Who said it?

[dichotomy_man]

Since most editors read less that three paragraphs, often only the first 2-3 senteces, can you spot these.

A challenge, here's a "sort of" short story made up of some of the best ever opening lines of a story. Who wrote it in what book? Some are easy, other's not.

I have never begun a novel with more misgiving. Call me I shmael. I am an invisible man.
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. A screaming comes from across the sky. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Mother died today. I am a sick man . . . I am a spiteful man. 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. You better not never tell nobody but God.
Justice? It was a pleasure to burn.
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. All this happened, more or less.

 

[CharleyH]

Welcome D-man. I love dichotomies. Present some.

(I am sure I am not alone in asking what you mean by "here's a short story made up and guess who wrote it in what book?")

I am guessing that if these are made up, than there is nothing to guess because you wrote them all?

Welcome.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Welcome D-man. I love dichotomies. Present some.

(I am sure I am not alone in asking what you mean by "here's a short story made up and guess who wrote it in what book?")

I am guessing that if these are made up, than there is nothing to guess because you wrote them all?

Welcome.

No, the story is made up of famous first lines from book. I think he wants us to guess which books the lines are from. Like for example, "Mother died today." is from Camus' L'étranger.

 

[CharleyH]

No, the story is made up of famous first lines from book. I think he wants us to guess which books the lines are from. Like for example, "Mother died today." is from Camu's L'étranger.

Actually, it's a favoured book and I believe in recollection it was "Maman" who died today. "Or yesterday."

 

[CeriseNoire]

Actually, it's a favoured book and I believe in recollection it was "Maman" who died today.

One of mine as well. I suppose that since he quoted the line in translation, I should have given the answer in translation as well.

 

[CharleyH]

Mother died today. I am a sick man . . . I am a spiteful man.

He is combining Camus and Dostoyevsky here, I am not sure where I lost the translation or where you did? We are on the same page ... I think, Cerise. The poster is not on any page.

 

[jomar]

You guys are...literate. I only got the easy ones, Moby Dick and A Tale of Two Cities. And do I detect an Orwell and a Kurt in there? I guess I shouldn't have dropped literature!

eta: Oops, Welcome D! And to say should have known Bradbury.

 

[CharleyH]

You guys are...literate. I only got the easy ones, Moby Dick and A Tale of Two Cities. And do I detect an Orwell and a Kurt in there? I guess I shouldn't have dropped literature!

eta: Oops, Welcome D! And to say should have known Bradbury.

No worries, Jom. I never got the whole Dick thing, either. (MOBY DICK!)

 

[CeriseNoire]

He is combining Camus and Dostoyevsky here, I am not sure where I lost the translation or where you did? We are on the same page ... I think, Cerise. The poster is not on any page.

I think each sentence was supposed to be from a separate book, so those would be two different lines to be guessed. At least I think so But yes, I think we are in fact on the same page

 

[Guest]

No worries, Jom. I never got the whole Dick thing, either. (MOBY DICK!)

Well, babe, I've heard about your strap-ons.

I thought they qualified for size Moby Dick.

 

[CharleyH]

Well, babe, I've heard about your strap-ons.

I thought they qualified for size Moby Dick.

you are mistaken - I was talking about my hand.

 

[Guest]

you are mistaken - I was talking about my hand.

BWAH!

You are so feeelthy.

 

[CharleyH]

BWAH!

You are so feeelthy.

I would hope I wouldn't be on Lit otherwise!

 

[Guest]

I would hope I wouldn't be on Lit otherwise!

Damn straight.

 

[CharleyH]

Damn straight.

Straight?? What's that?

 

[Guest]

Since most editors read less that three paragraphs, often only the first 2-3 senteces, can you spot these.

A challenge, here's a "sort of" short story made up of some of the best ever opening lines of a story. Who wrote it in what book? Some are easy, other's not.

I have never begun a novel with more misgiving. Call me I shmael. I am an invisible man.
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. A screaming comes from across the sky. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Mother died today. I am a sick man . . . I am a spiteful man. 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. You better not never tell nobody but God.
Justice? It was a pleasure to burn.
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. All this happened, more or less.

the second one is from the Tale of Two Cities I believe

 

[dichotomy_man]

So far...

I am impressed. I gave this to a 300 level Comparative Lit class, and they averaged only 5.

So far-

Call me Ishmael. -- Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)

Extra points for Mother died today. Albert Camus, The Stranger (1942; trans. Stuart Gilbert), yes, the original was “Madam died today, I did use the English translation and two of you caught it.)

It was a pleasure to burn. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

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. ? Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

All this happened, more or less. Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

Justice? You get justice in the next world, in this world you have the law. William Gaddis, A Frolic of His Own (1994)

I am a sick man . . . I am a spiteful man. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground (1864; trans. Michael R. Katz)


(Clue, each sentence is a quote.)

 

[angelicminx]

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. ~George Orwell, 1984 (Which I think was already mentioned. That’s me, a day late and a dollar short.)


I had to google the rest of them, though.


So, can anyone play this game? I've created one, but I'm not sure if I should post it or not.