Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
My opening this week comes from The Solitary Child by Nina Bawden which is one of my own collection purchased because the author was a childhood favourite of mine with Carrie’s War and The Peppermint Pig being much read and treasured books on my shelf. Then I entered the world of book blogging and saw several of her books being reviewed on Heavenali’s blog So naturally, I purchased a few for myself including The Ruffian on the Stair which I read a couple of years ago – if you haven’t discovered Heavenali’s wonderful blog, I fully advise checking out her wonderful reviews.
The Solitary Child is a story of violent death and suspicion. Harriet becomes engaged to James Random, a gentleman farmer, monied but unpretentious. But his first wife, Eva, had died in what were called ‘unforgettable circumstances’; James was charged with murdering her and was acquitted. Breaking the news to her mother of her engagement was Harriet’s first ordeal: facing Maggie, the solitary child who was James’ and Eva’s daughter was more complex. Suspicions are not always cleared away by a verdict of ‘not guilty’. Here the suspicion which Harriet found surrounding her new home was so oppressive it distorted the relationships of the people involved into a nightmare climax. Amazon
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First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
Chapter One
“What a way to hear!” said my mother. Her heavy handsome face was patchy with cold, the wide sensual mouth tightened into a kind of denial. She spoke as if I had subjected her to some appalling indignity.
I avoided her eyes. “You must be frozen,” I said.
I opened the cupboard door and jerked at the flex of the electric fire. The pile of notes and newspapers that lay on top of it slid out into the room. Half-heartedly I tried to push them back and, failing, left the door jammed open. I felt her eyes on my bent neck as I knelt to plug in the fire.
I said brightly, into the stillness “How long have you been waiting? I’m sorry I wasn’t in. It must have been a beastly journey. Would you like a cup of tea?”
The words trailed emptily between us. She did not answer. I lit a cigarette at the bar of the fire and the sparks spluttered as the paper caught.
The issue, could be evaded no longer. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I should have told you before.”
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So although this book was first published in 1976 I think it eloquently captures a mother-daughter relationship and even after that lengthy intro we still have to find out what it was that she heard!
But, what do you think? Would you keep reading? Or perhaps you have a favourite childhood author who also wrote adult novels – give me your suggestions.
I had completely forgotten about Carrie’s War. I read it a long time ago probably for school. Strange how some books stick and others don’t. I’m going to have to try and track it down now.
That is a great opening. I hope you’re enjoying.
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It’s on my list to read very soon, I’m looking forward to it! Carrie’s War was great and one of those books I reread many times…
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Great opening full of tension and foreboding! I’ve never read Carrie’s War but I do remember the TV series with Mrs Gotobed!
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Funnily enough despite loving the book I never watched it on TV.
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Yes it is a good opening, and I enjoyed the novel as a whole. I don’t think it’s Nina Bawden’s best but there is some great tension, and it’s a real page turner.
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I do love a good page turner.
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That’s an intriguing opening, Cleo. I could feel the tension, and the dialogue sounds really authentic. Now I want to know what the big news is! I hope you’ll post a full review.
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You can count on me Margot!
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I would keep reading – though the blurb ruined the mystery of what “she should have told her mother before”. I love reading about the complexities of mother/daughter relationships. I seem to have missed out on Nina Bawden as I’ve never read any of her work.
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I wonder whether Nina Bawden was a particularly English author – as you say the blurb does give it away but I thought it a great example of some mother daughter interaction.
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I am definitely curious about this one…may have to look for a copy.
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Oh that’s great news Catherine particularly as I’ve ordered a copy of The English Daughter following it featuring on your post!
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Not an author I’m familiar with, and it doesn’t sound like my style. Very interesting story though! Here’s my Teaser/Intro: http://bit.ly/2ywjIMT
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Well no book is for everyone – thank you so much for visiting and leave your link.
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Oh, dear! I really like the sound of the blurb and I love the first para – you’re going to do it to me again, aren’t you???
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Ooh I do hope so!!
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I’ve never read this author, but now I’m intrigued. I always love reading about mother/daughter relationships, and this one seems charged with emotion. Thanks for sharing. Here’s mine: “LIE TO ME”
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I like books featuring mother daughter relationships too – thank you so much for visiting my blog and sharing your link
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It sounds appealing and I’m always looking for a new author:)
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I did read this – it was only the second Bawden I read. I enjoyed the beginning but felt the tension waned a lot towards the end
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That writing is great, really made me smile — “Her heavy handsome face was patchy with cold, the wide sensual mouth tightened into a kind of denial.” LOL
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I never heard of this one. It sounds interesting.
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Mother/Daughter relationships always pull me in.
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Oh gosh sounds so intriguing. Stepmother step daughter relationships are normally quite fraught. This one sounds a bit more than others.
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