Thursdays at Eight [Abridged] [Audio Cassette]

Debbie Macomber (Author), Paula Parker (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

Thursday, 8:00 a.m. Mocha moments, breakfast club! Every week, these words appear in the calendars of four women. Every week, they meet for breakfast — and to talk, to share the truths they’ve discovered about their lives. To tell their stories. To offer each other encouragement and unfailing support. Clare has just been through a devastating and unexpected divorce. She’s driven by anger and revenge — until she learns something about her ex-husband that forces her to question her own actions. Forces her to look deep inside for the forgiveness she’s rejected…and the person she used to be. Elizabeth is a widow, in her late fifties, a successful professional. A woman who’s determined not to waste another second of her life. And if that life should include romantic possibilities — well, why not? Karen is in her twenties, and she believes these should be the years for taking risks, reaching for your dreams. Her dream is to be an actor. Except that her parents think she should be more like her sister, the very conventional Victoria! Julia is turning forty this year. Her husband’s career is established, her kids are finally in their teens and she’s just started her own business. Everything’s going according to schedule — until she discovers she’s pregnant. That’s not part of the plan. Thursdays at Eight A time to think about lives lived, choices made. A time for friends…

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Four residents of Willow Creek, California--the youngest in her twenties, the oldest in her late fifties--become acquainted during a journaling class and decide to continue their connection by meeting each Thursday morning for coffee and conversation. They come from very different backgrounds, but their need for friends and support draw them together and bind them in their struggles with life and love. Clare is angry and bitter after a devastating divorce; Elizabeth, a widow, is determined not to waste a moment of the rest of her life; twentysomething Karen is set on becoming an actress despite her family's disapproval; and Julia is approaching her fortieth birthday when an unplanned pregnancy turns her perfect life upside down. As each of the four women cope with cataclysmic upheavals in their lives, they rely more and more on the support of the members of the Thursday morning breakfast club. And as they are faced with difficult choices, each chooses the option dictated by their conscience and their personal moral compass rather than the easy way out.

Thursdays at Eight is a novel of everyday women confronted with extraordinary circumstances, and Macomber tells their stories with a depth of mature insight that is both compassionate and unfailingly honest. These are women with guts and fortitude, courage and determination, and readers will recognize the same strength of character found in the novels of venerable authors Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy. --Lois Faye Dyer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the suburban town of Willow Grove, Calif., Macomber's latest (after Always Dakota) follows the friendship of four women who meet at the Mocha Moments cafe every Thursday morning. For the new year, Clare Craig, Liz Kenyon, Julia Murchison and Karen Curtis decide to choose a word that will help them realize their New Year's resolutions. Having recently divorced her cheating husband of 23 years, Clare chooses the word "faithful," and not surprisingly, her faith is put to the test when she learns that her ex has cancer. Liz, a 57-year-old hospital administrator who would rather be alone with fond memories of her late husband than fending off the advances of debonair Dr. Jamison, focuses on the word "time" to symbolize her need to regain control of her life. Julia has everything her heart desires a loving husband, two teenagers and her own yarn shop. Naturally, she chooses the word "gratitude," but she feels less than grateful when she discovers that she's pregnant again. And then there's Karen, a 20-something substitute teacher whose desire to become an actor frustrates her domineering mother. Karen chooses the word "acceptance" as a reminder that she must be herself, not who her mother thinks she should be. The novel shifts between the women's journal entries and action, a setup affording an intimate glimpse of each character but also contributing to the story's sluggish pacing. As always, Macomber draws rich, engaging characters, but her flat narrative voice and sugary sentimentality do little to keep the reader turning pages. (June)Forecast: Macomber has built a respectable following for herself with her Heart of Texas series and her Dakota Trilogy. Despite this book's flaws, it will climb the bestseller lists, boosted by print advertising in national publications (New York Times Book Review, USA Today and Library Journal), book signing events and a satellite television tour.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Dh Audio; Abridged edition (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552042693
• ISBN-13: 978-1552042694
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,931,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With more than 100 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Debbie Macomber is one of today's most popular authors.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author is best known for her ability to create compelling characters and bring their stories to life in her books. Drawing on her own experiences and observations, Debbie writes heartwarming tales about small-town life, home and family and enduring friendships. Every book features the delightful sense of humor that readers around the world clamor for.

Debbie is a regular resident on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times (55 times and counting), USA TODAY (currently 63 times) and Publishers Weekly (23 times to date). She is the first-ever recipient of the "readers' choice" Quill Award for Romance Fiction, for 44 Cranberry Point, the fourth book in her highly popular Cedar Cove series. Debbie has also been honored with a RITA® Award, a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Career Achievement Award and is a multiple winner of both the Holt Medallion and the B. Dalton Award.

Her recent books include 92 Pacific Boulevard, 8 Sandpiper Way, 74 Seaside Avenue and Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook, as well as Twenty Wishes, A Cedar Cove Christmas, Summer on Blossom Street and The Perfect Christmas.

For more information on Debbie and her books, visit her Web site: www.DebbieMacomber.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!! WOMEN'S FICTION AT ITS BEST, June 11, 2001

By 

Maudeen Wachsmith "BeachReader" (Port Townsend, WA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thursdays At Eight (Hardcover)

It has long been my belief that when an author moves from mass market paperback originals to hardcover, the book needs to be something special - partly to justify the increased price and partly to attract a larger audience. THURSDAYS AT EIGHT is Debbie Macomber's hardcover release and there's no doubt about it being justified.

