06 October 2009

Today's Read: The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl

Quite frankly, I don't know who I am or where I am this week! I might be a young Englishman who joined the Indian mounted police to see the jungle, have an adventure, and bring civilization to the far corners of the world. Or maybe I'm a bounty hunter in Boston who has long lost his real name and is now called Molasses. Or I might be one of several men who are leaders in Boston's publishing industry. I do know it's 1870 and everyone seems to be looking for someone or something. [I've only just started this novel!]

For more Where Are You? answers, visit Raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading.


MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Here's how it works: Grab your current read; let the book fall open to a random page; and share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page. For more teasers, click on through to MizB's blog.

"It was when I read Walden that I knew I wanted to be a publisher," said Osgood. . . . "Not that I wished to experiment as a hermit in the woods, mind! But I realized that behind the unusual insights of this strange spirit, Thoreau, there was yet another person, far from Thoreau's woods, who was going to great lengths to ensure that every person in America had a chance to read his writing if they so desired. Someone who did so not because it would instantly prove popular, but because it could be important." (15)

—From The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl (Random House 2009)



29 comments:

JoAnn 10/6/09, 7:59 AM  

I'll be looking forward to your review of this...it sounds interesting.

jlshall 10/6/09, 8:22 AM  

Publishers as good guys - I like that. I've been curious about this one - sounds intriguing.

Margot at Joyfully Retired 10/6/09, 8:31 AM  

Do you think publishers still see themselves that way? Surely some do.

Lisa (Southern Girl Reads) 10/6/09, 8:33 AM  

Oh, I really want to read The Last Dickens!! Happy Reading!!

Julie P. 10/6/09, 8:34 AM  

Can't wait to read your review on this one. I've been wondering about it!

Teddyree 10/6/09, 8:48 AM  

Interesting teaser, I've seen this one around the blogosphere lately. Hope you're enjoying it!
Here's my Teaser

Book Bird Dog 10/6/09, 9:11 AM  

What would we do without publishers? Here's my Teaser

Serena 10/6/09, 10:15 AM  

I'm halfway through this book. it is fascinating!

Dorte H 10/6/09, 10:44 AM  

I agree that this one sounds interesting.

And me? I suppose I should be reading, but I am blogging, drinking hot coffee and watching Dharma and Greg. My book is sitting right next to me though so perhaps it will be like putting it under my pillow?

Sandy Nawrot 10/6/09, 10:49 AM  

I understand the confusion, I really do. I usually have three or four books going at once. Usually this is not a problem, but when they have similar plots or storylines, I get kerfuzzled.

Anonymous,  10/6/09, 10:53 AM  

I love your teaser. The books already on my to-read list.

kayerj 10/6/09, 11:20 AM  

Stacy at Life in the Thumb just wrote a review on this book that I found very interesting and your little teaser has me hooked. This book will have to go on my TBR.

Sherrie 10/6/09, 11:46 AM  

Hi Beth,
Sounds like an interesting book. I'll have to check it out. Have a great day!

Sherrie

Cackleberry Homestead 10/6/09, 12:13 PM  

Very interesting teaser - this book is on my tbr list.

Jennifer 10/6/09, 12:17 PM  

Sounds intriguing I look forward to your review.
Mine is here: http://rundpinne.blogspot.com/2009/10/casting-off-teaser-tuesdays.html

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) 10/6/09, 1:31 PM  

The bounty hunters. What an interesting lot they were. Hope you enjoy.

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) 10/6/09, 1:31 PM  

The bounty hunters. What an interesting lot they were. Hope you enjoy.

Belle 10/6/09, 2:54 PM  

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about this one. I just discovered the title when I was doing my giveaways post on the weekend, and it sounds very intriguing!

Nise' 10/6/09, 3:06 PM  

I was looking at this book the other day and am still deciding if I want to read it or not.

Louise 10/6/09, 5:39 PM  

I will most definitely also be looking for the review of this one. Sounds weirdly wonderful. Or maybe the complete opposite?!

Wendi 10/6/09, 7:16 PM  

Great teaser - I never really thought about what drives start-up publishers. :)

Here's my Teaser! ~ Wendi

Jenners 10/6/09, 9:00 PM  

It does sound like you are having a bit of an identity crisis!

Melody 10/6/09, 9:09 PM  

That's a great teaser! I look forward to your review on it soon!

Alice 10/6/09, 9:56 PM  

This one sounds good. Your review, please... :D

Anonymous,  10/7/09, 1:45 AM  

Dickens, Thoreau, and publishing? I'm in!

Unknown 10/7/09, 11:53 AM  

What a fantastic post!
The different characters all sound so exciting and interesting...nothing dull in your reading!

I wonder if many people wish to be publishers for a similar reason anymore. Osgood sounds like a good, kind man. I am looking forward to your reviewof this book!

The Bumbles 10/7/09, 12:48 PM  

I read Stacy's review of this too and it was the first I had heard of it. Thanks for giving me a peak inside. I never thought of publishers in quite that way but it is very true. I think I'm going to make it a literary weekend and go over to the Alcott House and then stop by Walden Pond - the foliage should be beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!

christine 10/7/09, 11:55 PM  

I have been curious about this book. I cannot wait to see your thoughts. Great teaser.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks 10/9/09, 3:09 PM  

"I don't know who I am or where I am" LOL!

I have this on my tbr; Ti (Book Chatter) gave it a really good review.

I'm writing a post for this weekend about a lesser known favorite spot of Thoreau. Gowings Swamp is just on the next ridge and was one of the places he walked to and wrote about often. It's being threatened by a housing development :(

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