This week's theme: Opening lines.
I considered finding ten classic openers for this post. Or ten fabulous beginnings from some of my favorite books. But that seemed like a lot of work. So I took the easy way out and went with the opening lines from eight recent reads and two books that are sitting on my TBR pile instead. Would any of them make you want to keep reading?
1. You know in the movies when someone says "You can't fire me, I quit!"
....maybe don't do that in real life.
--Vivien Chien
2. The good thing about being suddenly overcome with fresh terror is that you forget everything else you were afraid of.
--Paige Shelton
3. Sarah missed the end of the world because of the flu.
--P.J. Dziekan
4. The librarian and her mule spotted it at the same time.
--Kim Michele Richardson
5. If my sister Alma had lived, I should never have begun the seances.
--John Harwood
6. When Thomas Wolfe said you can't go home again,
Cat Latimer wondered if he knew he was full of crap.
-- Lynn Cahoon
7. There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius.
-- Kevin Hearne
8. Ethan Kaille eased his knife from the leather sheath on his belt as he approached Griffin's wharf, the words of a warding spell on his lips.
--D.B. Jackson
9. It was three minutes past midnight, and the dead wouldn't leave me alone.
-- Suzanne Harper
-- Suzanne Harper
10. The Nazi officers are dressed in black. They look at death with the indifference of a gravedigger.
--Antonio Iturbe
Happy Reading!
Interesting opening lines, Lark! I'm glad to see Death by Dumpling is on the list. Have you read it? :)
ReplyDeleteI have read that one, and I liked it a lot. I've even read the next two in the series: Dim Sum of All Fears and Murder Lo Mein. :)
DeleteI'm glad to hear you enjoyed reading them. Hopefully will get to read your reviews soon. :D
DeleteYou've picked great ones. So good. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteThese are sound so good. I might try to read a few of them.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
Thank you! :)
DeleteDeath by Dumpling sounds like such a fun book to read.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT .
It was; the main character totally made me laugh. :)
DeleteSo I would definitely pick up #1 based on that opening line. It's awesome. I also feel like I'm sort of living #3 having a head cold in the days of COVID-19!
ReplyDelete:D It definitely feels like the wrong time to get sick right now.
DeleteI always notice first lines in books because I figure that the author probably puts more work into first and last sentences than on any others in the book. First sentences are meant to grab your attention...and last ones are meant to set you on your way in the mood the author wants you in when you finish the book. I used to collect "first sentences," but of course, I can't find my list when I need it.
ReplyDeleteHa. I know what you mean. That's why I went with the books I'd just read that were still sitting by my bed. It made things a lot easier. :)
DeleteHi Lark, a good collection of books. The seance novel sounds interesting. I like the time period and the whole seance movement, spritualism I think it was called, was quite popular in the 19th century.
ReplyDeleteI really liked The Seance. It has a kind of Gothic feel to it.
DeleteI love that opening line of Death by Dumpling. It sounds like a fun read. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a very humorous mystery series. :)
DeleteOooh, these are some good ones! I think the DEATH BY DUMPLING opener really sets the tone for that series well. You know what you're going to get. I also used the opener for TROUBLESOME CREEK although it really isn't a stunner in and of itself. When you find out what the librarian and mule saw, though, that's a different story ...
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
The way The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek begins is really something, isn't it?
DeleteThese are all really good! I would definitely keep reading all these books. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for stopping by my blog today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting back! :)
DeleteI like number 9. LOL!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a great way to begin a book? :D
DeleteThis is a fun theme this week. A good opening line can really help propel me into a book. A bad one....
ReplyDeleteI hear you! I've put more than one book back unread because the first sentence didn't grab me.
DeleteI haven't heard of a lot of these but sound good. I really want to pick up book #1 now! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Vivien Chien mysteries are a lot of fun. Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteThe librarian and her mule? Well, that sure has my curiosity peaked!
ReplyDeleteDoes make you want to read more, doesn't it? :)
DeleteYour #3 could be on my list of humorous opening lines. Ha! Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great line, isn't it? :)
DeleteDeath by Dumplig looks so fun. I've actually thinking of getting that one for a while -something about cozies and food. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty humorous, too. :)
DeleteYou picked some really interesting opening lines for your list! :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT!
Thanks! Can't wait to see yours. :)
DeleteGreat list! I haven't read any of these, but will definitely have to look into some of them after how good their opening lines are :)
ReplyDeleteThey were all good reads! :)
DeleteNo 3, 6 and 7 definitely make me want to read those -- and for no 3? I don't even like zombies! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat's the beauty of a great first line! Makes you read something you otherwise wouldn't. :D
DeleteThin Ice sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I really liked that one! Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteGosh, I'd almost forgotten I meant to try Thieftaker! Putting that back on my list, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat's one sitting on my TBR pile. But it does sound good, doesn't it? :) Thanks for commenting!
DeleteThis weeks Top Ten Tuesday did sound like a lot of work which is why I didn't participate. I need easier subjects for me to come up with otherwise it just feels like a school assignment. No thanks.
ReplyDelete#2, 3 and 9! I like the sound of number 3 the best. You know I love Hounded, but I didn't know that was the opening line. That's a good one, too! Can't wait to hear what you think of Walking With the Dead. It sounds promising.
Walking With the Dead was pretty good. It had some flaws and was a little predictable, but overall I liked it. :)
DeleteI must admit that I'm now wondering what the mule saw! I could be thinking about that all day!
ReplyDeleteRight? It kind of draws you in to the story. :)
DeleteSome very good opening lines and some would definitely inspire me to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteThese are all really good but especially #5. Sounds like a good creepy story.
ReplyDelete