The Thing That Goes Doink

Ii've picked three book hooks that have become favorites because they have such quirky hooks.

This  is one that I'm sure many will post - and yet it's not hard to see why:

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

Yup, that's right, the opening lines to Pride and Prejudice.  At the time that this was written, only one thing was expceted of women - marry, and marry well.  The richer, the better.  Elizabeth Bennett represents a different perspective of these times; she wishes not to marry for fortune or stability, but rather for love.  She's intelligent, witty, and not afraid to speak her mind, traits back in the Regency that were considered scandalous in a woman.  However it is her intelligence and wit which attracts the proud (and convienently rich) Fitzwilliam Darcy.  Austen was a keen observer of the world around her, and then she would gently poke fun at the genteel manners and actions of those she saw.  Pride and Prejudice is easily one of my favorite books.

The second goes as follows:

"I Will Not
Drink more that fourteen alcohol units a week.
Smoke.
Waste money on: pasta makers, ice cream machines or other culinary devices which will never use; books by unreadable literary authors to put impressively on shelves; exotic under, since pointless as have no boyfriend.
Behave sluttishly around the house.
Spend more than earn.
Allow in-tray to rage out of control.
Fall for any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, commitment phobics, people with girlfrinds or wives, misogynists, megalomaniacs, chauvinists, emotional fuckwits or freeloaders, perverts."

Of cours Bridget Jones goes on to entail the rest of her "Will Not" list and follows it with her "I Will" list, which includes such gems as:

"Will not - Obsess about Daniel Cleaver as pathetic to have a crush on boss in manner of Miss Moneypenny or similar"

and

"Will - Go to gym three times a week no merely to buy sandwich."

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding is a modern day Pride and Prejudice.  Though Bridget is a tad more shallow than Elizabeth Bennett, she's also not one to let people walk all over her and makes a concious effort to better herself.  She is the modern single woman who, despite the constant drive to find a boyfriend, is also wanting more to her life than to simply get married and produce children.  She wants a (relatively) meaningful career.  To be indpendent.  To make her own way in the work.  All while dealing with a crazy mother (who ran off with a Portugese conman), a playboy boss (styled after Hugh Grant) and the proud lawyer who remembers her best as the naked child from his paddling pool (Mr. Darcy).  

Finally, the last book which hooked me and started me into an addiction that has pwns my soul:

"I'm so sorry Vane.  I swear I didn't mean to get us killed like this."

My very first Sherrilyn Kenyon book.  Night Play.  I stayed up until 1 am to finish reading this.  My first foray into the world of the Dark-Hunters, Were-Hunters and Dream-Hunters was with Bride and Vane, a pleasantly plump New Oreleans shop owner and a sexy, hunky were-wolf.  Sherri's books are fantastic, as each of the books has a hook that will grab you and not let go until it's over, however since Night Play was my first, it will forever be my favorite (followed very closely by Seize the Night).