What are some of the 100 best first lines from novels?

One of the best first lines is 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. It immediately sets an off - kilter mood. The idea of the clocks striking thirteen in a world where we expect twelve strikes creates a sense of unease and signals that this is a world that doesn't follow the normal rules we are used to.

One of the best first lines is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' This line immediately sets a tone of contrast and complexity, drawing the reader in with its paradoxical nature. It makes you wonder what could be both good and bad at the same time and sets the stage for a story that is full of such contradictions.

The first line of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This line creates an immediate sense of unease and a feeling that something is not quite right in the world of the novel, which is a dystopian society where the government has extreme control.

One of the best first lines 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 line immediately sets the tone for the story, which is centered around marriage and social class in 19th - century England.

One of the best 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 line immediately sets the tone for a story about society, marriage, and class in 19th - century England.

Well, there are so many. 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick' is also quite famous. It's such a simple yet powerful way to start a story. It immediately draws the reader in, making them curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

One of the best lines is from 'To Kill a Mockingbird': 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' This line teaches us about empathy.

One great first line is 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife' from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. 'We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold' from 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' by Hunter S. Thompson is very distinct. 'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy' from 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis is a simple yet effective start.

The first line 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' from Anna Karenina is very profound. It sets up the exploration of family dynamics. 'I am an invisible man.' from Invisible Man is a powerful start, making you curious about how someone can be invisible. 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' from Rebecca is a haunting start. It has an air of mystery and makes you want to know more about Manderley and why the narrator is dreaming about it.

Well, the first line of '1984' by George Orwell 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' is quite memorable. As for a last line, in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, 'He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.' This simple line really sums up the love and protection Atticus has for his children.