What is Book Beginnings?
“Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.” (Source: Rose City Reader)
The Sentence:
The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years – if it ever did end – began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain.
– from It by Stephen King
Impressions:
Most of the books I read are advanced copies where I cannot quote for publication. That said, I decided to choose a title I’ve been reading – or listening to – for a little bit longer than I prefer. I reckon I’ve got about 30-40% of the book left, I think. So, after missing last week, here’s this weeks “Book Beginnings.”
For those that have not had the pleasure of seeing It, whether by the original film or the one released this year, this might seem an extremely mundane, if somewhat baffling, statement to begin a book with. After all, what sort of trouble can a paper boat possibly bring about? If you’re holding a physical copy of It, then you’re liking staring at a tome wondering what this might entail.
Of course, the story behind It is fairly well known at this point, so some readers, like myself, already have an idea of what to expect. Somewhere though, there’s probably a kid picking up this title as their first Stephen King read (mine was Salem’s Lot) and wondering what journey they are about to embark upon.
