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Original poster

first lines of books

322 replies

Blandmum · 15/02/2006 17:08

Nice easy one to start us all off

'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.'

Book and Author then you give one.

No googling allowed

OP posts:
roisin · 15/02/2006 20:34

I'll give you that!

It's actually Restaurant at the end of the universe.

Mercy · 15/02/2006 20:34

Love this thread, even though I don't know most of the answers!

About to have dinner so will leave you a 'modern' first line

'Like most people I lived for a long time with my mother and father'

Anwers asap!

Original poster
Blandmum · 15/02/2006 20:34

There was a boy named Milo who didn't know what to do with himself - not just sometimes, but always

Love this one too! Bet you do to Roisin!

OP posts:
Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 20:35

The Phantom Tollbooth by someone, I can't remember who. I loved that book as a child, as did my sister!

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 20:36

Don't know either of those...so...

If standing alone on the back doorstep, Tom allowed himself to weep tears, they were tears of anger.

Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 20:36

Was it Norton someone or someone Norton? Obscure name anyway.

Original poster
Blandmum · 15/02/2006 20:37

Tom's Midnight garden?

OP posts:
roisin · 15/02/2006 20:37

I don't love it actually MB! I never read it as a child, and when I read it as an adult I didn't "get it". Ds1 adores it though.

(PS Did you see my note earlier about Ursula le Guin starting writing again recently?)

roisin · 15/02/2006 20:37

Norton Juster

roisin · 15/02/2006 20:38

Can I bump Mercy's line, because I feel I should know it, but don't:
'Like most people I lived for a long time with my mother and father'

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 20:38

And another point to mb! Author?

Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 20:39

Ornages are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson

goldstarlover · 15/02/2006 20:39

I awoke from The Sickness at the age of forty five

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 20:40

I feel like that about most of them, roisin. I'm like this with music - when I hear something, I know it, can sing along - but can rarely say who it is. Dh is brilliant at that. I think it's a certain 'type' of memory ability.

Mercy · 15/02/2006 20:41

LM - yes [smile} Haven't read it fot afes but love it

Original poster
Blandmum · 15/02/2006 20:42

Yes I did! Must m=look on amazon(since we are house bound with ds having shingles!)

OP posts:
Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 20:43

heres something less cerebral:

"On December 8th, 1915, Meggie Cleary had her fourth birthday."

roisin · 15/02/2006 20:48

OK I'm going for a bath, but here's three easier ones to keep you amused:

"A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green."

'The Signora had no business to do it,' said Miss Bartlett, 'No business at all...'

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.

Mazzystar · 15/02/2006 20:52

no 2 is a room with a view

sobernow · 15/02/2006 21:09

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sobernow · 15/02/2006 21:10

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WigWamBam · 15/02/2006 21:10

Ours is essentially a tragic age: Lady Chatterley's Lover

goldstarlover · 15/02/2006 21:14

hurrah i was right!

now what about mine:

"I awoke from The Sickness at the age of forty five"

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 21:15

These are bloody hard!

It was seven o' clock of a very warm evening in the Seeohee hills...

sobernow · 15/02/2006 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.