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 5^th or 6^th 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. 

Amazon

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

Have a great Friday! 

Maria