Currently I'm reading: Jenseits vom Tatort by Horst Brandt
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18 February 2014
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro is hosted by bibliophilebythesea.
This is how it works: Write down either the first paragraph of a book your are currently reading / intending to read or read in the past and share with us. I do like a good opening!
I have chosen a short story I received thanks to Severest Inks.
From their website: Severest Inks is an independent publishing house based in the UK that seeks to support artists with an unique voice, focusing primarily upon literature that challenges and subverts convention. Though still a very young, emerging outfit within the publishing world, Severest Inks is gaining an ever-growing, dedicated cult following.
Red by Khalid Patel
This story takes a well known fairly tale and turns it on its head (with the title of the story being 'Red', which fairy tale could it be??) Short stories obviously have different 'rules' than novels and need to convey their message in less than 30 pages. Here, I loves especially the wonderful use of language - rich and beautiful, reminding me of poetry.
A leaf, crisped by the touch of Autumn, rustled in the darks. Another leaf whispered. Soon after, one more. Some, fresh and clean. Some, old and the colour of jaundice. Some, well-known and soaked in thumbprints. Some, obscure and creaseless.
These leaves bore knowledge of distant landscapes, of worlds where clouds bled flames and oceans rolled a murderous black. Where robots ate frozen tears and cows were garbed in human leather.
These leaves uttered of punk gunslingers, three-armed merchants. Of sewer-dwelling aliens, mutant infants. Of burning loves, blazing hatreds. These leaves were turning, ever-turning.
The turning leaves of a book.
These leaves bore knowledge of distant landscapes, of worlds where clouds bled flames and oceans rolled a murderous black. Where robots ate frozen tears and cows were garbed in human leather.
These leaves uttered of punk gunslingers, three-armed merchants. Of sewer-dwelling aliens, mutant infants. Of burning loves, blazing hatreds. These leaves were turning, ever-turning.
The turning leaves of a book.
I will post my full review of the story later this week.
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should be reading.
These are the rules (taken directly from MizB's blog:)
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Red by Khalid Patel - for brief description of book see above.
I have highlighted quite a few sentences in this story.
The doorway sleepers sat feeding their despair through a needle, a respite from woe. The discarded of the city sat suckling their gloom through a bottle, a reprieve from misery.
----
Homeless men stared up at suited men who stared down. Opulent offices overlooking slum streets. Corporate America overlooking utter poverty.
----
Fate was her father's nickname back when he was a legendary drug-runner in the city. However, Fate was not careful. After unwittingly selling narcotics to an undercover officer, Fate was caged for fifty birthdays.
So, are you tempted to pick up this short story?
