The Silkworm

"Someone bloody famous," said the hoarse voice on the end of the line, "better've died, Strike."

The large unshaven man tramping through the darkness of predawn, with his telephone clamped to his ear, grinned.

"It's in that ballpark."

"It's six o'clock in the (expletive) morning!"

"It's half past, but if you want what I've got, you'll need to come and get it," said Cormoran Strike. "I'm not far away from your place. There's a —"

"How'd you know where I live?" demanded the voice.

"You told me," said Strike, stifling a yawn. "You're selling your flat."

"Oh," said the other, mollified. "Good memory."

"There's a twenty-four-hour caff—"

"(Expletive) that. Come into the office later—"

"Culpepper, I've got another client this morning, he pays better than you do and I've been up all night. You need this now if you're going to use it."

A groan. Strike could hear the rustling of sheets.

"It had better be (expletive)-hot."

"Smithfield Café on Long Lane," said Strike and rang off.
― Robert Galbraith, The Silkworm

I haven't read Harry Potter, but I certainly enjoy J. K. Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith. The Cuckoo's Calling is the first in this series, a book that completely absorbed me. The reviews about this second book in the series are even more glowing. Books to enjoy!

 

“Hard to remember these days that there was a time you had to wait for the ink and paper reviews to see your work excoriated. With the invention of the internet, any subliterate cretin can be Michiko Kakutani.”
― Robert Galbraith, The Silkworm

 



Chemo Hat and a Good Book

 The chemo cap that I mentioned here is finished and ready to send off to our nephew's wife. I hope that this little cap will bless her with comfort and love.

 



This is a great pattern, which means that it is both pretty and quick! Grab your size 8 needles and some worsted weight--I used "I Love This Yarn"--and get the free pattern at Head Huggers.

Here are a couple of funky owls for her little ones when Mommy gets her pretty hat. These were from my brief owl period when I was making hats and toys. If I ever remember where I found the pattern for these, I will add it later!!



 

My book beginning quote is from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Opening line:

When he emerges from the bathroom she is awake, propped up against the pillows and flicking through travel brochures that were beside his bed.

Sooo, that could go in several directions, couldn't it? Is he going on a trip and doesn't want her to know? Will they be traveling together? Did one or both recently return from a journey? Not exactly compelling, is it? Of course, I must read on! There's not too much to glean at this point other than they must have spent the night together.

 

 

And, from page 56:

 

Rupert's voice broke in. "Look, we're only telling you now because we both care about you. We didn't want you to hear it from someone else. But, you know, life goes on. You must know that. It's been two years, after all."

Would you continue reading?









Habits of the House ~ Book Beginning

 

I am currently reading the first page of Habits of the House by Fay Weldon. It truly is the book beginning. Here is the first sentence:

In late October of the year 1899, a tall, thin, nervy, young man ran up the steps to number 17 Belgrave Square. He seemed agitated.

Which begs the question--why? (Oh, and I have surmised from my reading that the British say "nervy" in the manner that we in the USA use the adjective "nervous".)

I have chosen to read this book as a counterpoint to my other current read, Empty Mansions, a non-fiction work about Hughette Clark and her fortune. So, I'm thinking that a bit of British upstairs/downstairs might be just the right read...something light.

Would it appeal to you?



The Queen Mother: The Official Biography

http://www.rosecityreader.com/

 "Wednesday 19 July 2000 was the day chosen for the pageant celebrating the hundredth birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In London, the day did not begin well."

Thus begins the biography of the long and eventful life of the mother of the current Queen Elizabeth. Though familiar with some events in her life, I am enjoying the book immensely as I read about this woman of character, strength, and great warmth.

Do you read biographies?

Tapestry of Fortunes

 This is the first sentence of Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg:

"When I was growing up, my mother's best friend was a woman named Cosmina Mandruleanu. I liked her for a lot of reasons: her name, of course; her ash-blond hair and throaty voice and black nylons and the way she was generous with the Juicy Fruit gum she always kept in her purse."

Does this beginning invite you into the story? Admittedly, I would not choose to read the book based solely on this opening, but so far/so good as I read. You can read about more book beginnings at Rose City Reader.




