judging books based on ONLY their first line | classic lit edition 

Even though he isn't included here, shoutout to Gabriel García Márquez who's written plenty of legendary opening lines. I mean, _“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”_ Iconic.

Lolita’s first line never fails to send shivers down my spine such amazing writing . I hope you enjoy the writing it’s really good !!

Lolita's opening line is actually perfect. It tells you everything you need to know with just one line.

Anna Karenina's opening line is impeccable, i love it so much!

One of my favorites is from Moby Dick: "Call me Ishmael. Some years ago-never mind how long precisely-having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world." Of course it's the first two sentences, but I love it!

i didnt rank them all because my brain is melting but I was most intrigued by anna karenina, great expectations, and metamorphosis (SURPRISINGLY?? after I paused the video and reread it 50 times)

Okay but "Christmas time!" lowkey ate😭

You have a good list here! For Lolita I recommend reading the whole first paragraph - not really anything quite like that opening. Anna Karenina is about LIFE! Just like War and Peace it holds all of humanity within its pages! Happy classics reading 😀

You should read East of Eden for you first Steinbeck. It was a banned book so you know its good (lol). Its about how history repeats itself in families, and there’s a murderous sociopathic woman in a brothel in it :D

I’m from Russia and it’s so nice seeing people around the world reading Russian literature. Our books are definitely not the easiest and happiest ones, though could be good and touching if you’re in the mood

I didn't rank them but I loved 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms' but you're excitement to read Anna Katernina is unmatched

I love the contrast between the excruciatingly long opening sentence of Oliver Twist and the two word first sentence of A Christmas Carol. Dickens is so me

I read The Brothers Karamazov like 3 years ago but I still can't stop thinking about it. It's so good!

I’m livinggg for this classics era of yoursss, super motivating

Anna Karenina is arguably my favourite book, the opening line is simply iconic, a literary masterpiece on its own.

I haven't read Grapes of Wrath but that opening line's imagery is top notch, classic Steinbeck! I can already tell that he's gonna use color in such an interesting way throughout the whole book to discuss the themes. If you're not ready to commit to Grapes of Wrath bc of first line I highly recommend The Pearl to get a taste of his writing. It's barely 100 pages long & I think you'll really enjoy it!

I moved to the kindle because when you touch on the word the definition is shown. Game changer!

Interesting order, it's nice to see which books make you happy & good luck XD. I'm currently reading Metamorphoses. Sometimes the notes at the back and the general context can help when you read it but it's not necessary to understand the stories. Reading the introduction of the books gives an overview of the plot so depending on your views on that you can skip it or read it after you've finished a book section. I have the paperback but I'm reading the ebook so reading the notes is easier. The first line you read includes the invocation/asking for inspiration from the gods and explaining that the theme that is used in the following stories is one of transformations. Starting from the origin myths that explain the world until more recent myths from Ovid's time. The thread is like the stories' thread that Ovid follows. After the beginning the stories are generally easier to follow (and less abstract) and are divided into different myths and different books (15 books of about 30 pages). Personally for this book I choose to read a book (~30 pages) a week. The book can be dark, poetic, gory and tragicomic depending on the story. There can be lines like: "'No need for a rambling explanation,’ she said to the goddess. ‘Consider your orders done.'" and "Tisiphone wasted no time. In ruthless pursuit of her object she seized a torch she had steeped in gore, she dressed in a red robe dyed in a stream of blood, and girdled this with a writhing snake as she left the house." or "Do realize we didn’t prefer him to you but to certain death." and "But since we are subject to destiny’s laws, you can only survive in my heart, be recalled in the words of my lips. Your name will resound in the music I play, in the songs that I sing. My sighs shall be imaged in you and scored in the marks on a new flower."

