Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Top Ten First Lines of Books

 
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Huh. Eleven again. I can count, I promise.

Magic for Marigold - Once upon a time--which, when you come to think of it, is really the only proper way to begin a story--the only way that really smacks of romance and fairyland--all the Harmony members of the Lesley clan had assembled at Cloud of Spruce to celebrate Old Grandmother's birthday as usual.

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

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

I Capture the Castle - I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.

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

Voyage of the Dawn Treader - There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.

David Copperfield - Whether I turn out to be the hero of my own life or whether that station will be held by anyone else, these pages must show.

And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street - When I leave home to walk to school, Dad Always says to me, "Marco, keep your eyelids up And see what you can see." 

Catherine, Called Birdy - 12th DAY OF SETEMBER
I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.

Fellowship of the Ring - When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventyfirst birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

Matilda - It’s a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.

What is your favorite first line?

18 comments:

  1. These are so, so, epic. I think my favorite of these is Harry Potter's, or perhaps Fellowship, or Voyage of the Dawn Treader... You know, you just made great choices! That's all there is to say. :)

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  2. Ooh. 1984 is very intriguing. Clocks striking thirteen? Have you read this book? Do you recommend it? *question overload*
    And the first line of Voyage of the Dawn Treader never fails to make me laugh. xD

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    1. I haven't read it, unfortunately. But it's supposed to be fantastic; you should give it a go!

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  3. Voyage of the Dawn Treader. That's ALWAYS on these top lists. I love Clarence :)

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  4. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, HP and Pride and Prejudice are definitely some of my favourites! I love how the beginning of Dawn Treader sets the tone for Eustaces' character journey, annoying but has potential.

    Great list!

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    1. Thanks! It was very hard to choose, but I had to include those!

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  5. Interesting topic! I think the HP one is definitely my favourite!

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    1. It's hard to beat HP! It's such a fun, quirky sentence to start such a beloved story.

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  6. Omigosh, SO MANY MEMORIES! I loved Catherine Called Birdy. Best. book. ever. And I Capture The Castle has an incredible first line. Are they literally in the kitchen sink?! I seriously want to check that book out now...

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    1. Those are my two favorites! I haven't read Catherine Called Birdy(yet) but I have read I Capture the Castle. And she was indeed, sitting in a kitchen sink. Why?? You just have to read the book.

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  7. Wow, this is a great post! I was totally prepared to say Pride and Prejudice was my favorite, when you had to go and post all those other awesome ones, lol. I can't even decide now! But I think I like Pride and Prejudice, 1984, I Capture the Castle, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader the best from this post.
    Outside of this one... haha, I don't even know. One line I really love, from Hunt for Jade Dragon by Richard Paul Evans, is "My best friend, Ostin Liss, told me there is an ancient Chinese curse that says 'May you live in interesting times.'" It isn't technically the first line since there's a prologue, but it is the first line of the first chapter, so I guess that's close enough, lol


    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com

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  8. Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I Capture the Castle and Voyage of the Dawn Treader <3

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  9. I've been loving your top ten series! This is such a neat idea. ;) I loved the beginning of So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones. And Wuthering Heights!

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    1. Thanks, Amanda! I had to look those up--those are great beginnings. I just love Jenny B. Jones; she's so hilarious.

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