Thursday, August 20, 2015

Book Beginnings: Goodbye Stranger


Goodbye Stranger, by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books; August 4, 2015). These are the opening lines from the book's Prologue:
When she was eight years old, Bridget Barsamian woke up in a hospital, where a doctor told her she shouldn't be alive. It's possible that he was complimenting her heart's determination to keep pumping when half her blood was still uptown on 114th Street, but more likely he was scolding her for roller-skating into traffic the way she had.
Initial Thoughts:

OK, my first thought was: Why in the world would she be roller-skating into traffic? Shouldn't an 8-year-old know better? The other thought that comes to me is that I used to LOVE roller-skating. Am I too old for it now? Would I risk hip-replacement just to roll around the rink a few times? Hmmm.

But I digress.

I've heard a lot about this one, so I'm looking forward to getting to it in a few days (if things go the way I'm hoping they will). Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me won the Newbery Medal in 2010 -- I haven't read that one either, but it's definitely on my TBR list. Right there, with all the four or five thousand other to-be-read volumes.



Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.


9 comments:

  1. I tried to read the Newbery winner every year when I was teaching, but sometimes the were very boring. This one sounds like it's contemporary setting and bits of humor will keep it lively, so I'd try her Newbery book as well.

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  2. That's a great opening. Like you, I'm wondering why she would skate into traffic. Was she trying to get away from someone?
    The children's books I read these days are geared to 4-year-olds (the age of my granddaughter), but I'm sure I'll be reading more sophisticated stories as she grows older. This sounds like a good one.
    My Friday post features Key to Love.

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  3. I love that opening and cover - I need to read this one!
    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

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  4. I LOVED When You Reach Me. I've heard this book is very good, too.

    My Friday Quotes

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  5. I've heard good things about Rebecca Stead and I did plenty of stupid things at age 8 so I feel like this might be a good read for me. I really like the slightly sarcastic tone of the opening as well! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great weekend!
    My Friday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  6. I've been hearing a lot about this book too. Like you, I haven't read her Newbery Winner. My YA Friday pick is Hunter by Mercedes Lackey - a sort of science fiction dystopian. Happy reading!

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  7. I used to roller skate a lot in my teens, even had a pair of my own. I too wonder why in the world she would be skating in the street, but all you really need to do is look around at the skateboarders and that will answer your question.

    sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes

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  8. Thats a great opening, I've been seeing this book a lot lately and it definitely intrigues me.
    http://dualreads.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/friday-reads-and-friday-56-with-book.html

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  9. Yeah, it was probably the latter... lol... good opening.

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