The Bell Jar’s opening line has been my favourite for years. In completely different register, I also love the first line of The Neuromancer by William Gibsons: “The sky above the port was the color of television tuned to a dead channel.”
"I've known Death a long time, but now Death knows me" (The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells) - I never wanted to read anything by him, did not understand the hype, but that sentence hooked me and now I cannot get enough of his books.
“On my first day in jail, a three hundred pound man named Porterhouse hit me in the back of the head with a metal tray.” from My Friend Leonard by James Frey
The first line of The Secret History will always be one of my faves!
i worry not much else could ever beat that
truly!
Majorly agree
1984! « It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen »
iconic for a reason!
Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
iconic for a reason
bee sting mentioned!!! my fav!!!
SO good i need to re-read it when i have some time
Hands down - Plath wins.
i hope you read the dry heart by natalia ginzburg!! no way to forget that!
yes i read that in one sitting! any book with an opener like that has to be good
The Bell Jar’s opening line has been my favourite for years. In completely different register, I also love the first line of The Neuromancer by William Gibsons: “The sky above the port was the color of television tuned to a dead channel.”
The Great Gatsby opening line is one of the greatest.
I'd love to hear about The Bell Jar from you
Yes to The Bee Sting! Still thinking about that ending
"I've known Death a long time, but now Death knows me" (The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells) - I never wanted to read anything by him, did not understand the hype, but that sentence hooked me and now I cannot get enough of his books.
“On my first day in jail, a three hundred pound man named Porterhouse hit me in the back of the head with a metal tray.” from My Friend Leonard by James Frey
Another great line from the start of Gatsby: “I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
this is my favorite way to choose my next read! i also love compiling dedications
loved this, so many great lines!
The first line of any one of Fredrik Backman’s books are sure to be hits!!