The Giver - Teaser Tuesday and First Chapter / First Paragraph

I don't often read science fiction or young adult novels, but after seeing the opening paragraph and synopsis of The Giver on someone's blog, I decided to give this book a try. I was blown away by this story! No wonder the book has won all kinds of awards. I highly recommend The Giver for readers of all ages. It is Book 1 in the Giver Quartet, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest ASAP.
FYI: I understand this book was made into a movie but when I watched the trailer, it seemed to encompass more than the story told in this book. Perhaps it is based on all the books in the series.

First Paragraph:
     It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened. No. Wrong word, Jonas thought. Frightened meant that deep sickening feeling of something terrible about to happen. Frightened was the way he had felt a year ago when an unidentified aircraft had overflown the community twice. He had seen it both times. Squinting toward the sky, he had seen the sleek jet, almost a blur at its high speed, go past, and a second later heard the blast of sound that followed. Then one more time, a moment later, from the opposite direction, the same plane.

Teaser (from 51% on my Kindle):
"Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences."

Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction

Book Length: 204 Pages

Amazon Link: The Giver

More Books by This Author: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The haunting story centers on Jonas who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Lois Lowry has written three companion novels to The Giver, including Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

Read a National Public Radio (NPR) interview with the author here: Lois Lowry Interview. There's also an audio interview included here.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!

Link at ADailyRhythm.com

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.

Link at BibliophileByTheSea

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

Facebook: sandy.nachlinger

Doublesight: The Journey Back - Teaser Tuesday and First Chapter / First Paragraph

I've read quite a few fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories over the years, but The Journey Back is my first venture into Kindle Worlds' fan fiction. It won't be my last. I enjoyed Darcy Carson's story so much that I'm looking forward to reading more of her Doublesight tales in the future.

Here's the First Paragraph:
     The road back is never the same. A fact Korban was fast learning. The last time he had traveled the heavily rutted road he'd been delirious, trussed up like a hunter's kill, and tossed into a wagon with a blanket smelling of horse thrown over his body so none would catch sight of his departure.

Teaser (from 25% on my Kindle):
Oh, sure, throwbacks and gargoyles were dangerous, especially those who ate human flesh. But, not all gargoyles were bad.

Genre: Fan Fiction - Science Fiction & Fantasy
Length: 40 Pages
Amazon: The Journey Back
Also by Darcy Carson: The Trouble With Mother

Synopsis:
Human only Korban returns in The Journey Back where he learns everyone has a secret, After surviving the dreaded fire death disease, he arrives at Castle Weilk where he was raised by his uncle, the king, after his parents were murdered. He suspects the king knows the doublesights had something to do with his recovery. Knowing he is no longer welcomed, he leaves for his ancestral home to find answers that have plagued him over the years. Along the way attempts are made to kill him, but a childhood doublesight friend saves him . . . not once, but twice. Once home, Korban learns the truth about a decade old mystery about his parents that will change the course of his life.

About Kindle Worlds:
Kindle Worlds is a place to publish fan fiction inspired by popular books, shows, movies, comics, music, and games.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!

Link at ADailyRhythm.com

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.

Link at BibliophileByTheSea

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

Facebook: sandy.nachlinger

Alien Invasion? NOT.

Smithsonian Magazine calls it "the most famous alien invasion that never happened." They're referring to Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, aired October 30, 1938 - seventy-five years ago today. As you may know, Welles' convincing report led some listeners to believe the world had actually been invaded by creatures from outer space. Welles, only 23 at the time, did a masterful job of scaring the peewaddle out of his listeners on the eve of Halloween. 

If you'd like to hear the complete broadcast, click on the newspaper photo below. 

In that era - before the Internet, instant messaging, cell phones, and TV coverage - people relied on radio broadcasts and newspaper stories for information. It's not hard to understand how this broadcast might have freaked out some folks. I have to wonder: could something like this happen today? 

Information on this event as well as short clips and commentary, compiled by Smithsonian Magazine, can be found here: American Experience - War of the Worlds