What are some of the worst first sentences in novels?

A really bad first sentence might be full of cliches or use language that's just plain dull. For example, 'The sun rose over the sleepy town.' It's so common and doesn't stand out.

A bad first sentence can also make the reader not care about the story. If it doesn't create any intrigue or interest, like a dull description of the weather or a character doing something mundane without any hint of what's to come, the reader may not feel compelled to keep reading. They want to be grabbed by the story from the very start. A really long and rambling first sentence can be off - putting too. It can seem like the author doesn't know how to be concise and engaging. So, overall, a bad first sentence can really harm the initial connection between the reader and the book.

A line such as 'There was a house.' is also quite bad. It's so basic and lacks any sort of intrigue. There's no hint of what might be special about this house, whether there are secrets inside, or who might be associated with it. It doesn't draw the reader in at all.

The opening of 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, 'Call me Ishmael.' is quite remarkable. It's a very direct and somewhat mysterious start. By simply stating his name (or the name he wants to be called), Ishmael invites the reader into his world. It makes the reader curious about who this Ishmael is and what his story will be about.

The opening of 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, 'Call me Ishmael.' is very well - known. It's a simple yet powerful start. It directly introduces the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be. It's like an invitation to follow Ishmael on his journey, which in this case, is the fateful voyage in pursuit of the great white whale.

One example is 'Call Me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick'. This first sentence is so iconic and immediately draws the reader in, setting a mood of mystery and adventure related to the sea. It makes you curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

In 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, the first sentence goes 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' This opening is so powerful as it creates a sense of contrast and duality right from the start. It hints at the complex and tumultuous events that will unfold during the French Revolution, which is the backdrop of the story.

The first sentence of 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' is really great. This sentence captures the duality and complexity of the era, drawing readers in with its paradoxical nature and making them curious about the two cities and the events that will unfold.

One of the best first sentences is from '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.' This sentence immediately sets the tone for a story that will deal with social expectations, marriage, and class in 19th - century England.

In 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, the first sentence is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' This powerful opening gives a sense of contrast and the duality of the era the story is set in, and it also creates a sense of mystery and anticipation as to what exactly those 'times' are all about.