Showing posts with label book beginnings on Fridays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book beginnings on Fridays. Show all posts

Friday, December 13, 2013

Dammit for Cynical Spirits Book Beginnings

I like to make good use of inspirational affirmations, Thus, every now and again I purchase myself one of those cute little books with words of wisdom to browse through during not-so-happy life moments.

Yes, dammit, those times do occasionally peek through like a rain cloud trying to ruin a day of sunshine. But that's ok, I vow to be happy anyway!


I discovered a gem of a book that achieves feeding the need for inspiration and tosses in a bit of much needed laughter too. And so it is that I share the book beginnings with you from the first page of How to Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness.

"THE IDEA FOR THIS BOOK: To create the first and only self-help book that merges Psychology, Biology, Eastern Philosophy, Western Philosophy, Quantum Physics, and the Zen of Bazooka Joe that's guaranteed to perk up even the most cynical spirit."

Still cynical?

Allow me to help you with that! Read my full review of the Dammit book as I Recharge Negative to Positive.

Read more about why I bought the book in my article on Negative Thinking on Positive Thinking Day.

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I am linking this blog article up with the Book Beginnings on Fridays blog hop, hosted by Rose City Reader. There you will find a listing of all bloggers who are sharing the beginning sentences of books.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Book Giveaway Winner Beginnings

I really must start buying lottery tickets. If my winnings at book giveaways is any indication of my luck of the draw, I might win the lottery too. And then I could buy more books!

Thank you! to Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews for hosting the Guess the Desk giveaway. I am the Winner! I won, not one-but two, books from the desk of author Julie Kramer.

I will be sharing the first sentences of each of Kramer's books with you today, as my addition to the Book Beginnings on Fridays, a book blog hop hosted by Rose City Reader.


I had to wrangle Delivering Death from my housemate's hands as he had taken it from me right out of the delivery package. That title reeled him in! He says he is really enjoying the novel. Here are its beginnings...

"A guard checked a number against the ID bracelet on the man's wrist while marking his name off a clipboard as he stood in line."

And, I have to tell you, the next paragraph really reeled me in, so I will be waiting not-so-patiently for my turn at reading this Kramer novel.


Fortunately, I am just as thrilled with the second book title I received from Julie Kramer: Shunning Sarah, a novel of murder and an Amish community.

I have always been intrigued by Amish stories, in books and movies, as well, so this one grabbed me immediately. Sharing first from the book's Prologue...

"The missing face unnerved me. No eyes, nose, or mouth lent personality to the cloth doll clutched by the little Amish girl."

And the first few sentences from Chapter 1...

     "What do you smell, Bowser?"
     Josh Kueppers, wearing a neon orange stocking hat and carrying a shotgun, chased after his dog.
     "Maybe bear?"


Now, tell me, which of these novels from the desk of author Julie Kramer do you plan to purchase first?


Friday, November 22, 2013

Gracie the Undercover Beagle #BookBeginnings

No doubt about it, kids will fall in love with Gracie The Undercover Beagle and her Sidekick Boston Blackie as they team up to solve the mystery of the egg thief. This children's book is first in a series of four-legged stories for children by author Douglas Quinn.

My full review of Gracie has now been published, but for today I wish to share with you the first sentence or two of the book's beginnings.

"The moment the morning sun peeked over the eastern horizon, Red the Rooster started crowing. The hen house was right outside Gracie's bedroom window, and when Red began his morning ritual, Gracie did what she usually did."


Of course, I will be linking up with Book Beginnings on Fridays, a blog hop for book lovers to share a sentence or two of a book with you.

Have a good book to share? Blog its beginning and link your post up with Rose City Reader!


Friday, November 15, 2013

Now I Lay Me Down To Toss And Turn

Yes. I can expect that I shall lay my pretty head down on that pillow upon the bed to toss and turn throughout the night. I have pretty much suffered insomnia for most of my life.

As a child I slept very little. I never seemed to outgrow the habit formed in my youth of listening for the sounds of the night horrors of abuse with a stepfather coming in drunk when the bars closed.

Now, at night I have peace and quiet that I did not have in my younger years and I have my dog Tidbit to guard me through the darkness. Still I cannot sleep.

 

Night Owl they call it. Fear of the Who and the What, I think it must be.


These days I fear it must be worrying about tomorrows that may never come; worrying about things that I know shall occur. Then, too, there is the worrisome pain in my back, neck, and arm from injured spinal cord and nerve damage that allows me not to sleep.

I seem to be more creative in the late evening and on into the wee hours of the morn. So I read and I write and I create through the worry and the pain that bid me stay awake.

Insomnia Leads the Way to Master Your Sleep


Tonight I am led to share with you a few sentences from the beginning of the book, Master Your Sleep: Proven Methods Simplified, by Tracey I. Marks MD.
    

    "To secure your best night's sleep you must achieve success in the three following areas: falling asleep, staying asleep, and having that sleep be as restful as possible. Sleep and rest are not entirely the same, as many of the body's regulating and healing functions require sleep, not just rest. There are plenty of people who have no difficulty with the first two tasks, yet regularly awaken after several hours of sleep feeling as though they slept only a few hours.
     To understand these areas we need to..."


Do you have trouble getting a good night of sleep?



Book Beginnings


Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader. We share the first sentence, or a few, of the beginnings of books and link our blog post up with the host post. If you have a worthy read to share, hop along!


Friday, November 8, 2013

Dog-Ma Book Beginnings

I am delighted to be linking up for the first time with Rose City Reader who hosts the Book Beginnings on Fridays blog hop. In this book blog hop we are to share the opening sentence or so of a book we are reading.

I discovered the Friday book blog hop while visiting Elizabeth at Silver's Reviews.

Fortunately, I have a new pair of reading glasses (have finally adjusted my sights) and can begin to get caught up on my reading of books for pleasure and for review, which generally go hand-in-hand.


Today, I wish to share with you the beginning of the book...

Dog-Ma: the Zen of Slobber

by Barbara Boswell Brunner.

"It is everywhere. The stark white walls shimmer with droplets like a Jackson Pollack painting. My hand pulses with pain as I struggle to separate the combatants, one collar in each outstretched hand. Rivulets of red run down my arm and I am unsure if it belongs to me. I cannot, I must not fixate on it. My heart pounds until I am sure it will escape my chest; each beat pronounced and strong. My predicament is clear: let go of one and the other will perish."

And there you have it, the start of life filled with dog-ma: the zen of slobber, according to Brunner.

I can not wait to sink my teeth into the rest of the Brunner family canine story. Be sure to stay tuned for my full book review to be announced here on Ruthi Reads.

Also for your reading pleasure is my rave review of my all-time favorite book: Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.