Choosing Books

One thing I started doing years ago is to read the opening paragraphs of any book I'm thinking about buying. It's amazing how often that simple gesture can keep you from wasting time and money. If the opening sentence is like something from Bulwer-Lytton, or not really to your taste, you can stop while you're ahead. With that in mind, I thought I'd mention that I read Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. In the book, she basically runs around the country researching the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. Very funny, but perhaps a little too left wing for some of our readership. Her opening sentence:

Going to Ford's Theater for the play is like going to Hooters for the food.

How could you not be hooked after reading that?