Comment by koralatov

Even though I'm not a great fan of his work, Banks did write one of the most memorable opening lines ever in The Crow Road.

Two other great examples:

William Gibson's Neuromancer: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."

Herman Melville's Moby Dick: "Call me Ishmael."

Neither strictly tells the reader what the books are about, but they're great hooks.