I
must admit some of my favourite books are slow-burners so I’m willing to
overlook a so-so opening chapter, providing there’s a hint of promise to come.
Having said that, you can’t beat an opening that absolutely knocks your socks
off and begs you to keep reading. The hard bit for the author is keeping up
that momentum to the final page. All the books below not only have great
openings, they’re great books full stop.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
An
oldie but a goodie, this chapter tops lists as one of the best openings in
literature for excellent reason! Witty and hilarious from the word go, it opens
with Mrs. Bennet breathlessly informing her husband of the eligible new tenant
at nearby Netherfield Park and the possible implications for her ‘girls’. I
adore the power play in Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s relationship and it’s established
beautifully here. Just perfect.
We Were Liars by E Lockhart
Stylish,
poetic and economical, this moody one-pager is a thing of skill and beauty. Its
description of the complicated Sinclair family commands you to turn the page
and get to know them better.
Trouble by Non Pratt
This
one is all about the voice and Hannah’s wallops you around the face from the
second she brazenly informs us of her recent exploits with boyfriend, Fletch.
Smart, funny and full of attitude, Hannah’s scattergun delivery doesn’t let up,
contrasting wonderfully with the more measured Aaron, with whom she shares
narrating duties.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged
13 ¾ by Sue Townsend
I’m
a bit of a poker-faced reader so it takes a pretty exceptional book to get me
LOL-ing on the very first page. Adrian’s
diary entries are utterly addictive, his hilarious and often infuriating voice
never faltering as he laments problem skin, chain-smoking parents and his
unrequited love for Pandora. Genius.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The
first paragraph is as perfect as it is devastating and the rest of the chapter
follows suite, as murdered teenager Susie Salmon reflects on her final moments
on earth from her new home in heaven. Over ten years since I first read it, this
chapter still gives me goose bumps.
Comments