Spin: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story by Peter Zheutlin - BOOK BEGINNINGS

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

BOOK CLUBS AND PANDEMICS

Are you in a book club? Did you meet during corona time?

I'm in two book clubs, and they responded to corona completely differently. The one I've been in the longest broke down during COVID. We haven't gathered since Portland declared its semi-lockdown status on March 17, 2020. We barely emailed each other. And that is odd because the group has been going strong for 18 years or so, longer than the 14 years I've been a member. We rallied now that restrictions are lifted and we are all vaxxed and are getting together in July to get back on track. I'm quite excited about that!

My second book club has only been around about five years. It reacted the opposite to COVID restrictions. We went from meeting every other month when we met IRL to meeting every month on zoom. Our virtual meetings were a social lifeline last year and right up through last month. We got together in person last night for the first time in over 16 months. We were all giddy to gather at my house for a potluck and some chat about Skios by Michael Frayn. We had so much fun!

GETTING BACK TO BOOK BEGINNINGS

It is time again for Book Beginnings on Fridays, where readers share the first sentence (or so) of the book they want to highlight this week. Please add the link to your Book beginning blog or social media post in the Linky box below. If you share on social media, please use the #bookbeginnings hashtag.

MY BOOK BEGINNING 

This week, my Book Beginning is from Spin: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story by Peter Zheutlin, new from Pegasus Books:

Dearest Mary, 

I'm an old woman now. Exactly how old depends on which of the many stories I've told over the years you choose to believe, for I have not always been the most reliable witness to the events of my own life.

I like this beginning a lot! You get the idea right away we have an autobiographical story told from the perspective of an old lady who just confessed she will be an unreliable narrator. Sounds like fun!

Spin is the historical fiction account of Annie Londonderry adventures as she became "the first woman to cycle around the world" in the 1890s. Author Peter Zheutlin is Annie's great-grand-nephew and wrote the novel based on historic and family materials. 

Spin is an entertaining summer read for adult and YA fans of historic fiction.

YOUR BOOK BEGINNINGS

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THE FRIDAY 56

Another fun Friday event is The Friday 56. Share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of your book, or 56% of the way through your e-book or audiobook, on this weekly event hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice.

MY FRIDAY 56

From Spin:

Thus, when I arrived at the Providence Hotel late that afternoon, I had no money to pay for my lodging. So I bartered with the hotel manager to allow me to earn my stay by working the candy counter at the hotel store for several hours and to give a short lecture in the lobby on what we called then “physical culture” (exercise and physical fitness) to a few curious guests who saw me standing there with my wheel.

What do you think? Does Spin look like a book you would enjoy or do you know someone who would?