tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post2788035491395266989..comments2023-10-10T03:58:32.375-07:00Comments on Fingers & Prose: A Foray into First LinesMelodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-17045855516401446452011-01-30T01:21:17.478-08:002011-01-30T01:21:17.478-08:00That first line of the Road is heartbreaking to me...That first line of the Road is heartbreaking to me after reading the book.<br /><br />One of my favorites is the first line of Bright Rock, I ust think it also sets the whole book up<br /><br />'Hale knew, before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him'Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-60697050119576519552011-01-29T21:22:54.087-08:002011-01-29T21:22:54.087-08:00Darlyn, I almost bought that book simply because o...Darlyn, I almost bought that book simply because of that first line. :) Maybe next time I feel like reading P&P I'll read it zombie style instead.<br /><br />Kurt Vonnegut's first lines crack me up. They put a smile on my face and make me want to dive in.<br /><br />"All this happened, more or less." -Slaughterhouse Five<br /><br />"This is a tale of a meeting of two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast." -Breakfast of Champions<br /><br />"Call me Jonah. My parents did, or nearly did. They called me John." -Cat's Cradle (ok, that was 3, but they were necessary.)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-91317193527750845492011-01-29T02:39:20.686-08:002011-01-29T02:39:20.686-08:00I definitely pay attention to first lines, because...I definitely pay attention to first lines, because I think they set the tone for the rest of the novel. I can't think of one I really loved at the moment, but I remember one that made me laugh.<br /><br />It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. - Pride and Prejudice and ZombiesDarlyn (Your Move, Dickens)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00979296421309409564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-9378791713487019722011-01-28T16:06:57.043-08:002011-01-28T16:06:57.043-08:00Anbolyn, I like what you said about it connecting ...Anbolyn, I like what you said about it connecting you to a book. I can relate. Reading a book is forming a relationship of sorts, and digesting that first line is the initial contact.<br /><br />Em, I've found that when both the book and the film are well done, I seem to hold more appreciation for the one I experienced first. There have been a couple of books that simply let me down in comparison to the film though. I haven't seen or read The Hours yet.<br /><br />Jenny, it's that first line that makes me want to read Mrs. Dalloway. All the comments I've read about it put me off somewhat, but I'm hoping to get to it for my Back to the Classics Challenge.<br /><br />Ben, talk about spurring the imagination! What a great line.<br /><br />Teacher/Learner, sounds interesting! I would be curious to find what various authors thought about writing opening sentences. I was able to read part of "My Favorite First Sentence" on Google Books and found it enjoyable. Made me feel bad for ditching Owen Meany midway, actually. Owen was just so stinking irritating and I couldn't get past it. Maybe I'll have to give John Irving another shot.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-76397697370497016922011-01-28T15:26:57.667-08:002011-01-28T15:26:57.667-08:00Love this! Ironic that you posted this as I'm...Love this! Ironic that you posted this as I'm reading A Prayer For Owen Meany, and in an afterword, John Irving wrote "My Favourite First Sentence" where he discusses writing opening sentences.Teacher/Learnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280690822570558469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-17150996860577699522011-01-28T12:16:32.713-08:002011-01-28T12:16:32.713-08:00The sky above the port was the color of television...The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel<br /><br />-William Gibson, NeuromancerBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-3162140163475369532011-01-28T12:06:26.870-08:002011-01-28T12:06:26.870-08:00I read The Hours (loved! but also thought the movi...I read The Hours (loved! but also thought the movie was phenomenal), and began to read Gilead, but put it down about a year ago and never picked it back up. I'd like to get back to it sometime. Also would like to read The Road and Middlesex. <br /><br />I just started Mrs. Dalloway this morning and thought I'd post the line here, in keeping with your topic.<br /><br />"Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-78778760200533318392011-01-28T11:16:48.682-08:002011-01-28T11:16:48.682-08:00I'm useless at remembering first lines. I sho...I'm useless at remembering first lines. I should pay more attention. The only one that has stuck with me is the opening of The Bell Jar.<br /><br />I have read The Hours, none of the others. I thought it was a good book, but, rare thing, I actually preferred the film. I wonder if it's because I watched it first.<br />EmEmhttp://emeire.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-28861116070167191752011-01-28T10:36:37.656-08:002011-01-28T10:36:37.656-08:00That's amazing! You can really tell the flavor...That's amazing! You can really tell the flavor of the book from the opening line. I've read The Hours and the first line is the writing style throughout. I always, after I check a book out from the library or receive one in the mail, open to the first page and read the first line. It connects me to the book somehow and is like a welcome from me to the book and the book to me.Anbolyn (Cousins Read)http://niesaandanbolynread.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com