Posted on December 13, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
My mother ran right through this over-800-page book in a few days, and I’m looking like I’m going to do the same; my first day got me nearly 300 pages. I don’t often jump on the hot-new-book bandwagon, but this one grasped me: JFK’s assassination, dreams of a more perfect world, time travel, and Stephen King? Okay. Here are a few lines I liked:
I liked writing, and had discovered I was good at it, but what I loved was teaching. It filled me up in some way I can’t explain. Or want to. Explanations are such cheap poetry.
And I like the poetry of that final line. So tell me: what are you reading?
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: historical fiction, Stephen King | 9 Comments »
Posted on December 6, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
I am listening to Irène Némirovsky’s Suite Française on audio, and finding it absolutely delightful. It’s taken me a while to follow up on Pops’s recommendation (see his guest review here), but I believe you’re right, Pops, this one is worthwhile. I had some trouble choosing lines to share with you because so many are so beautiful. Now, this is a longer-than-usual teaser, but you might agree it’s worth it for the wit:
She was proud that she kept her servants for a long time. She insisted on looking after them when they were ill. When Madeleine had had a sore throat, Madame Péricand herself had prepared her gargle. Since she had no time to administer it during the day, she had waited until she got back from the theatre in the evening. Madeleine had woken up with a start and had only expressed her gratitude afterwards, and even then, rather coldly in Madame Péricand’s opinion. Well, that’s the lower classes for you, never satisfied, and the more you go out of your way to help them, the more ungrateful and moody they are. But Madame Péricand expected no reward except from God.
I am amused. What are you reading this week?
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: audio, historical fiction | 3 Comments »
Posted on November 29, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
I’ve chosen you a teaser today from Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, which I’ve heard repeatedly is worth reading.
I disliked the trade [his father’s, of being a tallow-chandler or candle-maker], and had a strong inclination for the sea, but my father declared against it; however, living near the water, I was much in and about it, learnt early to swim well, and to manage boats; and when in a boat or canoe with other boys, I was commonly allowed to govern, especially in any case of difficulty; and upon other occasions I was generally a leader among the boys, and sometimes led them into scrapes, of which I will mention one instance, as it shows an early projecting public spirit, tho’ not then justly conducted.
He then goes on to explain that, needing a wharf to fish off of to keep their feet out of the mud, he and the other local boys – at his urging – purloined some building supplies from a nearby construction site and built themselves a stone wharf. They do get caught.
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: audio, biography, classics, history, nonfiction | 6 Comments »
Posted on November 22, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
A Stolen Life is Jaycee Dugard’s memoir of trauma. Remember Jaycee? She was kidnapped from Tahoe in 1991, at 11 years old, and discovered 18 years later (18!) still living in captivity and with several children. It’s a shocking story. I’m not sure what makes me want to read about this; am I sick? But I found a copy and picked it up. Let me warn you: Jaycee wrote this book herself and apparently without much editing; it is implied that it was important to her to tell it her own way. I find it a little bit distracting to read, because there are numerous errors of grammar, sentence structure, and just sort of simplistic writing. But I’m ultimately okay with it; it feels very authentically like Jaycee’s own voice, and I guess that’s what I came for.
Here’s your teaser:
Today I sometimes struggle with feelings of loneliness even when I am not alone. I think this feeling began in that room Phillip put me in. Hours turned into days, days to weeks, and weeks to months and then years. I have spent a lifetime alone, or so it seems to me sometimes.
Not surprisingly, this is a sad and painful book. But she is very positive and hopeful in her message, too. I wondered at her choice to write a book – and she says she didn’t intend to at first. But the proceeds go to a foundation she’s put together, to help families recover from trauma. It ultimately feels like a brave thing she’s done.
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: memoir, nonfiction | 4 Comments »
Posted on November 15, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
I have a totally awesome thriller to share with you today. Taylor Stevens’s second novel, The Innocent, revisits Vanessa Michael Munroe from her first, The Informationist. I didn’t read the first one, but I am a fan now. I recognized Munroe as a sort of a female Jack Reacher; she’s also been compared to Jason Bourne and Lisbeth Sanders, so there you go. [These are the protagonists of series by Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, and Stieg Larsson, respectively.]
