Thursday, June 30, 2022

First Line Friday #131

  

First Line Friday is hosted once again by Carrie at Reading is my Superpower. You can visit HERE to go directly to the FLF page of her blog.

Playing along is easy: open the book nearest you and share the first line. Then check out the link to see the other first lines posted this week.


Bluff River, Wisconsin
August 1928

Life was not unlike the wisp of fog that curled around the base of a grave marker, softly caressing the marble before dissolving into the violet shadows of the night.

Because of Cindy (@Cindy's Book Corner). I found The Souls of Lost Lake and LOVED it. So I naturally did what any normal person does and immediately checked out every single other book by the same author and have been devouring them rapidly. There will be several more First Lines to come from this author in the next several weeks!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think, and leave a link to your FLF so I can stop by to see what you've posted this week.

Happy Reading!
Sarah

24 comments:

  1. That's a very atmospheric and haunting first line.

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  2. "Every year, in the dowie days of February and early March, Scotland comes to Edinburgh." The Scots - A Genetic Journey by Alistair Moffat. Oh, and BTW - I'm just about to finally finish THUG (as promised *ages* ago). Review in about 3 weeks.

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    1. Is this the one we talked about where we could not tell if we read different editions of the same book, or read two different books by the same author? I feel like that's what happened, but at this point we have talked about SO many books, who knows?!

      I hope you loved it! But if you didn't, I will still be your friend :)

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    2. Yes, I think 'Scots' is at least *one* of those books we talked about.

      I certainly (mostly) liked 'THUG'. But I'll let it stew a bit before I come to a final conclusion. Definitely don't regret reading it!

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    3. I cried so much. I saw so many of my students in the characters, it was such a tough read for me. But a really important one and very timely. I'm glad you found it valuable.

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    4. I could imagine, whilst reading it, how difficult you found it. It was a VERY impressive debut though, but I think I was spoiled by reading 'All Involved' by Ryan Gattis about the LA riots in '92.

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    5. I’ve not read that one. I’ll have to look for it.

      Sarah

      (Blogger isn’t letting me sign in on my phone 🙄)

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    6. My review is here:

      https://cyberkittenspot.blogspot.com/2021/11/just-finished-reading-all-involved-by.html

      You might like this too:

      https://cyberkittenspot.blogspot.com/2022/03/just-finished-reading-dodgers-by-bill.html

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  3. Well, that is certainly an intriguing and atmospheric first line!

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  4. I'm not familiar with this author. Where should I start?!

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    1. They're all so good, read them all!!!

      But in seriousness, I really loved The Souls of Lost Lake, The Curse of Misty Wayfair. The House on Foster Hill, and The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus the most.

      Wright is new to me, and technically these would be Christian fiction since Bethany House is the publisher and all, but it doesn't read like it, if that makes sense? The way the characters talk about God, their faith, or lack there-of is very natural and does not feel forced or preachy - nor is it central to the story in an obvious way. All the books are dual timelines with female leads, and the leads are connected, somehow, across the decades. There's always a crime/myserty to solve (usually murder), and paranormal aspects filter in sometimes. The atmospheres she creates are deliciously gothic-y when needed and once I started, I could not rest until I had read all of her books.

      You'll have to let me know which one you decide to start with, I really think you will like them.

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    2. I'm always a big fan of reading books - even stand-alone ones - in publication order. So....

      The House On Foster Hill (2017)
      The Reckoning At Gossamer Pond (2018)
      The Curse of Misty Wayfair (2019)
      Echoes among the Stones (2019)
      The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus (2020)
      On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor (2021)
      The Souls of Lost Lake (2022)
      The Premonition at Withers Farm (2022)
      The Vanishing at Castle Moreau (2023)

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    3. I've never considered that strategy before, for stand-alones I mean. Is it just a habit, or is there a reason you read them this way?

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    4. It's not a RULE as such... It's just that I like to see an author develop their writing. Of course I break this strategy just as often as I keep to it! But I'm a human being, therefore illogical and inconsistent - and usually both at the same time [grin]

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    5. I was thinking it had to do with writing development. I like the idea for sure. I've only read books in order when they're part of a series - even if the books could be read out of order. I just can't bring myself to do so.

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  5. I have not read this one, I am woefully behind on her books! I can't wait to hear what you think of this one!!

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    1. It's so good! I can never decide which is my fave - this one, Lost Lake, Misty Wayfair, or Foster Hill. It changes daily.

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  6. Hello!
    I'm just starting Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham. So far, I'm loving it!
    "A firm peck to his nose startled him from his rest. His eyes flew open. A rooster, red and large, hovered above him."
    Hope you have a great weekend with plenty of relaxing reading time!

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  7. I love Jaime’s books!

    My first line comes fro Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli.
    Osterville, Massachusetts April, 1993

    I stand rigid, arms pinned to m6 sides as my mother wraps me in a loose hug in Gram’s foyer.

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