First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - A Christmas Escape; Anne Perry

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph

 or two, of a book that I'm reading or will be reading soon. It's time for some Christmas themes.

A Christmas Escape; Anne Perry

Ballantine Books - 2015

"Charles Latterly stared across the untroubled sea at the shore they were fast approaching.  The mountain rose sharply, as symmetrical and uncomplicated as a child's drawing.  The sky above was midwinter blue.  At home in England they would be expecting snow at this time in December, but here, in Sicily, the wind off the salt water was mild.  The small boat barely rocked.

He had been looking forward to this break from reality of London, work and the routine of his life, which lately had seemed more meaningless than ever.  The recent death of his wife had given him an acute feeling of loss, but not in the way he had expected.  There was no deep ache of bereavement.  It forced him to realize that perhaps he had felt alone for a long time."

Based on this intro, would you read more or pass on this book?

Feel free to join in by posting your own First Chapter First Paragraph Intro and linking below. 

The Loner; Teddy Wayne

The Loner; Teddy Wayne

Simon & Schuster - 2016

The Loner is a story that has a few of my favorite elements: coming of age story, academic setting and a quirky protagonist.

David Federman is a Harvard freshman from New Jersey who has always struggled a bit to fit in.  In high school he struggled to fit in and he's hoping for a fresh start here at Harvard.  He's quirky, however, and sees himself as superior to others (unwarranted of course) so making friends at Harvard proves difficult as well.

Early on he becomes infatuated, almost obsessed really, with Veronica a worldly, popular girl from Manhattan who resides in his dorm.  His early interest soon finds him waiting for her in places he expects her to be and even writing papers for her to get her to like. Things soon take an obsessive and dangerous turn.

David Federman is an interesting character study. He lacks empathy and self-awareness, a dangerous combination and, when the tables turn and David sees the other side of Veronica and her personal agenda, the misfit shows us just how unstable he really is.

This was a very different and unsettling story.  I felt a sense that things would go very bad very fast and they did. I liked the jarring ending as well.

4/5 stars

(eGalley)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Sleepwalker; Chris Bohjalian

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two, of a book that I'm reading or will be reading soon.  I'm enjoying this one so far, and I'm on chapter 3.

The Sleepwalker; Chris Bohjalian

Doubleday - 2017

PART ONE

IT MAKES ALL the sense in the world. You awaken and smell smoke and see that the cat at the foot of the bed is on fire. And so you scoop him up and race to the bathroom and douse him with the tub,  You reassure him that he will be fine--he is fine--telling him that everything's okay.  You hold him firmly but gently under the faucet because you are worried about his burns.

The only thing is, you're not awake. But you're not precisely dreaming, either. After all, in the morning the sheets are wet where the cat slept when you both went back to bed, and there is fur in the tub.  There are scratch marks on your arms and the back of your hands, because the cat was justifiably resistant to the idea of a shower in the middle of the night.  And, of course, the animal was never on fire.  Northing in the house was on fire.  And you're a responsible person; you know that cats and dogs don't spontaneously combust.  But in the middle of the night, in the fidelity of that instant, you were saving the cat's life and that was all that mattered."

Based on this intro, would you read more or pass on this book?

Feel free to join in by posting your own First Chapter First Paragraph Intro and linking below.

The Premonition; Chris Bohjalian

A sort prequel to The Sleepwalker, which will be released in January (Doubleday), The Premonition is a quick read, very atmospheric and a tad creepy as well.

Set in rural Vermont, Lianna Ahlberg is a high school senior when she witnesses her first "premonition".  A thunderstorm, snapping power lines, and soon two horses belonging to the new neighbors, the Holbrooks, are electrocuted.

The foreshadowing indicates the Holbrook's odd little boy, Eric, who is obsessed with all things medieval will be more developed in the next story.  The same is true for Lianna and Paige's(the younger sister), as well as Annalee, the girl's mother, who has bouts of sleepwalking when Mr. Ahlberg is away from home.  She has done some crazy and scary things in the past.

This story wraps up with a nail biting episode that made me want to continue on with The Sleepwalker immediately. Readers who enjoyed previous contemporary fiction by this author should be sure to check both books out.

4/5
(Kindle purchase)

My Own Words: Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Mary Hartnett and Wendy Williams

My Own Words: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 with Mary Hartnett and Wendy Williams

Simon & Schuster - 2016

Born March 15, 1933, Joan Ruth Bader was the second daughter of Nathan and Celia Bader. Her older sister Marilyn died at the age of six of meningitis when "Ruth" was just 14 months old.  From an early age Ruth loved to write and, at thirteen she was the editor of her school newspaper (some of those articles are included in this bio).  She was awarded a full scholarship to Cornell where she met the love of her life Marty Ginsburg.  

A few interesting facts:

• The writer who influenced her most was Vladimir Nabokov.
• She was very close to the late Justice Anthony Scalia despite the fact their views were very different.

I love RBG and all that she has done for race and equality. I couldn't wait to read this memoir but, I was expecting more of a biographical style and that was not the case.

This book is more about her writings, briefs and Supreme Court decisions which are covered in much detail.  I learned a lot about the workings of the court selection and case processes.  In many respects this book was a collection of all of RBG's writings from the age of 13 until the present.  I do wish I listened to the audio version as there were actual transcripts of various cases.

Overall, I found this book to be very informative even though at times the material felt a tad heavy.  I guess I was expecting a more personal flair and not as much history but I do recommend this book.

4/5 stars

(library)

The First True Lie; Marina Mander

The First True Lie; Marina Mander

Hogarth - 2014

Lucas is a ten year old boy who has not had a normal childhood.  His mother has suffered from depression and other psychological issues.  There is no father in his life but, a number of men have come in and out of his mother's life.

One day Lucas is unable to wake his mother (she's dead in bed). He is afraid to tell anyone about that situation because a greater fear of his is that he will be an orphan. Days pass as his mother's body decomposes in the next room.  The food supply grows scarce but, Lucas continues to pretend all is well.  His cat Blue is the only remaining living thing in his life.

If I haven't depressed you enough, I'd like to add that this short novella (143 pages) is translated from the Italian and, I found it to be a tough read.  It's always challenging when a story is told through the eyes of a child but, because this was such a sad story it made it extra tough to read. I was also disappointed that there was no resolution to what transpired and what happened next to Lucas.

2/5 stars

(personal copy)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Premonition; Chris Bohjalian

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two, from a book I'm reading or will be reading soon.

 (This Kindle single - (Amazon - $1.99) is a prequel to Chris B's soon to be released (Jan.10th) novel, The Sleepwalker. Doubleday-2017

"It wasn't a premonition.  That was too strong a word.

But as I stood by the side of the road and watched the power line buffeted by the great, persistent gusts from the south, I had a sense--a distinct sense--that the line was going to snap.  It was going to whip high above the wooden poles, then fall to earth, surrounded by the sparks from the nearby transformer.  There it would electrify the ground.  I was seventeen that afternoon and I saw it all in my mind: black thunderclouds rising above the fields behind the line, the corn tasseled, two Morgan horses looking wary as the walked in small circles in the fence-in meadow at the edge of the road, and the sparks as they pinwheeled like fireflies above the pavement."

Based on this intro, would you read more or pass on this book?

Feel free to join in by posting your own First Chapter First Paragraph Intro and linking below.