Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: Another great Debbie Macomber book. Her characters are busy and they're great. Buy this book - you'll love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Speed reading improves as book progresses
Review: Debbie Macomber fills the pages of her book, Thursdays at Eight, with a delightful story of the power of female friendship.After meeting in a journaling class, Julia, Liz, Clare & Karen decide to further their friendship by meeting for breakfast each Thursday at Eight. In these Thursday morning meetings many laughs and heartaches are shared forming a tight bond between the women. Each character, unique and insightful, brings something new to the table for the others to relish in. As the four face trials in their lives they turn to each other for support and love. This book delivers an enjoyable read of how people's lives are shaped by the people whom they decide to call friends.
Rating:
Summary: Speed reading improves as book progresses
Review: Four perfect plots with four imperfect women, but, you just know that their imperfections make them more perfect! The situations had potential, but, it became a puff piece. Through the first chapters my underlying thought was that these problems would be so much more with less financial support. Did each woman have to be so wealthy? Where was the average income? It has to be more fun to write about someone who can dine out whenever they want rather than the woman who has to balance going to a restaurant weekly, or more often, with buying enough groceries or gasoline. I guess if no bills exist you can concentrate on the lack of a man or ungrateful kids. This book was a quick read, I found myself skimming through because it is trite and forgettable, except for the chapter quotes. I copied them out in a journal. Yes, I journal and I hope there is more reality in my words. I've had two of the plotlines happen in my life.
Rating:
Summary: I'd Love to Join this Group!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!! WOMEN'S FICTION AT ITS BEST
Review: 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)
Rating:
Summary: Worst book I've read in a long time
Review: Journals and stories of four women who met in a college writing class. A lasting friendship was formed, and the women decide to keep meeting for coffee and encouragement on Thursday mornings. Each woman is at a different phase of her life than the rest, and relies on the others to carry her through. Sappy, trite writing and a pretty predictable story. Also, seems to preach to me that a woman can't be happy without a man in her life. *groan* The journal entries were interchangeable - except for the specific people in each story, any entry could've been written by any of the four women. They had no distinctive writing voice. The journal style also seemed very undeveloped to me, especially for women who all considered themselves such wonderful writers. Here's an example of the dialogue between one of the woman's teenage sons: "I was watching reruns of The Brady Bunch."
"The Brady Bunch?" Alex repeated. "Why would you do that when there's all those stations? What about VH-1?" Ehhh, yes, most 19 or 20 year old boys like VH-1. Mmm hmm... The best thing about this book were the quotations before each chapter. Save your time - just read those.
Rating: 
Summary: Thursdays at Eight
Review: This book tells four separate stories of four women who meet in a class on journal-writing and then agree to get together once a week for breakfast at 8:00. Most of the chapters tell the separate stories of the four women; a lonely widow, an embittered divorcee, a young girl who has aspirations for an acting career, and a woman with children in their teens who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. The breakfast meetings allow them to share their trials and problems and when things go bad for any of them, the others are there to lend their support. As I read about situations which I had been through, I realized that Macomber's narration of these characters' feelings is right on target and the situations are realistically portrayed. Reading this book encourages me to look for other books by this author.
Rating:
Summary: The Breakfast Club
Review: This is a wonderful book about four women who attended a journal writing class and decide to continue meeting.They call their group the "Mocha Moments Cafe' Breakfast Club"and meet each Thursday at eight. The four women are Claire,recently divorced,who bears much anger toward her ex-husband;Liz,a professional woman in her late fifties,who is a widow;Julia,turning forty,with teen-agers,has just started her own business,and,finally ,Karen,in her twenties,whose dreams conflict with the role her family thinks she should follow.In spite of their age differences,these women compliment each other and each plays a major role in the others' lives.Every chapter focuses on one woman,with a page from her journal telling her thoughts,continuing on to her story.They all experience great changes in their lives and look to the others for advice and support, loyally standing by each other thru it all.Debbie Macomber makes these women so real you want to meet them and be a part of their group.You feel certain that there really is a Mocha Moments Cafe' and that Julie,Karen,Liz and Claire are sitting there talking every Thursday morning. This is definitely a womans' book, but I am sure that a certain segment of men will find it appealing - the characters surely are.
Rating:
Summary: an "every-woman" story.........
Review: Thursdays at Eight is an enchanting story about four very different women who have reached a critical point in their lives, a point where decisions made or not made will result in life altering changes with no return trip.
At first I thought this would be a nice warm, fuzzy read but after finishing the story I realized it is really a story about all people, that we all face stunning challenges at different points in our lives. This tale portrays the importance of friendship and family and the ability to discern what is truly important and what is merely desire. I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would, and after finishing it and thinking about it, I felt that it nudges you to examine your own life and the choices we all make.
The four women range in age from their twenties to early fifties. Their marital status, married, divorced, single and widowed, some have children, some do not. The amazing thing is that they could almost be combined into an "every-woman" and this is what draws the reader into their lives and their decisions that they reach as they meet for breakfast each Thursday morning to discuss their week.
Rating:
Summary: Unable to stop reading
Review: Thursdays at Eight was my first Debbie Macomber book. The four main characters were somewhat stereotypical, but life in general is full of stereotypes. Of course, things pretty well work out for everyone in the end, and a MULTITUDE of subjects is covered in the process such as spousal abuse, cheating husbands, serious illness, death, widowhood, empty nest syndrome, being dumped, angry children, late pregnancy, big dreams, politically incorrect men, and true friendships. Unfortunately, there is a bit of an implication that everyone in all their various circumstances finds true happiness by finding true love eventually, or if true love hasn't happened yet, then it is at least on the visible horizon! But hey, that's what makes it a romance. Actually, one of the book's best points is that Macomber starts each chapter with a quote; some inspiring, some funny, and some relevant.
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