Welcome once again to #FirstLineFriday, a little quiz designed to help us appreciate some of the best opening lines in literary history. From the classics of long ago to the latest best-sellers, everything is fair game.
As always, the rules are simple:
- Be one of the first five people to email me before the game ends at 4:00pm, with the title and authorof the correct book.
- Do not reply here on the blog.Email only: marciameara16@gmail.com
- Honor System applies. No Googling, please.
- Submissions end at 4:00 P.M. EST, or when I receive 5 correct answers, whichever comes first.
- Winners who live in the U.S.may request a free download of any one of my books for themselves, or for someone of their choice. OR, if they’ve read all of the offered books, they may request a free download of my next publication.
- Winners who live elsewheremay request a PDF file of the same books, since, sadly, Amazon won’t let me gift you from the site.
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! I’m predicting this one will be a challenge, but I love it so much, I can’t resist. And besides, my predictions haven’t been right yet, so who knows? Either way, here’s today’s opening line:
“Mr. Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance, that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable.”
Remember, email answers only, please. Thanks! And now off I go to await your guesses.
The Write Stuff 
No idea, but he certainly sounds like an interesting guy.
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I’m not surprised, though I promise, you will know the book. (I wouldn’t have gotten it either). 🙂
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Good luck everyone. I have no idea about this one but it´s a good first line.
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It’s kind of fascinating, isn’t it? You’ll know the book, for sure, but I’m with you in that I would never have guessed this one. 🙂
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No idea here, either. Good luck to all!
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For once, it looks like I might have been right in thinking this one would be a challenge. But you’ll know the book, I promise. 🙂
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I looked up the answer – I even read the book a couple years ago, lol.
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Don’t know this one but it sounds interesting.
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I think it’s very interesting, and was surprised when I read the title of the book it opens. I suspected it would be a tricky one, but you’ll recognize it, honest. 😀
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Ooo, I know this one. I’ve said that before, but THIS time I really do know it. Emailing shortly.
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Yay! I’ll check my mail! 🙂
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Nope. You’d think that a character’s name might give something away, but it remains a mystery to me. Looking forward to the reveal! 🙂
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I know, but honestly, I didn’t remember that name, either. I should have. But I didn’t. 🙂 I knew this one would be challenging, but I LOVE the line! 🙂 Stay tuned, Trish! ❤
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Clueless on this one, but that line does paint an interesting character image. Can’t wait to hear the answer. Good luck, everyone!
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I agree. And I couldn’t resist using it, even though I knew it would be challenging. Still, the purpose of the quiz is also to study some great opening lines, and I think this one qualifies. (You’ll absolutely, positively, no doubt about it recognize this title!) 😀 ❤
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Great opening line, Marcia. I didn’t remember it so I looked it up and then I remembered it as I have read this book.
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I have, as well, Robbie, but darn if I remembered that line. Still, it’s a fabulous one, and well worth sharing with everybody, I think. 🙂 So far, only one winner, and I’m surprised that anyone got it, though everyone will be very familiar with this title when the answer’s revealed. 🙂
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No idea, Marcia! I keep thinking the name should be a clue.
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It should be, Denise, but if you’re like me, you forgot this name completely. 😀 But you’ll definitely know the name of the book when the contest closes. And if anything comes to you before then, just email me with a guess. Guesses are free. 😀 I don’t even make fun of wrong ones. (Very much. 😀 )
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Lol. Will do!
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Great opener! Want to meet this guy… 🙂
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