I polished off two books this week while on vacation and am about to start another one. I am leaning strongly towards the historical fiction novel set in the early 1900's, The Sworn Virgin by Kristopher Dukes, about a young woman who avoids being sold into marriage by calling on an old tradition to remain a virgin for the rest of her life so that she can live independently with many of the rights of a man.
A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.
The body lay motionless. His once bright, brown eyes now as dull as the sucking mud beneath him, much like the sopping footpath they had traveled to reach this strange town. Thick blood flooded his white shirt from the deep, black hole in his chest. Eleanora flinched as a tall, craggy-faced man touched her arm, telling her this was not something a young woman should see.The author jumps right into the action of the novel with the first sentence in the novel. The rest of the paragraph only lays bare what we already know. Someone is dead. I was immediately pulled in with this opening, and cannot wait to read more.
"I want to speak with the elders--no, the chief of the town," she said. She would find this shooter and make him pay for what he had done. When the elders found out who had been shot . . . Her tone was hard, but not brittle. She would not be a stupid hysterical woman. She would be calm as Baba had taught her to be. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Now, please. Take me now." [pg 57]
Eleanora is clearly upset about the death, but I like that she is trying to be strong and take action. She isn't one to sit back and let things happen to and around her from the sounds of it.
What do you think so far? Would you keep reading?
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Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.
This week's topic is Book you've enjoyed with the most/least pages.
Coming in at 1,439 pages, The Stand by Stephen King, was a surprisingly fast book to read, and I enjoyed it. On the other end of the spectrum, (excluding children's books and graphic novels) is Wet Silence: Poems about Hindu Widows by Sweta Srivastava Vikram which was only 82 pages long. It's a beautiful and emotional collection of poems.
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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.
Have you ever read a book written in a foreign language you might be fluent in, and then read the same book in English?
I enjoy reading books that have been translated into English, especially crime fiction. I wish I was so gifted as to know more than one language. Alas, I am only fluent in English.
What about you?
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1. Over-worrying is a waste of time, and yet I do it all the time.
2. My favorite app is the Inoreader app, which I use to track most of the book blogs I follow.
3. My first car was a Neon Dodge. I named it Danica, but eventually switched its name to Betty.
4. The best car I ever owned is my current car because it is still running.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!
2. My favorite app is the Inoreader app, which I use to track most of the book blogs I follow.
3. My first car was a Neon Dodge. I named it Danica, but eventually switched its name to Betty.
4. The best car I ever owned is my current car because it is still running.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!
© 2017, 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.
Your current read looks interesting; I hope that you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteNicki - So far so good. Except I accidentally got pulled into another book last night by accident and now it has to compete for my attention.
DeleteGot to love a good historical novel that starts like that!
ReplyDeleteHere is my book choice for this Friday: http://bit.ly/2w2KkmL
Have a fun weekend!
Sassy - I really do like historical fiction and it seems to be the way of my mood as of late. Can't fight the moods, right? I hope you have a good weekend too.
DeleteI liked your 50/50 Friday post for this week!! Poetry normally isn't something I gravitate towards, but I'll see if I can find the book of poetry you've mentioned!
ReplyDeleteLisa - It was probably cheating to use a book of poetry since I excluded graphic novels and children's books as they tend to be short too. I don't read a lot of poetry, but I enjoy it from time to time. This particular collection is one of my favorites. If you do give it a try, I hope you like it!
DeleteYour book beginning was good, but the cover really drew me in. You know that odd adage "don't judge a book by its cover?" Hogwash!
ReplyDeleteMy Book Beginning is at the bottom of the book review page
Anne - I can't help but judge books by their covers either. :-) I really like this one as well.
DeleteThat's quite the interesting beginning. I've only read a few historical novels this year, but I always enjoy ones that start with action.
ReplyDeleteBreana - They definitely have a way of hooking you right away, don't they?
DeleteI would have done more than "flinch." I like the cover. I like the blouse. I can't imagine me wearing it. What a laugh!
ReplyDeleteTopazshell - I probably would have done more than flinch too. And, like you, I couldn't get away with wearing that blouse either. But it is pretty!
DeleteI love the cover for The Sworn Virgin and it sounds really interesting. I hope they don't end up with a romance cause that would defeat the entire premise...
ReplyDeleteI've read The Lola Rose, Naughtiest Girl and Enid Blyton in both English and Japanese, but I was too busy trying to make sure I understood the Japanese and totally forgot about comparing them :p It is quite fun to read in another language though(:
Eustacia - I really like the cover too. I am afraid there likely will be a romance in there somewhere if I believe the synopsis. I'm okay with that, depending on how it all plays out, but I know what you mean about it possibly defeating the purpose.
DeleteI admire you being multilingual. I can see that happening to me if I could read in another language, wanting to make sure I got the other language right that I forget to compare the two versions. :-)
I'm impressed that you read two books while you were on vacation - I never seem to get much read when I'm away.
ReplyDeleteI've read some kids books in French but couldn't read an adult book in another language.
Kathy - I was surprised I managed to get two in too! There was a lot of down time while we were camping, so it wasn't hard. Plus, I chose two pretty easy fast paced books to read.
DeleteYour pick looks very tempting! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAs for books with the "most" pages, I always recall Gone with the Wind, which I read at least three times when I was young. (The copy I read had 1,000+ pages).
Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “WATCH ME DISAPPEAR”
Laurel-Rain - It's good so far! :-) Gone With the Wind does have a lot of pages. :-)
DeleteThe Sworn Virgin really sounds good. I'll have to add it to my list. My teasers are from a historical mystery - A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I think so too! I hope you get a chance to read it. I've been wanting to try that series by Thomas that you are reading. :-)
DeleteCool question for 50/50. It would take quite a bit of work for me to come up with the answers because I rarely consider pages counts. Great that your vacation included reading time.
ReplyDeleteRoberta - I thought it was a good topic choice too! I used Goodreads to help me figure out my longest and shortest book, but it was still a bit difficult. Especially with all the children's books I've added that my daughter and I have read this year.
DeleteUsually my vacations don't include much reading time, but this trip we were camping and that meant built in reading time. :-) We even went to the public library in the nearby town for a visit. Haha.
The Sworn Virgin looks really good! Looking forward to your review of that one. I think that the longest book would have to be one of the Outlander novels. Long books still feel short to me if the story is really good.
ReplyDeleteCarole - I am enjoying The Sworn Virgin so far. I hope to have more time to read tomorrow (fingers crossed!). I haven't read any of the Outlander novels, but I do know they are long! I'm with you though. If the story is really good, long books don't feel long at all. Sometimes short books that I am not enjoying seem soooo long.
DeleteI must say that Wet Silence looks very interesting. I think I will have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteYour answers are really good. I wonder why you changed your car's name to Betty. And, what is your current car? Curiosity!
Annie - I hope you do get a chance to check out Wet Silence. It is a great collection. I changed my car's name because the more I got to know her, the less like a Danica she seemed, and more like a Betty. If only I could change my name so easily. Haha.
DeleteI have a Mazda now. It's done well for me so far. :-)
I admire people who know several languages, and I wish I were one of them! I am fluent in Spanish thanks to Mom, who made us speak the language at home. I still do need a dictionary sometimes, though, when reading in Spanish.
ReplyDeleteI took 4 years of French in high school, and 1 year in college. Alas, I've lost most of the language, however.... I wouldn't even ATTEMPT to read a book in French now!
Oh, "The Sworn Virgin" sure sounds FASCINATING! I had no idea that such a tradition existed in England! I'm adding it to my GR shelves for sure!! The opening is definitely gripping, to say the least. I'm intrigued, though.
"Wet Silence" does sound beautiful, but probably too emotional for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though!
LOVE your Friday fill-in sentences! Like you, I tend to worry too much! Lol. As for the app, I need to check it out. Never heard of it. And our last car was a Neon. It ran very well, but eventually we had to get another car, due to the mileage factor. Sentence 4 of your fill-ins is funny! Totally agree, too!!
Thanks for sharing, Wendy! Hope you guys have a GREAT weekend!! We have some rain heading our way. That's PERFECT reading weather! Lol. HUGS TO YOU AND MOUSE!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
Maria - I admire people who are fluent in multiple languages too. Like you! I know where you live, Spanish is a good second language to have, just as it is here in Southern California. I wish I had more of a talent for languages. I think it's a lot easier to retain a language when you learn it at a very young age. Immersion programs are very popular right now, and I did look into it for Mouse. Unfortunately, the wait list is horrendous.
DeleteSworn Virgin actually takes place in Eastern Europe; Albania, I believe. I had been unaware of the tradition of the sworn virgin either.
I did cry when I read the poems in Wet Silence, but then, I am an emotional reader so it is a given.
