6.22.2012

Book Beginnings - Man Gone Down


Book Beginnings is a meme hosted by Rose City Reader. Share the first sentence (or so) of a book you are currently reading, along with your initial thoughts and impressions about the sentence or book. Remember to include the title of the book and the author AND link up at the Rose City Reader

 
I know I'm not doing well. I have an emotional relationship with a fish--Thomas Strawberry. My oldest son, C, named him, and that name was given weight because a six-year-old voiced it as though he'd had an epiphany: "He looks like a strawberry." The three adults in the room had nodded in agreement.

This is a good way to begin this book. Of course, it won't make sense until you learn the circumstances of the narrator, but his emotional relationship with Thomas Strawberry, the fish, reflects the severity of his situation--he is not doing well at all. I'm about halfway through. It's a stream-of-consciousness piece. It's sad, dark, sometimes funny, always stressful, and thought-provoking...I really like it so far. It's the first book I'm reading for what I've now dubbed 'Quest Alpha'

 

11 comments:

  1. I love the beginning of this book! I like the idea of naming the fish "Thomas Strawberry" - you know only a kid would have thought of that...lol

    Here's my Friday Meme Post

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    1. I thought it was a nice name too. Dignified yet cute.

      Thanks for visiting.

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  2. Hmm, it would rather difficult to have an emotional relationship with a fish since they can't really give anything back except funny fishy faces. Though if I had a fish that looked like a strawberry I might fall in love with it too.

    Oh, and I just read a review for a book called Ghetto Cowboy that would fit into Quest Alpha. It's written by the author of the graphic novel Yummy: Tales of a South Side Shorty. Thought you might be interested.

    Here's my Book Beginnings.

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    1. ...I was emotionally attached to a goldfish I had for five years. He fell victim to a parental unit who thought it was okay to leave him out in the sun while his tank was being cleaned. I did mourn.

      Ghetto Cowboy? hahaha. No way--The title is too much. I've never heard of Yummy either...thus another reason to continue Quest Alpha.

      Thanks for stopping by Chris.

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  3. I like that beginning - it's funny and you'd be compelled to read on for sure! Thanks for visiting my Friday post earlier and have a great weekend!

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  4. What an interesting book! Why do you call it "quest alpha"? I must have missed a post . . . . I'll go to the link for my explanation.

    Thanks for participating in Book Beginnings!

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    1. Its really good. Well, I think it is anyways.

      Quest Alpha is just a mini reading project I've started for myself. I've been avoiding a certain section of the bookstore because I don't appreciate the direction the genre has gone in.

      Thanks for visiting!

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  5. This does sound sad and dark. I will check back and see how you liked it after finishing it.

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  6. I kind of like the beginning! It made me laugh. Hope you like the book!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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