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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , on July 18, 2013| 10 Comments »

Thanks for joining me today for my edition of Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  If you are a book lover like me, hopefully you will find several interesting reads from the list of blogs linking up there.

Today, my first line comes from “The Lost Art of Mixing” by Erica Bauermeister.  When I read this, it was a new selection at my local library and the title was about cooking, I just had to try it.  Cooking is a main theme through the book, but it is mostly about relationships between different people and how they all connect together.  Here is the first line:

“Lillian stood at the restaurant kitchen counter, considering the empty expanse in front of her.”

In my opinion as someone who loves to cook, this scenario could be really good or really bad.  Does Lillian have a beautiful clean space with which to work or does she see a space empty of ideas or feelings?  You will just have to read the book to find out!

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , on July 4, 2013| 7 Comments »

It is time for another edition of Book Beginnings!  Join me and other bloggers over at Rose City Reader for this great literary link party which will go live tomorrow.  Today I am bringing you the first couple of lines from Deborah Harkness’s follow-up to “A Discovery of Witches” called “Shadow of Night”.

"We arrived in an undignified heap of witch and vampire.  Matthew was underneath me, his long limbs bent into an uncharacteristically awkward position.  A large book was squashed between us, and the force of our landing sent the small silver figurine clutched in my hand sailing across the floor."

These words make you wonder just where they arrived and what the significance of the objects mentioned are.  You will just have to read the book to find out.  This is the second book in the All Souls trilogy and I can’t wait for the finale!

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on June 21, 2013| 4 Comments »

Thanks for joining me today for Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  If you love books, hopefully you will find your new favorite in the list over at Rose City.  My book today is Maeve Binchy’s latest “A Week In Winter” and here are the first lines:

“Everyone had their own job to do on the Ryans’ farm in Stoneybridge. The boys helped their father in the fields, mending fences, bringing the cows back to be milked, digging drills of potatoes; Mary fed the calves, Kathleen baked the bread, and Geraldine did the hens.”

Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite all time authors.  In fact, she is one of the few writers that I will purchase the hard back editions of her books.  This one I found at my local library and I wasn’t even aware that Ms. Binchy had a new book release.  Once again, she has filled the pages with characters that we grow to love and care about along with happy endings.  That is another thing I love about Ms. Binchy’s books…usually there is a happy ending of sorts for everyone even if it is not exactly what the character would have wanted.  This is a lovely entertaining read.

Sadly, I learned that Ms. Binchy passed away after writing this book. This hurts my heart because I always enjoyed her stories and characters.

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on June 7, 2013| 6 Comments »

Hello, my fellow book lovers and welcome to another edition of Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  Join me, won’t you?  Today, I am sharing the first line or two from an old favorite, “Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown.  Mr. Brown has a new book out called “Inferno” and I wanted to refresh myself with the main character.  I can’t wait to read the new one!  I first read “Angels & Demons” several years ago and really enjoyed it.  In my opinion, it was just as good or maybe even a little better than “The DaVinci Code” which I enjoyed immensely.

“High atop the steps of the Great Pyramid of Giza, a young woman laughed and called down to him. “Robert, hurry up!  I knew I should have married a younger man!”  Her smile was magic.”

Doesn’t that just set a scene?  But is this reality or maybe a dream?  You will just have to read the book and find out.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on May 24, 2013| 3 Comments »

Thanks for joining me today for Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  The book I am spotlighting is “A Clash of Kings”, the second in the series by George R.R. Martin.  To call these books “epic” is something of an understatement.  They are long and detailed with many characters with unusual names.  There are many times when I had to go back and re-read a few sentences to make sure I had all of the players straight!

“The comet’s tail spread across the dawn, a red slash that bled above the crags of Draonstone like a wound in the pink and purple sky.”

Was the comet a sign?  Is Dragonstone an important place?  You will just have to read and find out.  I hope to eventually read the rest of the series, but I may have to take a break from it for a little while.  Usually reading relaxes me and I can do it anywhere, but these books take a lot of concentration to keep up with all of the action.

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on May 10, 2013|

Happy Friday, everyone!  The weekend is almost here and that means it is time for another Book Beginnings post.  After you read mine, jump on over to Rose City Reader who is the gracious host of the literary link party.  There you will find a link to my post and other book loving bloggers.

Today, my beginning lines come from “A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin:

“We should start back,” Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. “The wildlings are dead.”

Ooh, doesn’t that sound ominous? Who are the wildlings and how did they die?  Is that who Gared was looking for or did he just happen upon them?  So many questions!

I picked up this book while my dad was in the hospital and I needed some way to pass the time.  This is not a story for the faint of heart.  It is full of action, violence, love, hate, and every other emotion you can think of.  I enjoyed it and have read the second book of the series. 

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , , on April 26, 2013| 3 Comments »

Welcome to another Friday which means it is time for Book Beginnings!  Head on over to Rose City Reader to see what I and other bloggers have been reading lately.

My book today is “Notorious Nineteen” by Janet Evanovich which is another in the funny and entertaining Stephanie Plum series.  It is always a hoot to see what mischief and mayhem Plum the Bounty Hunter can get into next!

“ “I don’t know why we gotta sit here baking in your car in the middle of the day, in the middle of the summer, in the middle of this crummy neighborhood,” Lula said.  “It must be two hundred degrees in here.  Why don’t we have the air conditioning on?” “

Now, if you have read any of this series, you know there must be a reason there is no air conditioning in Stephanie’s car.  She is lucky to even have a car for more than a few days!  These books are funny and easy to read.  If you haven’t tried them, grab one and see if you can read it without laughing out loud. 

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on April 12, 2013| 2 Comments »

Welcome to this week’s edition of Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  If you love books as much as I do, please check out this great link party to see what other bloggers are reading and writing about.

I have been re-reading a few old favorites the last couple of months and this week’s line comes from “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon.  This is the first book in a series that follows a time-traveling female doctor from the 1940’s to the Scottish Highlands in 1743.  It is an epic tale that continues through several books and I believe the next one comes out soon.  Can’t wait!

“It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.”

This makes you wonder what you might find at a second glance, doesn’t it?  If you haven’t read these books, please give them a try because I think they are wonderful!

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on March 29, 2013| 1 Comment »

It’s Friday so it is time for Book Beginnings over at Rose City Reader.  Hop on over there to check out Ms. Rose City’s book choice and other bloggers’ choices as well.  It is always entertaining.

My first lines are from Philippa Gregory’s “The Kingmaker’s Daughter”:

“My lady mother goes first, a great heiress in her own right, and the wife of the greatest subject in the kingdom.”

Ms. Gregory is successful yet again at letting us in on the inner workings of England’s royal life during the War of the Rose time period.  This book is part of a series that she is writing about the two families involved and they have all been entertaining so far.

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Book Beginnings

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on March 15, 2013|

Welcome to today’s edition of Book Beginnings hosted by Rose City Reader.  Many thanks to her for hosting this great link party!  My book today is by one of my all-time favorite authors, Adrianna Trigianni.  I have read all of her books thanks to my local library and would love to re-read them which is a rarity for me. 

Her latest book is called “The Shoemaker’s Wife” and here is the beginning:

"The scalloped hem of Caterina Lazzari’s blue velvet coat grazed the fresh-fallen snow, leaving a pale pink path on the bricks as she walked across the empty piazza.  The only sound was the soft, rhythmic sweep of her footsteps, like hands dusting flour across an old wooden cutting board."

Ms. Trigianni is one of the best authors that I have read at setting a scene.  Can’t you just see this woman sweeping across an empty town square in a beautiful blue coat with the snowflakes falling around her.  I know I can.  This book was an epic tale and adventure with travel, war, love and loss.  I loved it!

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