December 17th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

It's been about a month, so it is beyond time that I participate in Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I'm featuring The Stories We Tell by Liz Milliron.

This is the second in a historical mystery series.  It's set in Buffalo, New York during World War II.  And here's how it begins:

Pop once told me that people tell stories about themselves all the time.  About who they are, where they come from, why they did a particular thing.  It's a way of coping, he said, and of making sense of their lives.  It guess it works.  I mean, I've done it.  Why not other people?
'Cept sometimes the stories aren't true.

I really liked that beginning.  It's long, but I felt it worked well.  Here's a shorter quote from page 56:

"Immigrants do change their names.  Perfect way to blend in to the new country."
Dot shot me a knowing look.  "Perfect way to get away from something in the old one, too."

I'll be reviewing this book on Monday, so I hope you'll come back and see what I thought.  Meanwhile, I hope you have a bit of a restful final weekend before Christmas.