Tuesday, February 7, 2012

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros


Every Tuesday, I'll be posting the opening paragraph (sometimes two) 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 a NYRB  (New York Review Book) - I just love the uniform look of this imprint.

NYRB - New York Review Book Classic

"RALPH WAS TEN AND MOLLY WAS EIGHT WHEN THEY HAD scarlet fever.  It left them with some sort of glandular disorder which was not malignant, but which kept them half poisoned most of the time and caused them, frequently, to have such bad nosebleeds that they had to be sent home from school.  It nearly always happened that their nosebleeds came at the same time.  Ralph, bleeding profusely, would stumble into the corridor to find Molly coming out of the third-grade room, a handkerchief held in a sodden bunch at her nose.  Their mother could not bear the sight of blood and her distress, on seeing them straggle up the driveway, never lessened even when these midday homecomings had become a habit.  Each time, she implored them to telephone her so she could send Miguel, the foreman, in the car.  But they never did, for they liked the walk home, feeling all the way a pleasant superiority to their sisters, Leah and Rachel, who were still cooped up in school with nothing to do but chew paraffin on the sly."

Has anyone read this one? If not, would you continue reading?

21 comments:

  1. Very unusual opening! I'd keep reading though, the NYRB classics are almost always winners.
    My Intro:
    http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-intros-celebrating-dickens.html

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  2. This opening made me laugh. One of my sons had scarlet fever, which is just a strain of strep throat, and he does get frequent nose bleeds. I could see how kids would prefer the nose bleeds to school. I'd keep reading. Here's Mine

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  3. I most definitely would! Seems like there's lots of possibilities for where the story could go, based on that first paragraph--sibling relationships, absent mother issues, the foreman, the Biblically named older sisters...

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  4. Oh, I would keep reading! Whenever a book starts with "defining" childhood moments, I know that something major will be happening ahead. Love it!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY TEASER TUESDAY POST

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  5. Oh yes, I would keep reading this one! There is so much detail in that paragraph, and I would love to see where it goes! Great intro paragraph today!

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  6. I would continue reading to find out what happens when they grow up and how the Mountain Lion title fits the book!

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  7. Yup - this sounds like it's full of interesting characters. And I can relate to the nosebleeds. :)

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  8. Not sure about this book, might take a bit more for me.

    This week I am reading Serpents Trail by Sue Henry
    http://booksnwhatnot.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-chapter-first-paragraph-serpents.html

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  9. Not too sure this is one for me, this first paragraph just didn't grab me at all I'm afraid.

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  10. I haven't read it but it sounds interesting--I think there is probably more to those nose bleeds than scarlet fever. I'm reading "Midnight in Austenland" by Shannon Hale this week. kaye—the road goes ever ever on

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  11. This sounds really good--synchronized nosebleeds! I love the bit about walking home from school.

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  12. Definately different! Is it a period piece?

    To answer your question I would keep reading as I like quirky reads.

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  13. I don't think I would read that one, nothing caught my attention.

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  14. I read it last year and loved it! Hope you will too.

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  15. Hmmmm… I think I would actually pss on this one.

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  16. Hmmmmm...this one has me on the fence. Not sure if I would continue on or not.

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  17. I would read it. It's interesting reading the comments and what speaks to some people and what doesn't. It sounded like a good quick, fun read.
    here is mine:
    http://thefridayfriends.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday.html

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  18. I've never heard of this book but based on that paragraph I would keep reading for sure.

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