Hemingway's Suitcase

 Visit Rose City Reader to see the opening lines of books and post yours! Mine is from Hemingway's Suitcase by MacDonald Harris.

"1: The Trouble With People

There was a crowd at the Rotonde but they found a table inside looking out through the windows at the terasse and the boulevard. It was five o'clock and already dark."

This book combines fact and fiction to weave a tale about  a lost suitcase containing all of Hemingway's writing at the age of 22. The opening pages appear to be the author's imagining of one of the stories from the suitcase.

From there? I must read on!

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

"As you got older, you were no doubt stricken with all sorts of thoughts that you were never again going to do this or that or the other thing again."

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Would you read on?

Transatlantic

So I started a new book yesterday and only got to page 12. Not an auspicious beginning! The book is Transatlantic by Colum McCann with my teaser from page 12.

"They didn't want to remember the bombs that had dudded out, or the crash and burn, or the cellblocks they had been locked into, or what species of abyss they had seen in the dark."

I'm thinking the author is describing the depths before we see the heights. Hope so!

The opening paragraph is more appealing to me with the elemental power and beauty of nature:

"The cottage sat at the end of the lough. She could hear the wind and rain whipping across the expanse of open water: it hit the trees and muscled its way to the grass."

I had to consult the dictionary for the exact meaning of "lough" beyond what I surmised from the context.

lough:
1 chiefly Irish : lake

2

chiefly Irish : a bay or inlet of the sea

And there we have our vocabulary development for the day. Wonder if I'll be learning many "chiefly Irish" words in this book.

The question is: Would you continue reading?

Flora

 I plan to begin reading Flora by Gail Godwin this evening. Here is the opening paragraph:

"There are things we can't undo, but perhaps there is a kind of constructive remorse that could transform regrettable acts into something of service to life."

 Well. That sounds a bit grim to me. I hope things become bright and shiny at some point!! Would you continue reading?

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So, this is going to be a teaser for me as well as you, gentle reader, since I have not yet begun the book.

"Which would have been worse? Never to have been a favorite or to become an ex-favorite, cut in half and passed on to someone left behind?"

I think it sounds promising. Sounds like it could be an interesting read.

 What do you think?

Cuckoo's Calling ~ What are you reading?

I'm currently reading and enjoying Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling).

Admittedly, I have not previously read Rowling so I cannot compare this title to her published works. However, while I find her writing appealing, it is quite simple and straight-forward. Her strength seems to be in plotting which carries this mystery through an interesting and twisting story line. Did the popular model commit suicide or was it something more sinister? A private investigator, whose estranged father happens to be a quite thin, world-famous rocker, has been hired to determine the cause of her death. Trite as this sounds, it is a good story for those who enjoy a mystery without detailed violence.

So...what are you reading?

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?

Lap Blanket and Baby Blanket

 

This lap blanket went to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at church. I started it as a stash buster but, of course, had to purchase more yarn to finish it. I used 'Loops and Threads" yarn and a size H hook to make block 97 from Jan Eaton's book, 200 Crochet Blocks, with the diagonal pattern as the basic block. I then made a few different patterns to break it up a bit.

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Here's my grannified baby blanket for great nephew Benjamin with a peek-a-boo owl in one corner--just for fun! Another stash buster that required a purchase or two is a collection of basic granny squares in white and shades of blue and green with some variegated here and there. Most of it is Bernat DK weight worked with a size G hook.

I'm now using more stash to crochet a shawl for our Prayer Shawl Ministry. How did I acquire so much blue yarn?

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer

 Though I haven't read the preceding two books in this series by Jeffrey Archer, Best Kept Secret  stands on its own quite well. Admittedly, Archer is a favorite author because of his eminent gift of telling an absorbing story. While this is a light read, it is quite relaxing and interesting.

http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2013/08/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday_13.html

" 'Therefore if any man can show any just cause why these two people may not be lawfully joined together in holy matrimony, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.' 

Harry Clifton would never forget the first time he'd heard those words, and how moments later his whole life had been thrown into turmoil. Old Jack, who like George Washington could never tell a lie, had revealed in a hastily called meeting in the vestry that Emma Barrington, the woman that Harry adored, and who was about to become his wife, might be his half sister."

