What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book?

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:20 AM

Whether it's fiction or non-fiction?

Drakon · 01-06-2007, 09:22 AM

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.

Kaboom · 01-06-2007, 09:22 AM

it was the best of times it was the worst of times.

Drakon · 01-06-2007, 09:23 AM

Oh man, that was rich. It couldn't have been timed better.

Mr. Credible · 01-06-2007, 09:24 AM

i really like the first line from "the rules of attraction" by brett easton ellis... it started right in the middle of a sentence, in the middle of a story. it was jarring, and pretty brilliant.

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:27 AM

uh.. is that the quote?

Franklin Richards · 01-06-2007, 09:33 AM

Call me, Ishmael.

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:34 AM

what book is that?

Please post the book so others will know.

rdh007 · 01-06-2007, 09:37 AM

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit..."

rdh007 · 01-06-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverMyHead

what book is that?

Please post the book so others will know.

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:39 AM

I know that's the Hobbit, cause it says Hobbit in the opening sentence, lmao.

I was talking to Richards.

Franklin Richards · 01-06-2007, 09:43 AM

"Call me Ishmael."

Moby Dick

black_dust · 01-06-2007, 09:43 AM

She took off all her wet clothes and hung them out to dry suddley the door bell rang.

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklin Richards

"Call me Ishmael."

Moby Dick

Blah.

Moby Dick sucked.

OverMyHead · 01-06-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_dust

She took off all her wet clothes and hung them out to dry suddley the door bell rang.

suddley, eh?

This is probably the worst opening ever, and the author needs to be banned.

black_dust · 01-06-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverMyHead

suddley, eh?

This is probably the worst opening ever, and the author needs to be banned.

Someone got out the wrong side of the bed and hasnt seen the multi quote option yet.

spdrknight · 01-06-2007, 09:49 AM

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

My favorite book series, and the very first Stephen King book I read. It changed my life.

rdh007 · 01-06-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverMyHead

I know that's the Hobbit, cause it says Hobbit in the opening sentence, lmao.

I was talking to Richards.

That's why I posted the pic of Moby Dick.

the_ultimate_evil · 01-06-2007, 09:54 AM

"i cant believe i lost my f**king ear bang bang"

have a nice day-mick foley

Hush · 01-06-2007, 10:01 AM

"Nick Naylor had been called many things since becomming chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, but until now no one had actually compared him to Satan."

Thank You For Smoking--- Christopher Buckley. This an amazing book and amazing movie.

ultimatefan · 01-06-2007, 10:14 AM

I love the beginning of Anna Karenina: "all happy families are the same, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way".

The beginning of Chronicles of a Death Foretold is great too, "the day he was going to be killed", the book follows a character all through the day that he´s going to be killed, and you know it´s gonna happen right from the start, and even so it´s a total page-turner.

ComicChick · 01-06-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaboom

it was the best of times it was the worst of times.

not many know this, but that's not the entire opening sentence to A Tale of Two Cities.

The opening sentence is really the length of a paragraph.

One of the more recent books I've read was The Lovely Bones. The first line is My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie.

JLBats · 01-06-2007, 07:36 PM

The opening sentence of Casino Royale.

mightiest_mortal · 01-06-2007, 07:45 PM

opening line from the last book i read....
"It was springtime. Time for Meg to start her vegetable garden"

Kaboom · 01-06-2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakon

Oh man, that was rich. It couldn't have been timed better.

it was pretty sweet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLBats

The opening sentence of Casino Royale.

which would be what?

01-06-2007, 09:20 AM	#1
OverMyHead Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 920	What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? Whether it's fiction or non-fiction? Last edited by OverMyHead; 02-21-2007 at 11:55 AM.

01-06-2007, 09:22 AM	#2
Drakon I got a rock. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Right Behind You... Posts: 28,242	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.

01-06-2007, 09:22 AM	#3
Kaboom knock knock Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gator Nation Posts: 8,179	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? it was the best of times it was the worst of times. __________________ Eagle Scout in CAH VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

01-06-2007, 09:23 AM	#4
Drakon I got a rock. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Right Behind You... Posts: 28,242	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? Oh man, that was rich. It couldn't have been timed better.

01-06-2007, 09:24 AM	#5
Mr. Credible jukebox hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 7,554	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? i really like the first line from "the rules of attraction" by brett easton ellis... it started right in the middle of a sentence, in the middle of a story. it was jarring, and pretty brilliant. __________________ Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders. www.facebook.com/justinrpacheco www.z ombiehuntersabroad.com

01-06-2007, 09:27 AM	#6
OverMyHead Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 920	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? uh.. is that the quote?

01-06-2007, 09:33 AM	#7
Franklin Richards Banned User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Baxter Building Posts: 23,030	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? Call me, Ishmael.

01-06-2007, 09:34 AM	#8
OverMyHead Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 920	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? what book is that? Please post the book so others will know.

01-06-2007, 09:37 AM	#9
rdh007 Brit Wannabe Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Visiting the Pig Farm Posts: 8,503	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit..." __________________ Do you know what nemesis means?

01-06-2007, 09:39 AM	#11
OverMyHead Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 920	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? I know that's the Hobbit, cause it says Hobbit in the opening sentence, lmao. I was talking to Richards.

01-06-2007, 09:43 AM	#12
Franklin Richards Banned User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Baxter Building Posts: 23,030	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? "Call me Ishmael." Moby Dick

01-06-2007, 09:43 AM	#13
black_dust FrEaK-A-ZoId!!! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Stoke Uk Posts: 18,285	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? She took off all her wet clothes and hung them out to dry suddley the door bell rang.

01-06-2007, 09:49 AM	#17
spdrknight Side-Kick Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,449	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." My favorite book series, and the very first Stephen King book I read. It changed my life. __________________ I.N.W.T In Nolan We Trust

01-06-2007, 09:54 AM	#19
the_ultimate_evil CURSE YOU GIN MONKEY. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: belfast northern ireland Posts: 19,034	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? "i cant believe i lost my fking ear bang bang" have a nice day-mick foley __________________ And so I walk, into the searing light which banishes all darkness, surrendering my face and form to atoms of dust, seeking the true darkness of peace,the cool shadows of eternity and the unknown fate of nothingness To view my site blog dev art twitter**

01-06-2007, 10:14 AM	#21
ultimatefan The Batman must come back Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Place that makes Gotham look like Kansas - Brazil Posts: 38,117	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? I love the beginning of Anna Karenina: "all happy families are the same, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way". The beginning of Chronicles of a Death Foretold is great too, "the day he was going to be killed", the book follows a character all through the day that he´s going to be killed, and you know it´s gonna happen right from the start, and even so it´s a total page-turner. __________________ AVVY BY KANE 52630 "Sometimes, people deserve more. Sometimes, they deserve to have their faith rewarded." So, thank you for rewarding mine, Mr. Nolan. This article should be mandatory reading before people argue about movies on the internet: http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-common...-always-wrong/.

01-06-2007, 07:36 PM	#23
JLBats The boney king of nowhere Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 21,956	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? The opening sentence of Casino Royale. __________________ [I am in here]

01-06-2007, 07:45 PM	#24
mightiest_mortal Much Mightier than thou! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Merry Old England. Posts: 4,332	Re: What do you consider the best opening sentence from a book? opening line from the last book i read.... "It was springtime. Time for Meg to start her vegetable garden" __________________ Make Your Own Marvel Models Now updated - Make your own full set of Movie Avengers!!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode