TGIF, everyone! First Line Fridays is a fun way to share from books on your TBR.
Today my first line is from a book I am currently reading:
Prologue
There was no proscenium arch, no curtains or lights to create an illusion, no proper stage at all. It was just a classroom with all the chairs and their seventh-grade occupants pushed aside in disorganized clumps. It wasn’t even a real classroom.
When I saw Sally Field on The View and other shows talking about her new book, I knew I had to read it, too. Haven’t we all been enchanted with the most endearing girl-next-door Sally Field? I read that it took her over seven years to write her story. I’m just a little ways in and completely engrossed. Thank you to the generous Grand Central Publishing for the invitation to read and review this stunning and honest book.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In this intimate, haunting literary memoir read by the author, an American icon tells her story for the first time, and in her own gorgeous words – about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.
One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has an infectious charm that has captivated the nation for more than five decades, beginning with her first TV role at the age of seventeen. From Gidget‘s sweet-faced “girl next door” to the dazzling complexity of Sybil to the Academy Award-worthy ferocity and depth of Norma Rae and Mary Todd Lincoln, Field has stunned audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within.
With raw honesty and the fresh, pitch-perfect prose of a natural-born writer, and with all the humility and authenticity her fans have come to expect, Field brings readers behind-the-scenes for not only the highs and lows of her star-studded early career in Hollywood, but deep into the truth of her lifelong relationships–including her complicated love for her own mother. Powerful and unforgettable, In Pieces is an inspiring and important account of life as a woman in the second half of the twentieth century.
Please share with me the first line(s) of the book you are currently reading! I would love to read it! Have you read In Pieces, or do you plan to? Happy Friday reading! ~ Jenni THR
I used to love Sally Field when I was young and now we’ve both aged, I think I’d like to read her story 🙂 The first line in the book I am currently reading Lethal White by Robert Galbraith “If only the swans would swim side by side on the dark green lake, this picture might turn out to be a crowning achievement of the wedding photographer’s career”….
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I’ve connected to what I’ve read so far. It’s almost like she’s reading it to me- I can hear the charm in her voice. I hope you get a chance to read this one.
I am intrigued by your first line! I’ve meant to read a Galbraith book for some time. Happy reading! 💕
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Thank you, I’ve got In Pieces on my list!
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You’re very welcome! I wanted to comment back on your site, but I couldn’t see a way to comment, so I shared your post on Twitter. ♥️
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Ooh, that’s a first for me, I’m blushing! And, sorry, I do not activate Comments.
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I understand. Sometimes I worry there is a way to comment but I can’t find it (lol) and mostly I just wanted to let you know I appreciate your comment and I’d reciprocate if I could. ❤
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It’s enough to know that you tried, I appreciate it 🙂
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Happy Friday! I do have that book on my TBR and my amazing library alerted me to the fact that they just received this book.
The first line of the book I am reading is ” Now I think the picture was unspooling all along and I just failed to notice. ” Virgil Wander by Leif Enger (author of Peace Like A River)
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Oh, I can’t wait to hear what you think of Virgil Wander, Marialyce! I really enjoyed that! Happy Friday, and I hope you enjoy In Pieces too!
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Happy First Line Fridays. I look forward to reading this memoir.
I am currently reading The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. The first lines are: I am a cat. As yet, I have no name.
You will enjoy this story about a young man and his cat traveling through Japan to visit old friends. 😊🐾😻🍁🐈
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Thanks, Virginia! Oh, that is a good one! I hope you love that book! Happy reading! Xoxo ♥️
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Love Sally Fields! I will have to check this out – thanks for sharing! ❤️
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You’re welcome, LP! I just love her! Happy weekend! 💕
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Who doesn’t love Sally Field?! I didn’t know that she wrote a book.
I don’t know if anyone would be I terested in reading “Celebrity Chef Zombie Apocalypse” by Jack Strange (aka Jack D McLean) but, that’s what I’m reading!!
“It was the middle of the afternoon and Robert Turner was busy taking in the finer points of his boss’s latest incentive scheme. “You’ve got seven days,” his boss was saying . “If you haven’t got what I want by then, you’re fired. Got that? Fired!” Robert’s boss was an ass-hole who loved nothing more than to point his finger at his staff and tell them they were fired, so Robert knew his boss wasn’t bluffing. He did his best to appear positive.”
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Isn’t she just so likable, Nicole?! Love her! Oh my, I love your book! Too funny! I’ll be watching for your review! ♥️
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Ha ha! I was hoping to have it up today… But, with 10hrs of work looming in a couple of hours… I think it’ll be next week. Ha ha!
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Happy Friday!
Today on my blog I’m sharing the first lines from All Things New by June Foster. I’m at the 25% mark, so I’ll just share a couple lines from there:
“Though Jett wanted to see how the labor progressed, the medical conditions had change. Jillian had to bring the baby into the world now.”
Kind of intense! 😮
Hope you have a great weekend filled with excellent reading time.
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That does sound intense, and I’ll be watching for yourthoughts! I hope you have a lovely weekend too! Xo
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This book looks wonderful, I really like her! My current read is “Jack of Hearts and Other Parts” this book is young adults but I don’t have it in front of me at the moment, it is really good very bold! So curious as to what the reception of this book will be?
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I love her, too. She’s just so down-to-earth. I’ll be watching for your thoughts on your book! Curious about the boldness!
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Happy Friday! I ordered that book after I saw Sally on GMA!! I can’t wait to read it!😊 How do you like it so far?
My first lines come from A Twist of Faith by Pepper Basham……
PHD WAS NOT SUPPOSED to smell like this. Adelina Roseland dropped a box of research articles onto the floor and stifled a deep breath as the strong aroma of naturally fertilized farmland wafted in from the open window.
Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!!😊💕🎃
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Sus, I don’t blame you for ordering it- I had it high on my list, too. I LOVE her, and I am loving this book. Just eating it up. She writes really well, and it’s from her heart. I’m intrigued by that book, and that’s a NC author you like to read! ♥️ Happy weekend to you too!
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Yay! You’ve started it! Can’t wait. It was her appearance on The View that convinced me to get this, too.
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Wasn’t that a special appearance, Jonetta?! She’s our same Sally after all these years. I loved when she talked about Burt, and I can’t wait for those parts of the book, too! (But I’ve heard he’s only a minor figure). What she said on The View about him just made me even more intrigued.
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Definitely on my TBR!
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I hope you love it when you get to it, Carol!
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I saw her on the Grahme Norton Show and was very impressed. Apart from anything else, she looks fantastic for her age:)
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She truly does, Sarah. That same youthful glow she’s always had.
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Yes – and she’s also so very funny and smart!
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Yes! This book is both those things, Sarah. I am in awe of the writing. I have used tons of book darts already. She is capturing the 1940s and early 50s perfectly.
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I’ll see if I can get hold of it from the local library… thank you for your recommendation.
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I saw Sally Field on a chat show recently discussing this book. She came across very well and she looks amazing too. I look forward to seeing what you make of this.
Lynn 😀
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Thank you, Lynn! I saw her on a show, too, and I agree- she looks wonderful and still that girl-next-door! I’ll keep you posted! ♥️
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Wow, what a powerful first line!!! Thank you for sharing this, Jennifer!!!
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You’re welcome, Mack! I love Sally Field, and I am crazy about this book!
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Yours sounds good – she always seems like a lovely person as well as a great actress.
Here’s mine:
Bram stares at the door.
Sweat trickles down his creased forehead. He brushes his fingers through his damp hair, his temples throbbing with ache.
It’s from Dracul by Dacre Stoker and JD Barker, and sadly it’s not grabbing me as much as I hoped so far…
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Oh no, I’ve read great things about Dracul, FF. I hope it picks up for you. Yes, Sally Field has always seemed like a good person- I totally agree.
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This sounds like a fun read, I’ve always liked her!
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I can’t stop reading it, Sassy! It’s very good!
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This has definitely been on my radar! Not only do I love Sally Field, but I imagine she’s an excellent storyteller. Do you know if she wrote it on her own or had a ghostwriter or some professional co-writer?
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She IS an amazing storyteller, Myndi. I’ve been savoring this one as I read it. There’s no one else on the byline, so I would think if there is anyone else, it’s a ghostwriter. The writing is impressive. So far, I’d say it’s one of the best memoirs I’ve read.
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I have always loved Sally Field. When I saw this book, it really piqued my interest. I will watch for your review.
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I’ve been reading this one slowly, and I think it’s mostly because I’m enjoying it. Some parts are difficult to read about, but mostly, I am moved by the way she writes, especially when it’s about someone she truly loves- her mother, her grandmother, her brother, her first love, etc. I’ll keep you posted, Carla. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish it this weekend.
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