Thursday 13 October 2011

FISHING FOR READERS WITH HOOKS - BOOKER PRIZE 2011

The shortlist for the Booker Prize 2011 includes a range of books surprisingly readable books.

I spent some time examining the opening sentences of the shortlisted books.

The 'Hook' is crafted to launch the story, to set the tone, or to introduce the voice of character. 

I get put off when the opening sentence reads like a road map. 

I like it when the author has disguise the barb to hook the readers' attention and drag them on into the depths of the world created by the words - and between the lines - on every page of the book.

THE BOOKER PRIZE 2011: 

AD Miller – Snowdrops

I smelled it before I saw it.

Julian Barnes – The Sense of an Ending

I remember, in no particular order:
-          a shiny inner wrist;
-          steam rising from a wet sink as a hot frying pan is laughingly tossed into it;
-          gouts of sperm circling a plughole before being sluiced down the full length of a tall house;
-          a river rushing nonsensically upstream, its wave and wash lit by half a dozen chasing torch beams;
-          another river, broad and grey, the direction of its flow disguised by a stiff wind exciting the surface;
-          bathwater long gone cold behind a locked door.

Carol Birch – Jamrach’s Menagerie

I was born twice.

Patrick deWitt – The Sisters Brothers

I was sitting outside the Commodore’s mansion, waiting for my brother Charlie to come out with news of the job.

Esi Edugyan – Half Blood Blues

Chip told us not to go out.

Stephen Kelman – Pidgeon English

You could see the blood.

IF YOU KNEW NOTHING ELSE ABOUT EACH BOOK, WHICH ‘HOOK’ HAS ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU FIND OUT MORE AND TO READ ON?

I know using first person - I - is designed to give immediacy but for me, reading these, I'm drawn to the word "You".

10 comments:

  1. i like "I was born twice."
    many possibilities!

    ReplyDelete
  2. All were good...but being a nurse I was chilled by "I smelled it before I saw it" Pure hooking evil that one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It was interesting for me to see these opening lines
    Good post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Birch certainly wins it. Given the list she's on, you figure that line won't be literally true. But it'd be neat to see how she got out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Tara
    It is an intriguing opening sentence.

    Hi Donnna
    Considering it could be smelled in a good way, that line seems to come with ominous connotations.

    Hi Life
    I always love seeing your pictures - sorry things had been making you sound stressed rectently.

    Hi John
    You've done more to raise my interest than the initial hook Carol Birch wrote. *blushes

    ReplyDelete
  6. "I smelled it before I saw it."

    But, beyond the first hook sentence, I'm really a 3rd person pov reader.

    .......dhole

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh; and I linked your blog in my "Pay It Forward" post today (yesterday, really).

    .......dhole

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great post, I like the chance to peek in to books!

    For me, these 3 were equally good and would defo read further:

    Carol Birch – Jamrach’s Menagerie
    I was born twice.

    Esi Edugyan – Half Blood Blues
    Chip told us not to go out.

    I didn't like the rest at all, I have to say.
    Stephen Kelman – Pidgeon English
    You could see the blood.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was born twice is an attention grabber

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Donna, Andrea and Megan
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    "I was born twice" was a great first line.

    ReplyDelete