It’s Friday, so I’m hooking up with Freda’s Voice for The Friday 56 and Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings. The book I’m reading this week is The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow.
Here’s the beginning:
Once Upon a Time, at the End of the World
Sit down, kiddies. Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, humans were killing each other so fast that total extinction was looking possible, and it was my job to stop them.
From page 56:
In my cell, two thousand miles from my mother, the blank paper looked up at me. Surely she would warn me. Surely, she would not let me be surprised…My mother would not approve if I died with a scene.
Analysis:
I got this in my Quarterly Box on Tuesday, and started it because it was the one of the two from that box that I plan on reading for which there was audio available at the library. I like to be able to continue reading (with my ears) when I’m doing things like driving or cooking dinner, then pick back up seamlessly when I go back to the book before bed.
The beginning was enough to whet my reading appetite. I didn’t read the back before I started, so out of the gate I had questions. Who was this character who was responsible for stopping the end of the end of humanity, and how was this character going to go about it? I liked that that it began like a children’s story. It makes this heavy storyline start out light and innocent.
The 56 today makes me wonder about the nature of the relationship between the protagonist and her mother. They must correspond, and her mother must be the type who dislikes dramatics. I’m interested to find out what comes between the beginning and the 56 so I can answer my questions. (Currently, I’m in chapter 3.)
What did you think about the beginning and the 56? Enough to interest you in the story?
the (book) supplier 
Thanks for checking out my post! I’ve had this book on my Goodreads shelf for ages – I should start reading it soon.
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Thanks for visiting my blog, and I’m curious about this fascinating book. Enjoy!
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Thanks for returning the visit! Happy reading!
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Wonderful snippets! It sounds like my kind of read!
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I want to read this one too. It sounds really great. Enjoy and I look forward to the review.
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Right now the reading is a little slow going for me, so probably the Thursday after next. And thanks. 🙂
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Ooooh, great choice! I’ve picked this book up a time or two thinking I’d get it, but always ended up putting it down… With those excerpts, I might just have to change that in the future!
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog this week–much appreciated! Happy book-ing to you in the near future!
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Here’s what I’ll tell you, because I almost put it down, too. You have to get through the exposition, and then the story picks up. I’m just about halfway through now and I don’t want to put it down. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading!
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Ooooh! I will DEFINITELY keep that in mind, then, if/when I decide to pick this one up! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
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I dislike dramatics but this sounds weird 😉
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I’ve read another book by this author and I’d like to try this author again. 🙂
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I tried reading this book way back when it was on NetGalley but I just couldn’t get into it! I hope you enjoy it more than I did
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I did. Once I got past the exposition, it started to pick up. I wasn’t overly impressed with the world building, but I am interested to see where it goes.
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