Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where you can share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book you are reading or thinking about reading soon.
I’ve just started to read Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell. I loved an earlier book by her, The Hand That First Held Mine, and so far this one looks just as good.
It begins:
The heat, the heat. It wakes Gretta just after dawn, propelling her from her bed and down the stairs. It inhabits the house like a guest who has outstayed his welcome: it lies along corridors, it circles around curtains, it lolls heavily on sofas and chairs. The air in the kitchen is like a solid entity filling the space, pushing Gretta down onto the floor, against the side of the table.
Only she would choose to bake bread in such weather.
I like this opening, setting the scene and establishing the heat as a physical presence, a character to be reckoned with. This is July 1976 and London is in the grip of a heatwave. (It was not just London, because I remember it very well where I was living in Cheshire in the north-west.) Gretta’s husband pops out of the house to buy a newspaper – but he doesn’t come back – this is a story of a family in crisis.
I’m drawn into this book right from the beginning – what do you think? Would you keep reading?
BooksPlease 
Beautiful use of the language. I like this: “. . . lies along corridors, it circles around curtains . . .” I hope the rest of the book is as good.
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Hi Margaret. I love this introduction; the very vivid descriptions. And I love that you said it establishes heat as a physical presence because that’s what the author really did with this opening paragraph. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros
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Margaret, I love the writing; love the intro. I do want to read this one, so hoping that you enjoy it.
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Margaret – Oh, that is a compelling and well-written intro! Such a great style. Thanks for sharing.
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I’d like to read more.
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I like the intro as well. I’m curious about what happened to her husband as well! I would keep reading.
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What beautiful writing! I have The Hand That First Held Mine in my tbr pile and plan to read O’Farrell soon. Hope this turns out to be just as good.
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Love the language of that passage….
Here is my post
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I probably would keep reading, mainly because of the last sentence, such a sense of heat usually puts me off books though. I remember 1976 well, the year we got married, a heat wave until August in Scotland, when I stood shivering in my wedding dress!
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This book is on my TBR list. I placed a hold on it at the library during the summer and recently learned that it is on its way to my local branch for pick-up…at last! Hope you enjoy it.
My Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/11/first-chapter-first-paragraph-39.html
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I would keep reading this one. I like O’Farrell’s writing. I was reading The Hand that First Held Mine but I stalled in the middle. It’s nothing to do with the book which is great. I was having some issues with reading, I just couldn’t get into anything at that time. I’m going to pick up The Hand that First Held Mine again soon since my disinterest in reading has passed!
I hope you enjoy this book! Happy Reading!
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she is a brave woman–baking in the heat. I like the intro, I’d keep reading. kelley€”the road goes ever ever on
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I loved this book, and you are right…the opener brings in the heat like another character. A physical presence. Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
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Oh my goodness, I glory her spunk. I could never bake bread if I were already feeling hot. I love the way the author describes the heat. I would have to keep reading.
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We experienced our first snowfall yesterday so I could use a little bit of that heat, not all of it mind you, just a bit! Enjoy the book.
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