Category Archives: book beginnings

Book Beginnings: With Malice by Eileen Cook

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Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line 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

With Malice by Eileen Cook

With Malice by Eileen Cook

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep

I’m not a morning person. Understatement. My hand couldn’t seem to muster the energy to turn off the alarm. It picked at the covers. The blanket felt wrong.

Scratchy. Thin.

This isn’t my bed.

I recently requested this book on NetGalley after reading a review that had me intrigued by it. I haven’t read the synopsis as I like the idea of reading novels without knowing too much about them in advance. I have to say that the opening lines of this novel have me wanting to read more immediately! This opening has a real sinister feel to it and it straight away feels like something bad has happened to the protagonist. There is also the possibility that the narrator has just crashed for the night somewhere and had momentarily forgotten so there is a lot of scope for what might happen next. I don’t think this book will be on my TBR for very much longer!

*Please note that this quote is taken from an ARC of the novel

What do you think of the opening? Does it make you want to read further?

Book Beginnings: The Trap by Melanie Raabe

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Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line 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

The Trap by Melanie Raabe

The Trap by Melanie Raabe

I am not of this world.

At least, that’s what people say. As if there were only on world.

I am standing in the big, empty dining room I never eat in, looking out the large window. It’s on the ground floor. You look onto the meadow behind the house, and the edge of the woods. Sometimes you see deer or foxes.

It is autumn, and as I stand here gazing out, I have the feeling I’m looking in a mirror.

I am really intrigued by the opening paragraph of this book and already I want to just keep reading to find out more. There isn’t a lot of information given in the opener – we don’t know if this character is male or female or why they feel so out of place – but at the same time I feel like we’re being given a real insight into their state of mind. It seems to be someone who feels very outside of their own life. They describe looking out but then tell us what *you* see and not what *I* see, which is very interesting.

I treated myself to this book yesterday and I don’t think it’ll be on my TBR for long!

 

 

What do you think of this opening paragraph? What do you think is happening? Does it make you want to read on?

 

Book Beginnings: This Raging Light by Estelle Laure (8th January)

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Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line 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

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Wrenny and me, at least for now. Wren and Lucille. Lucille and Wren. I will do whatever I have to. No one will ever pull us apart. That means keeping things as normal as possible. Faking it. Because things couldn’t be further from.

Normal got gone with Dad.

I’m really looking forward to reading this book, it’s been on my TBR for a little while and is now top of the list. From the way the opening paragraph is written we can tell that this novel has a child narrator because the language is simplistic. The line of the second paragraph ‘Normal got gone with Dad’ says so much in such simple language. Lucille’s dad has obviously left them and it’s had a huge impact on this family. Lucille appears to be very young and yet has been able to understand that when her dad left life changed and what had been normal before was not how things were going to be from now on. I’m not sure if Wren is a sibling or a friend but it’s obvious that Lucille is desperate not to lose her.

I’m definitely intrigued to read more, I’m so glad this book is on my TBR in the next week so I can find out what happens to Lucille and her family.

Book Beginnings (4th December)

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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

the hidden legacy

The Hidden Legacy by G. J. Minett

November 1966: John Mitchell

It’s a quarter to ten when he reaches the school gates. Ten minutes, he thinks, ten minutes.

He’s have been here earlier, but he had to wait until his dad was safely out of the way. The last thing he needed was awkward questions. What’s with the duffel bag, son? What’s wrong with your satchel? What have you got in there anyway? 

I find these opening lines very intriguing – I really want to know why this boy has a different bag to usual and what he’s carrying with him to school. My suspicion is even higher because he’s hiding it from his dad and has risked being late for school rather than have his dad ask questions. I’ve not read the synopsis of this book yet, I bought it because I’ve seen so many people recommending it on twitter, but I suspect this boy is carrying a gun to school and is intending to shoot his fellow students. The fact that the novel is called The Hidden Legacy would fit with this too – the idea that an action has consequences that can last for many, many years.

I bought this book this week and I’m so keen to keep reading now, I might have to allow myself a day or two off from reading review books so that I can read this one!

Book Beginnings (27 November)

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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

the marble collector

The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern

When it comes to memory there are three categories: things I want to forget, things I can’t forget, and things I’d forgotten until I remember them. 

I love the opening to this novel as it just says so much truth; there really are three categories of memories. I have a really good memory when it comes to remembering the things I’d rather forget so this book really appeals to me in such a big way.

I bought this book as a treat for myself recently and really hope to have time to read it soon, especially now I’ve read the opening line!

Book Beginnings (20 November)| The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

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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

the things we keep

The Things We keep by Sally Hepworth

Fifteen months ago…

No one trusts anything I say. If I point out, for example, that the toast is burning or that it’s time for the six o’clock news, people marvel. How about that? Well done, Anna. Maybe if I were eighty-eight instead of thirty-eight, I wouldn’t care. Then again, maybe I would. As a new resident of Rosalind House, an assisted-living facility for senior citizens, I’m having a new appreciation for the hardships of the elderly.

