First Lines

[Jessie]

Hi, I'm not sure where to ask this question but I am hoping this is the right spot. I have been wondering a lot about what makes or breaks a book. Besides how the cover looks, a lot of people credit the opening line to encouraging or discouraging them to continue to read.

I am taking a poll to see what authors and reviewers consider their favorite first lines. I am curious to find out if there is a similarity between them.

If you could please- write your favorite first line of a book down, along with the title of the book. But most importantly, WHY. Why did this line catch your attention, why do you love it.

If you have time, maybe there is an opening line you have read that was just horrible and you want to comment on that. Feel free to add both. But please add why you loved/hated this specific first line.

I really appreciate this, Thanks!!
Jessie

[Jim]

Jessie,

One of the best first lines I have read is "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." It is the opening sentence of The Gunslinger, the first of the seven-book The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I love how it succinctly yet cleverly sparks the reader's desire to find out what is going on.

The worst, and possibly longest, opening sentence ever written was "It was a dark and stormy night, the rain fell in torrents - except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness". It is the opening sentence of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel Paul Clifford published in 1830.

[Jessie]

Jim wrote: "Jessie,

One of the best first lines I have read is "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." It is the opening sentence of The Gunslinger, the first of the seven-book..."

Wow, that last one is extremely long!! Thanks for participating :)

[Maegan]

My favorite line is from "Something borrowed"--"I was brown beautiful."

[Jessie]

Maegan wrote: "My favorite line is from "Something borrowed"--"I was brown beautiful.""

I am unfamiliar with 'Something borrowed' but that line is intriguing! Thanks for sharing :)

[Maegan]

Jessie--the line is actually, "I was born beautiful" and the book was "Something Blue" by Emily Giffin. Sorry for the error-filled message above-that's what I get for messaging from my phone in the middle of the night!