Tuesday, March 12, 2013

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #4


First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea.  The idea is to share the first paragraph or two of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

This week I'm featuring the first paragraphs of The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin (e-book version), which is currently #17 on Barnes & Noble's top 100 book list and presently in my electronic TBR pile.

The novel is Pacific Northwest author Amanda Coplin's debut.

 Book Cover Image. Title: The Orchardist, Author: Amanda Coplin
 From HarperCollins Publishers, 2012

I
"His face was as pitted as the moon. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and thick without being stocky, though one could see how he would pass into stockiness; he had already taken on the barrel-chested sturdiness of an old man. His ears were elephantine, a feature most commented on when he was younger, when the ears stuck out from his head; but now they had darkened like the rest of his sun-exposed flesh and lay against his skull more than at any other time in his life, and were tough, the flesh granular like the rind of some fruit. He was clean-shaven, large-pored; his skin was oily. In some lights his flesh was gray; others, tallow; others, red. His lips were the same color as his face, had given way to the overall visage, had begun to disappear. His nose was large, bulbous. His eyes were cornflower blue. His eyelashes nothing to speak of now, but when he was young they were thick-black, and his cheeks bloomed, and his lips were as pure and sculpted as a cherub's. These things together made the women compulsively kiss him, lean down on their way to do other chores, collapse him to their breasts. All his mother's sisters he could no longer remember, from Arkansas, who were but shadows of shadows now in his consciousness. Oh my lovely, they would say. Oh my sweet lamb.

His arms were sun-darkened and flecked with old scars. He combed his hair over his head, a dark, sparse wing kept in place with pine-scented pomade."


What do you think?  Would you keep reading?  I will--because I want to know who this man is. The author describes his appearance in great detail without revealing his name or other identifying facts, except for a mention of his fading memory about his mother's family.

Enjoy life with books . . .
Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #4 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.


15 comments:

  1. What a description! It drew me in, and I'd keep reading...

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  2. There are some great descriptions in this paragraph, I also want to know who the man is. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  3. Now I'm really curious, too; I've been noticing this book around. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  4. I've been on the fence about reading this one, but really like the opening - very descriptive...

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    1. The book has been getting some good press. If you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it.

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  5. I have been looking forward to this one. I have it on audio.

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  6. Oh yes!! I've been wanting to read this one!!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Staci. Hope you get to read The Orchardist soon.

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  7. I've been waiting to read this one and that intro draws me in Catherine. Thanks for joining us - make me happy!

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