The Wanlorn (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
the_wanlorn) wrote2008-07-25 07:57 pm
the_wanlorn) wrote2008-07-25 07:57 pm
Entry tags:
Unpopular Opinion
Opening lines aren't that important. Lots of people will give a book a try, even if the opening isn't gripping.
It's the closing line that has to be a kicker.
That's what makes people read a book over and over again. That's what makes people go find more books by the same author. That's what they're thinking of when they're trying to tell you why you should read it.
Go ahead, ask me for any book I've read, which line I remember best. I guarantee you it'll either be "neither" or "[something close to the end]".
It's the closing line that has to be a kicker.
That's what makes people read a book over and over again. That's what makes people go find more books by the same author. That's what they're thinking of when they're trying to tell you why you should read it.
Go ahead, ask me for any book I've read, which line I remember best. I guarantee you it'll either be "neither" or "[something close to the end]".
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The other is hope.
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I also think the books that people love enough to hand on to someone else often fit that category--because you start reading in a state of "why did they say they loved this?" but by the end, assuming the person wasn't just an idiot with bad taste, you usually get it.
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However, I'm one of those people who insists upon reading a chapter or two before handing over money for a book, so while I wouldn't judge a book by its opening line (singular), if it doesn't have a decent beginning, I'm probably never going to find out whether the closing line works for me.