From the editors of American Book Review, we have this list of the 100 best first lines from novels.
Check them out. See if you agree. Personally, I think some of them were chosen based on the quality of the book rather than the quality of the line itself. Like this one, which was ranked #37:
Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.
What's so special about that first line? I don't see it.
Suggest others if you like.
Thanks so much to Stidmama for the link!
3 comments:
Excellent TwitterLit fodder!
Though I think Nancy's right that a lot of them aren't so great as first lines per se but were probably chosen because of their books. (And, alas, many of them are too long for TwitterLit!)
One of my favorite books has the perfect opening line:
Amanda Green died for a cigarette.
The book is Body Bags by Christopher Golden. The lead-in is rapidly followed by a crime. Amanda is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The first line of the first chapter is so beautiful:
It was a beautiful day to grow up.
I quote it at my book blog + archive site because it means that much to me.
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