Friday 12 September 2014

Book Beginnings On Fridays (The Paying Guests)

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to 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. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

My book beginning this week is The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, I've now finished it and it was very, very good.

 

The Barbers had said they would arrive by three. It was like waiting to begin a journey, Frances thought. She and her mother had spent the morning watching the clock, unable to relax.

 

 

The Paying Guests  

Book Description

It is 1922, and London is tense. Ex-servicemen are disillusioned, the out-of-work and the hungry are demanding change. And in South London, in a genteel Camberwell villa, a large silent house now bereft of brothers, husband and even servants, life is about to be transformed, as impoverished widow Mrs Wray and her spinster daughter, Frances, are obliged to take in lodgers.

For with the arrival of Lilian and Leonard Barber, a modern young couple of the 'clerk class', the routines of the house will be shaken up in unexpected ways. And as passions mount and frustration gathers, no one can foresee just how far-reaching, and how devastating, the disturbances will be.
 

9 comments:

  1. The blurb sounds really intriguing, I'll definitely check this book out :)
    My Friday post

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  2. I saw the beginning for this on a different blog during Tuesday Intros and it makes me so curious after the rest of the book! And I love the cover, it's so old-timey and slightly scary with the shadows! I might have to check it out, especially since you liked it that much! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great weekend!
    Friday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  3. I've been curious about this one and I really do love the beginning. That waiting for someone to arrive feeling is just like waiting to begin a journey. This one is already on my wishlist but I think I should probably move it up a bit!

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  4. I've been eager to read this one...and that beginning feels kind of ominous. Who doesn't hate waiting for guests?....and there is a sense that nothing good will come of these guests.

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  5. This is definitely something that irks me the same. Waiting for a business/shop to open at the mentioned time; oh and I especially dislike waiting at doctor offices when you've clearly made an appointment. Still, "The world is not a wishing factory," so they say. Thanks for sharing :)

    Here's mine:
    Sparrow's BB & Friday 56

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  6. It looks interesting. Taking in paying guest would change everything in a house.

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  7. I love books set in London.

    1922 is a great time to read about as well.

    This sounds quite good. Interesting to see what happens.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  8. I hate it when I have to watch the clock. Nothing good should ever make one feel that way. Here are my quotes---Anne

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  9. I hate to admit it. Waiting for guests to come at a certain hour makes me nervous. I'm always wondering what else I need to do. I like this book. I would read it.

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