June's question, over at The Classics Club, is "What is your favorite opening sentence from a classic novel (and why)?" Now I know you're going to expect me to say this:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
But I'm not going to, as much as I love that sentence. Even though I've never read Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, I think it's opening line is my favorite, conveying all of the possibility of life, the broad spectrum of humanity. It seems more apt today than ever as our country seems to be so torn.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was an age of wisdom, it was an age of foolishness, it was an epoch of belief, it was an epoch of incredulity, it was a season of Light, it was a season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
It's been a stressful week at Chez Shepp, so when I saw this upcoming readathon on Andi's blog (Estella's Revenge) just as The Big Guy switched the channel to "Grease," I knew it was just the thing I needed to have to look forward to. Hosted by Readathon Central and Reviewing Wonderland, the Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon is the first week of July. This girl has a four-day weekend that week and nothing major on the agenda so I'm looking forward to a relaxing week with plenty of time for reading!
You certainly do need to relax over the next few days!! Take care of the boy and yourself!
ReplyDeleteYes. A Readathon that lasts four days. I must do this.
ReplyDeleteHope things start improving at your place and you get some time soon for relaxing and Summer reading. Re. favourite first lines - (plural as I have several), based on best childhood and youth reads. Jane Eyre for example and Dickens would be A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations although A Tale of Two Cities is thought provoking re 'Life'. However, the first lines of The Wind in the Willows has to be my favourite so that says something about me - love Moley, Ratty, Badger, Toad etc. and a story set in my lovely home county by the River Thames!
ReplyDeleteI read Greg's review too, it's a good one :)
ReplyDeleteLove that first line from Dickens (love that book as well) and it's quite fitting right now isn't it?
Have fun with the readathon!
I haven't read A Tale either but that's a true and fitting sentence for our country right now.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great readathon! Relax and read lots of awesome books!
And yes, everyone should read P&P!
I'm so glad you're joining in on the readathon!!! Fun!
ReplyDeleteMy first though when I saw that questions was the Pride and Prejudice opening, too, but I do love the intro to A Tale of Two Cities... more than the rest of the book, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThe summer lovin' read-a-thon looks like fun - enjoy! You deserve a break.
I like Dickens' first sentence better.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, P&P is also a great read.