Happy Friday!
Today I'm participating in five blog hops. You can click on the host links below to read the blogs of others who are participating in each blog hop. If you're a blogger, feel free to join through their links!
Question: What was your gateway book - the book that made you want to read more - into reading or into a specific genre?
Thank you to Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer for sharing the question I suggested today!
My response: Although I read some when I was younger, the book that really got me hooked on cozy mysteries and on reading in general was Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke. I loved that the focus was on trying to solve the mystery in a warm and welcoming community, with very little graphic descriptions and no swearing. Although it was published in 2000, I didn't discover it until 2021 and I've been reading cozies ever since. You can read more about my journey here.
Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of Death by Bubble Tea (L.A. Night Market Mystery 1), by Jennifer J. Chow.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a book.
And here is an excerpt from page 56:
I turned around to find a young Asian woman approaching our food stall. Her long dark hair was parted down the center, and she wore thick-framed black glasses. Her eyes seemed to study my cousin and me more than our whiteboard menu.
It seems that I'm in my Jane Austen era. Several books I've read this year have referenced her literature, especially Pride and Prejudice.
Although these excerpts are from the paperback format, I actually listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the story, and narration is one of the best I've heard. I will definitely be checking out more books by Jennifer J. Chow.
Nice question - I LOVE your gateway book. It sounds delicious too. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend.
The whole series is delicious. :-)
DeleteI have Death By Bubble Tea to review. It looks so good. I love the picture of Bell. So cute.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Yvonne! :-)
DeleteWhen I was a kid I was really into abridged classics. I loved Pride and Prejudice at age ten, for example.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's great! I didn't read Pride and Prejudice until three years ago. :-)
DeleteBell is looking inscrutable.
ReplyDeleteLOL. That's Bell! :-)
DeleteHad me at the first line - that's a clever twist on the well-known P&P opener! Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kym! :-)
DeleteThanks for submitting the question. I had fun with it for my very first Book Blogger Hop post.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Joy! I hope you continue to participate in the blog hop! :-)
DeleteThat was a great question I enjoyed answering it. I love the beginning of that book, there's nothing like a good bookish quote. https://getlostinlit.blogspot.com/2024/03/friday-book-blog-hop.html
ReplyDeleteI agree! And I'm glad you enjoyed answering the question. :-)
DeleteI am pretty sure that I have read books by Joanne Fluke and enjoyed reading them too!
ReplyDeleteThey are so fun! :)
DeleteI don't remember one specific book, I just remember sneaking more reading lessons from the phonics kit my mother was using to teach me because I wanted to read so much.
ReplyDeleteBell is beautiful and I'm sure she has a lot of wisdom to share, if she wishes. Thank you for linking up with Feline Friday!
Bell says thank you! :-)
DeleteI wish I could remember the first cozy mystery I read. I do know that my interest in them was gradual and I enjoy them much more now than I did a decade or so ago. I have never read the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke series, but my mom really enjoys the series. I met Joanne Fluke once at a book festival and she was giving out homemade chocolate chip cookies to everyone who came to her signing table. Love the photo of Bell! She's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteWow! Very cool! And Bell says thank you! :)
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