Memorable First Lines - Bev Russell, Library Director

(This column appeared in the October 15, 2006, Star-Herald)

Okay, I was wrong. In last weeks column I commented on the first line of a novel by Jo Bannister, "Breaking Faith". It opens with a marvelous first line, "LAND IS LIKE PEOPLE: it has a skeleton under its cloak of flesh. Also, like people, some landscapes carry more flesh than others." On reading this, I thought the novel promised to emphasize the physical setting as did her novel "The 5th Cataract". It doesn’t. "Breaking Faith" much more a character driven book. The quotation refers to a mysterious burial that takes place in the first chapter. It is, however, a superb opening line.

All of this got me to thinking of some memorable opening lines from novels. I am something of a trivia buff and began testing myself to remember various lines and the novels they opened. Next, the teacher in me came out, and I decided it would be fun to quiz readers on famous first lines. These aren’t too tough. I don’t think I threw in any zingers. Quiz yourself and see how you do.

  1. You don’t know abut me without you have read a book by the name of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"; but that ain’t no matter.
  2. The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call "out there".
  3. When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
  4. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"
  5. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
  6. To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth.
  7. Mother died today.
  8. He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf stream and he had gone 84 days now without taking a fish.
  9. It was a pleasure to burn.
  10. "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
  11. Call me Ishmael.
  12. Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.
  13. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were looking for a place to live.
  14. All children except one grow up.
  15. Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again.

Have fun! The answers will appear in next Sunday’s column.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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