Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Tuesday Intro: The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty


"The first time Cora heard the name Louise Brooks, she was parked outside the Wichita Library in a Model-T Ford, waiting for the rain to stop. If Cora had been alone, unencumbered, she might have made a dash across the lawn and up the library's stone steps, but she and her friend Viola Hammond had spent the morning going door-to-door in their neighborhood collecting books for the new children's room, and the considerable fruits of their efforts were safe and dry in four crates in the backseat. The storm, they decided, would be a short one, and they couldn't risk the books getting wet.

And really, Cora thought, staring out into the rain, it wasn't as if she had anything else to do. Her boys were already gone for the summer, both of them working on a farm outside Winfield. In the fall, they would leave for college. Cora was still getting used to the quiet, and also the freedom, of this new era of her life. Now, long after Della left for the day, the house stayed clean, with no muddy footprints on the floor, and no records scattered around the phonograph. There were no squabbles over the car to mediate, no tennis matches at the club to cheer on, and no assigned essays to proofread and commend. The pantry and icebox actually stayed stocked with food without daily trips to the store. Today, with Alan at work, she had no reason to rush home at all."
The Chaperone
by Laura Moriarty
narrated by Elizabeth McGovern

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, read by Elizabeth McGovern, is my current audiobook. I'm listening to CDs in the car (thank you, Penguin Audio!) and find myself inventing excuses to drive anywhere alone. The combination of these opening paragraphs and the narrator's familiar voice (McGovern plays Cora on PBS's Downton Abbey) drew me in almost instantly and, at the halfway mark, continues to enthrall. Listen to a sample here.

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening paragraph(s). Feel free to grab the banner and play along.


19 comments:

  1. I want to read/listen to this one as well. I've got a request in at the library for both and hope the audio comes first.

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    1. Nise' - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. This an excellent audio!

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  2. I would continue to read/listen to this!

    Here is my Tuesday Intro post!

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    1. Gautami - So far, it's well worth the listen.

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  3. That reads beautifully, and I'm sure it sounds great. My library has a copy and I'd be placing an order if it wasn't for my ticket being overloaded already.

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    1. FleurFisher - I certainly know that feeling!

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  4. I love the sound of this and hoping to read this one soon as well. enjoy

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    1. Diane - Hope you get the chance... it's really wonderful!

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  5. I really enjoyed this book...thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting my blog.l

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    1. Laurel-Rain Snow - I'm loving this book! Just reached the point today where Alan's 'secret' is revealed... such a powerful passage.

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  6. I think I'd like this just because Elizabeth McGovern is reading it! I was thinking of reading the book, but now I'll look for the audio version instead. (And I'm laughing, because I get a little CRABBY sometime when someone's in the car with me and I have to talk instead of listen. Isn't that terrible?)

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    1. AUdrey - Elizabeth McGovern's narration is a huge draw, but the plot and writing would certainly hold their own in print, too. No 'alone in the car time' is the only drawback of summer as far as I'm concerned.... I really miss my audiobook time!!

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    2. P.S. - And I SO understand that crabbiness... not many people dare speak to me when I'm listening to an audiobook ;-)

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  7. Makes me think of The Great Gatsby or Rules of Civilities. No? I'd be interested to read on. Thanks for sharing, JoAnn.

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  8. I have been curious about this book. I read one of the author's earlier books and loved it. I am so glad you are enjoying the audio version!

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  9. A book I mean to read or listen to! Thanks for the heads up.

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  10. I was drawn to the cover and put it on my TBR list. Glad you're lovin it!

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  11. I've got the audio on reserve at my library. It sounds wonderful!!!

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    1. Les - It was excellent... and your comment reminds me that I still need to write a review!

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