Today we’re starting the next book in The Bestseller Code 100 challenge, Testimony by Anita Shreve for Book Beginnings on Fridays.
Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!
Testimony* by Anita Shreve
(*Amazon Affiliate link)
Summary: When the headmaster of Avery Academy receives a video of his students engaged in sexual acts with an underage girl, he is shocked. What will be the consequences for the students involved and for the school, which is already struggling? How did this happen and what should he do about it?
First Sentence:
It was a small cassette, not much bigger than the palm of his hand, and when Mike thought about the terrible license and risk exhibited on the tape, as well as its resultant destructive power, it was as though the two-by three plastic package had been radioactive.
Discussion:
The first chapter should come with a warning. I took the book with me to read while waiting to get my car’s oil changed. Within minutes I realized that the intense description of sexual acts on the video weren’t something I felt comfortable reading in public. It made me squirm with embarrassment and I had to put it away. That is the first time I’ve ever had that happen. (I did my grocery list instead).
Have you ever had to quit reading a book because of similar circumstances?
What do you think? Would you read Testimony?
I’ve had to stop listening to audiobooks because of overly descriptive sex. I listen to audiobooks in my office and I would be horrified if someone popped their head in before I got it turned off. See what we are featuring at Girl Who Reads
Oh my, an audiobook could be really embarrassing.
I can’t ever recall having been reading a book in public when something gave me that squirmy feeling, but I do know it. If the subject needs it, I guess it’s OK, but you do wonder sometimes.
The thing is, I didn’t expect it at all. Especially in the first chapter.
I listened to this one on audio a long time ago. I only listened in the car so I didn’t have the same problem. I don’t think I’ve ever had to stop reading a book for that reason, though.
I read this book a long time ago, today; read, not listened to, so there were no problems.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.