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.
Plot Summary from Amazon
When a medical procedure goes horribly wrong and famous actor Ralph Meier winds up dead, Dr. Marc Schlosser needs to come up with some answers. After all, reputation is everything in this business. Personally, he’s not exactly upset that Ralph is gone, but as a high profile doctor to the stars, Marc can’t hide from the truth forever.
It all started the previous summer. Marc, his wife, and their two beautiful teenage daughters agreed to spend a week at the Meier’s extravagant summer home on the Mediterranean. Joined by Ralph and his striking wife Judith, her mother, and film director Stanley Forbes and his much younger girlfriend, the large group settles in for days of sunshine, wine tasting, and trips to the beach. But when a violent incident disrupts the idyll, darker motivations are revealed, and suddenly no one can be trusted. As the ultimate holiday soon turns into a nightmare, the circumstances surrounding Ralph’s later death begin to reveal the disturbing reality behind that summer’s tragedy.
Here is the first paragraph:
I am a doctor. My office hours are from eight-thirty in the morning to one in the afternoon. I take my time. Twenty minutes for each patient. Those twenty minutes are my unique selling point. Where else these days, people say, can you find a family doctor who gives you twenty minutes? — and they pass it along. He doesn’t take on too many patients, they say. He makes time for each individual case. I have a waiting list. When a patient dies or moves away, all I have to do is pick up the phone and I have five new ones to take their place.
What do you think? Would you keep reading? Stay tuned for my full review…
Probably shouldn’t comment on this because I read it last week….
BUT… the opening paras are excellent. Horrible, creepy but well written. But the rest of the book really didn’t do it for me. My review’s here (no spoilers) if you’re interested – http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/summer-house-with-swimming-pool-by-herman-koch/
I remember reading your review – I think I commented on it! And – yes – I’ve heard mixed reviews about this one. I’m still going to read it…the mixed reviews actually made me curious. And the intro was creepy – almost feel like he was reveling in the instances when patients die! But, I will be interested to see what I think of it – especially since I didn’t read The Dinner.
Thanks for stopping by!
Great intro! Can’t wait to read this one – I’m working my way up the library hold list. Hope you’re enjoying it.
I’ve had this one sitting on my shelf for awhile. I really should find time to read it!
Today I’m featuring ‘Elizabeth is Missing’ by Emma Healey.
http://mytime2read.blogspot.com/2014/06/tuesday-memes-elizabeth-is-missing.html
I’m reading this one right now…only 50 pages in so far.
My Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/06/first-chapter-first-paragraph-66-and.html
I have this one coming up very, very soon and I can’t wait to get started 😀
I am very curious about this one! Thanks for sharing and reminding me that I need to add this one to my toppling stacks.
Here’s mine: “SHE CAN HIDE”
I have heard much about this book but don’t have it on my wishlist yet. I will be curious to hear your opinion on it when you’re done, enjoy.
I didn’t have this on my list, but maybe I should reconsider.
Loved the intro, loved the novel –enjoy
The opening sounds very appealing. I would keep reading.
I do want to read this book despite the mixed reviews.
the Mediterranean holiday sounds the creepy part to me –
but def intriguing…
The premise and opening paragraph sounds interesting, but its just not grabbing me. Sorry, hope it’s good for you.
It sounds interesting but the cover art is questionable! Thanks so much for stopping by I really appreciate it. Have a nice day.
I am torn on this one. I didn’t really care for The Dinner, but I want to read more literature from other countries, and it is getting a lot of buzz. I think I will keep holding off for now, but the intro is pretty good! I like the frank tone of the narrator.
I’ve started this one and haven’t decided how I feel about it yet. There are some flashes of brilliance and some drawbacks. I’m not even a quarter of the way through, so will have to see…
I haven’t read The Dinner either, but I still might.
Love the idea of that story, and the first paragraph draws me in as well, so have to put this on my TBR pile.
Peggy @ The Pegster Reads