comment by ooli

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comment by ooli

ooli · 3197 days ago · link · · parent · post: Shall we do another 'best opening lines of books' thread?

"Aujourd'hui maman est morte." IMHO "maman" is better translated as "mom" as it a very kiddy and affectionate way to call your mother. This opening is so powerful, it's the only one I still remember 20 years after reading the book.

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raisin · 3197 days ago · link ·

Hmm, that is interesting. I never really thought about Meursault as being kiddy and affectionate, he seems very "to the point", honest to the point of being brutal, and not a sort of person to really show his feelings.

But yes, a fantastic opening.

+discuss+discuss

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hyperflare · 3192 days ago · link ·

The telegram wasn't written by Meursault, though.

+discuss+discuss

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raisin · 3192 days ago · link ·

That's right, but the first sentence was, and I'm assuming that ooli is referring to the very first sentence when he/she quotes the original opening in French.