First Paragraphs
I was intrigued by the books my loyal readers posted in the comments section of yesterday’s post on reading books. So I looked them up online, and thought I’d read some excerpts. They say: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” but I have with regularity judged a book on a single paragraph. Though rarely the first one. I generally skip to about halfway, pick a single paragraph and read it for the author’s voice and tone. And no more.
This usually gives me a pretty good idea if I am going to like the book, since the main thing that puts me off a book is the author’s voice. But I didn’t want to include spoilers here, and well, first paragraphs are much easier to find online. So here are direct quotes from the first paragraphs of each of the books mentioned in yesterdays post and comments:
- Xenocide - Orson Scott Card - read by Serene and Not Herd
<Today one of the brothers asked me: Is it a terrible prison, not to be able to move from the place where you’re standing?> <You answered…> <I told him that I am now more free than he is. The inability to move frees me from the obligation to act.> <You who speak languages, you are such liars.>
- Golden Compass - Philip Pullman - read by Mrs. SANH, Megan
Lyra and her dæmon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen. The three great tables that ran the length of the hall were laid already, the silver and the glass catching what little light there was, and the long benches were pulled out ready for the guests. Portraits of former Masters hung high up in the gloom along the walls. Lyra reached the dias and looked back at the open kitchen door, and, and seeing no one, stepped up beside the high table. The places here were laid with gold, not silver, and the fourteen seats were not oak benches but mahogany chairs with velvet cushions.
- 1812: the War that Forged a Nation - Walter R. Borneman - read by Cheryl
In some respects, it was a silly little war–fought between creaking sailing ships and inexperienced armies often led by bumbling generals. It featured a tit-for-tat, “You burned our capital, so we’ll burn yours,” and a legendary battle unknowningly fought after the signing of a peace treaty. In the retrospect of two centuries of American history, however, the War of 1812 stands out as the coming of age of a nation.
- Visible Amazement - Gale Zoe Garnett - read by Witchypoo
July-August stuff,
1981
(For my sister, if I ever turn out to have one.)
Until the thing happened with Marcus, I was glad, sometimes very glad, that Del was my mother. Sure, she was a little Out There in some ways, but she was fun. And I always knew she loved me. I mean, I had classmates with Regular Mothers and I could see I was having a better time with Del. Which is why I’m sorry about the terrible thing I did. Which is why I’m in bed with this dwarf.
My current book begins each chapter with a theatrical script-like quote. This first quote is pure thought between a sentient tree and ancient hive queen. Card has said that he writes his novels like a play, with the dialogue and voices of the characters carrying the brunt of the story. It makes for excellent books-on-CD listening.
In the example, Pullman uses only the third-person voice, but as Megan points out, the characters’ dæmons (animal/spirit companions) allow them to speak aloud their inner feelings, so that the reader gets both first and third person perspectives.
Borneman starts with a personal story-teller or engaging professor tone that makes a topic this dry seem interesting and personal. Hopefully, Cheryl will let us know if he maintains that tone, or slips into the fact-stating that too many history books do.
Garnett’s book is written as a diary. I had left the diary entry header off, but realized it truly sets the tone, so I added it back in. That we are reading someone’s diary is eavesdroppingly irresistible. These are her innermost thoughts that we’ve found. And I instantly visualized this teenage girl at the capitalization of ‘Out There’.
What else can be gleaned from a single, starting paragraph from a book?