SOME OF MY FAVOURITE 'FIRST LINES' IN BOOKS

It was a dark and stormy night. 

For me one of the most important thing in a book is for the writing to be addictive, engrossing, polished, appealing, entertaining and witty. 

Hence, the 'first lines', or at least, the first few pages of the books, are more likely to influence my reading decisions as compared to, say, covers and titles. (For my post on that topic, please click here: On 'Sighting' Books).

Anyway, the following are some of the 'first lines' in books that were intriguing enough to immediately capture my attention:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

("Pride And Prejudice", Jane Austen)

I'm not absolutely certain of my facts, but I rather fancy it's Shakespeare --or, if not, it's some equally brainy bird --who says that it's always just when a fellow is feeling particularly braced with things in general that Fate sneaks up behind him with the bit of lead piping.

("Jeeves And The Unbidden Guest", a short story in, "Carry On, Jeeves", P.G. Wodehouse)

The thing about lying to your parents is, you have to do it to protect them.

("Twenties  Girl", Sophie Kinsella)

Dear Sophie, 
My fiancé's former girlfriend showed up at our engagement party uninvited and released four dozen white mice.

("The Diva Takes The Cake", Krista Davis)

The typist nodded. It was finished, as neat a design for murder as could be envisioned.

("Design For Murder", Carolyn G. Hart)

Captain Crosbie came out of the bank with the pleased air of one who has cashed a cheque and has discovered that there is just a little more in his account than he thought there was.

("The Came To Baghdad", Agatha Christie)

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

("Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone", J.K. Rowling)

When the phone rang, Parker was in the garage, killing a man." 

("Firebreak", Richard Stark)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

("A Tale of Two Cities", Charles Dickens)

What are your favourite 'first lines' in books?

Those interested are welcome to share by commenting on this post. Thanks! ☺

Those interested can discover some interesting 'first lines' in books by clicking here ...here ...and here. Thanks! ☺