Tuesday, February 7, 2017

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Impossible Fortress; Jason Rekulak


Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph, maybe two, of a book that I'm reading or plan to read soon.

The Impossible Fortress; Jason Rekulak
Simon & Schuster - 2017


"MY MOTHER WAS CONVINCED I'd die young. In the spring of 1987, just a few weeks after my fourteenth birthday, she started working nights at the Food World because the late shift paid an extra dollar an hour.  I slept alone in an empty house while my mother rang up groceries and fretted over all the terrible things that might happen: What if I choked on a chicken nugget? What if I slipped in the shower? What if I forgot to turn off the stove and the house exploded in a fiery inferno? At ten o'clock every evening, she'd call to make sure I'd finished my homework and locked the front door, and sometimes she'd make me test the smoke alarms, just in case."

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.






37 comments:

  1. Oh my. A strange opening...sounds like a very neurotic mother.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, she sure does seem that way but, anyone who has raised a 14 y/o boy might feel some of it is warranted...LOL

      Delete
  2. Very scary mother! This one sounds good, though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think I would worry too if I left my child alone overnight while I had to work too! I hope the child has a good safety plan. If it was today, the mom could get in a lot of trouble for that with children services. How things have changed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Back in the 1980s though, I must admit I've left my 14 y/old alone overnight once or twice with his 16 y/o sister though.

      Delete
  4. Maybe it's just me, but I like the tone of voice in that first paragraph. Actually, I like 14-year-olds so I think he's just being 14. I definitely want to keep reading this new-to-me story.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd definitely keep reading, just to find out the effect his mother's worries had on his life! Sounds like a story I'd enjoy reading.
    Thank you for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The worry the mother has for her son seems to have had a bit effect on him - I would like to know more

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very scary but sounds creepily good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like the writing and I can only imagine the dilemma of trying to make enough money vs leaving your teen at home alone.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the tone of the opening too. And I can imagine the mother's concerns, being the kind of person that tends to that myself a bit. Well, maybe not testing the smoke alarms every night, but still...LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, anyone who has raised a 14 y/old boy can see how some of the mom's concerns are warranted.

      Delete
  10. I loved this book! The boys are about the same age I was in 1987, so I got into all the pop culture references and could imagine my junior high male counterparts trying to get themselves a copy of Playboy with Vanna White on the cover. So much fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tina, so glad to hear you enjoyed this - me too so far. My son was 10 in 1987 and, yes, Boys will be boys..the Vanna in Playboy is so typical of boys that age.

      Delete
  11. I like the tone of this opening and would continue reading. I hope you love it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, definitely keep reading! I love that intro...so much that I'm checking my library for this one. I haven't seen it before.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like a fun book. I hope you enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Definitely would keep reading, wondering what the intro is leading up to.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the picture this paints. Paranoid mothers...we've all been there.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Based on the intro, I would read more. But, I'd be expecting a funny book so I'd be disappointed if it was too serious.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That's a great teaser and I would definitely continue reading! Will look forward to your review of this one.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd worry, too, if I had to leave a 14-year-old at home, alone, while I worked the night shift. I'd read more. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thanks again for visiting.