Story beginnings

           Personally I like stories that either start at some crucial point then explain certain things as the story progresses. Or they give you the background and setting up front then the story unfolds as you read. In the short story "A Temporary Matter" by Jhumpa Lahiri, the opening seemed kinda of standard. Just basics, setting the scene. There is no crucial matter or point made, just the fact that "The notice informed them that it was a temporary matter: for five days their electricity would be cut for one hour, beginning at eight p.m."(321,Lahiri) Now this alone doesn't really hook me. I don't have a hook until the bottom of the next page. "The baby was born dead."(322, Lahiri) Now, if that doesn't hook the reader then i don't know what will.
          The rest of the story is basically introducing you to the two characters: Shoba and Shukumar. Then all we have to go on is the fact that their baby is dead and that there is this unrest or awkward presence among-st the husband and wife now. They avoid each other. Then they have the talks in the dark about their flaws. Then we find out that Shoba wants to leave. And Shukumar says, "Our baby was a boy."(334,Lahiri) The story feels slow paced until we reach those two points the one hooking us into the story and the other being the outcome. Usually i don't like these kinds of stories but, this one was enjoyable. Then ending was something that i didn't see coming and it was a very emotional part. As opposed to the middle of the story which seemed bland.


     One of my favorite books has an intro that just tosses you into the story. The book is Halo: The Fall of Reach, by Eric Nylund. This is the intro: "Contact. All teams stand by: enemy contact, my position." The chief knew there were probably more than a hundred of them-- motion sensors were off the scale. He wanted to see them for himself, though; his training made that lesson clear: "Machines break. Eyes don't." Four Spartans the composed Blue team covered his back, standing absolutely silent and immobile in their MJOLNIR combat armor. Someone had once commented that they looked like Greek war gods in the armor... but his Spartans were far more effective and ruthless than Homer's gods had ever been.

    Now how could you not want to finish reading that?