Wednesday, August 8, 2012

August First Line Grabber #16

TITLE: DUSTED
GENRE: YA Urban Fantasy

Brina knew better than to go out in public looking less than her questionable best.

71 comments:

Heidi said...

Yes. Hints at good conflict.

Lanette said...

Yes. I have reservations, though. If the MC's a complete narcisist, I'll put it down immediately, but I'd give it at least half a page to see if it's something I would like.

lamplightandink said...

Yes, shows me that Brina is strong and perhaps proud and suggests that something is happening that she's trying to hide. I want to know more.

B.E. Sanderson said...

No. It feels awkward, like I know what the writer is trying to say, but there has to be a better way to say it.

Amanda Foody said...

Yes. There's enough characterization that I want to know more about Brina. Though the word 'questionable' did throw me a bit.

erin said...

No. She sounds both narcissistic and emo. I'd keep reading, but I'm kind of put off by books that start out with something related to the MC's physical description.

Roan said...

No. It doesn't raise any questions, and it is slightly unoriginal.

Anonymous said...

No: i second the emo comment

Stacey Hays said...

Yes. Sounds disastrous.

Judy Mintz said...

Yes. Liked the humor.

Stephanie Garber said...

Yes. I'm curious as to why she feels this way. But I also agree with Amanda about the awkwardness of the word 'questionable'.

Janice Sperry said...

No. the word questionable bothers me.

Kelly Allan said...

No. Sentence structure was awkward. I had to reread the end.

ElectraCute said...

No. Not interesting. We should all try to look decent. Never know who you might meet.

Stacey Trombley said...

No.

I hate vain characters. That's all I see here.

janealfalor said...

No. I don't really care about a character obsessing about their looks and not loving the 'questionable'.

Ellie Heller said...

No. I agree that this doesn't set up a character I'd be at all interested in knowing more about.

Kathleen said...

NO. What is her "questionable best?" It sounds like you meant absolute best. That little bit threw me off.

Shakier Anthem said...

No -- the sentence feels awkward to me, and the issue of whether or not she looks her best doesn't really grab me.

Becky Mahoney said...

Yes - I like the voice so far.

Deb Smythe said...

Yes, I like the voice and the word "questionable" shows that she isn't a narcissist.

Charlee Vale said...

No. Questionable best? I don't understand...

Susie said...

Yes, intrigued enough to read the next line. If her best is questionable, why is it so important to look that way?

Holly Bodger said...

No. The MC seems shallow and I don't understand what "questionable best" means.

DJ said...

Yes, funny! Shows she's not that vain and has a sense of humor.

Alaina said...

Yes, I had those moments in high school (YA) and am wondering what makes her appearance questionable.

Missy Fleming said...

Yes. 'questionable best' means she's maybe got some self image issues and that makes her flawed, which I love. I want to know more.

Bill Scott said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bill Scott said...

No. "Questionable" confused me.

Chro said...

No. I was tripped up by what the heck, 'less than her questionable best' means.

Karen Akins said...

Yes - I want to know what questionable best means.

Jillian Kuhns said...

Yes. Kind of funny and made me chuckle.

DB Graves said...

Yes. But it better pick up. I'm questioning some snottiness in MC, but that could be fun. Or it could be just plain annoying and I'd put the book down.

SMKrafty said...

Yes. Offers an immediate conflict, but the word 'questionable' is awkward.

JaneDoe said...

No. I don't think this is the strongest way to start your book.

zolosolo said...

No. You lost me at 'questionable best.'

A Little Push said...

No. It seems like too many opening sentences start with cliches like "she knew better than to..." and I didn't quite understand looking her "questionable best."

the type writer said...

No. A bit cliche for me.

Jade said...

Yes
I'd like to see what happens since she doesn't look very good.

R.A.Desilets said...

No. I like the "questionable best" here, but I don't really like reading about characters who are overly concerned with physical appearance.

Shiela Calderón Blankemeier said...

No. I was confused about questionable best. It sounds nice, but didn't complete the picture for me.

Anita Saxena said...

Yes. BecauseI want to know what questionable best is.

Stephsco said...

No, it feels like a sentence that should come later. I got a little tripped up by "questionable best."

Margot Galaway said...

No. Maybe if you added the risk if she did it would be more interesting.

Heather Hawke said...

No. Feels generic. Is there something unique to your story you could start with?

Megan C. said...

Yes. I think there is definite voice and it caught my attention.

Leah Petersen said...

Yes. "Questionable best" got me. I want to know what's questionable about it.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

No. This doesn't show me anything interesting about the character.

Shannon Schuren said...

No. Doesn't grab me.

Jasmine said...

No.
Makes the MC look self-absorbed and 'questionable' best was awkward to me.

Marianne Su said...

Yes. I like what this says about the character, even though the last half of this is slightly awkward.

Melinda said...

Yes, but only because the word 'questionable' has me curious.

foxfyre said...

No. There's no sense of why it matters how she looks, other than because she cares--which isn't that interesting. If there's some horrible repercussion for going out without her mascara, let's see it.

The REALLY Real Curious Crow said...

No. I'm not getting "questionable best", at all. Questionable is negative, so even if it's a matter of her style being different than others', it wouldn't be questionable to her. I'm not sure it means what you want it to say.

Petre Pan said...

No--blech, she sounds really shallow, and I don't feel any set-up for conflict that I'd care about.

jedlight said...

Yes. I like these people who know better than do whatever anyway.

sbibb said...

No. I have a feel for the character, and it might work better when read with other sentences, but it just doesn't feel that much of a hook to me. Maybe not enough hint at conflict?

Mary Holm said...

Yes. Suggests conflict and gives us a little hint at Brinna's character. Though, I'm confused about what "her questionable best" means.

Megan said...

No. Doesn't seem to be my kind of story.

Stacy McKitrick said...

No. Nothing there to make me care.

Tori Schindler said...

No. A lot of teen girls are caught up with their appearance, nothing new there. 'Questionable best' lost me.

Danielle La Paglia said...

No. Questionable best? It doesn't read right for me.

Heather said...

No.

I was confused by "questionable best," and wasn't sure if her best is really awesome or her best is actually not so great. The first I couldn't care less about; the second would interest me if it were made clearer.

Jenn said...

No. Too thrown by "questionable best."

Barbara said...

No. It seems superficial.

Aightball said...

No. Probably because I don't put much stock in how I look before leaving the house.

Britney Gulbrandsen said...

No. This character sounds like she'll annoy me too much.

Abbe Hoggan said...

No. It seems like she thinks she can't live up to someone else's standards and that kind of insecurity doesn't appeal to me.

Dale Ibitz said...

No. It's not captivating or unique.

Mary said...

No. Too general and familiar.

Jess Crockett said...

No, doesn't grab me sorry.