First sentence of the page I'm on in novels I'm reading, December 19, 2008

"Mona stands at my elbow."

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

"The curtain rises on a vast pile of excrement and refuse."

Bible Stories for Adults by James Morrow

"Here is the gormless Clifford, my child, stepping through the doorway."

King Leary by Paul Quarington

First sentence of whatever page I'm on in whatever books I'm reading, July 22, 2008

Back at the office, Armstrong said, "Maybe you don't want to do that."

John McFetridge, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, page 145

It was there when I woke up, I swear.

Jonathan Lethem, Gun, With Occasional Music, page 3

"I..." the jaggedly precise tone in his voice was enough to make me hesitate "...I don't know. It's just a feeling."

Ian R. MacLeod, "The Giving Mouth," Steampunk, eds. Ann & Jeff Vandermeer, page 56

First sentence on the page of whatever novels I'm reading, May 14, 2008

I first laid eyes upon her when I was thirty-one years old.
The Ravine, Paul Quarrington (page 81)

Not many more weeks along, Samuel hunches over a fire made in a stump, in the crotch of its roots.
The Order of Good Cheer, Bill Gaston (page 20)

The day Mother Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? killed Father The Outlaw Josey Wales, they were arguing about the Pre-Reddening game of Major League Baseball.
Valley of Day-Glo, Nick DiChario (page 11)

First full sentence of whatever page I'm on in novels currently being read, Saturday, April 12, 2008

Laid out in his bed at his own house next door with a powdered-sugar moustache on his upper lip, Doug contemplated sleep, which lurked around his head and gently covered him with darkness.
Farewell Summer (page 7) by Ray Bradbury

It spiralled away safely and joined some pals investigating the malodorous hockey bag in the corner.
Yellowknife (page 58) by Steve Zipp

Kellas bought a first-class, one-way ticket to New York at one of the airline counters.
We Are Now Beginning Our Descent (page 39) by James Meek

First sentence of novels I'm reading, Friday, March 28, 2008

The border gave Danny a start.
Yellowknife by Steve Zipp

"Ladies and Gentlemen, behold: The Enemy."
The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd

When Paul sat down on the bench, the young man moved over a bit without looking at him.
Everyone in Silico by Jim Munroe

First sentence of novels I'm reading, Friday, March 14, 2008

Of all the rash and midnight promises made in the name of love none, Boone now knew, was more certain to be broken than: "I'll never leave you."
Cabal, Clive Barker

Let's sing about the man there
at the breakfast table
brown skin, thin features, white T,
his olive hands making endless circles
in the classifieds
"wanted" "wanted" "wanted"
small jobs little money
but you have to start somewhere.
Sharp Teeth, Toby Barlow

I don't believe in God, but I miss him.
Nothing to be Frightened Of, Julian Barnes

First sentence of novels I am reading, March 8, 2008

"Tom and the Perfectionist sit in the designated waiting area of Gate 23, Terminal 2, Lester B. pearson International Airport."
- All My Friends Are Superheroes, Andrew Kaufman

"His first idol was Andrew Jackson."
- How the Dead Dream, Lydia Millet