Friday Book Fun

I've never done this before, so I hope I get it right.

I am participating in not one, but two blog linkups (I don't even know if that is what to call them - yes I am that green.)


But they're both about books, so I know I'm in good company.


The first is BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader.

How it works is every Friday you share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The second is The Friday 56, hosted by Freda's Voice, where you 

*  Grab a book, any book.

*  Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.) 

*  Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) 

So here goes....

‘Gareth has such lovely hair.’

‘I suppose the only way to tell you this, Mrs Crocker, is just to come out and say it,’ the educational psychologist announced, demonstrating her superpower for stating the obvious. Even at my tender age – and with all the emotional depth of a hamster – I sensed that what was to follow was not necessarily going to be magnificent for me.

‘And don’t get me wrong,’ she added. ‘I adore Gareth. He really is such a nice and energetic boy. So full of life.’ She then looked down at me and searched for something else kind to say. ‘And he has such lovely hair. The nicest hair, really.’ I watched as my mother folded her arms. Hmmm. That was interesting. It didn’t feel cold to me.

‘You see, the thing is, I believe that Gareth would be better served by … uh … attending a school more equipped to deal with his … er … condition.’ ‘I’m not following you,’ my mother replied, firm of both lip and tone. ‘What condition?’ As usual, I was one step ahead of my mother and now understood precisely what this meeting was about. I obviously needed to be sent to a school for kids with remarkable hair. Oh what a relief. Sound the trumpets. Let loose the monkeys from their cages. I wasn’t in trouble after all."

And so it begins, a quirky, humorous 'almost memoir' from Gareth Crocker, called Ka-Boom!

It's very funny, and stuffed with exploits and action - Gareth has had an interesting life.

Page 56 has this jewel...

"Now, please, don't get me wrong. I loved that old car. I loved the way it sounded. The way it smelled like the ocean for weeks after a trip to the coast. how beach sand remained trapped in its floor mats forever. Its springy seats. The fact that whenever I saw it pull into Rolene Avenue, I knew that it was carrying my father, the most magnificent human being ever to put on a pair of pants. A man who, for all of my 40 years, has lived on a pedestal so high that I can barely make out the colour of his shoes."

What do you think? The kind of book you'd love to read?