[dspig]

Don't authors already put a lot of effort into the first line/paragraph/page?

[skookumchuck]

The smart ones do. The same goes for emails, advertising copy, blogs, abstracts, elevator pitches, etc. Movies do it, too.

[rapfaria]

Why though? Is there something relating overall quality to first line engagement?

"The primroses were over" does nothing for me, but Watership Down is great!

[skookumchuck]

Because people are deluged with information and need a good reason to invest the time looking past the beginning.