My middle name could be "worry-wart". Haha. That's neat that you had a Neon too. :-)
I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far! I hope you enjoy the rain! We have triple digit temperatures coming up this week. And not the low 100's. It's supposed to be 112 on Tuesday. :-(
Great answer and thank you so much for stopping by my blog hop. Have a great weekend my friend!
ReplyDeleteKati - I hope you are enjoying your weekend too!
DeleteVery strong imagery right at the start, definitely would suck most people into the book! Also I'm curious about the sworn virgin, the premise is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to you about over-worrying - it can easily become time consuming, and regardless of how many times I tell myself everything will be okay, I can't seem to get past it. Hopefully it is something we both can overcome in the future!
Thank you for stopping by earlier, hope you have a great weekend :)
Tas - Yes, the opening grabbed me right away. I am enjoying it so far. It sounds like we are in the same boat when it comes to worrying. :-( On the plus side, when things don't turn out as bad as I might have been thinking they could get, it's quite the relief. But yeah, a big waste of time. I hope you are enjoying your weekend too!
DeleteSo many memes in one post, I almost don't know what to comment on :) I loved The Stand too (Stephen King is almost certainly responsible for the longest book I enjoyed in any case). And great answer on the book blogger hop. Have a great weekend. - Katie
ReplyDeleteKatie - I do have a tendency to overdo it on Fridays. You should see my End of the month wrap up posts. Those are way too long! I'd be surprised if anyone read them in their entirety.
DeleteI hope you are having a great weekend too!
Thank you for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. I had the same answer for #1. That is cute that you changed your car's name :) Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteEllen - Thank you for hosting! Worry is my own worst enemy sometimes. :-( Yeah, my car's original name just didn't fit after awhile. Betty suited her much better, I think. I hope you are enjoying your weekend too!
DeleteOver 1000 pages.... I'm not sure I'd be able to hold that book without serious hand cramps !
ReplyDeleteWren - With The Stand, I cheated a bit. I have a mass market paperback copy, but I caved and bought an e-copy so I wouldn't have to lug that thing around. LOL
DeleteI will have to check out the app you mentioned. Inoreader.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could read in another language. I might be able to do a child's book, but not a novel.
Great answer to a great question.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Blogger Hop
Elizabeth - Another blogger had introduced me to Inoreader. I use the free service and it has kept me organized.
DeleteI wish I could read in another language too. Like you, I might be able to do a child's book. My daughter has a couple which are in both English and Spanish, which we've read together, but I don't consider those quite the same as the books meant by the question.
Sounds like an interesting read! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteFreda - Thank you! Same to you. :-)
DeleteI've studied Spanish years ago, but it's been awhile since I've dabbled back into the language, so I mainly read books in English myself.
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Book Blogger Hop!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Ronyell - Same here. I haven't used the Spanish I learned in school in years and as a result have lost a lot of it. :-(
DeleteI wonder how many clues we might be missing in those Scandinavian mysteries because we can't read the original language? Great answer!
ReplyDeleteAmanda - That's a good question!
DeleteSounds like a good book. I'd keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI so agree about worrying, even though I do it all the time.
Have a great weekend!
Yvonne - I am enjoying it so far, although I haven't made a whole lot of progress.
DeleteI try not to worry so much, but it's a hard habit to break, isn't it?
I hope you are having a great weekend too!
The Sworn Virgin sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteCharlie - I thought so! Eleanora sounds like an interesting character.
DeleteI started The Stand a long time ago but didn't finish it. I plan to go back and read it at some point though. Honestly I really would like to read It by King first as I have a copy of that one on my shelves. I like the sound of The Sworn Virgin so will be looking forward to your thoughts on it!
ReplyDeleteSamantha - I really liked the first half of The Stand especially, which I think is the opposite for most people. If you do try again, I hope you like it. I am on the fence about reading It. King is really hit and miss for me. I like some of his books, but not as much others. I admire him as a person though.
DeleteI finished The Sworn Virgin last night and enjoyed it. It wasn't quite what I expected . . .
I still haven't read The Stand; I know it's a SK classic but I guess I'm a bit intimidated by the thick volumn. ;)
ReplyDeleteMelody - It is a big book--but it reads pretty fast, or so I thought. :-)
Delete1,439 pages?! Wow! I don't even know what to say to that because you are a freaking reading machine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
Carrie - King's writing is so compelling. The book went very fast for me, considering. Now War and Peace . . . I haven't been able to get very far in that one no matter how many times and ways I try.
Delete