Thursday, August 25, 2011

Book Beginnings & Friday 56: Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters (with chickens)

Find out about Ghellow Road here.
Book beginnings:

I was born in the arms of the City of Lakes.  It was not a big city like New York or L.A.; not a city that had yet learned to swallow you whole.

And from page 56:

Home.  I was home at last.  I wasn't sure if I would ever see this place again.  My room was exactly as I had left it, furnished in the gold-gilded bedroom set that Daddy had bought at Sears especially for my 7th birthday.

So we can see how straightforward yet peppered with detail and figurative turns this Minnesota memoir will likely be, from a scant few lines.  I'm looking forward to a Labor Day weekend with Ms. Waters's new 'novel' in hand.

If you're ready to take a peek at more fabulous sentences and perhaps find your next blazing TBR, check out Book Beginnings for more tantalizing openers and at Freda's Voice for the Friday 56 .

Finally, for the Crazy for Books blog hop today, we're asked to offer up a personal little tidbit by responding to the question "Do you have any pets?"


Blackie & Mrs. Dutta.

Why, yes; yes, I do.  My two laying hens (who no longer perform their main utilitarian duties) are currently thriving in their late middle age.  They still make excellent deer-alarms and have lately learned to sing back-up on Neil Young's "Beautiful Bluebird" (harmonica solos bring out their vocal best).  From time to time 'the girls' also see fit to let us know - in no uncertain terms - that the sky is definitely, definitely, definitely falling.  We try to construe this strident hiccup in their otherwise quiet nature as a source of mild amusement.  We hope the neighbors are doing the same.

MFB,
L

14 comments:

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Laurie,

Both of your passages are very powerful and convey all kinds of messages in just a few short words.

If I wasn't aware that the book was a memoir, then the words alone would probably make me want to read on, however, with a synopsis available, this probably would not be a book for me.

I hope that you enjoy your find and have a great weekend.

Yvonne

Tea said...

Sounds like a really good book.

http://wanderingsights.blogspot.com/2011/08/friday-book-beginnings_26.html said...

I like the part about the city which has not yet learned how to swallow you whole.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I love excerpts that take me right to the heart of the setting. This one does that. It shows me the setting and lets me "feel" the scene.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

fredamans said...

Sounds like a touching story. Thanks for participating!

The Book Angel said...

Hopping by from the Hop!! OH! MY! GOSH! hahaha. I love that you have to hens! OMGOMGOMG! That's AWESOME! haha. My pet seems so boring compared to yours! lol.

My Hop is here!

Anonymous said...

Two hens, that's great, happy Friday.

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

My parents moved soon after I left home for college and beyond so I never get to experience that "going home" phenomenon.

When do you start school? We don't start until after Labor Day.

Anne
My Head is Full of Books

Anonymous said...

Loved the beginning, not that sure about page 56. Enjoy!

joyh82 said...

Your the second person so far that I have read has chickens for pets..pretty neat! Have a great week reading too.

Lindsay Cummings author said...

happy friday! i follow your blog! lol. hens. i had a duck once! :)

stop by mine, I'm having a giveaway! and you can see my doggies too :)

-Lindsay

http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/ff-giveaway-and-review-of-populazzi-by.html

Mel said...

Your hens look delightful. Have a great weekend

Jolene said...

Just dropping by for the blog hop! Sounds like your hens just like to keep things interesting. Have a great rest of the weekend!

:)

My hop: http://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-kitty-babies.html

Laurie said...

Thanks for hopping by, everyone; I'm off to check out your blogs too!
Anne - Students go back the day after Labor Day. I've been back for almost 2 wks. and will be there every day next week too. I'm still working on a Banned Books month/YouTube extravaganza...

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