Snippets That Inspire discussion

Some consider the best first paragraph to be from "The Haunting Of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson:

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were securely shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked in walked alone.

Do you a favorite first paragraph? If so, please consider sharing it here at Snippets That Inspire.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort."
The Hobbit

Tim wrote: ""In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to..."

Tim, thankyouthankyouthankyou for this DELICIOUS morsel. You are the first person ever to share something here at Snippets That Inspire. I am new to Goodreads, and it is encouraging to hear from you! Have a great weekend...

Whitney wrote: "Tim wrote: ""In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit d..."

I saw your post on G+ and it sounded like fun. Welcome to Goodreads!

Thanks, Tim -- I love Goodreads so far. I wrote an article on it last November for Tom Blubaugh on LinkedIn -- you might like it. If you want to read it, let me know, and I will send you a copy. Either here or email at wmckmoore@gmail.com -- it seems I am terrible at interacting on Google+ it seems...