Long Sentences = Bad Writing?

[Baal_Houtham]

@Stealth_Potato

@Baal_Houtham

Some long opening sentences from the American Book Review’s 100 Best First Lines From Novels.

The first two aren’t bad, but to be quite honest I would call the rest terrible!

I won’t fight you there. The quotes were arranged from good to bad in my post. The Barth gives me active pleasure. The Claudius is pretty neutral, and I still haven’t bothered reading that pituitary case at the end.

@CalMeacham

Obligatory Henry James Story:

http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/31/dont-let-henry-james-ask-for-directions/

Laf.