“The Romance of three kingdoms”catches my attention 😳✨big yes for Lolita the fact that I read it at my 20 😂

Also for John Steinbeck, imo East of eden is his best and the best place to start. The Grapes of Wrath has great ideas and is technically great, but the plot is very simple and long whereas East of eden is a retelling of cain and abel, enough said

Shot every time she says "it's giving"

I seriously cannot wait till you read Anna Karenina because it's one of my favorite classics of all time 😩 and the first line literal masterpiece

I loved "The Brother's Karamazov" opening line. I have also read Crime and Punishment, like you. And loved it. This makes me really want to read Karmazov

Watching this channel has been my turning point,, I'm enjoying myself reading classics, ANNOTATING my books and feeling like a genius, reading Manga,,this year I'm doing things which I normally don't gravitate towards...thanks to you, Bella. Also I started bullet journalling this year and I'm enjoying it. Can you talk about your way of journaling just curious. Love you, 💌💖. Back to the video 😇🤗

you have single-handedly sparked my courage and determination to read classics.

Machado de Assis - The Posthumous Memories Of Bras Cubas: "To the worm who first gnawed on the cold flesh of my corpse, I dedicate with fond remembrance these Posthumous Memoirs" (Portuguese: Ao verme que primeiro roeu as frias carnes do meu cadáver dedico com saudosa lembrança estas Memórias Póstumas).

Did I just put Metamorphoses on my tbr for the opening line, even though all it contains is the theme of the book? Yep! The writing sounds absolutely stunning

“i read war and peace, but i don’t talk about it that much,” we love a humble queen😏 also, the chaos of starting out with lolita is everything i needed this stunning wednesday morning🫡😂

THE METAMORPHOSES OPENING LINE IS STUNNING I WANT IT

oh my gosh your metamorphosis book first line reaction was hilarious

This is such a cute idea I love it!! I think based on what you've read I loved Great Expectation and Anna Karenina the most!

i'm such a sucker for the opening line of lolita like WHAT a way to introduce your story

I love all those penguin classics 😊

Not surprised that Anna Karenina ended up the first! This line is famous

the final results were really interesting to me cause I watched this video while literally taking a snack break while reading Anna Karenina jskskks

Anna Karenina is easily my favourite but Lolita is a close second simply for the shivers and emotions behind the line, so simple and sweet until you know the background. Going into it without knowing what the book is about it seems like an innocent line, going back after reading it is chilling

First of your videos I watched. Was not ready for the end card music to shatter my heart 🙃

Love this idea! I loved the opening line to Grapes of Wrath so interesting that it's your least... also I laughed out loud when you said Pip seems happy and playful, just you wait 😂

Now I need a video where you rank those books after reading them 😂

I'm spending March and April reading every single classic I've ever had interest in because, just like you, I have so many it's overwhelming. But it feels so good working through all these books I've been meaning to read for so long. I heard someone say recently that Karenina was basically JUICY DRAMA (like historical gossip girl) and since that, I've been super excited to read it. From your ranking, my top three would've been Anna Karenina, Three Kingdoms, and Brothers Karamazov. Bottom would've been Lolita and North and South. I really liked Grapes of Wrath's opening with the "scarred earth".

the first line of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall sounded so good I had to add it to my tbr! I haven't read a classic yet, I still need to read Dorian Gray but phewww that one line got me

Your hair looks so good bestie!! Seeing a video from you always brightens my day : )

Wow, What a perfect timing that RN Im actually trying to read, to start reading classic books but I'm still working on eliminating my intimidation towards classics. This is helpful! Thank u Ms. Bella.

OMG !! I love all your videos ❤! It's because of you I started a classic shelf now !! Thank you ❤️

Im reading the Brothers Karamazov and that book has me on a chokehold! Its consumed my mind and the characters live in my head rent freeee. I love how you read the first lines cus that line for brothers k is particularly haunting me 😅 Why is Aleksey mentioned randomly without talking about him??? 😭

I discovered your channel a few days ago and I'm so happy about it! ❤ I love the vibe of your videos and above all you motivate me to read more. 📚 You also arouse my curiosity about the classics. could you make a video about the classes you have already read and how you liked them? 😮

anna karenina's was definitely my favourite! i also loved the romance of the three kingdoms

Omg that is the most fun book-tube video I’ve seen in a while. Loved how you went to reboot on Metamorphosis, cause same! 😅

The “et tu, bestie” murdered me

I'm currently graduating with latin with the subject being the metemorphoses and i can tell you that even tho the writing can be intens, the stories are soo fun!! All the stories involve a metamorphoses of people that turn into stones, birds, weasels etc. Maybe that makes the first line a little bit more understandable?! I hope you like it!!🥰

u look so pretty gurll 😭😭❤❤

omg this is such a fun idea! hope you have a great day bella, love ya!

Anna Karenina is fantastic! You will absolutely love it

This video was so much fun! Honestly I agree all of your ranking, now I need to read Anna Karenina soon, it sounds so good! 😍

I loved this concept

great expectations is my fav classic. I love miss haversham and estella!

The Romance of the three Kingdoms!! OMG as a Chinese i must say: this book is so good!! You must read it and you won‘t regret any minutes on it, TRUST ME!

Yes was hopping someone would do this lol. I’m one who judges a book by it’s cover lol. I love a book with a good dust jacket. I’m attracted to that pop that draws you in and love it when the book cover actually stands for the story inside. Also I’m attracted to old books w vintage art or coloring so it’s not necessarily has to be new. Don’t get me wrong I do give others a second chance or third sometimes to get into the reading but nothing beats a great cover and I also love those first couple line to grab you. Also when I’m buying a book I will randomly open it to any page and read a little to see if that catches my eye as well.

Im reading one Christmas story by Charles Dickens a year until I have finished them all. It's been really good so far. I loved the first sentence of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, thats number one for me. Then the rest I agree with you, Anna Karenina, Tennant of Wildfell Hall (read and enjoyed both of these)

1. The Romance of Three Kingdoms- I love this so much! 2. Anna Karenina- would pick it up based on opening line alone 3. The Brothers Karamazov- murder murder murder! 4. The Tentant of Wildfell Hall 5. Great Expectations 6. Lolita 7. Oliver Twist- why is it so long?? 8. The Grapes of Wrath- I like the writing already sue me 9. A Christmas Carol- I didn't understand half of what was said 10. Metamorphoses- what? 11. North and South- no. The amount of times I had to go back to re-listen to an opening line while ranking 😭 Anyways, great video

Anna Karenina, Great Expectations because I am reading Cassandra Clare books so I understand it, and The Brothers Karamazov.

You make me want to read my classics again. 🤗😎

I only have Lolita and haven't read it yet but the first line of Anna Karenina really deserves the top spot.

based off your vibe i think you will lovee anna karenina.

💫no because this looks so fun!! 👀 💫here’s my ranking: 1. Metamorphoses (= transformation, hence the change of shapes 😇) also I have that edition too and indeed it’s stunning!! 2. The romance of the three kingdoms (chaos) 3. Anna Karenina (iconic) 4. Great expectations (Pip) 5. Lolita (yes writing, but pls don’t context?) 6. Grapes of wrath (it’s the mention of gentle rain for me) 7. The tenant of wildfell hall (autumn) 8. The brothers Karamazov (murder) 9. A Christmas Carol (Christmas time!) 10. North and south (Edith!) 11. Oliver Twist (my brain cell abandoned me in this one)

Anna Karenina sounds so interesting and I´m here for it

Great Expectations slapssss. We love little orphan pip

☕i love this idea! 😍 1. anna karenina, i loved this ngl 2. the tenant of wildfell hall, sounds mysterious and i like it 👀 3. the brothers karamazov, murder mystery? me likey 4. the romance of the three kingdoms 5. metamorphoses, i dont understand i but i like the sound of it 6. the grapes of wrath 7. north and south 8. great expectations 9. lolita, it gave nothing 10. oliver twist, i got out of breath while you read it 11. a christmas carol, too many big brain words we started the same and ended really different 😂i believe in you reading anna karenina 🕴 *in mushu's voice* VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE

Loved this video 🫶🏻 P.s. EDITH!

