Every Tuesday, I'll be posting the opening paragraph (maybe two) of my current read. Last week's choice was The Pumpkin Eater
; Penelope Mortimer (no review yet, but I liked it.)This week's choice:
A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion
; Ron Hansen
; Ron HansenJune 14, 2011 - Scribner
"She woke to a slow thudding on her bedroom door. She was Lorraine Snyder, aged nine. She'd wasted Saturday night with her parents at their friends' card party and she'd gotten home only after two o'clock Sunday morning. It was just over five hours later. March 20th, 1927. She feel asleep again, and then she heard a louder thudding and her mother called in a muffled way, 'Lora, Lora, it's me.'
She got up, slumped over to the door, found it mysteriously locked from the hallway, and opened it with a skeleton key that was hanging on a string.
Ruth Snyder was lying on the hallway floor in a short green satin nightgown that was hiked up to her thighs. She'd been softly drumming the door with her head. White clothesline was wrapped many times around her ankles, and her wrists were tied behind her back. "
Would you give this book a try, based on the opening paragraphs? (It's fiction, but based on a true story).
(If you care to join in, feel free to grab the image.)
A slightly sinister but interesting intro - I would read on!
ReplyDeleteSounds fascinating but unfortunately not available in our library.
ReplyDeleteThe scene is intriguing, but all the numbers in the opening paragraph would make me put it down. If the very first paragraph, which I'm sure was written and rewritten and rewritten, puts me off, I don't hold much hope for the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a dark read. Based on the first paragraph, I am definitely interested in the boo, especially since it's based on a true story.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued. Definitely would keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this novel but those opening paragraphs have definitely captured my attention.
ReplyDeleteNow you have to read it to find out what happened to Lora's mother! I know I want to find out!
ReplyDeleteSounds a bit sinister. As its only fiction I would certainly give it a go - if it had been factual I think I may well have given it a miss.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book. I'd definitely give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI would not have picked this up from the cover but that was a great first paragraph. I'm add this one to my list.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I definitely would not be tempted by this one!
ReplyDeleteI'm not participating this week - I'm still reading Middlesex.
Very curious! I love Ron Hansen, I worked on the film adaptation of his book The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford in 2005 and Ron came for a few days. He was a true gentleman and lovely and I think he is an extremely overlooked and talented writer!
ReplyDeleteI would DEFINITELY read this book based on this first paragraph! I want to know what happened!
I agree with most of the others...I wanna know too!
ReplyDeletehttp://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-chapter-first-paragaphs-tuesday.html
ReplyDeleteIf it's based on a true story, then I probably wouldn't read it. I'm too visual :(
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure because I didn't like the way the author started the story out..it sounded stilted in my mind for some reason. But I think curiosity would eventually win out for me!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued but I'm wondering if it wouldn't be too dark of a read for me. I don't care for super dark!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. . . I am not sure about this one.
ReplyDeleteFor sure I want to read this (and good thing too as I have it).
ReplyDeleteEek...intriguing, but doesn't sound like my kind of book!
ReplyDeleteYES!! I would definitely read on!
ReplyDelete