First Line Friday: True Grit

~ Yvette - Bookworlder

Welcome to First Line Friday,

hosted by Hoarding Books.

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One of the things I love about the bookish communities online is how we share our love of books and our discoveries of authors, whether it is a debut author, an established author, or one who is, for whatever reason, no longer publishing.  I also love how international the pool of readers and authors is in these communities.

On the recommendation of a librarian in Norway whose account I follow on Instagram (search for @booktomas if you want to follow him), I’ve checked out a library e-book of True Grit by Charles Portis.  First published in 1968 and adapted into a movie more than once, I’ve only seen the Kim Darby/John Wayne version, and I’m strongly considering re-watching it after I read the book.

Here is the first line:

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“People do not give it credence that a fourteen-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father’s blood but it did not seem so strange then, though I will say it did not happen every day.“

I was surprised to find that this was written in first person and I’m curious to see how well the author gives voice to the fourteen year old narrator.  At only 240 pages, I think I’ll be squeezing this one in to my August must read pile.

Happy Friday!

Want to join in on the First Line Friday fun?  Open your current read or the book nearest to you and share the first line in the comments.  You can also head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is sharing. 

23 thoughts on “First Line Friday: True Grit”

  1. Happy Friday! 😎

    My first lines come from a book I will be reading soon, Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin…….

    At what point did a person realize that the special moments in life streak by in a flash, distilled into memories before they could be truly lived? Mary Katherine Ropp stood motionless in the middle of her kitchen, a platter holding a two-layer German chocolate cake covered in whipped cream cheese frosting nestled in her hands.

    Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!😊📚💖

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Happy Friday!
    The book I am sharing on my blog today is A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal but the book I’m currently reading is The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright. Since it was my FLF last week I’ll share the first line from chapter 20 where I am now: “‘You know you live in a creepy old house, don’t you?’ Christen stood from her chair at the kitchen table and retrieved the bag of mint Oreos from the counter.” Hope you have a great weekend with plenty of reading time! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Happy Friday! My first line (actually first 2 and the little poem before) is from “A Little Ray of Sunshine” by Kimberly Rae Jordan.

    “(Shadows around me, shadows above me
    Never conceal my Savior and Guide:
    He is the light, in Him is no darkness,
    Ever I’m walking close to His side.)

    Ryan McFadden looked at each of the men gathered around the large boardroom table. He searched the familiar faces for any sign of the unease that sat so heavy in his gut.”

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Happy Friday! I’ve seen the movie (the newer one with Matt Damon because I watch anything with Matt Damon in it) but had no idea it was a book. But I probably should have 🙂

    I’m about to start Hiding in Plain Sight by Mary Ellis, so I’ll share that first line here:
    It wouldn’t have taken much to turn a lousy day into something left of atrocious.

    Have a fantastic weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. On my blog, I’ve shared the first line from Kim Vogel Sawyer’s upcoming novel Ours For a Season. Right now, I’m just finishing up As the Tide Comes In by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. I’m going to share the first line from chapter 36 here:

    “Luella drove toward church as Tara fidgeted with notes to her speech.”

    Hope you have a great weekend filled with relaxing reading time! 😃📚

    Liked by 1 person

  9. The book I’m sharing on my blog is “The Covenant” by Hilda Stahl. Here, I will share the first line in Chapter 9 of the same novel. “In September, Jennet stood beside the open front door, held the satchel of clothes out to Free, and said dutifully, “Take care of yourself.”” Have a wonderful weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Oh, I love that first line. I have also seen the John Wayne version, but not the Matt Damon version and have not read the book. My dad loves westerns. I’ll have to see if he’s read it, and I think I’ll add it to my shelf too! Thanks for sharing that!

    Over on my blog, I’m sharing Not Her Daughter, which you saw, but I’ll share from another book I’m reading here, Sadie,

    “DANNY GILCHRIST: It’s a beautiful day in the city. The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky. I had a great lunch in Central Park, a chicken shawarma from the Shawarma Stop, which was overwhelmingly recommended to us by our listeners after last week’s episode on NYC’s best kept secrets. Thanks for that, you guys. It was so good, it just might be my dinner too. From WNRK New York, I’m Danny Gilchrist and you are listening to Always Out There.”

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. It’s THE True Grit! I look forward to hearing your thoughts! I haven’t read it, but I’ve seen and loved (for different reasons) both of the movie adaptations.

    I shared the first line from Amy Leigh Simpson’s When Fall Fades over on my blog.

    I JUST finished reading The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz, so I’ll share that first line here. “May 1775. Elisabeth took a breath, breaking an intense hour of concentration.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m thinking of watching both versions after I finish the book – I’m appreciating Kim Darby’s performance, as I remember it, more and more as I read.

      The Lacemaker is patiently waiting on my shelf… so want to get to it! Thanks for sharing and hope you are having a great weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. This is obviously a classic, and I can see why. I’ll check it out – thanks for the heads-up!

    I’m sharing from Know You More by Jan Thompson on my blog – it’s the latest addition to my never-ending to-read pile. And it’s currently free on Kindle (for around another 24 hours).

    Liked by 1 person

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