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.
Today’s choice is A Change of Climate by Hilary Mantel, a book I’ve borrowed from my 
local library. It begins:
1970
SAD CASES, GOOD SOULS
One day when Kit was ten years old, a visitor cut her wrists in the kitchen. She was just beginning on this cold, difficult form of death when Kit came in to get a glass of milk.
The woman Joan was sixty years old, and wore a polyester dress from a charity shop. A housewifely type, she had chosen to drip her blood into the kitchen sink. When Kit touched her on the elbow, she threw the knife on to the draining board and attempted with her good hand to cover Kit’s eyes.
By this stage in her life Kit was not much surprised by anything. As she ducked under the woman’s arm she thought that’s our bread-knife, if you don’t mind; but she said, ‘You shouldn’t be doing that Joan, why don’t you come away from the sink, why don’t you sit down on this chair and I’ll get a first-aid kit?’
I haven’t read much more than this but these opening paragraphs have made me want to know more about the ‘Good Souls‘ and the ‘Sad Cases‘.
Hilary Mantel’s work is so diverse with books ranging from personal memoir and short stories to historical fiction and essays. A Change of Climate is one of her early books, first published in 1994, described on the back cover as ‘a literary family saga’ and ‘a first rate thriller’.
At the end of the book there is an About the Author section, which I’ve just glanced over. In answer to one of the interviewer’s questions about the theme of the book, Hilary Mantel replied that there is a central secret, an enormous destructive secret. I didn’t want to spoil the book for myself so I didn’t read any more of her answers. I’ll read the book to find out what that secret is.
What do you think? Would you keep reading?
I am yet to read any of her novels. I like the intro. Maybe I should pick it up.
Here is my intro post from Sufficient Ransom by Sylvia Sarno .
And
Here is my teaser post from Night Fish by Kristine Ong Muslim .
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Goodness, yes I would!
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What a powerful intro —It totally drew me in, and now I want to buy the book! Hope the rest is as good. enjoy and thank you for joining us.
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I do want to keep reading! I have not read this author, but this excerpt grabbed me.
Here’s mine: ‘YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN’
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I really liked this intro, but am hesitant about Mantel. I couldn’t get past 300 pages of Wolf Hall and really had to push to get to that point – I thought the storytelling was incoherent. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one since I really did like the intro, which surprised me!
Here’s Mine: http://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/fiction/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday-intros-chasing-sun-natalia-sylvester/
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I haven’t read this author yet, though I have Wolf Hall on my to read pile. I like this intro and it draws me in. I hope you enjoy this one.
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I haven’t read this author before. I think this novel would be a good place to start. Thanks for sharing.
My Tuesday intro: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/05/first-chapter-first-paragraph-62.html
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Have only read Wolf Hall by this author, but definitely want to read more!
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hmmmm . . . I’m not sure I’d read this one. enjoy your book. kelley€”the road goes ever ever on
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Yes, I would keep reading to find out what pushed Joan to make that choice.
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I’m sure I’ve read Hilary Mantel before, but can’t remember the title though, not this book . Does sound like a very interesting read.
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I haven’t read anything by Hilary Mantel but I know she’s highly regarded. Based on the intro, I would keep reading. I’m curious to know more about Kit and Joan.
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this does sound really good. I’ll have to check to see if I can find it.
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I’m not sure I’d keep reading more than a few pages. I hope its good for you.
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I would definitely keep reading, in fact I’m going to try and get it from the library. Thanks.
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Margaret – Oh, this sounds interesting. I’ve only read Mantel’s historical fiction thus far; it’ll be interesting to see what you think of her other writing.
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