The very method she uses to tell the story is unique. Each chapter begins with a journal entry by each of the four main characters who have met in a journal-writing class but after the class is completed, they find they wish to continue meeting and their breakfast club, Thursday morning at 8 AM at Mocha Moments Café is born. In the first four chapters we meet each of the women: Clare Craig, Liz Kenyon, Karen Curtis, and Julia Murchison as they chose their word for the year and write it into their journals on January first.

Claire, who has just been through a devastating divorce after 23 years of marriage, choses the word "faithful." She wants the year to be one of new beginnings. She never expects how her faithfulness will be truly tested.

Liz, a 57-year-old widow and hospital administrator has begun the year alone for the first time in her life, both her adult children having moved out of towtn in the last three months. She choses the word "time" - accepting being alone and believing she should take time to learn how to live contentedly by herself. But can she achieve that contentment alone??

Karen Curtis is 28 years old and single. She has long dreamed of becoming an actress despite her parents' disapproval. Her word is "acceptance" that her mother will accept her for who she is and quit comparing her to her sister Victoria who is married to a successful attorney and has a young son. The word takes on a new meaning when Karen learns she needs to accept herself.

Julia is totally content. She has a happy marriage, two well-adjusted teenagers, and has recently opened her own business, a yarn shop which is doing well. She's chosen the word "gratitude" being happy with what she has. Will she be so grateful when, at age 40, she's faced with an unexpected pregnancy?

During the next year each of these four women face truths about themselves but with the love and support of the others, survive.

Heartwarming and emotional are words often used to describe the stories told by the talented Ms. Macomber and THURSDAYS AT EIGHT is no exception. Her stories are always enjoyable but this one is even more than that, it enables readers to take stock of their own lives and the people around them. What word would you chose?

Maudeen Wachsmith Charter Member, Reviewers International Organization (RIO)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Women Learn The Meaning of Friendship, August 21, 2002

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thursdays At Eight (Mass Market Paperback)

Four very different women meet at a journaling class and form a strong bond. Though I was a little perplexed as to why such different women did decide to form a breakfast club, there is no doubt that they cared for one another and were there for each other in good times and in bad.

Claire is a woman whose husband Michael has left her for a much younger manicurist. Bitterness and anger have taken over her life, but a life-altering event leads her and her two teenage sons to re-evaluate their situation.

Liz is a smart and savvy hospital administrator. Can a mature and educated widow find lasting happiness with a womanizing doctor whose top priority is bedding her?

Karen is the youngest member of the group and is constantly at odds with her family. She yearns to be an actress, preferably star in her own sitcom. Her family thinks she needs to be realistic and become a teacher.

Julia is the happily married mother of two children who has just begun her own business. She seems to have it all when a surprise pregnancy disrupts the life she has planned for herself.

This book looks at one year in the life of these friends as they cope with joys and sorrows, romantic possibilites and career challenges. Through it all, they faithfully meet each Thursday morning for breakfast and give unwavering support and encouragement to each other.

Readers will no doubt long to join Claire, Liz, Karen, and Julia each week at Mocha Moments and take part in this warm and sincere support group.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd Love to Join this Group!, November 8, 2004

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thursdays At Eight (Mass Market Paperback)

In recent years a new genre has emerged which I refer to as friendship or bonding books.  These are those books which chronicle the lives of four or five characters who may meet through various venues.  They may meet as college roommates or in book groups or cooking classes, writing classes, or even as tourists on a holiday or the newest place, Internet discussion groups.  Titles like Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons and Evening Class by Maeve Binchy are fine examples of these kinds of books.  And to this list I now add what I think is one of the best among them, Thursdays at Eight by Debbie Macomber.

Four different women at four different points in their lives and four different ages meet during a journal writing class. While the class proves to be less than worthwhile, these four women bond together and decide to meet weekly. Thus begins these weekly meetings Thursday mornings at 8 am at Mocha Moment a popular coffee shop to continue their friendships. And it is through these weekly meetings the four women learn more about each other, support each other through good times and bad times and ultimately learn more about themselves as well.

Karen is a 28 year old women struggling with her desire to become an actresses and a disapproving mother. Working as a substitute teacher seems to suit her for now as she continues to audition, but is this going to be the sum of her future? Julia at 39 has just opened a knitting shop and with two teenagers in the house can look forward to spending more time with her husband and on herself. But then a big surpass may change all of these plans. Clare is in her 40's and has just been divorced from her husband who fell in love with a 20 year old. Clare is angry and filled with hate for her former husband and can't wait till she can get some revenge. But then she learns that life can turn on a dime and feelings can and do change. And finally there is Liz, both the voice of reason and maturity among the four. At 57 and a widow for 6 years, Liz wonders if time is rushing by her and if she can ever find more meaning to her life now that her husband is gone.

Through the year this book takes place, these four women

lean on one another as they experience joy, pain, grief and profound changes in their lives. The book is told from each woman's point of view at the beginning of each chapter as each character write their journal entry. And then the focus shifts to the group at large as they connect with the event in each other's lives. And perhaps one of my favorite parts of this book is the way the author chose significant quotes as chapter headings. Some of these quotes were funny, some were poignant but all reflected events that were going to happen in this chapter.

Thursdays at 8 is a well written book from the heart that one hates to see end. Now, I would love to know how these four women, I think of as friends, are doing. I think this book will appeal to any reader who treasures her friends and finds they are a wonderful antidote to what life throws our way. Most of all the women Ms. Macomber describes could be any one of us. And in the end I couldn't help but think of the value of friendships in our lives. I highly recommend this book and I think you will find as I did that Debbie Macomber is a writer to cherish.