Memorable Book Beginnings (44 books)

Books that contain a memorable beginning. Those first few sentences that grab your attention and set the pace for what follows. Those first opening lines that make a good beginning to a good story.

[ memorable book endings can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... ]

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1	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 11,433,663 ratings score: 495, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1) by Pierce Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 781,950 ratings score: 491, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,883,968 ratings score: 469, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.30 avg rating — 4,461,860 ratings score: 383, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Green Mile by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 363,791 ratings score: 296, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.22 avg rating — 2,018,590 ratings score: 276, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 4.25 avg rating — 722,475 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,012,894 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 3,899,300 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 948,630 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.34 avg rating — 1,111,827 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 4.30 avg rating — 4,813,410 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 55,205 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith 3.98 avg rating — 115,479 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.87 avg rating — 947,125 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 3.88 avg rating — 1,013,611 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,476,151 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 43,563 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Redwall (Redwall, #1) by Brian Jacques 4.15 avg rating — 129,279 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Girl at Dawn: mother, daughter, and an American by J.J. Chen Henderson 4.10 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4.10 avg rating — 933,240 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,257,435 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 664,996 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland 4.09 avg rating — 45,400 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1) by Angie Thomas (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 1,012,968 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka 3.45 avg rating — 37,127 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,844,423 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Jassy by Norah Lofts 4.02 avg rating — 362 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Martian by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 1,288,683 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) by Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 560,899 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 44,985 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.67 avg rating — 7,323,583 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 22,698 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Addicted to Twilight: Confessions of a Twilight Mom by Andrea Hayes really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 5,927,579 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Gone Tomorrow (Jack Reacher, #13) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 116,284 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Echo Burning (Jack Reacher, #5) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 107,770 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Night School (Jack Reacher #21) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 79,686 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Affair (Jack Reacher, #16) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 109,997 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher, #22) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 89,823 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Personal (Jack Reacher, #19) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 83,954 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 200,499 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 400,430 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Woman in Cabin 10 (Lo Blacklock, #1) by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 775,569 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars