13 First Lines
Rules: Okay below are 13 first lines from novels. All of them on this list are books that I have read. If you know an Author, a title, or both just post your answer in a comment. I will put correct answers up with credit to the person giving the correct response first. Have fun!
- As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. ~ The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka ~ 1915 (Journeywoman)
- All children, except one, grow up. ~ Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie ~ 1904 (Journeywoman)
- It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness. ~ Paul Clifford, by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton ~ 1830
- 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 ~ 1813 (Journeywoman)
- All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. ~ Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy ~ 1875 (Journeywoman)
- 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 ... ~ A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens ~ 1859 (Journeywoman)
- Call me Ishmael. ~ Moby Dick(Carol), Herman Melville ~ 1851
- Call me Jonah. ~ Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut ~ 1963 (Kat)
- I am a sick man ... I am a spiteful man. ~ Notes from Underground, Fyodor Dostoyevsky ~ 1864 (Kat)
- Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. ~ One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez ~ 1967 (Kat)
- The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended. ~ 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke ~ 1968 (Kat)
- If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. ~ The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger ~ 1951 (Journeywoman)
- "To be born again," sang Gibreel Farishta tumbling from the heavens, "first you have to die." ~ The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie ~ 1988 (Kat)
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12 comments:
I'm feeling semi-illiterate here. I recognize the one from Moby Dick. The rest, not.
Fun 13!
Don't feel bad, I've read all of these at least once and was shocked at how many I couldn't get just by looking at the first line. We did this with a book club and I wound up being second for correct answers but it wasn't easy.
What a fun list! I'll not embarrass myself with wrong guesses, but this was a very cool idea.
Happy TT!
Oh, come on Maggie, it's all in fun!
1) Metamorphosis Kafka
2) Peter Pan, JM Barre
4) Pride and Prejudice, Austin
5) Anna Karennina, Tolstoy
6) Tale of Two Cities, Dickens
12) Catcher in the Rye.Salinger
Great Job Journeywoman!
What a fabulous idea for a TT. Can I steal it? Please? My brain has a hard time sometimes coming up with them. You would not believe how many lists of 7 I have stored on my computer :-)
Perhaps I cannot think of any because I am storing all the first lines to books in my head.
Here is the rest of the story:
8. Cat's Cradle Vonnegut
9. Notes from Underground Dostevsky
10. 100 Years of Solitude Marquez
11. 2001: A Space Odyssey Clarke
13. Satanic Verses Rushdie
Oh, and I just realized that no one did number 3. All I can think of is Snoopy :-) - but I know it's based on some awful Victorian novel. The author: ummm...Lyton? Something like that? Now I am going to have to google it because it will drive me crazy...
You brought back a GREAT memory of (of all people,) Zero Mostel. In the original film of "The Producers", when they're looking through trying to find the "worst play", Zero reads the first line in Metamorphosis... sighs, throws it away and says, "Nah, it's too good!"
What a neat concept - love that idea...but journeywoman stole all my answers! ;)
One of my all-time favorites:
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."
Thanks for visiting my blog. I see that you are a regular of Slim's site, which is probably how you came to visit my blog. May I ask - what is your screen name on idolbloglive.com? Assuming you're a commenter there. Anyway, I'll link you on my blog when I get around to it. Happy 4th!
I see everyone was busy while I went blueberry picking and to the fireworks! I leave the rest undone for another day and then reveal any unanswered ones.
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