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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Booking Through Thursday



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This week's question:

Suggested by: Nithin

Here’s another idea about memorable first lines from books.

What are your favourite first sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its first sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the first line?

I don't usually remember first lines from books, but here are two that stick out in my mind...


"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." (Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen)

Although I don't think this is true, I actually know people who believe this! But I always remember this line because I've read and watched the movies a gazillion times. And then I always think of those people I know who believe this holds true today.


"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way -- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens)

The first part always makes me think of Star Trek. :-)

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9 stitch(es):

Anonymous said...

The beginning of Tale of Two Cities is the only one I can ever remember! So it made me smile that you used it, too.

Oh, the other one I remember is the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, because we had to memorize it in high school.

Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour...

Wow, blast from the past!

Aunt Kathy said...

I can't think of the first line of any book, except the Bible, lol

In the beginning...God created the heavens and the earth

SmilingSally said...

Like you, beginnings don't make or break the book for me.

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe I forgot about the Dickens quote!!

Melody said...

I wish I've thought of that opening line from Pride and Prejudice. I've seen a lot of readers quoting that! :)

Alix said...

Yes they are classic the kind of quotes everyone seems to know even if you haven;t read the books.

jlshall said...

Well, even if you can't remember the first lines from every book you've read - those two are some really great ones!

ShannonW said...

I do remember the first line from the Bible :)

Chrisbookarama said...

I forgot about the Dickens one. I bet most people at least have heard it before.