The book begins: “On the day my mother was released from prison I stubbed my toe four times. Same toe. Four times. It was a statistical anomaly and, in hindsight, a warning that bad things were coming my way.” What did you think of this opening?

Book Clubs Haven't Killed in Years by Amy K. Green Discussion
1

Haven’t Killed in Years begins: “On the day my mother was released from prison I stubbed my toe four times. Same toe. Four times. It was a statistical anomaly and, in hindsight, a warning that bad things were coming my way.” What did you think of this opening? In what ways did you feel it set the stage for the rest of the novel?

2

I think of it as a hook devise to get the reader interested in the story and in Gwen’s life story.

3

I loved how the book began! It was very clever and different and drew me into the book immediately. So very original.

4

The phrase “statistical anomaly” adds a dry humor and shows us what Gwen’s personality may be. It also foreshadows that the mother’s release sets up a sense of impending trouble. It starts to create the tension and curiosity that is to come.

5

It felt like a non sequitur but I get the purpose: Don’t be careless, as her father was when he finally got caught.

6

I felt like it was telling me, this girl is going to have a series of bad events. It was sort of a comical opening.

7

Truthfully I wasn’t sure what to think. My first thought was I am not sure if I am going to like this book. I also thought that the author had a sense of humor I just wasn’t sure if it was my sense of humor. Now having read the book I do think that the first line did set the stage for what was to come.

8

I was fine with the opening and thought it foreshadowed the events that would come later. Four stubs and four deaths.

9

It caught my attention and I also thought, trouble ahead for sure!

10

I thought it was a great beginning and really drew me in…

11

I loved this hook. I think it was a fantastic sentence. I also think it was probably written and re-written and workshopped over and over because the writer knows how the publishing industry works. I think it was far more clever than the rest of the book. I wish that Gwen was more like this throughout the book.

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12

I thought it was clever. I would also think that it was going to be a bad day if I stubbed my toe that many times!

13

I was hooked. I liked the humor and the casual way we learn that her mother had been in prison.( I think I actually believe in omens like that.) I would have liked the book more if the author had maintained this style throughout the book. It now feels kind of dishonest of the author to open with such a clever paragraph and then not live up to that promise.

14

I think it was a unique opening compared to others I’ve read. It made me interested.