Yvonne
This is a meme for all you ‘First Page Browsers’
‘BLACKTOP WASTELAND‘ by S.A. COSBY
BOOK BEGINNINGS / FIRST LINES
SHEPHERD’S CORNER, VA – 2012
“Beauregard thought the night sky looked like a painting.
Laughter filled the air only to be drowned out by the cacophony of revving engines as the moon slid from behind the clouds. The bass from the sound system in a nearby Chevelle was hitting him in his chest so hard, it felt like someone was performing CPR on him. There were about a dozen other late model cars parked haphazardly in front of the old convenience store. In addition to the Chevelle, there was a Maverick, two Impalas, a few Camaros and five or six more examples of the heyday of American muscle. The air was cool and filled with the scent of gas and oil. The rich, acrid smell of exhaust fumes and burnt rubber. A choir of crickets and whippoorwills tried in vain to be heard. Beauregard closed his eyes and strained his ears. He could hear them but just barely. They were screaming for love. He thought a lot of people spent a large part of their life doing the same thing.”
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So, you have taken a look, would you read the book?
Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Just to give you an extra helping hand, here is the book’s premise.
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‘BLACKTOP WASTELAND‘ by S.A. COSBY
A searing, operatic story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad. Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he’d left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking former associate comes calling with a can’t-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice but to get back in the driver’s seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland…or die trying.
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You might also like to visit Gilion, over at ‘Rose City Reader‘, where you can share links to the book beginnings from her own reading schedule and that of many of our fellow bloggers.
There are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered, and you never know where that next ‘must read’ is going to come from!
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I’m not convinced yet that this is a story I would enjoy, but….. what an incredibly descriptive opening! I can totally imagine the scene! I do hope you’ll feature more from it in the future, since I’m curious.
Hi Kelly,
This story is certainly inclusive of just about every element of a divided society which makes most nations of the ‘progressive’ western world, what we are today. And I don’t know about you, but that is not an epithet of which I am particularly proud!
The issues are all skilfully incorporated into a good ‘gutsy’ thriller, which is what made this one such an intriguing and interesting read for me!
I have had quite a number of these ‘one off’ styles of storytelling just recently, and it has made for some very contemplative reading 🙂
Not my cup of tea, no. But I can see the appeal. Hope you enjoy it!
Happy weekend!
Weekend Book Friends
Hi Mareli,
By coincidence both our featured books this week have insight into the human condition as their primary themes, although dealt with in completely diverse ways and styles of writing by the two different authors.
The wrap-around psychological thriller storyline of ‘Blacktop Wasteland’ suits my preferred reading, however I have quite eclectic tastes and will try just about anything that comes my way!
Thanks for stopping by and have a safe and peaceful weekend 🙂
That book does sound interesting to me. I love the description of the cars collected in the lot. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week!
Hi Becki,
Beauregard does love his racing, for money of course! and it almost always proves just what a good mechanic he is. This time however, things don’t go quite according to plan!
You can almost hear the noise of the engines revving, can’t you?
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy a peaceful and safe weekend 🙂
I love it when the sky looks like a painting. With the fir smoke in the air, it is like that a lot lately. My Friday Quotes are here
Hi Anne,
This is one of those opening passages which is so descriptive, you could close your eyes and imagine yourself there.
I just refreshed my memory about which state you are based in and realise that Beauregard’s painted sky is probably the last thing you want see or envisage right this moment!
Thanks for still deciding to leave your comment. Stay safe and take great care 🙂
I’m afraid I can’t do “blood and bullets” books, although the writing style seems very interesting. I hope you enjoy it!
Hi Christina,
The author certainly went for the jugular when writing this book and there were definitely no holds barred in either the descriptive writing or graphic detail.
Beauregard Montage is a victim of his present day circumstances and his rather colourful past, but get to the real Beau underneath and there is a troubled man who sees no hope or way forward for himself.
If you don’t like the whole ‘blood and bullets’ thing, then this definitely isn’t one for you! I feel the same way about fantasy and science fiction.
It wouldn’t do for us all to enjoy reading the same books, as there would be no room for debate or discussion, which is what keeps my bookish world spinning!
Thanks for stopping by and have a peaceful weekend 🙂
Sounds very good. Especially during all the sadness going on right now.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your thoughts.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by, it is good to meet you. I love chatting about anything bookish, so your comments will always be appreciated.
Don’t let those first lines fool you too much, as this book really does have sadness and desolation at its heart. There might just be a glimmer of light by the end of the story, but even that is very feeble and could easily be extinguished by just one wrong word or stupid action.
A very powerful piece of writing!
Stay safe and happy reading 🙂
This sounds like an interesting plot for an action movie. Hope you are enjoying it.
Hi Anca,
This would make an excellent film IMHO. It deals with some hard hitting issues of the moment, is quite violent and action packed, very fast moving, yet full of emotion.
One I would definitely recommend 🙂
Bug sounds like an interesting character Yvonne, enjoy this gritty thriller when you read it.
Hi Naida,
I have already finished reading this one, in line with my review commitments, so you will be able to check out my thoughts about the book quite soon!
Let’s just say that the storyline is bang on trend right now on so many fronts and reflects society in so many countries of the world, not just the US, where the story is set.
Yes! It is quite violent at times and not all the issues may be palatable to read about, however scratch not too far beneath the surface and the real ‘Bug’ Montage is trying desperately to be heard!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you 🙂