Try this? When you finish a book

[hermetic]

go back and reread the first paragraph. Look for the ways in which it predicted the rest of the text or, in the most skillful cases, taught us to read it. This is the advice from an article called A Close Reading of the Best Opening Paragraph of All Time.

That paragraph is from Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead.

I’m not sure I agree it’s the best paragraph ever but I did read that book over 50 years ago and still remember that I thought it was great (the book).

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting article about reading so I wanted to share it with you.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/a-close-reading-of-the-best-opening-paragraph-of-all-time?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[cilla4progress]

1. I have a frustrating problem

With forgetting much of the book, and this happens with films as well. I get so caught up in the moment, the writing, and so emotional in a sense, I lose the arc.

I've often thought of writing my own summary, or simply rereading them.

[hermetic]

2. I do that, too

With a lot of books. Sometimes, though, one will really stay with me. Shirley Jackson's books were good that way.

I think writing your own summary is a great idea. I keep a list of titles now but once in a while have to look them up to refresh my memory of the plot.

I plan to try doing what this article suggests, just to see if it makes any sort of difference for me. It's like the most challenging thing suggested to me in months so I might as well. If ya know what I mean...

[birdographer]

17. Same here, but

it does mean I can re-read books and not feel like I know every word. I'm so glad Amazon tells you when you have already bought a book, otherwise I would have a lot of duplicates. I catalog them on Library Thing with review stars and sometimes a note, just to keep track of books I have read!

[cilla4progress]

19. Thanks for the tip -

Library Thing!

[birdographer]

20. I love that site

You can link up with others who like the same books you do, and they are a source for recommendations. It's a cool site, lots to explore.

[cilla4progress]

21. Wow -

thanks! Librarians are my heroes!

[SheltieLover]

23. Ty for sharing about Library Thing!

[birdographer]

24. My catalog is at

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/psherman

If anyone else wants to share theirs, I'd love to see it!

[SheltieLover]

25. Ty!

Trying to figure the site out.

Guessing like many sites, desk top pc might be required.

[birdographer]

26. I have Mac laptop

I have never tried to access it from an iPad, though... (or any other tablet). I hope you can get in.

[SheltieLover]

27. I'm in

But navigating is difficult.

Can I, for instance, make your site a favorite? I don't see a way to do so.

[birdographer]

28. OK on my front page of a random person

over to the right there is a "add to " option, which includes Friends and other things. If that is there, you can add me, I guess as a friend, and when I get the notification, I can also add you. Let's try it!

[SheltieLover]

29. Yaaaaaay!

Ty! Going to add you!

[SheltieLover]

30. Done!

Yaaaaay!

I love reading & share your stated practice of stopping when the work is intolerable, no matter where you are in the book. Lol

Ty so much again!

See you at the library!

[MontanaMama]

3. Wonderful article!

I’ve always been a first paragraph snob in that if it really hooks me, I’ll probably buy the book but I never thought to go back to that first paragraph to see what if anything it might have foretold about the characters and plot of the story. Fascinating. I think I should read Shirley Jackson’s book so I can know more about Mary Katherine Blackwood.

[hermetic]

7. Hi!

This book is easy to find online. I just got a PDF copy and started reading it. It really grabs you. It's also kind of funny and especially now if you imagine all the towns folk are repugs.

[NJCher]

14. there's also a new movie about Shirley Jackson

Link at Rotten Tomatoes:

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shirley_2020

[hermetic]

16. Oh cool!

Thanks.

[MyMission]

4. Great idea

I often reread a book after the first read. Always pick up new things.

But rereading the beginning, specifically to see if or how there is foreshadowing, can be another fun thing about reading!

Thanks for the post.

[Oldem]

18. I often reread my favorite books

after years--sometimes many years--have passed. I'm a different person, then, than I was when I first read it. Sometimes I'm amazed that I remember little or nothing about it. Sometimes I remember much of it and delight in the second (or third) reading, anyway. I'm saving a reread of Walker Percy's The Second Coming for a special time.

[cilla4progress]

5. Yes, this sounds like a fun practice!

Thanks for the Shirley Jackson rec. I'm only familiar with her great classic The Lottery.

[Shaking in my boots!]

[hermetic]

8. I found it in PDF form

and just started reading it. It does have some things in common with The Lottery. I think The Haunting of Hill House is the scariest story I ever read. It actually gave me chill bumps.

[NJCher]

15. when I did my fall literature syllabi

That story would always be read around Halloween time.

It is just so, so disturbing.

[dweller]

6. Interesting

might not work with John Irving tho ..

✌🏻

[hermetic]

9. Love Garp!

And The Hotel New Hampshire. Yeah, some books might just be a little TOO detailed to pull that off. I do know that the first paragraph needs to have a lot of clout, though. "It was a dark and stormy night" just doesn't cut it anymore.

[dweller]

10. Irving once said in an interview

He wrote the ending first, then the rest to end up there ...

🤔

✌🏻

[keithbvadu2]

11. Only takes a minute and you have already invested much more time in the book.

Only takes a minute and you have already invested much more time in the book.

[hermetic]

12. Exactly

Good point.

[cilla4progress]

13. Big John Irving fan here, too!

I went to college in Vermont in the 1970s.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. An assignment in a creative writing class I once took was to share the opening paragraph

of a novel we liked.

That was the one I shared.