Welcome to The Friday 56, a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice.
These are the rules:
1. Grab a book, any book.
2. Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader.3. Find any sentence (or a few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
4. Post it.
5. Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda's most recent Friday 56 post.
I'm also taking part in Book Beginnings, a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader. The rules are pretty simple - you share the first sentence or so and your initial thoughts, impressions, or whatever else it inspires. Don't forget to link up your post's url with Rose City Reader.
This week I'm spotlighting my current read, RoseBlood by A.G. Howard. I'm not very far into it yet, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how this Phantom of the Opera retelling works out! I've never read the source material, but I love the story (I've seen it on Broadway and I love the movie musical. Plus, I have a soft spot for the silent horror film with Lon Chaney).
Beginning:
At home, I have a poster on my wall of a rose that's bleeding. its petals are white, and red liquid oozes from its heart, thick and glistening warm. Only, if you look very close, you can see the droplets are coming from above, where a little girl's wrist - camouflaged by a cluster of leaves - has been pricked by thorns as she reached inside to catch a monarch.
56:
"Rune," he muttered in hushed tones. In ancient times, runes were mystical, divine liturgies, powerful enough to cast spells. That explained why he was bewitched by her.
This week I'm also taking part in a brand new linkup called 50/50 Friday, which is hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reader and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. Every week they'll have a new topic featuring two sides of the same coin - this week the topic is Best/ worst book you read in January.
Best:
This was a difficult decision because I read several great books in January including The Alchemists of Loom, And the Trees Crept In, A Gathering of Shadows, The Invisible Library, My Lady Jane, and Pulse: The Trial. Out of those, though, I'd say my favorite was A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab - and I'm beyond excited for the next book!
Worst:
Unfortunately, this was a pretty easy choice. I was really looking forward to The Fireman by Joe Hill, but it dragged too much and Kate Mulgrew's performance as the narrator wasn't so great.
One thing you can say about the Howard books, the covers are so compelling. I, too, have never actually read The Phantom of the Opera. I wonder how this one compares.
ReplyDeleteMy Friday quotes
Very true - she's always had great covers. We'll see how it goes!
DeleteThanks for sharing!
Roseblood is one of the books I want to read. I've read a couple of A.G. Howard's other books, so, I'm really looking forward to this one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to try them! :)
DeleteRoseblood does sound good. This week I am spotlighting Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Kathy!
DeleteWow, intriguing excerpts...and amazing cover. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog as well!
DeleteRoseblood is a book that I really want to read. :-) Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to soon, Freda!
DeleteRoseblood is excellent. I really enjoyed the retelling. I haven't read the VE Schwab one yet either. I think I'll probably avoid the audiobook of The Fireman. The hardback is sitting in my TBR pile but I don't know if I'll attempt it anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's great to know - I'm enjoying it so far! Hopefully The Fireman will be more enjoyable in print. Thanks for coming over!
DeleteThe Joe Hill caught my eye. Maybe reading it will be better than listening to it.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
That may very well be the case, Sherry. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteRoseblood's cover immediately made me think of Phantom of the Opera, so I expected the two stories would be related somehow. I'm intrigued!
ReplyDeleteMy Friday post features The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry.
I'm glad I could pique your interest, Sandra! Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteI've heard so many mixed things about RoseBlood that I'm wary, but that quote you shared sounds like the book is heavy on the romance so I'm a fan of that!
ReplyDeleteI seen some mixed reviews as well, but I am liking what I've read so far. :)
DeleteThanks for visiting, Amber!
I have Roseblood on my list to read, but seen mixed reviews so now I am leery...lol. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stormi!
DeleteI still haven't read any of A.G. Howards books and I feel so bad about it because people keep saying how wonderful they are! I've never read a Phantom of the Opera retelling so I'm definitely intrigued! I'm so glad you've read so many good books this month! That's always the best feeling: having to choose the best book out of so many good books. It means it's been a fun month! I hope you have an equally good February, Lauren!
ReplyDeleteLaura @BlueEyeBooks
You should really try her stuff, she's pretty good! I really lucked out last month, didn't I! Thanks for coming over, Laura!
DeleteI haven't read Howard's books yet either. I do have one that I hope to start soon.
ReplyDeleteMy Friday 56 from Every Last Word
Good luck with it, Laura! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteRoseblood has quite an intriguing cover.
ReplyDeleteI certainly does! Thanks for visiting my blog, Yvonne!
DeleteAlthough I love the music of Phantom, I'm not sure about the story. I've always felt it kind of falls apart in the last section. Maybe the retelling will improve it? Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'll certainly be finding out soon! Thanks for visiting my blog, Bev!
DeleteI'm really interested in Roseblood!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Friday 56!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
It was pretty good!
DeleteThanks for sharing. :)
I've never read the original either, but I'd like to, maybe this year. And those are awesome quotes!
ReplyDelete