YvonneIt rained for the first time in January 1945. I remember that day very well … There were explosions everywhere. I was surrounded by dead bodies. The stench of blood made my knees want to buckle, but all I could do was run and that’s what I did. I ran till there were blisters on my feet. I ran till I could no longer breathe. I ran till darkness crept in. It was only when I sat by the tree and closed my eyes that I felt his touch. Looking up, I knew I was gazing into the eyes of my enemy …
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Wow! Those are some really powerful and moving opening lines, which left me feeling drained and desolate. From the book synopsis, I am assuming that we are looking back in time, as the storyline is definitely that of a contemporary women’s fiction novel, with a touch of mystery and history. Now I can’t wait to discover just how the two paragraphs of writing (the opening lines and the synopsis), are connected, but I guess that it is going to be some emotional journey!
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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 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.
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As this was an author invitation to read and review, a Kindle download of ‘The Assignment’, was sent to me free of charge, by its author Geraldine Solon.
This will in no way influence any comments I may express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.
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Powerful and moving as you say, I’m intrigued by this book.
Hi Tracy,
Although these lines are particularly powerful and would definitely make me want to read on, this is published as a contemporary romance novel, along with the previous two books written by this author, so I suspect that we are reading a letter, or words from a book or diary.
The synopsis is still intriguing though, so I am looking forward to reading the book.
Thanks for stopping by, the visit and your comments are much appreciated.
Wow!! That sounds like a white knuckle kind of book!! I’d keep reading!!
Hi Vicki,
I think that the opening lines might be just a little deceiving here, as we are looking at the first lines of a contemporary romance novel, although you would be forgiven for thinking that we are about to embark on a thriller.
This will be the third book I have read and reviewed for Geraldine Solon and I have to say that she manages to come up with completely diverse storylines each time, even though her books are always in the same genre. She can certainly never be accused of being typecast!
I hope that you might still be interested in the book, now that you know that you won’t be in for a ‘white knuckle ride’!
Thanks for stopping by, great to talk with you.
From reading the opening, I would never have guessed that this book is a contemporary romance! It definitely grabbed me, and I’m interested in discovering more of the story.
My Beginnings post is from THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE.
Hi Sandra,
I am definitely looking forward to reading this book. Geraldine always seems to write from the heart and the last two of her books have been a pleasure to read and review.
This one is going to be especially poignant, as it will be the first time that she has set the story back in her home country of The Philippines.
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment, you are always welcome.
Scary, and oh so intriguing! Gripping words. Definitely a lot of emotions.
Here’s my Book Beginning:
http://thereadingkorner.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-sneak-like-beginning-book-beginnings.html
Hi Kenzie,
First of all, thanks for deciding to visit Fiction Books today. I always love ‘meeting’ new people and your thoughts and comments will always be welcome and appreciated.
Geraldine’s romances are always packed full of emotion and I suspect that ‘The Assignment’ will be no exception, so I am looking forward to getting started on it soon.
I love the concept that we are back in WWll for the start of this story, with the theme seeming to run through the story, although we are caught up in a modern day love affair.
sounds scary! but i would definitely read on!
http://guiltlessreading.blogspot.ca/2012/08/friday-56-book-beginnings-home-is-roof.html
Hi Alois,
Knowing that this story is set in Geraldine’s native Philippines, I am guessing that these opening lines are set in the wartime of that same country. I therefore have no concept of the atrocities or events that would have occured there during this period, but can only assume that they would have pretty frightening and horrific.
I can’t wait to find out how these words relate to the modern day and tie in with a contemporary romance story.
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment, it is always appreciated.
From those lines it sounds like it could get a bit gruesome in places… It doesn’t sound like a contemporary romance at all!
Hi Nikki,
I am actually thinking that those first few lines are the prelude to some later revelations, but apropos the synopsis, this is definitely a romantic novel, which is Geraldine’s genre.
It is quite a moving opening statement though and certainly gripping enough to need to know more I think.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always appreciate your input to my posts and look forward to your visits.
Those are quite the opening lines! Happy reading.
Hi Naida,
Those are the most powerful opening lines I have come across in quite some time. Not only do they have the definite ‘read on’ factor, but they evoke such a sense of hopelessness and despair, which I guess many books about wartime exploits have.
Hope that all is well with you and as always, thanks for stopping by.
Hi Yvonne,
Thanks for posting the opening lines of my novel. The genre is actually Women’s Fiction with a touch of mystery and it also has a historic slant to it. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing the book. Have a great weekend!
Hi Geraldine,
Thanks for taking the time to read the post and stopping by to leave a comment, it is much appreciated.
I always find that the opening lines of a book, are to me, the most definitive after the synopsis and will often go a long way towards making the decision whether to buy, or not to buy, a book.
You have some great opening lines in ‘The Assignment’ and I am very much looking forward to starting on the book, as next on my pile.
I apologise for the mix-up in genre selection and have re-edited all the genre choices for the posts I have published about ‘The Assignment’, so far.
Have a good weekend.