FRIDAY FIRSTLINERS

I first saw the idea of First Line Fridays on Hoarding Books, then later on Wandering Words, both excellent blogs. One is to open a book and just copy the first line to see if it appeals to other readers.

Taking down a book from my TBR pile, I offer the first lines of the first story in Stephen King’s Full Dark, No Stars. The story is titled “1922.”

“My name is Wilfred Leland James, and this is my confession. In June of 1922, I murdered my wife, Arlette Christina Winters James, and hid her body by tupping it down an old well.”

Gotcha!

FRIIDAY FIRSTLINERS

Several blogging friends participate in First Line Fridays, a meme which asks the blogger to copy the first line of a current read to see if it “grabs” any other readers. My first liner today is from the inside cover of a collection of poetry I have barely begun, When You Ask Me Where I’m Going by Jasmin Kaur, which was recommended and reviewed by a blogger friend.    Instead of the first line, let

me use the poem on the inside front cover:

“SCREAM

so that one day

a hundred yers from now

another sister will not have to

dry her tears wondering

where in history

she lost her voice.”

FIRST LINE FRIDAYS

First Line Fridays are featured by two hosts, Hoarding Books and Wandering Words. Check out their blogs for their Friday Firstliners. In the meantime, here is mine for Friday, May 15th from John Huston’s Sleepless.

“Park watched the homeless man weave in and out of the gridlocked midnight traffic on LaCienga, his eyes fixed on the bright orange AM/FM receiver dangling from the man’s neck on the black nylon lanyard.”

Stuck in traffic is a common occurrence, but the reason for the delay and gridlock at midnight, of all times, is unique to this novel. My Better Half has been encouraging me to read this book for months, and the time to begin is now! He liked it well enough to recommend it to his bookclub, so I know I’m in for a good way to spend this rainy, stormy Friday afternoon.

FRIDAY FIRSTLINERS

First Line Fridays, hosted by Hoarding Books, encourages us to copy the first line of a book to see if it immediately “grabs” the reader.

Here is the first few lines of a book I hope to read soon, Bob Goff’s Everybody Always:

Chapter One, “Creepy People”

“My friends and I finished what we were doing at the restaurant and took the windowless van back to the airport.”

While they were in the restaurant, someone broke into the van and stole everything. A few minutes later, when they went to catch their plane, the author “reached into my pockets and turned them inside out. I had nothing…’Man, it all got stolen. My luggage, my wallet, everything.”

What a predicament to be in. I will be looking forward to finding out how Goff got out of it!

Have you ever read this author? He blends practical advice with a touch of humor and comes up with an engaging read every time.

 

FRIDAY FIRST LINERS

Hoarding Books began this fun meme, asking us on Fridays to copy the first line of what we are currently reading. Who doesn’t like to be inspired? Here is the first line of the first inspirational thought from Mark Nepo’s Things That Join the Sea and the Sky:

” Often we’re cast about by the noise of the world and the noise in our heads.”

Each segment gives a thought about what motivates us, causes us to fear, causes us to overcome, or helps us find some inner strength. It is a book one reads very slowly, savoring each morsel and nugget of truth, beauty, and grace. I’m going to be enjoying this one for some time to come.

FIRST LINE FRIDAYS

First Line Fridays is hosted by Hoarding Books, and many of my blogging friends participate. Here is my Firstliner from Susan Vreeland (I am trying to read all seven of her novels about art.). Clara and Mr. Tiffany is in large print and was obtained from my local library (which is now closed).

“I opened the beveled-glass door under the sign announcing Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in ornate bronze. A new sign with a new name. Fine, I felt new too.”

Yes. Clara, newly a widow, got the job she applied for and her adventures in making glass decorations and windows began. I am now on p. 184 and learning about the making of glass objects, stained glass windows, and the submission of Tiffany windows at the World’s Fair of 1900. This novel is wonderfully researched in addition to being a darned good read.

FRIDAY FIRSTLINERS

“Letter 1

To:Mrs. Saville, England

St. Petersburg, Dec. 11th 17__

You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.”

I am about to reread Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein, and the above are its opening lines. Join me (if you dare).

 

 

FRIDAY FIRSTLINERS

Several bloggers participate in First Line Fridays. The goal is to copy the first line (or couple of lines) from your current read and see if anyone has read/would like to read the same book. More than once I have found a Book Buddy to read and discuss a book with me.

Here is my First Line for March 13, 2020 from Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile:

” No one had any doubt that the bombers would come.”

This is my latest library borrow. It has 101 chapters and 585 pages if you count notes, bibliography and index. Do I think I can finish it in two weeks? Who knows? LOL

FRIDAY FIRST LINERS

Join in with those of us bloggers who participate in First Line Fridays by copying the first line or two of what you are currently reading. Get responses from readers as to whether they’d be “hooked” by those lines.

Today’s Friday First Liner is from Charlie Lovett’s The Bookman’s Tale, yet another of my Books about Books reads:

“Wales could be cold in February. Even without snow or wind the damp winter air permeated Peter’s topcoat and settled in his bones as he stood outside one of the dozens of bookshops that crowded the narrow streets of Hay.”  BRRRRRR. Read on and find a warm story of a true bibliophile.

FIRST LINE FRIDAYS

I am just back from a trip to Half-Price Books. Let me grab the first book off my pile of purchases and copy the first line. It is from Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss:

“All day, the colors had been those of dusk, mist moving like a water creature across the great flanks of mountains possessed of ocean shadows and depths. Briefly above the vapor, Kanchenjunga was a far peak whittled out of ice, gathering the last of the light, a plume of snow blown high by the winds at its summit.”

What description! I can hardly wait to begin this one.