Welcome to our Friday Potpourri event that spotlights Book Beginnings, hosted by A Few More Pages; and The Friday 56, led by Freda’s Voice.
How does it work? Just grab a book you’re reading (or about to read) and share some opening lines and how you feel about them; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything from that page. Then link up!
Today I’m excerpting from a book that I read years ago, and recently bought for a reread. I love the book, as well as the movie based on it. Still Missing, by Beth Gutcheon, is the heart-wrenching tale of a missing child and the effects on his family and community afterwards.
Beginning: You could hardly get to age thirty-four without learning something about loss. By thirty-four you’re bound to have lost your Swiss Army knife, your best friend from fourth grade, your chance to be center forward on the starting team, your hope of the Latin prize, quite a few of your illusions, and certainly, somewhere along the line, some significant love.
Now that one clutched me in the throat. Knowing what would come after, just from the blurb alone.
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P. 56: I am picturing the phone ringing. In the next second, it is going to ring. I can feel it, you sometimes hear it a second before it actually starts to ring.
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What excerpts and beginnings did you capture today? Please stop by and share….
POTPOURRI 
Sound like a good book!
Here’s Mine
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Thanks, Vicki. Glad you could stop by…and enjoy your weekend!
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I just recently read Jaycee Dugard’s book, and don’t think I could read another about a kidnapping right at the moment. Maybe in the future. It does grab you right at the start, wanting to know what his life was like after the kidnapping.
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Oh, I know what you mean, Gigi Ann. I will probably wait to read the Jaycee Dugard book.
This one is fiction, though, and that helps keep me intrigued, while not quite so horrified.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I like that beginning paragraph with its list of the things we lose in a normal life. It sets a tone of normality and abnormality.
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Oh, I agree, Julia….the tone is perfect to prepare the reader for how everything goes completely awry.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Those snippets really grab the attention. It’s not a book I could read (I don’t do children in danger well), but it certainly sounds good!
Here are my Friday memes: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/10/friday-memes.html
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Oh, I completely understand, Bev. Thanks for stopping by!
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This sounds like a nail-biting good read. I just read a child kidnapping fiction not long ago so I’m, as others mentioned above, not ready for another one for awhile.
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Yes, it’s all about timing, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Squirrel Queen.
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It’s interesting that the narrator is male. This novel sounds harrowing with the title being ‘Still Missing’ and I guess no happy ending.
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I wouldn’t want to introduce any spoilers, but this book’s ending is one that would keep you reading.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda P.
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Thanks for participating.
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Oh, you’re welcome, Freda…and thanks for hosting and for stopping by.
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Hello! Thanks for visiting my blog!
The exact opposite of ‘Friday 56’ happens to me all the time. I expect the phone not to ring. And it does and how! For example, Sunday mornings. I expect all respectable working people to be off sleeping or doing something equally relaxing. But I find most of my Sundays ruined by early calls.
This Sunday the phone starts to ring. I ignore. Next thing I know 11 missed calls left by my lunatic friend. But she’s getting married next weekend. So can’t really blame her.
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I find the phone annoying most of the time…but I love Caller ID. That way, I can choose….
Thanks for stopping by, wuthering willow.
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That beginning is so true! I like the way this beginning reminisces about life (and I can relate because I’ll be 34 next year).
Thanks for participating in Book Beginnings!
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Sometimes it seems like just the other day that I was thirty-four, Katy! LOL
I have lots of years to reminisce about at my age….one night, my mind was traipsing down memory pathways, recalling all the various places I’ve lived. We moved a lot when I was younger…
Thanks for stopping by.
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Oh, this was fun.
I’d do it, but I’m upstairs and my book is downstairs. My knees don’t want me to run down the stairs right now.
Hope you are well.
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Oh, thanks for visiting, Ghetto Girl. I do like to “play” these little memes from time to time. Gives me the chance to visit lots of blogs. Hope you’re doing well.
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