The first line is the authors chance to make a first impression and to capture the imagination of the reader, and the very best books will keep the. There are some books that you pick up, turn to the opening page, andnothing. They stand alone as sentences but also make you want to read on to discover what else is behind them. Still, the italian game often leads to aggressive, open positions, which can be fun to play. Since ive already blown my chance to make a good first impression i offer up fifteen of the greatest opening lines in literature. Apr 04, 2016 we take a look at the killer opening lines that got us hooked into our favourite books. The 10 best first lines in fiction books the guardian. Here is a list of some of the novels with best opening lines. Usually when i start a book, the first page is what grabs my attention and what decides if ill continue or not. The 10 absolute best openings to young adult books hypable. The most famous, misquoted and frankly overused opening line in the history of books, a list like this wouldnt be complete without the addition of this line. What are the best ten opening lines in mystery fiction. Apr 25, 2020 a i first heard personville called poisonville by a redhaired mucker named hickey dewey in the big ship in butte. So, today, i will be listing my top 10 favorite opening lines or paragraphs.
If youre a guy and youve opened this book, you either have a daughter, are on the verge of having a. This opening is still used at all levels and is quite popular among club players. The best 100 opening lines from books is one of stylists most popular piece of content ever. Some of the most celebrated first lines owe their might largely to what follows. Prepare to read the most fascinating article of your life. The playfor which briony had designed the posters, programs and tickets, constructed the sales booth out of a folding screen tipped on its. And its pretty much an unwritten rule that if youre ever stuck for a great opening first line yourself, you can just make use of this one.
Probably the hardest part about writing a book is how to start a story in the first place. Either way, the opening lines set the tone for the rest of the book. We take a look at the killer opening lines that got us hooked into our favourite books. I remember writing and rewriting the opening line to my humor book oh boy, youre having a girl over and over again until i finally felt like i nailed it with this. Top 10 must have gadgets for tech lovers wonderslist. Top 10 opening lines of mystery novels posted on july 20, 20 by khanh ho i actually had the opportunity to meet one of todays great writersa woman who wrote a book about the kind of exercise im about to engage in. If you were c6, and i were h12, all we would need is the air we breathe to be sweeter than sugar.
From classics to modern fantasies, we chose ten of our favorite opening lines in the fantasy genre, from the evocative to the downright silly. Nov 08, 2016 personal choices from the telegraphs 100 best opening lines in fiction. The best 100 opening lines from books is one of stylists most popular piece. Theres a reason that creators of dating apps are so keen for you to write lists of the things you like. It all starts by opening to the first page and reading the first line. The top 10 best closing lines of novels litreactor. This list of my favorite opening lines from ya novels, is in no particular order. Here are 12 opening lines in ya that immediately draw you in, from 12 great books that never let you go. Apr 16, 2015 some great lines are flowery and beautiful, while others are direct and to the point. But a great line should always pull you out of your world and straight into the world of the book. Looking back at all that has been written by accomplished authors throughout history, its extremely difficult to pick just ten books to mention, but to narrow the search weve opted for books with, in our opinion, the most famous opening lines. Here are the 100 best opening lines from your favourite childrens books. They can be long, descriptive, runon sentences that prepare you for everything youre about to see. Youve probably heard many of these memorable lines that have lingered long after the film has played.
Once again an interesting snippet has crossed my virtual desk, this time it is a top 10 list. Our highly subjective list includes worst firsts from famous and infamous writers. Its the authors first invitation into a world of their own creation. Apr 25, 2015 top 10 best book opening lines sometimes, you can tell whether or not a text is worth your time just by its opening line. You dont know about me without you have read a book by the name of the adventures of. The ten most famous opening lines from english books.
See also the top 10 best movie lines ever according to odeon cinemas uk in 2003, with some duplications, the top 10 best comedy lines from classic films according to tcm, and the top 10 greatest american movie quotes, according to afi. Maybe you cant judge a book by its cover, but what about its first lines. During june, the 702 book club left genres on the shelf and geordie williamson set the challenge to name the best opening lines to books. Some of the best opening lines expertly sketch a living, breathing, interesting. The top 10 best opening lines of novels litreactor. The 27 best opening lines in books, from rebecca to the great. Read the first chapter of jons book, close to the wind. Here are the some of the best opening lines in dystopian literature. Aug 02, 20 the opening scene can make of break a book. How can i start a book with this apparent contradiction. Feb 23, 2016 usually when i start a book, the first page is what grabs my attention and what decides if ill continue or not. Aug 09, 2016 top 10 best opening lines in movies subscribe an opening line can say it all. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it.
Top 10 opening lines from books booksofrequirement. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Top 10 best book opening lines sometimes, you can tell whether or not a text is worth your time just by its opening line. Top ten opening lines in fiction this stack of books. Personal choices from the telegraphs 100 best opening lines in fiction. The top 10 pickup lines for every type of guy out there. A great opening line serves as the initial, horrifying bridge between our world and an authors dystopia the line most vital to a dystopias hold, growth, and impact on the readers mind. Sep 06, 2019 30 great opening lines in literature save from left. Then i started remembering and repeating and laughing over some of my favorite first lines.
