Thursday, March 04, 2010

World Book Day


As today is World Book Day here in the UK I thought I would have a little quiz. I've put together ten first sentences from a few of the books on my bookshelves. Some of them are well known; others not so - see how many you know or can work out!

1. The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.

2. There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

3. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

4. "Yes, of course, if it's fine tomorrow," said Mrs Ramsay.

5. I was set down from the carrier's cart at the age of three; and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life in the village began.

6. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness....

7. In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.

8. 'The Bottoms' succeeded to 'Hell Row'.

9. In the first place ........ is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses above a certain rent are women.

10. A strange melancholy pervades me to which I hesitate to give the grave and beautiful name of sadness.

Just a bit of fun - have a go and let me know how you get on - I'll post the answers at the weekend!

12 comments:

  1. I can't think of any of them at the moment! I will have to go and have a think. Great idea Rosie!

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  2. I can get four of them - 1,2,3 and 6. You can tell what kind of books I like!

    Great fun Rosie.

    Jeanne x

    Do you want me to put my answers?

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  3. I got a Charles Dickens one (but when I checked, it was the wrong one!!) Can't wait for the answers - I love a quiz Rosie. xxx

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  4. What a great idea Rosie, I shall quiz my husband when he gets home from work. He is an English teacher and quiz enthusiast.

    I think I know about three and would take a guess at another three, right now I am racking my brains!

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  5. Ooh - that's hard. I know about four - I think. I'll have to do some research!
    Love Kathy xxx

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  6. Research done - thank you Mr Google (I know that's cheating), I knew Numbers 3, 4, 6 and 9 ... and guessed correctly for number 8 (which I did for A level and hated!)
    I've actually read them all except number 10 which I've never heard of.
    Well done Rosie. That was a good quiz!

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  7. Ah, I know one is a Jane Austen classic - I think it's - not P&P, but the one word title! Oh, my poor brain! And the other is Dickens' "The Tale of Two Cities," - "best of times, worst of times." But what a pitiful reader's memory when it come to any of the others. Thanks for the teasing puzzle. Enjoyed it.

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  8. I'm glad to see that you are all enjoying this:)

    Simone - hope you still have your thinking cap on:)

    Jeanne - yes do come back with your answers if you want to:)

    Diane - I think I know which other Dickens you thought it was:)

    Valerie - do let me know what your answers are and what your husband made of the quiz - I'm sure he would get them all:)

    Kathy - I did No8 for A level too - I always look at this book as a bit of family history as a lot of my ancestors come from the area it is set in and a couple of family names are used in the book:)

    femminismo - welcome! Glad you enjoyed doing the Quiz - Tale of Two Cities is correct for the Dickens - and it is P&P:)

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  9. Bit late coming back Rosie but I think number 1 is The Go Between, 2 is definitely Jane Eyre and 3 is Pride and Prejudice already guessed and 6 of course is a Tale of Two Cities also guessed already.
    I have no idea about the others and can't wait for the answers!

    Jeanne x

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  10. What fun, Rosie! I got (I think I got) 2,3,4,6,7. Will see if I did when you post the answers.

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  11. Let's see if I can get any of these. Well, #3 is from Pride and Prejudice, #6 is from Tale of Two Cities...hmmm, is #2 Jane Eyre? Some of the others are familiar, but I give up!

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  12. Thanks Jeanne, yes you are correct:)

    Karen - glad you enjoyed the quiz - I post the answers tomorrow:)

    Sarah - you too have correct answers:)

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