2.10.2011

Can You Name The Title?

Wow!  We haven't been blogging a year yet and I'm curious, are there always this many blogfests at this time of the year?  Or are there just always this many year-round, and we just hear about them more now that we're comfortably settled in our niche in Blogland?

Speaking of Blogfests....

I entered Brenda Drake's First Line Blogfest (the Dark and Stormy one) the other day and thought, WOW, one can really spend an eternity dissecting just ONE SENTENCE.  It's amazing we ever get through an entire novel.  I know, I know the BEGINNING is what hooks the reader.  But still.

So....I wanted to look at the books on my shelf to see what published first lines look like.  And being the only child that I am I thought I'd SHARE them with you (yeah, that's right we can do it...just ask my kindergarten teacher.  She couldn't believe I was "an only".  A proud moment in my history.  LOL)

CAN YOU GUESS THE TITLE AND/OR AUTHOR OF THESE FIRST LINES? 
(Excluding Prologues/Prefaces)

A.  My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down.

B.  Everyone thinks it was because of the snow.

C.  "Wait--did you--You just yawned!"

D.  When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.

E.  Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

F.  Scarlet O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.

G.  Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

H.  There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

Okay, so some might be a teensy bit obvious.  BUT, what are your thoughts on these as first lines?  You don't have to answer me, but think about it and apply those thoughts to your own first line(s).

In the comments, make your guesses. How do you feel about waiting for the answers until our Saturday post?  If it upsets you terribly (ahhh.  an adverb),  I can add it to erica's blogfest post for tomorrow!

14 comments:

  1. Fun...

    A. Twilight - Stephanie Meyers E. HP and the Sorcerer's Stone. Rowling.

    B.? F. Gone with the Wind. Mitchell

    C. I know but can't remember G. ?

    D.? H. ?

    Guess I should read more.


    Michael

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  2. I think F. is Gone with the Wind

    The rest I have no idea! LOL

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  3. I only recognized the same ones as Michael. First lines are soooo important. But I can't say that every book has a particularly memorable one. Obviously.

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  4. I recko A. as Twitlite... I mean Twilight
    I think D. is Vampire Academy Book I (R. Mead)
    E. is obv. Harry Potter
    F. is Obv. Gone With The Wind
    I've seen G. before but can't place it. Something Jane Austin~ish... maybe not her, but her era. I actually think a man wrote it.

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  5. I don't know any that haven't been said, but have to keep pace with Gideon

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  6. A: Sounds like it could be from Erica's WIP

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  7. I have noticed a lot of fests lately! Donno if that is normal or not...hmm...ah well

    A. Twilight

    B. If I Stay

    D. The Hunger Games

    E. Harry Potter

    F. Gone with the Wind

    H. I know it's from a Jane Austen? Right? Can't think of which though.

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  8. Hmm... haven't read most of these, but each of the lines I never read makes me want to read the rest.

    Makes me think that my line might need work. >_<

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  9. Interesting. The only ones I KNEW were Harry Potter and Gone with the Wind, and I only knew Gone because Scarlett's name is in it. I've SEEN G, but i don't rememeber where, but what strikes me is that I'VE READ Twilight (unfortunately) and Hunger Games (which I loved) and don't remember THOSE at all!

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  10. I can guess three of them. They are surprisingly unremarkable for the most part. Considering that some of them are HUGE that shocks me. It shows that a brilliant first line does not necessarily make for a brilliant novel, and vica versa. Interesting...

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  11. Well I can only guess at two!

    A. Twilight
    F. Gone With The Wind

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  12. I think blogfests are a year-round thing. And I'm not even going to try to guess at those first lines, but B, G and H have me intrigued enough to pick up the book once you reveal the answers.

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  13. Ooh! I'm impressed with your responses! Nobody complained, so answers will be posted on Saturday! I'm glad they got some of you thinking about first lines in general (and/or your own specifically). I, too, was struck by how simple and ordinary they were. I think many of us try to make ours so "hooky" or mysterious.... Or, maybe that's just me.

    Well, I thought I'd get better at blogging this week, but I had one meeting at school today where we learned we'd be cutting 22 elementary teachers and a three hour home/school (pta) meeting for my son's school. It was my second EVER and I am now so-secretary for next school year. Fun and busy days!!! (Actually it was a really fun meeting and the ladies are super fun and nice.) Good night all!!!! :0)

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  14. "G" is Anna Karenina. I know that because it's second on deck on my reading list after Moby Dick.

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