Posted on 04/05/2023 8:34:50 PM PDT by Saije
A good first line is not always necessary because who stops reading after one sentence? But it can be extremely useful in building expectations for the style and characterisation that will follow. While book jackets can indicate a broad genre, that line can define the subgenre.
The opening may establish the tone, character, location, era or season but it can also pull a reader into the realm of the story that follows, and often into the head of the protagonist or into an alternate reality. When we open a book, we are ready to embark on a journey. The starter pistol should propel us forward. In my experience, a great opening will also raise questions that needs to be answered. Who or why or how or indeed, wtf?
In my own work, I like to set the opening line in the aftermath of a major event. I write first-person narratives and the reaction of the protagonist to this event should give the reader a good indication of the type of character... To demonstrate, here are some of my favourite openings by other writers.
1. Breakfast Wine from There Are Little Kingdoms by Kevin Barry
"They say it takes just three alcoholics to keep a small bar running in a country town and while myself and the cousin, Thomas, were doing what we could, we were a man shy, and these were difficult days for Mr Kelliher, licensee of the North Star, Pearse Street."
A whole world and three distinct characters have been created in this one sentence. Our narrator is aware of the fact that he is an alcoholic, but does Thomas know that the narrator is? Does he know that he is? Where is poor Mr Kelliher going to find a third alcoholic to keep his doors open?
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I think the only first line that made me interested in (possibly) reading the book was this one:
9. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
"On the afternoon of October 12, 1990, my twin brother Thomas entered the Three Rivers, Connecticut Public Library, retreated to one of the rear study carrels, and prayed to God the sacrifice he was about to commit would be deemed acceptable."
‘He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. ‘
What is, The Old Man and the Sea ?
“The train went on up the track out of sight, around one of the hills of burnt timber.”
“The sea was angry that day”
MARLEY was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
I remember an interview with Louis L’amour and he was asked to come with an attention-grabbing first line off the cuff.
He said, ‘He was the last man on the last space station orbiting around the charred cinder that had been Earth, wondering what he would do next, when there was a knock on the door.’
It was a dark and stormy night.
Right up there with best of times, worst of times.
Yes! One of my favorite books!
Ha ha! Awesome! WHAT’S NEXT?? I read a ton of his books, the guy was brilliant
- like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli. I got about fifty feet out and suddenly, the great beast appeared before me. I tell you, he was ten stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence, he let out a great bellow.
“The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.” - VS Naipaul, opening line of “A Bend in the River.”
:^)
GMTA see 13.
Thanks for this post, I didn’t see any of my fave opening lines either, but it was a nice break from politics, etc. etc.
That book sounded interesting to me too, I clicked the link, which takes you to Wikipedia btw not a sales site. Sounded dreadful really, but not uninteresting. It’s not going on the to be read list at this time tho’.
Mickey Spillane “The guy was dead as hell.” Vengenance is Mine (1950)
I a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit.
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