One of the best first lines could be 'There is one mirror in my house. It is behind a sliding panel in the hallway upstairs.' This immediately creates a sense of mystery. It makes the reader wonder why there's only one mirror and why it's hidden. It hooks the reader right from the start, making them want to find out more about the house and the character's situation.
For example, 'I wake up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.' This line is effective because it places the reader in a specific setting right away. It can imply a lot about the character's location, perhaps they live near the beach or are on a special trip. It also has a calming yet somewhat mysterious quality as we don't know yet what the character will do next or why they are there.
They create intrigue. For example, a line like 'Call me Ishmael.' makes you wonder who Ishmael is and what his story will be. It's a simple way to hook the reader. They also set the tone. If the first line is something dark like 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.', it gives a sense of unease and a strange world that the reader is about to enter. Another factor is that they can introduce a key theme. Like 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' which immediately tells us that marriage and wealth are going to be important themes in 'Pride and Prejudice'.
One great first line is 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. It immediately sets an off - kilter mood. The idea of clocks striking thirteen is strange and makes the reader wonder what kind of world this is.
A great first line is 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.' from 'The Hobbit'. For a YA novel, it's very engaging as it creates immediate mystery. Who is this hobbit? Why is he in a hole? It makes the reader want to find out more about this strange little creature and the world he inhabits.
In 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief', the line 'Look, I didn't want to be a half - blood.' is a great opener. It's very direct and makes the reader curious about what a half - blood is. It also gives a bit of Percy's attitude, as if he's reluctant to be whatever this half - blood thing is, which makes us want to find out more.
The line 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from '1984' is great. It creates an immediate sense of unease. The idea of clocks striking thirteen in a bright cold day is so abnormal that it draws the reader in, making them curious about what kind of world this is where such a thing can happen.
The opening of '1984' by George Orwell is quite powerful. 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This opening is effective as it creates a sense of unease right from the start. The idea of the clocks striking thirteen is abnormal and makes the reader wonder what kind of world this is. It hints at a dystopian setting where things are not as they should be, drawing the reader into the story to find out more.
One effective first line is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This line immediately sets the tone for a story about marriage and social expectations in the 19th - century English society.
A great first line is 'All children, except one, grow up.' from J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'. It's simple yet profound. It makes you curious about that one child who doesn't grow up. It also has a touch of melancholy as it seems to suggest that growing up is the norm and this one child is an exception, which sets the stage for the magical and somewhat bittersweet story of Peter Pan.
They often create mystery. Like 'The door was locked, but I knew what was inside.' It makes you wonder what's behind the door. Simple as that. It gives you a question that needs answering, so you keep reading.
They are popular because they often deal with themes that are relevant to young adults, like friendship, love, and self - discovery. For example, in 'The Fault in Our Stars', the relationship between the two main characters shows a deep form of love that many young people can relate to.