Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which I share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers, who do the same.
Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.
To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.
Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!
What better way to spend a Friday!
Today’s book is one I’ve recently downloaded, a book I’ve had my eye on for months. Sweetbitter, by Stephanie Danler, is a lush, raw, thrilling novel of the senses about a year in the life of a uniquely beguiling young woman, set in the wild, seductive world of a famous New York City restaurant.
Beginning: You will develop a palate.
A palate is a spot on your tongue where you remember. Where you assign words to the textures of taste. Eating becomes a discipline, language-obsessed. You will never simply eat food again.
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56%: I knew he was down there. He had just told Nicky he was going down to find a bottle of scotch, even though I had told him, for over a week, that we were out. I’d even asked Howard about it, and he’d told me it was back-ordered at the distributor. And yet Jake refused to believe it.
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Blurb: “Let’s say I was born when I came over the George Washington Bridge…” This is how we meet unforgettable Tess, the twenty-two-year-old at the heart of this stunning debut. Shot from a mundane, provincial past, Tess comes to New York in the stifling summer of 2006. Alone, knowing no one, living in a rented room in Williamsburg, she manages to land a job as a “backwaiter” at a celebrated downtown Manhattan restaurant. This begins the year we spend with Tess as she starts to navigate the chaotic, enchanting, punishing, and privileged life she has chosen, as well as the remorseless and luminous city around her. What follows is her education: in oysters, Champagne, the appellations of Burgundy, friendship, cocaine, lust, love, and dive bars. As her appetites awaken—for food and wine, but also for knowledge, experience, and belonging—we see her helplessly drawn into a darkly alluring love triangle. With an orphan’s ardor she latches onto Simone, a senior server at the restaurant who has lived in ways Tess only dreams of, and against the warnings of coworkers she falls under the spell of Jake, the elusive, tatted up, achingly beautiful bartender. These two and their enigmatic connection to each other will prove to be Tess’s most exhilarating and painful lesson of all.
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What do you think? Have you read this book? Would you keep reading?
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Enjoy! This one is on my wish list and I’m waiting for a library copy to become available.
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Thanks, Catherine, I have heard such good things about this one. I hope we both enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend.
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Yes!! I would keep reading, this sounds like huge fun – enjoy!
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It does, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Cleo, and enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds like there could be a lot of drama in this book. I hope you enjoy it. I’ll be watching for your review.
My Friday post features THE LITTLE FRENCH GUESTHOUSE.
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Thanks, Sandra, I hope to love it….and I like the look of your pick, too. Thanks for visiting…enjoy your weekend.
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I have not read Sweetbitter, but it looks like a very interesting novel.
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Thanks, Breana, glad you could stop by, and enjoy your pick! Good weekend ahead for you!
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I have been eyeing this one lately and deciding whether to download or not. I have heard good things and like the little bit you shared too!
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Thanks, Grace, I am eager to finally get to this one…enjoy your weekend and your pick, and thanks for visiting.
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Sweet bitter sounds like a great read. I’ll look out for it. Here’s my Friday Book.
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Thanks, Bev, and I love the cover on this one, which drew me in before anything else…and then I read lots of positive thoughts on it. Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for visiting.
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The cover of this one would have turned me off right away. I did love the BB. It created a wonderful image. I’d love for you and your readers to check out mine… http://tinyurl.com/LisaKsBookReviewsTGC
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Thanks, Lisa, and it’s interesting what draws us in…I actually loved the cover. It spelled DRAMA. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend.
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This one is on my TBR. I’ve heard some fantastic things about it! I can’t wait to see your thoughts on it. I love the teasers! Especially the beginning.
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Thanks, Katherine, I enjoyed the snippets I’ve read so far, too…and have heard good things. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend.
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This doesn’t sound like the kind of book I would choose. I hope you are enjoying it. My book this week is Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh – a romantic suspense title. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and I enjoy Melinda Leigh’s books, too.
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Hope you enjoy this one. 🙂
Stormi
Friday Memes
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Thanks, Stormi, I hope so, too. Occasionally I will NOT enjoy a hyped book…hope this one is not one of those.
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Sounds quite interesting. ENJOY!!
Have a great weekend.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Thanks, Elizabeth, I’m eager to explore this one. Enjoy your weekend!
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A perfect summer read, and there’s food! LOL I’ll be checking this one out.
My Friday 56 from Ink and Bone
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Yes, perfect for summer! Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds like a great read for foodie bookworms! 🙂 Happy weekend!
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Definitely! Thanks for stopping by, Freda, and enjoy your weekend.
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I just received my Amazon/Apple settlement credit, and I’ve been thinking about buying this to read on my Kindle. It looks, and sounds, so good.
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Thanks for visiting, Loreen, and that settlement has definitely brought more books onto my stacks! Enjoy!
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This is one I definitely want to read. I worked at a restaurant through college so I expect flashbacks! Enjoy!
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I’ve never worked in a restaurant, but I love the ambience of the special ones I’ve visited, and this one sounds like one that will engage me. Thanks for visiting, Heather.
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This one sounds like it’s setting up a love triangle. I confess, it’s not my favorite romantic trope, but I hope you enjoy,
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I hope so, too, Alicia, since I’ve been eager to read it and have heard good things about it. Enjoy your pick, too.
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I like the sounds of this one. I’ll add it to my wishlist.
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Thanks, Yvonne, so do I! Can’t wait to find out more. Enjoy your pick…and your weekend.
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It sounds interesting and angst driven at the same time – not sure I’m up to the romantic triangle at the moment but I sure hope you enjoy the heck out of it:) Thanks for checking out my Friday meme earlier
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Thanks, Maria, we do have to be in the mood for these things, don’t we? Thanks for visiting.
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Wow. What a great beginning. I never knew one could develop a palette. It reads a little like nonfiction.
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I’m curious as to what the author will do with it. Thanks for stopping by, Anne.
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Love your Book Beginning and Friday 56. Sounds interesting…
Glad to be here after a very long time!
Here is my Friday 56
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Thanks, Gautami, and welcome back! Enjoy your books and your weekend.
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Not sure if I’d keep reading or not.
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I’m sure it’s not for everyone, Vicki…I’m not even sure it’s for me yet…lol. Thanks for stopping by.
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I was looking at this at B&N – very interesting!
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I hope we enjoy it, Lauren…thanks for stopping by.
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