Monday, August 31, 2009

I would like to thank Cate for giving me something to post about today

While I wait for the end of the month to roll around Cate Gardener, the writer of the beautifully written chapbook The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon, tagged me. Here is the take:
From the biggest bookcase you have, pick out one book whose author’s last name starts with each letter of your last name. If you have no books by an author whose last name starts with a particular letter, go to the next letter. If you have two of the same letter in your last name, get two separate authors, not two books by the same author. Bonus: If you can, pick the first book you haven’t read off your shelf, unless you’re one of those people who’s read all the books you own.

- Post the first sentence of each book, along with the author and title. Feel free to skip prefaces and such, especially if they’re by a different writer.

I was glad I have a rather large bookcase to choose from because there aren't many books with authors whose last names start with E I found out. G was rather difficult as well. So without further interruption here we go.

E: Beulah by Augusta Jane Evens. A January sun had passed the zenith, and the slanting rays flamed over the window-panes of a large brick building, bearing on its front in golden letters the inscription, "Orphan Asylum." This was a book leftover from one of my college literature classes.

Y: Yeager, an autobiography by Chuck Yeager. I never knew when I might be taking my last ride. Actually a very interesting autobiography. I recommend it.

B: Spiderweb by Robert Bloch. The door was of blonde wood, highly waxed. Admittedly, not the best first line of a book. The rest was much better. Really.

E: Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans. I find myself astonished at mankind's persistent yet vain attempts to escape the certainty of oblivion; expressed in nothing less than the ancient pyramids and by nothing more than a stick in a child's hand, etching a name into a freshly poured sidewalk. My wife and I share the bookshelves and this is one of hers. I have yet to read it.

R: Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice. This is Azriel's tale as he told it to me, as he begged me to bear witness and to record his words. I have never read this book, yet.

G: Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales For Our Life & Times by James Finn Garner. There once was a young person named Red Riding Hood who lived with her mother on the edge of a large wood. His take on the classic stories is well worth the read. Very funny.

I am not going to tag anyone in this post except everyone who wants to do it. It is actually a challenge to find books that represent the letters in your name. Have fun. See you tomorrow.

10 comments:

Cate Gardner said...

E was difficult for me too, in fact I thought I was convinced I was going to fail. G however - Gaiman, Gaiman, Gaiman, says she who forgot to use him. Doh!

That Yeager line is intriguing.

Aaron Polson said...

Love the politically correct tales. I have speech/drama students that use something from there every year.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Cate- oddly enough I don't have Gaiman in my library, or any of the bookshelves in my house. I am working on remedying that, soon.

Aaron- I have two of those books. It works well with the Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly stupid Tales.

Fox Lee said...

Now all I can do is wonder if I have an "S" author on my shelf!

Unknown said...

Beulah sounds like a good one.

Katey said...

The Fairy Tale book sounds marvelous-- I'll have to go and look it up. That's a fun meme!

Jamie Eyberg said...

Nat- If you have a copy of Frankenstein you are golden.

Jeremy- I know I read it, but I don't remember it. Of course, that was 1993. . .

Katey- you won't be disappointed. I recommend the one I mentioned and not the sequel. It wasn't nearly as good.

Danielle Birch said...

I love this Meme.

Danielle Birch said...

And she clicked too early, before she'd finished...I love hearing/seeing what books everyone has on their shelves.

K.C. Shaw said...

I wish my last name was longer, because this sounds like fun. All your excerpts are interesting.