Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line, or few lines, of the book you’re reading along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Then add a link to your post on Rose City Reader’s blog.

My Book Beginning

How to be Brave by Louise Beech

‘Still two of us left but we are getting very weak. Can’t stand up now. We will stick it the end.’

(K. C.’s Log)

There were two of us left that night.

Outside, the autumn dark whispered to me. Halloween’s here already, it said. The pumpkins are glowing, the smell the whiff of old leaves, of bonfires coming, of changes, of winter, of endings.

The opening of this book contains so much. Firstly, I noticed the connection between the quote that opens the chapter and the first line – it leaves a tangible sense of something awful lingering around the two people.

Secondly, the descriptions of the very time of year we are now in are so wonderfully evocative. I swear I can smell the bonfires and the old leaves. I love the almost staccato writing-style that describes the coming of winter and the sense of things ending.

I can’t wait to read further!