TGIF, everyone! First Line Fridays is a great way to show off and share a book from your current stack!
Today my first lines are from a book I am currently reading:
THE CENTER SQUATTED ON THE CORNER OF JUNIPER AND MONTFORT behind a wrought-iron gate, like an old bulldog used to guarding its territory. At one point, there had been many like it in Mississippi—nondescript, unassuming buildings where services were provided and needs were met.
I remember reading My Sister’s Keeper roughly fifteen years ago. It was a milestone year for me, which is why I can roughly remember the timeframe. I also remember it was one of the rare times I had the flu. So while those memories are stuck in my head, so is the experience of reading Jodi Picoult’s writing for the first time. Flu definitely aside, I’ve looked forward to her books each time she releases a new one, hoping for that same thought-provoking experience, and she has not let me down yet. Also, if you know me, you know I have a few of her books “saved” for later…including her last one, but hopefully I’ll read that soon, too. 😉
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.
After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.
Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.
Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding. (less)
Please share with me the first line(s) of the book you are currently reading! I would love to read it! Have you read A Spark of Light, or do you plan to? Happy Friday reading! ~ Jennifer THR
How pretty is that cover? I’m not normally one for girly things, but that’s very pretty xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so, too, Kim! The colors just draw you in!
LikeLike
They really do! It’s beautiful xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Jenn. This sounds really intense and emotional too. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it. Have a fab weekend x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana! It definitely has been. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!
LikeLike
I love her so much 😍 Just met her on Wednesday finally!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Lindsey! Have you put any pics up? I would love to meet her! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I put up a couple on Instagram, and I plan to put up a short blog post about it today or at some point this weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I will definitely check out both places!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I can’t wait to read this one! A new Jodi Picoult book is a big event, lol. I’ve read them all because she’s a fave! I’ve already preordered it. 😘😊 Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you preorder a hard copy? I’m jealous because- that cover! I think you’ll enjoy this too. I hope you have a great Friday, too! 💗
LikeLike
I did! 💗 I know, it’s gorgeous!! I’m sure I will. I’ve loved all her books. Small Great Things is my favorite, so I’m sure this one will be just as good or better. Thank you!! Xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still need to read my copy of Small Great Things! I bought the hardcopy when it came out! ♥️
LikeLike
You should when you get a chance! It’s really good! I cried and cried when reading it! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a lovely cover. It’s also been a long time since I’ve read a Picoult novel. Maybe it’s time to restart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one is really surprising me, Jonetta!
LikeLike
I am so excited to read Jodi Picoult’s new book! Her writing always amazes me and the topics she discusses are so thought-provoking and engaging. I’ll also hopefully be meeting her at the UK book signing in November which I’m really looking forward to! What do you think of A Spark of Light so far?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Darina! I’m so excited you may get to meet her and that you love her books, too! You are absolutely right that she is skilled in her craft of thought-provoking reads. I am really engaged with this one. I can’t wait for your thoughts on it! I plan to have my full review on Monday. ♥️ Fingers crossed you meet her!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I plan to read this one.
I am currently reading the Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain and enjoying it. It is difficult to put it down.
April 1965
Chapel Hill, NC
The first line is : No one wanted to work with the man in the wheelchair.
Happy Weekend!💕🌺📚☁️🌥
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s a good one, Virginia! I hope you love The Dream Daughter! 💕 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Friday readers of the world! …and I have the Picoult book!
Currently reading The Book of Essie and its first line is “On the day I turn seventeen, there is a meeting to decide whether I should have the baby or if sneaking me into a clinic for an abortion is worth the PR risk.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy Friday, Marialyce! Yay to having the Picoult! ♥️ I cannot wait for your thoughts on Essie! I have that one on my shelf!
LikeLike
I hope you haven’t had the flu since, Jennifer.
This book sounds very intense. My first Picoult book was Small Great Things and it was very intense.
Here’s my first line:
“Jonathan Blackwell inhaled a deep breath in an attempt to calm the herd of agitated cattle mustering inside his chest. It didn’t help.”
Taken from The Rancher’s Twins by Carol Ross. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve had it one time since, Laurie. It was two years ago in February. I don’t know why I have to remember it so vividly, but it’s always memorable because I have to miss work, and I rarely miss work. I hope you love that book! It’s off to an intriguing start! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Today at my blog, I featured the first line of Beth Revis’ latest release, Give the Dark My Love. Here, though, I will be sharing the first line of my next read, Broken Things by Lauren Oliver.
