I was thinking of this, as I remember Patrick Quigley, teaching creative writing in Dublin, said the first sentence should grab the reader - and many people I have read still insist their first paragraph that describes some rocks is absolutely necessary.
So I was wondering, what is your favourite opening of a book? This came to mind, again, when reading Third Policeman, which starts with:
Not everybody knows how I killed old Phillip Mathers, smashing his jaw in with my spade;
Brilliant! Not only does it start with a grisly murder, but also a mystery: not everybody knows? Well, who does? I MUST READ THIS BOOK!! Then he goes and tells his life history, but it's too late for me, I already swallowed the bait.
So, what is your favourite opening and/or how did you start your own book?
I was thinking of this, as I remember Patrick Quigley, teaching creative writing in Dublin, said the first sentence should grab the reader - and many people I have read still insist their first paragraph that describes some rocks is absolutely necessary.
So I was wondering, what is your favourite opening of a book? This came to mind, again, when reading Third Policeman, which starts with:
Not everybody knows how I killed old Phillip Mathers, smashing his jaw in with my spade;
Brilliant! Not only does it start with a grisly murder, but also a mystery: not everybody knows? Well, who does? I MUST READ THIS BOOK!! Then he goes and tells his life history, but it's too late for me, I already swallowed the bait.
So, what is your favourite opening and/or how did you start your own book?