Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop
This week, I will be pulling teasers for the first three from Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings.
This is the first in a new historical series set in 1885 England. It's got an interesting premise, the person behind a newspaper advice columnist solving murders.
And here's how the book begins:
It should be known from the beginning, I am no flibbertigibbet. Nor am I inclined to the sorts of vapors which often envelop my half sister Sephora and cause her to swoon—usually when there is an attractive young man in the vicinity to offer assistance.
It was hard to come up with a plausible fiction to explain my presence so I opted for the truth. “I’ve come about your husband,” I told her.Marguerite’s bottom lip trembled, her knees gave way. She sank down upon the sofa. “Reggie? Why? He’s been dead these five years now.”
I'll leave you to discover why Violet, our narrator, is asking about someone who died five years ago.
I finished the book while I was on vacation, and I really enjoyed it. It's official release day is next Tuesday, but I'll be reviewing it on Monday.
Meanwhile, let's do this week's Book Blogger Hop. I had to make sure I did it since this week's question was one I had submitted.
What was your favorite genre to read a child? Do you still read that genre, or do you read something else now?
You'd think since I submitted this, I'd have a good, short answer ready to go. I don't. So we are going to get the long, rambling answer.
In third grade, I actually stopped reading the first Hardy Boys book I'd picked up (The Secret of the Caves) when I got hooked on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. That's right, I set down a mystery for fantasy. Of course, I did get hooked on the Hardys a couple of years later.
As a kid, I read more of everything. Some of my favorite books from childhood were more real life like Beverly Cleary or science fiction/fantasy. However, I still read plenty of mysteries like Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden.
It wasn't until I'd been out of college for a couple of years that I started reading more mystery than anything else. And, obviously, that's where I am today.
So I'd say I don't know that I had a favorite genre as a kid, but I did read mystery back then. Looks like I did have a short answer after all.
I'm looking forward to reading everyone's answers!
Have a great weekend.
Any book that uses the word "flibbertigibbet" in the first sentence is absolutely worth reading! Thank you for sharing. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteThe premise sounds really good. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just saw this on another blog.... flibbertigibbet had me in stitches too! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've seen this one around and I'm intrigued to read more. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteMy First Line Friday post.
You posed a great question this week. I read widely when I was a kid. Even though my mom took us to the library, we never went often enough for me, and I was often forced to read the only genre my mom kept on hand---gothic novels and mysteries. I think I read every one that was written, and it caused gothic-novel-mystery-overload. I still keep away from these sorts of reads!
ReplyDeleteI liked Fantasy first then moved on to Mystery. I now try to read a range of different genres just in case there is something good!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2023/02/03/book-blogger-hop-what-was-your-favourite-genre-to-read-as-a-child-do-you-still-read-that-genre-or-do-you-read-something-else-now/
I never really had a favorite genre as a child, I chose to explore all genres then. Today I am the same way I suppose, I like so many different genres. I do tend to gear towards the psychological thriller genre. But I try to make myself go out of my comfort zone and try something new, but it is hard for me.
ReplyDeleteFLF: A cry awakes me.
ReplyDeleteI love this question. My early memories of the stories I loved are the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and adventure/mystery stories and I'm still reading both those genres over 50 years later.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good. I'm adding it to my wishlist right now.
ReplyDeleteBoth of those excerpts are great. I definitely want to keep reading. I just added it to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the lines you shared. I read more real life stuff like Beverly Cleary as a child as well. I still read contemporary fiction, plus other genres.
ReplyDeleteI just added Of Manners and Murder to my library TBR as it looks like something I would love. Because historical mysteries are my favorite, and like you I read Nancy Drew like crazy when I was a kid. It was a good bookish question and I had to really think about my answers! Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI just finished Of Manners and Murder and I enjoyed it too. I just love the word flibbertigibbet.
ReplyDeleteSounds pretty compelling. Are we dealing with ghosts or something else?
ReplyDeleteI used to read mysteries but now I enjoy reading fantasy and paranormal romances.
ReplyDeleteOf Manners and Murder sounds like a book I would really like. I love that opening and excerpt you shared! They both pulled me right in.
ReplyDeleteI read a decent variety as a child/teen, but mysteries probably were my favorites when it came down to it. I loved the Chronicles of Narnia. I never got into the Hardy Boys books, but I sure loved the television show. Mysteries were my go to reads for many years of in my younger adulthood years, that and fantasy. Although I did read other genres as well. My tastes these days are much more eclectic. I think blogging community had a lot to do with that.
I hope you have a great weekend!
My first line comes from In Spotlight and Shadows from Rachel Scott Mc Daniel:
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 Elise January, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
History didn’t haphazardly repeat itself in the chapters of Elise Malvern’s life.
I'm currently reading Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker. It's a super sweet story!
ReplyDelete"My pulse pounded in my ears. Me? Learn to fight? My fists were as delicate as porcelain. This had to be a joke."
I hope you have a great weekend! 😀❤️📚
I love that title! Today I'm reading Forged in Love by Mary Connealy. The first line is: "August 1870, Pine Valley, Wyoming, Near the Wind River Mountains ~ A bullet slammed into the side of the stagecoach carrying Mariah Stover, her pa, and her older brother." I hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Beverly Cleary's books (and of course Encyclopedia Brown as you read on my post), too. I have never read Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, but I want to. I have The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe on my TBR for this year. :)
ReplyDeleteI was a 'more of everything' kind of kid and still pretty much the same as an adult as far as reading habits go! Though I tend to lean towards a few categories more than others and review even fewer ones...
ReplyDeleteLove the featured book (the cover is cool and the title too.. plus the word 'flibbertigibbet' always reminds me of the song 'Maria' from The Sound of Music!)
Here is my Friday post
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteI am just letting everyone know that I follow on BBH, etc. that I am going to try something new (well, new for me) out. I know that there are other memes similar to this, but I just thought I would do it since Lia doesn’t blog any longer. So let’s see how it goes. I have joined a lot of other memes so maybe you could ‘pay it forward’ and join mine and pass me on if you would be so kind 😉
https://imintobooks.com/join-the-fun-down-the-tbr-hole-linky-widget-and-info-dttbrh/