Recientemente encontré tu canal y lo eh disfrutado a lo grande, me eh hecho maratones de horas viendo tus videos, creo que eres mi booktuber favorita y realmente haces que tenga ganas de leer más ❤ Como aficionada por la literatura clásica te doy las gracias por este video 💖, ojalá algún día puedas hacer algún video exclusivamente de libros catalogados como "thrillers" Saludos desde México 🇲🇽

I honestly have given up on reading classics because I usually dont understand any of what's going on but I loved this video nevertheless !! 💕

Now I have to read Anna Karenina. That’s no. 1 for me.

I love this types of videos, you're so creative! ✨💘🌺 For me, the first sentence of Anna Karenina was the greatest readbait in the history of literature. I had to read when I was in high school and I honestly hated the book, it didn't really sit right with me, that first sentence was the best thing about it that I could remember. 😂 However, War and Peace was chef's kiss! 🤭✨ I've read most of the books you mentioned, can't wait to hear your thoughts! 💘

1. Gaskell 2. Lolita 3. The Brothers Karamazov 4. Great Expectations 5. anna Kerenina 6. the tenant of wildfell hall 7.oliver twist 8. grapes of wrath 9. a christmas carol 10. the romance of the three kingdoms 11. metamorphoses

Lolita’s first line being one of my favourite Lana Del Rey lyric makes me want to read it immediately 😞

Anna K. Three love stories, you'll love it. Must read

"Christmas time! 😀" The scream I scrempt

AHHHH FINALLY

the only book I’ve read from this list is grapes of wrath and it is one of my favourite classics it made me so insane i will wait patiently for you to get to it here is my rank! this was super fun three kingdoms anna karenina the tenant metamorphoses lolita grapes of wrath great expectations brothers karamazov dickens christmas oliver twist north and south also love that you keep wearing the strawberry earrings I’m still obsessed with them my major read rn is don quixote and I’m so obsessed with it I’m 98% confident it’s going to be my monte cristo

I loved this video.. this is a great idea. You have a wonderful way of making me purchase more and more books.. 😏😏. You make them sound so good. 👍👍

I adore Dickens but there are times when it's like tell me you were paid by the word without telling me.

The romance of Three Kingdoms and Anna Karenina Lowkey took my BREATH AWAY. Also! Since you've been really getting into Russian lit, a shorter novel you might like would be Hadji Murád by Tolstoy. It's under 200 pages and I had a professor that would say it was his best novel.

Lolita is a good one Les Miserables is 1,265 pages. It's also a pretty good one as well

hihi classics masters student here, i just wanted to say a few words in defence of ovid cause the beginning of the metamorphoses is pretty amazing. basically, every ancient poem starts with an invocation of the gods to ask for the aid in this daunting task, in this case the one to narrate stories of transformations (changes of shapes into new forms). spinning a thread is a typical metaphor to say writing so basically ovid is asking the gods to unravel the story from the beginning to the end, untying the metaphorical knots of the stories (by showing how the protagonists of the tells turn into something new) thus transforming the artwork itself 🥹 idk its pretty cool i guess

0:05 Woow 😂😂 3:25 yeap, *uncomfortable* 6:18 JAJAJ omg, I loved that 😂😂 7:21 I didn't know the Last Hours was based on this one!!! Now, I'm intrigued 17:41 That's a yes from me

when we studied great expectations our professor made a twenty minute speech about that opening line

This is a great approach to deciding what to read, but I have so many books I'm in the middle I can't.

Here's my rank: 1- The tenant of wildfell hall 2- The romance of the three kingdoms 3- Anna Karenina 4- The brothers Karamazov 5- Metamorphoses 6- North and south 7- A christmas carol 8- The grapes of wrath 9- Lolita 10- Great expectations 11- Oliver twist Looking at this, maybe Charles Dickens is not for me😅 Creo que voy a poner todos los clásicos que quiero leer y hacer esto, se ve genial.

