First phrases - a literary quiz

aristide · January-29th-2005, 02:53 AM

"I am always drawn back to places where i have lived, the houses and their neighbourhoods. For instance, there is a brownstone in the East Seventies where, during the early years of the war, I had my first New York apartment."

the one who finds out which novel begins with this phrase (and who has written it) is free to give the next one.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 02:57 AM

Truman Capote -- Breakfast At Tiffany's

I'll come up with one in a few minutes (still unpacking from the dance!).

aristide · January-29th-2005, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Truman Capote -- Breakfast At Tiffany's

I'll come up with one in a few minutes (still unpacking from the dance!).

that was quick, steve. i am curious if i find out yours.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 03:07 AM

I shall soon be quite dead at last in spite of all.

aristide · January-29th-2005, 03:10 AM

it has to be samuel beckett but which one i have to look. MALONE DIES.

"The accused man, Kabuo Miyamoto, sat proudly upright with a rigid grace, his palms placed softly on the defendant's table - the posture of a man who has detached himself insofar as this is possible at his own trial." (i hope this is a harder one ;-)

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 04:12 AM

You got me on that. I've heard of the book, but don't know it. It's Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, but I had to look it up.

Here's one back at you (you get to go again, too, since you got me really!):

"Two gentlemen who were in the lavatory at the time tried to life him up: but he was quite helpless." (NOT a novel.)

aristide · January-29th-2005, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

You got me on that. I've heard of the book, but don't know it. It's Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, but I had to look it up.

Here's one back at you (you get to go again, too, since you got me really!):

"Two gentlemen who were in the lavatory at the time tried to life him up: but he was quite helpless." (NOT a novel.)

i am sorry, steve, but i have no idea. perhaps there is someone here, who knows it?

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 05:21 AM

Should be "lift him up" of course. Many here have read this, almost certainly including yourself, ari.

Here's an easier one:

Mother died today.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-29th-2005, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Should be "lift him up" of course. Many here have read this, almost certainly including yourself, ari.

Here's an easier one:

----------------------------

"Two Gentlemen" etc....James Joyce - "Grace" (from the Dubliners)
..........A great book...Ivy Day in the Committe Room is a classic short story. RC.

Mother died today.

Albert Camus - ''The Stranger''

mine to follow...!....OK...

"The train's arrived, thank God. What's the time?" (not a novel...A play)

RC

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 05:58 AM

Chekhov -- Cherry Orchard

Mine's the opening of a short story.

Here's another novel:

This is the saddest story I have ever heard.

john williams · January-29th-2005, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

This is the saddest story I have ever heard.

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford.

"The old writer lived in a boxcar by the river."

stonemonkts · January-29th-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBW

"The old writer lived in a boxcar by the river."

Burroughs?

john williams · January-29th-2005, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

Burroughs?

Yes.

Jimmy Cantiello · January-29th-2005, 09:23 AM

One of my favorite opening lines:

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."

steve(thelil) · January-29th-2005, 09:31 AM

Wow. Even I know one. The Metamorphasis.

Here's one:

My desert-island, all time, top five most memorable split-ups, in chronological order:

1. Alison Ashworth
2. Penny Hardwick
3. Jackie Allen
4. Charlie Nicholson
5. Sarah Kendrew

Jason Bivins · January-29th-2005, 11:08 AM

I'm guessing High Fidelity, thelil?

Here's one:

"124 was spiteful."

Uli · January-29th-2005, 11:13 AM

"Die Welt ist alles was der Fall ist"

walto knows this and can provide the English translation.

steve(thelil) · January-29th-2005, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bivins

I'm guessing High Fidelity, thelil?

Bingo

crawjo · January-29th-2005, 11:36 AM

"In the town there were two mutes, and they were always together."

Richardo Caerleoni · January-29th-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

"In the town there were two mutes, and they were always together."

'The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter' - Carson McCullers

OK MINE...(to follow)...Hell, are "Jazz People" aways this well read !!!(not a quote)...... A Radio Play...

"To begin at the beginning:
It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters''-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. The houses are blind as moles ...

Think Bobby Wellins...Great/amazing saxophone solo ...

RC.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uli

"Die Welt ist alles was der Fall ist"

walto knows this and can provide the English translation.

Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

"The world is everything that is the case."

[QUOTE=Jason Bivins

Here's one:

"124 was spiteful."[/QUOTE]

Toni Morrison's Beloved.

Richard got my Joyce quote above (forgot to acknowledge that!).

First line of play, minus a character's name:

"... What is carnal embrace?"

Root Doctor · January-29th-2005, 12:55 PM

"I am living at the Villa Borghese. There is not a crumb of dirt anywhere, nor a chair misplaced. We are all alone here and we are dead."

Uli · January-29th-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

"The world is everything that is the case."

Square, you're good!

aristide · January-29th-2005, 01:06 PM

Squaredancecalling Steve: "First line of play, minus a character's name:

"... What is carnal embrace?"[/QUOTE]

tom stoppard, arcadia

but there are still some answers missing

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root Doctor

"I am living at the Villa Borghese. There is not a crumb of dirt anywhere, nor a chair misplaced. We are all alone here and we are dead."

Henry Miller, one of the Tropics

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-29th-2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aristide

Squaredancecaller: "First line of play, minus a character's name:

"... What is carnal embrace?"

tom stoppard, arcadia

but there are still some answers missing[/QUOTE]

Excellent!! Great play, BTW!

Brian Olewnick · January-29th-2005, 01:11 PM

Ursus and Homo were fast friends. Ursus was a man, Homo a wolf.

Sergio Zamora · January-29th-2005, 01:14 PM

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times...

aristide · January-29th-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

'The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter' - Carson McCullers

OK MINE...(to follow)...Hell, are "Jazz People" aways this well read !!!(not a quote)...... A Radio Play...

"To begin at the beginning:
It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters''-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. The houses are blind as moles ...

Think Bobby Wellins...Great/amazing saxophone solo ...

RC.

dylan thomas, under milkwood

Douglas · January-29th-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

"To begin at the beginning...

dylan thomas - under milk wood

"Justice? - You get justice in he next world, in this world you have the law."