Page 123
Tagged by the lovely alejna, also lifted from the rather literate casa az, who happened to have a copy of the fabulous Mr. Davies on her bedside table. (Go and read their posts — lovely and literary!)
Because I’ve not updated my blog recently, and because I have a copy of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame on my desk, here we go:
- Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
- Open the book to page 123
- Find the 5th sentence
- Post the next three sentences
- Tag 5 people
So, from the architecturally-inclined Monsieur Hugo:
“Those thousand thickset angular roofs, clinging together, nearly all composed of the same geographical elements, when seen from above, looked almost like the crystallization of a single substance. The capricious fissures formed by the streets did not cut this conglomeration of houses into slices too disproportionate. The forty-two colleges were distributed among them very equally, and were to be seen in every quarter.”
And as to tagging? I, too, will make this self-tagging — you know you want to do this!! Go ahead — make my comments delightful to read!
I’ve never read this book.
Literate? Can I be Lovely instead?
Comment by azahar | February 27, 2008
Nononono, I am not responding to a tag - I just watched a current affairs program here in Oz and the interviewee was Geraldine Brooks. Tomorrow I have to go find “People of the Book”. It sounds irresistible - I’ll let you know.
Comment by archiearchive FCD | February 28, 2008
@az
You are literate and lovely! (Some damn poetic license, please!) The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a great book — not to give you any spoilers or anything, it’s not quite like the Disney animated version…What I really enjoy about it is Hugo’s love affair with the architecture of Paris — so vividly described. It is because of this book that Notre Dame de Paris was restored, one of his goals I believe.
@archie
C’mon! I know you have books sitting quietly next to you, wanting their page 123s exposed! [A moment's pause, while Lori googles People of the Book...] Wow. That looks fascinating! (Folks, you can read the reviews at Amazon here.) Definitely come back and tell us how it is…or I may find myself a copy.
Comment by loricat | February 28, 2008
Ok, I give in - the book I am reading at the moment is a volume nursemyra sent me to help me through my recent time in the desert. “Life at the Extremes” (Frances Ashcroft) is a study of the science of survival. Page 123 is in the section of “Life in the Hot Zone” and the sixth sentence is the beginning of the second paragraph - - -
“We have three million sweat glands, about half of which are found on the skin of the chest and back. Large numbers also occur on the forehead and palms of the hands. It is actually quite easy to see the individual pores by coating your skin with suntan oil and sitting in the hot sun for a few minutes.”
Oh, az is lovely, literate and luscious!
Comment by archiearchive FCD | February 28, 2008
What is it about page 123 that just seems to capture the essence of a book?
(What I really mean is “Archie, that’s a little disturbing!”
Comment by loricat | February 28, 2008
But nursemyra IS disturbing, just like this book - - -
Unlike az, who is lovely, literate, luscious and likeable!
Comment by archiearchive FCD | February 28, 2008
I’ve finished “People of the Book” - I have reviewed it - and you should go out and find a copy! Very Soon!
Comment by archiearchive FCD | February 29, 2008
Thanks Aerchie — noted. I’ll be hunting that one down.
Comment by loricat | March 5, 2008
And I’ve finally stopped blushing … thanks Archie!
Comment by azahar | March 8, 2008
Can you two please get a room?!?
Comment by loricat | March 8, 2008
Can you two please get a room?!?
Comment by loricat | March 8, 2008
We’re all reincarnations of crooks. She catches my gaze. “This really isn’t turning you on, is it? Okay, no more guns, we’ll go for a walk. Bangkok 8 by John Burdett. Is that two rooms? (#10 & 11?)
Comment by Lydia | March 20, 2008
“Can’t tell you how nice a little hello is after that other group. ‘Douche bag,’fuck face’…”"Serge…” He turned around.”What?” Tim Dorsey in Atomic Lobster.
Comment by Lydia | May 9, 2008