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Show HN: Opening lines of famous literary works

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Re: Show HN: Opening lines of famous literary works

#62

Post by Doches »

jihadjihad wrote: post #31

Few can top the opening line of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . But there were brave souls who tried, in the now-defunct Bulwer-Lytton Contest [0]. Where else could you find gems like these? > The day I lost my tractor was the same day I found out my wife was moonlighting as a hooker when she gave me a wad of cash and told me, “It’s from a John, dear." 0: https://www.bulwer-lytton.com

Truly evidence that we’re living in the worst timeline — the Bulwer-Lytton has been one of the highlights of my year for as long as I can remember. My parents introduced me to it before I could read; I remember them laughing and crying as they tried to explain to four-year-old me why this one inscrutable sentence was the funniest thing on earth. I’ve looked forward to it ever since, though recently I’ve only checked in to read the dishonorable mentions and winners once every few years.

Knowing I’ll never again check and find a year’s crop of perfect sentences dims the light more than I would have expected. Sad times.

Re: Show HN: Opening lines of famous literary works

#64

Post by avanwyk »

kamranjon wrote: post #48
entropie wrote: post #40

Really cool! > The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. I did not refresh to check if you already have that, but I really find it very strong. Its from Kings "Dark Tower - Black" (edit: its "The Gunslinger", not Black. its named "Schwarz" in the german translations) the first of 8 books in the series. If you dont know it; its not like the usual King books. It mixes fantasy elements (inspi…

I actually read the first book and it was so poorly written it made me wonder if I should continue, because I did find the general story quite engaging. I've heard it gets better/tighter in subsequent books, but it was the only King i've ever read so wasn't sure if he just had a sort of sloppy style (he did write pretty prolifically). I also read it following a Cormac McCarthy book so that might have lead me to belie…

The exact same thing happened to me. I re-read The Gunslinger a decade after my first read, and somehow found it even worse.

For a long time I refused to read King, but I've since read Salem's Lot, Pet Sematary and The Shining and all were great.

Re: Show HN: Opening lines of famous literary works

#66

Post by krapp »

entropie wrote: post #51
kamranjon wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually read the first book and it was so poorly written it made me wonder if I should continue, because I did find the general story quite engaging. I've heard it gets better/tighter in subsequent books, but it was the only King i've ever read so wasn't sure if he just had a sort of sloppy style (he did write pretty prolifically). I also read it following a Cormac McCarthy book so that might have lead me to belie…

> I actually read the first book and it was so poorly written it made me wonder if I should continue In his defense, that was early in his career, and in one of the countless afterwords or prefaces, he also mentions that he has, of course, evolved since then. "The Gunslinger" is really a bit borderline. The next one, "The Drawing of the Three" is much more complex and better written. You could also read the last book…

I may be one of the few people who preferred the original version of The Gunslinger.

I dropped it after Wizard and Glass, though. I really like the setting and the concepts in the Dark Tower but it started to feel a bit too self indulgent and up King's own ass, and I just kind of stopped caring.

Also the older I got the more cringe Susannah Dean became as a character.

Re: Show HN: Opening lines of famous literary works

#67

Post by croisillon »

DataDaoDe wrote: post #20

I'd be interested to know what everyone's favorite opening lines of all time are. (bonus - to see how much of it you can quote without looking :) For me, its: Whann that aprill with hir shoures soote, The drought of march hath perced to the roote, And zepherus eek with his sweete breath, inspired hath in every holt and heth, the tendre cropes, and the sonne hath in the ram, hir halve cours ironne, Than preketh hem na…

last night i dreamt i went to Manderley again
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