Wednesday, August 8, 2012

August First Line Grabber #10

TITLE: The Memory Jug
GENRE: YA

I was the second person in my family to get struck by lightning.

83 comments:

  1. Yes. Family-based, statistically unlikely natural occurrences make me hope for magical realism, which I like.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes. I immediately want to see a scene -- the first person getting struck, this person getting struck... and because getting struck by lightning is inherently interesting I automatically feel like this narrator has a good story to tell me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes. It's rare to be struck by lightning, and extraordinary to be the second in the same family to have been struck. I also love that the narrator is one of the victims, I automatically trust that he/she will explain the mystery behind the lightning strikes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes. I like the voice right off the bat, and starting with family gives it a really warm feel for me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes. But I'm kind of meh about it. I want to know more, but it better deliver within the next couple sentences.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes. Very intriguing. It doesn't give anything away, but the first sentence is still very understandable.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes. I want to know how that is even possible.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes. I want to know what the connection is with MC's character and lightning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes. The addition of just the little bit of back story here boosts this up to intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes. Absolutely want to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  11. No. I have a hard time with sentences like this because they are usually followed by a lot of backstory. It also makes me think of STRUCK.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes. I'd like to know more about the family.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes. Sounds like there's something interesting going on here..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes. Interesting, I want to know more. Simple as that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. No. Using the word "was" made it too passive for me, even if I was intrigued - if you'd written it "I am the second person..." I might feel a little more attached to the mc.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes. Definitely a unique first line, and I'm curious to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes. Low probability events can be interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes, I want to hear about this family.

    ReplyDelete
  19. YES because what is it about her family that people get struck by lightning? AND how did she survive?!?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes! Love it. Simple and to the point.

    ReplyDelete
  21. yes. i immediately want to know this story

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes. Almost implies that getting struck by lightning is genetic, though of course it's not. Original, and I want to read on.

    ReplyDelete
  23. No. It reminds me of another book. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yes, strange and interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yes, I want to know what happened with both lightning strikes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yes, although I'm not sure about the past tense. Is the narrator dead?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Yes. Has me curious right from the get-go. Why did this happen and what does it mean?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Yes. This doesn't really tell me what's going on, but I'm interested enough by the uniqueness of this to read at least until the end of the first page.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yes. I would read on!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Yes, because you know there's a story there.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Yes, because I want to know how that happened.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yes, awesome line. Way to play on Lightning strikes twice.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yes.

    I want to know if both lived and if they got superpowers or were injured.

    But offhand I can think of two recent titles that have a similar premise so this really needs to standout.

    And I sure hope the next lines aren't backstory.

    ReplyDelete
  34. YES. You were struck by lightning? And it's already happened in your family? Yeah, I want to know the details.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yes. Immediate curiosity about being the second in the family.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Yes
    Made me laugh - nice humor.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yes. Getting struck by lightning is an okay start but 'second person' grabbed me.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yes, interesting idea, but the first line is just telling, instead of showing us anything about the scene.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Yes, but also borderline no.

    Depending on the premise of your story as a whole - genre "YA" doesn't give me much there - will really make this a yes for me.

    In short, yes.
    In length, I'd really like to know the specific genre.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yes, I am intrigued about the lightning and I want to see how it relates to the title.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Yes, it's a unique start and I'd like to see where the story goes.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Yes - I'm intrigued to find out whether this is a coincidence or not.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Yes. I immediately wanted to know why that fact is relevant,and if it meant physical lightning or metaphorical lightning.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Yes. I definitely want to know more about both lightning strikes.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Yes. Made me laugh and want to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Yes. Could go in so many different directions. Very intriguing. I would almost HAVE to read more.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Yes.
    Funny and interesting :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Yes. This grabs my interest to keep reading.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Yes. This hints at there being a reason for her family to be lightning-strike-prone, and I'd like to see what it is. I hope it doesn't immediately launch into flashbacks and bog down.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Yes. It's not a hard yes, but the idea amused me, and so I'd keep going to see if it stayed interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  52. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Yes--this doesn't happen every day, and I already know a little about the story's plot.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'd volt for this!

    ReplyDelete
  55. YES! Statistically unusual and intriguing. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Yes. Who was the first? Unusual x 2. The author has my interest.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Yes. Sometimes there's not a clear reason why something grabs me. This just did. It's to the point, different, and I want to know the story, not only of this character, but of the one who met up with lightning first.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Yes. How often does that happen?!?

    ReplyDelete
  59. Yes. I want to know what the connection is.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Yes--though I'd hope the next few sentences gave me some clue as to how the MC felt about this. The first sentence is very clinical.

    ReplyDelete
  61. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Yes. Sounds interesting. I want to know more about this person and their family.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Yes. Intriguing and makes me want to know more about this unlucky family.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Yes. Makes me want to find out more about this family.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Yes. I want to know more about this family!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Yes. Clear, direct, and raises interesting questions.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Yes. I'd read hoping for a strange family tale.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Yes.

    This had that intriguing bit of twist I look for. I would change "was" to "am," though. Unless the narrator is dead, he's still the second person....

    ReplyDelete
  69. A grabber is supposed to, well, grab a reader's attention. This one certainly grabbed my attention.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Yes. It's so completely off the wall in a unique way. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Yes. Funny and slightly horrifying. Also, I like books about families.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Yes. This is something curious to me, since while it does happen, it's not a common occurrence.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Yes. What are the odds? I need to know the story behind this.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Yes. You have to wonder what's going on!

    ReplyDelete