First Lines of Richard Powers "The Overstory"

 "First, there was nothing. Then there was everything.

Then, in a park above a western city after dark, the air is training messages. A woman sits on the ground, leaning against a pine. Its bark presses hard against her back, as hard as life. its needles scent the air and a force hums in the heart of the wood. Her ears tune down to the lowest frequencies. The tree is saying things, in words before words."

- Richard Powers, The Overstory.

The beginning section (Roots) of this Pulitzer Prize winning novel is so entertaining, powerful, and full of universal truths that it might just be the best thing I've ever read. Powers introduces eight different narratives, each one in its own short story and it's one hell of a ride - filled with love and disillusionment and betrayal and random acts of cruel fate. It feels real. The later sections of the book weave the characters together in different ways and so far (I've been reading the rest of the book in slow sips, saving and savoring its taste like a rare scotch) it's still excellent but does pale, just a bit, in comparison with that tour de force of an overture. Pick it up - you wont be disappointed.

First Lines of Stephen King's "Holly"

 "It's an old city, and no longer in very good shape, nor is the lake beside which it has been built, but there are parts of it that are still pretty nice. Longtime residents would probably agree that the nicest section is Sugar Heights, and the nicest street running though it is Ridge Road, which makes a gentle downhill curve from Bell College of Arts and Sciences to Deerfield Park, two miles below. On its way, Ridge Road passes many find houses, some of which belong to college faculty and some to the city's more successful businesspeople--doctors, lawyers, bankers, and top-of-the-pyramid business executives. Most of these homes are Victorians, with impeccable paintjobs, bow windows, and lots of gingerbread trim."

- Stephen King, Holly

Another speedy read by the prolific King. This one contains some nasty scenes, but also has a lot of that folksy King observational prose which can be so addicting. Not the best of his novels I've ever read - I found the choice to reveal the who behind the whodunit to take the edge off of the suspense - but still a fun read to start off the new year.

Also: was surprised to wake up in the middle of the night to find that the writing and windows on the cover are glow-in-the-dark! Surprisingly creepy.