Here's good first lines from books I love (sorry I didn't leave it to chance, they're all good haha), from good to best. How many do you recognize? 10 "This inscription could be seen on the glass door of a small shop, but naturally this was only the way it looked if you were inside the dimly lit shop, looking out at the street through the plate glass door." 9 "_______ did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself but for every tidewater dog, strong of muscle and with warm long hair, from Pugit Sound to San Diego." 8 "_______'s bootprints lay heavy around the tiny pool, the lush, well-tended green churned to mud." 7 "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother ______ got his arm badly broken at the elbow." 6 "A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct." 5 "______ and her Daemon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchens." 4 "All children, except one, grow up." 3 "First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys." 2 "The palace still shook occasionally as the earth rumbled in memory, groaned as if it would deny what had happened." 1 "Hear the sage as his song descends like heaven's rain or tears, and washes the years, the dust of the many stories from the High Tale of the ___________." ... 0." In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."
Well, this was much less of a chaotic disaster than last time, though still highly entertaining. Joe Abercrombie really let you down here though 🤣And not having a traumatizing first line to a King novel is indeed a win, hahahah. Also love the unapologetic favourtism with Watership Down. This was a blast 🤪
Tanith Lee is one of the finest writers to ever grace the field of speculative fiction. The author of around 100 novels and several hundred short stories, she wrote two episodes of the iconic TV series Blake’s 7, was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award - which she followed with two World Fantasy Awards, shortlistings for all manner of accolades including Nebula and BSFA Awards - and in 2013 she received a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the organisers of World Fantasycon.
This video was awesome! I was cracking up during my lunch break. I will say the first lines of Night Circus and Ocean at the End of the Lane are why I read them so quickly. Versus Piranesi which I read the first line to a couple of occasions wrinkled my nose and passed the book over.
I spent as much time wrestling over my first line and prologue as any other 5 chapters combined. The pressure to make an immediate impression is real (for the record, I am still not happy with the first ten pages of my first novel, despite the weeks reworking them).
Sarah, Fun video. I like the Talisman too. I'm can't believe the hate it gets. You have so many great books on here. I loved Piranesi. The Hobbit is amazing and you know my favorite is MDZS. Wei Wuxian is dead, but is he really. So glad you added that into your video. I want to read Watership down and haven't done it yet. The Night Circus is also one of my favorite books also. It's an amazing book. My favorite Neil Gaiman book is The Graveyard Book.
I grabbed the books I had copies of to read along with...and then I kept going. Ocean at the End of the Lane has a much more compelling opening page, which I think is a fairer contest. You could take these same books and see how their ranking changes if you compare the entire first paragraph, or whole first page - course that may end up being a lengthy video, but it can be a fun study on how the first sentence transforms with extra context, what sort of picture comes into focus, and how quickly. It'd be a bit like what A.P. Canavan does, except he never stoops to ranking favorites. :D
I'm pretty sure one of Abercrombie's first trilogy novels in The First Law started with "Damn." which I remember loving 😂 I do think A Shadow In Summer's first line is better than Watership Down, but I'm also biased as I've read the former but not the latter. :P I've not continued on The Longprice Quartet yet because I'd rather read them physically (we're moving), which is such a bummer because that first book was great! I need to check out the winning book, sounds intriguing and I do care a lot about prose, personally. ☺️
The Chinese fantasy book was hard to read the title on the cover from my phone, and you kind of said the title really quickly. Had to go back a couple of times to figure out what the title was. Might be better to hold the covers out to the camera for a few seconds and/or say the titles clearly. Some books make it really clear on their covers what the title is, others use the cover art to help attract attention and expect people to pick it up and read the title up close.
Not going to lie, I love watching this process and the light suffering 😂
YES!
Here's good first lines from books I love (sorry I didn't leave it to chance, they're all good haha), from good to best. How many do you recognize?
10 "This inscription could be seen on the glass door of a small shop, but naturally this was only the way it looked if you were inside the dimly lit shop, looking out at the street through the plate glass door."
9 "_______ did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself but for every tidewater dog, strong of muscle and with warm long hair, from Pugit Sound to San Diego."
8 "_______'s bootprints lay heavy around the tiny pool, the lush, well-tended green churned to mud."
