While we’ve come to terms with the idea that we’re never supposed to judge a book by its cover, both literally and figuratively, no one ever said anything about first lines. We here at Shelf Life recently came across an opener that grabbed us from the get-go. Brian DeLeeuw’s debut novel, In This Way I Was Saved, piqued our interest with this beginning: “I enter the lobby of Claire Nightingale’s apartment building, here to tell her I have murdered her only son.” The story, which revolves around two childhood friends, wastes no time delving into its major story arc, and for that, we say, “Read on!”
Granted, it may not stand the test of time like “Call me Ishmael” or “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen,” but it certainly reeled us in. How about you, Shelf Lifers? Which book’s opening line captivated you? Do you have any interest in reading DeLeeuw’s titillating tale now?
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. LOVE IT!
That’s the one!!!
Harry Potter
i don’t have it in front of me so am paraphrasing, but the first line of still life with woodpecker by tom robbins- “if this typewriter can’t do it, then f*%* it, it can’t be done”
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” genius!
Agreed! Every time I see/hear that line I feel the urge to pull that book off the shelf and dive back in.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
“Howard Roark laughed.”
One of the most startling opening line I’ve ever seen is from Larry Kramer’s best known book…
“There are 2,556,596 faggots in the New York City area.”
The opening of Fahrenheit 451 is pretty great–”It was a pleasure to burn.” Oh, and it’s “Ishmael,” not “Ismael.” It’s a pretty iconic line to be getting it wrong, eh?
“The candleflame and the image of the candleflame …” It’s too long for me to quote from memory, but the opening of Cormac McCarthy’s All The Pretty Horses pretty much lets you decide whether or not you’re for this book. Me, I loved it.
“Last night I dreamed I went to Manderlay again.”
“Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
‘A screaming comes across the sky.’ from Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.
This is from a short story, but it still does what every great opener should: make you want to read on:
“During the sixties, my father was the perfect hippie, since all the hippies were trying to be Indians.”
–Sherman Alexie “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock”
P.S. That’s also the absolute best short story title of all time!
“First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.”
–Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Actually, the first line of Something Wicked This Way Comes is “The lightning salesman arrived ahead of the storm.”
I guess that depends on whether you count the prologue or Chapter I-1 as the true beginning of the book. I’m going with the prologue, since those are the first words to be read when you open up the book and begin.
And by the way, the sentence you’re quoting is actually: “The seller of lightning rods arrived just ahead of the storm.” Minor, but significant differences!
“I am an invisible man” Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins.
nuff said.