I read a fair bit, mainly in English. The beginning of a book is important (as well as the ending), so I was pleased to come across an interesting first paragraph yesterday:
"Some concepts are alien to the Glaswegian mind. Salad. Dentistry. Forgiveness."
- Craig Russell: the Long Glasgow Kiss
It's a thriller set in Glasgow in 1950's, very Phil Marlowesque.
Inspector McGregor wished there was some kind of official crime scenario checklist, just so that he could have a quick glance and confirm that he had seen it all now.
"'NOW, what I want is, Facts." Charles Dickens, Hard Times
- a great first sentence, but you have to read the book to find out why ;D
I also liked
"What about a teakettle?" Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
And not just because of "Mr Darcy" (but because I actually read.the.book. AND loved it ;) )
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
