First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday is hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea – it’s is a weekly meme where you share the first paragraph (or two) from a book you are considering reading.
I have no shortage of books on my Australian Women Writers reading challenge list but can’t help seeking more. These first few paragraphs are from How to Be a Good Wife
“Today, somehow, I am a smoker.
I did not know this about myself. As far as I remember, I have never smoked before.
It feels unnatural, ill-fitting, for a woman of my age: a wife, a mother with a grown-up son, to sit in the middle of the day with a cigarette between her fingers. Hector hates smoking. He always coughs sharply when we walk behind someone smoking on the street, and I imagine his vocal cords rubbing together, moist and pink like chicken flesh.”
I like unreliable narrators and apparently the main character in this story, Marta, is as wobbly as they come. So, buy it or bin it?
I’m tempted 🙂
Thought you might have already read this one, given the rate at which you read! (especially AWWW books!).
I was on a panel with Emma at Perth Writers Fest and this book is really great.
A brilliant read!
Oh, I am intrigued by these lines….thanks for sharing, and now I want to read it!
Here’s MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
I am curious about the narrator and her story. I would read on. Catchy title too!
Here’s my Tuesday intro: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/04/first-chapter-first-paragraph-10-and.html
Thanks Catherine! For some reason I couldn’t leave a comment on your blog 🙁
Very intriguing, a new author for me too.
I love unreliable narrators, so naturally, this one makes me curious for more. Thanks so much for joining us this week..
I find that very offputting I’m afraid. I think it’s the vocal cords bit.
It is a bit gross, isn’t it?!