I live in a town where Wal-Mart and Payless Shoes are the only places to shoe shop. So, while I was at the afore mentioned writers' conference, I snuck away during the hour break before dinner to get some desperately needed running shoes (mine are four years old!). I walked into Famous Footwear and didn't make it to the back of the store where all the boring tennis shoes are kept. Nope. Something caught my eye and I experienced euphoria (see picture at left).
Books are just like those shoes. If you can catch your reader on the first page with something so totally awesome that they can't put the book down, you've got a winner.
I walked out of the store with those shoes on. They were one of the highlights of the entire conference. And who needs running shoes? Besides, after wearing these shoes all day, I can hardly walk--let alone run!
What book can you recall off the top of your head that had you hooked by page two?
33 comments:
You forgot to mention that you looked fabulous. ;-)
Pretty much anything by Patricia McKillip or Terry Pratchett will hook me right away. :)
oooh - too bad you don't have a DSW - we have 4-5 of those around, so plenty of shoe shopping opportunities.
Umm Hunger Games most recently. And the Brent Weeks trilogy
Those shoes were awesome and I'm not a shoe person. I'm Not A Serial Killer hooked me - just read it. Anything by Janette Rallison, Sara Zarr and Shannon Hale hooks me.
The Maze Runner - hook, line, and sinker! :-)
LOVE the shoes, btw!
The Hunger Games grabbed me from the first sentence. A lot of books do that. I just love to read.
Love those shoes. I need a nice pair like that.
LOL! I love your shoes! I need running shoes too.
I was hooked on tons of books - It's getting me to the second chapter that's hard. =)
I LOVE those shoes! If I got running shoes, it'd only make me feel like I should run - which I don't. I'd much rather wear those pink ones. :)
Hunger Games had me by page two. And while it was a much sweeter story, so did The Tale of Despereaux. I don't remember the first page of Peace Like a River anymore, but I'll never forget the book.
Those shoes are fabulous.
The Mrs. would love to be somewhere with actual shoe shopping options for couple of hours.
On your question, if the book does not hook me by the first few pages, I put it down--so Ten Degrees of Reckoning is the last book that got me.
Gorgeous shoes! Running shoes are over-rated:)
I was hooked by Amy Reed's "Beautiful" in the book stare and sat and read half the book...
Cute, cute shoes! It was so fun to see you again. One book that grabbed me right from the start was Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher.
I can only wish my feet would fit into a pair of shoes like that! They would scream nasties at me for even trying. Terry Pratchett catches me right of the bat as does Kate DiCamillo and Laurie Halse Anderson
The last book of fiction that I read:
"Fashionista" by Erica Kennedy.
Great analogy. I've been thinking of how writing is like gardening lately while out in my garden.
The Shifter by Janice Hardy and Shiver by Meggie Stievater are two books I couldn't put down.
There are too many books to name. It's always a good sign when the first sentence or first page hooks me in immediately. I hate it when I have to go through a slow or confusing beginning to get to the good part.
Love the comparison, my two best friends: shoes and books!!
The Truth Tellers Tale by Sharon Shinn
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
I know I cheat but I liked these two and they were the first TWO that came in my mind.
I have so many problems with my feet I'd make it about 3 steps in those shoes! But I'd love them for all 3 of those steps!
Great analogy too. Hope my beginning is pink and sassy.
Those shoes are darling! I'm jealous!
As for books.
The first Harry Potter. Tamora Pierce's books.
Those are the ones I can think of right off.
FOUR years?
Girl, you got to get yourself some SHOES!
--
The book that hooked me?
STILL ALICE.
Most deinitely.
Too many to name here!
Thanks for the reminder. I need to get new runners. :)
Those shoes were fabu! And I have to admit that it takes me about 20 - 25 pages to truly be hooked. And I always give books 100 pages before I decide if I'm going to finish it. I usually do.
:)
Beautiful shoes! I always get distracted by a good pair of boots.
As far as a book that had me hooked by page 2... My oldest son (7) wanted to read the Percy Jackson series. I picked it up and was sucked in along with my son! lol "Paper, Scissors, Death" by Joanna Campbell Slan had me peaked fairly quickly as well.
I'll have you know that those are officially my favorite shoes ever.
Ever.
:) I had that reaction to "Ender's Game" and "I'm Not a Serial Killer"
Those shoes=sweetnesss!
Um lets see..book..
Definately Hunger Games had me hooked and this is going to sound corny but...Percy Jackson (1) had me hooked too!! I know, Im a geek!!
Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve! And those are seriously awesome shoes. :D
"I kissed a Zombie and I liked it" (which I posted about today) and "The Boy Next Door" by Meg Cabot. The shoes ARE awesome.
Time traveler's wife. awesome. hey, the shoes are hot.
Yep, and those shoes looked totally sexy on you. I totally get the shoe love thing. Really.
Good call.
It was so good to finally meet you last week.
OMG--I saw that picture of the shoes and could barely bring myself to tear my eyes away from them--shiny! =D
That was lovely.
The analogy with the books. The liberation in buying something unplanned. The spirit behind treating yourself. And the actual shoes too (lol).
LJ
I can't believe I forgot to comment on these shoes! They are HOT! Seriously, I want them!
Oh Bethany! I LOVE STEVE MADDEN! We are like best friends. Him, me, BCBG, Sometimes Jessica Simpson and currently I am having a love affair with a pair of Coach shoes. Darn they make my ankles look pretty.
Yes, Maggie Stiefvater had me in the first page for sure. Hook line and sinker!
Great post, I love shoes...Fashion before comfort, ANYDAY.
Thanks for the shoe love guys! I love them to pieces.
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