Comments on: Memorable Opening Lines

By: You don’t know about me without you have read a book | Book Lover in Zichron

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:31:20 +0000

[...] upon a time, I had the coolest t-shirt ever. It was a compendium of famous first lines from books. It read almost like a story, and I loved to wear it. I used to be able to quote it. And now all I [...]

By: annastan

annastan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:29:29 +0000

Another great, classic opening! It gets us right into the story at the moment of change and gives us a glimpse of the narrator’s mental state.

By: e.lee

e.lee — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:41:21 +0000

‘Mother died today. Or maybe it was yesterday – I don’t know…”
Albert Camus ‘THe Outsider’

By: annastan

annastan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:03:23 +0000

Ooh, that’s a great opening. It’s not as short and to-the-point as the ones above, but it’s certainly intriguing and leaves us wanting more!

By: Creative Writing Topics

Creative Writing Topics — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:13:34 +0000

Those are GREAT opening lines!

Another good one, from The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides: “On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide — it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese — the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope.”

By: annastan

annastan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:03:52 +0000

Marcia, it’s a useful little book. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!

By: marcia

marcia — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:39:29 +0000

I’m also reading HOOKED right now, and have a post that references it scheduled for Thursday!

By: annastan

annastan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:59:42 +0000

Les, I’m happy to refer people to your wonderful book! And I absolutely know what you mean about learning from your students – mine are so filled with enthusiasm that it makes me want to figure things out right along with them.

By: annastan

annastan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:58:02 +0000

That’s a great opening line! It makes me wonder about Kori’s character and what possible trouble she and the narrator will get into.

By: Les Edgerton

Les Edgerton — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:55:54 +0000

Hi Anna,
I just wanted to thank you for the props you gave my book, “Hooked.” I’m glad it’s helped you in your own writing and I’m really glad it’s helped young writers. Don’t you just love working with beginning writers? They’re just lots and lots of fun. They have a fresh way of looking at the world that translates to originality of story. I teach beginners also, and I learn more from them than they do from me!

Blue skies,
Les