Turning to page 56 to share on Freda's Voice, we find:

"Listen. Whatever you think of me or what I'm doing, I don't want or need or expect any longer to hear. You managed to raise a spineless son..., but I've got a long line of vertebrae running down my back and I'm going to tell you what I should have said a long time ago: Back off and butt out."

This story of interwoven lives and the influence of the past upon the future is not well represented by these lines. I am on page 49 and will continue reading this book. Would you?

Garment of Shadows

http://www.rosecityreader.com/2013/04/book-beginnings-journal-of-my-broken.html

 "Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."
These are the opening lines from the Preface of Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King:

The big man had the brains of a tortoise, but even he was beginning to look alarmed.

Sherlock Holmes drew a calming breath. Then another.

It had seemed such a simple arrangement: If Mary Russell chose to submit to the whimsy of Fflytte Films as it finished its current moving picture,that was fine and good, but there was no cause for her husband to be tied down by her eccentricities-not with an entirely new country at his feet.

 : : : : :

The Friday 56 is a bookish meme sponsored by Freda's Voice. It is easy to participate. Just grab a book and turn to page 56. Find a sentence that grabs you and post it.
Here's a sentence from page 56 of Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King:

The man's face gave a little twist of chagrin, that he had been distracted into a premature revelation of the tale's denouement, but Holmes did not give him the chance to regain the floor.

 : : : : :

This book is one in the series about Sherlock Holmes and his wife, Mary Russell.

Becoming Queen by Kate Williams

"Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

From Becoming Queen by Kate Williams, 

"The Prince of Wales was drunk. It was his wedding day, he was disgusted by his bride, 

and he was the most inebriated he had ever been outside of a brothel."

Beginning in the 18th century, this is the historical fiction version of how Victoria came to be Queen of England. A sketchy beginning to the story!

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader

 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

From Becoming Queen by Kate Williams, page 56: "As her grandfather was incapacitated and her father constantly assailed by bouts of serious ill-health, it was not entirely unlikely that she would become Queen in two or three years' time. She was woefully unprepared to govern Britain, the most powerful country in Europe, if not the world."

~~~~

What are you reading? 

Seeing Things by Patti Hill

Rose City Reader, "Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

from Seeing Things by Patti Hill:

"You're talking to the queen of skepticism right here.
I roll my eyes over newspaper stories where teary-eyed folks report they've seen Jesus in a potato chip. That sort of hogwash sends me straight to the comics for a dose of reality." 

Though I read this with some trepidation, my concerns about launching into a book with a little too much cutesy and folksy were allayed by the the humor, wit, and charm of the unfolding story. Birdie, who is recuperating with a broken leg at the home of her son and family, is forced away from her mountain life in Ouray, Colorado, and into their very busy, shallow life in Denver. Despite macular degeneration, she is able discern much more than is apparent to the eyes of her son and wife as their neglected son struggles through his stormy teen years. Birdie befriends the maid, Lupe, who faces challenges with plain spoken realism. With interwoven stories lines keeping my interest, I am anticipating the denouement of the challenges the characters face at their assorted stages of life.

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Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader

 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your URL post here.  It's that simple.

" 'Can you Talk? Are things going well with your son and daughter-in-law?'... 'There's no easy answer to that question.' "

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Do leave a comment and tell me what you'll be reading this weekend!

:)

Is crocheting a snore?

Is that what Max is conveying here? This is my mandatory beside-my-computer project today. That project whimsically changes at any moment. To use up worsted weight bits and pieces, I chained a length for a lap ghan and sc three rows of color. Then, a row of what I call "ivory" into the second row below. The huge question in my mind is WHY did I start this in sc?? I mean, hdc is my absolute favorite crochet stitch!! So, why? Dunno. Doesn't everyone have a favorite crochet stitch? Do you? What IS your favorite? This is a long term commitment---this ghan and me--over the years, we'll knot up many bits and pieces.

Finished reading a book from the stack that I got at the library book sale, Lake News by Barbara Delinsky. It's a charming little story set on a lake in New Hampshire. The story is compelling and satisfying...a nice escape read.

You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.  ---Audrey Hepburn