Sunday, February 25, 2007

 

Mandelay

I read somewhere a while back that the greatest opening line of a novel was

Last night I went to Mandelay again.


And I have to say that while I don't know why, what book it's from or where Mandelay is, it's a pretty great opening line.

Comments:
"Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier.

But, fine as it is, it's not quite up to 100 Years of Solitude:

Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.
 
Thanks for that Tom, that is indeed pretty fine. Rest of that book as good as they say?
 
I'd have to say no. Great start, brilliant end, but in the middle - one of those books where you think you're missing something. Tried it a second time - same feeling. Maybe it's just me.
 
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