Windy City Blues, a novel by Renee Rosen, February 28, 2017, Berkley.
First chapter:
Prologue: 1933
She did her worshipping from the hood of a rusted-out Chevrolet in a junkyard on Twenty-ninth and State Street across from the church. Leeba Groski felt closer to God there than she ever did in a synagogue. It was a Sunday morning and she had tagged along with the neighbor boys, Leonard and Phil Chess. They sat three in a row on the hood, their feet resting on the bumper while they listened to the gospel music pouring out of the church's open door and windows. Even in Chicago's August heat, the piano music and voices gave Leeba goose bumps as she clapped and sang along to "Jesus Gave Me Water". Leeba didn't have a great voice, but when she sang you couldn't hear her accent. If she could, she would have said everything in a song.
Book description:
In 1960s Chicago, a young woman stands in the middle of a musical and social revolution - the rise of the Chicago blues. A new historical novel from the bestselling author of White Collar Girl and What the Lady Wants.
MEME: Every Tuesday Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two, from a book you are reading or will be reading soon
Prologue: 1933
She did her worshipping from the hood of a rusted-out Chevrolet in a junkyard on Twenty-ninth and State Street across from the church. Leeba Groski felt closer to God there than she ever did in a synagogue. It was a Sunday morning and she had tagged along with the neighbor boys, Leonard and Phil Chess. They sat three in a row on the hood, their feet resting on the bumper while they listened to the gospel music pouring out of the church's open door and windows. Even in Chicago's August heat, the piano music and voices gave Leeba goose bumps as she clapped and sang along to "Jesus Gave Me Water". Leeba didn't have a great voice, but when she sang you couldn't hear her accent. If she could, she would have said everything in a song.
Book description:
In 1960s Chicago, a young woman stands in the middle of a musical and social revolution - the rise of the Chicago blues. A new historical novel from the bestselling author of White Collar Girl and What the Lady Wants.
MEME: Every Tuesday Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two, from a book you are reading or will be reading soon
I love the sound of this one, and the idea of worshipping from the hood of a car! lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and here's mine: “ONE PERFECT LIE”
This intro grabbed at me, I'd keep reading. Hope you like it Harvee.
ReplyDeleteI like the intro and am intrigued by Leeba.
ReplyDeleteI really like the opening of this and would be interested in continuing. I have a copy of an earlier book the author wrote, but haven't yet read it. Hopefully soon. Thank you for sharing, Harvee!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued! Leeba is a character I want to learn more about.
ReplyDeleteI love this opening, the writing style, and the setting, so I'd definitely keep reading!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Prologue, and think I'd enjoy reading more of this book!
ReplyDeleteI loved the first para and am still loving it about 1/3 of the way in! It's as much about the cooperative relationship of blacks and Jews on Chicago's south side (Maxwell St) in the 1950s and '60s as it is about music and the history of Chess records. Who knew? Really interesting and nicely written!
ReplyDelete