First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros: Frog Music by Emma Donoghue

First Chapter First Paragraph

Every Tuesday fellow blogger Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where bloggers share the first paragraph of the book they are currently reading or thinking about reading soon.

Frog Music, Emma Donoghue

I’ve been seeing this book everywhere lately and the reviews have been glowing. I’ve never read Donoghue before, but was attracted to this book because it has a similar premise (fiction based on a true crime) to The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon (my favorite book of the year so far). 

Frog Music Plot Summary from Amazon:
Summer of 1876: San Francisco is in the fierce grip of a record-breaking heat wave and a smallpox epidemic. Through the window of a railroad saloon, a young woman named Jenny Bonnet is shot dead.

The survivor, her friend Blanche Beunon, is a French burlesque dancer. Over the next three days, she will risk everything to bring Jenny’s murderer to justice–if he doesn’t track her down first. The story Blanche struggles to piece together is one of free-love bohemians, desperate paupers, and arrogant millionaires; of jealous men, icy women, and damaged children. It’s the secret life of Jenny herself, a notorious character who breaks the law every morning by getting dressed: a charmer as slippery as the frogs she hunts.

Here are the first two paragraphs of the book:

Sitting on the edge of the bed in the front room, Blanche stoops to rip at the laces of her gaiters. “Dors, min p’tit quinquin -” Her husky voice frays to a thread on the second high note. She clears her throat, rasping away the heat.

A train hurtles north from San Jose. The light from the locomotive’s headlamp jabs through the long gap between the peeling window frame and the green blind, illuminating the room for Blanche: the shabby bureau, the bedstead, and Jenny, lolling against the scarred headboard. The Eight Mile House shakes like cardboard as the freight cars rattle by. Here at San Miguel Station, they’re right at the Southern boundary – the last gasp – of San Francisco.

What do you think? Would you keep reading? Stay tuned for my full review…


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16 Comments

  1. I didn’t know this novel is based on a true crime! Just finished The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress a week ago and am still thinking about it. I loved Donoghue’s previous book, Room, and hope to read this before too long. Will keep an eye out for your review.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      That’s the exact same thing that drew me to Frog Music – the similar premise to The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress (which I also loved)! We’ll have to see how it stands up 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

      Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  2. Kay wrote:

    I enjoyed this intro and would read on.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  3. Nise' wrote:

    I would keep reading. I’ve enjoyed this author’s books.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  4. Tea wrote:

    Yes, I would definitely read it. I like the title. Like you I’ve seen this book around on different sites. Most people have great things to say about Emma Donoghue. Seems like a good novel about friendship too. Her friend doesn’t just walk away from the death. She’s willing to risk danger to find out who murdered her friend. I might not be so brave.(:

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  5. I am definitely curious. I still haven’t read the author’s book ROOM, and this title would not have drawn me in….but the intro and synopsis changed my mind.

    Here’s mine: “THE BOOKSTORE”

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  6. I would keep reading. I enjoy books set in San Francisco and the intro really grabbed me. I read the author’s ROOM soon after it came out and liked it. I’d be curious to read more by her.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  7. kelley wrote:

    I think I’d have to read a bit more before deciding. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  8. This book is on my wish list because I’ve seen it all over the blogosphere, and because I read Room. I’m not impressed with the opening paragraphs, but I would still continue because Donaghue is a talented author.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I never read Room, but have heard so much about it. If I end up liking Frog Music, I’ll definitely go back and read Room.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  9. Somehow I must have missed this book, but love the synopsis and intro, I would def read this.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  10. Diane@BibliophilebytheSea wrote:

    I like the intro and DO plan to read this one…enjoy good intro

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  11. I’ve been curious about the author’s new book. I like the way it begins and I’d like to keep going.

    Posted 4.15.14 Reply
  12. I like the cover, and the book sounds interesting, but I’d have to be in the right mood for it. Right now, it’s probably not something I’d continue on with.
    Thanks for stopping by!

    Posted 4.16.14 Reply
  13. I would keep reading…and I did 🙂 I really enjoyed this book and I love that it was inspired by true events.

    Posted 4.16.14 Reply
  14. I liked this novel!

    Posted 7.9.14 Reply

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