We are told not to judge a book by its cover, but we all do that, it is unfortunate, but it happens, the cover is the only information we get at first. So, let’s suppose you manage to pass this first impression and you actually buy the book, now comes the hardest part, getting through the first pages. If the beginning is boring the readers won’t continue reading. That is why the first line is even more important, it´s the first real impression that you have about the story of the book and it can make you feel curious about what is written on the next pages, or it can force you to give up on the book.
One of the opening lines I really liked was from the book Salem´s Lot, written by Stephen King: “Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son”. This opening line is very good because it tells us a lot of things in just one sentence. We know that there is a older guy and a younger one, they probably look alike since they seem related although they aren’t. It makes us curious to know who these people are, it keeps our attention, so we do continue to read.
After finishing a book we don’t normally remember the opening line, only if it was very good, like, the most amazing thing you have ever read in your life, but they are important when we start the book, to make us continue reading.
Mariana’s blog 