Favorite First or Last Line from a Book or Story

[Tarren]

I think the title says it all. What is your favorite first or last sentence in a book or story? You are limited to one single sentence.

Mine is from Gone South by Robert R. McCammon, and I have always like it for how evocative it is. "It was hell's season and the air smelled of burning children."

[Jaclyn]

Out of the books I have on my shelf:
The Foretelling, by Alice Hoffman: "I was born out of sorrow, so my mother named me Rain."
Stay With Me, by Garret Freymann-Weyr: "I don't think this is where anyone else would begin, but it's the exact right place for me."

Last lines:
Better Than Running At Night, by Hillary Frank: "And I hover between waking and dreaming while thunder pelts water at my windowpanes and lightning shatters the sky."


I'm sure there are better beginnings and endings, but these are ones I just pulled off my shelf. I am particularly fond of Better Than Running at Night.

[Flyyn duMartier]

Oh boy. I am also very fond of Better Than Running At Night! That was a ridiculously amazing book.

[Easily Crazy Hat]

"I am legend"

Bet you can't guess what it's from XD

The lines leading up to that are actually what makes it the best ever, but I feel that would ruin the book, sorrry

[Drakan]

One of my favourite books, "Saint Iggy"'s first lines -- So I got kicked out of school today, which is not so great but also not entirely unexpected, and I went back to Public Housing where I live to tell my parents all about it but my mom went visiting someone or other and probably isn’t coming back and my dad is stoned off his ass on the couch like he always is, so somehow I’m not getting the vibe that he’d really, you know, care, so I think – here’s what I’m going to do: first I’ve got to make a plan. And this is part of the plan – making a plan – so really I’m doing good already.

I'll have to find it, since i borrowed it from school once.

[Sophie]

i love the messenger! quite a few good lines in there.

[jgfmer]

The messenger is one of my favorite books of all times

[Lauren M.]

One bird said to Billy Pilgrim, "Poo-tee-weet?

I love Slaughterhouse-Five. I finished it last night. :)

[Lauren M.]

I haven't read that book.
I was intending to.
THANK YOU FOR RUINING IT FOR ME!
*fumes*

I'm kidding - I'm not mad. :P

[Hope Moore]

Read it! It's a quick, fast, good read! :D

[Ryan]

I'm about halfway through, although this being the last line makes sense already.

[Elizabeth]

I always liked the last sentence of I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. "It was at that moment that I realized I am not the messenger, I am the message."

[clearbluesky]

"My name is Robinette Broadhead, in spite of which I am male." Opening line from Gateway by Frederick Pohl. Great book.