great openings to novels

The opening of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' It immediately creates a sense of unease and a dystopian world where things are not as they should be. The abnormal time gives the reader a feeling that this is a world with its own strange rules.

They also set the mood. A dark and foreboding opening like in a horror novel will put the reader in a state of unease. This mood will color the entire reading experience as the reader expects more scares. It's like the opening is a doorway to the world of the story, and the mood it creates is the atmosphere inside that world. Moreover, it can introduce important themes. In 'To Kill a Mockingbird', the opening sets the scene in a small southern town and already hints at themes of race and childhood innocence that will be central to the story.

One of the best openings 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 status in 19th - century England.

Beginning with an interesting dialogue can also be great. For example, '"You can't be serious," she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It throws the reader right into the middle of a situation and makes them wonder what's going on. Another option is to start with a statement that challenges the reader's thinking, such as 'The world as we know it is a lie, and I was about to discover the truth.' This kind of opening sets up a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to keep reading to find out more.

In '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 opening is brilliant as it quickly establishes a social context and the central theme of marriage and wealth that runs throughout the novel.

In 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, the opening line 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' is brilliant. It not only gives a peek into the society's values and the central theme of marriage in the novel but also has a touch of humor. It makes the reader curious about how the story will unfold around this concept.

In my opinion, 'As the old house creaked and groaned, he felt a presence he couldn't explain. The air was thick with a stench of decay, and the shadows seemed to move on their own.' is a very effective opening. The description of the house gives a sense of age and decay, which is often associated with horror. The unexplained presence and the moving shadows build tension right from the start.

Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet direct way to introduce the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

Some of the great novel openings include 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville.

One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This immediately sets a contrastive and complex tone for the story.