I’m a total sucker for a killer opening line. Something witty, funny, snappy, dark, mysterious….. whatever it is, that opening line can easily leave a lasting impression. It can also set the tone for the entire book and make me want to keep reading! I’ve done this topic before which, believe it or not, was almost exactly one year ago. I swear I didn’t plan it that way! In that post (which you can find HERE) I mentioned some lines that I didn’t think could be topped. But these 5 give them a run for their money! Some are just a few short words and some are the first paragraph. Some of these were too good to just include the first sentence lol
***Disclaimer to participants – today, we are opening our small business back to the public. That will mean a busier day with customers and more time spent cleaning, sanitizing, and social distancing. I will do my absolute best to keep up with adding you to the list but, realistically, I may fall behind. I apologize in advance if I take longer than normal!
Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme where I explore different topics. If you are interested in participating I would love to have you! Here is a list of my Upcoming Topics in May – please remember to ping back a specific post of mine so I get a notification and I will add you to the participants list!
“By the time Alex managed to get the blood out of her good wool coat, it was too warm to wear it.”
– Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
“In the Myriad year of our Lord – the ten thousandth year of the King Undying, the kindly Prince of Death! – Gideon Nav packed her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and she escaped from the House of the Ninth.”
– Gideon The Ninth by Tamsin Muir
“I didn’t choose the wench life. The wench life chose me.”
– Well Met by Jen Deluca
“There is so much blood. Roger didn’t know that there was this much blood in the human body. It seems impossible, ridiculous, a profligate waste of something that should be precious and rare – and most importantly, contained. This blood belongs inside the body where it began, and yet here it is, and here he is, and everything is going so wrong.”
– Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
“Locke Lamora stood on the pair in Tal Verrar with the hot wind of a burning ship at his back and the cold bite of a loaded crossbow’s bolt at his neck.”
– Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
“There is a pirate in the basement.”
– The Starless sea by Erin Morgenstern
TOP 5 TUESDAY PARTICIPANTS:
HappyMessHappiness ——— The Scientist And Her Books ——— Comfort Reads
Books And Co. ——— My Year Of Reading Dangerously ——— Bella
Realms Of My Mind ——— We Are Just Stories ——— The Punk Theory
Just Another Magical Soul ——— A Fictional Bookworm ——— The Happily Bookish Girl
Bookish Kimberly ——— Books On The Brain ——— Read With Katrin
Ace Reader ——— Happiest When Reading ——— The Pine Scented Chronicles
Scorpio Book Dreams ——— Synopses By Sarge ——— Hail & Well Read
Top 100 Books ——— Bookshelf Fantasies ——— Books Are 42
A Hot Cup of Pleasure ——— Matty’s Book Avenue ——— Hanna Reads
Shades Of Paper ——— A Bookish Balance
If you were counting, yes, this was technically a top 6….. it’s my topics and I’ll do as I please lol. The last one (The Starless Sea) was a bit of a bonus – short, but good! I can’t wait to see what opening lines make your list!
Until next time, happy reading!
Those are great opening lines!
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Great choices! I especially love the openings for Ninth House and Middlegame (and loved the books too!). I ended up with six as well… I just couldn’t narrow it down!
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The Ninth House is certainly intriguing. Here’s mine:
https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/top-5-tuesday-opening-lines/
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That first sentence of Middlegame just immediately drew me in!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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“I didn’t choose the wench life. The wench life chose me.” Ok I’m sold, I have to read this book!
https://mattysbookavenue.home.blog/2020/05/19/top-five-tuesday-top-5-opening-lines/
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😂
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“I didn’t choose the wench life. The wench life chose me.” Cracked me up :’D Might have to check this book out if it’ll be that funny throughout
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It’s still that funny throughout! It was a really fun read!
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This has been one of my favourite prompts so far! Here’s mine:
https://abookishbalance.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/top-5-tuesday-3/
Also, I forgot just how great that first line of Well Met is 😂
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“There is a pirate in the basement” makes me want to drop everything and pick up Starless Sea!
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I know right?! So simple yet so enticing!
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Oh yes! That line in Well Met was killer!!!! Here is my post (late sorry) https://wp.me/p8cg8e-3md
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Great choices, I love the sound of Gideon the Ninth, I’m going to check it out! I have Ninth House on my list too!!
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I have not read a single on on this list and I am very much looking forward to reading several of them after just seeing their first lines!
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Great choices! I’m especially interested in MIDDLEGAME BY SEANAN MCGUIRE and THE STARLESS SEA BY ERIN MORGENSTERN.
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I love the opening line to Ninth House. I’ve heard so many mixed reviews but the opening line hooks me right in! I really want to read it. Hopefully I can sometime soon. 😀
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The opening line to Ninth House is so intriguing!
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Here are mine https://wonderwall360blog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/top-5-tuesday-19-may-opening-lines/
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