Famous book starting lines

Various authors famous opening lines in literature genius. Not the way youd think a childrens book would start. They are the lines we scribble in our journals, slur to strangers when were tipsy at the bar, recite to ourselves when were sleepy on our long commutes home, quote in our poems and wedding vows, tattoo onto our bodies to prove our love of literature, and share with those closest to us in the. The opening lines of a novel can prove crucial, and many authors spend an inordinate amount of time considering how their books will begin. Apr 03, 2019 can you name the these famous novels from their opening lines. Apr 06, 2016 but can we judge a book by its first line. Oct 02, 2014 most memorable quotes from famous classic novels. From dickenss a tale of two cities to melvilles moby dick, often the opening sentence or two of a book will become the most frequently quoted and iconic passage from the entire novel. Both new and old, fiction and nonfictionthese books are packed with the best book quotes that provide thoughtprovoking bits of wisdom, wit, and universal truths. Smith subsequently famous for the hundred and one dalmatians was living in 1940s california, and wrote this story, in a sustained fever of nostalgia, to remind her of home. New authors fill the bookshelves every day, but its the classics that we always come back to. Here are 52 of the most brilliant book quotes of all time. The 27 best opening lines in books, from rebecca to the great gatsby.

Because these are the most terrifying opening lines from books, and the books that follow. First sentences, of course, have different functionsto amuse, to frighten, to mystifyand the mechanics a writer uses to achieve this connection vary from genre to genre. Starting lines is a publication of the university of california at santa barbara writing program, and it is dedicated to publishing the best work that students produce in linguistics 10, writing 1, and writing 2. Wherefore did not mean where as some juliets have interpreted it with the actress leaning over a balcony as if searching for her romeo. About famous opening lines in literature the first line of a book can be a genteel whispered invitation to get cosy with the story, or a fist at your collar yanking you in. This is the classic thirdperson opening to the 20th. In their magna opera, famous authors have written some of the most beautiful and well. These famous book quotes can come from childrens books, fiction or nonfiction literary works. Dec 02, 2011 the top 10 best opening lines of novels. I even tore out the first three pages of one of my favorite novels. Though there are many advises from professional editors and famous.

Best opening line of a biography biographies, memoirs. This infographic features 34 compelling first lines from some of the most famous books of all time. The opening lines from 44 timeless childrens books. As you teach writing and journaling in your own classroom, we pulled together some of the most memorable, fun, creative, and best opening lines books for children and teens have to offer. This list has the best n ovels with great first lines, bound to make. Thats why they so often stay with us well into adulthood. The first line is the authors chance to make a first impression and to capture the imagination of the reader, and the very best books will keep the reader hooked from the first line to the very last line. An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story, he said.

Nov 27, 2015 sometimes all it takes is that totally relatable, extremely weird, or just plain beautiful first line and were in. Here are the 100 best opening lines from your favourite childrens books. While the first line of a poem isnt the most important for the whole poem to work, it can often guide whether a reader keeps reading through to the end. Our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language, from jane austen to james joyce. In homage to that fact, we asked former stylist contributors to share the opening lines that mean the.

Sep, 2012 everyone has their personal list of best opening poetry linesor at least, everyone should have their list of favorite opening lines. First thoughts that last in our memory from jane austen, hunter s. It is matched by rose macaulays famous opening to the towers of. Apr 28, 2012 ulysses 1922stately, plump buck mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed. Maybe you cant judge a book by its cover, but what about its first lines. If they start with something boring, like, i was walking down the street in wales, and it was a really nice day out graham flips the chair back and theyve lost their privileges to tell any more of their tale. While many quotes on this list talk about spreading your wings and flying as far as you can go, this oz line, the most famous of childrens book quotes, champions the love that you can only find at home. The opening line of a book i read freshman year of high school still. Dont judge a book by its cover instead, try and wait for the last line following our massively popular and lovingly selected list of the 100 best opening lines from books, its now time.

