The Worst Opening Lines Ever Written: A Tribute and Farewell to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

It’s the contest that turned bad writing into comical, witty, creative art. We explore the spectacularly awful and oddly brilliant world of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, where contestants imagine and submit the opening line of the worst book to be written. Join Jacob Shymanski and Ramya Amuthan as we say goodbye, by giving you our favourite submissions of 2024, and read through the 40-year archives.

Plus, Ramya offers her reflection on It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished by Kate Gies—a poetic memoir that speaks to the trauma of childhood surgeries, the ache of medical betrayal, and the quiet power of sitting with your story.

AMI Audiobook Review is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes three new podcast episodes a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

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