"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
When the sentence starts with an event, someone doing something or something that happens. Can´t really think of a sentence right now.
"The building was on fire, and it wasn't my fault."
Blood Rites by Jim Butcher.
Some inane thought the main character has going through their head, and then a description of the contrasting environment. A brief peek into the psyche of the person we're trying to get to know.
From the book "house of leaves"
This is not for you!
"Life is difficult." --M. Scott Peck