Friday, May 6, 2016

Book Beginnings & Friday 56 - #31


Book Beginnings on Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader. Every Friday we share the first sentence (or so) of the book we’re currently reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.


My Book Beginning:  

Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver


ONCE IN SOME NEAR-FORGOTTEN time a traveler making his way across these mountains on foot wandered into our valley which is known as Trial.  Warm and dusty and overwearied, he came to our door and eased his heavy pack and asked for refreshment and Devola brought him a pail of water from our spring, pure and so cold it made him clench his teeth. 


My Thoughts: While the beginning doesn’t necessarily tell us where these mountains are, the fact that their valley is known as Trail tells us that life must not be easy in the area.  I actually read this book a very long time ago when I was in maybe the 5th or 6th grade and I’ve been thinking about the books I used to read when I was in school and decided to re-read this.  The cover on the right is the original cover from the 1974 published version I would have read.  At that time the book was published by Scholastic, though the very original publisher in 1969 was Harper Books.

What do you think?  Don't forget to leave your book beginning below and to link-up at Rose City Reader.  





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Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda’s Voice on every Friday.

To Play along here are the Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your post below. 
*Don’t forget to add your post URL (not your blog url) at Freda’s Voice.  
*It's that simple.

My 56 (Also from Where the Lilies Bloom, page 56): 

Mrs. Connell returned her glasses to her face.  She put her hands in her lap and resumed her rocking.  Behind the polished panes of the glasses, her eyes were a soft, light blue, oddly alight. 

My Thoughts: Mrs. Connell is not a very nice character in the book and no one in the Luther family is happy to spend any time in her company.  While this particular part doesn’t really tell you what’s been going on, it does let you know what Mrs. Connell looks like.



So what do you think?  Like how the book sounds? The cover on the left is the cover on the current edition of the book I’m reading, which is published by Harper Teen with a copyright date of 2001.  Which cover do you like better?  Don’t forget to link up at Freda’sVoice.  






About Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver


Mary Call has promised her dying father to keep her brother and sisters together forever on the mountain, and never to take any help from strangers. She is determined to keep her word. No matter what. At first she is sure she can manage. Romey, Ima Dean, and Devola help gather herbs to sell in town; the riches of the mountains will surely keep the family clothed and fed. But then winter comes, fast and furious, and Mary Call has to learn that the land where the lilies bloom is also a cruel and unforgiving place, and it may take more than a promise to keep her family together. 



Don't forget to post your meme's and link up at both host locations.  

Have a great Friday! 
Maria

14 comments:

  1. Oh gosh! I read this eons ago and have forgotten so much of it. I think I may need to do a re-read, as well!

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  2. I haven't read this one but I love the idea of rereading books read in school. I'm sure my perception would be completely different now. What a promise the father got from the girl! I'll have to look for this one.

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  3. Like Karen, I read this a long time ago. I enjoyed it. I hope you do too. My YA spotlight is The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen. Happy reading!

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  4. I haven't heard of this one before, but it sounds really good. Thanks for sharing. :-)

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  5. This is a new one for me - never heard of the book or authors. Sounds like a good read, but what a terrible promise for a father to ask for! Thanks for sharing, and happy reading!

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  6. Sounds like a great book to fill up the weekend with. :-) Happy weekend!

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  7. Fills me with nostalgia. Enjoy!

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  8. This sounds very good. The two covers make the story seem from two different eras though. I'd love for you to visit me... http://tinyurl.com/LisaKsBookReviewsBTH

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  9. Yep, it's one I'd keep reading. I like to go back and reread books I read when I was younger. I find that a lot of times I appreciate them more now.

    My Friday 56 from Assassin's Heart

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  10. Sounds like a tough life. I don't think I like the idea of a father leaving behind his daughter to take care of the other children on her own without any help. Seems a cruel thing to ask her to do. I like the first cover the best, I think. Thanks for sharing, it sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for visiting my blog! Happy reading!

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  11. Hi Maria,

    Although, living as I do in the UK, this is not a book or author I am familiar with, it does sound like a great piece of social history telling and is exactly the kind of storyline I was required to read and analyse for English Literature examinations at school.

    I know this sounds a little 'picky', however I am a bit concerned about the standard of grammar featured in your opening lines. The overuse of the word 'and' and the lack of punctuation, seems wrong for a book directed at young readers.

    I can feel that ice cold water setting his teeth on edge and causing him to suck in his breath - That's a great line, thanks for sharing :)

    Yvonne

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  12. Sounds like a great read. Thank you for visiting my blog.

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  13. This is one is new to me and it looks like a great read. I prefer the original cover (just a preference) but I think the newer cover looks more like a lot of the books published around that time and therefore kids were more likely to pick it up.

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  14. I've never heard of this, but I think it sounds like it has a lot of potential!

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