First Lines

The American Book Review recently published the "100 Best First Lines from Novels", most of them are predictable (like the obvious number 1 or number 6), others are a wonderful re-read.
I personally love number 2:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)

I think it is equally funny as it is intelligent. Where do you find this in a first line? Then, the first line that had more influence on my life, Mr. Dalloway.


Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. —Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway (1925)

First lines are the crucial ones, everywhere. I guess, everybody who is staring at his/her blank Valentine's card in these days, knows what I am talking about. Even when you are not about to write a novel, but a simple e-mail or even when you are not writing, but just looking for a good first sentence to talk to some one; the first line is the most difficult. Recently I had a conversation about leather bound journals, I was full of admiration for them, I love them for their materials, the leather, the paper - everything precious. But then I don't use them, because I feel the urge to fill them with something equally precious. I turned to Moleskines, good companions in my whirlwind daily life. I like the sound when you knock on them.



But still, in every journal I start, I leave the first pages blank, keeping the space for precious thoughts & finds.
Michael Bierut even finds Moleskins too showy: "No fancy Moleskines for me, just standard-issue office supply composition books." He has 26 years in 85 Notebooks. Awesome story!

Now, to something completely weird (only Internet can do this): the Beatles complete on Ukulele! Every time I hear Ukulele I think about Mrs. Monroe.



Roger Greenawalt and David Barratt have this project to "Record & perform on ukulele all 185 original compositions by The Beatles with 185 guest artists." I don't even have words for this, it's fantastic. My favourite so far: While my Guitar gently weeps, maybe because if the world divides in John-people or Paul-people, I am a George-person.

(funnily, even the Beatles had problems with first lines)

And now, Valentine! Yay! Lovers fest. It's tomorrow. I didn't want to write about it, this year, again. But then, I came across some lovely links I want to share with you.

1. For the one who already has a sweetheart:
Please, don't spend money, make by yourself.



I love this kit Derek and Lauren made, in my opinion, it doesn't need more. Aw!

2. For the one who has a crush
You know, that I am Flickrition since 2005, but I never had the idea to use it for dating. But then, I made some lovely friends via Flickr, and there are some who met on Flickr.
So, this Wiki-how-to explains how to turn your Flickr crush into real romance.
An authentic Flickr romance. Now, I do believe again.

3. No, I rather be alone! (aka: Bah! Humbug!)

here you go

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle