I am not participating in the Top Ten on Tuesday meme this week hosted by Broke and Bookish. I ended up catching my daughter's illness late last week and, while I am feeling better, I am still struggling to regain my energy. As a result, I have not been able to keep up with responding to comments, visiting other blogs, or do much blog writing myself.
We did have a nice Easter for the most part. It's not a particularly big holiday in our household, to be honest. We aren't churchgoers. and it's too short a weekend to travel to visit extended family. As a result, it was just the three of us and the cats. Even so, the Easter Bunny did drop baskets off at our house, one for each of us. We also had an Easter egg hunt. Mouse loves searching for eggs--more so than knowing what's inside them. She may have opened a handful yesterday, but otherwise the eggs are still sitting in her basket untouched.
While sick (because I am not a sickbed reader as much as I wish I could be), I watched The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which I enjoyed quite a bit, much to my surprise. It's silly, but funny with a premise you wouldn't think would make good comedy. With Tina Fey involved though, anything's possible. I also watched a couple of Lost Girl first season episodes, a Canadian show I hadn't really known much about before reading the description on Netflix--I'm already hooked.
What are you reading at the moment? Is it anything you would recommend?
Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.
I thought today I would share the opening of the book I am currently reading, Diamond Head by Cecily Wong. The novel is set over a span several decades, told from the perspective of several different characters.
November 1964
Honolulu, Hawaii
Inside the car, it smells like hibiscus. It was his mother's idea; something subtle, she told him, but fresh. Something alive. As the man pulls from his driveway he is grateful, just this once, for his mother's meddling. He breathes in. Already, the sweet smell is working on his nerves.
Would you continue reading?
© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
That first paragraph does make me a little curious. I'd keep reading to find out what's going on.
ReplyDeleteMargot - The opening doesn't offer much about the story, but I think it is a good set up for what is to come. :-)
DeleteI hope you feel better soon, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Diamond Head, I'm currently reading that alongside with Elizabeth Haynes' Behind Closed Doors. I'm enjoying reading both of them. I can't wait to hear what you'll think of Diamond Head.
Hope you've a great week!
Melody - I am glad to hear you are enjoying both Diamond Head and Behind Closed Doors! I am just over half way done with Diamond Head and hope to finish it in the next day or so. I look forward to reading your thoughts on both books you are reading!
DeleteGet better soon - I do like books that tell the story over a period of time, I'm sure I'd enjoy this one but I would need a little bit more to be certain. Here is my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/first-chapter-first-paragraph-april-7/
ReplyDeleteCleo - Thank you. I am really enjoying Diamond Head. It's a quiet story, but interesting.
DeleteI'm getting over being sick too. Went on a little bit of a TV binge, but the only thing that really made an impression was some old Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin. And I was reading earlier today and suddenly, I could hear the story in Rod Steiger's voice. It must be the still feverish brain cells.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I'm learning from reading just opening paragraphs is that they rarely hook me all by themselves. If they work with the blurb, then I'm able to make a decision, but without the blurb, they haven't got much of a chance.
Suzie - I am sorry you have been sick too. I had to laugh though when I read about you hearing Rod Steiger's voice as you read today. I do hope you are feeling better soon.
DeleteSometimes it is hard to tell about a book from just the first paragraph. Especially a book like this one. I summarized it a little--but this time kept it simple to avoid spoilers--which is what I tend to do more so than post the blurb.
Feel better Wendy. The intro makes me wonder why he is so nervous, so I'd keep reading. (Such a pretty cover too)
ReplyDeleteDiane - Thank you. I really like the cover too. :-) I liked this intro and the way it set up what is to come.
DeleteSorry you've been sick, but glad you are feeling a bit better. Love the Mouse picture! I think that little teaser seems very aromatic. Does the book come with a 'scratch n sniff'? LOL
ReplyDeleteKay - Thanks. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.
DeleteI can't tell you how often I wish I could set foot in the pages of Diamond Head just to be in Hawaii right now. LOL
I have a copy of Diamond Head, too! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteToday I'm featuring The Boston Girl by Anita Diamond.
Kim - I hope you enjoy it! I hope to finish it in the next day or so. I'm eager to read your pick for today. I love Anita Diamant's writing!
DeleteSorry that you have been sick! I don't know if I would continue reading Diamond Head, but will wait for you and Melody to give your reviews before deciding. :)
ReplyDeleteJenclair - Thank you. So far I like Diamond Head. It's a nice change of pace after reading Behind Closed Doors (and that other book I couldn't finish).
