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Guess the opening lines...

427 replies

kinkytoes · 14/05/2026 15:02

Hi all, hope it's ok to start this here.

Thought it might be fun and stretch the old grey matter a bit.

I'll attach a shot of some opening lines and whoever guesses correctly post their own?

We could all just post pics but then we might lose track. I don't mind.

Let me know what you think (of the idea, and the opening lines here - hopefully started off with an easyish one but let me know if any clues are needed!)

If it's being done elsewhere please someone direct me 😊

Guess the opening lines...
OP posts:
HelenaWilson · 14/05/2026 22:29

Roger, aged seven, and no longer the youngest of the family, ran in wide zigzags, to and fro, across the steep field that sloped up from the lake to Holly Howe, the farm where they were staying for part of the summer holidays.

Better drowned than duffers.

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anyone else, these pages must show.

Dickens? David Copperfield?

SabrinaThwaite · 14/05/2026 22:38

Roger, aged seven, and no longer the youngest of the family, ran in wide zigzags, to and fro, across the steep field that sloped up from the lake to Holly Howe, the farm where they were staying for part of the summer holidays.

Better drowned than duffers.

Swallows and Amazons.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/05/2026 22:38

Niminy · 14/05/2026 22:20

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

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Yes! My son's favourite book when he was tiny.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/05/2026 22:39

Undergroundovergroundwomblingfree · 14/05/2026 22:24

Swallows and Amazon's?

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Yes. My favourite series of children's books.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/05/2026 22:39

Niminy · 14/05/2026 22:21

Little Women

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That's the one!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/05/2026 22:45

If only I knew what to do with you girls!’ said Dick in worried tones.

‘Oh, you needn’t worry about us!’ replied Madge.

‘Talk sense! I’m the only man there is in the family—except Great-Uncle William; and he’s not much use!’

‘Jolly well he isn’t! Poor dear! He’s all gout and crutches.’ And Madge threw back her head with a merry laugh.

Sunloungerhogger · 14/05/2026 22:49

ToadRage · 14/05/2026 21:08

I don't know many of these but I fancied posting one si here goes, the character might give it away for a fan:
You’ll pardon me, sir,” said the clergyman in a sharp, vigorous voice. “Your features are familiar, but I find it hard to recall where we have met. Was it in Oxford?” The young man was tall and thin and big boned, with a scar on his cheek. ... “You’re the Reverend Dr. Halse, aren’t you?” he said. ... “You know me, then,” said Dr. Halse with a gracious air. “I usually have a memory for faces.” “You have had many pupils.” “Ah, that explains it. Maturity changes a face. And—hm. Let me see… Is it Hawkey?

Edited

Poldark! (the first one - Ross Poldark: a novel of Cornwall 1783-1787)

Sunloungerhogger · 14/05/2026 22:51

Here’s mine (the name will give it away so going to keep it v v brief):

’Yo Logan’, I wrote.

BeaAndBen · 14/05/2026 23:01

Tarnation!
I've been busy this afternoon so have only now been able to read this thread.

I've been excitedly thinking "I know that one" only to realise that obviously everyone else knows it too.

‘Jolly well he isn’t! Poor dear! He’s all gout and crutches.’ And Madge threw back her head with a merry laugh.
@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - Chalet School? I read the first three this year.

ivyleafgeranium · 14/05/2026 23:09

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/05/2026 22:45

If only I knew what to do with you girls!’ said Dick in worried tones.

‘Oh, you needn’t worry about us!’ replied Madge.

‘Talk sense! I’m the only man there is in the family—except Great-Uncle William; and he’s not much use!’

‘Jolly well he isn’t! Poor dear! He’s all gout and crutches.’ And Madge threw back her head with a merry laugh.

Is that the chalet school

HelenaWilson · 14/05/2026 23:15

If only I knew what to do with you girls!’ said Dick in worried tones.

The School at the Chalet!

