First lines quiz #6

firstlines

~ I will post the first sentences of ten books. (I skip any beginning quotations or prefaces. If I think more than one sentence is necessary, I’ll post two.)
~ You guess the titles and authors and leave your guesses in the comments.
~ You don’t have to guess on all ten; guess on the ones you know.
~ I’ll update the post by putting the lines in bold and adding titles and authors when someone gets one correct.
~ Have fun!

1. The distance by wagon from Billerica to neighboring Andover is but nine miles.The Heretic’s Daughter, Kathleen Kent – guessed by Ruth

2. “I’m tired of remembering,” Hannah said to her mother as she climbed into the car.The Devil’s Arithmetic, Jane Yolen – guessed by Ruth

3. No one is staring at you, I promised myself.Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer – guessed by Kristin

4. From his perch behind the clock, Hugo could see everything.The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick – guessed by Shelley

5. The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest.
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad – guessed by Kristin

6. In the year of 1878, I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army.A Study in Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – guessed by Kirsten

7. It was a dull autumn day and Jill Pole was crying behind the gym.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis – guessed by Kirsten

8. There were all kinds of stories told about the war that made it sound as if it was happening in a faraway and different land.A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael Beah – stumped everyone on this one.

9. Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.Lady Chatterley’s Lover, D.H. Lawrence – guessed by Chloe

10. A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: “Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That’s all right!”The Awakening, Kate Chopin – guessed by Sandra

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15 Responses to First lines quiz #6

  1. Kirsten says:

    6. A Study in Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (I’m reading this right now, haha)

    7. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis

    #3 sounds SO FAMILIAR!!! Gah.

  2. stacybuckeye says:

    #3 Twilight? Stephenie Meyer?

  3. Kristin says:

    Great idea to have this quiz – I love it!
    Anyway, I admit I don’t recognize too many, but here are the couple I do:
    3. Breaking Dawn (or at least one of the Twilight books) – Stephenie Meyer
    5. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

    Kristin

  4. Kathy says:

    I don’t recognize any of them. :(

  5. JoAnn
    Twitter:
    says:

    I’m striking out this week :-(

  6. Julie says:

    Alas I am too late, the only ones I knew were 3 and 5! These are tricky this week!

  7. CarrieK
    Twitter:
    says:

    Kirsten – yes, on both 6 (A Study in Scarlet, Doyle) & 7 (Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Lewis) .

    Stacy – very close. :)

    Kristin – yes, on both 3 (Breaking Dawn, Meyer) and 5 (Heart of Darkness, Conrad).

    Kathy & JoAnn & Julie – I”ll be adding hints soon!

  8. Sandy
    Twitter:
    says:

    Pooh! I am so bad at these generally. Is that last one Love in the Time of Cholera? I think there was a parrot in that one!

  9. Sandra
    Twitter:
    says:

    #10 is the opening line of The Awakening by Kate Chopin. That’s the only one I recognize but at least I got one. (I think)

  10. CarrieK
    Twitter:
    says:

    Sandy – nope, not that one.

    Sandra – you got it!

    Everyone – I’m updating with the guessed ones and adding hints now, if you want to check back.

  11. #1 is The Heretic’s Daughter — one of my favorite reads last year!

    #2 is The Devil’s Arithmetic.

  12. CarrieK
    Twitter:
    says:

    Ruth – correct on both!

  13. Chloe says:

    Number 9 – D H Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover

    Chloe :)

  14. Shelley says:

    4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
    9. A guess: Brave New World?

  15. CarrieK
    Twitter:
    says:

    Chloe – yes, #9 is Lady Chatterly.

    Shelly – correct on #4 – Invention of Hugo Cabret.

    That leaves #8, which stumped everyone I guess. It’s “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” by Ishmael Beah. Thanks for playing, everyone!

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