Student challenge: Starting Stories

From 12 until 23 March the ‘book of the day’ and its starting sentence appeared on this page. Thanks everyone for participating! See you next year?

Looking back on the final weekend

The last book of the challenge had an opening sentence with an unusual you-perspective. The fragment showed that this perspective is consistently continued, so the participants had to take this into account. That is not so easy! Today's winner does that well, she humorously portrays the 'you' as someone who makes serious attempts, but is evidently no hero. Well done everyone! We have drawn the winner.

The winner of day 9 is: Caya van der Mei, student English Language and Culture

Caya's version of the beginning of Interior Chinatown reads: "Ever since you were a young boy, you’ve dreamed of being Kung Fu Guy. As unrealistic as that dream may have been, it was already more realistic than the dream of the even younger you. See, ever since you were a younger boy, you've dreamed of being Kung Fu Panda, and that dream has never really left you."

About the challenge

The opening sentences of a lot of famous books have become immortal. They set the tone and make the reader curious. However, the second and third sentences are also crucial. The Challenge Starting Stories dares you to think about the beginning of recent novels for ten days.