From the beginning, russell promises us a tragic tale, but i cant help. They can be funny, touching, deep, dark, poignant, or charming, but in the end, theyre just the books we love. Heres our pick of some of the greatest first lines in literature. If a virtual private party is more your thing, go here for details.

First sentences, of course, have different functionsto amuse, to frighten, to mystifyand the mechanics a writer uses to achieve this. These are many of the bestknown opening lines, fadeins, and first words of dialogue heard throughout cinematic history the initial opening words of films are sometimes heard even before the title credits. We asked members of the buzzfeed community to tell us their favorite lines from childrens books. The opening line of the book is so beautiful, its stuck with me for 20 years can anyone top this. Isnt it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet. Jane austens playful authorial tone of voice is evident right from the beginning of her most famous work. Then starting home, he walked toward the trees, and under them, leaving behind him the big sky, the whisper of wind voices in the windbent wheat. In quite a few cases, the memorable opening lines are also some of the greatest lines in film history.

It gets a big laugh because well, theres some poor soul being booted around in a giant chair. Whether its drama, action or comedy, this collection of famous quotes from movies can be appreciated by any lover of cinema. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of a tale of two cities, test your literary knowledge with our opening lines quiz. Its hard to escape the hint of sarcasm in this opening line, which refers not to the book s famous hero mr. We take a look at the killer opening lines that got us hooked into our favourite books. I knew it was a book i wasnt going to be able to put down. This line comes right from solomon northups 1853 book. Opening lines list of books with great first lines. May 15, 2018 a good opener embeds itself in your memory. Great opening lines to a speech get us curious and can set the direction for a powerful talk. These films are known for their famous movie quotes. This famous quote from juliet is one of the most misinterpreted of all quotes from shakespeare, mostly because modern audiences and readers dont know their elizabethan or early modern english very well.

Would you settle for arresting or intriguing instead of beautiful opening lines. Rare look at early godfather drafts reveal famous lines. Bingley, whom the bennet family has just learned is shortly to move into nearby netherfield park. Join a live hosted trivia game for your favorite pub trivia experience done virtually.

The opening sentence of george orwells famous novella about farm animals staging a revolt introduces the antagonist, the farmer who is the villain to the revolutionary animals. Scroll through each poignant piece of literary genius and most known book quotes below in our list. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times is, of course, the famous opening line to charles dickens classic about the french revolution. The first sentence sets the stagehowever long or short the textand hints at the narrative vehicle. Aug 23, 2017 the top 10 best opening lines in fantasy fiction. Let this collection of the opening lines from childrens books serve as a nostalgic walk down memory lane and as inspiration for books you may want to share with your children too. To quote mr alan partridge, who features on our list, straight away, youve got them by the jaffers and who. Heres an array of famous first lines and seven strategies to craft a great story starter of your own. Our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language.

Here are 25 of the greatest book quotes of all time, and although every book has at least a line or two worth remembering, these ones top the rest. Quotes tagged as openinglines showing of 274 it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good. Probably the hardest part about writing a book is how to start a story in the first place. Test your knowledge on this literature quiz to see how you do and compare your score to others. The very first sentence of a story can be extremely powerful. Allow these famous movie quotes from the stars of the silver screen to provide you with the motivation to dream bigger.

Welcome to my quiz about the opening lines of some of the most famous novels in the world. Though there are many advises from professional editors and famous writers themselves, it is still the most crucial part where your. There is always an opportunity to start again and again, if the old ways are not working last year, look for better ways of doing it in the new year and start again afresh. You dont know about me without you have read a book by the name of the adventures of tom sawyer. Let us know your favourite childrens book first lines from the gallery, or any we missed, in the comments section. The famous lawyer, rufus choate, listening to foreignlanguage grand opera in new york, had told his daughter to be sure to let him know when to laugh or cry or just sit still and keep cool. As glinda the good witch says in the wizard of oz, its always best to start at the beginning. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. And when the story becomes a classic, the first line can sometimes become as famous as the novel itself, as the quotes below demonstrate. The top 10 best opening lines of novels litreactor. The waystone inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. The 23 most unforgettable last sentences in fiction. Noir novels are famous for their slow burn, but this one immediately.

