Tuesday, November 13, 2012

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros


For today's First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro, I'm featuring an intro to a book by an author I want to read more of. Has anyone read this one?

Flannery O'Connor 
(originally published in 1948)

(Intro from - A Good Man is Hard to Find)
 
" THE GRANDMOTHER didn't want to go to Florida.  She wanted to visit some of her connections in east Tennessee and she was seizing at every chance to change Bailey's mind.  Bailey was the son she lived with, her only boy.  He was sitting on the edge of his chair at the table, bent over the orange sports section of the Journal. 'Now look here, Bailey,' she said, 'see here, read this,' and she stood with one hand on her thin hip and the other rattling the newspaper at his bald head.  'Here this fellow that calls himself The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida and you read here what it says he did to these people.  Just you read it.  I wouldn't take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it.  I couldn't answer to my conscience if I did.' "

 What do you think of the into?  Any Flannery O'Connor fans out there?

21 comments:

  1. I haven't read this but we were studying that passage in my writing workshop. How much O'Conner says with that, how well she paints the grandma's desperation, how well she sets up what follows. I think Flannery O'Connor is a classic writer I've waited too long to discover. I've posted a First Paragraph Tuesday too - no link on this meme?

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    1. Hi Sim, thanks for stopping by. I plan to remedy that "no link" situation as soon as I have time to look check out how that works.

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  2. I love the short stories of Flannery O'Connor and have read them all. This is one of her more famous stories.

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    1. I can tell that this is going to be a good one; thanks so much for stopping by.

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  3. I haven't yet read this author, but I love this intro! I think it's clever the way the grandmother is trying to control the situation. I can feel her desperation, almost; how powerless she must feel at having to do what others want her to do.

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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    1. I know what you mean -- I can feel the panic and uneasiness as I read.

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  4. Well, she's definitely right. I lived in Florida for five years working as a reporter, and every criminal heads straight down I-75 and they have to stop in Florida because the road goes no farther. Here's Mine

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  5. Good one, Diane. I'd definitely keep reading. Never read his books before. Enjoy!

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  6. O'Connor has definitely been on my list of authors to read. I still have not gotten around to it!

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  7. sounds interesting

    mine is posted

    http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2012/11/teaser-tuesday-kirby-puckernut-and.html

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  8. Good for Grandma! I have not read O'Connor.

    Mine is here.

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  9. O'Connor is an author I'd like to read but haven't gotten around to yet. If this intro is any indication of the rest of her writing then I'm even more intrigued!

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  10. That one sounds like I might read on a bit.

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  11. I'd read this--it sounds like quite a story!

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  12. I like the first paragraph. I am a Flannery O'Connor fan but I haven't read this one. I will now, Here's my first paragraph: Joyfully Retired

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  13. Never heard of it, and can see its not the kind of book I would read. Sure hope you like it. Have a great day!
    Here is mine:
    Tuesday Teaser and Intros

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  14. I would so keep reading. Need to find out more about this criminal!

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  15. She sounds like a force to be reckoned with, and I would totally continue onward with this one. Very cool snippet today!

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  16. I am not familiar with the author, but the intro is fascinating. Thank you so much for your kind words about Herman.

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  17. Flannery O'Connor is one of my favorite short story writers. I had The Complete Stories colleciton, but lent it to a friend and never got it back. One of my favorite's of hers is "Geranium". Hope you love this story.

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  18. I love Flannery O'Connor and am slowly making my way through her collected short stories - great intro!

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