First lines

[dawtheminstrel]

I've been noticing first lines lately. I don't think every book has to have a killer first line but I like it when they do. Here are the first lines of the three novels sitting on my desk:

"Dragons," said Mollander. (From GRRM's Feast for CrowsHaving found that her love for her ex-husband, James Lacey, had more or less disappeared, Agatha

Comments

[dawtheminstrel]

Oh cool! I should have asked people about the first lines of the books near them. I'm going to go do that now.

[dawtheminstrel]

I'm such an impatient reader that I think those things would have bothered me too. Actually, I probably would have just skipped them.

[jongibbs]

A good opening, which could be a paragraph too, makes a big difference to me. Mind you, I prefer it an opening in the now rather than a reflective one, if you know what I mean.

[dawtheminstrel]

I think I do. You like to see the characters in the moment rather than a description of the sunset, unless the sunset matters a whole lot more than it usually does.

[jongibbs]

No, I mean things like "I never realized when I first met Fred that he'd be the one to kill me."

I don't know why, but to me they seem like cheating :)

[dawtheminstrel]

Oh interesting. Maybe they feel like cheating because it looks like the writer thought the opening was dull and gave a teaser for the exciting stuff you'd eventually get to.

[sarcastic_elf]

Well, I have a pile of books by my desk, so I'll limit it to three:

"Once, when I was seven, I was chased by a dog." - Deathwish by Rob Thurman

"I suppose that if I were going to blame my involvement on anyone (which I see no reason to do), I would be compelled to say that it was all Aunt Charlotte's fault." The Grand Tour by Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer

"A history of the Six Duchies is of necessity a history of its ruling family, the Farseers." Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

I tend to prefer shorter opening lines, but I rather like the one from The Grand Tour

[dawtheminstrel]

Oh wow, I don't know Deathwish, but I love the other two books!

I think the length of the Grand Tour one is a matter of voice and the era Wrede and Stevermer are aiming at. Those books are so much fun. Did you know they started out as a writing exercise, with Wrede and Stevermer exchanging letters in character?

[sarcastic_elf]

I had read about the exercises when I was looking up the authors. It sounds like it would be really fun to be able to do something like that.

I don't have Sorcery and Cecelia. Do I need to read it to understand The Grand Tour?

[dawtheminstrel]

I don't think so. They fill in the backstory nicely.

[meckinock]

I like catchy first lines but I'm not sure I really pay attention to them when I'm reading a book, because at the moment I can't think of any.

That sucks about your re-paving work. I dreaded them doing that on my street, but at the same time I hoped they would because I had an enormous pothole right in front of my house, and in the winter they would periodically come by and patch it, which just meant that all the asphalt patch would get thrown up onto my yard the next time the plows came through. In the spring I would have to remove shovelfulls of asphalt from my grass.

It doesn't seem your street is old enough to need major work.

[dawtheminstrel]

I'm not sure how old my street is. Our is only about 15 years old, but the street has been here a few years longer. I gather the city just has some sort of rotation it does. I'm wondering about mail and Friday's garbage pick up. The workman suggested that on the day they put down the stuff I'm not supposed to drive on I should just "make a day trip somewhere." Presumably to one of the many tourist sites in Iowa.

[meckinock]

Well, you could drive to Decorah and watch the eagles, I suppose.

[bmlg]

About to read this one, Midnight Riot / Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch:
"It started at one thirty on a cold Tuesday morning in January, when Martin Turner, street performer and, in his own words, apprentice gigolo, tripped over a body in front of the Weat Portico of St. Paul's at Covent Garden."

Just recently read this one, Still Missing, by Chevy Stevens:
"You know, Doc, you're not the first shrink I've seen since I got back."

Neither of those is a really killer first line, but both books are fast-paced and eventful.

[dawtheminstrel]

They're lively lines though. They make you want to read on to find out more.

[bmlg]

They lead into interesting paragraphs - I think that may be important.

I wonder how reading speed plays into this? Some readers may be about to turn the first page while others are still cogitating on the first and second lines.

[dawtheminstrel]

I read more slowly at the start of a book when I'm trying to take in stuff that's all new. Actually, most readers adjust their speed for things like difficulty and the start of a book is hard, not just for writers, but for readers too.

But even at that, I seldom consciously notice a first line. I'm using it as a tool to get into the story rather than appreciate for its own sake.