Friday Meets - 07 April 2017

Greetings! No, I'm not here to talk politics today. I'm just here for the books and free coffee and cake. But I simply had to share this joke. Should you by any chance be interested, you are welcome to read more about the Friday March against Zuma @ News24. Let's talk books! 

Meet me on Friday @ Friday 56 for a bit of Book Blogger Hop to kick-start the weekend with Book Beginnings.

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. For this date, you will need the following:

•  Grab a book (Yes, any book. But it might get you to your other Friday activities a bit quicker if you just grab the book you are currently reading)
• Turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader
• Find a sentence or two (your other Friday activities might determine this)
• Post it!
• Remember to post your link on Freda's Voice and to visit the other guys in the linky.
• And don't forget to list the title of the book and the author as well.

I am currently reading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert and I enjoy it so much. I've used a great quote from this novel yesterday in my Thursday Quotables post. If you come from a strict Dutch Reformed Church background, you have to read everything Alma's mother detest in this life. Her father is not much the better here:

P56:

She knew that her father detested large men who kept small dogs. Also, he detested people who bought fast horses that they were unskilled to ride. Furthermore, he detested: recreational sailing vessels; surveyors; cheaply made shoes; French (the language, the food, the populace); nervous clerks, tiny porcelain plates which broke in a man's damned hand; poetry (but not songs!); the stooped back of cowards; thieving sons of whores; a lying tongue; the sound of a violin; the army (any army); tulips (onions with airs!); blue jays; the drinking of coffee (a damned, dirty Dutch habit) and although Alma did not yet understand what any of these words meant - both slavery and abolitionists.

Let's join Gilion @ Rose City Reader now for Book Beginnings. Every Friday we 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.

I normally try to feature two different books on the Friday Meets post, but the opening line(s) of this book is just too great not to share:

Alma Whittaker, born with the century, slid into our world on the fifth of January, 1800. 

Swiftly - nearly immediately - opinions began to form around her.

Alma's mother, upon viewing the infant for the first time, felt quite satisfied with the outcome. Beatrix Whittaker had suffered poor luck thus far generating an heir. Her first three attempts at conception had vanished in sad rivulets before they'd ever quickened. Her most recent attempt - a perfectly formed son - had come right to the brink of life, but had then changed his mind about it on the very morning he was meant to be born and arrived already departed. After such losses, any child who survives is a satisfactory child.

I couldn't agree more. 

As always, I will also be joining the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Ramblings of a coffee addicted writer. Every week they will pop a question that you need to answer. Post your answer to your blog, enter your post to the linky provided, make yourself a cup of coffee and go visit the other blogs in the list. 

Today's questions: If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

My Answer: Without even having to think about it

  

I think Dame Agatha Christie had to be the most interesting person to talk to in forever. Not only as an author. She must have had an amazing mind. Or scary. Or disturbed. This lady had a knowledge and an insight into human behavior that could give Dr Sigmund Freud a run for his money. Come to think of it, that will make a great post! BUT - I would not have liked to meet her face to face. Then she would know what I look like, She would know what I sound like, she will know me!! And she will most probably create a character around me. I'll be murdered in the most horrible way. Or even worse - I will murder someone..... 

Mareli 

Talk to me! - If you could meet an author, who would it be? What are you reading over the weekend?