September 2023 - First word in the book is a proper noun

[Liz]

What better way to start a “teacher appreciation” mini-challenge, than with a grammar-related prompt. A “proper noun” is a noun that is the name of a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are always capitalized in English. They include personal names, place names, names of companies, book or film titles, etc.

This prompt is similar to the prompt on our 2024 challenge (book begins with the word “the”). Except for this prompt, we want the first word to be a proper noun. Most likely, the book you pick for this prompt will open with a character’s name. (For example, the opening from Just Another Missing Person is, “Julia is trying to work out if the man at the table next but one is somebody she has arrested before.”)

We would consider the first word of the first chapter (or prologue) to be the first word in the book. However, it’s up to you whether you count forewords, dedications, chapter or section headings, etc. as the “first word” or not.

As a creative interpretation, some members have also chosen to include the title page as the first word. (For example, for this prompt, they might choose “Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting” because the first word on the title page is the name “Iona,” even though the first word of the first paragraph is not a proper noun.) As always, you get to decide how to interpret each prompt.

You can find our Goodreads list for this prompt here.

[Michele]

The first sentence of The Thieves Of Darkness by Richard Doetsch starts with the words "Chiron Prison."

[Carol]

I started reading Death on The Nile and I read the first 5 chapters. The first chapter starts with a proper noun , I just noticed there is an Author’s Note. 🤦‍♀️ I will probably just read it and use it for the Agatha Christie Challenge since was my next book. I have a few books on my shelf that will work.

[Jeni]

I'm going to read The Third Wife by Lisa Jewel. The first chapter begins with the heading: April 2011. Works for me!

[Denise]

Just finished The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn. First word is "Christabel"

[Kezia]

I'm going with A Haunting in Venice: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie. I had chosen it because the first page of the story reads "Mrs. Ariadne Oliver..." but then I wasn't really 100% sold on this choice because there is a forward to this new edition that does not begin with a proper noun. However, I picked the book up this morning and flipped to the very first page where there is an "About the Author" and the first words on that page are "Agatha Christie...".

[Lindsey]

I read A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare. Started with "Corporal Thorne could make a woman quiver, from all the way across the room. An inconvenient talent, so far as Kate Taylor was concerned."

[Aquaria]

How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace starts with "Tomorrow's the big science fair!"

It's a children's picture book. Took less than five minutes to read, and checked off my "dinosaur in title" prompt from another challenge.

What, am I the only one reading multiple challenges?

[JennH]

Just finished Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie which starts with:

Hercule Poirot looked with interest....

[Necmi]

I'm reading Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. First word of the first story is Colorado.

[Denise]

Aquaria wrote: "How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace starts with "Tomorrow's the big science fair!"

It's a children's picture book. Took less than five minutes to read, and checked off my "dinosaur in title" p..."

Nope, I have more than one.

[Mary Sue]

I read Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

[Anna]

I read Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese