Famous First Impressions

A unique exploration of opening lines from classic literature to modern music.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. In that spirit, Famous First Impressions: The Power of Perfect Opening Lines revels in the greatest openings from novels, plays, poems, songs, films, speeches, and more. Bestselling author Paul Volponi examines how talented writers and artists instantly gain our attention, often in just a few words, and dissects each line's style, value, and impact. Exploring themes such as crime and punishment, dystopian landscapes, identity, science fiction, and the natural world, Volponi reveals the interconnectedness of opening lines ranging from Emily Dickinson's I'm Nobody! Who are You? to Taylor Swift's Blank Space.
Famous First Impressions features individuals as diverse as Toni Morrison, Adele, Edgar Allan Poe, Don McLean, Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, Anne Frank, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., introducing readers to new genres and writers while also providing fascinating insight into those they already love. And with science fiction and drama discussed in the same breath as classic rock and poetry, this book is sure to inspire less-than-enthusiastic readers and booklovers alike.

Paul Volponi is a bestselling author, journalist, and educator. His twelve novels for young adults have received a dozen American Library Association honors and his novel Black and White was a winner of the International Reading Association Children's Book Award. Volponi is also the author of multiple nonfiction books for young adults, including The Great G.O.A.T. Debate: The Best of the Best in Everything from Sports to Science, Superhero Smart: Real-World Facts behind Comic Book Characters, and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Unauthorized Fun-ography. Volponi resides in New York City.