Saturday, April 26, 2008

Meme: what's on page 123?

I've been tagged in a meme by one of my favourite literary bloggers, Books Please.

It's pretty straight forward. All you have to do is:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

I'm currently reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (and will blog on this when finished), which I am enjoying like a well aged pinot noir.

The sentences required as per the meme are:

"It's very beautiful. But it is probably a kind of mock period piece done only a few years ago. Isn't that right?"

Is this meme simply a great way to find and explore new blogs, or a way to see if three sentences can convey a writer's style, or the feel of a novel. In my example, I'd say not (because the sentences are short and in dialogue), but I've read other meme posts that may come closer to that purpose.

For me, I tag (if they'd like to play):

Bec
Lee
Linda
Maree
Gautami

Personally, I don't mind whether the book is fiction or not (it actually could be quite interesting if they're not!)

And please, anyone else can feel free to play along!

7 comments:

BooksPlease said...

Thanks for playing along. I put Remains of the Day as one of my favourite books. Have you seen the film?

I think the meme is a good way to finhd out about other blogs, and give a glimpse of the books but it can be a bit too brief to be much of a guide, although in your example I think Remains of the Day is a period piece in itself and it's a beautiful book.

Paula Weston said...

I agree about Remains of the Day. I saw the film when it first came out, and have it set aside to watch again after I've finished the book. I'm trying not to rush the book (even though I'm keen to watch the film again!) because it really is worth savouring.

Bec said...

Hi Paula,

Thanks for tagging me - I've done the meme and it's up now. This week's 'this is..' meme that I've also been doing was actually about books too, so I combined the two memes into one post. Probably bored many of the craft readers with it too, because hey, I do love a waffle on about books sometimes he he he.....

Cheers, Bec

Daniel said...

Yo Paula.
Tags are great. Pity I don't have a blog anymore... I would've played!
I just remembered I wanted to go see Toni Jordan as well.
Bugrit.

Paula Weston said...

Welcome back Daniel! Nice to hear from you again (in a non-professional, non-giving me work kind of way!)

Sounds like you should get yourself a blog... You know you want to.

Placey said...

Hey Maula - let's see if I got this technology thing sussed!!
I am reading Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' at the moment. Page 123 is some verse, so have gone from the fifth line: 'Over and under, so weave I my music- so weave I the house that I sew. Sing to your fledglings again,' Lovely, don't you think? 'Time traveler's wife' arrived from O/S safe and sound, is next on my list. Cya Bec C

Paula Weston said...

Hey Bec C,

Welcome to blogland! I'm so proud of you - and excited that you will be joining more discussions, as I always love your view on all things literary.

In fact ... I doubt it will be long before you have a blog of your own and I'm posting on yours.

Yes, your page 123 offering was particularly interesting.

Let me know what you think of The Time Travellers' Wife.