first lines of modern novels

The first line is crucial as it can create an immediate mood. For instance, if it's a horror novel, a spooky first line can startle the reader and make them eager to read on. In many cases, it gives a hint about the main theme or character. In '1984' with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.', it shows that this is a world that's a bit off, different from our normal perception.

The first lines can also be very descriptive and set the scene. Consider a modern novel like 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. 'When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of the night he'd reach out to touch the child sleeping beside him.' This line not only gives a sense of the setting - a cold, dark wood - but also the relationship between the two characters, which is central to the story.

One of the best first lines 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.' It immediately sets a reflective and somewhat mysterious tone, making the reader wonder what that advice was and what kind of story is going to unfold.

They create intrigue. For example, a line like 'I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.' from a modern novel (hypothetical here) makes you want to know what the story is that everyone is telling differently. It hooks you immediately.

They serve as inspiration. Modern writers can see how effective a well - crafted first line can be and try to emulate it.

The first lines are quite important. They can grab the reader's attention right away. For example, if the first line is dull, the reader might not be interested in reading further.

The first lines of Hemingway novels are often very impactful. For example, in 'The Sun Also Rises', the opening sets a certain mood. It draws the reader into the post - World War I disillusioned world that Hemingway was so good at portraying. These first lines usually give a hint of the themes that will follow, like the lost generation's search for meaning and the complex relationships among the characters.

In 'Pride and Prejudice', the first line 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' is well - known. This line not only reveals the social context of the time, where marriage was often a matter of financial and social status, but also gives a peek into the themes of the novel regarding relationships and social expectations.

Well, take 'The Great Gatsby' for example. Its first line '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 makes the narrator seem reflective and sets up the idea that there are important lessons and memories to be shared. It kind of draws the reader into the narrator's world right away.

One famous 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 sets the tone for the whole novel, which is mainly about marriage and social class in the 19th - century England. It immediately draws the reader's attention to the central theme of the novel.