Aug 26 2004
First Paragraphs
opening hooks - a collection of literary beginnings:
You’re in the bookstore, browsing the shelves for… something. You don’t know what, exactly, you’re looking for but you’ll recognize it when you see it. Picking a book at random you open to the first page and begin to read. Two hours later you’re home in bed with a mug of sweet tea, still reading.
The aim of this project is to collect the best opening hooks. This is, obviously, a highly subjective proposition. However, by ranking your favorites we may be able to reach some kind of consensus. So go ahead and vote.
The aim of this project is to collect the best opening hooks. This is, obviously, a highly subjective proposition. However, by ranking your favorites we may be able to reach some kind of consensus. So go ahead and vote.
I added this one from Stephen King’s The Shining:
Jack Torrance thought: Officious little prick.
I’m going to add this from Elias Canetti’s Auto-da-Fe:
“What are you doing here, my little man?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you standing here?”
“Just because.”
“Can you read?”
“Oh, yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Nine and a bit.”
“Which would you prefer, a piece of chocolate or a book?”
“A book.”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you standing here?”
“Just because.”
“Can you read?”
“Oh, yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Nine and a bit.”
“Which would you prefer, a piece of chocolate or a book?”
“A book.”
i started reading again about a month ago. just about every night before bed. I’m on my 3rd john grisham book, just because i used to read his stuff as a kid, and i still like it.
Any ideas where i can find similar material to that? perhaps some other legal fiction, since that’s what keeps me interested the most i think…
The easiest way to find similar material is to go to amazon and see what they recommend (after you choose a book you already like). I haven’t read many legal thrillers.
I read about The Interrogation by Thomas H. Cook recently, so I’m picking it up tonight based on its good reviews.
For thrillers that are a quick read, you can stick to your standards: Crichton (his last one, Prey, was interesting, about nanobots), Ludlum, etc.
I tried John Sandford awhile back because he writes thrillers with a techno, computer theme, but I found his stuff boring.
Like Grisham? Try William Deverell - he’s a lawyer from Vancouver, and he’s pretty good. Most surprising plot twists EVER.
Also try http://www.readersadvice.com, which is a great “If you like…” resource.