Well, this seems right. In the end, the final four our 2024 literary bracket is made up of Austen, Dickens, Tolkien, and Lewis. Predictable, in a way, but these are four deserving opening lines. Which two will move on to the final matchup? That’s up to you. Vote now!
Tough choice of opening lines between tale of two cities and dawn treader. Dickens’ litany of paradoxes is memorable, intriguing, and is simply just one of the best openers in all of literature. But Lewis gets my vote here for a few reasons:
- a. I’m very biased here seeing as how my substack is about Lewis :)
- b. Lewis’ Economy of words. He tells you just enough but leaves more questions than answers
-c. I’ve heard some Lewis people adjust this line so say “there once was a boy named Clive Staples Lewis. And he almost deserved it”
I wonder if you would consider Gandalf Rules next time with the heavy hitters, leaving out the AK and the P&P to make it more competitive. Call it an NIT bracket for first lines, or a Cinderella one
I just noticed that the opening line of The Hobbit is actually two sentences! Is that how it was printed in the other rounds? Does this cause a problem?!
Welp! I have to steel my resolve and come back to vote on the second match-up. Now if it was last lines, Dickens would have it in a heartbeat. I’m taking this way too seriously!
Tough choice of opening lines between tale of two cities and dawn treader. Dickens’ litany of paradoxes is memorable, intriguing, and is simply just one of the best openers in all of literature. But Lewis gets my vote here for a few reasons:
- a. I’m very biased here seeing as how my substack is about Lewis :)
- b. Lewis’ Economy of words. He tells you just enough but leaves more questions than answers
-c. I’ve heard some Lewis people adjust this line so say “there once was a boy named Clive Staples Lewis. And he almost deserved it”
I wonder if you would consider Gandalf Rules next time with the heavy hitters, leaving out the AK and the P&P to make it more competitive. Call it an NIT bracket for first lines, or a Cinderella one
Wow! This was brutal. I can't wait to see what quotes survive this round. :)
Why is this so hard?!?!
This was the hardest round yet for me! I am almost certain my 2 picks are going to lose
Lewis’ opening line is my favorite but I believe even Lewis himself would have voted for Dickens... so I had to also
things are getting serious!!!
The Dickens and Lewis were my favorite lines as a kid. It’s hard to move past that and actually chose as an adult…
That’s why in the end I went with P&P quote.
I just noticed that the opening line of The Hobbit is actually two sentences! Is that how it was printed in the other rounds? Does this cause a problem?!
These were hard to choose. I love all the quotes.
I'm in the minority on both votes.... Boo.
Welp! I have to steel my resolve and come back to vote on the second match-up. Now if it was last lines, Dickens would have it in a heartbeat. I’m taking this way too seriously!
Eustace has been my favorite opening line in literature since the first time I read Dawn Treader, there’s really no contest for me.
I just voted against Tolkien—having a minor existential crisis over here.
I've started off my week right: thoroughly ticked off my teen daughter by not voting the way she thinks I should. Hahaha!