Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Do you ever open up a book, read the first page and immediately know you’re going to love it? That happens to me from time to time. Those initial sentences can definitely make an impact, right? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (the weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is all about opening lines. Here are some of my favourites! (Warning: slightly NSFW)
Silent in the Grave – Deanna Raybourn
To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband’s dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.
A Darker Shade of Magic – V.E. Schwab
Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.
Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor
On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
The Merciful Crow – Margaret Owen
Pa was taking too long to cut the boys’ throats.
The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin
Let’s start with the end of the world, why don’t we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things.
A Crown for Cold Silver – Alex Marshall
It was all going so nicely, right up until the massacre.
Nevernight – Jay Kristoff
People often shit themselves when they die.
A Treacherous Curse – Deanna Raybourn
“I assure you, I am perfectly capable of identifying a phallus when I see one,” Stoker informed me, clipping the words sharply. “And that is no such thing.”
What are some of your favourite opening lines in books? Let me know in the comments below! Happy reading!
I cannot believe I forgot the opening line from Strange the Dreamer! That was brilliant.
It’s one of those opening lines where you just know you’re going to love the book 😀
Harry Potter and The Hobbit are on a lot of lists this week. They are great! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I love the one for the Hobbit. 🙂
Kell and his coat – a couple of my favorite things. 🙂
That Nevernight one is priceless!
It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the book! 😀
A Darker Shade Of Magic has the best opening line. I want that coat!
It would be such a practical coat!
ok I want to read Silent in the Grave now haha!
I actually laughed out loud when reading it, and then felt bad because it talked about someone dying :’)
Great list – My TTT is here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-opening-lines/
Thank you!
I’m so intrigued by Strange the Dreamer, but still haven’t read any Laini Taylor books! This needs to change 🙂
Here’s my TTT: https://memorymeetsimagination.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-best-opening-lines/
Strange the Dreamer is such a wonderful book! I constantly felt like hugging it 😀 But so far, it’s the only Laini Taylor book I’ve read…
These are great! I definitely need to know the context of A Treacherous Curse’s opening now haha
Haha, they’re going through a crate of archeological objects 😀
The Fifth Season has such a great opening. Makes me want to do a reread.
Your second half should have been called ‘Shocking Opening Lines!’ Ha! So great.
Haha, I wonder what it says about me that I picked those lol
I put down the opening line for The Hobbit as well!
It’s such an iconic and fun quote!
I had the Harry Potter and A Darker Shade of Magic ones on my list this week too, two of my favourites 🙂
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-265/
That Harry Potter quote is popping up everywhere today! So fun. 🙂
My TTT .
That doesn’t surprise me, it’s such an iconic quote 🙂