Here's a great opening line: 'She had given up on love until he showed up at her doorstep.' This line sets up a story of a jaded person who is about to have their world turned upside down by someone unexpected. It creates a contrast between her previous state of mind and the new possibilities that his arrival brings, which is very appealing in a romance novel.
Sure. In 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman, it starts with 'Shadow had done three years in prison. He was big enough and looked don't - fuck - with - me enough that his biggest problem was killing time.' This opening gives an immediate sense of the character, Shadow, and the situation he's in. It's a great way to start a story that mixes the real world with fantasy elements.
Sure. 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet powerful line that invites the reader to get to know the narrator. It's like Ishmael is personally asking you to listen to his story.
Sure. 'All children, except one, grow up.' from J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'. This line makes you wonder about that one child who doesn't grow up and draws you into the magical world of Neverland.
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.
Sure. In 'The Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan, the line 'Look, I didn't want to be a half - blood.' It quickly makes the reader wonder what a half - blood is and why the narrator doesn't want to be one. It sets up a sense of conflict right away.
One of the best opening lines could be 'It was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' from 'Pride and Prejudice'. It immediately sets the stage for a story about love and marriage in a society where financial status plays a role.
Some novels start with lines like 'In a small town filled with ordinary lives, their love story was about to begin in the most unexpected way.' This type of opening gives a sense of place and the anticipation of an extraordinary love story emerging from an ordinary setting.
One more is 'A screaming comes across the sky.' from 'Gravity's Rainbow'. This line is very evocative. It creates a sense of chaos and danger right from the start. It makes the reader wonder what is causing this screaming and what kind of world the story is set in. These opening lines are important as they are the first impression of the novel and can make the reader either keep reading or put the book down.
The first line of 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov: 'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.' This line is very intense and immediately grabs the reader's attention, although the novel contains controversial themes. But just this line shows Nabokov's unique writing style.
Sure. 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This simple statement makes the reader feel as if they are being directly addressed by the narrator, drawing them into Ishmael's story.