First Line Today

There is an article today in the WSJ about when people stop reading novels that I hoped to discuss today, but will probably wait until tomorrow. But it goes hand in hand with today's post. I started reading Les Miserables and these are the first few sentences.

In 1815, M. Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of Digne. He was an old man of about seventy-five years of age; he had occupied the see of Digne since 1806. 

Although this detail has no connection whatever with the real substance of what we are about to relate, it will not be superfluous, if merely for the sake of exactness in all points, to mention here the various rumors and remarks which had been in circulation about him from the very moment when he arrived in the diocese. True or false, that which is said of men often occupies as important a place in their lives, and above all in their destinies, as that which they do.

Hugo, Victor - Les Miserables

First, it's hard not to be blown away by the line:

True or false, that which is said of men often occupies as important a place in their lives, and above all in their destinies, as that which they do.

This is great and moving stuff. But secondly, the book's first passage seems like it would be incredibly boring. It has so little to do (seemingly) with the rest of the book. It moves so slowly, the wheels grind as fast as a snail. Still, I can't stop reading it. I'm soaking it all in. I can't wait to juxtapose it against tomorrow's article on when readers stop reading.