Scott Kamps
For years as an adult, I used to only read nonfiction, thinking those were the only books that were worthwhile.
Thankfully, I’ve recently come to see the power of myth/story. I came to recognize that my thinking wasn’t spiritual or well-informed, but it revealed that I was more of a product of the Enlightenment than I realized.
I then repented of my rationalism and began to add some good fiction to my reading – and I now enjoy reading even more!
Last year, I read several books with memorable beginnings. Here are some to consider:
* “Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago, one of those who has a lance and ancient shield on a shelf and keeps a skinny nag and a greyhound for racing.” This comes from what many scholars consider the world’s first novel, written in 1605 and 1615 by Miguel de Cervantes. Don Quixote is a wonderful book about a man who slept so little and read so much that his brains dried up and he went completely mad! Thinking he was a knight errant, he sallies forth on adventures with his humorous squire, Sancho Panza – one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read.
* “You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth.” The opening paragraph to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn introduces us to Huck Finn, who narrates the entire story, in an unforgettable way.
* “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...” The first line to A Tale of Two Cities is probably the most well known beginning to a book, but the entire first sentence is a doozy – it goes on for another 107 words! Only Charles Dickens could pull that off!
* “Call me Ishmael.” Herman Melville’s Moby Dick opens in stark contrast to Dickens’ lengthy one above, and begins a sea adventure that chronicles the epic battle between Captain Ahab and the famous, monstrous white whale – and the book is full of facts about whales and whaling.
* “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The opening sentence to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is probably the most captivating – and amusing – introduction to a saga.
A book’s opening sentence is important to hook a reader in and set the tone for what’s about to be read. All five of these books are considered great literature with superb authors who understood the art of storytelling.
As we begin 2024, what’s the best opening line to a book that you’ve read recently? I’d love to hear your recommendations for the new year.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.