one hundred best first lines from novels

Well, one of the best first lines might be from 'Pride and Prejudice' - '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 sets the tone for the whole story about marriage and social class in the 19th - century England. It's a very direct and somewhat ironic statement that draws readers in immediately.

We can learn how to hook readers right from the start. A good first line like 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' makes the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be. It's a simple yet effective way to start a story.

Some of the well - known first lines include 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

One of the best first lines 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 the clocks striking thirteen in a world where we expect twelve strikes creates a sense of unease and signals that this is a world that doesn't follow the normal rules we are used to.

One great first line 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 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. 'We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold' from 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' by Hunter S. Thompson is very distinct. 'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy' from 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis is a simple yet effective start.

The first line 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' from Anna Karenina is very profound. It sets up the exploration of family dynamics. 'I am an invisible man.' from Invisible Man is a powerful start, making you curious about how someone can be invisible. 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' from Rebecca is a haunting start. It has an air of mystery and makes you want to know more about Manderley and why the narrator is dreaming about it.

They create mystery. For example, like in the first line of 'The Great Gatsby' - 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.' It makes you wonder what that advice was and why it has stayed with the narrator for so long.

They can hook readers instantly. For example, a strong first line makes the reader curious and eager to read more.

Another approach is to note the lines that create a strong emotional impact. Whether it's a line that makes you feel sad, happy, or angry, it's likely to be a significant line. Indian novels are often rich in emotions, and the best lines are those that can stir the reader's emotions deeply. For example, a line about a mother's love in the face of great adversity can be a very powerful and thus one of the best lines in the novel.

Some of the well - known novels that might be among the 'one hundred best novels' could include 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It's a classic that explores themes of love, marriage, and social class in 19th - century England through the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Another could be 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, which deals with racial injustice in the American South. And '1984' by George Orwell, a dystopian novel that warns about totalitarianism and the loss of individual freedoms.