Lately, I've been more intrigued by short first lines than their long counterparts. Short first lines seem to pack a swifter kick to the crotch then a more wordy first line. So have a look at this one:
Now I believe they will leave me alone.
What? Who will leave you alone? And Booooom, you're into the novel. This first line comes from one of my all time favorites: The Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. The rest of the novel is perhaps one of the more artfully configured works of literature that I have ever laid eyes upon . . . and it has a good first line to boot!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuSz-udDsJHMPYrQ2nqZ_cUnogzckoH8co-xbhQv-S1vYXSYKvJIGPTjblUmRBtYRR9-8ofoDXHp1uNpJTa-nA_4GGDwmo24krL4wRnDYKjOl4AXBaDnCONEDgtfIiqzb2kH0Xr4fcxfJ/s400/stegner_news.jpg)
First of all, is that a bow-tie and a sear-sucker? The man had panache!!!
ReplyDeleteSecond, that is a great first line, and an even greater book. The curmudgeonly old narrator was the highlight of the read for me. This line sets the tone immediately. Good stuff.