Thursday, June 08, 2017

Where Is Your Bookmark? (06/09/2017)

I am well into the audio version of Girl in Disguise by Greer Macallister, narrated by Stephanie Cozart and enjoying it so far. It is a fictionalized account of the first female Pinkerton operative, Kate Warne. She's made good company while I do a bit of spring cleaning and on my commute to and from work. I have a kindle version too, which I purchased not realizing I had already used one of my Audible credits on the audio version, but ultimately decided to listen to the book instead.


 
A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

August 1856 
Like any Chicago tavern in deep summer, Joe Mulligan's stank. It stank of cigars smoked the week before, months before, years before.
Tonight's smoke pooled against the basement ceiling in a noxious cloud. I acted like I smelled only roses. The woman I was pretending to be would have done the same.  

I am sharing more than the first sentence, I know, but I could not help myself. The opening two paragraphs are the perfect set up for the novel. The reader gets the feel for the environment the narrator is in and just what she is up to--or rather a tease about what she is up to. This hooked me instantly and had me wanting to know more.



A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

I hated the feeling that every time I parted company with someone I knew, it might be the last time we saw each other alive. 

The country is on the brink of Civil War and tensions are high. I like this quote because it captures just how serious--and dangerous--the work Kate Warne is doing is.

So, what do you think? Would you keep reading?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

If you could have lunch with any living authors, who would you choose and why?
Imagine having lunch with the likes of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman? Or Nadia Hashimi, Sarah-Jane Stratford, and Lisa See. Let's add Margaret Atwood to the mix. And absolutely J.K. Rowling. John Scalzi and Karen E. Olson. Can we make it a lunch party? I can think of a dozen other authors I would love the have lunch with. With all of these authors, I envision good conversation, both entertaining and intelligent. We could talk about their books, social issues, and life in general. I have great respect and admiration for all these authors. Now if only I wasn't so tongue-tied around authors . . .

What about you? What living author would you like to have lunch with and why?


© 2017, 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.

48 comments:

  1. Definitely a party instead of just one! :--). I bet John Scalzi is very fun.

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    1. Jill - I figure with multiple authors there, I can do more listening than talking myself. :-)

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  2. My mom read Girl in Disguise and loved it!

    Have that lunch party and invite me!

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    1. Kathy - I'm glad to hear it! I am really enjoying it myself.

      You are definitely invited when I have that lunch party. :-)

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  3. Interesting! I was reading something about Kate Warne recently that interested me so I'd like to read Girl in Disguise. Strangely, as often as I've seen the author/lunch question, I've never wanted to have lunch with even my favorites. I would be too awed to have a conversation!

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    1. Jenclair - Did you read the nonfiction book about her that just came out? I can't remember if I heard about it on your blog or somewhere else.

      I have a feeling I would be too awed to participate much in conversation with my favorite authors too. That's why a party might be better. I can stay in the background. :-)

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  4. Great lunch party. I would enjoy the company as long as Stephen King wouldn't tell any of his scary stories. LOL!!

    Thanks for sharing, and have a great weekend.

    My bookmark is in EVER LAST LIE by Mary Kubica.

    Happy Hopping!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog Hop Answer

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    1. Elizabeth - Haha! No, I imagine I would have him talking about everything else. :-) I hope you have a great weekend too. Enjoy Ever Last Lie! I've heard good things about Kubica's books.

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  5. What a question, Wendy! There are too many authors to list! lol I happen to know a few of them and have had lunch, etc., but certainly not the woman who continues to hold that "pinnacle place"---Joann "J. K." Rowling for all the obvious reasons. The woman is a genius on so many levels, I love the way she thinks, she's funny and seems to be a joy to be around and I'd love to have that experience :)

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    1. ...and, you know, Neil Gaiman would be a delight, I'm sure, as well as Stephen King. When I read his ON WRITING, I really gained so much respect for him as a writer and found I really like him :) All good choices!

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    2. Donna Marie - It is a hard question. There are so many authors I would like to meet. I've met a number of them at book signings, but not yet for lunch.

      I couldn't agree with you more about J.K. Rowling. She's not only a good writer, but seems like a genuinely great person.

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    3. Well, Wendy, the lunch thing (and more) is I've been heavily involved with the NJ SCBWI and have a lot of author and illustrator friends. They're all delightful :)

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    4. I'm always impressed when I hear Neil Gaiman and Stephen King speak. I haven't read King's On Writing, but perhaps someday.

      The conference sounds like so much fun!

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    5. Wendy, ON WRITING is geared more towards writers, but I think anyone who's a fan of talented authors would enjoy this book. The first half would be interesting to anyone. The second half focuses more on writing craft so I'm not sure how non-writers would absorb that. To me, it's ALL interesting :D

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  6. I like the 56 and beginning. Thanks for mentioning the book.

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    1. Breana - I am really enjoying it so far! Thank you for visiting. :-)

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  7. I want to come to the lunch party! This sounds like a good read. I like the Pinkerton Detective connection. Kate sounds tough but a lot of fun. I definitely need to read this one - plus that cover is just gorgeous!

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    1. Katherine - You are very welcome to come. :-) I think it would make for a fun lunch.

      I plan to follow this read up with a nonfiction book about Kate Warne. I find the Pinkertons so interesting, especially the female operatives.

