Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays: Dance of Death

August 18th already! What's going on with this summer, ya'll? It's moving way too fast. And somewhere back around the middle of July I got behind with my reading schedule, and really never have been able to get back on track. Actually, I'm having trouble just finding the track. Bummer.

Did I say "bummer"? OK, no more Woodstock anniversary shows for me.

This week I'm still mainly reading Updike's Rabbit Is Rich, but since I used that one for last week's teaser, I thought today I'd use the other book I've got going at the moment, Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It's one of those books I started last month and never managed to get through. I'm enjoying it a lot – as I've said once or twice before, I'm a huge fan of Aloysius Pendergast – but at the rate I'm going, I'll be finishing it up sometime around New Year's Eve.

OK, moving on. This snippet comes from page 107:
"He paused in the doorway of the restaurant, looking at her. The morning sunlight had turned her glossy black hair almost blue, given her pale skin the sheen of fine marble."
I've noticed that black hair is almost always "glossy" in these Preston/Child books – at least when it's on the head of a female. Which makes it sound like they've all been greasing themselves down with Vaseline or something. But the fact that her hair is "almost blue" is a very descriptive little addition. Sounds like maybe he's having a rendezvous with Veronica from the old Archie comics, doesn't it?


Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB17 at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or participate yourself, head on over to her blog. And these are the rules: Grab your current read; Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given! Please avoid spoilers!

23 comments:

  1. I've pulled waaay back on requesting books to review, and I'm still feeling the pinch to read more than I'm capable. The problem is I have to order so far in advance. For instance, just this morning, I put in for three books for October.

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  2. Which makes it sound like they've all been greasing themselves down with Vaseline or something

    hahahaha. that made me laugh.

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  3. What? Bummer is antiquated. Bummer!! I used to love the Archie comic books. Am I showing my age yet? Actually, today would be my mother's 99th b'day if she were still alive. Loved your teaser. it made me think of the author Gerald Stone; all his female characters had "cinnamon colored hair". Just once, Gerald,just once- GO for a blonde or glossy blue black hair. Sorry for the rambling. Have a great week and happy reading.

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  4. I'm behind with writing reviews - reading is going nicely, but I've been too busy to write much.

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  5. I'm still using Bummer! It feels so descriptive. Thanks for Archie too. Oh, did I read the teaser? Sure, nice writing today.

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  6. LOL! Woodstock Anniverary Shows. There have been a number of them. And that was a flash back with Archie and the gang as well. I used to read them all the time. loved your post today. read my teaser here

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  7. Great teaser. I found myself behind and trying to get caught up in the last month as well.

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  8. Funny! And I always think of Veronica whenever I read any kind of description of "blue black" hair. Its like I have to imagine her hair to know what that means.

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  9. I've been known to say bummer occasionally. I didn't know it was dated.

    Good teaser, but I expecially enjoyed your comments about it.

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  10. At least you didn't go the full distance and use "Bummer, man."

    And what was that in the news earlier this summer, Archie choosing Veronica over Betty? You know the 24-hour news channels are starved for stories...

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  11. Hee Hee. I've always wished I could get my hair to gloss, but I've never tried Vasoline. Thanks for the tip :)

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  12. Good teaser! Very descriptive!

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  13. Great teaser and thanks for bringing Archie back into my life.

    here is mine: http://wordsmithonia.blogspot.com/2009/08/teaser-tuesdays_18.html

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  14. I still like the word Bummer.

    Black, glossy hair was sounding a tad greasy to me until they added in a shade of blue. Now it sounds cleaner and prettier. Wonder what it is about black hair that that author likes.

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  15. That's a great teaser! Mine is from Jo Graham's Black Ships this week - a really excellent book. Here it is.

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  16. Every time I think of shiny glossy hair, I remember this kids show where someone did that and their hair became hollow and spiders came out of it. How the spiders went in there in the first place, remains a mystery. But that is what I always think of. :p

    Great teaser.

    ~ Popin

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  17. I think I prefer Updike - lol!

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  18. Good teaser. I have always liked Agent Pendergast too. He has a very interesting story to tell.

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  19. Great teaser! Mine's here and is from Julia London's Summer of Two Wishes.

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  20. What a groovy teaser! (And I hear "bummer" all the time, and not just from 60s kids either.)

    I laughed and laughed at your vaseline comment. But that "blue" description is so perfect! I remember as a kid, reading Superman comics and wondering why that blue was in his hair. I finally realized it was actually to make it look really black and gleaming.

    But yeah...vaseline. Perfect!

    Anyway, my own teaser is at Bookishgal.

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  21. I've only met one person with black hair that was almost blue. She was Japanese-American, and it was really sort of awesome; I could've stared at her hair for hours. Most times when I read something like that, though, I put it down to hyperbole. Great teaser!

    You can check mine out here.

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