Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tuesday Intros: Bodies of Light by Sarah Moss


" 'Elizabeth is in the drawing room,'Mary tells him.'Mamma has been having another little chat.'
She skips off, jumping on the red tiles in the hall and avoiding the blue, leaving the front door open. At the other end of the hall, the door into the garden is open, and as he reaches to put his hat on the hatstand a breeze lifts the letters on the tray and the front door slams. He likes that, the way houses breathe, the way things move. The door on his left opens and Elizabeth looks around it.



Most women, these days can't peer around doors, can't slip into a room. His friend William claims that his sisters have to squash each other's crinolines to get through their bedroom doors this summer, that they've had to give up lying on sofas after lunch because their skirts would be half-way up the walls.



His mind produces an image, from the sofa's foot, of Will's younger sister Louisa in this position."

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Bodies of Light tells of the coming together and falling apart of a family of idealists in Victorian Manchester. Ally's father paints beautiful women while her evangelical mother visits the slums and campaigns against child prostitution, teaching Ally and sister May to live for others.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?


*****


Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.


10 comments:

  1. For some strange reason all the comments have mysteriously disappeared but rest assured I did read and reply. :-)

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  2. Replies
    1. It does but actually this is one of the very few humorous bits. Touches on some serious issues like child prostitution and child abuse.

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  3. I am definitely intrigued, Cat. Thanks for sharing...and thanks for visiting my blog.

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  4. I love the idea of a house breathing. Sounds like a fun book, whether its meant that way or not. Enjoy.

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    1. It does sound that way but it's not. It's set in the Victorian era but the issues it raises are just as relevant today.

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  5. Same here, the idea of a house breathing is amazing! And very true because the walls have ears and eyes, so why wouldn't it breathe? The pictures you chose are absolutely amazing and they made reading the Intro a lot more fun! Thanks for dropping by and sorry for such a late visit back! Have a great week!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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