How many times have we heard that we only have one chance to make a first impression? As well worn as the thought is, it's true. (Most trite statements are true, else they wouldn't become trite.)
As writers, we are taught the importance of a first sentence. An author has a matter of seconds to capture the attention of the reader—whether it be an editor, agent, or the person browsing the aisles of a bookstore ready to spend some money. That first sentence is the first impression--sometimes the only impression--a writer makes and it had better be good.
When pondering on just what makes a good beginning, I remembered those famous ones that we all know—"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . ", "Call me Ishmael", "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be want of a wife." But in truth, it was not those first lines that made me read those books. It was the teacher who was going to test me on them.
When I tried to remember the first sentences some of my favorite books, I couldn't call them up. Yet, I know there must be some common denominator, whether it's universal or particular to me.
These are the first sentences of some of my favorite books.
1. "I wear the ring." The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy.
2. "The Bridgertons are by the far the most prolific family the upper echelons of society." The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.
3. "Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960."The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
4. "Camden William Serrard looked about impatiently, hoping to see Gina." Duchess In Love by Eloisa James.
5. "On the day my brother Michael died, I was standing at a lectern surrounded by fifty-seven bored freshmen scribbling notes to my concise dissection of FRD and New Deal politics." My Brother Micheal by Janis Owens.
6. "As Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, stared at the young woman who had just barged into his London residence, it occurred to him that he might have tried to abduct the wrong heiress last week at Stony Cross Park." Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
7. "The day Kevin Tucker nearly killed her, Molly Somerville swore off unrequited love forever."This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
8. "When I was in the third grade I knew a boy who had to have fourteen shots in the stomach as the result of a squirrel bite." This is actually the first line of the first short story in an anthology. Victory over Japan by Ellen Gilchrist.
9. "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind every since."The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
10. "I was freezing my ass off in the back of the pickup when O,W. Meadows finally turned off the blacktop and pulled to stop alongside and oat field."North Dallas Forty by Peter Gent.
11. "Before Maggie Deloach went back for her senior year at college there had been a benevolent Order of Elks parade, a water ballet at the municipal swimming pool in which she had starred with a flimsy backstroke and a water-lily face, a rhinestone tiara loaned from a gift and jewelry chain store in Atlanta, a speech by the governor, and a tattered monkey on the end of a leash held by a Jaycee."Heartbreak Hotel by Anne Rivers Siddons.
12. "Batsheva appeared in our lives on a Friday afternoon as we were getting ready for Shabbos." The Ladies' Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis.
As I look them over, I realize why I was drawn in: something was about to happen and I needed to know what it was.
What draws you in to a book? Do any of these first sentences make you want to read more?
Just for fun, tell us the ones you recognize. I'll post the answers tonight before I go to bed. I don't know when that will be.
I'm going to read this to my 5th graders. Ok, so I'll leave out the word "ass" and maybe a few others, but we talk about this in writing all the time. We call it your "grabber." I will tell them this is a message from a REAL author/retired children's librarian.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I am a bit skewed in my thinking but I honestly never read the first sentence in a book before I buy it. I usually get sucked in by the blurb on the back. I know the first sentence is, to borrow Laurie's term, supposed to be the grabber and all - we're taught that. However, I can't seem to remember one first sentence of my favorite books. Maybe now I will begin to pay more attention.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jean! First sentences are crucial. Though I agree with Cheryl. I usually check out the title first, then the cover, then the blurb and then the snippet the publisher provides on the first page. If that doesn't grab me, I'll check out the first sentence to see if it pulls me in.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm one of those odd ones in the bunch, a reader who has to have a great visual before picking up a book. I think this is where publishers really have to raise the bar. I'm quite sure most readers are attracted to covers first and foremost and that's why it's very important to have good placement on the shelves, your book turned out instead of sideways.
Laurie, I agree with you. Jean is a great author! :)
Which first sentence pulls me in?
6. "As Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, stared at the young woman who had just barged into his London residence, it occurred to him that he might have tried to abduct the wrong heiress last week at Stony Cross Park."
LOL! This one got me right away!!
Laurie--I am so excited to be part of your teaching day today! Quite correct. Don't say ass. Let me know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteCheryl--I know what you mean. I didn't remember these. I had to look them up. Now, I want to reread every single one of these books.
Kathy--Do you know what book that is? You would love it, if you don't already.
I love first sentence discussions! But I'm afraid I don't actually recognize any of those! Of course, I knew the Pride and Prejudice one, since that's my favorite novel.
ReplyDeleteI like the first line in Because of Winn-Dixie. "My name is India Opal Buloni, and last summer my daddy, the preacher, sent me to the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes and I came back with a dog."
I just love that book.
Mary Connealy writes great first lines. First line from The Husband Tree. "Belle Tanner pitched dirt right on Anthony's handsome, worthless face."
And Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure: "Sisters are overrated, she decided. Not all of them, of course, only the beautiful ones who never let you forget it."
And from The Healer's Apprentice, my first pubbed book: "The townspeople of Hagenheim craned their necks as they peered down the cobblestone street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke of Hagenheim's two handsome sons."
Always fun to talk about first lines!
Like Cheryl and Kathy I check out the book in a type of sequence. But I do love catchy first lines. And #6 brought a smile to my face! I've been in love with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, since I first read the book. ;-D
ReplyDeleteWow!! Those are great first lines. I only recognized a couple of them...
ReplyDelete2. Isn't this one from those Julia London books?
5. My Brother Micheal
Hmmm, looks like I need to pay more attention to the opening lines myself.
I tend to read by author and in series so I guess I don't pay as much attention to the first sentences as I should.
I am looking forward to hearing what books the lines all go to.
Jean, I must know the name of that book and the author's name. I'm intriqued, especially now that Sherry had chimed in about it. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat first lines, Melanie! Especially the one your wrote! ;D
Sherry, I must know the name of that book!
Stephanie, me too!
Here's some first lines I like:
"Miss Samantha, get up! Hurry! For God's sake, hurry!"
-Alicia Davidson felt the contempt through the small crowd that had amassed around the freshly turned earth surrounding her father's grave.-
I've just returned from a visit with my landlord- the solitary neighbor; rumor has it, is a vampire.
When the 9:50 pulled into Stuart's Junction, it always attracted a crowd, for the train was still a novelty which the whole town anticipated daily.
What was left of the man shambled into the dark alley, and I followed. I had little choice.
She was willing to die, of course, but she had not planned to do it so soon, or in such a prolonged and uncomfortable fashion, or at the hands of her own countrymen.
God, you're all driving me crazy! I don't recognize any of these! My brain is mush!!!! Come on Jean -give!
ReplyDeleteMelanie--Great first lines--especially yours!
ReplyDeleteSherry--It is one of my favorites too. He's a blond, and you know how I love a blond!
Stephanie--Close. Julia Quinn.
Kathy--Now I want to read all those books. The stack grows.
Cheryl--I am about to.
Here are the answers!
ReplyDelete1. "I wear the ring." The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
2. "The Bridgertons are by the far the most prolific family the upper echelons of society."
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.
3. "Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960." The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
4. "Camden William Serrard looked about impatiently, hoping to see Gina." Duchess in Love by Eloisa James.
5. "On the day my brother Michael died, I was standing at a lectern surrounded by fifty-seven bored freshmen scribbling notes to my concise dissection of FRD and New Deal politics." My Brother Michael by Janis Owens
6. "As Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, stared at the young woman who had just barged into his London residence, it occurred to him that he might have tried to abduct the wrong heiress last week at Stony Cross Park." The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
7. "The day Kevin Tucker nearly killed her, Molly Somerville swore off unrequited love forever." This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
8. "When I was in the third grade I knew a boy who had to have fourteen shots in the stomach as the result of a squirrel bite." This is actually the first line of a short story in an anthology. Victory of Japan by Ellen Gilchrist.
9. "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind every since." The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
10. "I was freezing my ass off in the back of the pickup when O,W. Meadows finally turned off the blacktop and pulled to stop alongside and oat field." North Dallas Forty by Peter Gent.
11. "Before Maggie Deloach went back for her senior year at college there had been a benevolent Order of Elks parade, a water ballet at the municipal swimming pool in which she had starred with a flimsy backstroke and a water-lily face, a rhinestone tiara loaned from a gift and jewelry chain store in Atlanta, a speech by the governor, and a tattered monkey on the end of a leash held by a Jaycee." Heartbreak Hotel by Anne Rivers Siddons.
12. "Batsheva appeared in our lives on a Friday afternoon as we were getting ready for Shabbos."
The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis
Oh, Jean! We have that book somewhere in the house! I must away....
ReplyDeleteBut before I go off on a treasure hunt, here are the titles and authors that go with my first lines.
"Miss Samantha, get up! Hurry! For God's sake, hurry!" What A Pirate Desires by Michelle Beattie
-Alicia Davidson felt the contempt through the small crowd that had amassed around the freshly turned earth surrounding her father's grave.- Romancing The Pirate by Michelle Beattie
I've just returned from a visit with my landlord- the solitary neighbor; rumor has it, is a vampire. Wuthering Bites by Sarah Gray
When the 9:50 pulled into Stuart's Junction, it always attracted a crowd, for the train was still a novelty which the whole town anticipated daily. Hummingbird by LaVeryle Spencer
What was left of the man shambled into the dark alley, and I followed. I had little choice. Shakespeare Undead by Lori Handeland
She was willing to die, of course, but she had not planned to do it so soon, or in such a prolonged and uncomfortable fashion, or at the hands of her own countrymen. The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
Also, I thought I'd add these:
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any corpses," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. Little Vampire Women by Louisa May Alcott and LYnn Messina
Much later, as he watched his manservant, Perkins, eating the dog, Quimby gloomily reflected on the unusual events of the evening. Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter by AE Moorat
Moments like this made her life legendary. Being a practical sort, she preferred being a living legend. Siren's Song by Trish Albright
Love the first line discussion and what entices the reader to get sucked in to a tome. I have to agree with those who like the marketing aspects. I really have to pick up some of rhe books I see like I'm flipping through wallpapers or paint chips. They appeal to my mind's eye before I read a word. That is so not literary, but it happens in a book store if I'm just browsing. I don't do that if I read a review or snippet I just go looking for the book and quite frankly I have a rule that I have to keep reading if I find the beginning boring or lackluster because it's like a salad before the main course. But it is the reason I don't get past the first few pages in my own writing because so much is made of beginnings. I can't tell you how many times my husband and I encourage each other to stick with a book that we say, "I'm still wading through the beginning." I like M. J. Ryan's advice to writers, "Spew then review." It made me want to spew then review, not stay hung up on my first line.
ReplyDeleteWho would have ever thought such a great story as Alice Seybold's The Lovely Bones would have begun with,"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. Or the first line of "Cold Mountain"; "At the first gesture of morning, flies began stirring."
I'm just saying, those are great lines that honestly make me want to go read those books but I would have laid a lot of books aside if I hadn't been patient enough to settle down and see where on earth the story was taking me.
I just finished "Eat, Pray,Love", The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo and and am halfway through the second installment by Steig Larssen, The Girl who Played with Fire. The Larssen books were interesting because he wrote three, got rave reviews (from NPR- my inside scoop reviewers) then sadly, he died. Somehow I felt compelled to read all three.