Nonsuchbook tagged me for a meme. After yesterday's longish post I figured it would be a perfect break for both you and me.
The rules are: Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open up the nearest book to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences. The CLOSEST BOOK, not your favorite or most intellectual. (I think I won't actually tag anyone, but please feel free to play along)!
Okay, so the closest book is the one sitting next to my computer at the moment, Sue Gee's The Mysteries of Glass, which I am reading for Cornflower's book group. First I was excited to read it after checking out the book blurb, then I started it and wasn't too sure, but now I am several chapters in and am really enjoying it. She seems to be a wonderful writer, very descriptive (lyrical as one reviewer called it) without being too over the top. Well, here's a random taste, so you can see. Page 56:
"Across the street, standing outside Webbs, Ironmongers and Drapers, a gentleman, tall, a little cadaverous, was raising his hat. An air of dry aristocratic melancholy hung about him. Richard recalled the pressing of a bony hand om the cold church porch, a kindly inclination of the head. There it was again. He raised his own clerical hat, pulled down his muffler and crossed the muddy street, stepping out of the way of a pony and trap making for the market at a trot."
Actually, that is from page 56, but as the fifth sentence was the beginning of dialogue that would make no sense taken out of context, here is the fifth sentence and then several previous sentences--I went backwards. By the way I love the cover of this book (another one to make me feel cold!).
I seem to be reading a number of books with vicars and curates in them at the moment. Along with the Gee book, there is Charlotte Bronte's Shirley and Barbara Pym's Jane and Prudence.
Now I turn my attention to a rather important matter--an Amazon gift card that is burning a hole in my pocket, so therefore must be used soon. I'm contemplating what I should buy. I always agonize over these things. At the moment I am leaning towards a nice, fresh, new copy of the Italo Calvino book (the library copy really is pretty grotty), and the movie Gosford Park (which I've borrowed from Netflix twice already, so I might as well just buy it). Not sure what else will tempt me (too many books actually, which is why I am trying to be selective), though these two will pretty much eat up the gift certificate. Still, I need to spend enough to get free shipping, right?