Best opening line of a biography biographies, memoirs and. The 23 most unforgettable last sentences in fiction a book s final lines can make or break the experience. Feb 24, 2016 just as with previous ballots hollywoods 100. From classics to modern fantasies, we chose ten of our favorite opening lines in the fantasy genre, from the evocative to the downright silly. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. A great first line will pull you in, introduce you to the narrator, and set the tone for the entire book. Checkout some of the greatest science fiction quotes of all time, from the greatest scifi writers to date. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Thrs top 100 movie quotes according to hollywood insiders. Quotes tagged as beginning showing of 386 a story has no beginning or end. Thats where editors and literary agents generally get going, so perhaps you should, too. Because these are the most terrifying opening lines from books, and the books that follow are often terrifying enough to live up to the.

For me, the best book quotes of all time are the ones that are there for me when i need them, whether its the happiest day of my life or the. After the death of the great king, beautiful versailles, fatal for france, lay empty seven years while fresh air blew through its golden rooms. Interesting first lines of novels often begin with striking character actions that prepare the stage for further developments. I thought a lot about my own style and strategies while reading it, and im pretty much all over the place. The first lines of novels set the tone for the story to come. The 10 best first lines in fiction books the guardian.

There is some good in this world, and its worth fighting for. Play sporcle s virtual live trivia to have fun, connect with people, and get your trivia on. Every book has at least one or two unforgettable lines but these ones are the best of them all. The 27 best opening lines in books, from rebecca to the great. For me, the best part of a childrens book are the memorable quotes that encapsulate an entire book in a sentence or two. This aesthetic quiz will reveal which famous literary siblings you are. Nov 05, 2015 i get it, book quotes can be pretty incredible. But immediately you know this is going somewhere profound. Some of the most famous and beloved characters and stories in history originated in childrens books that have been passed down over generations. Five of the best speech opening lines writing your content. In a 20 interview with joe fassler, horror fiction maestro stephen king reflected on the magnitude of a novels introductory sentence. Ive read plenty of good books whose first lines i dont remember.

The best 100 opening lines from books is one of stylists most popular piece of content ever. Tolkien, the two towers a wonderful quote from gandalf in a lively design by quotes and prose. Those old, tattered books youve had since high school contain some of historys most quotable lines. Sep 06, 2019 30 great opening lines in literature save from left.

My favorite first line of, probably, my favorite author thomas wolfe, a destiny that leads the english to the dutch is strange enough. Best opening line of a biography biographies, memoirs and autobiographies. Movies are meant to bring people together, inspire, and entertain. Get hooked on some of our favorites with these awesome openers. Depending on what youre reading, a great first line can be funny or meaningful or sad or somehow all of the above. There are thousands of classic opening lines in fictiona tale of two cities by charles dickens and invisible man by ralph ellison come to mindbut often the most wellknown are not always the best. The 23 most unforgettable last sentences in fiction a books final lines can make or break the experience. From dickenss a tale of two cities to melvilles moby dick, often the opening sentence or two of a book will become the most frequently quoted and. Its important to never judge a book by its cover, but how do you evaluate it. Famous novels with the catchiest first lines 1 a tale of two cities charles dickens it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A good cover may make us pick the book up and think about buying it.

In those first few seconds you have the chance to gain your audiences attention, earn their trust, and persuade them you are someone worth listening to. Having that in mind, weve rounded up the first lines of some of the worlds most famous books, and they stand as excellent examples of how a short sentence or two can set the tone for an entire story and define its legacy for decades to come. And when the story becomes a classic, the first line can sometimes become as famous as the novel itself, as the quotes. Mitchells famous last lines are at once heartbreaking and hopeful. These are some of our favorites, the best first lines of books, with explanations. Came from rare look at early godfather drafts reveal famous lines. Oct 12, 2019 the first lines of novels set the tone for the story to come. Ill give you the first line of a famous book and all you have to do is tell me which book.