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"Moments later, Emma's Father Hugo had slipped out of the back of the church, like a coward leaving the battlefield. Emma and her mother had traveled up to Scotland, while Harry, a desolate soul, remained at his college in Oxford, not knowing what to do next. Adolf Hitler had made that decision for him."

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Much of the story has an odd gossipy tone to it, however I am continuing because the narrative flows easily and the pacing is flawless.

Would you continue to read this book set in the late 1940's/early '50's ?

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?

CRIME of PRIVILEGE

 Deb at http://btt2.wordpress.com asks: "All other things being equal (good writing, enthralling story, etc), which would you rather read—something serious, angsty, and tragic? Or something light, fluffy, and fun? Or a blend of both? (Since, really, isn’t that how real life works?)"

Since the question describes opposite ends of the spectrum, I  probably land somewhere along the continuum depending on my mood. Fluffy is not something I enjoy, though I relish wit and humor. I am not particularly drawn to angst and tragedy as a way to relax, though serious can be entertaining and thought-provoking. So with all other things being equal, I would most enjoy a blend and avoid the extremes.

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Crime of Privilege by Walter Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Think of a powerful New England family. Now think of being swallowed into their vortex of unbridled wealth,influence, privilege, promiscuity, ambition, hubris, and self-indulgence. What if you are a potential threat to them? How would being in their cross-hairs affect your daily life, your career, your family? CRIME of PRIVILEGE provides an unnerving view of how wealth, influence, privilege, promiscuity, ambition, hubris, and self-indulgence interweave to protect a name and legacy. The trials of protagonist George Becket, Assistant District Attorney, carry the reader through a murky labyrinth that lulls only when the author needlessly pontificates.CRIME of PRIVILEGE was a page-turner for this reader.

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America, America by Ethan Canin

America America by Ethan Canin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book strikes me as a scandal salad. Toss together the shenanigans of the Kennedy brothers, Nixon, Clinton and assorted senators to create a story line. Drizzle with Mid-West/Eastern class conflict and rags-to-riches stories. Gently sprinkle with coming-of-age and pondering the future. It is very enjoyable where the flavors mingle and come together, yet rather bitter in the places where it all separates into singular parts. America, America is one of those books that could be a very good read if only we could sort out the ingredients and remix. Rather like redoing a salad.

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The Interestings ~ More than Interesting

My teaser is from this excellent book:

"...he's infuriated that his e-reader allows him to only know the percentage of a book he's read, not the number of pages. This, he thinks, is 92 percent stupid."

Have you read about this wonderful book?  The beautifully written story tells about the life-long friendships among a group of seemingly mis-matched people who meet as teens and share their lives in deep and meaningful ways. I am completely engrossed in this story.

What are you reading?

A Cold and Lonely Place

A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara J. Henry

first paragraph, first chapter

"We could feel the reverberation of the ice cutting machine through the frozen lake beneath our feet. Matt Boudoin was telling me this would be the best ice palace ever, and I was nodding because of course every year the palace seems better than the one the year before. He stopped talking and I stopped nodding because the machine had halted and the crew of men was staring down at the ice. Then in unison, like marionettes, with their strings being pulled they turned their heads to look at Matt. Their faces were blank, but we knew something was wrong, very wrong."

A Cold and Lonely Place is a riveting story of the life and death of a young man frozen under the ice in a lake near Lake Placid. Each character is singular and identifiable, advancing the plot. These strong characters and the palpable sense of place are powerful features of this excellent writing. I felt the cold and the empathy and the desperation in this cold and lonely place.

"Some people you love while they're there, and some people you love forever, whether they're there or not."

So, what do YOU think? Would you continue reading?

The Lost Art of Mixing

The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"After the exhilaration that was summer in the Pacific Northwest, autumn was like the sigh of an adolescent who realizes he must indeed grow up. It was Lillian's job to remind people who sat at her tables that being an adult, the passing of a season or a year, was about more than just being older."

Although the story seemed a bit too long at certain points, it is a captivating tale about a circle of lives touching and intertwining in ways not always apparent to the characters. Louise is the only character who didn't ring true for me. Her character seemed contrived to fit the story line rather than being as believable as the others . However the overall effect of this book is highly satisfying. Are we stumbling through life without knowing our impact on others? Read this clever book and draw your conclusions.

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Astor Place Vintage

Astor Place Vintage: A Novel by Stephanie Lehmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've just returned from a wondrous journey via Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehman, an ARC that completed transported me to New York City of 1908 and 2008. Simultaneously! My mind wants to linger in the world of horse-drawn carriages and new-fangled motor cars with Olive, the wealthy young woman who has fallen on hard times. And the world of Amanda who operates a vintage clothing store and discovers a diary that links us through time to Olive. We see once again that the essence of humanity in trials and joys is the constant through time and space. Marvelous writing and historical fiction grab me every time! The sense of place and characters placed me amidst it all! 

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Dolly Departed ~ Chaos Theory?

I turned to a cozy mystery after finishing a completely absorbing historical fiction.
These selections are from  Dolly Departed by Deb Baker.

 'The Scottsdale cop asked me if I believed in the chaos theory,' Gretchen said to her aunt from a stool at her work-table.

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"Gretchen Birch was still several blocks from the doll shop when Charlene Maize, better known to her friends as Charlie, failed to suck enough air in to feed her panicking brain and various other vital organs. She keeled over in the center of her miniature doll shop, Mini Maize, amid the clutter from a tipped display case. Charlie took the dive in full view of a group of Prada del Sol spectators gathered in front of her shop's window to watch Old Scottsdale's largest western parade."

Would you continue reading?

The Good House

http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/

  This is the first paragraph from The Good House by Ann Leary:

I can walk through a house once and know more about its occupants than psychiatrist could after a year of sessions. I remember joking about this one evening with Peter Newbold, the shrink who rents the office upstairs from mine. 

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The Good House by Ann Leary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absorbing story of salvaging the broken in its many forms, a horse, a house, a boat, a person. Enthralling subplots mesh together in this story of purpose and value and humanity as a realtor conducts her business in a small town on the Massachusetts coast. Her retinue of clients, family, and long-time friends populate a story about facing harsh realities, then learning to cope and move on. It is a quiet celebration of humanity that leaves the reader with a hopeful spirit.

This is an engrossing story, well-crafted, and absolutely engaging.

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Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

This is the first chapter from Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen. I must admit that it alone would not enamor me of this book. However, I hope the wit is enough to catch your interest beyond  the metaphor of the final sentence. :)

It is my opinion that there is no place on earth more uncomfortable than London during a heat wave. I should probably qualify this by confessing that I have that I have never gone up the Congo River into the heart of darkness with Conrad, nor have I crossed the Sahara by camel. But at least people venturing to those parts are prepared to be uncomfortable. London is so seldom even vaguely warm that we are always caught completely unprepared. The tube turns into a good imitation of the Black Hole of Calcutta, and smell of unwashed armpits, strap-hanging inches from one's face, is overwhelming.

What are you reading?

South Bay Shawlette

I just returned from taking this South Bay Shawlette to church for our Prayer Shawl Ministry. I made a shawl rather than shawlette. :)

This cotton/linen blend from Interlacements Yarn has been knitted and ripped a couple of times. It has lived in our house for a few years just waiting for the right pattern.

And this is it, not knit but crochet! The lovely South Bay Shawlette beautifully fits these colors and weight. My prayers go with it to comfort its wearer.

What have you been making?

http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/06/fo-friday-141.html

Sunday Post: The Witch of Little Italy

The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story has ended. I am not ready to leave the world of this enchanting book: the abundant garden thick with hardy vines and flowers, the magical family of loving sisters and brothers, the powers of magic and secret spells, the familiar Italian references, bittersweet memories of childhood, of anticipated birth and acceptance of death, and powers of love and continuity. A book of life and wisdom, a book about women.

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"Life gets heavy."
"Everyone is entitled to a redo."

Paraphrase or quote?? Love can be warm and gentle and comfortable rather than a Tasmanian Devil of emotions and insecurities.

The personalities in this book are so like those of my mother's Italian family.

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http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/

I have read six books in May: 1 fiction, 1 fantasy, 2 mysteries, and 3 historical fiction.

This week:

Finished Reading

The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri

The Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton
The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson

Currently Reading
Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehman  ARC

The Vicious Vet by M. C. Beaton

To Arrive This Week

Remains To Be Scene by Richard Tyler Jordan

What's happening with your reading?