Tuesday, May 1, 2012

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros


Every Tuesday, I'll be posting the opening paragraph (sometimes maybe a few) of a book I decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s). Feel free to grab the banner and play along.  This week's selection is another book I've been curious about.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats; Jan-Philipp Sendker
Other Press - January 2012


" THE OLD MAN'S eyes struck me first.  They rested deep in their sockets, and he seemed unable to take them off me.  Granted, everyone in the tea house was staring at me more or less unabashedly, but he was the most brazen.  As if I were some exotic creature he'd never seen before.

Trying too ignore him, I glanced around the tea house, a mere wooden shack with a few tables and chairs standing right on the dry, dusty earth.  Against, the far wall a glass display case exhibited pastries and rice cakes on which dozens of flies had settled.  Next to it, on a gas burner, water for the tea was boiling in a sooty kettle.  In one corner, orange-colored sodas were stacked in wooden crates.  I had never been in such a wretched hovel.  It was scorching hot.  The sweat ran down my temples and my neck.  My jeans clung to my skin.  I was sitting, getting my bearings, when all at once the old man stood up and approached me."

Have you read this one? Would you keep reading?

31 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to this one.

    Here is mine: http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/first-chapter-first-paragaphs-tuesday.html

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and off to check on your Tuesday intro as well.

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  2. Nice and definitely will read!

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  3. I love the title of this book, and I like the writing style - enjoy!

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  4. Nice intro! I haven't heard of this book, but would keep reading based on these first paragraphs. Hope you like it. Here's mine - it's our early summer book club selection:

    http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2012/05/tuesday-intros-three-weissmanns-of.html

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    1. Yes, that intro hooked me early on as well. Off to see your intro for today.

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  5. Ick. I can feel the wretchedness of the place. I'd keep going. Here's Mine

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    1. I know, can't you just picture the flies on the goodies?...UGHHH

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  6. From the very first sentence, I am drawn into the setting; I can see everything the narrator sees and feel what she feels. I thoroughly enjoy this kind of opener and I'm in!

    Thanks for sharing...and although I've never heard of this one, I'm intrigued.

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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  7. Haven't heard of this one but it grabbed me right away. I'd keep reading.

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  8. Good opening scene--I'm intrigued. Is the old man going to be threatening or benign, pathetic or admirable.

    Love the title and the cover--I would have picked up this book in a bookstore, for sure.

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  9. I'd keep reading. Makes you want to find out who, where, and what!

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  10. I just got this one on audio, and yes, I would definitely keep reading! That intro paragraph got me hooked!

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  11. Hadn't heard of this one. It has an exotic sound to it. I'd read a little more before I decided if it's for me.

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  12. I've been thinking of reading this book, too. So I'm glad I read the opening paragraphs. I'm turned off because of this: "Trying too ignore him." They misspell "to," and this is not an uncorrected proof copy. How could they miss that?

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  13. Very descriptive. I would keep reading to see what he would say/do.

    Mine is here.

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  14. Here's mine: http://abigailannreading.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-one-day.html

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  15. I'm back in the mood for good literature, fiction. This one sounds good!

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  16. I would want to find out what that dude is up to!

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  17. It sounds interesting; I'd keep reading. :D

    Mine is at http://simplengkaligayahan.blogspot.com/2012/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday.html

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  18. I adore the cover but I'm not sure I'm totally grabbed yet (maybe because I can imagine the heat!).

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  19. This one might take a little more to capture my attention. This week I am reading The Prophet

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  20. What does he want/??? I would keep reading to see what's going to happen next!!

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    1. Haven't really started it yet, but those first 2 TT hooked me into wanting more:)

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  21. Hi Diane,

    Those lines were a great 'hook' for this book, although I did do some more research about both it and the author, just to make sure.

    This sounds like an amazing, very emotional debut novel and I just love the cover art as well.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Yvonne

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  22. I would definitely keep reading this one. It's so interesting!

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  23. Hmmm…not sure this one would call to me.

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  24. I'm uncertain about this one and could go either way. I will look forward to your thoughts.

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  25. I would keep reading. I want to know what this old man is all about.

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