First Pages: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Today is the first day of November.  If you're a writer, you know that it's also the first day of National Novel Writing Month.  While I'm not participating this year because my goal is to finish a zero draft of my YA novel that is about 75% done, I am using the month to focus back on writing.  I hope. 

Day One: I've had to call in sick for my half day at work because of a migraine that is finally abating.  In fact I'm eating (finally!) some soup as I type this. 

Sometime during the month of October and #Inktober, I got inspired to do a First Pages/First Lines marathon this month.  (More to come on Inktober later.) 

Back to NaNo, in the years I've participated in the past, I was part of a large group of women writers who would send messages of encouragement during the month.  One of the first posts was inevitably "First Lines" in which we would share the first lines of the novel we were working on.  I thought it would be fun to dissect and discover the First Lines/First Pages of some of the best YA/middle grade novels.

The first? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, of course.  Soon to come will be Twilight.  Why specifically these two?  Because these two series were instrumental in changing the face of children's books and the children's book market. 

So here we go:

Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling. Featured photo above of the book (we own 4!).  Can you tell Mini Me is Slytherin all the way?  Our missing copies are the illustrated version and the Slytherin version.  Though we may be purchasing copy number 5 soon because Little Lion likely needs her own set.

My first thoughts: Rowling starts off the series with a lot of mystery--the Dursleys are trying so hard to be 'normal', and yet they are hiding a big secret. A GREAT secret in fact.  This mystery pulls the reader in right away because we want to know exactly WHO is 'the boy who lived' and WHY the Dursleys are trying so hard to be 'normal'.  I also like the name of their street, Privet Drive.  All very intriguing right away!   

Now, I bet you may be rolling your eyes right now.  Of course we know that HP and the Sorcerer's Stone must have a great beginning because it is, after all, 'the extraordinary national bestseller'.  But just because a book is a bestseller doesn't mean that it was written well.   I'm curious as to what was JK Rowling's original beginning to the series.  (As I'd love to know with many a book!  But I'll have to settle for what's on the printed page.) 

So this month, we are going to explore other First Lines/First Pages in children's literature.  Come join us for the ride!

Edited to add: We are doing a Summer 2018 Read-along of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  Click here for Part One, Part Two and Part Three of our discussions.

Tell Dr. Bookworm!

Which house do you belong to?

Did Rowling and HP draw you in right away?

What is your favorite first line in a novel? 

Do you have a suggestion for a book I should look over for our First Lines month?