What are some of the best first sentences from novels and why are they effective?

One famous first sentence is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This is effective because it immediately sets a tone of contrast and contradiction, making the reader curious about what the 'times' are and how they can be both best and worst at once.

In 'Pride and Prejudice', Jane Austen starts with 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This opening is clever as it sets up the social context of the time where marriage was often about financial security. It also gives a hint of the humor and social commentary that will follow throughout the novel.

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.

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.

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.

One great first line 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 clocks striking thirteen is strange and makes the reader wonder what kind of world this is.

One of the best first lines could be 'There is one mirror in my house. It is behind a sliding panel in the hallway upstairs.' This immediately creates a sense of mystery. It makes the reader wonder why there's only one mirror and why it's hidden. It hooks the reader right from the start, making them want to find out more about the house and the character's situation.

One great first sentence is 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from '1984'. It immediately sets an off - kilter mood. The idea of the clocks striking thirteen is abnormal and grabs the reader's attention, hinting at a world that is not quite right.

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 effective opening sentence could be 'In a world where magic seeped through every crack in the ancient stones, a young orphan named Elara awoke with a strange mark on her hand.' This immediately sets a magical and mysterious tone, introducing a character and a hint of something unusual.