Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Beginnings and Endings In Books



We picked beginnings (we thought we may spoil a book if we picked endings!)

Sheri's Picks:

Cristin Terrill.  All Our Yesterdays.  2013.  “I stare at the drain in the center of the concrete floor.  It was the first thing I saw when they locked me in the this cell, and I’ve barely looked away since.”
Kelley Armstrong. The Summoning.  2008.  “Mommy forgot to warn the new babysitter about the basement.”

Jane Austen.  Emma.  1815.  “Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence, and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”
J.K. Rowling.  Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone.  1997. “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.  They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense."

J.K. Rowling.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 2007.  “The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years.  All was well.”
 


Pam's Picks:

I picked beginnings that really hooked me right away.

Tehereh Mafi.  Shatter Me.  2011.  "I've been locked up for 264 days.  I have nothing but a small notebook and a broken pen and the numbers in my head to keep me company.  1 window. 4 walls. 144 square feet of space. 26 letters in the alphabet. I haven't spoken in 264 days of isolation. 6,336 hours since I've touched another human being."
Michelle Hodkin.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.  2011.  "My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something.  A pseudonym.  A nom de plume, for all of us studying for the SATs.  I know that having a fake name is strange, but trust me--it's the most normal thing about my life right now.  Even telling you this much probably isn't smart.  But without my big mouth, no one would know that a seventeen-year-old who likes Death Cab for Cutie was responsible for the murders.  No one would know that somewhere out there is a B student with a body count.  And it's important that you know, so you're not next.  Rachel's birthday was the beginning.  This is what I remember."
Kate Karyus Quinn.  Another Little Piece. 2013.  

"The field didn't end so much as trail off, beaten back by the rusted-out trailer and circle of junked vehicles surrounding it.  As if they had forgotten how to be still, the girl's bare and bloodied feet tripped and stumbled over each other.  Slowly, slowly, the momentum that had brought her through the night and into the cold gray dawn leeched away.  She tugged at the garbage bag she's refashioned as a poncho.  It was worse than useless at keeping her dry, but its constant crinkle had been a steady companion, and now that she'd reached her destination it seemed wrong to let it be lost to the wind.

Standing still, she studied the No Trespassing sign spray-painted on a weather chunk of plywood, waiting for something to happen.  Certain that something would.  She didn't know where she was, or even her own name, but she felt sure of this."
Sarah J. Maas.  Throne of Glass.  2012.  "After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point.  Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment--though an extra half-dozen guards always walked Calaena to and from the mines.  That was expected by Adarlan's most notorious assassin.  What she did not usually expect, however, was a hooded man in black at her side--as there was now."
Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas.  From What I Remember...  2012. "I am jolted awake by sunlight flooding the room.  What time is it?  Where am I?  Disoriented, I attempt to open my eyes.  The light is stabbing.  My head is throbbing, my throat is raw, and my stomach is roiling.  Is this what a hangover feels like?  I wouldn't know.  I've never had one.  Until now.  I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and lie still, trying to get my bearings. Last night was one of the greatest nights of my life.  I think.  But then again, it could have turned into one of the worst.  I don't remember much past a certain point....I turn my head to avert my eyes, and that's when I see him.  The gorgeous, half-naked boy lying next to me.  Asleep.  Oh. My. God. Max."

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

24 comments:

  1. Great picks both of you! I loved HP's beginning and ending. And the Mara Dyer beginning is just so mysterious, you really want to how what's next:)

    My Top Ten @ Eveline's Books

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    1. The Mara Dyer beginning definitely piqued my interest from the very beginning. And the endings of those books are also incredible as well. ~Pam

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  2. Dang you thought of some good beginnings! I had forgotten how awesome some of these were - Throne of Glass, Shatter Me, and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer yes yes yes! I can't wait to read All Our Yesterdays! Awesome list!!!

    Nicole @ The Quiet Concert

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    1. I love when books begin with the MC in prison. Shatter Me, Throne of Glass, All Our Yesterdays. I'm sure there are others I'm not even thinking of. That type of beginning definitely gets my attention! ~Pam

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  3. There are so many books up there that I have to read! I've heard the Mara Dyer series is great, although I have no idea what it's about...

    I completely fell in love with the writing style for Shatter Me, have you read the sequel yet? It's even better than the first one!

    Roxy @ Story Envy

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    1. Yes, I loved Unravel Me and I agree, I think it's even better than the first one. I remember before I read Shatter Me I had read some reviews that didn't like the writing style and I was a bit way going in, but I absolutely loved it too! And you have to read the Mara Dyer series. Going into it without knowing what it's about is the best way to do it! ~Pam

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  4. We have many of the same books! Brilliant minds. Thanks for stopping by my TTT.

    Jennifer
    YA Sisterhood

    But how did I forget Mara Dyer???????

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    1. I recently bought the Mara Dyer books in hardback (I had originally read them on my Kindle) so they were the first ones I picked up when I was thinking about this Top Ten. ~Pam

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  5. I can't wait to read All Our Yesterdays. I've heard great things about. I completely agree with both how HP begins and ends (and every bit throughout). I'm reading Throne of Glass next. Great list!

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    1. I need to re-read Throne of Glass right before Crown of Midnight comes out. I keep hearing great things about the sequel and, although I remember it pretty well, I would rather it be fresh. All Our Yesterdays is fantastic! ~Pam

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  6. The beginning of Throne of Glass is awesome- I need to give it a read! :)

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    1. I loved Throne of Glass and I cannot wait for the next one! ~Pam

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  7. Great list ladies! I hadn't heard of a couple of these and added them to my TBR list!

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!

    Rebecca @ The Library Canary

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    1. This Top Ten, especially reading the beginnings of these books, is making my TBR list grow even longer! ~Pam

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  8. I just recently read All Our Yesterdays, and I so agree with the beginning! Thanks to the captivating start I was hooked right from the first page. :) I really want to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer as well as Shatter Me, quite many had listed those on their list this week. Great picks you have there!

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    1. I loved All Our Yesterdays (time travel done right)...and the Mara Dyer series...and Shatter Me (and Unravel Me). ~Pam

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  9. Great list! I can't wait to read All Our Yesterdays and Another Little Piece! I totally forgot about Shatter Me.

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    1. Another Little Piece was definitely different, and a bit creepy. That beginning definitely hooked me. ~Pam

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  10. I also forgot about Shatter Me. That whole series has me hooked. I cannot wait to read what happens next.

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    1. I agree. The ending of Unravel Me was so good, can't wait for the next one! ~Pam

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  11. Shatter Me's beginning made my list, too! Great list. :) New follower via Bloglovin'!

    My TTT:

    http://qaisracetusbookblog.blogspot.com/

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    1. Love both of those books and cannot wait for the next one! ~Pam

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  12. Throne of Glass *almost* made my list. God, I love that book!

    Great picks :)

    Jess @ Such A Novel Idea

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    1. There were so many good beginnings to choose from (and endings!) ~Pam

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