Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can participate.
If you’re new to Teaser Tuesdays, the details are at MizB’s Should Be Reading or on my Teaser Tuesdays Page.
A Free Man of Color
by Barbara Hambly
Gaslights were a new thing–when January had left in 1817 everything had been candlelit–and in the uneasy brilliance couples moved through the lower lobby and up the curving double flight of the main stair to the ballroom on the floor above. As a child January had been fascinated by this festival of masks, and years had not eroded its eerie charm; he felt as if he had stepped through into a dream of Shelley or Coleridge where everything was more vivid, more beautiful, soaked in a crystalline radiance, as if the walls of space and time, fact and fiction, had been softened, to admit those who never existed, or who were no more.
A Free Man of Color is the first book in Barbara Hambly‘s Benjamin January series. I’ve intended to try this series for a long time since I’ve enjoyed several books by Hambly, including her novelization of the original Beauty and the Beast television series. What always put me off is that I’m not fond of historical works in general. New Orleans has such a fascinating cultural history though that this finally decided me to give it a try. Hambly’s writing is so very rich and descriptive that it is easy to imagine myself there in the past.
Do you enjoy books set in the past or do you prefer to remain in the present? What are you reading now? Do you have a TT to share with us?
Please leave a comment with your link on MizB’s Teaser Tuesday post or below. If you don’t have a blog, you can share your Teaser here in the comment section instead.
Excellent teaser, sounds like one to check out. I do like a good historical or classic on occasion, and have a classic myself this week: Emma
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Thanks for coming by, Heather. Hard to go wrong with classics. I read them a lot, mostly 19th Century ones.
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I love Barbara Hambly. She’s my all-time favorite author.
My teaser is at http://suziequint.blogspot.com/2014/09/tuesday-teaserfirst-paragraph-governess.html
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Yea, another Hambly fan! Thanks for coming by and leaving your TT.
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I mostly enjoy books from the present, or the future. But I like the language of this teaser, very cool pick!
My Teaser.
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Yes, I mostly stick to the present too, Kerry. I’ll see how this one goes. Thanks for stopping by and leaving yours.
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I’ve never read any of her books but I love that teaser. I look forward to your review…
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Thanks. I see Philip K. Dick is featured on yours this week. Always good stuff!
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The premise of the story seems to have a lot of depth. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book with a lot of depth to it; actually, I think I may be reading one right now! Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for coming by, Claudia. Yes, I think you may be reading one with depth in The Book Thief. I’ve been hearing about it lately.
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Madame Vauquer,
It’s hard to say. I thoroughly enjoy 19th century works, but I generally avoid historical novels or those written in the present but set in the past. The exception would be mysteries set in the past, for those I do enjoy.
At present I’m reading a collection of short stories by Lu Hsun or Lu Xun, who, according to the information I found, is considered to be the most important Chinese writer of the 20th century and the founder of modern Chinese literature.
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That’s just like me, Fred. As you know, I’m always reading something from the 19th Century–sometimes two at once, lol. I think one thing that puts me off about historical novels is the subject matter. I don’t care to read about royalty or war very often. I enjoy the “common” people. Mysteries in the past–I loved Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael series.
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Madame Vauquer,
The Brother Cadfael series is what got me interested in historical mysteries. Some of my favorites are
Steven Saylor’s Gordianus the Finder (Rome, approximately 87? BC and the latest takes place while Julius Caesar rules Rome.) The next one may deal with his assassination. He’s a PI.
Michael Gregorio’s Hanno Steffeniis (Prussia, early 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars), he’s an investigating magistrate
Bernard Knight’s Crowner John (England about 100 years after Brother Cadfael–Richard the Lion-Hearted is king now), first appearance of the coroner
C. J Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake (set during the reign of Henry VIII) a lawyer
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Thanks for the tips, Fred! Saylor’s name seems very familiar, but looking at the list, I don’t think I’ve read any of them. Someone else just mentioned Sansom’s Shardlake series too. I used to read Margaret Frazer’s Sister Frevisse series, the earlier ones. Then I sort of fell away from them, not sure why.
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Great teaser. I like historical books now and then, but mostly I like YA present. Here is my TT http://cynthiastacey.com/2014/09/09/teaser-tuesday-sept-9/
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Thanks for coming by and for leaving your TT, Cynthia.
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I do like historical books and particularly those set in the 19 century onwards, like the mention of gaslights in the teaser here. Thanks for visiting my TT http://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/tuesday-teaser-september-9/
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I had a hard time decided whether to go with this teaser or an action one where January wonders who the woman is and how she knew his name. Hambly is so great with descriptions that I went with that. Glad you liked it. Thanks for leaving your link.
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This book sounds intriguing. I’ve never heard of her before. Here is my Teaser: http://darcysbookblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/teaser-tuesday-sept-9/
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She writes in several different genres. I think I first heard of her in a Star Trek book. Here’s her page at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10333.Barbara_Hambly
Thanks for coming by and leaving your TT.
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Lots of mood.
My excerpt today from a soon-to-be-published young adult novel:
http://pdworkman.com/excerpt-from-steven-teasertuesdayont-forget-steven-teasertuesday/
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Thanks for stopping by. Your upcoming one sounds like a good read.
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Love your teaser! I love the writing style and vibe.
Thanks for visiting my Teaser Tuesday 🙂
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Thanks for commenting and for leaving your TT link. Both yours sound like goodies.
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Thanks 🙂
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I love a mix of both but Historical Fiction is my fav – as it brings the past to life!
Thanks for stopping by my teaser today too!
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2014/09/09/teaser-tuesday-september-9th-and-update/
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Thanks for commenting. I’ll have to browse your blog for your favorite historical fiction reads.
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I don’t normally read books set this far back in the past. I do love New Orleans though and like the characters name. This I’d read. Good tease. And thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
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New Orleans was a hook for me too. I’ve enjoyed other books set there. I have fond memories of visits when I was a child and had some relatives living there at the time. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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I’ve been curious about this book, and your Teaser makes me want to read it right now. I enjoy books set in the past, present, and future, depending on the story.
Here’s the link to my Tuesday post: Retirement Can Be Murder.
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Thank you, Sandra. Yours this week might start me on another mystery series. Fortunately there have been no murders (yet) in my retirement. Thanks for leaving the link.
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Oh, now that’s an interesting teaser! I have never read anything by this author. Might have to add it to the TBR list! Thanks for stopping by my TT! 🙂
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Hambly has a page at Goodreads, so it will be easy to see what all she’s written–several different genres. Thanks for visiting. Yours this week sounds fascinating.
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This sounds interesting.
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So does yours, Yvonne. I’m always on the lookout for another mystery series.
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I think it sounds interesting as well. I do like historical fiction, but I need to balance it with a good amount of contemp fiction.
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I lean very heavily on the contemporary side, lol. Thanks for coming by.
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What a great teaser! I love the atmosphere created in those few lines. Hope you enjoy the book.
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Thank you. Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays!
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I hope you will enjoy this book like another of Ms. Hambly’s works.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week! 🙂
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I am so far. Thanks for coming by.
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