My teaser comes from page 178 of my galley copy:
There, crowded into every seat and the floor space between, were the same one hundred and fifty from the dining area. Together they spent an hour of dedication to The Prophet, songs and selected readings, and as Munroe assumed was the same for many in this room, she countered the boredom of it all by allowing her mind to wander free, wondering if they were so naïve as to fail to recognize the obvious – that even the most unsuspecting visitor would realize that this evening show had been put on especially for her.
This book is great adrenaline-filled fun. Stay tuned for my review, to be published in Shelf Awareness a little closer to the Dec. 27 publication date.
This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change.
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: thriller | 4 Comments »
Posted on November 8, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
I’ve been really enjoying this story involving several generations of Native Americans in North Dakota. For your teaser today I’ve selected a passage I found amusing (if sad), that illustrates one family’s struggle with overpopulation!
[The babies] were all over in the house once they started. In the bottoms of cupboards, in the dresser, in trundles. Lift a blanket and a bundle would howl beneath it. I lost track of which were ours and which Marie had taken in. It had helped her to take them in after our two others were gone. This went on. The youngest slept between us, in the bed of our bliss, so I was crawling over them to make more of them. It seemed like there was no end.
I thought this was a good example of Erdrich’s ability to be funny even while telling a serious story.
What are you reading today?
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: misc fiction | 2 Comments »
Posted on November 1, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
I’m listening to Definitely Dead on audio, and I’ll be honest about my reasons: somebody suggested it to fulfill my Louisiana reading need for the Where Are You Reading? Challenge, and I thought what the hey, it’s not really my usual choice but I do like to occasionally push my own boundaries. For one thing, I’m a better librarian if I have a better understanding of what Charlaine Harris has to offer. I had originally intended to use James Lee Burke (an old favorite) to complete Louisiana but here we go with a little variety.
So far, I’m still not sure this is my style, but I am enjoying the southern accent of the reader!
Here’s your teaser today:
But gosh darn it, I liked him, and it always smarts when you find out you’ve been replaced with apparent ease. After all, before his dad’s death Alcide had suggested we live together. Now he was shacking up with this young Were, maybe planning to have puppies with her.
Okay, I’m trying to flow with the vampires and the werewolves…
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: audio, paranormal, romance | 8 Comments »
Posted on October 25, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
Number 17 in the Harry Bosch series, can you believe it? I love this guy. I was afraid the quality was falling off a bit (especially with The Fifth Witness, ugh, come on Connelly!) but I think we’re back on track with this one. Here’s your teaser for the day (from page 330 of my galley copy):
“But what would you do if you quit?”
“I’m not sure but I know one thing. I think I would be able to be a better father. You know, be around more.”
“That doesn’t necessarily make you a better father. Remember that.”
Bosch nodded. He sometimes had a hard time believing he was talking to a fifteen year old. This was one of those times.
Don’t worry, I haven’t given anything away. Are you a Connelly fan? How do you think the series has progressed over the years? I can’t believe we’re at 17 already!!
This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change.
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: mystery, thriller | 2 Comments »
Posted on October 18, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
Turn of Mind caught my eye months ago, when I first purchased it for the library. An older woman, a doctor, suffers from dementia. Her best friend and neighbor is found dead, and she’s a suspect – and doesn’t know herself whether she did it or not. I’m intrigued. Here’s your teaser:
Last week, she threw all her jewelry in the trash. We only caught it by accident – her daughter found a diamond pendant lying outside in the snow next to the garbage. We dug down and found her wedding ring.
Sad, isn’t it? But I can’t resist a good mystery, and this one has a unique format and frame. I’ll let you know…
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: misc fiction | 9 Comments »
Posted on October 11, 2011 by pagesofjulia
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
For our teaser today, from this chunky nonfiction volume of WWII, I give you the beginning of chapter 8, from page 178:
The people of the United States observed the first twenty-seven months of the struggle in Europe with mingled fascination, horror and disdain. The chief character in J.P. Marquand’s contemporary novel So Little Time says: “You could get away from the war for a little while, but not for long, because it was everywhere, even in the sunlight. It lay behind everything you said or did. You could taste it in your food, you could hear it in music.”
Perhaps not a cheerful book. But rich with history! Do you like to read books about war?
This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change.
Filed under: tuesday teasers | Tagged: history, nonfiction | 4 Comments »
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just open your current read to a random page and share a few sentences. Be careful not to include spoilers!
pagesofjulia 