Inkling Explorations and Funny Story Openings

The theme of this month in Heidi's Inknlings and Explorations is a funny story opening.

                                       

And how could I ever pass off a chance to mention my favourite author: Jane Austen. While maybe not hillariously funny, the opening to Northanger Abbey is funny in that down played, ironic and slightly sarcastic way that is Austen's trademark style.

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name was Richard — and he had never been handsome. He had a considerable independence besides two good livings — and he was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, she still lived on — lived to have six children more — to see them growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself."

Be sure to pop over at Heidi's blog Sharing the Journey for lots of other funny story openings.