Introductions of 3 Books on My Shelf

I don’t buy a lot of physical books these days. Living overseas in Seoul, South Korea there is minimal living space and imported books can cost a bit of a pretty penny unless you thrift. So when I could visit my hometown and look at all the books on my mother's bookshelf that used to belong to me (and also ones that I brought with me to save some space back in Seoul), it made me think.

Why did I buy those books?

In the early 2000s, I definitely wasn’t a GoodReads user, and I didn’t depend on Twitter for recommendations. The books just had to appeal to me. I remember that I always read the first paragraph and the last sentence of a book to decide whether I wanted to buy and read it or not. It was a habit I carried well through high school, college, and my early 20s but one that occasionally pops up to this day.

I would like to demonstrate that method with you today by sharing the introductions of three books on my old shelf, and what prompted me to decide that they were worth the read.

Gleanings

Neal Shusterman

Slicing through the air with effortless aplomb,

the moment you take your first swing,

you wield your axe

like you are a master in the art of gleaning.

(Shusterman)

I am a Shusterman fan, as demonstrated in my Author Profile article and shameless recommendations. Honestly, I buy and read his books almost directly as they are released. However, one thing that I absolutely love about Shusty is that he will joke about making his books into movies or television shows, but he will not joke when it comes to a good hook on the first page. While this book is an additional collection of stories to the chilling Arc of a Scythe series that was wrapped up in 2019, it still presents a poetic style introduction that encourages you to read more.

Additionally, can we take a moment to appreciate the stunning artwork on this special edition cover?

Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi

Pick me.

It’s all I can do not to scream. I dig my nails into the marula oak of my staff and squeeze to keep from fidgeting. Beads of sweat drip down my back, but I can’t tell if it’s from dawn’s early heat or from my own heart slamming against my chest. Moon after moon I’ve been passed over.

Today can’t be the same.

(Adeyemi)

Now, I had heard a lot about this book, and my best friend urged me to read it. But this introduction? The detail, the visual descriptors, and the emotions are easy to comprehend for anyone. So many questions can be asked with this small piece alone, including who is this, why they have a staff, and why they want to be picked so badly. I love books that give me a reason to be inquisitive and move me from moment to moment.

The Valley of Amazement

Amy Tan

When I was seven, I knew exactly who I was: a thoroughly American girl in race, manners, and speech, whose mother, Lulu Minturn, was the only white woman who owned a first-class courtesan house in Shanghai.

(Tan)

I do remember this one as a random pick-up from a bookstore. I remember looking at the beautiful cover and recognizing the name which was more than enough for me to do my little “test.” With this intro, we already know much about the main character and what this story may be about. I found it so intriguing. I again found myself curious to know more about the main character, and their situation, and I especially wanted to know how her mother came to such a position in a notoriously traditional culture. An excellent introduction and an excellent book as well.

While I no longer search for my books this way, it's nice to remember the ways I used to really get interested in reading. Let us know in the comments—What were your book-choosing methods? What are they now if they've changed?

Shusterman, Neal. Gleanings: Stories From the Arc of a Scythe. 2022.

Adeyemi, Tomi. Children of Blood and Bone. Henry Holt Books For Young Readers, 2018.

Tan, Amy. The Valley of Amazement. Ecco, 2013.

Edited by Lindsey Huddleston.