(The series is now complete on Faded Page Search: fadedpage.com)

Search: fadedpage.com

https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Brent-Dyer,%20Elinor%20Mary

LittleMyLabyrinth · 14/05/2026 23:29

pollyhemlock · 14/05/2026 21:04

And Number 2 is The Turn of the Screw

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Both right!

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 05:50

Igneococcus · 14/05/2026 16:53

Someone beat me to A Town Called Alice :)
I've been looking for a book today on the shelves that ds wants to read. This is the first paragraph:
"Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights."

This is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 05:56

Quite a famous one this:

It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/05/2026 06:15

BeaAndBen · 14/05/2026 23:01

Tarnation!
I've been busy this afternoon so have only now been able to read this thread.

I've been excitedly thinking "I know that one" only to realise that obviously everyone else knows it too.

‘Jolly well he isn’t! Poor dear! He’s all gout and crutches.’ And Madge threw back her head with a merry laugh.
@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - Chalet School? I read the first three this year.

Yes, The School at the Chalet. I love the early books.

DeanElderberry · 15/05/2026 07:29

I was sitting in the meadows one day, not long ago, at a place where there was a small brook. It was a hot day. The sky was very blue, and white clouds, like great swans, went floating over it to and fro. Just opposite me was a clump of green rushes, with dark velvety spikes, and among them one single tall, red cardinal flower, which was bending over the brook as if to see its own beautiful face in the water. But the cardinal did not seem to be vain.

The picture was so pretty that I sat a long time enjoying it. Suddenly, close to me, two small voices began to talk – or to sing, for I couldn't tell exactly which it was. One voice was shrill; the other, which was a little deeper, sounded very positive and cross. They were evidently disputing about something, for they said the same words over and over again. These were the words –

pollyhemlock · 15/05/2026 07:32

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 05:56

Quite a famous one this:

It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.

The Bell Jar I think . Loved it when I read it years ago but not sure I’d want to read it again.

DeanElderberry · 15/05/2026 07:54

Roger, aged seven, and no longer the youngest of the family, ran in wide zigzags, to and fro, across the steep field that sloped up from the lake to Holly Howe, the farm where they were staying for part of the summer holidays.

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 09:24

pollyhemlock · 15/05/2026 07:32

The Bell Jar I think . Loved it when I read it years ago but not sure I’d want to read it again.

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Correct.

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:38

pollyhemlock · 15/05/2026 07:32

The Bell Jar I think . Loved it when I read it years ago but not sure I’d want to read it again.

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I read it for the first time last month and realised I was 30 y ars to old for it. I think I'd have loved it when I was young.

Great first line.

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:38

DeanElderberry · 15/05/2026 07:54

Roger, aged seven, and no longer the youngest of the family, ran in wide zigzags, to and fro, across the steep field that sloped up from the lake to Holly Howe, the farm where they were staying for part of the summer holidays.

Swallow and Amazons

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:40

DeanElderberry · 15/05/2026 07:29

I was sitting in the meadows one day, not long ago, at a place where there was a small brook. It was a hot day. The sky was very blue, and white clouds, like great swans, went floating over it to and fro. Just opposite me was a clump of green rushes, with dark velvety spikes, and among them one single tall, red cardinal flower, which was bending over the brook as if to see its own beautiful face in the water. But the cardinal did not seem to be vain.

The picture was so pretty that I sat a long time enjoying it. Suddenly, close to me, two small voices began to talk – or to sing, for I couldn't tell exactly which it was. One voice was shrill; the other, which was a little deeper, sounded very positive and cross. They were evidently disputing about something, for they said the same words over and over again. These were the words –

What Katy Did! The narrator hears the insects and remembers Katy Carr

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:44

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:38

Swallow and Amazons

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Oh wait, someone already posted that one and lots of people answered it 🙊

Lilyundervalley · 15/05/2026 11:04

Jodi Taylor - the first of the chronicles of st mary's

DeanElderberry · 15/05/2026 11:51

BeaAndBen · 15/05/2026 10:44

Oh wait, someone already posted that one and lots of people answered it 🙊

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oh, sorry. I'll try to think of something original. At least the katydids were a challenge,