Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Book Club
« Event Spotlight: Marilynne Robinson @ DePaul May Selection: The Grass Dancer by Susan Power »

Ink Tue Apr 22 2008

Best Opening Line

Playing off the American Book Review list of best opening lines in literature, what is your favorite opening line from a book?

 
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Alice / April 22, 2008 11:14 AM

The best opening lines are those that you remember years after you've read the book. These are the best from some of my favorite books of all time:

"I write this sitting in the kitchen sink."
--from I Captured the Castle

"Where's Papa going with that ax?"
--from Charlotte's Web

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."
--from David Copperfield (okay, I had to look this one up to remember the exact wording)

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About GB Book Club

Book Club is the literary section of Gapers Block, covering Chicago's authors, poets and literary events. More...

Editor: Andrew Huff, ah@gapersblock.com
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