tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post3766681612882295776..comments2023-12-27T22:26:20.552-05:00Comments on synch-ro-ni-zing: first lines & last linesRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-37903532556189627932009-06-23T05:09:52.653-04:002009-06-23T05:09:52.653-04:00I was doing that in my office the other day too, B...I was doing that in my office the other day too, <b>Bob</b> - hahaha.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-44360349043140207632009-06-22T10:02:28.786-04:002009-06-22T10:02:28.786-04:00Lol, now you got me looking in my books to look fo...Lol, now you got me looking in my books to look for first and last lines, and they are very cool, who knew to look, thanks.Bob Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06582050569176409358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-17763016491310408952009-06-19T20:48:18.293-04:002009-06-19T20:48:18.293-04:00Kerri - they make me happy every time I go back an...<b>Kerri</b> - they make me happy every time I go back and read them. Words are so great, aren't they?Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-44798870653113012082009-06-19T20:47:37.058-04:002009-06-19T20:47:37.058-04:00Loring - puh-leeze. You've made up for it I...<b>Loring</b> - puh-leeze. You've made up for it I'd say. <br /><br />Ironically - me who is among the most poorly read, has! :D Somehow that makes me happy in a competitive evil way.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-22614086354032927762009-06-19T20:45:58.653-04:002009-06-19T20:45:58.653-04:00Susie, shh don't say that too loud about Paris...<b>Susie</b>, shh don't say that too loud about Paris Hilton. If Nautankey stops by, he will be offended the way my Texas friends (and soon to be relatives) felt about the Texas quote, hehe. I give him a hard time about it.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-13089930383767735092009-06-19T20:44:06.298-04:002009-06-19T20:44:06.298-04:00Renaye, I tried to write a short story, and I didn...<b>Renaye</b>, I tried to write a short story, and I didn't get past the first half. If I can't finish a short story, I think a novel is hopeless.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-49946782373883970992009-06-19T20:41:20.565-04:002009-06-19T20:41:20.565-04:00Oh dear, CottageGirl, don't think like that! I...Oh dear, <b>CottageGirl</b>, don't think like that! I'm trying not to look at the calendar. <br /><br />And seriously, if I place one more book on the pile behind me, it will topple. The latest from Diane Wakoski, which she loved: Geraldine Brooks' <i>People of the Book</i>.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-78904684440720867862009-06-19T20:39:45.899-04:002009-06-19T20:39:45.899-04:00Hiyeee, Letty Girl - arty-farty? You think? And oh...Hiyeee, <b>Letty Girl</b> - arty-farty? You think? And oh! The font is one I found at picnik.com. There are some very cool "homemade" fonts there.<br /><br />Oh no, my head is empty. These things go out as soon as I read them. I would not remember most of this the next day.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-34767097099129628452009-06-19T20:38:15.113-04:002009-06-19T20:38:15.113-04:00Hildegarde, I agree it is frustrating. I would add...<b>Hildegarde</b>, I agree it is frustrating. I would add writing to the list.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-36728138190090334382009-06-19T20:36:14.003-04:002009-06-19T20:36:14.003-04:00Loring, don't you wonder who made the list? I ...<b>Loring</b>, don't you wonder who made the list? I didn't investigate that. But it pleases me that it pleases you, voracious and discriminating reader that you are.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-2993463453874654842009-06-19T20:35:20.950-04:002009-06-19T20:35:20.950-04:00Brian, if Crumley is still around I could see you ...<b>Brian</b>, if Crumley is still around I could see you having a very good discussion.<br /><br />Oh I'm so glad you read P & P. I need you to read the rest of them too. But none is as good as P & P.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-31860731467444925632009-06-19T20:30:21.899-04:002009-06-19T20:30:21.899-04:00Ha, Linda, so in a way you agree with him?Ha, <b>Linda</b>, so in a way you agree with him?Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-52177088905901699822009-06-19T20:29:52.915-04:002009-06-19T20:29:52.915-04:00Yes, Boots, but it wasn't very discreet - cons...Yes, <b>Boots</b>, but it wasn't very discreet - considering my future in-laws!<br /><br />:|<br /><br />:#<br /><br />:DRuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-4291860558344817122009-06-19T20:28:56.254-04:002009-06-19T20:28:56.254-04:00Jean - I have not read her, but I'm glad I inc...<b>Jean</b> - I have not read her, but I'm glad I included her too for your sake.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-14927009609513894562009-06-19T20:28:21.209-04:002009-06-19T20:28:21.209-04:00Julia, it's a good thing I didn't say it!<b>Julia</b>, it's a good thing <i>I</i> didn't say it!Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-29443018797587679552009-06-19T20:27:57.272-04:002009-06-19T20:27:57.272-04:00Oh, Peter, I have not read Candide in any language...Oh, <b>Peter</b>, I have not read <i>Candide</i> in any language.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-28356858411387269752009-06-19T17:25:34.251-04:002009-06-19T17:25:34.251-04:00I have a terrible confession to make - I have neve...I have a terrible confession to make - I have never read <i><b>any</b></i> Balzac.<br />That realization came to me when Abby was running spotlights for <i>The Music Man</i> and I heard the lines:<br /><br />"You'll find it in Balzac."<br />"Pardon for me for livin' but I never read it."<br />"Neither has anyone else in this town."<br />Ditto.Loring Wirbelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11764834150305763077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-61976825811394554862009-06-19T17:15:46.538-04:002009-06-19T17:15:46.538-04:00I LOVE these Ruth!!!I LOVE these Ruth!!!Kerri Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07617128767655910810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-76661024974530081582009-06-19T13:55:46.093-04:002009-06-19T13:55:46.093-04:00There's also Paris, Kentucky and St. Paris, Oh...There's also Paris, Kentucky and St. Paris, Ohio. Any other Parises out there? And Paris Hilton does not count, on any level.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201860227400017841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-52544586313621087582009-06-19T12:59:50.701-04:002009-06-19T12:59:50.701-04:00Oui Alice - and also one of my favorites:
"T...<i>Oui</i> <b>Alice</b> - and also one of my favorites:<br /><br />"Towards three o'clock in the afternoon of one October day in the year 1844, a man of sixty or thereabouts, whom anybody might have credited with more than his actual age, was walking along the Boulevard des Italiens with his head bent down, as if he were tracking some one."<br /><br />- from <i>Cousin Pons</i> by Balzac.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-69209427109524743432009-06-19T12:57:07.677-04:002009-06-19T12:57:07.677-04:00Haha, Arti, oh I love that. I love Snoopy.Haha, <b>Arti</b>, oh I love that. I love Snoopy.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-64251466592961970582009-06-19T12:55:54.652-04:002009-06-19T12:55:54.652-04:00There are books for every mood, Cathy. Today I hop...There are books for every mood, <b>Cathy</b>. Today I hope you are feeling more like:<br /><br />"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."Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-86789064485530947982009-06-19T12:54:01.480-04:002009-06-19T12:54:01.480-04:00Susie! "My wound is geography." I read t...<b>Susie</b>! "My wound is geography." I read that so long ago, and it all comes flooding back. What a summary.<br /><br />I can see that it could be helpful to seek the counsel of friends and family for the first line of a book at least - just to see if it would draw them in.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-83454982105680773952009-06-19T12:52:14.747-04:002009-06-19T12:52:14.747-04:00Yes, they should be, Annie. You have to seduce the...Yes, they <i>should</i> be, <b>Annie</b>. You have to seduce the reader.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-7114685551348396222009-06-19T12:50:07.904-04:002009-06-19T12:50:07.904-04:00In fact, here are the first and last lines of A Pa...In fact, here are the first and last lines of <i>A Passage to India</i> by Forster, that happens to be on my shelf in my office. I declare them boring:<br /><br />first line:<br />"Except for the Marabar Caves--and they are twenty miles off--the city of Chandrapore presents nothing extraordinary."<br /><br />and last line:<br />"But the horses didn't want it--they swerved apart; the earth didn't want it, sending up rocks through which riders must pass single file; the temples, the tank, the jail, the palace, the birds, the carrion, the Guest House, that came into view as they issued from the gap and saw Mau beneath: they didn't want it, they said in their hundred voices, "No, not yet," and the sky said, "No, not there."<br /><br />I mean it's ok, but it sounds pretty plodding to me. I've read it and seen the movie too.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.com