Each person should choose a book from the shelves, hopefully providing a mix of familiar and obscure volumes. One player commences by reading the title of their book and any 'blurb' from the dust jacket. Everyone then writes down on a piece of paper what they think the first line of the book might be. Whoever read out their title writes down the actual first line of the book and collects in all the papers.

They then read out all the offerings and each player votes for the first line they find most believable. A point is awarded to a player for each vote his or her first line receives. Anyone who votes for the actual first line also receives a point. Bonus points are available for comical entries.