Friday, August 01, 2008

First Lines

I'm a sucker for a good first line. How about you?

I just got Marilyn Griffith's latest novel, Rhythms of Grace, and I can't wait to dive in. (BTW, the cover is gorgeous and sexy and it intrigues me.)
Her first line: No one would miss me.
My reaction: Oh, no! What's going to happen? Why would no one miss her? 

Lisa Samson's Straight Up: Why are wine velvet curtains, soft carpets, and mellow lighting reserved for the dead?
My reaction: Why indeed? And where is this story going?

Donita K. Paul's DragonQuest: "We're going to get in trouble," Kale muttered.
My reaction: What? Why? What's going on? Why is poor Kale muttering?

I (finally) just bought Healing Stones by Nancy Rue & Stephen Arterburn. My friends have raved about this book, and I can't wait to read it.
The first line: I sneaked down to the boat that night to say this couldn't happen anymore.
My reaction: Oh, my goodness! Why did she have to sneak? To whom was she speaking? What couldn't happen any more??

So, tell me, what are some of your favorite first lines? Let's get some chatter going in the comments. I know you have an opinion.  

Oh, one more--my absolute favorite first line: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

7 comments:

Megan DiMaria said...

Wow. I must be on a vibe with the "Writing Tip of the Day" that is in the sidebar on the right of this post.

Take a look! I hadn't even noticed it when I was posting today. LOL

Great minds, and all that!!

~Megan

Jan Parrish said...

Looks like you've got a stack of great books to read! I'm reading The Perfect Life and loving it.

Ruthie said...

What an interesting thought. I never thought much about the opening lines before - so looked up the two books I'm just going to start reading.

Everlasting Hope by Tracey Bateman:
"The dusty ground rose up to meet Andy with alarming speed."

From a Distance by Tamera Alexander: "Elizabeth Garrett Westbrook stepped closer to the cliff's edge, not the least intimidated by the chasm's vast plunge."

Hmm. It does give you pause and make you want to see what it's all about.

Robbie Iobst said...

The first line: "Jerry looks at me as if my head has spouted petunias."
My reaction: This is going to be funny and imaginative. Surely this is a husband looking at a wife, right? John looks at me like that sometimes. :0)
The book: Searching for Spice!

I'm not being a brown-noser Megan - I loved your book!

Megan DiMaria said...

Oh, Robbie. You're a dear. Thanks!!!!

~Megan

Kay Day said...

I don't really pay that much attention to first lines, although I know I'm supposed to.
It's titles that intrigue me.
That Rhythms of Grace is a great title! I've read all the books in your stack except that one.

Erin said...

You got me hooked on first lines... now I notice them in almost every book I read.

This is the first line from one of my favorite books, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer:

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die-though I'd had reason enough in the last few months-but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this."