Opening Lines

[Dennis Leppanen]

When browsing in the bookstore, what makes you want to read on?

I wrote a short a while back with an opening line that read: I remember the exact time we decided to kill the president. After a few folks read it, they thought it was a 'killer' opening. But, then I thought more about it, surely someone had opened with something similar before...

So, here I is; when I should be working, going through opening lines from my bookshelf.

Robert Crais: HOSTAGE---The man in the house was going to kill himself.

James Patterson: HONEYMOON---THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS as they appear.

Ed McBain: HARK---Gloria knew that someone was in her apartment the moment she unlocked the door and entered.

Donald E. Westlake: FIREBREAK---When the phone rang, Parker was in the garage, killing a man.

What's your favorite opener? The one you wrote that you like best?

[Dennis Leppanen]

How do you pick a favorite, Donna? There are sooo many super ones.

[I. J. Parker]

I don't judge a book by the opening line. Ever. Not one of those quoted would make me buy the book. I check the book description and the blurbs if they are from important reviews. I may sample a page farther in for style. But most of the time I buy a book because I know the author or people are talking about it.

[Dennis Leppanen]

Definetely, the writing needs much more substance than an opening line. But, we do have to get the reader's attention, what better way---than an opening that gets their attention.

[J.D. Rhoades]

I don't judge a book by the opening line. Ever.

I.J., You are unusual.

This is by no means a bad thing.

[Dennis Leppanen]

J.D.---That was a great opening line by I.J.

[Jordan Dane]

Too easy

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks. Unintended, I'm afraid. But don't you worry about an author who tries too hard to get your attention by being clever? Aren't we all a little fed up with commercials? And can this person live up to the first sentence for next 400 pages?
Still, it is fun sometimes to come up with a really good one. :)

[Karen E. Olson]

I'm going to be very cliched, but my favorite first line is:

From Moby Dick: Call me Ishmael.

My own? These are from the two books that will be published this year and in 2008, respectively:

DEAD OF THE DAY: For a dead guy, Warren Black had a lot to say.

SHOT GIRL: He looked better dead than alive.

[Jordan Dane]

LOL---I think I know that guy. Those are great lines.

[Dennis Leppanen]

Karen,

Excellent first lines. I remember Warren when he was, well, semi-alive.

[Sandra Ruttan]

I don't judge a book by an opening line either. It certainly helps if it gets your interest, but sometimes the rest of the book is a big let-down. A criticism I've heard of some writers - the beginning is good, the rest descends until it's utter crap.

Some of my favourite openings:

My choices that day were twofold: kill myself before or after the Prime Minister's cocktail party? And if after, should I wear my Armani to the party, or the more sober YSL with the chalk stripe?
- Herbert in Motion by Ian Rankin (from Beggar's Banquet)

--what I love is the 'show not tell' writing and the fact you automatically want to know about why this connected, affluent guy wants to kill himself

There are people who can be happy anywhere. I am not one of them.
- A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read

--God, I so relate. I've connected to the character already.

Another hot day in July. That was four in a row. Pretty good for Scotland.

Not so good for the corpse in the boot.
- Hard Man by Allan Guthrie

--Come on, don't you want to find out about the body in the trunk?

There is no feeling in the world more hopeless, more desperate, more frightening, than when you are standing looking at the end of a gun that's held steadily and calmly by someone you knowis going to kill you. And impotent, too. It's an impotent feeling realizing that nothing you do or say, no pleading, no bedding, nothing, is going to change the dead angle of that weapon, or prevent the bullt from leaving it and entering your body, ripping up your insides, and ending every experience, every thought, every dream you've ever had.
- The Murder Exchange by Simon Kernick

-- I could go on, but won't. But damn, you've stepped right into the head of this guy and I'm on edge wanting to know what's going to happen.

Donna stole my Bruen.

From my own stuff, my favourite is probably:

I’ve been fucked before, but never quite like this.
- Fucked Again by Sandra Ruttan (short story from Demolition)

[Dennis Leppanen]

Fucked before, but never quite like this. Chee---that ain't my luck. But, it's a grabber...

I have not read 'The Murder Exchange'---but it did grab me.