Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week, she posts an idea relating to books and encourages other book bloggers to respond with their own top ten lists.
This week’s topic is “Top Ten Opening Lines.” It isn’t often that an opening line sticks with me long after I’ve finished the book, but here are 10 that immediately grabbed my attention.
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The entire opening of The Night Circus is so magical. I immediately needed to know more about the monochromatic circus that seemed to appear out of thin air. It’s also an excellent preview of Erin Morgenstern’s vivid, beautiful writing.
Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true love.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This will always be one of my favourite openers. I picked up The Raven Boys because everyone in the book blogging community loved it, but I had been actively avoiding any spoilers about what the book actually was about. I had so many questions from just this one line, and promptly spent the rest of the day reading.
If you are interested in happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book.
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
This line perfectly set the tone for the series. Most books do end with a happily-ever-after, so this definitely piqued my curiosity, and I appreciated the many callbacks to this line throughout the series.
Victor readjusted the shovels on his shoulder and stepped gingerly over an old, half-sunken grave.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Opening with what is presumed to be grave robbing (or murder) is certainly a good way to grab attention.
There is a pirate in the basement.
(The pirate is a metaphor but also still a person.)
(The basement could rightly be considered a dungeon.)
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Technically there are three lines here, but I absolutely loved this opening. The parentheses to add clarification and a bit of playfulness established a narrative style that I immediately loved, and I wanted to know more.
How five crows managed to lift a twenty-pound baby boy into the air was beyond Prue, but that was certainly the least of her worries.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy
This line made me smile — if crows stealing a baby wasn’t your biggest worry, I needed to know what was!
It was a dark and stormy night.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
This was one of my childhood favourites, and it wasn’t until a recent reread that I really took notice of the opening line. So many jokes about dramatic writing use this line, but it did perfectly set the tone for the opening scene.
Walking to school overt the snow-muffled cobbles, Karou had no sinister premonitions about the day.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
I just love the phrasing of “sinister premonitions.”
Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
A peculiar coat could mean a lot of things: Is it hideous? Made of a strange fur? Magical? I needed to know!
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I couldn’t not mention this one. It’s a line I read again and again as I revisited the series, and each time it filled me with the anticipation of magic.
What are your favourite opening lines?
Wildwood has such a great opening line.
My TTT .
Lydia recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Unique Opening Lines
It’s so much fun!
I figured Harry Potter would make some lists. What they say in The Night Circus is so true. they just pop up overnight. Thanks for sharing.
Cheryl Malandrinos recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Memorable Opening Lines
It was one of the first ones I thought of while writing this! Happy reading!
The Erin Morgensterns are both such great books with such great (and very different) openings aren’t they?Great list – thanks for sharing!
My TTT is here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-opening-lines/
Michael recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Opening Lines
She definitely knows how to write a compelling opening scene! Happy reading!
We do have some in common ! and others I thought of putting haha! I love it!
I love that! Happy reading!
I used the HP one as well and I agree, it is a beginning that fills me with anticipation! I don’t remember how I felt about it when I first read it, but now I love it because it’s familiar and because it says so much about the Dursleys in that one succinct sentence! THE BAD BEGINNING one is also a great one. It sets the tone for the series so well.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
It definitely sums the Dursleys up quite well! Happy reading!
Daughter of Smoke And Bone made my list too! And I STILL want Kell’s coat.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Best Opening Paragraphs In Novels
YES. I need Kell’s coat in my life, and also more stories about him.
erin recently posted…Top Ten Opening Lines
I love all of these! Especially the first two.
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Great Opening Lines
They’re two of my all-time favourites! Happy reading!
erin recently posted…Top Ten Opening Lines
The V.E. Schwab love is strong with this list1 I love your picks!
Katie @ Book Bustle recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – #2 – Top Ten Opening Lines
Thanks, Katie! She’s one of my favourite authors, so I had to sneak more than one of her books in.
I love ADSOM! It’s such a wonderful series. I also need to try The Night Circus since everyone seems to love that one <3
Tiffany @ String of Pages recently posted…10 Most Iconic Opening Lines
I definitely recommend The Night Circus! It’s one of my favourites, and still holds up after many, many rereads 🙂
I really liked the style of the writing in ASOUE. The opening really fits that.
It sets the tone for the book so well!
I need to read The Bad Beginning sometime!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Astilbe recently posted…Risking Her Heart on the Single Dad by Annie O’Neil
I highly recommend it!
Ooh I love this! It makes me want to go back and look through all my favourite books and their opening sentences. I love a powerful one that just hooks you in from the word go.
It’s such a good feeling when the opening line is that compelling – it definitely makes for an immersive read!
Great choices! Wildwood – added to my TBR – check! Have you read The Starless Sea?? I’m totally envious.
My TTT: https://mamaneedsabook.blogspot.com/2020/05/10-great-opening-lines.html
The Starless Sea was such a wonderful read – I highly recommend it!
I’ve seen the ones for The Raven Boys, A Darker Shade of Magic and Daughter of Smoke and Bone crop up several times! I really need to hurry up and read them.
I definitely recommend them all! Happy reading!
erin recently posted…Review | The Wicked King by Holly Black
The Raven Boys is absolutely one of my favorites! I remember reading it too, and not being able to put the book down. 🙂
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer recently posted…Book Review | Summer Hours by Amy Mason Doan
It was such an enthralling read – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
erin recently posted…Review | The Wicked King by Holly Black