First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: A Memoir; Sherman Alexie

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph, maybe two, of a book that I'm reading or plan to read soon.   Has anyone read this book yet? I read that there is a part about a cat that is disturbing, so as a cat - lover, I am on the fence, and, of course, I will have to skip that section.

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: A Memoir; Sherman Alexie

Little Brown - 2017

1.

Forty Knives

"IN 1972 OR 1973, or maybe 1974, my mother and father hosted a dangerous New Year's Eve party at our home in Wellpinit, Washington, on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

We lived in a two-story house--the first floor was a doorless daylight basement while the elevated second floor had front and back doors accessible by fourteen-step staircases.  The house was constructed by our tribe using grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more tersely known as HUD. Our family HUD house was new but only half finished when we moved in and remains unfinished, and illogically designed, over forty years later.  It was worth $25,000 when it was built, and I think it's probably worth about the same now.  I don't speak my tribal language, but I'm positive there are no Spokane Indian words for real estate appreciation.

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

A Few New Books

Thank you Candlewick Press

• Pick a Pine Tree; Patricia Toht
• A Christmas for Bear; Bonny Becker
• Red and Lulu; Matt Tavares

• Picnic at Hanging Rock; Joan Lindsay (Penguin)
• Three Floors Up; Eshoo Nevo (Other Press)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Muralist; B.A. Shapiro

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph, maybe two, of a book that I'm reading or plan to read soon.  This week's selection is for my October book group read.

The Muralist; B.A. Shapiro

Algonquin - 2015

1

Danielle

"It was there when I arrived that morning, sitting to the right of my desk, ostensibly no different from the other half-dozen cartons on the floor, flaps bent back, paintings haphazardly poking out.  As soon as I saw it, I ripped off my gloves, dropped to my knees, and pawed through the contents.  I didn't realize I wasn't breathing until my chest began to ache and little black dots jumped around the edges of my vision.

Does this intro make you curious for more?

Please feel free to join in each Tuesday with your own "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro" by linking your post from the book you are reading below. 

Reading and Reviewing Slump Continues

Hello Readers,

Between the loss of our cat Freckles on Monday and the outrageous news we face day after day, my reading slump continues.  I'm reading, but very slowly as I'm easily distracted it seems.  It's just easier to play Words with Friends or Yahtzee on my phone while watching the baseball playoffs, comedy shows and occasional news.  I do have so many books that I want to read, so I'm hopeful I snap out of this slump.

Back in early 2008, we were a 5 - cat family but now we are down to just 1 cat.

Buddy

Buddy is 15 years old now and is pretty spry for his age. Every day we can count on him practicing his jumping skills, making it half way up the door jamb or higher.  Although he's always just tolerated the other cats, preferring my lap any chance he got, he seems lost this past week.  His appetite has increased (he needed to gain a few pounds after losing a few over the last few years.  I feel sad though as he sometimes cries out like he's missing Freckles or isn't sure what has happened.  He's more of a lap cat and had even slept between our pillows briefly a few times this week.  I'm enjoying it while I can, as we all know -- life is short.

We almost brought home this little guy this week --

BUT, we decided that now was not the time to introduce a kitten to a 15 y/o cat who was never overly fond of other cats.  We gave a donation to the shelter instead and, decided that when Buddy is gone we'll either adopt 2 - kittens or a senior cat instead.

Hope everyone has had a good week and that next week is even better.