~ First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros ~

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea every Tuesday. The idea is to share the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book you've decided to read based on that paragraph. This book is by a fantastic author whom many of you will know, if not by name, then by the title of his most well known book, Revolutionary Road. I was fortunate to win the book I'm highlighting today, along with one other title by the same author, in a giveaway hosted by Diane, the creator of the wonderful blog hosting this weekly meme! As I say much too often, I have wanted to read all of the other books written by this author for a long time! I haven't yet had a chance too because there are so many books that I want to read therefore, it takes me a long time to get through the various lists of authors and books I have everywhere and anywhere. Hopefully this book is the beginning of spending many months reading, savoring this author's works. Be sure to visit Bibliophile By the Sea and read Diane's selection this week and those of the other participants in this meme!

The Easter Parade by Richard Yates

Neither of the Grimes sisters would have a happy life, and looking back it always seemed that the trouble began with their parents' divorce. That happened in 1930, when Sarah was nine years old and Emily five. Their mother, who encouraged both girls to call her "Pookie", took them out of New York to a rented house in Tenafly, New Jersey, where she thought the schools would be better and where she hoped to launch a career in suburban real estate. It didn't work out - very few of her plans for independence - and they left Tenafly after two years, but it was a memorable time for the girls.
"Doesn't your father ever come home?" other children would ask, and Sarah would always take the lead in explaining what a divorce was.
"Do you ever get to see him?"
"Sure we do."
"Where does he live?"
"In New York City."
"What does he do?"
"He writes headlines. He writes headlines in the New York Sun." And the way she said it made it clear they ought to be impressed.

What are your thoughts about these 2 opening paragraphs? Would you read this book based on these paragraphs?

(Bibliophile by the Sea doesn't have power due to the freak snow storm so if you visit her blog there isn't a meme entry for today - hopefully Diane will be back tomorrow)