BOOK BEGINNINGS is hosted by Gilion Dumas at Rose City Reader: http://www.rosecityreader.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RoseCityReader
Her book Beginning’s post link up: http://www.rosecityreader.com/2015/06/book-beginning-olivay-by-deborah-reed.html
I’m currently reading:
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey.
Here’s the book beginning from Elizabeth is Missing :
“You know that there was an old woman mugged around here?” Carla says, letting her long black ponytail snake over one shoulder. “Well, actually, it was Weymouth, but it could have been here. So you see, you can’t be too careful.” They found her with half her face smashed in.”
THE FRIDAY 56 MEME
This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda at Freda’s Voice, click on the link to her blog, and the rules are pretty simple:
- 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 the url to your post on Freda’s Voice.
Here’s a few riveting sentences from page 56 of Elizabeth is Missing:
“I heard the screaming,” the woman said. “Sorry about my aunt, she’s got a dread of the unrespectable.” But, look, it’s not what you think. It can’t have been Frank that your sister was afraid of.”
My recommendation:
Read of Shelve?
Most definitely read. Have read about a third of Elizabeth is Missing and it seems really good. A very confident debut novel.
Goodreads synopsis:
In this darkly riveting debut novel—a sophisticated psychological mystery that is also a heartbreakingly honest meditation on memory, identity, and aging—an elderly woman descending into dementia embarks on a desperate quest to find the best friend she believes has disappeared, and her search for the truth will go back decades and have shattering consequences.
Maud, an aging grandmother, is slowly losing her memory—and her grip on everyday life. Yet she refuses to forget her best friend Elizabeth, whom she is convinced is missing and in terrible danger.
But no one will listen to Maud—not her frustrated daughter, Helen, not her caretakers, not the police, and especially not Elizabeth’s mercurial son, Peter. Armed with handwritten notes she leaves for herself and an overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth needs her help, Maud resolves to discover the truth and save her beloved friend.
This singular obsession forms a cornerstone of Maud’s rapidly dissolving present. But the clues she discovers seem only to lead her deeper into her past, to another unsolved disappearance: her sister, Sukey, who vanished shortly after World War II.
As vivid memories of a tragedy that occurred more fifty years ago come flooding back, Maud discovers new momentum in her search for her friend. Could the mystery of Sukey’s disappearance hold the key to finding Elizabeth?
The book blurb sounds so good! Heartbreaking concept, and the thriller/psychologocial elements from the dementia must add a lot of suspense and conflict to the book.
Great Pick.
My Friday 56: http://wp.me/p4IAgx-3H
Have a lovely week.
Oh yeah, I’d keep reading this one!
My 56 – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/06/26/the-friday-56-67-shadow-of-danger-by-kristine-mason/
OOH! These definitely make me want to read the book. My only concern is with Maud aging and it might be too sad. But I am hoping in the end she is right and solves 2 mysteries.
Heres mine: http://eviloverlordthoughts.com/anatomy-of-murder/
Maud’s forgetfullness is handled really well, giving Maud quite an amusing voice .( as far as I can see) so give it a go, and yes It would be great if she solves the mystery. Thanks for your link will take a look.
My mother, son and I all thoroughly loved this book – you’re in for a treat of a read. Brilliant choice for today.
Yes, I sense I’m going to enjoy it very much, still got a way to go but I can often (though not always!) tell if it’s going to be good quite early on. Glad I picked it for my Friday recommendation/Book Beginnings/Friday 56, and that your family enjoyed it too. 🙂
Sounds fascinating and a little heart-breaking too. My greatest fear is that I will lose my memory. You can see my posts at #27 and #28 on Freda’s linky. Happy reading!
Yes me too. Nothing much worse than that. Thanks for commenting, and leaving your links#27and #28,will take a look.
This sounds like a fascinating story. The opening is definitely foreboding, and the synopsis makes me want to know more. I can imagine Maud’s frustration and confusion. So sad.
My Friday post features The Runaway Quilt.
Thanks for your comment Sandra, yes I’m certainly impressed by Elizabeth is Missing. Looking forward to seeing what happens as the story unfolds. Yes Maud’s frustration and confusion is certainly evident. Emma Healey deals with the topic of dementia in a refreshing way, allowing you to see the sufferer’s experience first hand. Thanks for your link to your Friday post, have visited your blog to check it out, sounds interesting. 🙂
Highly intriguing. Why would someone do that to an old woman and what’s up with this Frank guy?! Happy weekend!
Yes, definitely highly intriguing. Happy Weekend to you too! Thanks for coming by.
Sounds like there is a twist from one missing woman to another and I like that. Hope you have a great weekend, Marjma.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
Thanks for your comment Sherry. Looking forward to checking out your Friday 56 too. 🙂