First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

 It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . now hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.

Happy Book Birthday to a recent read, Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, which is being released today!  I was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of this suspenseful novel from the publisher.

Beginning:  Well, the sun was shining.  They felt that boded well--people turn any old thing into an omen.  It was all just to say no clouds were to be seen. The sun where the sun always was. The sun persistent and indifferent.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

The opening lines hint at both what we take for granted and the excitement of starting out on an adventure . . .

Here are my thoughts about Rumaan Alam's latest novel . . .

Leave the World Behind is an eerie novel with an apocalyptic feel that explores issues of truth, trust, and uncertainty, heightened by a remote location and lack of basic services.  Two families--from different ethnicities, generations, and social strata--are left to grapple with the unease of being in each other's company as they are forced together because of a major power outage and lack of information from the outside world.  These relative strangers must find a way to overcome their individual and shared fears amid signs from nature of intense foreboding and ominous change.

 

As they make overtures to establish mutual trust, one thing is certain: life as they know it is no longer a given, and the world will be forever changed.  These six strangers must unite in a singular mission of survival as they come to terms with what the future may hold.

 

This haunting, addictive read is spellbinding in its own right--and also conjures parallel feelings about our current uncertain times, and the collective unknown future we face in the midst of a global pandemic.

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution.