Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon discussion

Hello, I hope your readathon has got off to a good start.

As it’s only hour 3 I thought we should start at the beginning. There are some great first lines to novels e.g. “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen” is the opening of George Orwell’s 1984. (Very appropriate for an April Dewey’s!)

My current read starts: “Remembering our first encounter with Felbrigg Hall, I’m irresistibly reminded of all the horror movies I’ve ever seen.” (Cobwebs and Cream Teas: A Year in the Life of a National Trust House)

Please share one of your first lines from a book on your TBR today, alternatively do you have a favourite opening line from a past read? Let’s see if they entice us to want to read them.

My current read starts with: "All this happened, more or less." (Slaughterhouse-Five)

I have only one paperback on my TBR this time and first line is: "Your house glows at night like everything inside it is on fire.“ The book is The Push

My favorite opening line is „Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.“ I have read Rebecca around 20 times in my whole life.

"Things were heating up with no possibility of cooling down." (Thank You for Listening)

Melanie wrote: "My current read starts with: "All this happened, more or less." (Slaughterhouse-Five)"

Perfect! That's a good classic. Hope you are enjoying it.

"Happy birthday, Haymitch!" Sunrise on the Reaping (I'm reading it for the second time for this readathon!)

Randomly grabbed The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, started simple and to the point: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood."

Jen wrote: ""Happy birthday, Haymitch!" Sunrise on the Reaping (I'm reading it for the second time for this readathon!)"

I can’t wait to read it…. Unfortunately, I have to finish at least 20 of my TBR books before I can finally buy more books without feeling guilty.

Vavita wrote: "I have only one paperback on my TBR this time and first line is: "Your house glows at night like everything inside it is on fire.“ The book is The Push

My favorite opening line is ..."

I have to admit I have never read Rebecca. I didn't like Jamaica Inn much so I've never tried anything else by Daphne du Maurier. Perhaps now's the time!

Vavita wrote: "I have only one paperback on my TBR this time and first line is: "Your house glows at night like everything inside it is on fire.“ The book is The Push

My favorite opening line is ..."

I love du Maurier!

The first two lines of my current read, The Wedding People are:

"The hotel looks exactly as Phoebe hoped. It sits on the edge of the cliff like an old and stately dog, patiently waiting for her arrival."

That was a good start, and I'm enjoying the book so far!

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Randomly grabbed The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, started simple and to the point: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood.""

I'm a big fan of The Percy Jackson series. They are easy reading for readathons too. I need to have a look at Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series.

Kate wrote: "I have to admit I have never read Rebecca. ..."

It is really an amazing book.
Jamaica Inn and Frenchman Man‘s Creek are more a mix of romance and adventure. They were nice and well written but, not great.
I liked The Birds and Other Stories too, even though I normally don’t read short stories.

Currently reading Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier:

“My mother knew every tale that was ever told by the fireside of Erin, and more besides.“

"I grew up in a small Australian town called Orbost in the state of Victoria."
Whisper My Secret

Not very inspiring. But this book has been on my TBR since 2014 (free choice when free books seemed too good to be true)
And memoirs are usually good for me for a Read a Thon.

Jen wrote: ""Happy birthday, Haymitch!" Sunrise on the Reaping (I'm reading it for the second time for this readathon!)"

I've read the original Hunger Games books but not this one. If its a second reading I imagine you're enjoying it?!

Ann A wrote: "The first two lines of my current read, The Wedding People are:

"The hotel looks exactly as Phoebe hoped. It sits on the edge of the cliff like an old and stately dog, patiently w..."

I love that description of the hotel. It conjures up a great picture to set the scene. Glad you are enjoying it.

I have a shelf for that! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

My current read: "The eleventh apartment had only one closet, but it did have a sliding glass door that opened onto a small balcony, from which he could see a man sitting across the way, outdoors in only a T-shirt and shorts even though it was October, smoking." Whew! There a LONG sentences in A Little Life

My current read: "Most people, when asked, might acknowledge that time harbors a subjective dimension."

Elyse wrote: "I have a shelf for that! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list......"

Elyse, I love your shelf and I've read a couple of those too. That certainly is a long first sentence!

Doni wrote: "My current read: "Most people, when asked, might acknowledge that time harbors a subjective dimension.""

Sounds intriguing. What is the book called?

My first read of the day (I'm off to a bit of a late start):

It's a violent start so this novel is going to be very gritty I can tell.


(view spoiler)["When a high-powered rifle bullet hits living flesh it makes a distinctive - pow-WHOP - sound that is unmistakable even at a tremendous distance." (hide spoiler)]
-- Open Season by C.J. Box

Kate wrote: "Jen wrote: ""Happy birthday, Haymitch!" Sunrise on the Reaping (I'm reading it for the second time for this readathon!)"

I've read the original Hunger Games books but not this one..."

I love it!! I think it's *almost* as good as the original trilogy!

Ann A wrote: "The first two lines of my current read, The Wedding People are:

"The hotel looks exactly as Phoebe hoped. It sits on the edge of the cliff like an old and stately dog, patiently w..."

I had a really good time with The Wedding People. It's one of my favorite books I've read so far this year.

Dr. Seuss can get a story started! I am rereading If I Ran the Zoo. The first two lines:

"It's a pretty good zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "And the fellow who runs it seems proud of it, too. But if I ran this zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "I'd make a few changes. That's just what I'd do."

@Kate Dismantling the Master's Clock

“Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
The Midnight News

Kate wrote: "Hello, I hope your readathon has got off to a good start.

As it’s only hour 3 I thought we should start at the beginning. There are some great first lines to novels e.g. “It was a bright cold day ..."

"As the streets that lead from the Strand to the Embankment are very narrow, it is better not to walk down them arm-in-arm." – from The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf

My favourite is an oldie but a goodie, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Claudia, A Tale of Two Cities is a great choice it does have a memorable first line and its a true classic.

"I sometimes wonder what was disappeared first - among all the things that have vanished from the island." The Memory Police

Fantastic idea Kate . I'm reading the titles of some really good books .

"This is the authentic voice of Gi-Joe ." from UP FRONT by Bill Mauldin .

From my current read: "These are tales of the 21st Aeon, when the Earth is old and the sun is about to go out". - Rhialto the Marvelous

From The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels

“Clouds of thick smoke rose from the city’s ridges into a dusky blue sky.”

From A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
"There was a dead girl in my aunt's bakery."

Beth wrote: "From A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
"There was a dead girl in my aunt's bakery.""

Wow, that's a hook! I definitely want to know more!