You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

101 views
Chit Chat About Books > Currently Reading First Lines

Comments Showing 51-100 of 241 (241 new)    post a comment »

message 51: by Gavin (last edited Jun 30, 2019 04:09PM) (new)

Gavin (thewalkingdude) | 340 comments Baal was indeed an intense read. Now I'm reading A Clockwork Orange:

"'What's it going to then, eh?'"
There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar making up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening, a flip dark chill winter bastard though dry."


I'm starting to learn some of the slang, but the first few pages took me like an hour to get through.


message 52: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I have just started The Hoarder The Hoarder by Jess Kidd by Jess Kidd
"He has a curious way of moving through his rubbish. He leans into it, skimming down the corridors like a fearless biker on a hairpin bend."


message 53: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments Lisa wrote: "I have just started The Hoarder The Hoarder by Jess Kidd by Jess Kidd
"He has a curious way of moving through his rubbish. He leans into it, skimming down ..."


I have that on my wishlist. I'll have to see how you make out with it.


message 54: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I just started reading Lighthouse Island. I picked the book for the title/cover and because I enjoyed the author's other two books. I really did not pay attention to the story summary.

This is the first line of Chapter 1:
"The winds carried dust to every part of the great cities; left it on roofs and windowsills and even streets."

I thought I was getting into a story about the dust storms of the 1920/1930s. Nope - this is a story set in some distant future. Science-fiction > Dystopia. Awesome!


message 55: by Gavin (last edited Jul 12, 2019 09:04PM) (new)

Gavin (thewalkingdude) | 340 comments Reading East of Eden:
"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay"

The description goes on for a some pages. Steinbeck could really paint a picture.


message 56: by Lilisa (new)

Lilisa | 2770 comments Gavin wrote: "Reading East of Eden:
"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center unti..."


Yes he could Gavin - hope you're enjoying it - great book!


message 57: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I'll be starting The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper today.

"There are two versions of the events of 1887. One is very well known, but the other is not."


message 58: by Shirley (new)

Shirley | 1505 comments Cherie wrote: "I just started reading Lighthouse Island. I picked the book for the title/cover and because I enjoyed the author's other two books. I really did not pay attention to the story summa..."
Can't wait to get into this one. I loved News of the World


message 59: by Jayme, Moderator (last edited Jul 14, 2019 03:29AM) (new)

Jayme | 4518 comments I just started Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles

" On the afternoon of August 23, 2014, Tanya Harris wheeled her younger brother, Cameron, to the Biz-E-Bee store on the corner of Reconfort Avenue and Division Street in Biloxi, Mississippi."


message 60: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I just started The Illumination of Ursula Flight The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
"On the fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord 1664, a great light bloomed in the dark sky and crept slowly and silently across the blackness: a comet."


message 61: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments Sounds interesting Lisa. I see I already have it on my wishlist.


message 62: by Gavin (last edited Aug 02, 2019 02:38AM) (new)

Gavin (thewalkingdude) | 340 comments The Portrait of a Lady:
"Under certain circumstances are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."


message 63: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Gavin wrote: "The Portrait of a Lady:
"Under certain circumstances are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.""


Is that at 4:00 pm, or when?


message 64: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I recently started The Turn of the Key The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware by Ruth Ware

"Dear Mr Wrexham,
I know you don't know me but please, please, please you have to help me."


message 65: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments Sounds tense!


message 66: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I like those that start out like that, Lisa!


message 67: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments Cherie wrote: "I like those that start out like that, Lisa!"

Me too! They hook you in straight away as you immediately think "what on earth is going on?!"


message 68: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I'm starting City of Girls today.


The first line of the prologue is, "I received a letter from his daughter the other day." (Sounds sort of bland.)

The first line of Chapter One is, "In the summer of 1940, when I was nineteen years old and an idiot, my parents sent me to live with my Aunt Peg, who owned a theatre company in New York City." (Still sounds kind of bland.)


message 69: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments Janice wrote: "I'm starting City of Girls today.


The first line of the prologue is, "I received a letter from his daughter the other day." (Sounds sort of bland.)

The first line of Chapter One ..."


Certainly doesn't suck you in! Hope it picks up when it gets going.


message 70: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments Janice wrote: "I'm starting City of Girls today.


The first line of the prologue is, "I received a letter from his daughter the other day." (Sounds sort of bland.)

The first line of Chapter One ..."


I agree. It's not the best opening. Hopefully the rest of the book makes up for it.


message 71: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I just downloaded Acceptance, which is the 3rd book in the Southern Reach trilogy. From the prologue, although it is not titled as such.

"Just out of reach, just beyond you: the rush and froth of the surf, the sharp smell of the sea, the crisscrossing shape of the gulls, their sudden, jarring cries. An ordinary day in Area X, an extraordinary day - the day of your death - and there you are, propped up against a mound of sand, half sheltered by a crumbling wall."

