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 Best Literary First Lines

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Laura
Zara Mikazuki
Jane
Tourterelle
Magda
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Magda
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Magda


Number of posts : 262
Age : 29
Location : California
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyWed Dec 24, 2008 6:04 am

What are some of the best first lines to pull you into books? I love:

There once was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.--The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by CS Lewis

Last night I dreamed I was at Manderley again.--Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

In a hobbit hole, there lived a hobbit.--The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The ghost in the Paris Opera really existed.--The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
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Tourterelle
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Tourterelle


Number of posts : 7942
Age : 31
Location : Wisconsin, USA
Dictionary Definition : Tourterelle--a unique specimen of the female gender of Homo Sapiens that exhibits behaviors such as excessive procrastination, chocolate creation (in direct contradiction to the Law of Conservation of Matter), and overall insanity. Common names include Nicholle, CQ (Chocolate Queen), Crackhead, and Miss Martini Maniac. Lately, this individual has reportedly been seen dancing in a banana costume and drinking an excessive amount of martinis.
Registration date : 2008-12-03

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyWed Dec 24, 2008 3:15 pm

I also love the opening line to The Hobbit! Very Happy

Others I love:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

"Marley was dead, to begin with."
-A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."
-The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

"All this happened, more or less."
-Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut


Side topic: I think I might be going nuts. When I saw this question, I tried to star it. lol!
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Jane
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Jane


Number of posts : 1077
Age : 29
Location : South Carolina, USA
Dictionary Definition : Jane: Also known as "Ally," "Allison," and "freshmeat," this female Homo Sapiens specimen has proven herself a strong member of the Literary Cabinet world. One can recognize "Jane" by her taste in, especially older, men, many of them classic fictional characters, as well as her distinct fear of drama class auditions. Like many of the other species in the Literary Cabinet Universe, she is crazy in her own right.
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyWed Dec 24, 2008 4:34 pm

The Hobbit and Rebecca came to my mind as well.

Others:

"A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem not but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate." ~ The Scarlet Pimpernel

"It was a pleasure to burn." ~ Farenheit 451

"There was no chance of taking a walk that day." ~ Jane Eyre
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Zara Mikazuki
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Zara Mikazuki


Number of posts : 4826
Age : 32
Location : The computer of the Biology Research Lab......procrastinating.
Dictionary Definition : Zara Sahana 007- Also known as "Zara," this abnormal specimen of the female gender of Homo Sapiens exhibits various bizarre behaviors. The most common of these include James Bond obsession, video game fever, and perhaps the strangest of all, a certain fondness for mathematics. Similar to other Homo Sapiens of the Literary Cabinet world, Zara Sahana 007 displays procrastination in brilliant forms, but will not admit to her oddball ways
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyWed Dec 24, 2008 6:12 pm

Definitely "A Tale of Two Cities"

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
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Laura
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Laura


Number of posts : 2387
Age : 38
Location : Germany
Dictionary Definition : Laura: Also known as "Solveig", her internet pseudonym, this female specimen of Homo Sapiens founded the Literary Cabinet world. One can spot "Laura," by the fun she has grading papers and drinking coffee, with triple coffee consumption ever since she quit smoking. Like another species, Homo Sapiens Zarasahanous, she enjoys picking at the extreme Twilight fans. This specimen is particularly fond of procrastinating, as most of the other species of the Literary Cabinet Universe are.
Registration date : 2008-12-02

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyWed Dec 24, 2008 9:50 pm

Tourterelle - I'm with you, see also my signature Very Happy
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Kelsey
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Kelsey


Number of posts : 2780
Dictionary Definition : Kelsey-- Frequently called "Kels," this female specimen of Homo Sapiens belongs to the Literary Cabinet universe. Although she is a young member, she has shown her maturity to be above other species, sometimes. "Kelsey" can behave quite crazy in her own right. One of her most noticeable traits is paranoia and knowledge of trolls.
Registration date : 2008-12-03

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyThu Dec 25, 2008 4:05 am

I love the Dawn Treader one. It makes me giggle every time I open that book.

I love "Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful," because you spend the whole rest of the book finding out how true and untrue that can be.
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March Hare
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March Hare


Number of posts : 207
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptySun Dec 28, 2008 3:28 am

'Well, this is the end, Sam Gamgee,' said a voice by his side. And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again; and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, nor madness, nor any fear. His burden was taken away. There was the dear master of the sweet days in the Shire. -The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien
Sorry it's a favorite line, but not opening...


Last edited by Nolofinwe on Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:47 am; edited 1 time in total
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Miss Clyde
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Miss Clyde


Number of posts : 4
Age : 29
Location : New Jersey
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyFri Jan 02, 2009 1:47 am

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."- 1984 by George Orwell
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http://www.writerscafe.org/Clyde-chan
Talkatoast
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Talkatoast


Number of posts : 112
Registration date : 2008-12-04

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PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyFri Jan 09, 2009 9:34 pm

Tourterelle wrote:
I also love the opening line to The Hobbit! Very Happy

Others I love:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

"Marley was dead, to begin with."
-A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."
-The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

"All this happened, more or less."
-Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut


Side topic: I think I might be going nuts. When I saw this question, I tried to star it. lol!

I liked that first line from P and P, which made me want to read it--but as I began reading it, I realized that the writing (my personal opinion) was dry, so I was bored to death with the book.
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http://chronicle.augusta.com/xtreme/
Laura
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Laura


Number of posts : 2387
Age : 38
Location : Germany
Dictionary Definition : Laura: Also known as "Solveig", her internet pseudonym, this female specimen of Homo Sapiens founded the Literary Cabinet world. One can spot "Laura," by the fun she has grading papers and drinking coffee, with triple coffee consumption ever since she quit smoking. Like another species, Homo Sapiens Zarasahanous, she enjoys picking at the extreme Twilight fans. This specimen is particularly fond of procrastinating, as most of the other species of the Literary Cabinet Universe are.
Registration date : 2008-12-02

Best Literary First Lines Empty
PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyFri Jan 09, 2009 9:41 pm

Talkatoast wrote:
Tourterelle wrote:
I also love the opening line to The Hobbit! Very Happy

Others I love:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

"Marley was dead, to begin with."
-A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."
-The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

"All this happened, more or less."
-Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut


Side topic: I think I might be going nuts. When I saw this question, I tried to star it. lol!

I liked that first line from P and P, which made me want to read it--but as I began reading it, I realized that the writing (my personal opinion) was dry, so I was bored to death with the book.

Yes, that's true, it drags at first. It took me three attempts to get into it, but now I'm DEEPLY in love with it Smile
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https://literarycabinet.forumotion.com
Talkatoast
Aspiring newbie
Aspiring newbie
Talkatoast


Number of posts : 112
Registration date : 2008-12-04

Best Literary First Lines Empty
PostSubject: Re: Best Literary First Lines   Best Literary First Lines EmptyFri Jan 09, 2009 9:48 pm

Solveig wrote:
Talkatoast wrote:
Tourterelle wrote:
I also love the opening line to The Hobbit! Very Happy

Others I love:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

"Marley was dead, to begin with."
-A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."
-The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

"All this happened, more or less."
-Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut


Side topic: I think I might be going nuts. When I saw this question, I tried to star it. lol!

I liked that first line from P and P, which made me want to read it--but as I began reading it, I realized that the writing (my personal opinion) was dry, so I was bored to death with the book.

Yes, that's true, it drags at first. It took me three attempts to get into it, but now I'm DEEPLY in love with it Smile

I guess I could try again. Usually when I can't get into a book the first time, I give up on it. tongue
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http://chronicle.augusta.com/xtreme/
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