Tuesday, May 17, 2011

First Chapter~First Paragraph (s) ~ Tuesday Intros

 

Every Tuesday, I'll be posting the opening paragraph (maybe two) of my current read.  Last week's choice was School for the Blind; Dennis McFarland (no review yet; it was another pretty good read).
 

  ""Well,  " I said,  "I will try. I honestly will try to be honest with you, although I suppose really what you're more interested in is my not being honest, if you see what I mean. "

 The doctor smiled slightly.

"When I was a child my mother had a wool drawer. It was the bottom drawer in a chest in the dining room and she kept every scrap of wool she had in it. You know, bits from years ago, jumpers she knitted me when I was two. Some of the bits were only a few inches long. Well, this drawer was filled with wool, all colours, and whenever it was a wet afternoon she use to make me tidy her wool drawer. It's perfectly obvious why I tell you this. There was no point in tidying the drawer. The wool was quite useless. You couldn't have knitted a tea-cosy out of that wool, I mean without enormous patience. She just made me sort it out for something to do, like the make prisoners dig holes and fill them up again.  You do see what I mean, don't you?  "

Would you give the book a try, based on the opening paragraphs? (I love books with patient/psychiatrist narrative).

(If you care to join in, feel free to grab the image.)

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25 comments:

  1. Yvonne @ Fiction Books ReviewsMay 17, 2011 at 1:29 AM

    Hi Diane,

    Based on the lines you wrote, I would probably give this book a try.

    Having subsequently chased down the full synopsis, I may still give it a try, but only if it was a book that I had given to me, or I found cheaply in a charity shop.

    Funnily enough, the book I am about to start reading 'The Other Side Of You' by Sally Vickers, is about a failed suicide victim, talking to her psychiatrist. This book was given to me by a friend, who rated it highly, so we shall see ...

    The cover of 'The Pumpkin Eater' is a bit surreal and may put me off a bit.

    I shall look forward to your review of this one.

    Yvonne

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  2. TracyMay 17, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    Not sure this one would tempt me.

    Here's mine:
    http://the-book-addict.blogspot.com/2011/05/tuesday-intros-middlesex-by-jeffrey.html

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  3. UnknownMay 17, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    I've had a go here: http://abigailannreading.blogspot.com/2011/05/tuesday-intros.html

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  4. mpartykaMay 17, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    I would probably try this one too, based on the synopsis and the paragraph.

    I am so far behind.... I haven't had any free time to visit blogs in about a week! I need to see what you have been reading (my TBR list is sure ti increase).

    Have a wonderful day!

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  5. DCMetroreaderMay 17, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Yes I would definately try this book a try b/c I love complicated family relationships.

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  6. Paulita May 17, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    I would read it because it reminds me of the way I used to sort through my mother's button can. Actually, small children love to sort things, so there may have been reason behind the mother's "madness."

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  7. Brian's Home BlogMay 17, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    I could be tempted by scraps of wool!

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  8. JoAnnMay 17, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    I started another Richard Yates novel last night and decided to play along.
    http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/05/tuesday-intros-disturbing-peace.html

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  9. stepfordmomto2@yahoo.comMay 17, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

    http://booksnwhatnot.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday_17.html

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  10. Nise' May 17, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    I'm intrigued! Why is she at the doctor?

    I just started Cleaning Nabokov's House by Leslie Daniels.

    Mine is here.

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  11. Felicity Grace TerryMay 17, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    What a great opener, I'll keep my eyes open for a copy of this.

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  12. Good CompanyMay 17, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    This does sound interesting enough to give it a go. Plus, the cover is inviting too.

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  13. Col (Col Reads)May 17, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    I can't remember reading many books with psychiatrist/patient narratives, but I'm looking forward to your review. I love the idea for this meme!

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  14. SukoMay 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Diane, this book sounds interesting to me--I like the idea of the drawer with the scraps of wool in it. I will need to try this meme some day, even though I have my RRT meme! :)

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  15. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    I don't know. I think I might have to go on a paragraph or two more before I decided.

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  16. Aisle BMay 17, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    complicated family and relationships. Now that would be describing many people I know. Noting this one down and looking forward to hearing your thoughts next.

    PS Is summer ever going to start in MTL??

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  17. BookQuoterMay 17, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Not so tempting for me so I will wait for your review.

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  18. KathleenMay 17, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    I WOULD read the book based on this paragraph. I tend to read the first few paragraphs of a book (if I am not familiar with it) to decide whether or not I will keep reading.

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  19. Michelle Stockard MillerMay 17, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    I would probably check this one out based on the paragraph and the synopsis. I like exploration of the family dynamic.

    Here's mine: The Crimson Petal and the White http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-chapterfirst-paragraphstuesday.html

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  20. StaciMay 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    First, I have to tell you again how much I like this meme...Second, I wouldn't read this one based on the intro. Now...are you reading this one right now...because I can't wait to read your final thoughts on it!

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  21. ZibileeMay 17, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Oh, based on this paragraph alone, I would totally read this book! I hope you do!

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  22. JennersMay 18, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    This little meme is fun. I enjoy seeing whether I'll be sucked in or not. This is the first one where I was kind of iffy -- not sure it "grabbed" me as much as the previous ones you shared.

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  23. MishaMay 19, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    I don't think I would try the book based on just the first paragraph. But the Amazon description of the book looks interesting .

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  24. AnonymousMay 19, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    I love the image of sorting wool and the synopsis at Amazon also intrigues me.

    I look forward to yoru review.

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  25. Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooksMay 20, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I'd probably give this book a try based on both the excerpt, and the design on the cover (which tells me it's a NYRB book, right ... automatic WIN!)

    ReplyDelete

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