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alixtiiIn which I realize I've had this journal for several months and have never done a meme. I don't know how many people are following this, but if anybody is stopping by I'd like to do one of those interactive give-the-first-line-of-your-favorite-book-and-see-who-can-identify-it memes. Names of people and places are replaced with initials. On books with intoductory matter rendering it unclear what should count as the first line, I went with the line that sounded coolest.
The list is:
1. “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” If ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
karabair hadn't guessed this, being the huge Orwell fan she is, I would have been very surprised. It's George Orwell's dystopia Nineteen Eighty-Four.
2. “When Z. was thirty years old he left his home and the lake of his home and went into the mountains.” Friedrich Niuetzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra, guessed by wisdomeagle.
3. “The Great Diaspora of the Human Race which started more than two millennia ago when the L.-S. Drive was disclosed, and which continues to this day and shows no sign of slowing, made the writing of history as a single narrative—or even many compatible narratives—impossible.”
4. "‘I see . . .' said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly he walked across the room towards the window.” Anne Rice's existential masterpiece--and quite possibly the only decent book she ever wrote--Interview with the Vampire, guessed by karabair.
5. “Once upon a time when the world was young there was a Martian named S.”
6. “When M. L. was sent to M. Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.” Frances Hodgson Burnett's childhood classic The Secret Garden, guessed by wisdomeagle.
7. “One thing was certain, that the white kitten had had nothing to do with it—it was the black kitten’s fault entirely.” Lewis Carroll's second Alice book (unless you count Alice's Adventures Under Ground as it's own book), Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, guessed by karabair.
8. “It was the year when they finally immanentized the Eschaton.”
9. “‘Who is J. G.?’” Ayn Rand might have been a horrible philosopher (i.e. I disagree with her), and a misogynist to boot, but the multi-valuedness of this work and, yes, its philosophical flavor makes it one of my favorites. Guessed by karabair.
10. “Even in high summer, T. was a haunted place; I., Lady of Duke G., looked out over the sea from the headland.”
11. “The old ram stands looking down over rockslides, stupidly triumphant.”
12. “A squat gray building of only thirty-four stories. Over the main entrance the words, CENTRAL LONDON HATCHERY AND CONDITIONING CENTRE, and in a shield, the World State's motto, Community, Identity, Stability.” Ari came close with 1984, but that's #1 above. This is that other great dystopia of the 20th century, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, guessed by karabair.
And, because I can, some netty form memes:
The list is:
karabair hadn't guessed this, being the huge Orwell fan she is, I would have been very surprised. It's George Orwell's dystopia Nineteen Eighty-Four.wisdomeagle.3. “The Great Diaspora of the Human Race which started more than two millennia ago when the L.-S. Drive was disclosed, and which continues to this day and shows no sign of slowing, made the writing of history as a single narrative—or even many compatible narratives—impossible.”
karabair.5. “Once upon a time when the world was young there was a Martian named S.”
wisdomeagle.karabair.8. “It was the year when they finally immanentized the Eschaton.”
karabair.10. “Even in high summer, T. was a haunted place; I., Lady of Duke G., looked out over the sea from the headland.”
11. “The old ram stands looking down over rockslides, stupidly triumphant.”
karabair.And, because I can, some netty form memes:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 05:11 am (UTC)4. Interview with the Vampire
7. Through the Looking Glass (?)
9. Atlas Shrugged
12. Brave New World
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 07:11 am (UTC)