“Before we were the Monsters of Brickhouse Lane – before everyone from Connecticut to California knew us by that tagline, and blogs ran pictures of our faces, and searching our names led to sites that crashed from all the names led to sites that crashed from all the traffic – we were just girls, and there were only two of us.”
Hope you enjoy the weekend! Happy reading! ❤️📚 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
That sounds good, Rach! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on both! I think I voted for you to read the first one next?! Yay! Happy weekend to you too! 💗
LikeLike
Thanks for reminding me how great Jodi Picoult is, I must dig out some of her books. My Sister’s Keeper was the first one I read x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, I love that! I hope you have a chance and I look forward to your thoughts, too. I have a few of hers here unread and need to read them also. ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Friday!
My first lines come from Killer Classics by Kym Roberts……
“Sugar did it.” Sugar’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head at Reba Sue’s accusation. “Sugar didn’t kill anyone,” Leila argued. “The woman traps scorpions at the bar and releases them outside.” Leila shuddered, her round body jiggling from head to toe. “Stupid critters belong under a boot heel.”
Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!💕📚💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
Eek! Scorpions! 😂 I hope you love that one, Sus! Happy reading and weekend, too! 💗
LikeLike
I loved the cover
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a pretty one isn’t it, Ayushi! I love it!
LikeLike
I’ve had this one on my radar for a while now, I’ll have to give it a try! I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read Jodi Picoult. I’m probably the only person who hasn’t, lol.
I’m currently reading T.M. Frazier’s Perversion. Here’s the first lines: For years, the streets of Lacking have run red. The violence escalates with each passing day. Bodies riddled with bullet holes are left to rot on the streets and sidewalks. As a warning. A sign of power.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like you have a suspenseful read in your hands, Jacquie! Don’t be embarrassed! I’m the last person alive who hasn’t read Harry Potter, but I really hope to remedy that soon! If youg et a chance, I hope you love your first Picoult read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh Jodi Picoult! I really should try her work sometime!
I’m going to cheat today and do a first line of a book that I recently finished (and LOVED).
From Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy! And it’s *actually* a single line this time!
“I have just taken an overly large bite of iced bun when Callum slices his finger off.”
Luckily for Callum, it was a small slice!And on that happy note, Happy Friday, Jennifer!! 😂❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eek! 😬 Thank goodness it’s a small slice! I’m interested in that book, Kathy. I’ll be watching for your thoughts! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am going to read this after I finish what I’m reading now. Can’t wait to start it. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yay! I cannot wait for your review on this one, Marie! I have just finished it! Enjoy! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
The blurb sounds good, but the first line doesn’t grab me – not that I feel it’s necessary for it to.
Here’s mine:
“I might have been ten, eleven years old – I cannot say for certain – when my first master died. No one grieved him; in the fields we hung our heads, keening, grieving for ourselves and the estate sale that must follow.”
Great opening – tells so much in just a few words! It’s from Washington Black by Esi Edugyan.
LikeLike
Oh, wow, FF, that sounds like one I’ll want to read, too. It does say quite a bit with those few words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This cover is so gorgeous!! I can’t wait to see what you think of this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so, too, Leslie! It just catches your eye! I have the review ready to post tomorrow, but I will tell you now, it is a winner. ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! That’s great to know. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Currently reading this (if you can call it that, I haven’t touched it in days!). So far, I’m enjoying it, but it’s only my second by Picoult – Small Great Things was my first – and I’m hoping it intensifies as the story progresses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hoping you can get back to it and that you connect with it soon, Myndi. I still need to read Small Great Things!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Small Great Things was quite good, the subject matter was eye-opening in many respects. My only complaint about it, there is a scene between the two main characters where they are shopping, and while looking through a bin of bargain DVD’s, they come across a DVD of Dawson’s Creek and one says to the other something like “Now who on Earth would name their son something stupid like Pacey?”
My son’s name is Pacey. And I freakin’ loved Dawson’s Creek. 😒🤨
Ms. Picoult is super lucky that it was such a good book. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, well, I was a Dawson’s Creek fan in college, and I LOVED Pacey, so I think your son has an adorable name! And I will associate that name with adorable Joshua Jackson forever!
LikeLiked by 1 person