
TTT was created by The Broke and Bookish and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl (click here for upcoming TTT topics!).
Today’s topic: Opening Lines
These are all lines that I thought of off the top of my head – so they’re definitely memorable! If not word for word, I easily recalled the sense/atmosphere these opening sentences created, and my mind always links them indelibly back to that book, play or poem.
‘Strange the Dreamer’ by Laini Taylor
On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky.
Her skin was blue, her blood was red.
‘The School for Good and Evil’ by Soman Chainani
Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped.

‘The Knife of Never Letting Go’ by Patrick Ness
The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say. About anything.
“Need a poo, Todd.”
“Shut up, Manchee.”
“Poo. Poo, Todd.”
“I said shut it.”
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ by J.K. Rowling
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...
Just listen to Halsey reading the Prologue (I love her voice so much!):
‘The Aeneid’ by Virgil (David West’s translation)
I sing of arms and of the man, fated to be an exile, who long since left the land of Troy and came to Italy on the shores of Lavinium; and a great pounding he took by land and sea at the hands of the heavenly gods because of the fierce and unforgetting anger of Juno.
‘The Foxhole Court’ by Nora Sakavic
Neil Josten let his cigarette burn to the filter without taking a drag. He didn’t want the nicotine; he wanted the acrid smoke that reminded him of his mother. If he inhaled slowly enough, he could almost taste the ghost of gasoline and fire.
‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

‘Girl, Serpent, Thorn’ by Melissa Bashardoust
Stories always begin the same way: There was and there was not.
‘The Lady of Shalott’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by To many-tower'd Camelot...

I was weirdly obsessed with this poem when I was 11-ish. It still has this weird hold over me…
Thanks for reading! What openings are most memorable for you? Do we share any of the same? Let me know below!

I’ve read and heard this Romeo and Juliet opening so often I already know it by heart 😀 That Halsey version is great too. I always tend to read the lines with a British accent so it’s fun to hear it spoken in an American accent, it kind of gives the lines a more ‘modern’ tone.
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Oooh yes I agree it was really cool to hear it in an American accent! Definitely more present-day. Yeah I get you, after all those times we had to read it in class, the Prologue has sort of become muscle memory 😂
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It makes me endlessly happy to see P&P mentioned so many times in this TTT 😍 I also LOVE the first line of Strange the Dreamer – I rmb being hooked straight away. Laini Taylor just has a way with words 😍
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When I read that first page of Strange the Dreamer I knew I had to put it down immediately because I was in the middle of something else and knew I wouldn’t be able to stop reading it otherwise 😂 P&P is a classic!
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I love that opening line for Girl, Serpent, Thorn – it’s on my TBR but I haven’t picked it up yet!
My TTT
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Oh it’s so good! I hope you’ll like it when you get to it 😀 thanks for linking your list!
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Great list! I adore the Romeo and Juliet opening – it’s committed to my memory! 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-great-opening-lines/
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Thanks!! Yeah, R&J has an iconic opener! I’ll check out your list 😀
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The Harry Potter one has been everywhere this week, including on my own list.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-265/
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It’s just so instantly recognisable! Thanks for linking your TTT!
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No problem 🙂
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The first line for The School for Good and Evil made me laugh. I’ve never thought about anyone wanting to be kidnapped before!
My TTT .
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Sophie’s definitely a unique girl 😂 thanks for linking your TTT!
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We have an overlap of two books.
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Cool!
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Great list – love the quote from The Knife of Never Letting Go! I’d forgotten all about it!
My TTT is here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2020/05/26/top-ten-tuesday-opening-lines/
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It made me burst out laughing! Thanks for linking your list 😀
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Oh man the opening of The Foxhol Court has me hooked! I just got it on kindle too, so I’m excited to read it 🙂
My TTT
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Let me know if you enjoy it!! I’ve yet to read the sequels but I own them and really want to 😀 Thanks for linking your TTT!
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The opening of Harry Potter is iconic. I need to read The Knife Of Never Letting Go. I’ve seen that opening on a few TTTs today.
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‘The Knife of Never Letting Go’ is really good (as are its sequels)!
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It’s hard to forget Romeo and Juliet’s opening line. Nice choices!
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Thanks! Hahah I agree, it’s like imprinted on my mind from school, plus all the adaptations and retellings etc. floating around
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I love that you included Tennyson! That’s a brilliant piece. I remember reading a lot of Tennyson when I was about 13. Got into a real poetry phase with my burgeoning hormones lol! And yup to R&J and P&P. I feel like we are almost born knowing those lines! Great ttt 😊😊😊❤️💜💖💛
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Thanks!! What other Tennyson did you like? I confess I’ve only read the Lady of Shalott one! Hahaha I bet the poets had to write to deal with their hormones too 😂😂
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Oh gosh, no way can I remember titles but I do remember enjoying the themes and structures of Tennyson’s work. When I did my project (I mean I was 13 or so, it wasn’t that in depth!) but I do remember it reading in quite a different manner to the poetry of Irish poets that I was familiar with and I liked that difference
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That’s cool! I’ll have to read more by him
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the beginning of pride and prejudice is ICONIC
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Agreed! It’s basically a meme now isn’t it 😂
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The opening line from Pride and Prejudice is definitely a classic! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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It is! Thanks for linking yours!
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I love that Waterhouse painting! 🙂
Check out my Pride Month TBR and my most recent set of Mini Reviews
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It’s beautiful isn’t it! Thanks for sharing your links 😀
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I have an arc of Girl, Serpent, Thorn and I haven’t even read the first line! Now I’m even more excited to read it. 🙂
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Ooh I hope you’ll enjoy it when you get to it!
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