Jun 12, 2008
How to choose a mystery novel (or any contemporary book) in 3 minutes: The first sentence.
Fish:
A good first sentence knows about everything that will follow it and leans forward with great force, taking you with it.
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I agree.
The first sentence of the Gunslinger, by Stephen King, got me to read all 7 books in the series:
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”
C.S. Lewis, “There was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”
Dickens was a master.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . .” A Tale of Two Cities.
“”Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born . . .” Oliver Twist.
Oops. The last quote is from David Copperfield, not Oliver Twist.
“I had always wondered what it felt like to die.”
Gates of Fire – by Steven Pressfield.
I wonder how many times that first sentence has appeared in books?
I do an assignment like this in 8th Grade Lit-Comp at Trinity. I pass out some opening sentences from a few great books and ask, “What world does this invite you to be a part of? What can you know about that world from the very beginning?”
Here are a few:
“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
All children, except one, grow up.
They were not railway children to begin with
Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
My name is Asher Lev, the Asher Lev, about whom you have read in newspapers and magazines, about whom you talk so much at your dinner affairs and cocktail parties, the notorious and legendary Lev of the Brooklyn Crucifixion.
Myrddin – Great assignment to work through for your classes. It’s a good approach to literature for adults, too! Thanks for the Chaim Potok sentence. His novels are some of my favorites.
“A good first sentence knows about everything that will follow it and leans forward with great force, taking you with it.”
A thought retunk- A Good Heavenly Father, knows about everything that will follow and leans forward with great grace, taking you with Him.
Hebrews 1:1-3 reads like this to me as well. In my opinion, it’s one of the best opening sentences written.
Here’s another favorite from recent reading:
When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of the night he’d reach out to touch the child sleeping beside him
Joel burdeaux, the first line of the Gunslinger got me to read all 7 books as well. I can’t decide if I’m better for having done so, though. What did you think of them all?
I think the first sentence is important, but more and/or just as important is the first several pages.
Though, I have read several that I much enjoyed by the end that didn’t start out so exciting.
Joel read my mind! (And I’m a few hundred pages shy of finishing the Dark Tower saga… I’ll withhold judgment until then.) ;)
“The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.” LP Hartley – the Go Between. Classic. The film sucked though.
The best first line ever:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” , not from Genesis 1 but The Name of the Rose. Also, not the most compelling salvo, but it builds like a tsunami then crashes over you leaving you stunned. There are exceptions to every rule.
On second thought, first sentences can be deceiving, like a Russian mafioso on his first American date–lots of bling and flash but low on substance.
Myrddin – It’s been about 2 months now but I believe you are quoting McCarthy’s “The Road” correct? One of the best, most hauntingly beautiful novels I have ever read. Can anyone guess this one?
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
Alan Paton’s “Cry the Beloved Country” has the best opening paragraph..
Bumblepuppy – Orwell? 1984
Correct LJ!