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Books/book club

Silly game- anyone up for it?

(238 Posts)
gracesmum Fri 27-Sept-13 09:57:06

OK it's not rocket science but hope this runs:
You post the opening line of a book, somebody guesses it and they then post another opening of another book, and so on. Yes?

Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage.

Tegan Wed 02-Oct-13 14:45:07

What I mean is that it draws you into the book; like the start of a tv programme or a film.

Tegan Wed 02-Oct-13 14:29:42

Just goes to show how important the first line of a book is, doesn't it?

j08 Wed 02-Oct-13 14:29:07

It's really down to who can Google the fastest. hmm grin

j08 Wed 02-Oct-13 14:27:49

I knew the Alice one. And a couple of others.

There are websites specially for this. grin

Ian42 Wed 02-Oct-13 14:22:48

A History of Pi, by Petr Beckmann.

"If you write thrillers, people think that you must live a thrilling life and enjoy doing thrilling things."

Ana Wed 02-Oct-13 09:57:20

I didn't have to google the "Alice" one! (Most of the others, though...grin

j08 Wed 02-Oct-13 09:54:08

I don't believe you're not all googling. grin

Ariadne Wed 02-Oct-13 09:47:28

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" Dale Carnegie (but had to goggle it! blush

This is for bags!

"A million years or so have passed since the tool wielding animal called man made its appearance on this planet."

(I am enjoying this thread very much. Thanks, gracesmum.)

gracesmum Tue 01-Oct-13 22:09:08

Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar
but I have no idea of the other one! (Is that cheating?)

Ana Tue 01-Oct-13 21:53:36

"Alice was beginning to get very tired...." - Alice in Wonderland

"On May 7, 1931, New York City witnessed the most sensational man-hunt the old town had ever known."

Ariadne Tue 01-Oct-13 21:43:18

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."

JessM Tue 01-Oct-13 21:40:57

"when doth Aprile in his soury sote" as Chaucer wrote

yes it was Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman The Y was her "daemon" - a manifestation of self, rather than guardian.

"X was getting very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, ..."

j08 Tue 01-Oct-13 21:30:58

The Canterbury Pilgrims.

I googled that.

gracesmum Tue 01-Oct-13 20:49:10

Sorry, sorry, sorry - I have just realised tha I have copied this from an edition of this well-known book FOR CHILDREN!!! It may still be recognisable. (Ducks for cover) blush

gracesmum Tue 01-Oct-13 20:46:57

Oliver Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield?

"When April comes, and with her gentle showers has banished the dreary month of March, when in every copse and valley the young trees bud and flowers show their heads, when birds make melody in the fresh morning time, then men's hearts long for the wide air and joys of the open roads."

MiceElf Tue 01-Oct-13 19:45:53

It was 'and her' that gave it away! But I can't remember which of the trilogy it is. Or even the titles. Shame on me. But it's Lyra and her shape changing 'guardian angel' smile

"I was ever of the opinion that the honest man who married and brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued single and only talked of population."

JessM Tue 01-Oct-13 15:40:26

OF THE SITUATION OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND, AND OF THEIR ANCIENT INHABITANTS by Bede
"X and her Y moved through the darkening Hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen."
(the punctuation contains a clue maybe)

MiceElf Tue 01-Oct-13 07:19:22

Midnight's Children

"Britain, an island in the ocean, formerly called Albion, is situated between the north and west, facing, though at a considerable distance, the coasts of Germany, France, and Spain, which forms the greatest part of Europe"

gracesmum Mon 30-Sept-13 20:11:53

Rebecca!!

"I was born in the city of Bombay....once upon a time."

Ian42 Mon 30-Sept-13 20:03:26

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again...

Bez Mon 30-Sept-13 15:03:44

I was replying to Mice

Her quote is about the two gentleman sitting alone over their wine. And i think that is the current one we are looking for - by the way I agree about the inverted commas or something to distinguish the quote -

Stansgran Mon 30-Sept-13 14:45:29

Would participantS kindly use inverted commas around the quotes so the ignoramuses like me can distinguish which is a quote and which isn't? Is That is a book I've read twice by Jude the obscure or Bez?

Bez Mon 30-Sept-13 14:20:00

Oui - good old Graham Greene. That is a book I have read twice.

MiceElf Mon 30-Sept-13 14:16:17

Don't worry! I'll grant you instantaneous absolution. It's a VERY minor mistake!

gracesmum Mon 30-Sept-13 14:14:52

Good thing I'm not a Catholic - I'd have to go to confession!!grin