First sentences and last sentences of novels serve two very different purposes. Where the first sentence of a novel wants to grab your attention and not let you go, a last sentence often serves to summarize an entire book and to reinforce its central message or mood.

Novel First Sentences
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Reaching and reached.

Reached by Ally Condie

It is moving across time, coming to me in every language of the world, and it sounds like pure love.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Submitted by shadesofmaybe

and this is followed by a sigh, then a slight shrug and another sigh, and above one of the doors covered by red velvet drapes in Harry’s is a sign and on the sign in letters that match the drapes’ color are the words THIS IS NOT AN EXIT.

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis

Submitted by youwannatalkaboutdinosaurs

By then I may no longer believe I heard anything in Miri’s room.
White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
This is a GREAT project firstly. I was wondering if you take submissions. If yes, I have a few FIRST sentences that I'd like to submit.

Oh yes, we love submissions!

But if you have FIRST sentences, I hope you’ll redirect them over to Novel First Sentences instead. :)

How do you actually gain access to the sentences? Jacquelyn Mitchard

People submit them from books they have lying around the house or library or bookstore. :)

I’ve put down my scrivener’s pen. These days I prefer not to.

Bag of Bones by Stephen King

Submitted by martinipistache 

All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Last Battle by C.S.Lewis

Submitted by tacosandtrumpets 

For I honestly do believe that in the fat-dripping, gummy, eat-and-let-eat regime just ended…in such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murderer in the chest — without asking to be paid.

A Man of the People by Chinua Achebe

Submitted by eriniee

A nurse came out then to fetch me, and I turned and followed her inside, and it was as if I were walking into the sea.

The Sea by John Banville

Submitted by deathsblood 

She didn’t.

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Submitted by fewmorepages

I really WONDER.

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody

Submitted by fewmorepages

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