friday book memes

I found a couple of memes related to books that look like fun.  Would you like to know what a meme is?  So would I.  There are lots of definitions on the net; let me know when you figure it out.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice, and the rules are:

"Grab a book, any book.

Turn to page 56.

Find any sentence that grabs you.

Post it.

Add your (url) post below in Linky.

It's that simple."

I've been carrying around Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door because I want to reread it and think about the children and other characters learning to name and love the evil Echthroi.  On page 56:

"It is a constant amazement to me," the cherubim thought at them, "that so many earthling artists paint cherubim to resemble baby pigs."

Book beginnings is hosted by A Few More Pages, and its rules are:

"Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading

on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author

so we know what you're reading.  Then, if you would like, let us know

what your first impressions were based on that first line,

and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence."

 From Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse:

"Jeeves," I said.  "May I speak frankly?"

"Certainly, Sir."

"What I have to say may wound you."

"Not at all, Sir."

"Well then-" No. Wait.  Hold the line a minute, I've gone off the rails.  I don't know if you have had the same experience, but the snag I always come up against when I'm telling a story is this dashed difficult problem of where to begin it.  It's a thing you don't want to go wrong over, because one false step and you're sunk.  I mean, if you fool about too long at the start, trying to establish atmosphere, as they call it, and all that sort of rot, you fail to grip, and the customers walk out on you.  Get off the mark on the other hand like a scalded cat, and your public's at a loss.  It simply raises its eyebrows and can't make out what you're talking about.

You can't go wrong with Wodehouse, so I suppose I've chosen an easy one here, but I love his out-of-the-box humor and plot twists.  I also love Bertie's (the speaker) eyeroll attitude of "atmosphere."