DeleteI love books set in Hawaii and think I'd enjoy this one. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteMy Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/04/first-chapter-first-paragraph-101-blog.html
Catherine - I do too! One of my favorite books is Alan Brennert's Moloka'i. Have you read it?
DeleteAnd thank you!
Any book set in Hawaii is a plus for me. I hope you're feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn - Same here! I love a Hawaiian setting. :-) And thank you. I'm feeling much better today.
DeleteI would keep reading. Glad you are feeling better.
ReplyDelete'Nise - I finished the book yesterday, and really enjoyed it.
DeleteI am always envious of those who can read while sick. I can never read a sentence much less make any kind of progress through a book. I'd rather read or better, just sleep. Hope you feel better soon! I'm glad that the cold is behind you and you are in the recovering phase now.
ReplyDeleteAthira - Me too. I do try, but I just can't seem to focus on a book when I'm sick. I try to sleep, and sometimes do, but even that can be hard when I'm sick. I don't know why. It's what my body needs most, right? I did manage to get the laundry done while I was sick though. I can't not do something. LOL
DeleteI'm intrigued by the intro, but I think I'd want to know a bit more about the premise of the book before deciding...
ReplyDeleteSarah - It's a beautiful but sad story. I'm curious to know where the author is taking me.
DeleteDiamond Head is on my list! Want to read!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sorry to hear you caught the bug. It always takes us far longer to feel better than it does them! Glad you had a good Easter. It's not a big holiday here as well but it is fun. Plus I love Easter candy. I hoard Cadbury eggs and make them last until June if I'm lucky. That's good to know about Kimmy Schmidt. I was curious about it. I'm also glad to know I"m not the only person who isn't a sickbed reader! I want to be but I'm just not. Get better and have a good week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Thank you! I wish I had the energy and stamina Mouse has even when sick. I'm not as bad as my husband though. LOL I am glad you had a nice Easter. I love the Cadbury eggs too. I had such a hard time finding them this year though. I must not have gone to the right places. I hope you have a good week too!
DeleteI like the sound of this book, and I would keep reading!
ReplyDeleteMonica - It's worth checking out if you get the chance.
DeleteSounds intriguing. I love the cover! Enjoy your week, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteEryn - Isn't it a beautiful cover? I like it too. I hope you have a good week as well!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYvonne - It was good!
DeleteI have been sick since Monday....and this is my first attempt at the computer. I must be feeling slightly better, although I don't trust it. LOL
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon.
Laurel-Rain - I am sorry to hear it. I hope you are feeling completely better soon! I know what you mean about not trusting it. I started to feel a little better and then worse again. I am hopeful it's gone now though. Fingers crossed for both of us.
DeleteI used to read voraciously when I was sick, that and sleep. But then there weren't all of the other quiet kinds of options for when you were sick like there are now. Even tv was only soap operas during the day when I was young. Now, though, like you I have a hard time reading when I don't feel good. Even that seems to take too much energy. Hope you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteLisa - You make a good point about having more options now when you need to rest while sick. I do know though that I sat through a lot of horrible talk and news shows when I was sick in my pre-netflix days because focusing on a book was too hard. It depends too on what kind of sick I am, I think.
DeleteEveryone in my household has been sick lately too! I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading "Van Gogh: The Life," which is more than 900 pages long. This one will take me a while! So far (I'm only 4% of the way in), it's really interesting.
A.M.B. - Oh no! I hope you are all feeling better soon, if not already.
DeleteThat is a long book! I am glad you are finding it interesting. It's a must with a thick book like that, I think.
I hope you are feeling much better now! Easter was a very low key affair for us as well. Glad to hear Mouse enjoyed hunting for eggs!
ReplyDeleteIliana - Thank you. I am feeling much better now, thank goodness. I think Mouse would search for eggs all year long if she could. :-)
DeleteHope you are feeling better. Glad you had a happy Easter and the little one enjoyed the egg hunt :)
ReplyDeleteI caught an awful cold myself and one entire weekend was spent in bed, then I was sick through the week and was still feeling zapped on Easter Sunday. Not fun at all.
Diamond Head sounds interesting, I like that setting. Happy reading!
Naida - I am feeling much better now, thank you. I am so sorry to hear though that you were sick too! I hope you are feeling much better now.
Delete