Friday's Top Ten

I've done great first lines for the Top Ten before. Today there's a twist.

The Prize
Winner's choice of a Kindle copy of either IN NAME ONLY or SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

Option 1
Identify all ten lines by title and author. On Sunday night at 10 Central Time, I'll put the correct entries in random.org to choose a winner. If only one of you is correct, you automatically win.

Option 2
Identify as many as you know or care to look up. If no one has identified each one correctly, the winner will be drawn from the group of correct partial answers.

Hint 1: They're not all easy, but most are :)
Hint 2: Amazon and Google are your friends :)

Do you have a favorite from among these lines?


Ten great first lines from novels:

10. “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

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

  8. "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the house-tops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness."

  7. "They shoot the white girl first."

  6. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

  5. "Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

  4. "You better not never tell nobody but God."

  3. "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since."

  2. "The morning Tony Lucia killed Angelo Coluzzi, he was late to feed his pigeons."

And one you should know, given recent events:

  1. "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."


Good Luck!

Winner's name will be posted at the top of Monday's blog.



Comments

Now that's a fun contest! Yes, a Google search would produce answers. I own both of your books, so I won't participate.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Just off the top of my head, I know a couple of them already.
Unknown said…
Ooo a couple of those are familiar to me, but not all! Have fun with this.
Hi Carol, I'm afraid to say I only recognized a few of those. I obviously need to read more.
David Oliver said…
I am certain, well pretty sure of only one! I do remember the first line of "Peyton Place" and "Gone With The Wind" but that's about it. And really I don't understand why I don't remember because first lines make a big impression on me when I begin a book. This is a very good challenge!
I recognize about half, I think! #1 is my favorite. Casual chaos...love that book.

Great contest!
I only know a few but I'm already the proud owner!

Heather
Carol Kilgore said…
What? No entrants? I'm amazed.
You all know you don't need a Kindle to read a Kindle Book. Right?
Don't leave me hanging with books I can't even give away :)

Alex, Diane and Heather - Well, I know why you didn't enter :)

Rachna and Julie - Thanks!

Nas and David - You've probably read most of these :)

Elizabeth - I'm going to post the answers on Monday, too, if no one gets them all. Or if no one enters.

Anonymous said…
Certainly a fun contest. enjoyed the post.

Yvonne.
Robin said…
10. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

9. Pride and Prejudice

8. Paul Clifford

7. Paradise

6. A Tale of Two Cities

5. Rebecca

4. The Color Purple

3. The Great Gatsby

2. The Vendetta Defense

1. 1984


Great contest!
M Pax said…
I know 9 and 6. I'd have to look up the others. Several seem very familiar.
Unknown said…
Robin did good! I knew about half of them, but can't look up exact titles and authors atm... Good luck to all entrants!! :-)
Ha! This is fun...Harry Potter 1, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities? The Godfather?

Those are the only ones I (think I) know off the top of my head. And the one mentioning Manderley...I KNOW that one....ugh! :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Yvonne - Thanks!

Robin - Yay! An answer for every quote! Thanks for participating :)

Mary, Lexa and Words Crafter - Anyone can come back and comment with the answers if they wish. As long as it's before Sunday night.
Luanne G. Smith said…
Ooh, fun idea for a giveaway. I was doing great until I got to #7.

And then I didn't know 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. I gotta go read more. :)

Have a great weekend.
Janie Junebug said…
I think I know most of them without looking them up, but I'll let someone else be a wiener.

Love,
Janie
Anonymous said…
Neat contest.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-J.K.Rowling
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Paul Clifford - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Paradise - Toni Morrison
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
the Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Vendetta Defense - Lisa Scottoline
1984 - George Orwell

I have to admit, I had to look most of them up :o)
Janet
Bish Denham said…
That was fun. Some I actually knew. Others were a complete unknown.

10. harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling
9. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
8. Paul Clifford - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
7. Paradise - Toni Morrison
6. Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (I'm currently reading it!)
5. Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
4. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
3. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Vendetta Defense - Lisa Scottoline
1. 1984 - George Orwell

I want to win something but I rarely win anything.........ok now that is said this list was interesting
I have read (and own) all but two of these. Paul Clifford is completely new to me. Would some one like to tell me about it? And I have read several of Lisa Scottoline's books - but not this one.
Great contest - thank you.
I'm so glad that I already have your book, because I wouldn't stand a chance in your contest! Great idea for a giveaway though!

