comment by hyperflare

a thoughtful web.

Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking. Login or Take a Tour!

hyperflare · 3172 days ago · link · · parent · post: Shall we do another 'best opening lines of books' thread?

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

eothas · 3171 days ago · link ·

I really like this book but I've never understood the praise this line always gets. To me it reads like something your fifth grade teacher would show you as an example of a good opening line to a story, over the top and a little cheesy.

+discuss+discuss

–

raisin · 3171 days ago · link ·

I've never read the book, but I've seen this quote in nearly ever book thread about best openings. Scratch that, in every thread about best openings. And it does not seem all that remarkable, to be frank.

+discuss+discuss

–

hyperflare · 3167 days ago · link ·

If you've never read the series, the line doesn't seem that great. It only makes its heaviest impact later on. So I can understand your feelings.

As for eothas' opinion, I like it because it sets up basically the first half of the whole book - you could replace it all by this line alone. It cuts to the very essence of the book. It's straightforward - it doesn't try too hard.

And of course for spoilery reasons mentioned above.