So I wanted to do the thing where you post the first sentences of some of your favorite books so I could be cool like Feng and Sundry, but then I got really busy and couldn't find many books that I wanted to quote, mainly because my bookshelves are overflowing and all of my fiction books are hidden behind a dense layer of computer programming reference manuals, which aren't typically known for their sparkling prose. Therefore, I only have one quotation to share. I hope that its length and how much I love it will make up for the meager quantity of my offering. This truly is one of my favorite arrangements of words in the English language. Sometimes I find myself reaching into the bramble of geekery just to get the book out and read this sentence. I'm even putting it in the right font so you can see what it looks like on the page.

Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs, starr'd the Sides of Outbuildings, as of Cousins, carried Hats away into the brisk Wind off Delaware,— the Sleds are brought in and their Runners carefully dried and greased, shoes deposited in the back Hall, a stocking'd-foot Descent made upon the great Kitchen, in a purposeful Dither since Morning, punctuated by the ringing Lids of various Boilers and Stewing-Pots, fragrant with Pie-Spices, peel'd Fruits, Suet, heated Sugar,— the Children, having all upon the Fly, among rhythmic slaps of Batter and Spoon, coax'd and stolen what they might, proceed, as upon each afternoon all this snowy Advent, to a comfortable Room at the rear of the House, years since given over to their carefree Assaults.

- Mason & Dixon, Thomas Pynchon

I know, I know, you're probably sick of hearing about Thomas Pynchon. I can't help it - I love his writing. It's a sickness, and I never want to be cured. Unless it gives me a bad cough, or something. Then I might consider taking some Robitussin.