Can you give some examples of the top best opening lines to fiction books?
From 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov, 'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.' This line is very strong and controversial. It immediately shows the intense and inappropriate feelings of the narrator, and it hooks the reader into this rather complex and disturbing story of obsession.
Sure. 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This simple yet powerful line draws the reader in, making them curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.
Can you give more examples of the best opening lines of fiction?
The opening of 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald: 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.' This line creates a sense of reflection and mystery. We wonder what the advice was and why it has stayed with the narrator for so long. It also gives a bit of a personal touch to the story from the very beginning.
Can you give some examples of top best opening lines to science fiction books that create a sense of wonder?
Sure. 'There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.' This opening line creates a sense of wonder by making you think about the very nature of the universe and the possibilities of something beyond our understanding. It makes you eager to read on to see how the story will explore these ideas.
Can you give some examples of the best opening lines of novels?
The opening of 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens - 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' is a classic. It sets up the contrast that is going to be central to the story, which is set during the French Revolution. It's a very powerful and thought - provoking start that gives a sense of the complex and chaotic times in which the story unfolds.
Can you give some examples of the best opening lines in fantasy novels?
Sure. Consider the opening of 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman: 'Quentin did a magic trick. Nobody noticed.' This line is interesting as it sets up the character Quentin and his ability to do magic in a world where it seems unnoticed. It makes you wonder why his magic goes unnoticed and what kind of world he lives in.
Can you give examples of the best opening lines in classic novels?
Well, from 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte, 'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.' This unassuming opening is actually quite effective. It creates a sense of confinement and the start of a story that will likely involve the main character breaking free from some sort of restriction, whether it be physical or emotional.
Can you give more examples of the best opening lines to novels?
Another good one is 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' from Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. This line not only gives an insight into the society of the time where marriage was a big deal for financial and social reasons but also makes the reader interested in seeing how this idea will play out in the story.
Can you give more examples of the best opening lines in a novel?
Another example is from 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.' This opening makes the reader curious about what that advice was. It also gives an impression of the narrator reflecting on his past, which is central to the story of Jay Gatsby and the narrator's relationship with him. The line has a certain elegance and a touch of mystery.
Can you give examples of great opening lines for horror fiction?
An example could be 'The old mansion loomed at the end of the overgrown driveway, its broken windows like empty eyes staring into the night.' This opening gives a vivid image of a spooky location. The comparison of the broken windows to empty eyes gives the mansion a menacing and haunted feel. It invites the reader to explore further, to find out what secrets the mansion holds.
Can you give some well - known best opening lines of science fiction books?
Sure. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams has the great opening 'Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.' It quickly establishes a sense of the vastness of the universe and the insignificance of our own little corner. It also has a touch of humor which is characteristic of Adams' writing.
Can you give more examples of the best opening lines from a novel?
Sure. The opening of 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald: 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."' This line gives us an insight into the narrator's character and sets up the themes of class and judgment.