Thursday, February 23, 2012

First Line Grabber #6

TITLE: The Center of Gravity
GENRE: YA

I believed in the healing power of parking garages.

71 comments:

  1. YES! I have to know the rest of the story.

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  2. Yes
    love the incongruity and sense of humor.

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  3. Yes
    Unique, humorous, and I want to hear the justification for this statement

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  4. Yes. Of course I want to know more!

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  5. Yes. I'd want to find out more, and I like the unexpected image. However, I'd have high expectations of this, so it would really hinge on the second sentence.

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  6. Yes. It's such an odd sentence and I'd want to know what the narrator is talking about!

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  7. Yes.

    This made me smile. Since humor can be so tough to pull off in openings, I'd read on to find out more.

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  8. Yes. It's sparky and fun with just enough 'why' to make me read on.

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  9. Yes.
    Interesting. Different. Want to know more.

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  10. Yes, because it's struck me as funny.

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  11. Yes--absolutely yes!!

    This is quirky, unexpected, and I want to know more! Made me laugh, too.

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  12. Yes, wasn't expecting this, it really surprised me. Parking garages? Really? Heck yeah I want to read more.

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  13. Yes.

    The parking garage bit was a surprise. That creates its own kind of suspense, since now I want to know why a thing like a parking garage can heal.

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  14. Yes! This is funny and I immediately want to know more!

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  15. Yes. This has great voice and I want to know why this MC likes parking garages so much.

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  16. Yes. Quirky and different. Said a lot about the character.

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  17. No.

    I think parking garages and carbon monoxide poisoning comes to mind, not healing powers for me personally.

    Good luck with it.

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  18. Yes.

    It's weird but it totally pulls me in.

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  19. Yes. Excellent humor, and completely unexpected. I'd read this in a heartbeat.

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  20. Yes. Clever and funny. I would change believed to believe but other than that I would read on.

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  21. Yes. There's voice and a hook and the questions it raises are all questions that make me want to read more instead of confusing me.

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  22. Yes! Bizarre, funny, demands more explanation.

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  23. Yes. The fact that someone said no to you on this one, and for the reasons mentioned, tells me that no matter how good an opening sentence (obviously it's supposed to be funny and incongruous), someone can find fault with it. So that alone, made my day. :)

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  24. Yes

    I love the personality this first line shows!

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  25. Yes. This is the right amount of quirky to grab my attention.

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  26. YES. It's quirky and made me laugh!

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  27. Sort of Yes.
    The sentence grabs me, but I'd sure want to know what isn't gross about a parking garage. Knowing the genre would help me know if I'd keep reading.

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  28. Yes.

    This is short, clear, and, while it doesn't set us down in action or really describe the premise of the story, it's very different. The juxtaposition of healing with something that irritates most people is sufficiently unexpected that I would read on to discover the connection. This kind of statement makes me think the narrator will be quirky and interesting.

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  29. Yes. This sounds so strange that I have to know more!

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  30. Yes. The sentence immediately grabbed my interest. I defnitely want to know more about those healing powers.

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  31. YES- I'm curious to know more.

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  32. Yes.
    The past tense is interesting to me. What has happened that this MC once believed but now doesn't? Such a strange statement, it has me hooked!

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  33. Yes. It's funny, wacky, weird. And I want to see where it goes from here.

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  34. This is one of the best first lines I've ever read. I like this character already.

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  35. Yes. I'll go most anywhere with a quirky mc.

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  36. Yes. The incongruity between healing and parking garages is awesome and I totally want to know more about someone who thinks this way!

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  37. Yes. Love the voice already. Well done.

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  38. Yes, the voice grabbed me right away.

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  39. Yes. But I'd hope for an explanation soon because it makes me think "whaaaaat?"

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  40. Yes. This is hilarious. I'd at least read on to see if there was substance to go along with the humor. I have a history of putting down novels that are purely funny and lacking any real story or character development and never finishing them. But I love a good, solid novel that's interlaced with awesomely funny writing.

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  41. Yes. I want to see the next sentence. This is an unusual and intriguing set up. Does he/she no longer believe? Why would parking garages have healing powers? I want to know.

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  42. Yes. It's surprising. I would expect to see a very unusual explanation for this sentiment, so that draws me in.

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  43. Yes. It made me laugh, and that will ALWAYS get me to read the next line.

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  44. Yes. Healing power and parking garages aren't something I would connect. But you do, and I want to know why.
    ~Sarah F.

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  45. Yes. *laughing* So unexpected. I have to know more!

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  46. Yes.

    The total disconnect between healing and parking garages (a place most of us consider the complete opposite of peaceful or healing) makes me eager to read on.

    Also, unlike many of the entries, this opener doesn't have a lot of extra words gumming up the machinery - it's clear, concise and very interesting.

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  47. Yes, this is a fantastic line, I must read the next to be certain of the parking garage guru.

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  48. Yes. I really like this one - no complaints on wording or hook. It's wacky and fun.

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  49. No. It sounded like something written by one of those random- word poetry generators. It went beyond quirky to just plain silly.

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  50. Yes. It's quirky and funny--almost a bit much for me, but definitely enough for me to want to read on to see why on earth someone would say that!

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  51. Yes.
    It's such a random thing to say, I want to find out more about this person who thinks that, and why.

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  52. Yes. Purposefully quirky and effective. Unexpected combination.

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  53. Yes. Random and confusing. I must know more, but I'll expect the voice to live up to this first line.

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  54. Yes, yes, yes. This line is original and intriguing. It definitely hooks me.

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  55. Yes. Great opening. Parking garages are spooky to me so when I read 'healing powers' I want to know why?

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  56. Yes. This one's a perfect example of an intriguing, surprising juxtaposition, a great way to grab the reader right away. Plus, it's clearly written and starts to give a sense of character. Well done.

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  57. Yes! Totally makes me want to follow the voice, plus I'm intrigued to know why. Well done!

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  58. Yes, very funny intro! Never thought of a parking garage that way.

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  59. No. I don't really have any idea where this is going from the first sentence.

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  60. Yes. It's mostly all been said; I liked the incongruity of parking garages having healing powers. I want to keep reading.

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  61. Yes. Surprising, quirky. Would like to know more. High expectations, though, for following through on this.

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  62. Yes! This is my favorite first line so far. Short, unexpected and you're already establishing a great voice and making me very curious about the parking garage thing. Good luck.

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  63. Yes. It subverts expectations and has a great voice.

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  64. Yes.

    This one is the winner for me. Concise, voice, humor, and the promise of a predicament--she needs healing. I get a picture of her in her car in said parking gargage, uttering mantras of some sort. :)

    Great job!

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  65. Yes.

    It caught me off guard and made me smile. Short and direct, no extra words, no awkward clauses. Can't wait to read the next line.

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