Tuesday, May 13, 2014

First Paragraph, Tuesday Teaser -- The Valley of Amazement

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the first paragraph of her current read. Anyone can join in. Go to Diane's website for the image and share the first paragraph of the current book you are reading.
Yesterday I started Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement. I'm expecting great things because it's by Amy Tan.
Here's the intro:
When I was seven, I knew exactly who I was: a thoroughly American girl in race, manners, and speech, whose mother, Lulu Minturn, was the only white woman who owned a first-class courtesan house in Shanghai.
Also this week  is Teaser Tuesdays. Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Open to a random page of your current read  and share a teaser sentence from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.
And here's my teaser from page 97:
The woman's face was contorted and her shouts were faint, distant. She had deafened one ear. She slapped my face and more stinging tears rose. "Do you understand?" she said in a faraway voice. I could not gather my senses long enough to answer before more slaps followed.  
Sounds totally different from the intro, doesn't it? Things must really go south for this character in the first hundred pages.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I've recently read/reviewed this book. I liked it a lot and hope you enjoy it too.

Kathy Martin said...

That is quite a change from the beginning to the teaser. It makes me curious to know what happened. My teasers this week are from Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn and The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver. Happy reading!

Harvee said...

I've read this Amy Tan novel and liked the historical setting and of course, the main story.
Harvee
Book Dilettante

Sheri said...

You have my curiosity :) Thanks for sharing! Here is my teaser from Out of Reach by Missy Johnson!

Trish said...

Hmmm sounds good! I hope you enjoy!

Trish - my teaser

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, yes, must add to my list! I haven't read this author in a long while.

Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

Literary Feline said...

I am eager to read this one. My mom gave me a copy as a gift for Christmas. I would definitely keep reading. I really like Amy Tan's writing.

gautami tripathy said...

Wonderful Intro. I would go on.....

Here is my Intro post!

AND

Here is my teaser post!

Kim@Time2Read said...

For some reason I've never been able to connect with Amy Tan. I don't know why because I know she is very popular. Hope you enjoy this one!
Thanks for stopping by!

Nise' said...

Looking forward to this book.

Ellie @ Ellie Reads All the Books said...

I haven't read anything by Amy Tan yet. Your teasers got me curious to try her books :)

kayerj said...

It doesn't appeal to me but I hope you enjoy your book. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I like it and actually have been meaning to read it. enjoy

Unknown said...

Very nice! I've heard wonderful things about Tan's books. Thanks for sharing!

Ambrosia said...

Very good teaser. thank you for stopping by :)

Mystica said...

I would love to read this book with a teaser like that!

Unknown said...

You know, I've never actually read Amy Tan though I know she is very well known. Should really really give her a try.

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