Julie
CATachresis said…
Love these quizes :)

10) Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
9) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8) Paul Clifford by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
7) Paradise by Toni Morrison
6) Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
5) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
4) The Color Purple by Alice Walker
3) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2) The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline
1) 1984 by George Orwell

Had to google half of them lol
Carol Kilgore said…
Luanne - Go read, LOL!

Janie - Hot Dog!

Janet, Bish and CATachresis - Thanks for playing!

Jo-Anne and Julie - Glad you like the idea behind the contest :)

EC - Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors. You can read all about Paul Clifford here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Clifford
Wow I am afraid I failed on this one big time. I definitely need to read more :-)
Paul Clifford, Paradise, Rebecca, The Color Purple, The Great Gatsby (which I should have known!), The Vendetta Defense, NOT The Godfather, and 1984, which I've never read *hanging head in shame*

These are the ones I missed. And I had to cheat!
Robin said…
Carol, I just realized that I didn't read the rules thoroughly. I didn't include the authors. Gah.

10. Harry Potter
9. Jane Austen
8. Edward Bulwer-Lytton
7. Toni Morrison
6. Charles Dickens
5. Daphne du Maurier
4. Alice Walker
3. F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Lisa Scottoline
1. George Orwell

Gah. I can't believe I did that. Sorry to double the work by making you combine my two posts!
Ooh, I know these and can't choose a favorite.

Fun contest.
Julie Flanders said…
What a fun contest! I'm just going to say the ones I know since I'm not able to get to google right now.

10. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone, JK Rowling

9. Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen

6. A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

5. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

1. 1984, George Orwell

So many of these lines literally give me the chills they are so good! But I think 1984 is my favorite.

Very fun idea, Carol! :)
Jemi Fraser said…
I already own your books so I won't enter - but what a great idea! I knew about half without checking :)
Anonymous said…
Lots of fun and happy to say I have read most of these...
J. K. Rowling...Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Jane Austen...Pride and Prejudice
Edward Bulver-Lytton....Paul Clifford
Toni Morrison .... Paradise
Charles Dickens...A Tale of Two Cities
Daphne DuMaurier...Rebecca
Alice Walker...The Colour purple
F. Scott-Fitzgerald...The Great Gatsby
Lisa Scottoline...The Vendetta Defence
George Orwell...Nineteen Eighty-four

I already have your books so no need to enter me in the draw.
Al Diaz said…
Oh, yes, Google is a blessing and my first tool of choice. I was only familiar with number 10.

10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone/J. K. Rowling
9. Pride and Prejudice/Jane Austen
8. Paul Clifford/Edward Bulwer-Lytton
7. Paradise/Toni Morrison
6. Tale of Two Cities/Charles Dickens
5. Rebecca/Daphne du Maurier
4. The Color Purple/Alice Walker
3. The Great Gatsby/F. Scott Fitzgerald (This was one of my grandfather's favorite books)
2. The Vendetta Defense/Lisa Scottoline
1. 1984/George Orwell
Carol Kilgore said…
OE - You and Luanne! Find a library :)

Words Crafter - Yay!

Robin - No worries :)

Teresa - Decisions, decisions :)

Julie and Jemi - Glad you like the contest.

Delores and Al - Thanks for entering!
Old Kitty said…
George Orwell's 1984!!! Yay!!

Good luck to all entering!!!

Take care
x
Anonymous said…
Dang, I'm not as well-read as I'd like to think I am. I recognized Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, and Potter, but I'd need Google for the rest!
mshatch said…
10. Harry Potter #1 - JK Rowling
9. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin
6. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
5. Rebecca - Daphne de Maurier

That's all I know :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Old Kitty - Yep. The old thirteen o'clock :)

Milo - I'm never as well-read as I think I am either.

mshatch - Half-ish :)
Nas said…
Fun contest Carol! What a cool idea!

And loved reading all these comments!
LD Masterson said…
Well, I knew a few of them but I've already read the comments of people who Googled the answers so that pretty much disqualifies me. Not a problem since I already own hard copies of both books. (I'm not a e-reader fan.)
Melissa said…
Ooo! Fun list!

Too bad I got here too late to play. LOL But, like Alex, I already own both your books. ;)
Carol Kilgore said…
LD and Melissa - Thank you both for buying my books! But Googling and copying was fine. Open book test :)

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