7 "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother ______ got his arm badly broken at the elbow."
6 "A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct."
5 "______ and her Daemon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchens."
4 "All children, except one, grow up."
3 "First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys."
2 "The palace still shook occasionally as the earth rumbled in memory, groaned as if it would deny what had happened."
1 "Hear the sage as his song descends like heaven's rain or tears, and washes the years, the dust of the many stories from the High Tale of the ___________."
...
0." In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."
Piranesi should have won! Such an intriguing opening line
Well, this was much less of a chaotic disaster than last time, though still highly entertaining. Joe Abercrombie really let you down here though 🤣And not having a traumatizing first line to a King novel is indeed a win, hahahah. Also love the unapologetic favourtism with Watership Down. This was a blast 🤪
Tanith Lee is one of the finest writers to ever grace the field of speculative fiction. The author of around 100 novels and several hundred short stories, she wrote two episodes of the iconic TV series Blake’s 7, was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award - which she followed with two World Fantasy Awards, shortlistings for all manner of accolades including Nebula and BSFA Awards - and in 2013 she received a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the organisers of World Fantasycon.
That edition of Tigana is massive. I didn't realize it was so long, even in mass market. 😳
This video was awesome! I was cracking up during my lunch break. I will say the first lines of Night Circus and Ocean at the End of the Lane are why I read them so quickly. Versus Piranesi which I read the first line to a couple of occasions wrinkled my nose and passed the book over.
I loved your ranking! Swordspoint was my favorite opening line, and now I really want to read the book! I have to read LPQ first to end my shame! 😅❤
Wow this was so tough! Several of your favorites are my favorites as well Sarah, and I don’t know if I could do this lol.
And Sarah....July is perfect to read SoD after catching up on D&C 😅😜😘
Yes!
This was great!! I was yelling at you in my head on where to place the books. 😂 Also, the angst 😅
I spent as much time wrestling over my first line and prologue as any other 5 chapters combined. The pressure to make an immediate impression is real (for the record, I am still not happy with the first ten pages of my first novel, despite the weeks reworking them).
Sarah, Fun video. I like the Talisman too. I'm can't believe the hate it gets. You have so many great books on here. I loved Piranesi. The Hobbit is amazing and you know my favorite is MDZS. Wei Wuxian is dead, but is he really. So glad you added that into your video. I want to read Watership down and haven't done it yet. The Night Circus is also one of my favorite books also. It's an amazing book. My favorite Neil Gaiman book is The Graveyard Book.
The angst! The distress! 😂🤗
“Book Jenga”‼️
I grabbed the books I had copies of to read along with...and then I kept going. Ocean at the End of the Lane has a much more compelling opening page, which I think is a fairer contest. You could take these same books and see how their ranking changes if you compare the entire first paragraph, or whole first page - course that may end up being a lengthy video, but it can be a fun study on how the first sentence transforms with extra context, what sort of picture comes into focus, and how quickly. It'd be a bit like what A.P. Canavan does, except he never stoops to ranking favorites. :D
Happy reading to you!! 🎥
"When a fresh faced guy in a Chevy offered him a lift, Parker told him to 'Go to Hell!'"
The Hunter by Richard Stark
The building was on fire, and it wasn't my fault
Jim Butcher, Blood Rites.
That is saying a lot for Harry! 😅
I'm pretty sure one of Abercrombie's first trilogy novels in The First Law started with "Damn." which I remember loving 😂 I do think A Shadow In Summer's first line is better than Watership Down, but I'm also biased as I've read the former but not the latter. :P I've not continued on The Longprice Quartet yet because I'd rather read them physically (we're moving), which is such a bummer because that first book was great! I need to check out the winning book, sounds intriguing and I do care a lot about prose, personally. ☺️
There's a matching edition of Circe coming out that I'm going to have to get to go with that Song of Achilles.
The Chinese fantasy book was hard to read the title on the cover from my phone, and you kind of said the title really quickly. Had to go back a couple of times to figure out what the title was. Might be better to hold the covers out to the camera for a few seconds and/or say the titles clearly. Some books make it really clear on their covers what the title is, others use the cover art to help attract attention and expect people to pick it up and read the title up close.
Yes, one does wonder why Sarah has not read Ship of Destiny yet.....