Monday, December 13, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays: The Thirty-Nine Steps

This week my teaser lines come from John Buchan's classic adventure tale, The Thirty-Nine Steps. It's one of the books I'm reading for a couple of the challenges I still have to finish up this year, but it's also been on my TBR list for decades now.

The quote comes from Chapter One, and I'm not sure of the page number since I'm reading it on my iPad (it's Location 43-55 of the Kindle edition). At this point in the story, we've been introduced to the protagonist (and narrator of the story) Richard Hannay and he's being visited by an upstairs neighbor who seems in need of his help (I know this is more than two lines, but I didn't want to break up the passage):
There was a tray of drinks on a table beside him, from which he filled himself a stiff whisky-and-soda. He drank it off in three gulps, and cracked the glass as he set it down.

'Pardon,' he said, 'I'm a bit rattled tonight. You see, I happen at this moment to be dead.'
Okey-dokey. Well, I can tell you that the neighbor is definitely NOT a vampire, ghost or zombie, but beyond that my lips are sealed.

Cover of the Penguin edition.


Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in a comment here.

36 comments:

  1. I don't know this book, but this cover looks very cool :)

    Here's my Teaser Tuesday

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  2. Great teaser! Have never read the book, but have seen the Hitchcock film based on it.

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  3. Good pick of teasers! I haven't read this but have seen the film.
    Too many good books, too little time!

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  4. Ghoul? Ghast? Reincarnated? Hmm.. Mummy! I can't think of any other undead types at this moment

    Mine is here!

    Sniffly Kitty
    Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books
    New Meme: Third Sentence Thursday!

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  5. I've never read this -- seen the movie, of course.

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  6. I can't stop thinking of what this undead might be?
    Or is it a plot ploy? His next line going 'or will be soon'?

    My teaser is from a favorite series which I am re-reading in parts:
 You can visit this David Weber book and my latest update on ebook news at e-Volving Books

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  7. Happen to be dead? very intriguing!! and not a zombie too...I wonder what he is.

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  8. Hi Joy,

    I'm afraid that my comment mirrors many of the others.

    I have seen the film, albeit many years ago, but have never read the book.

    I guess it is one of those classics that everyone should really read in their lifetime, but there are just so many books to which that applies, aren't there?

    Yvonne www.fiction-books.biz

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  9. This sounds like something to explore...I have not attempted it, even after all these years. Maybe it's time?

    Here's mine:

    http://rainysnowday.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/teaser-tuesdays-dec-14/

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  10. Whoa. That's quite a blunt statement to make! You picked a fabulous teaser and now I want to know if he's not any of the things you listed, what is he?

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  11. Sounds interesting! Mine is here: http://theenchantedbook.blogspot.com/

    Have a great Tuesday!

    Selena

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  12. Cool teaser. I hope that you are enjoying it. Wanna see what my Teaser for Tuesday is?

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  13. Whoa, nice! I love this teaser and adore the cover. How awesome is that??

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  14. Here is my teaser from Out of Touch by Brandon Tietz (Page vii):

    I used to be the kind of guy that would have no problem reading Playboy or Hustler on an airplane, but that me in "the before," and nearly everything has changed since that time in my life a little over a year ago.

    This is not a coming of age story.

    If that's what you're wanting then I suggest you put this down and read something else: something with a happy ending. Like Penthouse.

    Or: the funny pages.

    This is me giving you your official warning.

    Because where this goes, you might not be ready for.

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  15. Good teaser! Mine is from a light a fluffy novel called Dating Mr December. You can see it here.

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  16. Wow, that's an awesome teaser! Really picqued my interest!

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  17. Wow - that IS a great teaser Joy! I'm really intrigued... Here's my Teaser! ~ Wendi

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  18. Holy teaser! Dead should be bad, but it sounds so good!

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/12/teaser-time_14.html

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  19. I've heard of this title - a classic in mysteries, is it? Nice tease. Here's my teaser.

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  20. YEAY! Teaser Tuesday!!!!!!! Here is mine! It is the day when my to-read list just can't stop growing!!!

    Sincerely,
    Emma Michaels
    Emma_Michaels@hotmail.com
    http://EmmaMichaels.Blogspot.com

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  21. Hmmmm dead... not ghost, vampire or zombie... what could be left in the paranormal world... maybe a figure of speech for "Damn to tired to lift a muscle on the pinkie..."

    I's got the clue! Am I right ;)

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  22. Hi Joy! Now that was an interesting teaser! I am not, however, familiar with that book. Hope you enjoy it. Hope you're having a great holiday season!

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  23. Ok that got my curiosity up no vampire , ghost or zombie what could it be?? Awesome teaser gonna ponder what it could be lol while I do this is mine My Tuesday Teaser

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  24. Wow, I haven't been to your blog in a while and it looks completely different! I like!

    What a great teaser!

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  25. Interesting...any time I read something like this, I think of that Monty Python sketch where they say the parrot is just sleeping, lol.

    My teaser:
    http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=2036

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  26. That's a GREAT teaser! Now I need to put this book on my own books-to-read-before-I-die list! Thanks for sharing!

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  27. Great teaser! Must be a marked man. This book is on my long TBR list...and I've always meant to watch the movie, but haven't gotten around to that either. One of these days!

    Here's mine: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2010/12/teaser-tuesdays_14.html

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  28. Great teaser! I saw the movie years and years ago. Now I'll have to read the book.

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  29. That definitely sounds interesting.

    Mine is up at Wakela's World

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  30. Excellent teaser! Now I have to know what happens :)

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  31. That is quite a teaser. You definitely have me curious.

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  32. PBS made this into ao movie last winter and it was excellent. Never read book though. Hope you are enjoying it :)

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