# Yet another "Guess the book from the opening line" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2007, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408 "2007-11-22T06:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/141 "2007-11-27T19:18:19Z")
[QUOTE=Aholibah] Well done, **Fretful**!! (And I was terribly disappointed that I came to this thread too late to answer your _Strong Poison_ submission. You and I have bonded over Lord Peter before.) [/QUOTE] I would have gotten that one too - I’ve only just discovered Lord Peter, and I’ve read through most of the books over the past few months. Here’s one: “They didn’t say anything about this in the books, I thought, as the snow blew in through the gaping doorway and settled on my naked back.” ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/142 "2007-11-27T19:49:37Z")
Damn. I \*like \*to think of myself as pretty well read, but this bunch definitely puts me to shame. Every item I’ve thus far been able to identify has already been named. I therefore submit the following: **Quote the first:** “In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.” **Quote the second:** “I am a rather elderly man.” **Quote the third:** “He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/143 "2007-11-27T20:11:45Z")
I didn’t add a quote for either of my previous answers, so I’ll add one now: “The Rue du Coq d’Or, Paris, seven in the morning.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/144 "2007-11-27T20:21:58Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein? [/QUOTE] Yep! ---
**Author:** ![PaperBlob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/145 "2007-11-27T20:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=Time Like Tears] “I’ve watched through his eyes, I’ve listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one.” [/QUOTE] **Ender’s Game** by Orson Scott Card. One of my all-time favorite books. [QUOTE=Time Like Tears] “The Salinas Valley is in Northern California.” [/QUOTE] This is probably a Steinbeck book, but I don’t know which one. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/146 "2007-11-27T21:03:02Z")
_East of Eden_, I’ll bet. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/147 "2007-11-27T21:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] _East of Eden_, I’ll bet. [/QUOTE] By Duran Duran? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/148 "2007-11-27T21:09:47Z")
There’s a single book to which I can recite the opening line from memory. It goes like this: _Ite missa est_. I’ll be sort of surprised if anyone knows the book in question. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/149 "2007-11-27T21:23:19Z")
[QUOTE=Kizarvexius] **Quote the first:** “In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.” [/QUOTE] Is this Robin Hood by Homer Pyke? If so, I love that book. > [@](#): > > **Quote the third:** > “He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” Scaramouche! OK, an easy one, since I can’t remember too many “In five years, the penis will be obsolete.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/150 "2007-11-27T21:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=Reno Nevada] OK, an easy one, since I can’t remember too many “In five years, the penis will be obsolete.” [/QUOTE] _Steel Beach_ by John Varley? ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/151 "2007-11-27T21:49:29Z")
[QUOTE=Reno Nevada] **Quote the first:** “In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.” Is this Robin Hood by Homer Pyke? If so, I love that book. [/QUOTE] Nope. That’s not it. [QUOTE=Reno Nevada] **Quote the third:** “He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” Scaramouche! [/QUOTE] _Scaramouche_. Do you do the Fandango? ---
**Author:** ![ThirdCultureKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@ThirdCultureKid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThirdCultureKid)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/152 "2007-11-27T21:56:59Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] I didn’t add a quote for either of my previous answers, so I’ll add one now: “The Rue du Coq d’Or, Paris, seven in the morning.” [/QUOTE] Is this Orwell, **Down and Out** ]? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/153 "2007-11-27T22:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] I would have gotten that one too - I’ve only just discovered Lord Peter, and I’ve read through most of the books over the past few months. Here’s one: “They didn’t say anything about this in the books, I thought, as the snow blew in through the gaping doorway and settled on my naked back.” [/QUOTE] _All Creatures Great and Small?_ I’m pretty sure it’s one of the James Herriots, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/154 "2007-11-27T22:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] ? What does this mean? Was I supposed to put the author? [/QUOTE] No, right before you, **Fretful Porpentine** had guessed that it was Steinbeck, but didn’t recall the exact book. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/155 "2007-11-27T22:28:08Z")
[QUOTE=Fretful Porpentine] _All Creatures Great and Small?_ I’m pretty sure it’s one of the James Herriots, anyway. [/QUOTE] Yes, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/156 "2007-11-27T22:33:23Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] “The first facet was **purpose**.” - _An Oblique Approach_, Eric Flint & David Drake [/QUOTE] Yes ! Sadly, the ones I knew were guessed while I was offline. I’ll toss in some more. “And then, after walking all day through a golden haze of humid warmth that gathered about him like fine wet fleece, Valentine came to a great ridge of outcropping white stone overlooking the city of Pidruid.” “As a young warrior, Nukurren had heard the demons come.” “Death came quietly to The Row.” ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/157 "2007-11-27T22:42:42Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] “Death came quietly to The Row.” [/QUOTE] Cannery Row? ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/158 "2007-11-27T22:57:39Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] Cannery Row? [/QUOTE] Damn, nope. I’m thinking Bukowski, then. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/159 "2007-11-27T23:00:21Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] “And then, after walking all day through a golden haze of humid warmth that gathered about him like fine wet fleece, Valentine came to a great ridge of outcropping white stone overlooking the city of Pidruid.” [/QUOTE] Gotta be Robert Silverberg, **Lord Valentine’s Castle**. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408/160 "2007-11-27T23:16:15Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] Damn, nope. I’m thinking Bukowski, then. [/QUOTE] Not even close. [QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Gotta be Robert Silverberg, **Lord Valentine’s Castle**. [/QUOTE] Yup ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-guess-the-book-from-the-opening-line/427408.md?page=9)