First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Ties; Domenico Starnone

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.  

Ties; Domenico Starnone

Europa Editions - 2017

Chapter One

"In case it's slipped your mind, Dear Sir, let me remind you: I am your wife. I know that this once pleased you and that now, suddenly, it chafes.  I know you pretend that I don't exist, and that I never existed, because you don't want to look bad in front of the highbrow people you frequent.  I know that leading an orderly life, having to come home in time for dinner, sleeping with me instead of whomever you want, makes you feel like an idiot.  I know you're ashamed to say: look I was married on October 11th, 1962, at twenty-two, I said: I do in front of the priest in a church in the Stella neighborhood, and I did it for love, nothing forced me into it; look, I have certain responsibilities, and if you people don't know what it means to have responsibilities you're petty.  I know, believe me, I know.  But whether you like it or not, the fact remains, I am your wife and you are my husband.  We've been married for twelve years--twelve years in October--and we have two children.  Sandro, born in 1965,  and Anna, born in 1969.  Do I need to show you their birth certificates to shake some sense into you?"

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: A Memoir; Sherman Alexie

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.   Has anyone read this book yet? I read that there is a part about a cat that is disturbing, so as a cat - lover, I am on the fence, and, of course, I will have to skip that section.

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: A Memoir; Sherman Alexie

Little Brown - 2017

1.

Forty Knives

"IN 1972 OR 1973, or maybe 1974, my mother and father hosted a dangerous New Year's Eve party at our home in Wellpinit, Washington, on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

We lived in a two-story house--the first floor was a doorless daylight basement while the elevated second floor had front and back doors accessible by fourteen-step staircases.  The house was constructed by our tribe using grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more tersely known as HUD. Our family HUD house was new but only half finished when we moved in and remains unfinished, and illogically designed, over forty years later.  It was worth $25,000 when it was built, and I think it's probably worth about the same now.  I don't speak my tribal language, but I'm positive there are no Spokane Indian words for real estate appreciation.

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

A Few New Books

Thank you Candlewick Press

• Pick a Pine Tree; Patricia Toht
• A Christmas for Bear; Bonny Becker
• Red and Lulu; Matt Tavares

• Picnic at Hanging Rock; Joan Lindsay (Penguin)
• Three Floors Up; Eshoo Nevo (Other Press)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Muralist; B.A. Shapiro

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.  This week's selection is for my October book group read.

The Muralist; B.A. Shapiro

Algonquin - 2015

1

Danielle

"It was there when I arrived that morning, sitting to the right of my desk, ostensibly no different from the other half-dozen cartons on the floor, flaps bent back, paintings haphazardly poking out.  As soon as I saw it, I ripped off my gloves, dropped to my knees, and pawed through the contents.  I didn't realize I wasn't breathing until my chest began to ache and little black dots jumped around the edges of my vision.

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

Reading and Reviewing Slump Continues

Hello Readers,

Between the loss of our cat Freckles on Monday and the outrageous news we face day after day, my reading slump continues.  I'm reading, but very slowly as I'm easily distracted it seems.  It's just easier to play Words with Friends or Yahtzee on my phone while watching the baseball playoffs, comedy shows and occasional news.  I do have so many books that I want to read, so I'm hopeful I snap out of this slump.

Back in early 2008, we were a 5 - cat family but now we are down to just 1 cat.

Buddy

Buddy is 15 years old now and is pretty spry for his age. Every day we can count on him practicing his jumping skills, making it half way up the door jamb or higher.  Although he's always just tolerated the other cats, preferring my lap any chance he got, he seems lost this past week.  His appetite has increased (he needed to gain a few pounds after losing a few over the last few years.  I feel sad though as he sometimes cries out like he's missing Freckles or isn't sure what has happened.  He's more of a lap cat and had even slept between our pillows briefly a few times this week.  I'm enjoying it while I can, as we all know -- life is short.

We almost brought home this little guy this week --

BUT, we decided that now was not the time to introduce a kitten to a 15 y/o cat who was never overly fond of other cats.  We gave a donation to the shelter instead and, decided that when Buddy is gone we'll either adopt 2 - kittens or a senior cat instead.

Hope everyone has had a good week and that next week is even better. 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Music Shop, Rachel Joyce

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.  

As some of you know, I've been in a bit of a reading slump but, I must say, I started this yesterday and am a third of the way through and really enjoying it.

The Music Shop; Rachel Joyce

Random House - Jan/2018

Prologue

There once was a music shop. From the outside it looked like any shop, in any backstreet.  It had no name above the door. No record display in the window.  There was just a homemade poster stuck to the glass. FOR THE MUSIC YOU NEED!!! EVERYONE WELCOME!! WE ONLY SELL VINYL! IF CLOSED, PLEASE TELEPHONE--though after that it was anyone's guess because, along with more happy exclamation marks, the only eligible number was an 8 that could well be a 3; there were other things that might be triangles.

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

RIP Dear Freckles

(Freckles - 2003 - 2017)

As I mentioned in my Sunday post, our 14 year old cat Freckles was not doing well.  He had lost weight and for the last few days he had turned his nose up at most foods except for a couple of licks and a few laps of water here and there.  Then last night his breathing seemed a bit labored, so first thing this morning we made an appointment to bring him to the Vet.  On the way there in his carrier in the back seat, a 20 minute ride, he let on one cry (our cats have always hated the car) but, when we got to the Vet he seemed unresponsive in his carrier so they rushed him in to be checked.   We soon got the sad news that he had passed away.  We were told he had a lot of fluid in his lungs and that, his weakened state, along with the stress of the car ride, most likely resulted in heart failure.

We got Freckles as a kitten in Rhode Island, always an indoor cat, he was never a lap cat, but he loved being close to us (especially my husband). He loved being brushed, watching the birds, squirrels and chipmunks and playing with toys.  He was well loved and will be deeply missed.

2017 has been a terrible year for us and our furry friends. As some of you might recall, in February, we lost our sweet Lily, also 14 years of age, and I can't say we are over her loss, even 8 months later.   Our fur babies are down to just 1 now, Buddy, who is 15 and, like his humans,  is quite sad today. He's looking around the house for his friend and seems a bit nervous, not able to find a place for himself.

To all my readers with a furry family member, give them an extra hug and extra treat today.  Our time on earth is short and we are never ready when faced with that loss.

RIP Freckles, you were loved.