Tuesday, May 2, 2017

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Anything is Possible; Elizabeth Strout


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 choice is a follow-up to,  My Name is Lucy Barton, a book I loved. Started it last night and, although the first paragraph is lengthy - so far so good.


Anything is Possible; Elizabeth Strout
Random House  - 2017

The Sign

"Tommy Nuptial had once owned a dairy farm, which he'd inherited from his father, and which was about two miles from the town of Amgash, Illinois.  This was many years ago now, but at night Tommy still sometimes woke with the fear he had felt the night his dairy farm burned to the ground.  The house had burned to the ground as well; the wind had sent sparks onto the house, which was not far from the barns.  It had been his fault--he always thought it was his fault--because he had not checked that night on the milking machines to make sure they had turned off properly, and this is where the fire started.  Once it started, it ripped with a fury over the whole place.  They lost everything, except for the brass frame to the living room mirror, which he came upon in the rubble the next day, and he left it where it was.  A collection was taken up: For a number of weeks his kids went to school in the clothes of their classmates, until he could gather himself and the little money he had; he sold the land to the neighboring farmer, but it did not bring much money in.  Then he and his wife, a short pretty woman named Shirley, bought new clothes, and he bought a house as well, Shirley keeping her spirits up admirably as all this was going on.  They'd had to buy a house in Amgash, which was a run-down town, and his kids went to school there instead of in Carlisle, where they had been able to go to school before, his farm being just on the line dividing the two towns.  Tommy took a job as the janitor in the Amgash school system; the steadiness of the job appealed to him, and he could never go to work on someone else's farm, he did not have the stomach for that.  He was thirty-five years old at the time."

Would you read more or pass on this one?

Feel free to join in by linking your INTRO Post below.







21 comments:

  1. I've been noticing this book. I do want to know more, so I would keep reading.

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  2. That's a great first paragraph. I want to know more about this family and how they coped with such a drastic change in their lives.
    I've been away from First Chapter / First Paragraph / Tuesday Intros lately, and I'm glad to be back!

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  3. I have really enjoyed all of Elizabeth's Strout's book and this one is off to a good start with tha first paragraph. I'm waiting for this one to come from the library.

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  4. I'd likely pass, but I hope you enjoy it!

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  5. I really like the sound of this one! The paragraph you shared piqued my interest immediately. Thank you for sharing, Diane. I haven't yet read Strout, but one of these day . . . :-)

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  6. Elizabeth Strout is one of those writers which manage to say so much, some of which is left unsaid. I would definitely keep reading

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  7. I feel quite sad having read the intro. I think I would read on though, I need to know what happened.

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  8. Have been intrigued by some of the Elizabeth STrout titles I've seen recently. I think I'd keep reading.

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  9. I've been hearing a lot about this book lately. Hope it's a good read for you.

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  10. I think I'd keep reading. You have my interest.

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  11. Looks interesting, I 'd definitely keep reading. Enjoy reading!

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  12. I've been hearing a lot about this book and want to know more after reading this opening. I would keep reading!

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  13. I just brought this book home!

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  14. I like Elizabeth Strout's books, so I suppose I will eventually read this, but I found Lucy Barton to be pretty bleak all in all. I would have to be in the right mood to start down this road again.

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  15. I probably wouldn't read on either. I lost interest half way through that long paragraph.

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  16. Yes, I would read on, I'm already concerned about Tommy and his family. This author is new to me.

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  17. I'm curious where this is going? The writing style is dull and passive, but what is coming?

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  18. I might continue. Seems like a slightly dry style but at the same time the tragedy has me wondering what happens to the family, and he obviously carries the guilt.

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