First Line Fridays: Feb. 22nd, 2013

Welcome again to FLF!
Sadly, February is a short month, so (for now) with this post the Dickens theme will come to a close. Yes, there are plenty of other books he's written and ALL good! I shall get to them in my time.
For now, enjoy this Classic Opener we ALL should now in one form or another from Tale of Two Cities!

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

Again, I have sadly not read this Classic yet. I have seen a condensed stage form of it (as it was a one-act entrance for high school)and I do know that there is a musical out there too. However, I'll get to those after I read the novel.

First Line Friday: Feb. 15th 2013

And welcome to the 3rd week of FLF and our February theme: Dickens!


"My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip."

So starts Great Expectations! Yet ANOTHER novel focused on the rags to riches of a boy.
Again, I haven't read the book itself, but being here on FLF it certainly is on my List.

First Line Friday: Feb 8th, 2013

Welcome back to FLF!
To continue with our monthly love Dickens, I bring you another story of another boy.  David Copperfield


"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

I'll admit, I have yet to read this Classic fully as I do most of Dickens' works but it comes HIGHLY recommended by my mother of all people. Therefore, it shall follow suite RIGHT after Oliver Twist.

First Line Friday: Feb 1st 2013

Welcome to a whole NEW month of FLF!
This time, we will be focusing on Charles Dickens. After All, February is is birth month.
His first book this month will be the base of the musical OLIVER! That's right, the book Oliver Twist.

"Among other public buildings in a certain town, which for many reasons it will be prudent to refrain from mentioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born; on a date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, in this stage of business at all events;the item of morality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter."

I just LOVE the way Dickens words in order to get the reader from the get go. It's as if he's there talking to the Reader face to face.

First Line Friday: Jan. 25th 2013

Welcome to the last FLF in January.
This being said, my theme of Jane Austen books will also close (for now) with this final entry from her final novel, Persuasion.


"Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up a book but the Baronetage."


Come Feb. 1st, a whole new theme focused around Dickens will start. After all, Charles Dickens wrote a lot of classic first-liners too. And not JUST from Christmas Carol.

First Line Friday: Jan. 18th 2013

This week on First Line, we are still continuing the Jane Austen theme.

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine."

So starts Northanger Abby by Jane Austen. I have yet to actually read this novel yet like last week's First Line's choice. However, when I do, be rest assured that I WILL review and link it here as well!

First Line Fridays: Jan. 11th 2013

Welcome to another First Line!
This week, more continuation of lovely Jane Austen with Emma:

"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."




Now, I haven't actually read this book yet. However it is on my TBR pile And I shall review and link as soon as I've read!

First Line Friday: Jan. 4th 2013 (Happy New Year!)

Hello and welcome one and all to a New Year!
This is the first FLF of 2013!

To continue with the Jane Austen tribute next is the opening from Sense and Sensibility

"The family of Dashwood had long settled in Sussex. Their estate was large , and their residence was at Norland Park, in the center of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance."

First Line Friday: Dec. 28th 2012

Again, I am late, I know.
And, although December hasn't quite finished, I'm bringing my First Line this week from another classic author, Miss Jane Austen.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune MUST be in want of a wife."


So starts the first book I EVER read by Austen. She is an author I will go back to again and again.

First Line Friday: December 21st 2012 (Ahh! 4 Days to Christmas!!!!!))

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
THE END OF THE WORLD IS UPON US!!!!!!!!!!

And PLEASE if you believe that.......well, I'll be laughing at you yes -YOU-starting 12:01am tomorrow and I most likely wont stop laughing until I Branson, MO on Sunday to meet up with my littlest brother for Christmas!
And...if it so happens that they were right? I guess I'm SOL and zombie food ;)
But, on a brighter note, I'm ON TIME for FLF for the FIRST time!!!

"The Kettle began it! Don't tell me what Mrs Peerybingle said. I know better. Mrs Peerybingle may leave it on record to the end of time that she couldn't say which of them began it; but I say the kettle did. I ought to know, I hope? The kettle began it, full five minutes by the little waxy-faced Dutch clock in the corner, before the Cricket uttered a chirp."

This blogger highly recommends that IF you choose to read A Christmas Carol, you must also read Chimes and Cricket on the Hearth
! In fact, go to the nearest B&N and pick up the B&N Classics edition of A Christmas Carol. It comes with BOTH The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth as well!
Merry Christmas all!

"And, like Tiny Tim observed: 'God Bless us, every one!'"

First Line Friday: Dec. 14th 2012 (11 more days till Christmas)

Okay okay!
Yeah I know this is NEARLY a whole week late AGAIN! But again I had Wizard of Oz.
That show is done with now however so I'll post at a more pace with FLF.
In keeping with the theme of both the Christmas holiday and Dickens, the nest First Line comes from "The Chimes"

"There are not many people-and as desirable that a story-teller and a story-reader should establish a mutual understanding as soon as possible,I beg it to be noticed that I confine this observation neither to young people nor to little people, but extend it to all conditions of people: little and big, young and old, yet growing up, or already growing down again-there are not, I say, many people who would care to sleep in a church."

Thus starts Dickens'4-part tale based around church-bell chimes at the turn of the New Year. Even though it is among Dickens' lesser known stories and most (including this reader of Dickens) are not familiar with this story's existence, this blogger highly recommends that IF you choose to read A Christmas Carol, you must also read this one.

First Line Friday: Dec. 7th 2012 (18 days to Christmas)

Hey hey hey ya'll!!
Merry Christmas time to one and all! What ever joyous occasion brings you and yours together this season , I hope this Friday and lovely December day finds you happy and healthy.
I had wanted to start First Line Friday sooner. Like the Black Friday right after Thanksgiving. However, I'm in Wizard of Oz as the Wicked West Witch. Therefor, I've been busy last Friday. However, With 18 days until Christmas I've decided to go ahead and base this months FLFs on Christmas stories.

Marley was dead, to begin with. There was no doubt whatever about that. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.


These lines are the opening lines to THE best Christmas story ever written! I LOVE A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens! Sure, Dickens has written two other short holiday stories. Not to mention MANY other novels! However, when one thinks classic Christmas stories, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim, and the Three Christmas Spirits of Past-Present-and Future will forever be the first to come to mind!