YvonneGrimbleton, Lancashire, June 1953
“Be careful with that box, Levi,” yelled Susan Winstanley as he guided the precious cargo through the tiled entrance of the Waverley Guesthouse. “To the left into the residents’ lounge …” the petite woman ordered as her brother-in-law squeezed his way through the door.
“No,” shouted Ana his other sister-in-law. “To the right … into the dining room, it will be safer in there.”
Joy and Connie, their respective daughters, looked on with excitement as their uncle Levi lifted the box that was to be the talk of Division Street.
Clicking on the book’s cover image, will take you directly to its Amazon page.
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WHAT IS ‘BOOK BEGINNINGS’ AND HOW CAN YOU JOIN IN THE FUN ?
Would the first few lines of your book make you want to read on?
If so, would you like to share them with us, (without revealing too many spoilers of course) ?
Click here and visit your host, Gilion @ Rose City Reader
You can then leave a link to your own book beginnings post, or just browse for some great reads, there are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered.
Don’t forget that Gilion and all the other contributors to this meme love to hear from you, so why not leave a comment or two at the same time?
I can’t wait to do a little blog hopping myself and check out all the great Book Beginnings you have!
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I love the cover. I am not sure that the opening lines would draw me in but the cover does.
Hi Anne,
I agree that whilst the opening lines may be a little too ‘typically English’, to me, this cover image reflects the joy and hope for the future, after the years of war and hardship.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it 🙂
I hope you’re enjoyin this book. I’m not sure it’s my kind of book, but it definitely sounds like something my mum would enjoy reading 🙂
Hi Nikki,
I’m going to have to stop posting about this genre of book, in fact I shall no longer admit to even reading the stuff, as you are giving me a complex by keep likening me to your mum 🙂
Only joking, as I am probably pretty much the same age as her anyway – I just don’t like being reminded of it, especially with another birthday coming up in a few days 🙂
I couldn’t read the genre on a regular basis, but every once in a while it makes for a change of scenery and some easy reading.
Thanks for the visit and enjoy your weekend, despite the weather forecast 🙂
I’m certainly curious enough to want to know what’s in the box! – it could be such a wide variety of things!
Since you already know I’m reading Middlemarch, I’ll give you the opening lines to my non-fiction.
” ‘What is the purpose of your visit?’ The stocky man seated in the immigration booth wore the dark blue uniform of the Department of Homeland Security and a tag on his lapel that declared his name to be Gonzalez.”
Fed, White and Blue by Simon Majumdar
(and it’s not a memoir, Yvonne!) 🙂
Hi Kelly,
The only clue I can give as to what’s in the box, without giving the game away completely, is that the year is 1953, the year of the Queen’s Coronation. The package would have contained a much coveted item, which would have set the owner aside from most other people at that time and would have made them very popular with friends and neighbours they never knew liked them and who would have all been hoping for an invite in, on the big day 🙂 …. Have you got it yet?
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I had great fun checking out Simon Majumdar, even if his books aren’t something I would necessarily choose to read. I had no idea where the book’s title and your first lines were going, so I was genuinely surprised when I saw the cover art of the book and realised we were back on our favourite subject of food!
I was a bit perturbed to discover that Simon had turned his back on us and headed over for a new life on your side of the pond, however seeing as he married an American, I guess I need to let him off the hook. He did put together a similar book to the one you feature, before he left though, so we have ‘Eating For Britain’ to remember him by!
Thanks for sharing and enjoy your Sunday 🙂
I’m pretty sure I’ve figured it out, thanks to your hints. 🙂
Hoping to get Simon Majumdar’s book reviewed soon!
Looking forward to the review 🙂
What’s in the box? I’d definitely keep reading to find out.
The book’s cover and title immediately drew me in. This sounds like the kind of book I adore.
My Friday post features THE LIE THAT TELLS A TRUTH.
Hi Sandra,
I’m certain this would be your kind of story, although the secret of the box is a giveaway in the next sentence, hence the shortened extract 🙂
Author Leah Fleming has been compared to popular Irish author Maeve Binchy and whilst many of her early stories had a World War ll and post war theming, her writing has now evolved to cover most areas of contemporary and historical fiction, so there is plenty of diversity in her books.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, I always enjoy reading your comments 🙂
I like the cover and the beginning….here’s my Friday meme
Hi Maria,
Having checked out your blog many times, I’m not so sure that this book would be one you would enjoy. However, thank you so much for still taking the time to stop by 🙂
Have a great weekend and ‘Happy Reading’ 🙂
I wonder what is in that box! Happy reading 🙂
Hi Naida,
Now that would be telling – but all the clues are there 🙂
Let’s just say, that when all the invited friends and neighbours gather in this particular house, on a certain day in 1953, then there will be many jealous people left outside, who will be deperate to see what’s in the box!
This book is going to make a great filler story, between a couple of good thrillers and Leah Fleming is one of the best home-grown exponents of the genre.
Thanks for visiting and I hope that you manged to get yourself some quality reading time this weekend 🙂