Innocent Blood by P. D. James -- BOOK BEGINNINGS

 

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! It's December! And it looks like I'm kicking off the holidays by posting my first Book Beginnings late. Sorry!

Thank you for joining me for another month of Book Beginnings on Fridays. Please share the opening sentence (or so) of the book you are reading this week. You can also share from a book that caught your fancy, even if you are not reading it right now. 

Do you read any kind of themed book in December, like Christmas, holidays, winter, snowy, whatever? I always think I'm going to, then end up racing to finish the books I wanted to read this year before the end of the year. 

MY BOOK BEGINNING 

The social worker was older than she had expected; perhaps the nameless official who arranged these matters thought that graying hair and menopausal plumpness might induce confidence in the adopted adults who came for their compulsory counseling.

-- from Innocent Blood by P. D. James. 

I definitely did not pick a holiday-themed book this week! This one caught my eye as an audiobook so I thought it would be fun to listen to while I'm decorating the house. It's a 1979 stand alone by one of my favorite authors. It has strong Ruth Rendell vibes -- more a novel of suspense than a straightforward mystery. 

YOUR BOOK BEGINNINGS

Please add a link to your Book Beginnings post in the linky box below. If you share on socia media, please use the hashtag #bookbeginnings.

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THE FRIDAY 56

The Friday 56 is a natural tie-in with Book Beginnings. The idea is to share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of your featured book. If you are reading an ebook or audiobook, find your teaser from the 56% mark.

Freda at Freda's Voice started and hosted The Friday 56 for a long, long time. She is taking a break and Anne at My Head if Full of Books has taken on hosting duties in her absence. Please visit Anne's blog and link to your Friday 56 post.

MY FRIDAY 56

-- from Innocent Blood:

I know that my mother is dead so I can’t trace her, and I may never find my father. But at least if I can find out who my mother was I may get a lead to him.

24 Days to Christmas! An Advent Calendar Tradition!

ADVENT: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

One of my favorite blog traditions is counting down the days to Christmas with vintage holiday cards. This has nothing to do with books, but a love for books goes hand in hand with a love for ephemera, like vintage cards. This is the 15th year I've posted an advent calendar here on Rose City Reader. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

If you also like vintage cards and want to see more, click on the "Advent" or "vintage postcard" tags at the bottom of these posts (or bottom of the page) to find hundreds of images from past years. You will find trees, nativity scenes, Santas, elves, cats, birds, dogs, deer, ornaments, gifts, candles, bells, and lots more!

THIS YEAR'S THEME

Usually my advent countdowns are a hodgepodge, but sometimes there is a theme. In past years, I've done all cats, all houses, all animals, all Santas. This year I'm going for all bells. Bells seem very cheerful to me. 

Next task will be to tackle my real Christmas cards. Do you send them? I enjoy seeing all the new-fashioned cards with pictures, so I can see my friends and family. But I always end up sending a traditional boxed card, usually with a snapshot or sticker picture of me and my husband. 

I did order printed cards from Zazzle for my law firm. 2023 is the tenth year my law partner and I have practiced together. That's quite a milestone! 

DECEMBER BLOGGING

Do you have special holiday-themed blogging you do in December? I always plan to but never do more than this advent calendar. I always hope to read holiday, Christmas, wintery, snowy books in December. But I always end up racing to finish the books I picked out at the beginning of the year and I don't have time for any Decemberish books. 

This time of year is also when I get excited to plan next year's challenges. Although with so much else going on, it is hard to get all the posts up before the end of the year. I usually end up planning in December and posting in January.

I am hosting the European Reading Challenge again in 2024 and a TBR 24 in '24 challenge. I will get those posts before the end of the year, I promise!

What are your blogging plans for December? Do they include planning or posting any 2024 reading challenges?

Please join me tomorrow when the Rose City Reader advent calendar continues!