Now, that>/i> sucks one in!


message 72: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments That's a much better start than my book Cherie.

So far, it's an interesting read. I can't help compare what was common place in 1940's to today, especially with the Me Too Movement.


message 73: by Sandra, Moderator (new)

Sandra (sanlema) | 11260 comments I am rereading Little Women and of course the first line is the unforgettable: "'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,' grumbled Jo, lying on the rug."


message 74: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments Sandra wrote: "I am rereading Little Women and of course the first line is the unforgettable: "'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,' grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.""

Oh that brings back memories! Enjoy.


message 75: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I'm currently reading Lord John And The Private Matter Lord John and the Private Matter (Lord John Grey, #1) by Diana Gabaldon by Diana Gabaldon
"It was the sort of thing one hopes momentarily that one has not really seen - because life would be so much more convenient if one hadn't."

I'm quite enjoying this so far. Lord John is one of my favourite characters from the 'Outlander' series and it's nice to learn more about him and what makes him tick in these books.


message 76: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments Sounds promising.


message 77: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I'm currently reading The Flatshare The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary by Beth O'Leary
"You've got to say this for desperation: it makes you much more open-minded."


message 78: by Peggy (last edited Sep 05, 2019 10:45AM) (new)

Peggy (pebbles84) | 15868 comments Beautiful first sentence in my current book, The Murmur of Bees

"That early morning in October, the baby's wails mingled with the cool wind that blew through the trees, with the birdsong, and with the night's insects saying their farewell."


message 79: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments Peggy wrote: "Beautiful first sentence in my current book, The Murmur of Bees

"That early morning in October, the baby's wails mingled with the cool wind that blew through the trees, with the bi..."


Beautiful writing!


message 80: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I like both opening sentences!


message 81: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I'll be starting Pretty When She Kills tomorrow.

"The girl stood drenched in blood in the middle of the graveyard. "

Hmmm - that's pretty much how the first book in the series started out.


message 82: by Gavin (new)

Gavin (thewalkingdude) | 340 comments A Storm of Swords:

"The day was grey and bitter cold, and the dogs would not take the scent"


message 83: by Annerlee (new)

Annerlee | 2871 comments "The Mole sat toasting his toes in front of the fire, the winter wind howled safely outside, sending occasional flurries of soot down his chimney. He was thinking that things were nearly perfect, but not quite."

The Willows in Winter
The Willows in Winter (Tales of the Willows, #1) by William Horwood

OK - so it was the first two lines ; )


message 84: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments Sounds like fun, Annerlee. I read his Duncton Wood and really enjoyed it.


message 85: by Lilisa (new)

Lilisa | 2770 comments "Bing sat straight up in the pedicab, gripping the hard seat as the driver cursed and spat."

Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution


message 86: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments "The year it turns, and turns, and turns. Winter to summer, darkness to light, turning the world like wood on a lathe, shaping the months and the seasons"

A pocketful of crows by Joanne Harris


message 87: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Margo wrote: ""The year it turns, and turns, and turns. Winter to summer, darkness to light, turning the world like wood on a lathe, shaping the months and the seasons"

A pocketful of crows by Joanne Harris"


I have enjoyed all of her books, that I have read, so far. I have this one on my TBR list.


message 88: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I have A Pocketful of Crows on my wishlist. I like the opening sentence.


message 89: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I just requested it from my library.


message 90: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments This is very different from her other stuff. That's what I like about Harris, she will not be catagorised. I think I'm going to like this one. It has beautifully details, pencil illustrations.


message 91: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18549 comments Just starting Year One and it's got a good open ing line:
"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And billions of others."


message 92: by Peggy (new)

Peggy (pebbles84) | 15868 comments Intriguing Sarah!


message 93: by Margo (new)

Margo | 11628 comments Very intriguing!


message 94: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Sarah wrote: "Just starting Year One and it's got a good open ing line:
"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And bill..."


I added it to my TBR.


message 95: by Sandra, Moderator (new)

Sandra (sanlema) | 11260 comments Sounds good.


message 96: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments Dystopia isn't Nora Roberts usual genre and I'll be interested in how you like it Sarah.


message 97: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments Sarah wrote: "Just starting Year One and it's got a good open ing line:
"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And bill..."


Interesting!


message 98: by Lisa (new)

Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments I'm currently reading Bone China Bone China by Laura Purcell by Laura Purcell
"Love is fragile, my mother once said. It can break."


message 99: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59884 comments I finished The First Girl Child yesterday and never felt any emotional connection to it which is too bad. I thought it was well written.

I'll start Succubus Blues today.


message 100: by Sandra, Moderator (new)

Sandra (sanlema) | 11260 comments "I have often reflected upon the strange series of circumstances that led me to my long association with one of the most singular and remarkable figures of my age."

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz The House of Silk (Sherlock Holmes, #1) by Anthony Horowitz


back to top