National Public Radio’s Steve Inskeep brings us an interview with librarian and author Nancy Pearl and her selection of great reads with great first lines.
“I think when you read a good first line it’s like falling in love with somebody. Your heart starts pounding… it opens up all the possibilities.” And while a good first line doesn’t always make a good book, Pearl says the chances are better with a strong opener.
Some of the titles are familiar, but many are not–check it out at NPR.Audio available on same page.
Opening lines
How did I miss this?! Wonderful openings – and a new treasure trove of books for me to peruse, when I get back from my camel trek. Thanks so much for catching this one and posting it, birdie!
Too Quick 🙂
I was just about to post this, but had to search first.
Nancy Pearl
I actually had the pleasure of listening to this interview on my early morning trek – of course I should have already known that Nancy Pearl was the prototype for the librarian action figure, but maybe it’s better that I didn’t know because when I heard that tidbit as part of her intro it really did make me smile. Ms. Pearl’s love of finding and reading a really good book made me feel that the rain pouring down here in the NY metro area wasn’t so bad… But the brightest spot for me came when Ms. Pearl read the opening line from Brady Udall’s The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
because it got a good laugh out of my teenaged daughter as we rounded the corner and headed up the hill towards her new high school on this, her first day of school – then I knew it was going to be a good day after all. 😉
Audio
Thanks all, I heard the interview this a.m. Hopefully audio will be available in a day or two, and I’ll pass on the web address.
Opening Hooks
There’s a newish website called, Opening Hooks: a collection of literary beginnings. “The idea behind this site is simple, to compile as large a collection of great opening hooks from as many titles, authors, and genres as possible. Of course, what makes a great opening sentence or paragraph is subjective, but we know it when we read it.” The navigation needs a lot of help, unfortunately. (via Metafilter)