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  8. Wonderful picks for your lunch party! Now that is a table I would love to sit at!!

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    1. Erica - Now to think of what we should all eat. Haha

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  9. Nice sounding book-- never heard of it before so I'm intrigued! Nice cover, nice blurb too.

    I don't know who I would invite to lunch, so many choices, and if I invited all my favorite authors it would be so chaotic I wouldn't get my questions asked! Probably though Stephen King as some mentioned; he is wildly creative and intelligent, and I read "On Writing" by him, which gave an in-depth view into his life and his craft, so I feel like I know him already.

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    1. Rita - I read another book by Greer Macallister (The Magician's Lie) and really liked it. This one just came out not too long ago, I believe. I wasn't too sure about the narrator of the audio version at first, but she's grown on me.

      I haven't read On Writing, but I hear it is good. Stephen King seems like a very personable man. I think I would enjoy meeting him.

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  10. Gaiman, Rowling, Scalzi, See, and Atwood - excellent choices. :)

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    1. Lauren - They all seem like they would be friendly and provide good conversation--at least what little I know of them. :-)

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  11. Yay! I would love to have lunch with Neil Gaiman too!

    Here’s my Book Blogger Hop!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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    1. Ronyell - I think he would be an awesome person to spend time with and get to know!

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    1. Nicki - And with that group, I could sit back and enjoy the conversation around me. :-)

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  13. Sounds like a great read! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - It is! I am enjoying it quite a bit. I hope you have good weekend too!

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  14. I like the beginning and the 56- sounds like a good book! And the author question- I don't even know! Isn't that awful lol? I guess I have to think about that one...

    Have a great weekend!!!

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    1. Greg - It is good and interesting. I had a hard time thinking of authors to list too--and once I wrote my answer, I keep thinking of more I would like to add. LOL

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  15. Yes great blog hop answer, all your picks are amazing authors. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog hop. Have a great weekend and happy blog hopping.

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    1. Kati - Thank you! I hope you have a great weekend too.

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  16. I want to be invited to your author lunch party! ;) I'd pretty much choose the same ones, maybe with Robin Hobb and Alice Hoffman too.

    Girl in Disguise sounds really good from your snippets- I don't blame you for sharing more.
    ~Litha Nelle

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    1. Litha Nelle - I think it would be so much fun! You are definitely invited if it ever happens. LOL Robin Hobb and Alice Hoffman would be great additions.

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  17. I LOVE the subject matter of the book you're reading, Wendy!! The first female Pinkerton detective? I'm adding it to my Goodreads shelves right away!!

    Those two opening paragraphs got me interested, too! The prose is magnificent, and the imagery, just PERFECT. Also, the author has somehow managed to convey the scent involved. Amazing.

    I think I would be tongue-tied myself, when meeting a favorite author for the first time. That would be especially the case with J.K, Rowling, whom I also mentioned in my answer. Of the others you mentioned, I would also like to meet Gaiman and Atwood. Stephen King is too scary for me. As for the others, I am not familiar with them, so I would have to look them up.

    I also selected some bloggers, one of which is YOU, Wendy! I would greatly enjoy having lunch with you, discussing favorite books, authors, and genres, and, of course, finding out what Mouse was up to!

    Thanks for sharing!! Have a GREAT rest-of-the-weekend!! HUGS TO YOU & MOUSE!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

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    1. Maria - I hope you will give Girl in Disguise a try. I am enjoying it quite a bit. I hope to read the nonfiction account of her life next.

      Having more of a lunch party would make it easier for me to sit in the background and enjoy the conversation. :-) King's not a particular favorite author of mine (although I have enjoyed some of his work), but I admire him and we share similar tastes in movies and music. Hearing him speak and reading articles by him (not related to his novels), I get the impression he would be a great conversationalist and a fun guy to hang with. I would love to meet J.K. Rowling. Not just to talk about books. She's amazing all around.

      I would enjoy meeting you too, Maria! Thank you for the mention. Mouse would probably want to come too. Haha

      I hope you have a great weekend too! Thanks for visiting!

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  18. Oh I love the premise for Girl in Disguise. I love historical fiction where a female protagonist is trying to do something outside of the norm. Hope you enjoy!

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    1. Iliana - It's a great book so far. I had hoped to finish this week, but it wasn't meant to be. For sure this next week. I love historical fiction with women who step outside the norm too. :-)

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  19. Oh man those are all good choices for lunch dates... I also would love to have lunch with Rowling, See, or Atwood! There's so many great authors out there, how could you just pick one??

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    1. Edel - It's impossible to pick just one, I think. And hard to narrow it down!

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  20. I've been intrigued by Girl in Disguise since its release and I enjoyed reading this author's previous work so much. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

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    1. Melody - I am nearly done with it and have really enjoyed it. I think you might like it, Melody!

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  21. I would. I'm not keen on the first sentence but the second and the one from page 56 are very good. The period interests me too.

    The lunch list would be long, definitely yes to Rowling!

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    1. Charlie - Yes, the time period interests me as well. Admittedly, I tend to read more historical fiction set in your country during that time period than my own. So, this is a nice change!

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  22. Girl in Disguise is one I really want to read if I can ever get my reading mojo back. lol

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