Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
Why I have it: Heather suggested it after spotting another book about tulips in my #6Degrees chain.
Summary: Cornelius von Baerle lives only to cultivate the elusive black tulip, even if it’s done in secret, from a jail cell.
I’m thinking: Don’t know! The sample chapter was an introduction. I’ll have to visit the library or stand in a bookshop for five minutes and see.
Love Me Back by Merritt Tierce
Why I have it: Spotted in one of Susan’s ‘books to look out for‘ posts.
Summary: Marie, a young single mother, is a waitress at an upscale steakhouse. She’s serving more than steak. Obliteration—not pleasure—is her goal.
I’m thinking: Yes, I want to know more about Marie.
The Muse by Jessie Burton
Why I have it: Because I loved The Miniaturist.
Summary: Since arriving from Trinidad, Odelle Bastien has struggled to find her place in London. A job at the Skelton gallery and a particular painting changes everything.
I’m thinking: Yes, I’m a sucker for a killer opening line –
“Not all of us receive the ends that we deserve.”
Looking forward to seeing what you think of Love Me Back, still a stand out 2016 read for me! I hope The Muse lives up to The Miniaturist.
I thought the opening chapter was clever – Marie equally portrayed as the controller and the victim – very interesting!
It didn’t get much attention here, or not that I saw, but I thought it was astonishingly good for a debut. Fits your foodie reading, too!
I haven’t read The Miniaturist yet, but I’d read The Muse based just on that opening line!
The Muse would be a cert for me. I enjoyed The Miniaturist for its setti g but I’m also interested in anything relating to paintings…
That is definitely a great opening line of Muse. I might need to read it just because of that sentence.
That’s annoying re: the sample for The Black Tulip being an introduction – you think they’d have planned that a bit better. If you can’t find a copy in the library or the bookshop and get desperate, I’ll take photos of my copy and send them to you through Twitter haha
I’ve heard Love Me Back is good and have it on my to-read shelf, too.