If you go to writers conferences, you'll hear writers teach that the first line of a novel should pull you in immediately. That it should grip you and not let go. While I wholeheartedly agree with that, I think the rest of the words in a novel should pretty much carry their weight as well. But I do love opening lines!
At random, I pulled a few books off my TBR (To Be Read) shelf, which is growing way too overcrowded, and I sank down in my imaginary bubble bath and devoured some first sentences. A few connected more than others. Some pulled me in hook, line, and sinker. Let's see your reaction…
The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door.
Sarah's Key
by Tatiana deRosnayThe pair moved through that gray landscape as though no one would see them––dressed alike in overalls and faded coats, one big, one little, one black-headed, one tow-headed, father and son.
Ladies in Spring
(Collected Stories) by Eudora WeltyElin Carlson walked into the barn and everything changed.
Until We Reach Home
by Lynn AustinThe mantel clock was exquisite, even though its hands rested in silence at twenty minutes past two.
Lady in Waiting
by Susan MeissnerThere were years after it happened, after I'd returned from the town and come back here to the busy blank of the city, when some comment would be tossed off about the Second World War and how it had gone––some idiotic remark about clarity and purpose––and I'd resist the urge to stub out my cigarette and bring the dinner party to a satisfying halt.
The Postmistress
by Sarah BlakeIt was bitter cold, the air electric with all that had not happened yet.
A Reliable Wife
by Robert GoolrickI woke sick to the sound of an envelope slid under my door.
A Separate County
by Robert HicksSitting beside the road, watching the wagon mount the hill toward her, Lena thinks, 'I have come from Alabama: a fur piece.'
Light in August
by William FaulknerIt's not that I ever had delusions of grandeur, or even that I think I am better than anyone else, but there is something about donning a tag that says, "Please be patient; I'm a trainee" and asking, "Would you like paper or plastic?" that is uniquely, even brutally, humbling.
Summer Snow
by Nicole BaartWinter rode into Richmond on the chattering breath of the Atlantic.
The Clouds Roll Away
by Sibella GiorelloElspeth died while Robert was standing in front of a vending machine watching tea shoot into a small plastic cup.
Her Fearful Symmetry
by Audrey Niffenegger
The old woman peered past the red geraniums in her deep front window at the figure lingering in the moon-white snow at the gate.Prayers for Sale
by Sandra DallasDid you connect with any of these "faces?" With the setting? Or the character's opening plight? If yes, which one(s)? Several tugged at my interest, but I especially loved Summer Snow
. Can't you just feel the POV (point of view) character's discomfort? Their unease in their situation? Love it!
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Blessings on your Tuesday, friends,
Tammy
P.S. If you haven't heard about The Reading Promise yet, check it out. GREAT story!
"I woke sick to the sound of an envelope slid beneath my door." is the line that hit me. If that book were in my hands, I'd keep reading! Brisk action/shorter opening sentences tend to grab me. By contrast, my mom likes the lengthy, lyrical ones. First person don't normally resonate with me, but Judy Miller recently did one that was awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tammy? I recently gave my mom 2 boxes of books from my TBR collection. I have a third box for her now, and it didn't even make a dent in my stacks. I'm impressed that you're making headway on your TBR collection!
Cathy
Maybe it's because I'm midway through an exhausting day, but the shorter first lines grabbed my attention.
ReplyDelete"The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door."
What girl? Why doesn't the author give her a name? Who is pounding on the door? It sounds foreboding to me.
"Elin Carlson walked into the barn and everything changed." Changed for the better...or the worse? I'd have to keep reading to find out.
"It was bitter cold, the air electric with all that had not happened yet."
This is short and sweet but so lyrical and it says alot, doesn't it?
"Winter rode into Richmond on the chattering breath of the Atlantic."
Love the imagery in this.
I've read a few of the books that you mentioned so a few of them tugged at me just because I liked the book so much (Lady in Waiting, and Sarah's Key).
ReplyDeleteOf the ones I hadn't read yet, I liked these sentences:
Elin Carlson walked into the barn and everything changed.
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin (I need to know why everything changed by walking into the barn)
I woke sick to the sound of an envelope slid under my door.
A Separate County by Robert Hicks (I really like getting mail so I need to know why the sound of the envelope made this person sick)
It's not that I ever had delusions of grandeur, or even that I think I am better than anyone else, but there is something about donning a tag that says, "Please be patient; I'm a trainee" and asking, "Would you like paper or plastic?" that is uniquely, even brutally, humbling.
Summer Snow by Nicole Baart (There's something very real about this statement and I like it)
Totally with you, Cathy. I'm so selective on what books go onto my TBR shelf. I used to stash almost everything there, with hopeful thinking. But then realized there just aren't enough hours. BTW, I LOVED Robert Hicks' Widow of the South. SO lyrical. Highly suggest that book. But forewarning, it's not a quick read. Very literary. But lovely!
ReplyDeleteAnd Kav, great comments. I love first lines that make me question or that use alliteration to grab me. And I'm really enjoying The Clouds Roll Away and look forward to getting back to that. AFTER I'm done with these edits!
Hey Megan! We were posting at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your comment:
I woke sick to the sound of an envelope slid under my door. A Separate County by Robert Hicks (I really like getting mail so I need to know why the sound of the envelope made this person sick)
GREAT thought. I hadn't considered it from that angle. This is why I enjoy book clubs so much. Discussing the various parts of a book like this. Getting others' views. Thanks, all, for playing! ;)
I'm later getting on my laptop today, but just HAD to visit my favorite blog! Thanks for sharing these first lines, Tammy. I was especially interested in the first line of A SEPARATE COUNTY, and also the story that begins "Winter rode into Richmond"--for some reason, reading that line made me want to read more (hmmm...could be because it's so HOT here in Georgia today, so thinking of cold temperatures is appealing, LOL). ~ And I'm sooo glad you mentioned THE SWAN HOUSE in your Kindle list. That book was given to me after my surgeries, and I've been saving it to read at the beach next week---so I'm going to pack it right now! (Spending a week on the Georgia coast with my kiddos and sister, and CANNOT WAIT! Especially since my "vacation" last summer was a 3-week stay at Piedmont Hospital *sigh*). ~ Hope the edits are going smoothly for you, and looking forward to reading this upcoming book! Hugs, Patti Jo :)
ReplyDeleteThe pair moved through that gray landscape as though no one would see them––dressed alike in overalls and faded coats, one big, one little, one black-headed, one tow-headed, father and son.
ReplyDeleteLadies in Spring (Collected Stories) by Eudora Welty
The above is my favorite from the list provided!
I do enjoy first lines and they do set the tone of the story I am about read. They very very seldom keep me from reading a book, but they can get my attention and make me want to continue.
ReplyDeleteEndings is what make or break a book for me. I have read several books that I loved the whole way through and then they ended so badly I ended up not liking them. But that is a topic for a different blog. :-D
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous poster. I know one writer who writes secular romance. I don't read her works anymore because of the trashy scenes, but I do admit the writer writes really good endings. Many writers should learn from her.
ReplyDeleteShe writes good humor as well.
Many writers do lack good endings!
I have honestly never thought about the impact of a first line, but it totally makes sense. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"...classic example. I'm with you, though, a first line can set the stage, but if the rest of the book doesn't follow through, by the end I probably won't even remember the first line! : ) My favorite was the Summer Snow quote. It immediately grabbed my attention and I wanted to smile. I like drama, but I also really like humor. This line made me feel like there was more humor to come. I've recently read a few contemporary fiction novels that I've loved and this quote reminded me them. : ) Thanks for more freebies! God bless~Stacey
ReplyDelete