Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Should Be Reading.
Today’s spotlight is on an ARC from Amazon Vine: The Arsonist, by Sue Miller.
Intro: Later, Frankie would remember the car speeding past in the dark as she stood at the edge of the old dirt road. She would remember that she had been aware of the smell of smoke for a while. Someone having a fire, she had assumed then, and that would turn out to be correct—though not in the way she was imagining it. She had the quick thought, briefly entertained amid the other, rushing thoughts that were moving through her tired brain, that it was odd for someone to be doing this, having a fire this late—or this early—on an already warm summer night.
But in the moment she didn’t go beyond her quick assumption, her fleeting thought. She smelled the smoke, she saw the car approaching, and she got quickly out of the road, stepping first into the ditch that ran alongside it, and then, because it was night and she worried that the driver might not see her in the dark, onto the scrubby bank, pulling herself up between two trees that stood there. By the time she turned around to face the road again, the car had passed her. She stood for a moment watching as the wink of the red taillights disappeared behind a rise in the road, appeared again, dropped from sight and appeared once more; and then was gone, the car’s sound fading into nothing, into the rustle and odd croak of the night. She’d been walking for more than an hour by then, awash in memories and images of the life she’d just left behind.
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Teaser: Sylvia had felt her own life so completely ordinary next to his that she barely sketched it in. She didn’t stop to consider until later, much later, that this had seemed ample information to him, that he didn’t press her for details the way she had pressed him—though it was clear he was taken with the ease and privilege of her background. (p. 75).
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Amazon Description: From the best-selling author of While I Was Gone and The Senator’s Wife, a superb new novel about a family and a community tested when an arsonist begins setting fire to the homes of the summer people in a small New England town.
Troubled by the feeling that she belongs nowhere after working in East Africa for 15 years, Frankie Rowley has come home—home to the small New Hampshire town of Pomeroy and the farmhouse where her family has always summered. On her first night back, a house up the road burns to the ground. Is it an accident, or arson? Over the weeks that follow, as Frankie comes to recognize her father’s slow failing and her mother’s desperation, another house burns, and then another, always the homes of summer people. These frightening events, and the deep social fault lines that open in the town as a result, are observed and reported on by Bud Jacobs, a former political journalist, who has bought the local paper and moved to Pomeroy in an attempt to find a kind of home himself. As this compelling book unfolds, as Bud and Frankie begin an unexpected, passionate affair, arson upends a trusting small community where people have never before bothered to lock their doors; and Frankie and Bud bring wholly different perspectives to the questions of who truly owns the land, who belongs in the town, and how, or even whether, newcomers can make a real home there.
Suspenseful, sophisticated, rich in psychological nuance and emotional insight, The Arsonist is vintage Sue Miller—a finely wrought novel about belonging and community, about how and where one ought to live, about what it means to lead a fulfilling life. One of our most elegant and engrossing novelists at her inimitable best.
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I am loving this book, as I have enjoyed every book by this author. Immediately engaged by the characters, I am having trouble setting it down. Would you keep reading?
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I really like the opening paragraphs. I think it’s the writer’s way of writing that I like.
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Oh, I love her writing style, too, Margot. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great teaser, draws you in. I like it. Here is my TT http://cynthiastacey.com/2014/05/13/teaser-tuesday-may-13/
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Thanks, Cynthia…glad you could stop by!
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This was a pretty powerful intro –I would definitely read more (already on my wish list).
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Thanks, Diane…I am a big fan of Sue Miller. Glad you could stop by…and host.
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This sounds right up my street, I’d definitely keep reading, feel very drawn into the story by this opening.
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I’m glad, Lindsay….thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your book.
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I haven’t read this author, but this book sounds very good. I would definitely keep reading!
Today I’m spotlighting The Daring Ladies of Lowell.
http://mytime2read.blogspot.com/2014/05/tuesday-memes-daring-ladies-of-lowell.html
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Thanks, Kim…off to check out yours! Glad you could visit.
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This book sounds great. I would keep reading. BTW – I like your Snow Sparks blog and blog title.
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Oh, I’m glad you like it, Pat…and thanks for the blog compliment. I recently revamped this blog, because I kept forgetting about it. Now it will be more prominently featured…LOL.
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Yes, I’d keep going. Sounds terrific. Lots of tension already. Here’s Mine
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I love the tension that builds and wraps itself around the reader….I have a hard time putting this one down. Thanks for visiting, Paulita.
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I loved The Senator’s Wife and it’s been awhile since I’ve read anything of hers…this one looks good! I’ll have to add it to my TBR list.
Here’s Mine: http://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/fiction/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday-intros-bittersweet-miranda-beverly-whittemore/
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I enjoyed that one, too…I think my favorites of hers were The Good Mother and While I Was Gone. I may just have to reread them soon. Thanks for visiting, Sarah.
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I haven’t read Sue Miller. The book sounds like a good combination of women’s fiction and suspense.
Harvee
Book Dilettante
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Yes, and she delves into social issues so well, Harvee. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your reading.
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I am intrigued by the opening and description. Onto my list it goes!
My Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-60.html
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Good for you, Catherine…hope you check out some of her back list, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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I really like the sound of this one, I want to know more. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
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Thanks, Kelley…hope you enjoy your read, too, and thanks for visiting.
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Just from the teaser I’d say the relationship doesn’t go well.
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Definitely! Thanks for stopping by, Alice Audrey….
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I formerly read her religiously but I have t in a while…but alas…I guess I must again!
Thank you for sharing!
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You must, Patty! Although some of her older novels were my favorites, like The Good Mother and While I Was Gone. Both of those were made into movies.
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That should be have not…it’s my IPad!!!
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Ha-ha…of course! Thanks, Patty.
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Wonderful Intro. I would go on as this sounds like my kind of novel!
Here is my Intro post!
AND
Here is my teaser post!
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Thanks for stopping by, Gautami, and now I’m going out to the patio to keep reading this!
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This sounds like such an interesting read! Thanks for sharing!!
Trish – my teaser
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Thanks, Trish…I’m loving it! And isn’t it appropriate to share a book about fire on this blog? LOL
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That really does sound good! I haven’t read this author before, but the intro definitely has me interested in continuing on. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention, Laurel-Rain. Off to add it to my wish list.
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Thanks for visiting, Wendy…I have been a fan of this author for many years…hope you enjoy her, too.
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I’ve seen this title. Would like to read it. It’s a good Teaser for Tuesday.
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Thanks, Tea…glad you could stop by!
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Sounds good, I would definitely keep reading.
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Thanks, Heather…so glad you could visit. Enjoy your read!
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This is the third book I’ve seen that is set in New Hampshire. I would keep reading.
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Ah, yes, a very popular setting, isn’t it? I always feel as if I have visited those places when I read about them, as written by good authors. Thanks for stopping by, Nise.
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Enjoyed you post. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks, Jo…glad you could stop by!
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This sounds wonderful! I would keep reading.
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Thanks, Yvonne…glad you could stop by. Enjoy your books.
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This sounds really good! Sue Miller is on my should-read list, but I haven’t gotten to her yet.
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You are in for a treat, Rachel….thanks for stopping by.
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I haven’t read this author, but have seen this book on a few blogs and it sounds so interesting. I would continue.
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Thanks for stopping by, Peggy…I just finished and reviewed it (here on this blog) and I loved it!
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What an interesting intro and teaser! This one sounds really good, and I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I love the cover as well. The colors are gorgeous, and I just love simply typography. 🙂
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Thanks, Rachel…the story was fabulous!
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