For the first time in a while, I’m linking up again with Vicky at I’d Rather Be At The Beach 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.
This week it’s The Things We Learn When We’re Dead by Charlie Laidlaw, who very kindly sent me a copy to read. I have to say the cover was what first caught my eye, but it sounds good too. Here’s what it’s about…
On the way home from a dinner party, Lorna Love steps into the path of an oncoming car. When she wakes up she is in what appears to be a hospital – but a hospital in which her nurse looks like a young Sean Connery, she is served wine for supper, and everyone avoids her questions. It soon transpires that she is in Heaven, or on HVN. Because HVN is a lost, dysfunctional spaceship, and God the aging hippy captain. She seems to be there by accident… Or does God have a higher purpose after all?
At first Lorna can remember nothing. As her memories return – some good, some bad – she realises that she has decision to make and that maybe she needs to find a way home.
And here’s how it starts…
“At the end of her Edinburgh Street, where it joined a busier road, was a security camera perched high on a metal pole. If anyone had been watching they would have seen a slim young woman in a red dress illuminated under a streetlight. They would have seen that she seemed agitated, her feet fluttering on the pavement’s edge, her hands raised to her face, turning this way and that, and then stepping into the road. She seemed to be crying, unsure what she was doing. They would have seen the approaching car and that the young woman was looking in the wrong direction. When she did hear it, turning in mesmerised surprise, it was too late. But perhaps nobody had been watching the CCTV screen because it was the driver of the car who called for the ambulance as a small crowd gathered, and who then tried to make the young woman comfortable – talking to her, even pushing his jacket under her head – and waited beside her until the ambulance arrived and the paramedic said he couldn’t detect a pulse.”
What do you think? It’s a long paragraph but quite interesting I thought. Would you keep on reading?
Emma x
One Readers Thoughts 
LOL – Interesting intro and overview. I hope you like this one.
Here’s my link -http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2018/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday.html
LikeLike
Oh yes. I like that opener. And it makes me suspicious about the helpful driver.
LikeLike
Oh I hadn’t thought of that!
LikeLike
This sounds like a fun read!
LikeLike
I hope it is 🤞
LikeLike
Sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy it. This week I am featuring <a href=http://inside-dog.blogspot.com/2018/05/first-paragraphteaser-tuesday-cake-and.html”>Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Wow! Now I must keep reading. I want to know what happens. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
LikeLike
I hope it’s good – a few chapters in and so far so good.
LikeLike
Not sure I would keep reading. The intro sounds interesting but the blurb didnt work for me. Happy reading and thanks for visiting my blog.
LikeLike
Fair enough – I’ll let you know how it goes 😜
LikeLike
It’s not exactly grabbing me. but I am intrigued by the basis of the story. I think I’d need to read more.
LikeLike
I know what you mean but it is intriguing
LikeLike
It would be a no for me but I hope you enjoy it.
LikeLike
I can see why it would be appealing but this isn’t one for me I think but I will await for your review before a definitive decision.
LikeLike
I have a feeling it might be an odd review to write.
LikeLike
It is certainly an arresting opening – but I don’t like the omniscient viewpoint very much and hope that it soon disappears… Are you enjoying this one?
LikeLike
I am but not very far in. It’s gone a bit sci-fi at the moment.
LikeLike
I just got this one as a review copy! Can’t wait to begin 🙂
LikeLike
So far, so good. I do love the cover x
LikeLike