tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post3842826849799847296..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: It is a truth universally acknowledged ...Josh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-84140519389798829462019-08-23T10:17:27.948-07:002019-08-23T10:17:27.948-07:00Brenda, if anyone ever tells me they don't lik...Brenda, if anyone ever tells me they don't like prologues, I will tell them to read Catriona's because I'll know they haven't if they can say that. And, her first lines in those prologues set the deliciously creepy tone, like the one Catriona noted from The Child Garden.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-75165190100652631672019-08-23T08:08:23.554-07:002019-08-23T08:08:23.554-07:00Beautiful first lines, Catriona. Thank you Kathy!Beautiful first lines, Catriona. Thank you Kathy!Brenda Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-51731505762775568592019-08-22T14:25:26.441-07:002019-08-22T14:25:26.441-07:00There you go, Brenda. Kathy did it for me! If I re...There you go, Brenda. Kathy did it for me! If I remember rightly, the first line in The Child Garden is "It was far from silent in the dark wood."catrionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07377696246539539528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-72496781804178267872019-08-22T12:39:35.554-07:002019-08-22T12:39:35.554-07:00When there is a memorable opening line, it is a sp...When there is a memorable opening line, it is a special thrill to me as a reader. I have a couple more to add to the fantastic ones already mentioned. <br /><br />From Julia Spencer-Fleming's first Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne novel, In the Bleak Midwinter, is the first line, "It was one hell of a night to throw away a baby."<br /><br />The whole first couple of paragraphs from Lori Lansens' The Girls is unforgettable, with the first line being, "I have never looked into my sister's eyes." The main characters in this book are conjoined twins, and I was never more surprised at loving characters than these two with whom I couldn't physically relate, but whose story was incredible.<br /><br />Speaking of beginnings, I am a big fan of prologues, and Catriona, you are a master of the prologue. In The Day She Died and The Child Garden I am absolutely chilled by those beautifully written prologues. And, you have a first line in Chapter One of Go to My Grave that is perfection, too. "The house was a held breath" is, well, breathtaking. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-32005682655717662082019-08-22T11:34:34.207-07:002019-08-22T11:34:34.207-07:00So there's a first line contest?! You give gre...So there's a first line contest?! You give great examples of first lines that work but none from your own writing. Do you have a favorite first line from your own <br />stories?Brenda Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-46276383073894593902019-08-22T08:17:27.112-07:002019-08-22T08:17:27.112-07:00"slap my thigh and call me Ishmael" Oh C..."slap my thigh and call me Ishmael" Oh Catriona, how I love thee!<br /><br />But I agree, that Alice Walker line is a gem.<br /><br />I've been re-reading Toni Morrison since her passing and she has two excellent openings as well:<br /><br />From SULA:<br /><br />"In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patches from their roots to make room for the Madallion City Golf Course, there was once a neighborhood."<br /><br />From PARADISE:<br /><br />"They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time."<br /><br />But probably my favorite opening, a bit more than a line is much less erudite.<br /><br />From Jackie Collins' HOLLYWOOD HUSBANDS:<br /><br />"There were two major events taking place in Hollywood on a cool weekend in February 1986.<br />The first was a funeral.<br />The second, a wedding.<br />Some people felt obliged to attend both. Although, of course, they changed outfits for each occasion."Kristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03363799437065223093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-31334769940083309942019-08-22T08:15:57.315-07:002019-08-22T08:15:57.315-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03363799437065223093noreply@blogger.com