CAN YOU MATCH THE FIRST LINES WITH THE WRITERS? The first person to successfully match all the lines to their authors will win something. It’s probably some free books because, as you may know, I’m no longer giving away my “vintage” Forest for the Trees pencils with the erasers as hard as witches’ tits. But it could be something else. Depends who wins. Extra credit if you can name all the novels, too.
- This morning I got a note from my aunt asking me to come for lunch.
- This was the year he rode the subway to the ends of the city, two hundred miles of track.
- In accordance with the law the death sentence was announced to Cincinnatus C. in a whisper.
- My name is Ruth.
- Two mountain chains traverse the republic roughly from north to south, forming between them a number of valleys and plateaus.
- The North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance agent promised to fly from Mercy to the other side of Lake Superior at three o’clock.
- In the Oakland Greyhound all the people were dwarfs, and they pushed and shoved to get on the bus, even cutting in ahead of the two nuns, who were there first.
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Betsy Lerner 
1. Walker Percy – The moviegoer (row before the last, black top old man in his library)
2. Don DeLillo’s – Libra (2nd row right corner- staring into the horizon, across Morrison)
3. Vladimir Nabokov – Invitation to a Beheading (last row- boxer)
4. You win here..probably My name is Ruth? Never read it. (remaining woman, first row..shamefully I shall admit, no idea who she is…)
5. Malcolm Lowry – Under the volcano (last row- topless)
6. Toni Morrison – Song of Solomon (2nd row left woman)
7. Denis Johnson – Angels (1st guy)
Send me your name and address to askbetsylerner@gmail.com for your SECOND PLACE PRize!!
This is unfair in two ways.
One: on my browser, I only see six pictures.
Two: none of those sentences rings a bell.
Literature is not to be taken in terms echoing “fair” or “unfair”, August. It was a cute proposition. If anything, this is a stimulating excuse to look into the literature world deeper and further, or even be introduced to authors that you did not know existed, or that you did, but whose specific quotes don’t ring a bell. And although not really appropriate, life has indeed many unfairnesses; but although unfair, we ought to reveal ourselves, one mask at a time..
I don’t know what any of that means.
But the good new is that I have the build of one great writer, and the hairline of another.
I am Malcolm Nabokov.
No. 4 is Housekeeping: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson
Nicely done! Third place. Send your name and address to AskBetsyLerner@gmail.com for your PRIZE
..and I couldn’t see all the pictures either, but that really doesn’t matter, it’s the words people, the words.
Drat! Too late! If only I’d visited earlier, I’m certain to have won because I totally knew the answers!
I’m also an astrophysicist and super model who kicked ass on Iron Chef and dated Johnny Depp.
In closing, August, you crack me up and AspiringArtists, you’re clearly an English lit nerd. I’m not woooorthy.
Isn’t an erasure a thing that has been erased by an eraser?
thank you. will fix.
You’re welcome. Didn’t mean to sound snarky.
1. Walker Percy – The Moviegoer (just below Toni Morrison)
2. Don DeLillo – Libra (just below Marilynne Robinson)
3. Vladimir Nabokov – Invitation to a Beheading (bottom right in the boxing pose)
4. Marilynne Robinson – Housekeeping (top, right)
5. Malcom Lowry – Under the Volcano (bottom left and in need of a shirt)
6. Toni Morrison – Song of Solomon (on the left, second down)
7. Denis Johnson – Angels (top left)
Wait. It’s done already. Damn.
Monda: Did you do this without peaking? If yes, please send you name address to me at askbetsylerner@gmail.com for your FIRST PRIZE!
Gal, I teach creative writing. Mind like a steel trap and all that. Besides, I have a real jones for for these same writers. All copies on deck – it’s like you were standing in my office picking titles.
Thanks!
I think you mean peeking!
Depends on the situation. Maybe she DID mean peaking. 🙂
I didn’t know a single line, and I thought the guy in the boxing gloves was Graham Greene. I’ve never heard of Denis Johnson (is he French?) and when I think of Marilyn Robinson I think Mercedes Rhule.
Clearly, I am the dumbest person who reads this blog and therefore I WIN.
Becuase I nedd the learnin.
Vivian: you’re always a winner to me. Love, Betsy
Vivian:
I just read your blog. I tend not to like these things:
– travel
– anecdotes
– France
– sketches
– charm
But good lord are your charming anecdotes of travel and sketches wonderful! I am buying your book for my mother-in-law tomorrow. I’m v. impressed.
Hi August!
I too was running a contest: Name The Person Who’s Just This Side of Twee (it’s moi, natch) and YOU WIN!
Please let me know where I can send you your prize: you can choose between some top notch German porn, or a cat.
Thank you very much for your kind words.To quote the great John Guare which I read here on this Comment section a while back, “I can take my head out of the oven today.” Thank you Thank you Thank you.