Here’s my ranking from best to least liked Tenant Ovid Romancé Anna Karenina Lolita The brothers Great Expectations North & South Christmas Time! Grapes of Wrath Oliver Twist

light of my life fire of my loins is actually quoted in lana del rey's song off to the races aka one of the best songs of all time

I literally love you and I love your videos I have nothing else to say

For me, it'll be the brothers Karamazov my first book to choose. It's been on my list for so long and l'm excited to read it but I'm reading now the count of monte Cristo thanks to u, Bella and it's taking me so much time since my first language is Arabic 😭. But I'm good.. I'm okay😂.

The brothers karamazov seemed so interesting

8:50 thats me when I try to read classics😂 I wish I could enjoy it more like everyone else😢

we should sount how many times you said 'sure' and 'i meaaaaaaaaaan' hahahaha i loved the video

MY RANKING lolita great expectations metamorphoses a christmas carol the romance of the three kingdoms oliver twist the brothers karamazov the tenant of wildfell hall the grapes of wrath anna karenina north and south

i dont usually comment but i love 'first/last lines from books' challenges soo much ! so i'm gonna partecipate ofc 1. lolita (i love this first line but i actually had to dnf this when i first picked it up bc it was just making me so uncomfortable😭 ik it's the whole point of the book but still, it was too much for me) 2. grapes of wrath (that's gorgeous, omg ?! simple but beautiful, i've never wanted to read this book but now i kind of do..) 3. metamorphoses 4. the tenant of wildfell hall 5. the romance of the three kindoms 6. anna karenina 7. the brothers karamazov 8. a christmas carol 9. great expectations 10. north and south 11. oliver twist (that was so boring omg, i preferred edith to this)

The fact that you are making me want to pick Anna Karenina and I can’t because my copy is back home and I won’t go back until June is a crime! I’ve been wanting to read that for so long and haven’t because I’m scared to read it in a bad headspace 😂 anyway I wish I could buddy read it with you 🙃 loved this video, can’t wait for a second part with Cien años de soledad 😂 uuuhh you should make this video but with Spanish written classics! (Even if you read the translation) I can give you some recs 😈

No 1 on my list is Anna Karenina. I think it will be stunning but also heart breaking and I am so intimidated by it. Also I have the exact same copy as yours! 🤭🥰 After that it is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Great Expectations and Metamorphosis. PS: Next month I will be joining your patreon. I am so excited! 🫣💫

i've always been too intimidated by classic literatures too, and in the past, have tried unsuccessfully in my attempts to read them (yes, even jane austen) but my top 4 do be getting my interest, and maybe, i'll give jane austen another go.. maybe.. 1. Anna Karenina - will this rip my heart out, or will this give me unhinge vibes, i'm intrigued 2. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - same, take me back to autumn 1827, i'm ready to read about it right now, that's my favourite writing style (give it to me straight) 3. The Romance of The Three Kingdoms - I'm Chinese so I'm biased (i don't even need to read the first line, just give it to me) 4. The Brothers Karamazov - I love fishy deaths .. 5. The Great Expectations - I also just wanted to continue reading the rest of the book, oh, Pip 6. North and South - Edith.. (somehow, Edith be piquing my interest) 7. The Grapes of Wrath - as u said, it truly wasn't giving, but i'm not mad about the writing style, so maybe.. 8. A Christmas Carol - call me the Grinch, but. . I'm not a big fan of Christmas themed anything.. 9. Oliver Twist - I have tried reading this book. . and my opinion of it hasn't changed since then (not interested) . . 10. Metamorphoses - perhaps, i just don't have the intelligence to decipher this book, and i just wouldn't have fun. . reading it at all (my system shut down the moment i saw the page) 11. Lolita - absolutely not interested.