Book Impressions

No, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

But you can judge it by its first lines.

You know the saying, “You never get a second chance to make first book impressions.” (sic)

First book impressions are quick and visceral.

They hit you in the gut.

You just “know.”

It works for people.

It works for books.

When choosing a book to read (or a person to befriend), we often carry a bias toward a particular genre, style, or personality.

You might look for casual nonchalance, a breezy, easy-going sort of book or person, or a hard-hitting, all-business sort of vibe.

Maybe you lean toward mystery or an adventurous spirit.

A bad first line or first paragraph can make you slam the book shut, blurt out an excuse—the equivalent of “It’s been great talking to you, but I just remembered there’s somewhere else I need to be”—and make your exit as quickly as you can.

There are those rare folks who will just keep slogging away, hoping for some reward for sticking around (with books or people).

Quite often, I’ve been rewarded and discovered a really great book that way.

But there is just SO MUCH to read.

Who has time for the slog?

Not you.

Not me.

Not agents.

Not editors.

So if you’re writing (or meeting people), get to the essence, the hook, of the story (or of who you are) right away.

Give people your best first book impressions.

Here are some first impressions from classic children’s books.

“It’s a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.” (Matilda, Roald Dahl)

“Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house.” (Coraline, Neil Gaiman)

“’Where’s Papa going with that ax?’ said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.” (Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White) I LOVE this first line. Talk about a hook.

“My name is Junie B Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like the B and that’s all.” (Junie B. Jones, Barbara Park)

“The year I turned twelve, I learned how to lie.” (Wolf Hollow, Lauren Wolk)

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling) To be honest, this is just kind of a “meh” first line. I’m going to call this the exception that proves the rule.

“Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin.” (Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne)

First lines of books are like playground chatter.

“Hey, we both have dads who don’t live with us. Let’s be friends.”

Or, “We both love pink. We should be friends.”

Or, “We both love jellybeans. Let’s be best friends forever.”

Yes, judging a book by its first lines could mean throwing away a great book.

But sometimes, life is risky that way.

An editor on Instagram does a great job of reworking budding authors’ first lines in various genres. Check out beccafaithheyman at First Line Frenzy.

Bottom Line: Do your best to hook the reader—or the person at your next social event—right at the beginning. (Maybe give people more of a chance than fictional characters and books. Or not. No judgment.)