Some great writers write and rewrite hundreds of times the first sentence of his book, and never go there. Others give up and, perhaps desperate, they decide to start with the first thing that comes to mind. Start telling a story, Amos Oz says, it is like trying to win in a restaurant to a complete stranger. In the analysis by the initial fragments of some novels and stories of Gogol, Kafka, Chekhov, Carver or Garcia Marquez, as well as references to other classics of world literature, Oz challenge, guide and entertains. It explores with humor and passion why the beginning is as important as the final, analyzing those first few paragraphs where the authors make promises that may not meet or do in an unexpected way ...

"The story begins is the adventure of a reader explained to other readers, reading keys one believes glimpse gleefully revealed the anonymous reader. It is an exercise in literary criticism, launched an effective impetus to hook reluctant readers and, above all, a divertimento laps reading protocols. " Babelia, El País

Prince of Asturias Award for Letters 2007
"Oz is a writer of genius developer."
The Guardian