Week #27 – Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Last year on Mondays we had fun with books. This year, we'll look at most of the same books but also some new ones, and see if the first line [or first paragraph] met the goal of a first line which is ==> to hook the reader's attention.

Here are some tips on writing a first line

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-writing-the-opening-line-of-your-novel

Week #27 –  Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Livingston_Seagull

First published: August 31, 1970

Here's what the story is about: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, illustrated with black-and-white photographs, is an allegorical fable in novella form, about a seagull who learns about flying, freedom, and self-realization. By the end of 1972 it had sold over a million copies, reaching the number one spot on bestseller lists mostly through word of mouth recommendations. In 2014 the book was reissued as Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition, which added a 17-page fourth part to the story.

First line/paragraph:

It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea.

A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning.

The story starts with setting [ocean/beach] and time of day [morning]. It appears to be omniscient POV and past tense. We have a beginning of plot, a fishing boat and a thousand seagulls fighting for food. We are not introduced to Jonathan, the main character, until the next paragraph, where we see him practicing his flying skills. This story is only 144 pages long, and although it starts “in media res”, it doesn't hook me until the third paragraph. Is that too late for the modern reader?

Does this first line/paragraph hook your attention? If you had never heard of this story, would you buy this book in 2024? Knowing the story, would you change the first line? Tell us in the comments!