This week I’ve decided to take part in ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ again hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is ‘opening lines’, so I’ve chosen my favourite opening lines from books I’ve read, some of them are just the first sentence whilst others I’ve included the first few sentences because they deserve that treatment.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
“Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.”
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
“In the beginning there was one murderer, one mule and one boy, but that isn’t the beginning, it’s before it, it’s me, and I’m Matthew, and here I am, in the kitchen, in the night – the old river mouth of light – and I’m punching and punching away.”
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
“Hale knew, before he has been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him.”
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
“There is a pirate in the basement. (The Pirate is a metaphor but also still a person.) (The Basement could rightly be considered a metaphor.)”
The Humans by Matt Haig
“I know some of you reading this are convinced humans are a myth, but I am here to state that they do actually exist.”
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
“Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.”
Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor
“On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky. Her skin was blue, her blood was red.”
Anna K by Jenny Lee
“The whole thing was a fucking disaster.”
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
“The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing to say. About anything. “Need a poo, Todd.” “Shut up, Manchee.”
Moonlit Books 
Strange the Dreamer has a beautiful opening! And The Secret History made my list this week too! Great choices 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-great-opening-lines/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I remember Strange The Dreamer’s opening when I first read it and being instantly intrigued!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great list!
I love the first line of ADSOM!
(www.evelynreads.com)
LikeLike
Ooh, those opening lines The Knife of Never Letting Go are so intriguing! 😮 I really need to bump that series up on my TBR! Love so many of these great opening lines — definitely some of my favourites as well! Great post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had that A Darker Shade of Magic line on my list this week too!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-265/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s a hard one to forget or ignore!
LikeLike
It is!
LikeLike
The Humans. Matt Haig is a favorite.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved The Humans! I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever read by Matt Haig:)
LikeLike
The Humans was such a great book, too!
My TTT .
LikeLiked by 1 person
it was amazing! Definitely need to do a reread soon:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Starless Sea has such a wonderful opener! I’m definitely intrigued by The Humans now, too.
My TTT
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely read the humans!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic list here – both Erin Morgenstern’s books are great (I have The Night Circus on mine!) and I love The Knife of Never Letting Go! – My TTT is here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-opening-lines/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I just finished the starless sea and adored it!! 💖
LikeLike
I love these. Especially Anna K. That line would make me want to read it. I feel like it’s relatable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! You definitely should it’s a really good book:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLike
I’ve read most of these books! I agree that they have great opening lines. I haven’t read the Patrick Ness book yet, but I definitely want to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The knife of never letting go has the weirdest opening chapter I’ve ever read, so if anything just read it for that!
LikeLike
Is it weird that I now want to read that Anna K book based on that one line? It’s not much, but it sure packs a punch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course not! It’s an excellent first line. 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the V.E. Schwab quote. I really need to read some of her work. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
you definitely should she’s a fantastic author!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be reading The Secret History soon – I can’t wait!
Check out my Pride Month TBR and my most recent set of Mini Reviews
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you love it!
LikeLike
I’ve read the first three books on your list, and I loved all the first lines! I own Anna K but haven’t read it yet. I love that first line, too! Happy Reading. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you get round to reading it soon, it’s so good!
LikeLike