Monday, January 30, 2006
The Top 100 Opening Lines in Literature
Posted by Aditya Bidikar | 11:34 amE-Mail This Post | | Add a Comment
Loads of fun, although the list is really based on the books rather than the lines themselves.
I quite like #53, although the rest of the book can’t help but not live up to it.
I also like #6, #15, #47 and #69 (no, seriously).
I quite like #53, although the rest of the book can’t help but not live up to it.
I also like #6, #15, #47 and #69 (no, seriously).
January 30, 2006 8:53 pm
First line of Hunter Thompson't Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: "We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold." Delightfully understated, given everything that's to follow. (Actually, the rest of the first para is even better.)
January 31, 2006 1:25 am
I heartily agree that this is based more on the books than the lines. The first line of Watchmen is certainly better than the first line of A Farewell to Arms!
February 01, 2006 9:16 am
It must be nice to have time to read this list!
February 01, 2006 9:33 am
@Jai: Definitely.
My attorney had taken his shirt off and was pouring beer on his chest, to facilitate the tanning process.
Hee.
@Abhimanyu: Easily. The first line of Watchmen is stunning.
An example of the books/lines thing, #28 ("Mother died today.") isn't even that impressive without the next lines ("Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I don't know"). [This piece of knowledge courtesy Aishwarya.]
@sinusoidally: It is. (*Cackles maniacally*) I don't know how I am going to survive not having time if and when I have a job.
February 01, 2006 4:38 pm
Good list...but incomplete for sure....it doesn't have
@Fountainhead : "Howard Roark laughed"
@Atlas Shrugged : "Who is John Galt?"
Without one (or both!!) of these that list CANNOT be complete!
February 02, 2006 11:40 am
I am not a fan of Ayn Rand. But adding those would again be a case of book rather than line.