Monday, April 18, 2016

Where Is Your Bookmark? (04/19/2016)

I am nearly finished with my current read, When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi. There have been moments I am on the edge of my seat or on the verge of tears. It is a beautiful book so far. This is the story of Fereiba and her children as they leave behind the only home they know in Afghanistan in search of safety and a better life elsewhere after the Taliban murders her husband and the father of her children.


Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

Though I love to see my children resting soundly, in the quiet of their slumber my uneasy mind retraces our journey. How did I come to be here, with two of my three children curled on the bristly bedspread of a hotel room? So far from home, so far from voices I recognize. (from the Prologue)
and
My fate was sealed in blood on the day of my birth. As I struggled to enter the twisted world, my mother resigned it, taking with her my chances of being a true daughter. The midwife sliced through the cord and released my mother from any further obligation to me. Her body paled while mine pinked; her breaths ceased as I learned to cry. I was cleaned off, wrapped in a blanket, and brought out to meet my father, now a widower thanks to me. He fell to his knees, the color leached from his face. Padar-jan told me himself that it was three days before he could bring himself to hold the daughter who had taken his wife. I wish I couldn't imagine what thoughts had crossed his mind, but I can. I 'm fairly certain that had he been given the choice, he would have chosen my mother over me. (first paragraph of Chapter 1) 

Every Tuesday, Jenn from Books And A Beat hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.


Teaser from page 16% of When the Moon is Low:
"You're not invisible. I can close my eyes and picture you. I can be alone and hear your voice. You're anything but invisible."
at 33%:
It was easier to walk in the day but harder to look at the children. Their eyes were heavy, their feet blistered and bleeding, and their lips parched.
and and at 35%:
Fate will make things right in the end, though only after the work has been done, the tears have been shed and the sleepless nights have been endured. 
I wanted to believe him. 
What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

What are you reading at the moment?  Is it anything you would recommend?


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

46 comments:

  1. This sounds good although I suspect it is a terribly emotional book - I really like the excerpt from the first chapter, a great way to set the scene.

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  2. The first paragraph from the first chapter is so sad! It sounds like a book that will make me cry.

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  3. I have to be in the right frame of mind to dive into something this emotional on purpose. It does sound incredibly well-written, though.

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    1. Karen - It's such a beautiful book. Sad and beautiful.

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  4. You convinced me, I'm ordering it from the library!

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    1. Karen and Gerard - I hope you like it as much as I did!

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  5. I tried to talk my book club into reading that - it sounds like I need to try again.

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    1. Kathy - I hope they will reconsider. I imagine this would be a good one for a book club discussion.

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  6. Wow. Now I have to track down a copy of this.

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  7. I really want to read this book now that I've read some quotes from it. Of course it will be emotional, but that's what life is, so yes I would read it too. Thanks!

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    1. Rita - The novel is an emotional one, but as you sad it's life. This book puts a human face on the refugee experience, which I think is a good thing. It's definitely worth reading.

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  8. What a powerful first paragraph. The emotions! It sounds utterly hearbreaking, but I bet there are some highly redeeming qualities!

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    1. Charlie - It is heartbreaking. I cannot even imagine being in their shoes. Such a good read!

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  9. Oh, yes, what an emotional read this will be! Thanks for sharing....and I hope you love it.

    Here's mine: “TERRIBLE VIRTUE”

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  10. I've set this book aside for a time when I am up to reading such an emotional story.

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    1. Catherine - I hope you do find to read it! It's worth it.

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  11. I definitely would read this one. It sounds very well written.

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  12. I want to read this book. Although I sense it's going to be sad, it sounds like a good story.

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    1. Margot - It really is a good story--one I think that is important to read.

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  13. It sounds like a very powerful, moving story. More so, as it is clearly based on real experiences. My offering this week is definitely more escapist...
    https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/teaser-tuesday-19th-april-2016/

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    1. Sarah - I'm reading for an escapist book after this one, I think.

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  14. This sounds gorgeous and I love the intro and the teasers that you shared. I'll definitely have to check it out.

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    1. Katherine - It was beautiful. Such a moving story. I hope you do give it a try.

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  15. That sounds like a tough read but a gorgeous one as well. Will be looking forward to your review. I love that it is an edge-of-the-seat read.

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    1. Athira - There were some really tense moments! Such a good book.

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  16. This sounds like a great read and not to mention an emotional one, too. Looking forward to your review, Wendy. :-)

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    1. Melody - I was quite emotional as I read it, I admit.

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  17. This does sounds like a sad one, but, I'd read more.

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    1. Diane - I love books like this. I am glad I read this one.

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  18. I added this to my TBR list! Sounds beautifully written and filled with emotion with plenty to think about. Happy Reading!

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    1. Heather - I hope you enjoy this if you read it! It is a book that just begs for discussion, I think.

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  19. I really can't read this book....although it's definitely well-written, and the author captures your attention immediately, it's much too emotional and sad for me....just reading the excerpts made me want to cry. Hope you enjoy reading it, though!

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my own Tuesday Intros post!! :)

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    1. Maria - Books like this are among my favorites. I love the emotional ones. But I know they aren't for everyone. :-)

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  20. Wow! The second excerpt especially got to me!

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    1. Jenclair - I highlighted quite a few passages in this book, something I don't do often.

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  21. When the Moon is Low sounds fantastic, enjoy!

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