Once again I’m linking up again with Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea who hosts a post every Tuesday for people to share the first chapter / paragraph of the book they are reading, or thinking of reading soon. Diane is currently on a summer break but I have decided to carry on regardless because these are some of my favourite posts. I see others are doing the same – if you are, please leave a link to your post in the comments so that I don’t miss checking out your reads.

I’m also joining in with Teaser Tuesday, hosted by The Purple Booker, where you share two teasers from your current read. I read a lot of these posts over the course of an average Tuesday so thought it would be fun to join in here too.

So, after a very long intro, this is what I’m reading this week…This week I am reading A Pocketful of Crows by Joanne M. Harris, a favourite author of mine who always surprises me.  Here’s what it’s about…

I am as brown as brown can be,
And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.
(The Child Ballads, 295)

So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.

Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape.

Here’s how it starts….

The year it turns, and turns, and turns.  Winter to summer, darkness to light, turning the world like wood on a lathe, shaping the months and the seasons. Tonight is May Even, and the moon is full for a second time this month. May Eve, and a blue milk moon. Time for a witch to go travelling.

And here are some teasers….

“His name is William MacCormac. I heard it from a white-headed crow, who heard it from a black sheep, who heard it from a tabby cat that lives in a dry-moated castle. The castle belongs to a rich old man Sir James MacCormac. He is laird of this piece of earth, and William is his only son.”

and

“I supposed Fiona had left the note by the hut in my absence. When I returned, I also found a neatly wrapped parcel of bread and cheese, some honey and a basket of fruit, standing by the firepit. She must have left them there for me, while the white-headed crow watched from the trees”.

What do you think?  Do you want to know just who the white-headed crow is and what he is up to?  Would you carry on reading?

Emma x

Note: this is from a review / proof copy.

Find on: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads