Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesdays - 'When It's A Jar' by Tom Holt

When It's A JarIt's Tuesday and that means we are going to torture each other with amazing intros and teasers from our current reads! Tuesday Intros is hosted by Diane over at Bibliophile by the Sea and Teaser Tuesdays, hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. This week I'm featuring a book I just reviewed, which I really enjoyed although there are some problems with it. And that book is When It's  A Jar by Tom Holt.
Maurice has just killed a dragon with a bread knife. And had his destiny foretold... and had his true love spirited away. That's precisely the sort of stuff that'd bring out the latent heroism in anyone. Unfortunately, Maurice is pretty sure he hasn't got any latent heroism. 
Meanwhile, a man wakes up in a jar in a different kind of pickle (figuratively speaking). He can't get out, of course, but neither can he remember his name, or what gravity is, or what those things on the ends of his legs are called... and every time he starts working it all out, someone makes him forget again. Forget everything. 
Only one thing might help him. The answer to the most baffling question of all...WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR?

Intro:
'Years ago, when he was a child, Maurice refused to go on the Uneground because he was scared of all the dead people. His father had asked him a few questions and glanced at his bedside table, and explained that the Underground wasn't the same thing as the Underworld that he'd been reading about in hus 'Myths & Legends of the Ancient Greeks' book, which his aunt Jane had given him for his birthday. There were no dead people, three-headed dogs or sinister boatmen down there, his father promised him, just crowded platforms, unreliable trains, people ins cruddy old coats who talked to themselves, a really quite small proportion of homicidal lunatics and a rather unsavory smell. He'd been reassured (though he'd secretly quite fancied seeing a dog with three heads) and withdrawn his objection. Nevertheless, even now, there was something about it -'p.1
I really like this beginning. Not only does it describe the Tube in London quite well, but it also shows how deeply the main character is embedded in legend etc.


Teasers:
'"Take a pyramid," he said. "Turn it upside down so it's standing on its point. That's us. The rule is, the further up the pyramid you go - that's away from the point, towards the base - the less your level of activity. In other words, at the very top, you've got a great many people doing nothing at all. A bit lower down the pecking order, you've got a modern number of people doing very little."' p.121
I love this teaser (I know, it's quite long) for its absolute truth. This is simple how a lot of companies work. All the people at the top who "manage" and "supervise" aren't really doing a lot.

Comments

  1. Both are great snippets. I'm quite curious. Sounds like a fun read.

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  2. Thanks for sharing this new-to-me book and author. The description had me baffled, but I liked the intro and teaser enough to want to read more.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  3. This is not usually my type of book, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  4. This sounds so weird! I definitely want to check it out. Here's my Teaser Tuesday!

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  5. I'm intrigued by the opening paragraph. LOVE the description of the Tube. This sounds like a book I'd like.
    My Teaser is from THE FRIENDSHIP STAR QUILT.

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  6. I think this is a great opening and now I'm really curious about the book. I hadn't heard of it before. Thank you for sharing!

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  7. Fascinating snippets! This one sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  8. I like the descriptions, but I admit to be totally confused at to what the heck this story is about :) Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for sharing a new author to me.

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  9. I'm not sure if this one would be for me, but I am curious about it now!

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  10. that's a very creative opening and the cover is so yummy! Enjoy your book and thanks for stopping by. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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  11. I really liked the intro, but the synopsis sounded kind of odd to me. Will be interested to read your review.

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  12. This has my interest. I'd keep reading.

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  13. Oh I'm not sure… I think I'm confused which is not necessary a bad thing. I also love the cover.
    Peggy @ The Pegster Reads

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  14. I don't think this would be for me, but happy u shared it.

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  15. I love the cover but the first paragraph made me think it's not for me. Hope it works for you.

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  16. I will keep reading based on the opener. Will check out your review. Thanks for stopping by Love Bites and Silk.

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  17. The intro really catches me. The description seems to abstract, but I hope you love it.

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