creating variables with 'spaces'

[jping45]

I have an input file:
1) host1
2) host2
3) host3
4) hosta
5) hostb
6) hostc
so on and so forth. I want to treat "1) host1" as a variable, however I've tried several combinations and can only get variables assigned as "1)" and "host1". Any help would be appreciated.

 

[KenCunningham]

Have you tried escaping the )? ie \)

 

[cspilman]

while read line
do
   echo $line
done < inputfile

Regards,
Chuck

 

[hoinz]

or what about:
VAR="1) host1"

 

[jping45]

Thanks for the input guys....