Saturday 20 April 2013

Book Beginnings Friday and The Friday 56

This week for Book Beginnings on Fridays and The Friday 56 I've selected Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston




Beginning:
Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men.




Page 56:
'Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows,' Sam Watson agreed, 'but at dat us needs him. De town wouldn't be nothin' if it wasn't for him. He can't help bein' sorta bossy. Some folks needs thrones, and ruling chairs and crowns tuh make they influence felt. He don't. He's got uh throne in de seat of his pants.'

I'm loving this book to pieces. I can't believe I had never heard of it until I joined in the sync reading on the Classics Club this month.

8 comments:

  1. I've always wanted to read this book. I just never get around to it.


    Book Beginning

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  2. I love that beginning! What a great description. Here's my Friday Post.

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  3. Love that 56, made me laugh.

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    1. Oh, and I added you to the Linky.

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    2. Thanks - I went to make myself a cuppa and you bet me to it :-)

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  4. gorg cover. and what a lovely beginning!

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    1. It's part of the Virago Modern Classics Designer collection series that came out a few years ago. The cover was designed by Lois Mailou Jones who was the first African-American woman to have a retrospective exhibition at a major museum (curiously the blurb doesn't say which major museum!)

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  5. I have never read this but I have heard many wonderful things about it. The writing in that beginning is so beautiful. Thanks for visiting me @ The Key to the Gate. I am a new follower!
    Happy Reading!
    Rebecca

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