Mystery Lover...but overall a very eclectic reader. Will read everything from the classics to historical fiction. Biography to essays. Not into horror or much into YA. If you would like me to review a book, then please see my stated review policy BEFORE emailing me.
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Friday, May 20, 2011
Book Beginnings on Friday
Book Beginnings on Friday is a bookish meme sponsored by Katy at A Few More Pages. Here's what you do: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments section. Include the title and author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you are so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line and if you did or did not like that sentence. Link up each week at Katy's place. Here's mine from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne:
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me; had they duly considered how much depended on what they were then doing;--that not only the production of a rational Being was concerned in it, but that possibly the happy formation and temperature of his body, perhaps his genius and the very cast of his mind;--and, for aught they knew to the contrary, even the fortunes of his whole house might take their turn from the humours and dispositions which were then uppermost:--Had they duly weighed and considered all this, and proceeded accordingly,--I am verily persuaded I should have made a quite different figure in the world from that in which the reader is likely to see me.
My thoughts: OMG, not another stream of consciousness writer (yes, indeed--and the great-grand-daddy of them all, seeing as this was written in 1768)! And: Is he ever going to put a period on this sentence?!!
If I hadn't signed this book up for so many challenges and determined that this time (the third try) I really was going to finish the darn thing, I think I would have thrown it out the window by now. I'm on page 134 so far.
I remember my old English teacher saying that if you can't comfortably read a sentence aloud in one breath then it's too long. He would have failed me for sure if I'd written something like that!
Tristram Shandy is a book I have always been curious about. I have even picked it up at the bookstore but put it back in the shelf. After reading your thoughts, I don't know if I have the courage to read it after all.
@Sophia: Yes, if I'd been reading that aloud, I would have keeled over from lack of breath.
@JennyGirl: I am definitely hoping that the third time will be a charm. If not, I think I'm done with Tristram. I loved Sentimental Journey by Sterne when I was in college. But it was near as streamy.
@wutheringwillow: Aw, thanks! Not to put you off...but it is a challenging read. And I seem to have a short-term memory thing going on (anasthesia side-effect) that isn't helping the concentration.
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Book Beginnings on Friday is a bookish meme sponsored by Katy at A Few More Pages. Here's what you do: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments section. Include the title and author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you are so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line and if you did or did not like that sentence. Link up each week at Katy's place.
Oh, my, my head hurts with all that thought and forethought! LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
I remember my old English teacher saying that if you can't comfortably read a sentence aloud in one breath then it's too long. He would have failed me for sure if I'd written something like that!
ReplyDeleteMy hat is off to you. Maybe the third time is the charm??? good luck Bev, and hope your first week back to work wasn't too bad :)
ReplyDeleteHave I told you lately how much I love your blog?
ReplyDeleteTristram Shandy is a book I have always been curious about. I have even picked it up at the bookstore but put it back in the shelf. After reading your thoughts, I don't know if I have the courage to read it after all.
Sorry to say I don't think I could make it through this one! That is one heck of a long sentence. Good luck getting through it
ReplyDelete@Laurel-Rain: My head hurts too!
ReplyDelete@Sophia: Yes, if I'd been reading that aloud, I would have keeled over from lack of breath.
@JennyGirl: I am definitely hoping that the third time will be a charm. If not, I think I'm done with Tristram. I loved Sentimental Journey by Sterne when I was in college. But it was near as streamy.
@wutheringwillow: Aw, thanks! Not to put you off...but it is a challenging read. And I seem to have a short-term memory thing going on (anasthesia side-effect) that isn't helping the concentration.
@Helen: That's one of the short ones....
OMG That is one heck of a first sentence. I think I would have a hard time with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in Book Beginnings!