First Line Friday

As summer is directly upon us, today I am highlighting the first line of perhaps the greatest "summer novel" ever (in my humble opinion, at least).  It's a bit of an oddball novel, but I love it.  Here is the first line:

"It was a quiet morning, the town covered over with darkness and at ease in bed."

Recognize it?  Of course you don't because it's not that great of a first line.  Namely, "the town covered over with darkness and at ease in bed."  What?  Does anyone else think that phrase is awkward?  The town is at ease in bed?  Or did the writer forget a pronoun?  "The town covered with darkness and [Tucker] at ease in bed."  Either way, it sucks.  Sucky first line.  So let it be written.

What novel is this?

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.

But, I am actually quite fond of the second sentence:

"Summer gathered in the weather, the wind had the proper touch, the breathing of the world was long and warm and slow."

Love it.  The novel goes on to tell the story of the magic of a young boy's summer.  It's a simple concept, but amazingly poignant.  When you're a young boy, summer is magic. Simple as that.  No school, backyard soccer, marshmallows at dusk, bicycles and tents and sprinklers and popsicles and fences and skateboards and trees and footballs and freedom Freedom FREEDOM!