Well my friends it’s also been a long time since I’ve done a Booking Through Thursday but I’m back and I’m really excited about this Thursday’s topic. This week we are talking about first lines in novels we’ve read. The question is thus posed to us:
Here’s another idea about memorable first lines from books.
What are your favourite first sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its first sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the first line?
I will begin by saying that I don’t think I’ve read a first line and then not enjoyed the whole book. It’s typically that first line that gets things moving and draws you into the novel…or not. But there are a couple of first lines that I’ve really enjoyed.
The first opening line that I’ve loved was in one of the Christopher Moore’s novels. You Suck is a novel about vampires in modern day America and the struggles they have to survive, it’s a comedy so we aren’t looking at an Anne Rice vampire novel here. You Suck starts with the line (I’m going from memory here), “You killed me, You Suck!”. There aren’t many novels that get right to the point as this one does and it’s done in a humors way.
The other opening lines that I’d like to mention are from Douglas Coupland’s latest hit The Gum Thief. I just began reading this one so I don’t know how it’s going to end or progress but I must say that I just cracked up with the beginning of this novel.
A few years ago it dawned on me that everybody past a certain age — regardless of how they look on the outside — pretty much constantly dreams of being able to escape from their lives. They don’t want to be who they are any more. They want out. This list includes Thurston Howell the third, Ann-Margret, the cast members of Rent, Vaclav Havel, space shuttle astronauts and Snuffleupagus. It’s universal.
Another wonderful opening by the great Canadian author Coupland. It’s a beginning that just made me laugh and want to dive head first into the novel. Happy Thursday all!!
That's the Book! 
You left some good examples; thanks!
Good ones! Never hear of those though!
😀
Here is my BTT post
Wonderful. I’d probably start reading “You Suck” just for the title.
Christopher Moore is a good one. I had forgotten about it.
I think it’s “You killed, you bitch! You suck!”
Uh…once more with feeling:
“You killed me, you bitch! You suck!”
While I haven’t read “The Gum Thief” I think I could spot that as a Coupland line from a mile away (given a good set of binoculars, of course).
John: Yeah, it’s definitely a Coupland title isn’t it?
Bybee: That’s right I completely forgot about the, “you bitch!” part. How could I possibly forget about that?
Confuzzled Books: I’m a huge Moore fan, the first book of his I read was Lamb. It’s such a good book.
Karen: You Suck is actually a sequel to Dirty Jobs. I didn’t know that before I read and I don’t think you really need to read it first but thought I should let you know.
Sally and Gautami: Thank you.