I know from the blurb that this character is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This opening really grabs me though because Anna feels she’s not trusted to know things by the other residents because she is so much younger than them, but actually, because of her disease, she is an unreliable narrator and as readers we don’t know yet whether she is right about why they don’t trust her, or whether it’s because her disease if more advanced than she herself is aware. I think this is going to be an emotional but also good read. I can’t wait to read more. The Things We Keep is due to be published in January so I plan to read it next month.

Book Beginnings (13 November) | In Real Life by Jessica Love

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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
In Real Life by Jessica Love

In Real Live by Jessica Love

My best friend and I have never met. We talk every day, on the phone or online, and he knows more about me than anyone. Like, deep into my soul. But we’re never actually seen each other in real life.

I’ve not read the blurb for this book and I’ve deliberately avoided reading anything about it online. I knew I’d love it when I saw the cover and now I’ve read these opening lines I know this book will be one I very much enjoy. From the opening lines you can straight away see how much she feels for her best friend, and how the best friend is possibly also a love interest. This person means the world to the narrator. I love that these two characters feel such a strong bond and yet have never met and I can’t wait to read further and find out how they know each other and whether they stay online friends or whether they will dare to meet up in real life (my strong suspicion is that they will!). I’m sure this book is going to be a gorgeous read!.

Book Beginnings (6 November) Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

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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

every fifteen minutes

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

I’m a sociopath. I look normal, but I’m not. I’m smarter, better, and freer, because I’m not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you. I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want. I don’t really like you, but I’m so good at acting as if I do that it’s basically the same thing. To you. I fool you. I fool everybody.

The opening lines to this novel are really short statements and very cold, it’s chilling to read them because this person is telling the reader that they are a sociopath and you really do feel that emanating from them. I deliberately haven’t read the synopsis on this book because I want to read it without knowing much about it but the opening lines certainly make me want to know more about this person and who it is they are fooling. I’m intrigued and I’m looking forward to reading more very soon.

Every Fifteen Minutes is due to be published on 19 November 2015.

Book Beginnings (30 October)

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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

The Day of Second Chances

The Day of Second Chances by Julie Cohen

‘The last stage of Honor Levinson’s life began at the top of the stairs in her home in North London.’

What a brilliant opening line to a novel! I just want to keep reading immediately to find out what happened. Does she fall down the stairs, does someone push her? Or from the way the sentence is written it could be that Honor Levinson walks safely down the stairs and something else happens to her at a later stage. I’m fascinated to know. I hope I get a chance to read more very soon!

The Day of Second Chances is due to be published on 28 January 2016.

Book Beginnings (23 October)

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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 louise beech

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!

Book Beginnings (16 October)

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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 E. Katherine Kottaras

This is what it was like:

I didn’t want you to come. I didn’t want you there.

The day before school, the very first year,

we waited in line for my schedule.

They stared. Those in line around us –

the other girls and their moms,

the ones who were my year,

who were never my friends – 

The saw how you were big, planetary, next to them.

Next to me.

The girl in pigtails, someone’s sister,

asked: Is there a baby inside?

Her mother, red now, whispered in her ear.

But the girl didn’t mind:

Oh, so she’s fat.

The other girls, the ones who were my year

who were never my friends – they laughed at you, quietly,

At me.

The novel opens with this poem and I think it really packs a punch. I love the use of ‘planetary’, it conjures up all sorts of images, which fits with how out of place this girl feels. It’s just so striking and memorable. It says so much in so few words, it’s great writing. I cannot wait to read more of this book!

Book Beginnings (9th October)

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Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line 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

13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough

13 mins

Ophelia. She was young. No more than eighteen. Probably less. Her hair could be blonde or brown, it was hard to tell, soaked wet in the gloom. She was wearing white, bright against the dark river, almost an accent to the fresh snow that lay heavy on the ground. Her pale face, blue lips slightly parted, was turned up to the inky sky. She was snagged on twigs as if the bent branches, bare of leaves and broken by winter, had grasped to save her, to keep her afloat.

What an opening! This is the best opening to a novel that I’ve read in a really long time, I just want to keep reading right now! The short staccato sentences at the very beginning, and then the longer ones that are almost like a list are wonderfully intense and give so much information. I want to know who this girl is and how she got in the river. Did she drown? Was she murdered? Has there been a terrible accident? The description is so vivid, and I can’t stop thinking about the branches that appear to have tried to save her. How beautiful and how tragic at the same time. I cannot wait to read more of this book and I’m certain it’ll be one I read in one sitting.

Book Beginnings

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Book beginnings is a meme set up by Rose City Reader. Every Friday post the first line 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

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

 

‘I’m a good liar. I take comfort in that fact as Aidan and I sit next to each other on our leather sectional, so close together that our thighs touch.’

The thing that strikes me most about this opener is how the narrator openly admits that she is not only a liar but that she takes comfort in being good at it. This is very intriguing and straight away I want to know more about her and how she has come to be comforted by her ability to lie so well. Most people feel guilty about telling lies so I absolutely want to keep reading to find out whether she is a horrible person, or if she is lying to protect others. I want to know what her story is. I’m also intrigued by Aidan, the fact they are sitting so close would imply they are a couple, so I want to know if she is lying to him or if the lies are something he is involved in. I can’t wait to get back to this novel and find out more about these people.