There really is nothing better than a really great opening hook in a novel – it piques the interest and curiousity and begs you to read more immediately. It lets you know that you’ve chosen a good book. And it gives you a bit of an idea of what you are in store for.
Here are some of my all-time favourite opening lines. I know some of them are probably a bit cliche, but they really are that great and most certainly deserve to be considered a favourite.
- “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again” From Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Originally Published 1938. LT.
- “If it had not rained on a certain May morning, Valancy Stirling’s whole life would have been entirely different.” From L.M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle. Originally Published 1926. LT.
- “Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” From J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Originally Published 1997. LT.
- “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. Originally Published 1813. LT.
- “I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time.” From Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind. Originally Published in Spanish in 2001; Originally Translated in 2004. LT.
- “‘There are dragons in the twins’ vegetable garden.’” From Madeline L’Engle’s A Wind in the Door. Originally Published 1973. LT.
- “Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house.” From Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. Originally Published 2002. LT.
- “‘I’m dying,’ said the voice.” From Tim Bowler’s Frozen Fire. Originally Published 2006. LT.
- “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” From C.S. Lewis’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Originally Published 1952. LT.
- “All children, except one, grow up.” From J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Originally Published 1911. LT.
So what are you all-time favourite opening hooks?
Do you like this feature? You should also check out Librarian’s Book Reviews’ Listless Monday and A Bookshelf Monstrosity’s Books By A Theme.
Shannon March 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am
When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere. (Day of the Triffids)
A Bookshelf Monstrosity March 8th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Great topic! Here are a few more:
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. — Anna Karenina
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Teresa (Chrissy) March 8th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
What an awesome theme for a list! HP, Peter Pan, P&P! <3
Lahni March 8th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I love it! I can’t think of any hooks off the top of my head – what about “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”? That’s got to be the most famous opening line ever.
raidergirl3 March 8th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
He knew at once it was a human bone, when he took it from the baby who was sitting on the floor chewing it. Silence of the Grave by Arnuldar Indridason, an Icelandic mystery
Maria March 9th, 2010 at 8:44 am
We have a lot of the same favourites. My list is up at http://kiwiria.livejournal.com/601842.html.
heidenkind March 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
The Pride & Prejudice one is the only one I ever manage to remember.
veronica March 14th, 2010 at 1:09 am
“After killing the red haired man, I took myself off to Quinn’s for an oyster supper.”
The Meaning of Night – Michael Cox
Kailana March 15th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
I agree with a lot of these. :)