Fahrenheit 451, ray bradbury, 1953 it was a pleasure to burn. The top 10 best movie lines ever according to odeon cinemas top 10 best movie lines ever. In homage to that fact, we asked former stylist contributors to share the opening lines that mean the. So, in no particular order, ten of my favorite opening lines in fiction. Theres a feeling that choosing a book by its opening line is somehow more respectable than judging it by. Nine months ago i published a column on the top 10 opening lines of novels, and ive spent many ensuing hours contemplating what makes a perfect closing line. Now it wastes no time in opening the book with the right feeling a mix of regret and menace and mystery. A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a.
Top 10 first lines in childrens and teen books the guardian. Apr 06, 2016 but can we judge a book by its first line. Aug 23, 2017 the top 10 best opening lines in fantasy fiction. The playfor which briony had designed the posters, programs and tickets, constructed the sales booth out of a folding screen tipped on its side, and lined the collection box in red crepe. These are the top 10 best movie lines ever, the ranked winners in a survey taken by odeon cinemas in the uk. Jun 30, 2011 during june, the 702 book club left genres on the shelf and geordie williamson set the challenge to name the best opening lines to books. Our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language, from jane austen to james joyce. What is a book if not a bridge across the dimension of time, allowing one to revisit the past and envision the future. Though there are many advises from professional editors and famous writers themselves, it is still the most crucial part where your literary genius must shine. Once upon a time is how all the best childrens stories begin and prostitute is a word for adults.
May 15, 2018 the opening sentence of a book can determine a lot of things including whether or not you decide to keep going with said book. First sentences, of course, have different functionsto amuse, to frighten, to mystifyand the mechanics a writer uses to achieve this. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. The opening lines of a book are where the reader gets hooked. One of the best opening lines is to start with a shared interest in a movie, book, or activity they mention. Apr 28, 2012 our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language, from jane austen to james joyce. It must be resolute yet ambiguous, thematically satisfying without ever spelling anything out for the reader. Because these are the most terrifying opening lines from books, and the books that bustle. And if you havent laid your eyes on any of these best books to read, you will definitely. Stylists pick of the best hundred first lines from books, from classic to modern literature.
The beginning of it carries the daunting task of hooking the prospective reader in and has a very brief window of time to do so. This is my favorite book in all the world, though i have never read it. I was starting a blog post, and wondering exactly what i should start it with, and that got me thinking about opening lines. Jul 02, 2018 either way, the opening lines set the tone for the rest of the book. Top 10 best opening lines in movies subscribe an opening line can say it all. Fahrenheit 451 details a dystopian future in which a firemans sole job is to burn books, thereby maintaining a society made up of people who are oblivious and manageable. Some great lines are flowery and beautiful, while others are direct and to the point.
Its often said that a book shouldnt be judged by its cover, but what about its opening lines. Jun 15, 2011 10 great opening lines from stanford admissions essays. The american scholar presents a list of the ten worst opening lines in novels. Dec 02, 2011 the top 10 best opening lines of novels. The opening sentence of a book can determine a lot of things including whether or not you decide to keep going with said book. The miss lonelyhearts of the new york postdispatch. When you talk about starting off on a high note, movies li. Because these are the most terrifying opening lines from books, and the books that follow are often terrifying enough to live up to the. There are thousands of classic opening lines in fictiona tale of two cities by charles dickens and invisible man by ralph ellison come to mindbut often the most wellknown are not always the best. According to robert mccrum in the observer, these are the top 10 opening lines in fiction.
I didnt think anything of what he had done to the citys name. Writing the first line to your book is an incredibly daunting task. The beginning of it carries the daunting task of hooking the prospective reader in. Pickup lines are notoriously associated with college guys and drunken barboys trying to chat up a woman. Bbc culture what are the best first lines in fiction. Sep 30, 2014 the american scholar presents a list of the ten worst opening lines in novels. It is the hook that keeps you reading, your introduction to the world the author has created. In this opening, bc4 eyes blacks potentially weak f7 pawn, but over the years, improved defensive techniques have shown this to be less dangerous to black than bb5. The films chosen ranged from 1930 to 1994, and six of the 10 were from the 1930s and 40s. Let us know your favourite childrens book first lines from the gallery, or any we missed, in the comments section.
Dursley, of number four, privet drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. Dursley, of number four, privet drive, were proud to. The sentence is made up of six words, elegant in their brevity and crushing in. Both new and old, fiction and nonfictionthese books are packed with the best book quotes that provide thoughtprovoking bits of wisdom, wit, and universal truths. I dont agree with all their choices, but i agree that most are awful enough to make me abandon the book after. The opening sentence of a book can determine a lot of things including whether or not. Because these are the most terrifying opening lines from books, and the books that follow. Reading english books is an excellent way to help your learning and get a cultural kick at the same time. Never judge a book by its cover, but what about its first line. Aug 22, 2015 a great opening line serves as the initial, horrifying bridge between our world and an authors dystopia the line most vital to a dystopias hold, growth, and impact on the readers mind. Ten days after the war ended, my sister laura drove a car off a bridge. The first sentence of any piece of writing is arguably the most important both in terms.