First Sentences in Books part II

I made a part one a while ago, and wanted to do another one with more!
This time around with ones that aren't exactly my cup of tea, and some variations that are.

—
There are ones that feel like you've read it too many times,
or just tell something vague about the main character,
or just a punch of way too much information,
ones that you feel like didn't say anything at all, or just purely confuse you,
and ones that make you think again about reading the book at all.
—

When I was young, I would often spend the weekend at my grandmother's house.
- Eating Animals bu Foer

As Katie wound her way among the tables, a breeze from the Atlantic rippled through her hair.
-Safe Haven

Today was the day a thousand dreams would die and a single dream would be born.
- Kiss of Deception

She was born Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she did not open her eyes for three days.
- Goose Girl

New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday.
- All In

The sun was raining again.
- Furthermore

- - -

Another interesting thing I've been seeing are variations on the classical first sentence explaining who the main character is, and some are greatly done!

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
- The Cather in the Rye

I ain't never been one to trust beautiful people, and Tarrin of the Hariri was the most beautiful man I ever saw.
- The Assassin's Curse

In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three.
- Howl's Moving Castle

Eliza Mirk is the kind of name you give to the creepy girl who clings to her ex-boyfriend for weeks after he's dumped her because she refuses to accept that he hates her guts.
- Eliza and Her Monsters

There is nothing remotely remarkable about the background of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
- A Brief Guide To JRR Tolkien by Cawthorne

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
- Harry Potter

Read on lovelies.

S

First Sentences in Books part I

The very first sentences we read in books tells us a lot; about the writing, the feeling, the setting or character. Not all first sentences are made equal though, they don’t always convey anything about the story. There are many memorable ones for me, both in the negative and positive aspect, and here are some great ones!

—
There are ones that are nostalgic,
ones that grab your attention immediately,
ones that throw you right in the middle of the action,
ones that tell you a lot about the book or the style,
ones that make you laugh,
and ones that just purely make you want to know more.
—

We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck.
- Feed by Anderson

My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted.
- Jellicoe Road byMarchetta

The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don't got nothing much to say.
- The Knife of Never Letting Go by Ness

It seems like there should be some sort of introduction to this.
- Hyperbole and a Half

I can't remember many specific details of the accident, but the fear I felt that day is still crystal clear in my memory.
- Cinder and Ella

The end of the sword was pointing straight at my heart, and my murderer's eyes were like black holes threatening to swallow up everything that came too close to them.
- Emerald Green

The sound of my knife slitting across a throat feels much too loud in the darkness.
- Daughter of the Siren Queen

The blood underneath her nails bothered her.
- Batman

You may think you know the story.
- My Lady Jane

No one survives beyond the fence.
- The Revolution of Ivy

This time we were in the Great Room enduring another etiquette lesson when bricks came flying through the window.
- The One

In some part of my brain, probably the logical part that seemed to be missing at the moment, I knew I should let go and walk away, maintain some of my dignity.
- The Fill-in Boyfriend

How did they find us so fast?
- A Torch Against the Night

Locked in darkness that surrounded me like a coffin, I had nothing to distract me from my memories.
- Poison Study

This book begins the same way as nearly all my social interactions; with a series of detailed and thorough apologies.
- The Idiot Brain

Read on lovelies.

S

Favorite Opening Lines of Books

Pennyroyal Academy - If I'm still in this forest by nightfall, I'll never leave it again.


The Raven Boys - Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she'd been told that she would kill her true love.


All Fall Down - When I was twelve I broke my leg jumping off the wall between Canada and Germany.


Cinder and Ella - The problem with fairy tales is that most of them begin with tragedy. I understand the reasoning behind it. No one likes a pampered heroine. A great character neeeds trials to overcome - experiences to give them depth, to make them vulnerable, relatable, and likable. Good characters need hardships to make them strong. The idea makes sense, but it still sucks if you're the heroine.


The Shadow Society - knowing what I know now, I'd say my fostermother had her reasons for throwing a kitchen knife at me.


Ella Enchanted - That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me.


Assassins Curse - I ain't never been one to trust beautiful people, and Tarrin of the Hariri was the most beautiful man I ever saw.


My Lady Jane (prologue) - You may think you know the story. It goes like this: once upon a time, there was a sixteen-year-old girl named Jane Grey, who was forced to marry a complete stranger (Lord Guildford or Gilford or Gifford-something-or-other), and shortly thereafter found herself ruler of a country. She was queen for nine days. Then she quite literally lost her head.

Yes, it’s a tragedy, if you consider the disengagement of one’s head from one’s body tragic. (We are merely narrators, and would hate to make assumptions as to what the reader would find tragic.)

We have a different tale to tell.

CLASSICS:

Pride &Prejudice - It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

1984- It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen


Peter Pan - All children, except one, grow up


Metamorphosis - As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed


Catcher in the Rye -
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.

Read on lovelies,

S

Quotes & Lists

I kinda like quotes. Like a lot. Here's some

>Stars can't shine without darkness
>A negative mind won't give you a positive life
>Don't dream your life live your dreams
>Happiness is a journey not a destination

>Books are a uniquely portable magic
>A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear
>A reader live a thousand lives before he dies

>No two persons ever read the same book
>Creativity is intelligence having fun
>Pray hardest when it's hardest to pray
>Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it

I also really like lists. So here are some ideas for you:

-Fictional places I would love to ovisit
-List your essentials
-Thing that feel like home
-Childhood and current dream jobs
-A to Z list of things you like and don't like
-Thankful list
-Makes me happy/sad
-Best decisions
-Ways to relax
-Things I find beautiful
-Proud of
-Questions for life
-The never list
-Do and Don't to live by
-Worry list
-House rules
-I wish this existed
-To do with someone I love
-Things I love in colors
-I look forward to...

Top 5 Wednesday

Quotes

If you don' t already know: I LoVe quotes. Do tell if you want me to tell my other favourites, since for this I picked some book related (or author).

1. "Accept who you are, unless you're a serial killer"
-Ellen DeGeneres

2. Dum Spiro Spero
-Latin for "While I breathe, I hope" (not from a book but I wanted to add this)

3. Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened
-Roald Dahl

4. Okay. Okay
- You'll understand if you've read The Fault in Our Stars

5. I'm studying the statistical probability of love at first sight
- from The Statistical... (wow, I've always been writing the whole title, I think from now I'll shorten it to something)

Love,

Sally