pagesofjulia

Thanks to Rose City Reader for hosting this meme. To participate, share the first line or two of the book you are currently reading and, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line.

Wake defines itself quickly (on the back cover as well as preceding the title page):

Wake: 1) Emerge or cause to emerge from sleep. 2) Ritual for the dead. 3) Consequence or aftermath.

And I think that dictionary reference is a very fine, succinct explanation of this title for a novel about three English women struggling to deal with the repercussions of World War I, as they prepare to “celebrate” (or not) the two-year anniversary of Armistice Day. All three definitions will come into play.

Don’t worry, I still have the opening lines here for you:

Three soldiers emerge from their barracks in Arras, northern France: a colonel, a sergeant, and a private. It is somewhere close to the middle of the night and bitterly cold.

As I said of last week’s book beginning: lots of atmosphere.

This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change.

Filed under: book beginnings | Tagged: historical fiction |