Thursday, August 24, 2017

Book Beginning: Any Human Heart by William Boyd

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON FRIDAYS FOR BOOK BEGINNING FUN!

MY BOOK BEGINNING



We – the five Roman Catholics – were walking back from the bus stop up the drive to school, fresh from Mass, when Barrowsmith and four or five of his Neanderthals started chanting “Papist dogs” and “Fenian traitors” at us.

-- Any Human Heart by William Boyd. I love this book. There isn't much of a Catholic theme to it, despite its opening sentence, at least not in the first third that I've read so far.

Has anyone else read it or watched the miniseries? Did you prefer the book or the show?




Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

EARLY BIRDS & SLOWPOKES: This weekly post goes up Thursday evening for those who like to get their posts up and linked early on. But feel free to add a link all week.

FACEBOOK: Rose City Reader has a Facebook page where I post about new and favorite books, book events, and other bookish tidbits, as well as link to blog posts. I'd love a "Like" on the page! You can go to the page here to Like it. I am happy to Like you back if you have a blog or professional Facebook page, so please leave a comment with a link and I will find you.

TWITTER, ETC: If you are on Twitter, Instagram, Google+, or other social media, please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I try to follow all Book  Beginnings participants on whatever interweb sites you are on, so please let me know if I have missed any and I will catch up.

TIE IN: The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice is a natural tie in with this event and there is a lot of cross over, so many people combine the two. The idea is to post a teaser from page 56 of the book you are reading and share a link to your post. Find details and the Linky for your Friday 56 post on Freda’s Voice.

YOUR BOOK BEGINNING



13 comments:

  1. So, it is written as if it were a journal? Sounds like an interesting way to handle it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like that opening. It's got a great feel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm not familiar with the book or the TV series. However, I did love the book and TV series of his other short novel, Armadillo.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Haven't read the book, but I enjoyed the show! Happy reading! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Gilion,

    I haven't read the book or watched the series, however from your opening lines and the subsequent longer extract I read over at Amazon, it seems as though I have missed out on something of a classic piece of writing.

    I like the whole tone of the narrative and both cover art options are excellent representations of the storyline as I imagine it unfolding.

    Thanks for sharing and for hosting BBOF. Enjoy your weekend :)

    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Gilion!

    I have to admit I've not read this either! I do love the first line, though. Is it a show? I never knew, maybe we don't have it here in England? I'm curious now!

    Enjoy your weekend. Have a restful one. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. My uncle, now deceased, grew up in Portland. He tells a funny story of being chased home from school by the Catholics. Like they were some terrible gang. Hope the book continues on a positive note.
    My Book Beginning is at the bottom of the book review page

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have not read this one but it looks interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Neither. I do like a lot of detail about the Catholics, but this one really looks good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks like an interesting book. I hope that you enjoy it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds like a good read. Hope you have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cover.

    ENJOY the book and your weekend.

    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete