I saw this at Deb on the Run and it looked fun:
1. Pick 5 of your favorite books.
2. Post the first sentence of each book. (If one sentence seems too short, post two or three!)
3. Let everyone try to guess the titles and authors of your books.
Ready? Here goes:
- Since before sunup Old Jack has been standing at the edge of the hotel porch, gazing out into the empty street of the town of Port William, and now the sun has risen and covered him from head to foot with light.
- I seemed to be standing in a bus queue by the side of a long, mean street.
- Not to disappoint you, but my troubles are nothing — not for an author, at least.
- He rode into the dark of the woods and dismounted. He crawled upward on his belly over cool rocks out into the sunlight, and suddenly he was in the open and he could see for miles, and there was the whole vast army below him, filling the valley like a smoking river.
- London, Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln’s Inn Hall. Implacable November weather.
Recognize these? Leave your guesses! If you decide to play, let me know — I’ll come and visit.
*Edited to add: try not to look at the other comments till you make your guesses. 
Ooh, this IS a fun Meme. Thanks for sharing. I am intrigued by all of the starting lines… but I haven’t a clue about four of them… ok, well I recognize #1, but can’t figure out what it is. 2-4 don’t ring a bell at all. #5 is Bleak House. I know because it’s one of my all-time favorites.
I can’t wait to hear what your answers are. I did something like this last year http://libraryhospital.blogspot.com/2008/07/bit-of-thinker.html (answers to be found at: http://libraryhospital.blogspot.com/2008/08/bit-of-thinker-answers.html.) But I think I might run it again with an updated/different list.
[...] Janet and Gretchen Joanna have joined in the fun too. [...]
Ok, I’ll play,
Let’s see:
1. The Memory of Old Jack Wendell Berry
2. The Great Divorce C.S. Lewis
3. So Brave, Young and Handsome Leif Enger
4. ??
5.something by George MacDonald? perhaps?
Wow, you’re both good! Sarah knew #5, and Polly knew #1-3.
I guess the only mystery remaining is #4…
I know the author of #1 but not which book. I thought I knew #4 but when I check out “The Two Towers” I discovered I was wrong. I’m stumped.
ugh…I can’t seem to type today. This is the 2nd blog where I have left several blunders in my comments. I think I need a nap.
I had no idea on any of them but I would love to do this one day this week.
This is fun, Janet. I won’t attempt to answer because, well, I’ve been beaten to the punch.
Maybe one day I’ll get around to trying it!
I hope you will, Amy!
Barbara, looking forward to your post!
Deb, you’re right that #4 isn’t from ‘The Two Towers,’ but it’s a great guess. I didn’t realize till now how well it could fit into that book!
I’ll post the answers in a day or two.
Sarah and Polly are so fast! But I only knew The Memory of Old Jack, a wonderful book. Is that book by Enger his second? Is it as good as Peace Like a River?
Yes, it’s as good! There’s a link to my review of it on the book reviews page if you’re interested.