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.

 

Today I'm featuring a recent read, The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. The excerpt shared is from a trade paperback borrowed from the library.

First Chapter:  June 1907

Newport, Rhode Island

The first time she saw him, she was essentially invisible: thirteen years old, a schoolgirl on holiday, her hair dripping from the sea, sleek wet mermaid curls clinging to her arms and back. She was nestled, legs tucked under her, in the coarse silvery sand of Bailey's Beach, her ruffled cap tossed beside her. Her nose was tingling hot and she didn't care, because it was breezy and warm, and the sun was a high glorious pinpoint, and if it were ladylike in the least to stretch out all the way in her bathing costume to make a sand angel, she would have.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

The she referred to in the first paragraph is Madeleine Talmage Force, who at 18 becomes the bride of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. He was twenty-nine years her senior, but their relationship is portrayed as a true love match. Tragically, their future is forever changed when the couple are aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated voyage.

The Second Mrs. Astor is a fascinating look into New York society during the Gilded Age and the lifestyle of wealthy families of the time.

 

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.