On: Every novel is boring until it isn't

[nephihaha]

I disagree. Many novels have great openings. "The Horse's Mouth" by Joyce Cary had me from the opening paragraph. I could say the same about "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier or "the Crow Road" by Iain Banks.

We nicknamed "the Matrix Reloaded", the "Mattress Resprung", because for me it illustrated a major problem in films and books... The beginning and end are great but they sag in the middle like an old mattress.

[shawn_w → nephihaha]

> It was the day my grandmother exploded.

Probably Banks's most memorable opening line. Love Crow Road... Have you seen the tv adaptation? I keep meaning to watch it.

[sph → shawn_w]

Thank you for being the only one to include the opening line of a book to pique my interest. And piqued it is. I have enjoyed The Wasp Factory (haven't read his scifi yet), and this sounds as exciting.

I should really give Consider Phlebas another go.

[shawn_w → sph]

People seem to bounce off Phlebas as a first go at (M) Banks. Player of Games is the usual recommendation for a first Culture book.