45 -- First Word In The Book Is "The"

[Lindsey]

45. First word in the book is “The”

The only requirement for this prompt is that the first word in the book must be “The.” We would consider this the first word of the story itself, and not count dedications or title pages (although you may decide to do so.) It’s up to you whether or not you decide to count a prologue or forward.

While this is NOT a “title” prompt, some might choose to interpret it that way and pick a title starting with the word “The.” This would fit given that most books have a title page first.

Also, feel free to share your "The" line with us below or on our Facebook or Instagram page! #the52bookclub2023


Click here for our Goodreads List of suggestions

[Angela]

The Golden Thread: How fabric changed History by Kassia St Clair.

Could also work for rabbit hole and fashionable character

[Donna]

First line of The English Monster by Lloyd Shepherd is….
“The ancient road began at the Tower and ran east to west along a terrace of gravel.”

[Kat]

Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase

[Karin]

Is it just me? After going through the various listopias I feel like there is an overemphasis on Harry Potter. Yes, it's wildly popular, but there are so many other books! (plus I didn't think they were that good and quit after a few books, but my eldest disagrees and has read the series 4 times.)

[Lynzi]

Picked up ‘The Great Controversy’ free from a bus stand. Title of Chapter one is “The Destruction of Jerusalem”.

[Tegulizards]

I’m going to be reading JADE CITY by Fonda Lee. First sentence: “The two would-be jade thieves sweated in the kitchen of the Twice Lucky Restaurant.”

[Cindy]

A Painted House by John Grisham. This one is break from his usual legal thrillers he writes.

[Catnip]

Tegulizards wrote: "I’m going to be reading JADE CITY by Fonda Lee. First sentence: “The two would-be jade thieves sweated in the kitchen of the Twice Lucky Restaurant.”"

That's a great opening line.

[Angela]

The stocky man with the salt-and-pepper hair felt light-headed as he crossed beneath the marble arch into Washington Square Park.

Worst Case by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

[Donna]

I’m going to read ‘the Locked Room’ by Elly Griffiths. #14 of the Dr Ruth Galloway series. I began reading these last year and got hooked! Only one more to read after this one🥲

[Mary Sue]

Dominicana by Angie Cruz. “The first time Juan Ruiz proposes, I’m eleven years old, skinny and flat-chested”

[Tamara]

I read "The Mezzanine" by Nicholson Baker

[Veronica]

The Reading List. My new favorite book on how books can bring people together and heal.

[Karen]

The switch by Beth O'Leary

[Kendahl]

I chose The Twenty-Ninth Day by Alex Messenger which details the true story of a 17yo who gets mauled by a grizzly bear on a canoe trip across the Canadian tundra. It was a fascinating book if you enjoy outdoorsy type books.

[Levisio]

I found online the opening lines of these books and each one starts with "The"

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
The Invisible Man by Wells

[Lindsey]

I read The Night Travelers by Armando Lucas Correa, 4 Stars. The first line is "The night Lilith was born, winter storms raged in the midst of spring."

[Nicole]

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

[Kaitlyn]

I went with the lost apothecary

[Carol]

I read Things You Save In A Fire. The first sentence is “The night I became the youngest person-and only female…..”. 2 stars

[Linda]

Ugghhh….. I picked up The Winter Girl to satisfy this prompt. I finished the book but it was terrible…

[Hillary]

The Bodyguard… complete fluff…

[Kimberly]

I read: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildebrand

[Mitra]

Donna wrote: "I’m going to read ‘the Locked Room’ by Elly Griffiths. #14 of the Dr Ruth Galloway series. I began reading these last year and got hooked! Only one more to read after this one🥲"

I love that series too. I am planning on the last book for the prompt in the present tense.

[Elizabeth]

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.
The news of Anders Eckman's death came way of aerogram...

[Tanya]

I read Motherthing by Ainsley Hogarth.

"The night Ralph's mother flayed her forearms, a woman in a red dress handed him a business card."

[Lynette]

Runner of the Mountain Tops, The Life of Louis Agassiz, by Mabel Louise Robinson

[Kaitlyn]

Wink Poppy Midnight
“The first time I slept with Poppy, I cried.”
Rated 4 stars
Captivating & whimsical

[Belle]

The Castle on Sunset - Shawn Levy

[Nyla]

I used the Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. Chapter 1 starts with ,"The Greer mansion sat high on a hill, overlooking the town and the ocean."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Sonia]

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

[Martha.O.S]

I chose “The Wonder” for this category, the first word in the title and text are both the. I just finished this yesterday, the audio version and reviewed it on my “read” shelf.

[Gerry]

For this prompt, I read The White Darkness by David Grann, an amazing story of Henry Worsley's trek across Antarctica.

[Kerri]

Tegulizards wrote: "I’m going to be reading JADE CITY by Fonda Lee. First sentence: “The two would-be jade thieves sweated in the kitchen of the Twice Lucky Restaurant.”"

Great first sentence. I'm already hooked!

[Megan]

I chose Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center for this prompt. 3.5 stars

"The night I became the youngest person..."

[Sally]

Firefly Summer by Maeve Binchy

[Hannah]

I read The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black: "The Royal Astrologer, Baphen, squinted at the star chart and tried not to flinch when it seemed sure the youngest prince of Elfhame was about to be dropped on his royal head."

[Milena]

I have a question. If the book has a Prologue, do you count the first word of the Prologue, or the first word of Chapter 1. Or should I just skip books with prologues for this category?

[Lindsey]

Milena wrote: "I have a question. If the book has a Prologue, do you count the first word of the Prologue, or the first word of Chapter 1. Or should I just skip books with prologues for this category?"

Entirely up to you, there is no right or wrong way.

[A]

I went with Welcome to Night Vale

[Katie]

I read Red Sea by Diane Tullson

[Kim]

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier.
"The first thing I noticed was the clarity of the air, and then the sharp green colour of the land.”

[Kay]

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café by Fannie Flagg

[Haley]

Well Matched 4/5 - really made me laugh. Haven't been disappointed by Jen DeLuca yet.

[Barbara]

I read Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World by Dorothy Roberts

[Laurie]

I read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

[Travel with Books]

"The prestigious street still held secrets of the horror." The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

[Robin]

This afternoon, I finished THE DAVENPORTS by Krystal Marquis. This was a 4*** read for me. I was SO SURE how the story would end, but I was SO WRONG!!!

[Hillary]

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell