First lines quiz #6
Posted By CarrieK on June 15, 2009
~ 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
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.
#3 Twilight? Stephenie Meyer?
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
I don’t recognize any of them.
I’m striking out this week
Alas I am too late, the only ones I knew were 3 and 5! These are tricky this week!
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!
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!
#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)
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.
#1 is The Heretic’s Daughter — one of my favorite reads last year!
#2 is The Devil’s Arithmetic.
Ruth – correct on both!
Number 9 – D H Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Chloe
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
9. A guess: Brave New World?
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!