Grab a book!

Linda was challenged by Mizmell and I picked up the open invitation to participate in the "Book Meme". What the heck! I'm easily amused and I like unusual challenges. Here are the rules:

1. Pick up a book close to hand that is at least 123 pages long.
2. Go to page 123.
3. Count down to the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences word for word.
5. Tag 5 people (if you wish)

Like Linda, I'm opening this up to anyone who wishes to do it. (Like I could stop you anyway!)


And now...back by popular demand:

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (For those of you unfamiliar with the author, it is actually a man. I know. Those Brits, eh?)

You should know that I was delighted to have this book close to hand (having rediscovered it lurking in the trunk in my living room where we hide our foreign film videos --no reason, honest!). My delight was indeed short-lived however, when I found that my number 2 sentence was perhaps the longest sentence ever written! See for yourselves:


Brideshead Revisited, Chapter Five, Et in Arcadia Ego

Page 123, Lines 9-21

His constant, despairing prayer was to be let alone. (Fine. Nice and short, right? But...)

By the blue waters and rustling palms of his own mind he was happy and harmless a a Polynesian; only when the big ship dropped anchor beyond the coral reef, and the cutter beached in the lagoon , and, up the slope that had never known the print of a boot, there trod the grim invasion of trader, administrator, missionary and tourist--only then was it time to disinter the archaic weapons of the tribe and sound the drums in the hills; or more easily to turn from the sunlit door and he alone in the darkness, where the impotent, painted deities paraded the walls in vain, and cough his heart out among the rum bottles. (I could use a drink myself, after that!)

And since Sebastian counted among the intruders his own conscience and all claims of human affection, his days in Arcadia were numbered.

Whew! I actually read this book! Just kidding; it's one of my favourites, really, but for those of you who can't wade through the ponderous language and plethora of punctuation, there's always the BBC dramatic series. Check out my previous post for more info.