First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .

                                                      

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.   

Today I'm featuring my current read, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (borrowed from the library).  This debut novel is the monthly selection of one of my book clubs.  

 

  

The Surprise in the Wardrobe

 

Each day Arthur got out of bed at precisely 7:30 a.m. just as he did when his wife, Miriam, was alive.  He showered and got dressed in the gray slacks, pale blue shirt and mustard sweater-vest that he had laid out the night before.  He had a shave, then went downstairs.

 

At eight o'clock he made his breakfast, usually a slice of toast and margarine, and he sat at the pine farmhouse table that could seat six, but which now just seated one.  At eight-thirty he would rinse his pots and wipe down the kitchen worktop using the flat of his hand and then two lemon-scented wipes.  Then his day could begin.

 

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

Arthur is a creature of habit, living a dull existence since the death of his wife.  When on the first year anniversary of her death he finds a charm bracelet hidden inside one of Miriam's boots, his curiosity is piqued.  This may just be the impetus he needs to re-engage with the outside world as well as learn more about the life his wife led before they met.

This First Chapter ~ First Paragraph post was originally written and published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.  Retweeting and sharing on Google+ are appreciated.