A second reading of a book’s first sentences
The Big Rock Candy Mountain
By Wallace Stegner
Published in 1943
“The train was rocking through wide open country before Elsa was able to put off the misery of leaving and reach out for the freedom and release that were hers now. She tucked her handkerchief away, leaned her shoulder against the dirty pane and watched the telegraph wires dip, and dip, and dip from pole to pole, watched the trees and scattered farms, endless variations of white house, red barn, tufted cornfield, slide smoothly backward. Every mile meant that she was freer.”
Suggested by Robert Wells, Marengo
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Are there any first lines of books that have provoked, touched or inspired you? We invite you to send them in for consideration. Please include a photocopy of the book cover, publication date and opening paragraph and send them to:
Aleksandra Kostovski
Chicago Tribune
Attention: OPENING LINES
435 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
