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 a great way to spend a Friday!
My featured book today is The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware, a taut and intense read—one that will leave even the most sure-footed reader restlessly uneasy long after the last page is turned.
Beginning: In my dream, the girl was drifting, far, far below the crashing waves and the cries of the gulls in the cold, sunless depths of the North Sea. Her laughing eyes were white and bloated with salt water; her pale skin was wrinkled; her clothes ripped by jagged rocks and disintegrating into rags.
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56%: I took a deep breath. There was no alternative. No one could divert the boat except Bullmer, and if I didn’t do this now, I might never get the chance. Better to speak up, even with an audience, than risk…I pushed the thought away.
***
Synopsis: In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…
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What do you think? Does this one grab you? Do you want to keep reading?
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That is quite a disturbing description for a book beginning. It softens it just enough that it’s a dream that I want to keep reading, though. Great find!
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Oh, yes, I agree, Roberta….and I’ll happily move beyond the dream to see what really happens. It will probably be pretty creepy/scary, too, though. Thanks for stopping by.
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Yes this was one of two books I read set on a boat this year and I really enjoyed it – happy reading Laurel
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Thanks, Cleo, and books like this one make me very sure I don’t want to go on any cruises…LOL.
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Hope you are enjoying it! I liked it but didn’t love it.
Stormi
Friday Memes
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I haven’t started it yet…later today, probably. Thanks for stopping by, Stormi.
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That sound like a page turner.
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Yes, I think it will be, Jo…I loved her book In a Dark, Dark Wood, which led me to download this one after I read it. Thanks for visiting.
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You have me curious and I would definitely read on.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Thanks, Sherry…I’m reading another riveting story now (Missing, Presumed), but hope to start this one later today. Enjoy your pick.
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I’m currently listening to this one. About an hour in and liking it very much so far. The narrator is good. My mystery group is reading Ruth Ware’s first book, IN A DARK DARK WOOD, for April. I enjoyed that one a lot too.
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Thanks, Kay, and I loved In a Dark, Dark Wood…which is why I bought this one. Hope to love it, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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Oh my goodness. The BB gave me chills! Thanks for visiting my blog today!
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Yes, I am glad the visual images of that opener were not something I could actually see…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Lisa.
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I’m on the waiting list for this one and it’s taking forever! I loved her first book and am really looking forward to this one. I hope you’re enjoying it!
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I also loved her first book, Katherine…and hope to dig into this one by this evening. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like a book I’d love! I’m drawn in with that intense beginning. Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda, glad you could stop by…and thanks for hosting.
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I have heard a lot of great things about this book! Your post has moved it up my “To-Read” list!
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I’m glad, Becca…thanks for stopping by.
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This book sounds fascinating, captivating, and suspenseful! I could totally see myself reading this in the summer on vacation (possibly a cruise vacay?) haha!
Checkout our Friday 56!
http://tanglednbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/friday-56-january-6-2017.html
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I agree, Wendy….thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds good….ENJOY!!
A friend read it and liked it.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Thanks, Elizabeth, I am eager to get into it.
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This one does grab me but I’m biased since I read it ha ha. Glad you’re enjoying it! I remember her dreams as well as those interludes where there news reports and getting really worried about her! Good read.
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Thanks, Greg, now I am even more eager to get into it.
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I saw this in the bookstore recently and the title alone kind of had me intrigued, but dared not touch it for fear of procurring it and adding it to my ever growing TBR list. Now after reading the beginning and the 56 there is a very good possibility I’ll purchase it along with Ware’s other work, In a Dark, Dark Wood, which I have been putting off buying. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Erica, and I have the same compulsion when I read about a book I’d love.
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Oh yeah. I’d keep reading. Got it on my reading list.
My Friday 56 from 77 Shadow Street
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Thanks for visiting, Laura, and let’s both love it.
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Oh my goodness! Is the woman dead?! Eek!
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Thanks, Vonnie, and I’m curious about that, too.
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I really enjoyed this one!
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Good to know, Kimberly…thanks for stopping by.
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I think I would have to be in the right mindset to read this. I hope you enjoy it!
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Me, too, Karen…thanks for stopping by.
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I loved this one! Happy reading! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
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I’m loving it, too, Lauren….thanks for stopping by,
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I’ve heard a lot about this one. Hope you enjoy and that your week turns out wonderfully.
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Thanks, Alicia, I just finished it…and loved it! Thanks for stopping by.
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I keep seeing this one at my job and now I’m even more curious in it and I might just pick it up.
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Thanks, Ashley, it was definitely riveting…a real page turner. Thanks for visiting.
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