First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

                                                      

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach, is where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon. 

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, Nothing Ventured, by Jeffrey Archer. The excerpt shared is from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.

  

1

July 14, 1979

"You can't be serious."

"I couldn't be more serious, Father, as you'd realize if you'd ever listened to anything I've been saying for the past ten years."

"But you've been offered a place at my old college at Oxford to read law, and after you graduate, you'll be able to join me in chambers.  What more could a young man ask for?"

"To be allowed to pursue a career of his own choosing, and not just be expected to follow in his father's footsteps."

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?
Building on the success of his series, The Clifton Chronicles, Archer has taken the detective from that series to begin this new William Warwick series.  This opening scene pits the young detective's wishes to be independent against his father's wishes that William follow in his footsteps.  I'd say the series is off to a very good start.

This First Chapter ~ First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter with appropriate recognition is appreciated.

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, Heads You Win, a political thriller by Jeffrey Archer.

Beginning:  Book One
Chapter 1 -- Alexander
Leningrad, 1968

"What are you going to do when you leave school? asked Alexander.

"I'm hoping to join the KGB," Vladimir replied, "but they won't even consider me if I don't get a place at the state university.  How about you?"

"I intend to be the first democratically elected president of Russia," said Alexander, laughing.

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Page 56:  "We certainly can't risk that.  Have any of the passengers shown the slightest interest in our plight?"

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My thoughts:   No one writes political thrillers like Jeffrey Archer, and the opening scene really intrigues me.

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From Goodreads:  Leningrad, Russia, 1968.

Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and from an early age, it is clear he is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, he and his mother will have to escape from Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they are confronted with an irreversible choice: should they board a container ship bound for America, or Great Britain? Alexander leaves that choice to the toss of a coin . . .

In a single moment, a double twist decides Alexander's future. During an epic tale of fate and fortune, spanning two continents and thirty years, we follow his triumphs and defeats as he struggles as an immigrant to conquer his new world. As this unique story unfolds, Alexander comes to realize where his destiny lies, and accepts that he must face the past he left behind in Russia.

With a final twist that will shock even his most ardent fans, this is #1 New York Times bestseller Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious and creative work since Kane & Abel. 

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter with appropriate recognition is appreciated.