Yep, the first sentence is important. But the sentences that come after it are more important.
A first sentence won’t make or break your book, but all the rest of them – will.
I’m reading a book right now that I – can’t – put – down. I’m breaking from it because I need to write my blog posts. It’s not often that I find a book I must read straight through. (Okay, the only time I stopped was to run in and catch the Cold Miser and Heat Miser sing their solos in The Year Without A Santa Claus. And to pour some eggnog. And because my son was trying to read over my shoulder and the book is so not appropriate for a second grader. But, you get the point.)
In this particular story, it’s such an original premise that I have no clue what’s going to happen next. I’m just halfway through and able to piece together a few guesses. The conflict is sky high. So, of course, I’m burning through it totally involved and clicking my Kindle like crazy.
It’s also a crazy premise as in unbelievable. But it is so well written that – I believe it.
Any idea can be believable in the hands of a great writer. Sometimes I can’t put a book down because of a character and sometimes the plot. I love when I stumble upon a book like this.
I’m asking the one question we want every reader to ask. How is this going to end?
Care to guess what book I’m reading? I tweeted about it a couple days ago. What was the last book you read that you absolutely had no idea what would happen and couldn’t put it down?
That is what I think about opening sentences. it is the reason why I won’t buy anything if I don’t like page 49.
I can’t wait to see what you are reading. 🙂
You’re killing me not revealing what this great read is. Tell us, tell us, please!
Elaine – Not to underestimate the importance of that first sentence, paragraph and page because that’s what gets the reader started!
Angela – I will reveal the book later in the week.
I’m reading STOLEN by Lucy Christopher. It took me a bit to get into (though the first scene was great), especially because it’s written as a letter to her kidnapper. But now I don’t want to put it down. If today wasn’t my blogging day, I’d be reading it right now. 😉
(PS. Hope you enjoy Perfect Chemistry and Wake. I read Renae’s post this morning.)
I love the heat miser and the cold miser! I would stop reading any book to catch them sing their song!
Shelley
Stina – Stolen sounds like a good book too!
Shelley – There is something about those songs. The word choice? And how it perfectly captures the personality of the two brothers? Their facial expressions and dancing. The tune. I love me a good villain song that portrays the character perfectly.
I’m trying to remember your tweets! I think you were reading the Mermaid and Toe Ring one… and The Marbury Lens? So maybe one of those books!
Love The Year w/o a Santa Claus!
Heat and cold miser is one of the best scenes ever.
It’s been a while since I read a book that I put everything on hold for. I;ll be back to see what book has you so intrigued.
I can’t guess the book but it sounds like a lot that I’ve read over the summer! Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what makes something a page turner. You are so right about it sometimes being the characters and other times, the plot. I have found myself even sticking with a book because of a subplot!
I just read Across the Universe by Beth Revis and it was like that. I thought I knew what would happen, but I didn’t. The twists were great. I actually did a review of it today on my blog.
Can’t wait to find out what it is. I must read it if it’s that good.
I’m guessing Matched by Ally Condie since everyone’s saying they read it in one shot and the trailer is intriguing!
Thanks for reminding me of that tension, tension, tension!
It’s always interesting to see what different readers demand.
For me it’s THE WRITING!!
I love lyrical and deep and mesmerizing.
Patti
I’m one of the those readers who want to be grabbed from the first sentence on. It also has to keep me turning the pages. With all the emphasis on getting the reader right from the start, a few stories out there start out with a bang with a huge promise then fizzle by chapter three.
Oh,I’m dying to know which book it is. At this point writing that kind of book is only a dream. One I hope one day to achieve.
Thanks for commenting everyone! I’ll reveal the book later this week for a small review. I mostly review more innocent MG and YA, soooo, it’ll be a quick review. 🙂 I still have the last part of it to read. My Kindle says I have ten percent left. It must be a long book. Incredible story.
I’m not sure what book you are reading but I want to find out :-).
I recently read a book called The Stolen Child. I had no idea how it would end. It was an amazing read.
I usually am too busy to immerse myself totally in a book nonstop (I read a little bit at a time) but I read Mockingjay this weekend over two evenings. I couldn’t put it down!
No guess on your book, but let us know what it is so we can read it too! 🙂
I’m dying to know which book it is! The last one I read like that was “Looking for Alaska.” I even had a feeling I knew what was coming and why, but I didn’t. Awesome.
Are you reading Holes by Louis Sachar?!