My heart soared when I saw Gabriel García Marquez, and then sank when I saw it was the wrong novel! One Hundred Years of Solitude has the best opening line ...
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.
I was waiting for the opening of Dawn Treader the whole way through. Finally on the last vote, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. That line gets me every time.
David, I’ve been meaning to say that the opening paragraph of this is brilliant. I love all the references. That’s some well-crafted writing there.
This was a lot of fun. It became a family road trip game of "Name that Book" and sparked fun discussions about the books. Thanks for making this.
My heart soared when I saw Gabriel García Marquez, and then sank when I saw it was the wrong novel! One Hundred Years of Solitude has the best opening line ...
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.
#18 is way wrong y'all
Yeah, as I look back at it, I wish I could change my vote...
This was delightful! Thank you!
These are solid matchups. But you guys I think Hemingway and Harry Potter are getting shortchanged.
Matchup 19 was difficult!
That was difficult!
No Faulkner openers? The first line of Absalom, Absalom! transports me into that world like a magic carpet every time.
Lotr vs Madeline-ouch!
Agreed! It didn’t feel like a fair match, but maybe that’s because Madeleine’s is one of my all-time favorite first lines!!
I was waiting for the opening of Dawn Treader the whole way through. Finally on the last vote, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. That line gets me every time.
It’s extra good when you remember that a man named Clive wrote it!
We named our German Shepherd Clive Staples. It’s fun to see people react when we tell them his name lol
Matchup 32 hurt somewhat
Yes it did.
Is The Razors Edge any good?
The brilliance of Pooh shows up in subsequent lines unfortunately not the first!
I'm curious: with works in translation, how did you pick which version of the first line to use?
Ahhh Love in the Ruins didn't make it??? That is an awesome first line.