What's Your Favorite Fictional Opening?

judith_frazier

What makes a great opening to a work of fiction? What techniques, narrative devices, or themes can be used to capture the readers attention? What makes you want to keep reading?

I think a great opening to a work of fiction should be engaging and draw readers in with vivid imagery, strong characters, and an interesting plot. It should also be concise and to the point, providing just enough information to get the reader interested without giving away too much. I'm interested to hear what others think makes a great opening to a work of fiction and what techniques they use to capture the readers attention.

Sergio705

My favorite opening to a work of fiction is the opening of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.

I love the way it sets the tone for the entire novel:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

At the time it was written, this was a bold statement, confirming that a wife was a possession, not only a partner. Austen's sharp wit and social commentary are the basis of all her novels, and this opening sentence encapsulates those elements. It's a great start to an engaging, timeless classic.

I also appreciate that the opening, simple as it is, speaks to relationships in general and to the balance of power between men and women. It's one of those sentences that make you pause and think—not only about marriage and society, but about how we make and keep connections.

That's why I love the opening of Pride and Prejudice. What's your favorite opening?

Julius342

My favorite opening to a work of fiction is the very first sentence of Truman Capote's iconic novel Breakfast at Tiffany's: "I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods."

This opening perfectly captures the mood of the novel – the fleetingness and nostalgia that runs throughout the story – and immediately grabs the reader and sucks them into the story. It also cleverly hints at the protagonist, Holly Golightly's – mysterious life, as a person who moves from place to place and never really settles down.

The use of single sentence makes the opening memorable and left me wanting to find out more. It definitely set the tone and drew me into the story.

I think it's one of the best openings of any work of fiction, and anyone looking to appreciate the beauty of a novel should definitely give this a read!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10687295-breakfast-at-tiffany-s