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Friday, 4 October 2013

Book Beginnings on Fridays...



Hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader


Book Beginnings on Fridays as stated by the host was started:


"to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires."


You can share on Google + and social media , please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings and there's also a Mr Linky on the host's blog.


Book Beginning : The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

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Prologue

29 June 1670
The Palace of Saint-Cloud Paris

Urgent to the Rue Varenne, Paris

The Royal Doctors give her over and so do all that see her. Princess Henriette-Anne took to her bed this morning with a Sickness some say is Poyson. She convulses and screams and clutches her Belly sobbing - it is a Piteous thing to witness. Most suspect her husband the Chevalier de Lorraine, the Duc d'Orleans, and his lover, the Chevalier de Lorraine, whom King Louis banished to the country only a Fortnight ago.But the King will never condemn his scandalous brother, even though his sister-in-law is now Tormented by the most excruciating Agonies...


I love the beginning of this book - we don't know who is writing the letter, or to whom the letter is addressed but it speaks of treachery and scandal. The need to know why the royal Princess Henriette-Anne is in such piteous agony is intriguing.....

This is a dual time narrative story which flits forwards and backwards in time between the 1670s and the court of King Charles II, and  Trinity College Cambridge in 2008 as history professor, Claire Donovan attempts to solve the puzzle of the Devlin Diary.

Does the book appeal to you ?

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10 comments:

  1. Laurel-Rain Snow4 October 2013 at 14:06

    Sounds intriguing! Thanks for sharing...and here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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    1. Jaffareadstoo.....5 October 2013 at 09:03

      HI laurel - thanks for stopping by and reading my Friday book choice -Happy Reading :)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4 October 2013 at 14:34

    Dying by poison must be a horrible death. Have read about many poisonous deaths in mystery novels. Never witnessed a real person overcome by a poison.

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    1. Jaffareadstoo.....5 October 2013 at 09:03

      Hi Tea - thanks for being a new follower - you are very welcome !

      This book is a really interesting look at what went on behind closed doors in the 17C ! Happy Reading :)

      Delete
  3. Catherine @ Book Club Librarian4 October 2013 at 14:43

    I'm drawn by the two different time periods. Sounds like an interesting read. Here's my Friday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/10/friday-focus-friday-56-book-beginnings.html

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    1. Jaffareadstoo.....5 October 2013 at 09:01

      Hi Catherine - thanks for stopping by to read my FBB - the two time frames make the book really interesting and it's a great murder mystery too :) Happy Reading !

      Delete
  4. Gilion at Rose City Reader5 October 2013 at 00:39

    While I am not usually drawn to purely historical novels, I do like books that jump back and forth between modern days and olden times. This one sounds really good!

    This is the first week in a while I’ve had time to leave comments and not just fly by. Thanks for participating in Book Beginnings on Friday!

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    1. Jaffareadstoo.....5 October 2013 at 09:00

      Hi Gilion - this is such a great idea - I love it. I can't always make every Friday but try to do as many as I can. Thanks for hosting the meme. Happy Reading :)

      Delete
  5. JC Jones5 October 2013 at 02:22

    Interesting concept. Here is my post: Book Beginning at Mixed Book Bag

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Thanks for taking the time to comment - Jaffareadstoo appreciates your interest.