Seeing that this is the start to a book club of sorts, it seems only fitting to begin where all great works of fiction begin: with a noteworthy first line. Whether these opening lines are memorable because the remainder of the work makes them so, or whether there is something inherently compelling about a premier sentence--the mythical "hook" that grade-school kids are taught in their 5-paragraph essay lessons--great stories flow from great beginnings.
And so, an homage to a smattering of civilization's finest literature from civilization's finest television series. (How many can you identify? Any better suggestions?)
"Who is John [Locke]?"
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were [killed in a murder-suicide], and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a [Hot Pocket]."
"In a hole in the ground there lived a [Charlie]."
"All children, except one, grow up. [Which is why they had to write Walt out of the show despite being a major plot point before hitting puberty.]"
"[Kate], light of my life, fire of my loins."
"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own [island], or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these [episodes] must show."
"Call me [Jacob]."
"[Everybody] was dead, to begin with."
And perhaps most fittingly: "Happy [characters] are all alike; every unhappy [character] is unhappy in its own way."
If you'd prefer your opener straight from J.J. Abram's screenplay, you can find it here.
Thus begins my favorite TV show, and with it the inaugural convening of The Lost Book Club. I hope you'll enjoy the weekly episodic ramblings, or join us from the comfort of your own couch.
Ratings for "Pilot (Part 1)"
Importance to Story: 5
Importance to Character Development: 5
Overall enjoyability: 4
