First Lines Friday! #31

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I feel like most of you were able to guess this one!! It’s a pretty obvious one if you have any knowledge of the story. This is one of my favourite series from my childhood. I recently found out the origin from my mum (cause I was too young to remember it myself). We borrowed the box set from one of the teachers at my school because I was running out of material in the school library to read. I absolutely adored the books, ran through them at the speed of light and my parents then gave the set back to the teacher and bought me my own. And my own copies are very beloved and a little bit tattered. I recently reread the last book and… they don’t quite stand up. Not on a story telling level, I can’t take that away from Lewis. But instead with the sexism, racism, and religious bigotry in the books. I don’t think a new reader today would enjoy them. But for me? The nostalgia is high enough that I still have fond memories and I’m happy to keep them on my shelves. Maybe some newer books can be given to kids nowadays though.

First Lines Friday! #30

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Mr Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance, that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scant and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R.L. Stevenson

Another classic that’s been on my tbr shelves since around 2016. I’m hoping to finally pick this one up in October! I feel like that’s an appropriately spooky month to read this in 👻 I’ll also hopefully be reading the other stories in this wee collection as they’re only short. Have you read this before? Did you like it? Let me know!!

First Lines Friday! #29

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Long, long ago a king arrived in the north. They called him the Red King for he wore a scarlet cloak and his shield was emblazoned with a burning sun.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

A book from my childhood! And one I’m actually unhauling, but it’s going to a good home! It’s going to be living in my old school where the kids will get a lot more joy out of it than I will and fingers crossed they’ll enjoy this dark, magical adventure about a poor unloved boy discovering he has more power than he ever realised.

First Lines Friday! #28

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Today is the Ritual of Purity.

The nervous thought circles in my head as I hurry towards the barn, gathering my cloak to ward off the cold. It’s early morning, and the sun hasn’t yet begun to climb above the snow-dusted trees encircling our small farmhouse.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

When I spotted this beautiful paperback with sprayed edges in Tesco’s I could not resist!! This is a YA fantasy that I’ve heard so so much about where those with golden blood are outcast from society. But our protagonist takes her future into her own hands and fights back! I’m so excited to delve into this!

First Lines Friday! #27

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

London, April 1878.

The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.

William Herondale jerked back the dagger he was holding, but it was too late. The viscous acid of the demon’s blood had already begun to eat away at the shining blade. He swore and tossed the weapon aside, it landed in a filthy puddle and commenced smoldering like a doused match. The demon itself, of course, had vanished – dispatched back to whatever hellish world it had come from, though not without leaving a mess behind.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

This is the first book in the Infernal Devices trilogy and it’s my last chance saloon with Clare’s work! I’ve recently unhauled everything that I own by her as it’s just a little too young and cheesy for me. But this is the last chance that I’m giving the Shadowhunter world. I wonder if I’ll regret unhauling all the books or regret wasting time on it! We’ll have to see!!! Have you read the Shadowhunters books? What did you think of them??

First Lines Friday! #26

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

I’ve made some things for you, Constant Reader; you see them laid out before you in the moonlight. But before you look at the little handcrafted treasures I have for sale, let’s talk about them for a bit, shall we? It won’t take long. Here, sit down beside me. And do come a little closer. I don’t bite.

Except… we’ve known each other for a very long time, and I suspect you know that’s not entirely true.

Is it?

Scroll down to reveal the book!

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

A short story collection which I picked up second hand purely because of the cover and the authors name! I really do need to get around to this one cause I bought it in December 2019, so maybe this is a contender for this years Spooky Season!! I’ve only finished one of King’s books before, and whilst I enjoyed it I did also find it quite problematic so I’m looking forward to being able to make more judgements on this, and on 11.22.63 to make up my mind about him. Have you read this one before? What did you think?

First Lines Friday! #25

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Arent Hayes howled in pain as a rock slammed into his massive back.

Another whistled by his ear, a third striking his knee, causing him to stumble, bringing jeers from the pitiless mob, who were already searching the ground for more missiles to throw. Hundreds of them were being held back by the city watch, their spittle-flecked lips shouting insults, their eyes black with malice.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

I am so excited to read this book. I read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Turton and really enjoyed it, giving the book 4 stars, and I’m really hoping for more of the same from book #2! This time our characters are stuck on board a ship in 1634, where devilry stops the smooth sailing and there’s a mystery to be solved. I’m hoping to add this one onto my September tbr and fingers crossed I’ll love it!

First Lines Friday! #24

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

There are two versions of the events of 1887. One is very well known; the other is not.

The first version is the one printed in most history books. It is the one that those who lived through the age wished to recall, the version they recounted to their grandchildren with a wistful smile.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Do you know how many places I’ve seen this book??!? I’m so so excited to read it! And those first lines? So this is a non-fiction read. Those first lines lead me to believe that this is going to be written in a really readable manner rather than like a textbook and I’m very excited for that. Have you heard about this book before? Are you interested? Let me know!

First Lines Friday #23!

It’s back baby!! It’s been a little while since I’ve posted one of these so I thought I would bring it back again!

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

Jan 30, afternoon (hour of the monkey)

• dumped by boyfriend last night
• horrendous fight with mom this morning
• forgot about math test this afternoon

<screen goes wavy– cue FLASHBACK sounds f/x for scene from our heroine’s morning, ornin, rnin…>

Scroll down to reveal the book!

One of the books I mentioned in my haul yesterday! This is a book that I wanted to read when I was like 13, and I’ve only just been able to get my mitts on book 1 so I’m really excited to finally get to this! Because it’s been a few years, I’m not expecting this to be 5 stars, but I am hoping that it’ll be fun! Have you heard of it before?

First Lines Friday #22

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Hosted by Wandering Words!!

What if, instead of judging a book by its cover or its author, we judged the book by its opening lines?

Here is how it works:

– Pick a book and open to the first page.

– Copy the first few lines without revealing which book it is.

– Reveal the book!

So… do these first lines entice you?

I have just returned from a visit to my landlord – the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society.

Scroll down to reveal the book!

A shorter quote today but the next section mentioned Heathcliff by name and that’s just too easy! This was gifted to me by the wonderful Caitlyn from Mad Cheshire Rabbit as it’s one of her favourite classics, so I’ll have to get around to it sometime soon! She also gifted me Frankenstein which I’ve read already and really enjoyed, so I’m hopeful for this. But I’ve heard people say you either like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre and I adored Jane Eyre… buuuuuttt I’m hoping I buck the trend. Have you read this English classic?