Thursday, June 1, 2017

First Line Friday: Magna Carta Edition


Happy First Line Friday! It is also my first Friday of freedom, as school and teacher meetings/work days are also DUNZO. I am looking forward to making more progress on my own writing projects, but even more so to having a lot of awesome time with my baby girl. We have very busy summers filled with camps and museums and of course trips to the library.

This week's line is from a book I really like, by an author you may have seen me mention once or twice. 

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If you are either unsure what Magna Carta is or why it actually matters, definitely give this one a read. You might be surprised that what you thought you knew about this document is not entirely accurate. Jones does a fantastic job explaining the true meaning of it; you won't be disappointed.

"Eight hundred years after it was first granted beneath the trees of Runnymeade, by the fertile banks of the river Thames, the Magna Carta is more famous than ever. This is strange."

Just why it is strange is something you will have to find out for yourself!

Let me know what you think of this line, and/or leave a line of your own. Then, visit my fellow First-Liners to see what they have this week.


If you want to join in on First Line Friday, let Carrie know!

Happy Reading!
Sarah

18 comments:

  1. Why am I not surprised to see Dan Jones! Will have to read something of his at some point.

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    1. Right?! I am lucky in that two of his books (this one and the Plantagenet one) are very useful in my research for my own book about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Seriously, you MUST read one soon!

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  2. I love our history! Happy Friday! My first line is from Finding Love on the Oregon Coast by Angela Ruth Strong, a collection of 4 novella by different authors which will be released July 1st: "Christina gazed out the window at the balcony decorated for her wedding ceremony above the sparkling Columbia River in Portland, Oregon, before turning to face the full-length mirror."

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    1. I am glad to share my love of history - and also glad that people appreciate it! Thank you for stopping by to share your line here, have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. That sounds interesting! On my blog I'm featuring a sweet historical fiction trilogy, but right now (and for the past several months), I've been working my way through General Sherman's memoirs for research. Here's the first line: “Nearly ten years have passed since the close of the civil war in America, and yet no satisfactory history thereof is accessible to the public; nor should any be attempted until the Government has published, and placed within the reach of students, the abundant materials that are buried in the War Department at Washington.” (Memoirs of William T. Sherman)

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    1. Thank you, it is my favorite period in history. I'm very interested in your line as well, I am trying to be more into US history and specifically the Civil War. I don't know what it is but I just have a hard time getting interested in that era. I am working on it though!

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  4. My first line is:
    “A private plane sits on a runway in Martha’s Vineyard, forward stairs deployed.” ~ Before the Fall by Noah Hawley.
    I can’t wait to start this book. I’ve heard it’s good.
    Dinh@Arlene's Book Club

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    1. Hi Dinh, thank you for stopping by. I hope the book is as good for you as others have said. Have a lovely weekend!

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  5. Today on my blog I'm sharing a line from Lori Benton's book "A Flight of Arrows".

    I thought I'd share something different in the comment, an old favorite of mine.
    "From the old and pleasantly situated village of Mayenfeld, a foot-path winds through green and shady meadows to the foot of the mountains, which on this side look down from their stern and lofty heights upon the valley below." HEIDI by: Johanna Spyri

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    1. Hey Trisha, thank you for sharing a line with me this week. I have not read Heidi in many years. Might have to revisit it.

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  6. On the blog today I am sharing the first line from Melody Carlson’s ‘Under a Summer Sky’ so I thought I would share the first line from the book I am currently reading:

    “The man relaxed in the wooden Adirondack chair in the screened-in porch of his cabin rental and stared out across the glistening waters of Lake Williwaw.” Stormy Lake by L.D. Stauth

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    1. Thanks for sharing your line, hope you have a great weekend filled with reading!

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  7. Trips to the library...sounds wonderful! I remember participating in all of the summer reading programs at the library when I was a kid. :) Happy Friday!

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  8. Thank you Heather, you too! Our library has a kids, teens, and adults summer program. I like to compete with myself to top what I read the year before. I might be a bit Type A, haha.

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  9. I remember my summers being like that too! Lots of trips to the library. Love the sound of this book. I'll have to check it out.

    Cafinated Reads First Line Friday

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    1. It's very well-written. If you take a look at past posts some time, you will probably notice a theme when it comes to this author...

      Summer library trips are the best. Our library system is huge, I think there are 12 or 14 locations around the entire city/metro area. We have our favorite, but it is nice to be able to go to a different library every day if we wanted to. And yes, on occasion that happens. Happy Friday!

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  10. Oh, that book sounds interesting! It's funny....in high school I hated history. I think it had something to do with BORING teachers lol. But now, I wish I had tried to pay better attention or something. I just want to learn more and more!
    Happy Saturday :)

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    1. I will be glad to give you any recommendations! I have always liked history but it was not until the last couple years that I began reading it almost exclusively. There are so many things I want to learn about still, I feel like there is no way I will ever be able to read every book on my TBR. Happy Saturday!

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