Probably the hardest part about writing a book is how to start a story in the first place. Though there are many advises from professional editors and famous writers themselves, it is still the most crucial part where your literary genius must shine.
It's often said that a book shouldn't be judged by its cover, but what about its opening lines? The beginning of it carries the daunting task of hooking the prospective reader in and has a very brief window of time to do so. And with so many books to read, the competition between them is wast. Having that in mind, we've rounded up the first lines of some of the world's most famous books, and they stand as excellent examples of how a short sentence or two can set the tone for an entire story - and define its legacy for decades to come.
Scroll through each poignant piece of literary genius and most known book quotes below in our list. Be sure to let us know which must-read books have you read. And if you haven't laid your eyes on any of these best books to read, you will definitely pick your next read here.
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'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' By Douglas Adams
A true must read :) Specially if you want to know the answer to life, universe and everything ^^
'The Great Gatsby' By F. Scott Fitzgerald
I can think of a few people right now who would do well to remember the same.
'Middlesex' By Jeffrey Eugenides
I remember hearing this line, getting interested, and then hearing a summary and being less interested for some reason.
'The Go-Between' By L.P. Hartley
'The Princess Bride' By William Goldman
'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone' By J.K. Rowling
'A Tale Of Two Cities' By Charles Dickens
"looking to the LEFT because you never treated me right... Looking to the RIGHT because you left me...looking DOWN because you messed me up... looking UP because you let me down...
'Peter Pan' By J.M. Barrie
All children, except one, grow up, and now he's President, so help us.
'The Metamorphosis' By Franz Kafka
This book was, like so many on this list, much better the second time I read them, as an adult and not for an assignment in school!
'Their Eyes Were Watching God' By Zora Neale Hurston
'Howl's Moving Castle' By Diana Wynne Jones
Ive read this! I really really enjoyed it. The only similarity to the film is at the beginning, the introduction. The book itself is simply a whole new world. Its hard to explain but the best i can do is say it was simply the best, it made me feel like a child again
'Slaughterhouse-Five' By Kurt Vonnegut
'The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe' By Douglas Adams
'The Catcher In The Rye' By J.D. Salinger
This book was one I hated when I was a teenager, but then laughed about when I was an adult.
'Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' By Lewis Carroll
I have a big volume of all of the Wonderland stories and poems, they've been some of my favourites since childhood.
'Lolita' By Vladimir Nabokov
Its so amazing how people believe its about love when its about pedophilia and abuse :/
'One Hundred Years Of Solitude' By Gabriel García Márquez
'Middle Passage' By Charles R. Johnson
:D "Cherchez la femme," as we say in French: "look for the woman," when there is trouble with a man. (Meaning, look for the woman he is trying to impress.)
'Scaramouche: A Romance Of The French Revolution' By Rafael Sabatini
'Chromos' By Felipe Alfau
With so many rules that apply to grammar and pronunciation, absolutely.
'Tracks' By Robyn Davidson
Are you sure this isn't the first line to Tracks by Louise Erdrich?
'Notes From Underground' By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
'The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' By Laurence Sterne
'The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn' By Mark Twain
My teacher read both "Tom Sawyer" and this one to the class, and we all loved it. As I grew older, I read them personally, and still can't make up my mind which of the two I like best. It must be the "Rugged Individualism" in Mr. Clemens that I found so appealing, and is probably why I am such an H.Beam Piper follower.
'The Stranger' By Albert Camus
Wait for the rest of it. "Or maybe yesterday; I can't be sure." Incredible start!
'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' By Ken Kesey
This is a great book. I really do like the movie, but the book is from the perspective of Chief Bromden, whom I consider much more interesting than McMurphy.
'Neuromancer' By William Gibson
'The Bell Jar' By Sylvia Plath
'2001: A Space Odyssey' By Arthur C. Clarke
Once upon a time, growing up, I read a short story "The Star". It made such an impression on me that I just had to read more Clarke. I couldn't find 2001 at the time, but did locate "The City and the Stars", and "Rendezvous with Rama". By the time I managed to get a copy of 2001, I was already mesmerized by O'Neil Cylinders, and this work was a little bit of a put-down. His dry English prose may have been the reason why.
'Jane Eyre' By Charlotte Brontë
