Tuesday Intro

This weekend I started a new book so I thought it was time for another post for, First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros. Thank you to Yvonne, from Socrates’ Book Reviews who hosts this meme. As a reminder this is your chance to post a bit from a book that you are reading or planning to read.

“Maud simply wanted to live in Paris, with or without a husband, preferably without. While careful not to let her thoughts show on her severe and slightly disdainful golden face, Maud had a secret desire to escape all forms of control. That was her abiding wish. The future was unclear to her, but she knew that it did not contain her mother, or her mother’s plans, of which she was fully aware. Rigidly supervised as she was, she longed fo freedom.”

Incidents in the Rue Langier by Anita Brookner

From the dust jacket: Brookner tells of Maud Gonthier, a demure and serious young woman from Dijon, who is introduced to desire by the fascinating, rich David Tyler. They meet one summer at her aunt’s comfortable country home; the innocent Maud falls instantly and passionately in love. She follows Tyler to Paris, and when he abruptly disappears, Maud is left with his friend Edward to pick up the pieces of her life.

I have really enjoyed other Brookner books. Many of her main characters face issues of balancing family obligations versus a longing for a different life and women who have been disappointed in love. And, while that may not sound very joyful, I feel like as the reader you really get to know the characters and understand their longings.

Other books of hers I’ve read are: Hotel du Lac, The Rules of Engagement, Leaving Home and The Debut. And, I probably have at least three or four other titles by her on my shelves.

Anyway, what about you, have you read this author or would this book capture your attention? Would love to hear your thoughts.