First Lines of The Arvida Review
New hellos make me sweaty. So does this scorching OC heat. So instead of an awkward hello to an unknown visitor, I’ll say hiya to a reader I hope will grow closer with each edition. Hiya! I have a question for you:
What are some of the best opening sentences you’ve ever read? One of my favorites comes from Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” Chills. I have a soft spot for metrical form. But what makes you want to keep reading?
The 11 authors in the inaugural issue of The Arvida Review pulled me into their stories immediately. Which story will you flip to after reading the first line?
“I am 51 years old, Sally Salzmann reflected.” - What Cannot Be Rebuilt by Marc Petri
“Symon Shevchenko spit another sunflower seed into the dirt as he watched the sun set across the farmlands he called home and contemplated the possibility of the end.” - The Seeds of a Village By EJ Lagerberg
“Perla stepped from the frenetic heat of the kitchen into the dining room of her restaurant.” - Sikat by Rosalia Rodriguez Mattern
“I opened my eyes, and there were the stars, glinting behind pine needles in a dark, dark sky.” - Mist by Aitchel Andes
“Days were just getting humid when the prairie dogs showed up in the cemetery.” - Little Dogs of War by Jude Atwood
“It was that time of the year in the barrio where the leaves on the ground dropped yellow and red.” - Riverbed Outcasts by Jacob Teran
“We weren’t ourselves in death.” The Hand by Eric Bies
“Granny always kept that doll on display.” - Rum Raisin by Megan L. Garner
“When Amy showered, usually her mind was elsewhere, mulling over work problems and possible bugs in the codebase.“ - New Hong Kong Academy by Yin Lae Yau
“Enzo was late.” - The Night Clerk at the Hotel Dauphine by Jennifer Siglin
“*Energúmeno, na (m. y f.) - 1. Individuo influido por un mal espíritu.” - The Dying Fields by Alejandro Morales
Stop by Arvida Book Co. or our Instagram and tell us your thoughts on the stories!
Best books,
Shy Hassett
