Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Friday 20 September 2013

Book Beginnings (13) - The World is a Wedding by Wendy Jones




Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays

The idea is '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.' Hash tag #BookBeginnings for twitter and a master linky list on the host's blog. 



My Book Beginning


The Wolrd is a Wedding by Wendy Jones

Published by Corsair, an imprint of Constable & Robinson


Narberth, late summer 1925

'Wilfred Price, undertaker, purveryor of superior funerals, was up with the larks and off for his morning constitutional. And no time, today, for a cup of tea first. Wilfred strode out of his house, put his hands on his hips and breathed in the watery Welsh air that smelled of turned earth. He felt affection for Narberth, the small town - green as a bean - five miles from the crinkly coast of Pembrokeshire, where he had lived all his life.'


I really enjoyed reading the first novel featuring Wilfred Price, and I am happy to be reading this second book featuring him. I like this opening, which gets us straight back into the swing of things with Wilfred again and gives us a flavour of the place where he lives.


Synopsis:

Wendy Jones picks up where The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals left off: It is 1926. Wilfred is newly married and preparing for fatherhood. But can he embrace his future, without letting go of his past?

It's 1926 and Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals, is newly married to the beautiful Flora Myfanwy. His brief and painful marriage to Grace is in the past. He's busy with funerals - and preparing for fatherhood by reading a philosophy book and opening a paint and wallpaper business. As much as he loves Flora, he senses her distance from him - are marriage and fatherhood going to be very different from how Wilfred imagined?
Grace has fled to from Narberth to London, where she is working as a chambermaid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel. But Grace has a secret, one that can't be hidden forever, and binds her to her old life in west Wales.
Despite Wilfred's earnest effort to embrace the future, he is beginning to wonder if the past has too powerful a hold on him.


10 comments:

  1. I love the language of this era...he is taking his "morning constitutional." Perhaps if I thought of it that way, I would do it more often...lol.

    Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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  2. I'm not familiar with these books, but I do like the 1920s! Thanks!

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  3. This title sounds really interesting and I like the book cover. I'm going to check this book out on GoodReads ;)

    Happy reading :) My Friday Book Memes

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  4. Well, it’s certainly an interesting title, and I like the idea of sharing the first sentence and your initial thoughts. I also like the look and sound of it – so another for my ever growing must-reads.

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  5. The book beginning is beautiful. Makes me want to read this series.

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  6. Oooooooooooooo...I like this. Great beginning...thanks.

    My book beginnings is from THE WEDDING GIFT...if you like the "teaser" I finished it today and reviewed the book if you care to check out the review.

    It is a book EVERY woman should read.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  7. Purveyor of superior funerals....I love it! lol I haven't heard of this series, but will have to look into it now! Great book beginning!

    Here's my Book Beginnings Post!

    Wendy @ Escape Into Fiction

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  8. Interesting book beginning, Lindsay! Can't wait to find out how Wilfred Price's life turns out and what Grace's secret is.

    My Friday Book Beginning :

    "It was only a duckpond, out at the back of the farm. It wasn't very big. Lettie Hempstock said it was an ocean, but I knew that was silly. She said they'd come here across the ocean from the old country."

    - from 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman

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  9. I still have the first book to read but this one sounds good too !

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