I prefer the first one. It does exactly what it's supposed to do, it sucks you in to the story directly, with no messing about. While the second one is good, it's a little fussy, like trying to be literary for literary's sake.

For what it's worth, I'd change the second one to "It began with a gift in winter. It began with a knock at my door, far past midnight.." Less fussy and closer to the snappiness of the original.

IMNSHO :)