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Books on fire

In this post: Booking Through & Third Sentence



Have you ever read a random book left in a waiting room or on a park bench, etc., and did you like it?

Often I wonder when will I experience this. I mean finding a book left somewhere which happens to be something I would like to read. Yesterday I browsed the latest arrivals at Kinokuniya. By the time I noticed that I have been standing by the shelves for almost an hour on 3-inch heels, I was tired and sat on a bench where I found some YA fiction left by the inventory staff. I read parts of the first chapter, but aware that the book had to be accounted for in only a few minutes, I put it back on the bench and went to discover a very attractive spot - the Charles Dickens Bicentennial Anniversary collection. Ah... party! Now if i found one of those left on a park bench, I would warm that bench.

*More bookish answers at Booking Through Thursday


Book: The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory

3rd sentence: "The walls were orange and scarlet, with the bobbing light of reflected flames, and I could hear yells of angry, rioting men."

Thoughts: It's like a scene in a movie, or that night when I and my roommates were awakened to be told that the administration building was on fire, a memory one could not easily forget. I remember feeling so worried and terrified for the nearby library. The fire was speeding to its direction. Even now nineteen years later, I could hear the crackling flames and see students running here and there. Much like this opening scene in Gregory's The Wise Woman, I relate with the main character as she woke up in chaos. She in an abbey, I in a boarding college dormitory on a hill.


*Proud Book Nerd hosts Third Sentence Thursday

Comments

  1. I came to read your BTT answer, which I liked...and then went on to read the Third Sentence Thursday. I may have to participate in this one soon!

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    MY WEBSITE

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  2. I would pick up a random book in a bookstore or something like that sure. But not so sure in public. Here's my BTT.

    Happy Reading!
    Cathy @ Addicted to Books

    Never heard of third sentence thursday, that's cute will have to check it out for next wee.

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  3. Hi: Yes - I haven't found any books lying around either, but I chose to write about another type of "found" book here: http://yearofreadingmybooks.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/empire-state-cakes-and-chatterboxes-booking-through-thursday/ Happy reading, Ruby

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  4. Instead of using the word "fire," she describes the colors. It really makes what's happening more frightening. Sorry you had a personal experience with an alert about fire.

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  5. That's a great third sentence from that book. I haven't read that one yet, but I love Gregory's writing.

    Thanks for playing along! :-)

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  6. I often find yummy books in bazaars---normally costs 8€ but I get them for .50cents. This reminded me of one of my favorite films, Whisper of the heart...a hopeless romantic me would say; while you're reading, the book owner comes back and impossible as it could be - he turns out to be a hunk that looks like Channing Tatum, you talked about the book so and so and the rest is history...hahah so much for imagining. Enjoy your weekend!

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  7. wanting to experience the pachinko (slot machine) parlors in japan, i was surprised to see a library in their waiting room. there, i was able to read the complete volumes (tankobon) of some of the animes whose endings were not aired. what i enjoyed most was learning about the furoshiki, like how i could fold an ordinary scarf for a bookbag. best of all, you can read them in a massage chair.

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  8. Furoshiki is new to me and sounds very interesting I would research it. Thanks for sharing your story, Jani. I love it.

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