Comments on: BTT – In the Beginnings

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:35:34 +0000

Hmm my favs… “Pride and Prejudice”, “Emma”, “A Tale of Two Cities”, and “The Hobbit”. There are tons of other great ones out there, but those come to mind.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:15:27 +0000

Hey Jenn! I don’t devour books anywhere near your rate, but here are a few beginnings that came to mind:

“‘To be born again,’ sang Gibreel Farishta tumbling from the heavens, ‘first you have to die.’

- The Satanic Verses

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

- Anna Kerenina

“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”

- 100 Years of Solitude

“Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.”

-Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Whew! What a nice trip through my bookshelf!

By: donstuff

donstuff — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:30:33 +0000

“I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.”
From A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
and
“My name is Odd Thomas, though in this age when fame is the alter at which most people worship, I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist.” From Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

By: Literate Housewife

Literate Housewife — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:53:08 +0000

I’ve never read Kafka. I’m missing out!l

By: trish

trish — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:49:25 +0000

I totally forgot about Metamorphosis!! One of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever read, yet it drew my sympathy like few stories ever have. In fact, I was one of the few people in the class who liked it, seeing past the obvious “guy turns into a cockroach” story.

Good answer!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:30:47 +0000

I’ve never read Kafka, but that first line makes me want to. I’ve been saying that a lot in my replies to all these great first lines!

I used Austen in my post too. It’s really hard to avoid that iconic beginning, especially when that line is brilliant in more than one way. I agree with you that they can set the tone for the entire book, but a first line has never made a book for me.

By: Sally

Sally — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:38:39 +0000

Of course the word “insect” gives it away.

By: JLS Hall

JLS Hall — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:25:43 +0000

Wow, how could I forget Kafka? Glad you reminded me of how much I always loved that first line.

By: Confuzzled Books

Confuzzled Books — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:07:19 +0000

I have never read any Austen either. Metamorphosis sounds interesting and strange.

By: CB James

CB James — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:19:53 +0000

Sure the rest of the books has to be terrific too. But I have a hard time imagining either of those without their first sentences.

I think the first sentence is very important.

Here’s mine.

http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/2008/07/btt-favorite-first-lines.html