Barbie different from her mother? Why is she drawn to Mark Bassett? Is it despite his resistance to her—or because of it?



7. The relationship between Anne Marie and her stepdaughter, Melissa, undergoes a profound transformation. What exactly brought it about, in your opinion?



8. By the end of the story, Anne Marie finds what she was missing in life. And she finds it in unexpected ways. Do you feel her list of 20 Wishes made this possible? What wishes of yours have been fulfilled—and how?

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

When I was a kid, I would often lie on the grass on a summer’s night, gaze up at the heavens, and make a wish: I wish I may, I wish I might . . . Last year, I was reminded again of how powerful wishes can be when I met Arliene Zeigler at a book signing. She told me how she uses a scrapbook to illustrate her wishes (things she’d like to do—even if doing them might seem impossible). This all led to the premise for Twenty Wishes, featuring Anne Marie Roche, owner of Blossom Street Books.

In this, my fifth Blossom Street novel, join Anne Marie, along with some new and old friends from Seattle’s friendly Blossom Street, as they go about making their own wishes come true. I hope their story will inspire you to make a wish list of your own and that, like Anne Marie, you learn that wishes indeed can come true in marvelous, unexpected ways.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "twenty wishes"by josephine g. (see profile) 02/12/11

Twenty wishes in my opinion was a beautifully written book. I loved the plot and the purpose of the story because it was so inspiring. It makes you want to make your wishes come true. I also loved the... (read more)

 
  "4 women write down their wishes and make them happen"by Becky H. (see profile) 01/18/09

This is feel good story that was a lot of fun to read and led to a good discussion. However, several members were put off by the pedestrian writing and one dimensional characters.

 
  "After experiencing loss and suffering grief, friends create wish lists and find that it changes their lives"by Paula M. (see profile) 07/20/08

Interesting how the characters lives were changes by the "20 wishes" list. Most got what they wished for and more.

 
  "Good book, quick read"by Jane C. (see profile) 07/19/08

The book was a joy to read, very up lifting.

 
  "A fun and thought provoking read"by Patti C. (see profile) 07/15/08

Our club chose this as our summer read because I knew the author writes an easy to read, enjoyable book...nothing too heavy. This book was very enjoyable. You cannot help but think about your own wishes... (read more)

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