It’s not the answer you’re thinking of but:
“It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents–except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.”
–Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830)
Is the inspiration for the Bulwer-lytton literary “contest”
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle.
The Long Goodbye actually.
Mine:
“The truth is, if old Major Dover hadn’t dropped dead at Taunton racesJim would never have come to Thursgood’s at all.”
Here’s mine:
“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
Herwono:
“The troublesome offspring of Cardinal Guzman” perhaps?
One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
pseudotriton ruber ruber’s (cool user name, btw) is Catch 22, I believe.
Mine:
A mile below the lowest cloud, rock breaches water and the sea begins
(chosen solely because I’ve been reading it, and have it beside the keyboard in front of me. I’ll be impressed if anyone can answer offhand)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John LeCarre
The Scar by China Mielville. Not as good as Perdido Street Station, which I’ve just finished. IMHO, of course.
“The Scar” by China Miéville. I didn’t know it offhand, but had to go find the book. Does that count?
(If I gave the next sentence, it would be too easy. )
One of the great works of the twentieth century, and won a bunch of awards.
I bet Tapioca Dextrin will get that one.
Regards,
Shodan
Shodan’s first one is 1984.
Three in return:
There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.
See the child.
It seems increasingly likely that I really will undertake the expidition that has been preoccupying my imagination now for some days.
“It was love at first sight” is Catch-22. I would offer up: “A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head.” But that would be too easy.
An easy one-
Amergio Bonasera sat in New York Criminal Court Number 3 and waited for justice; vengeance on the men who had so cruelly hurt his daughter, who had tried to dishonor her.
Shodan’s answer-
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.—1984, George Orwell
*Native Son, Richard Wright 
On closer reading, Fiat Lux beat me to it a really really long time ago. D’oh.
The Godfather, Mario Puzo
Cofedracy of Dunces
1 Jane Eyre by one of the Brontes. Charlotte?
2 Stumped 
3 Stumped again
Remains of the Day?
Next…
3 May. Bistritz. - Left Munich at 8:35 P.M., on 1st May, arriving at Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but the train was an hour late. Buda-Pesth seems a wonderful place, from the glimpse which I got from the train and the little I could walk through the streets.
“What’s it going to be then, eh?”